Docking station for robotic cleaner

• US 10,595,696 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2019
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC (JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC (JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited)
• Inventors: Harting, David, Thorne, Jason B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Application Number:
  US16/400,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20190335968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4027 Filtering or separating contaminants or debris
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/024 Emptying dust or waste liquid containers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/108 Dust compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/149 Emptying means; Reusable bags
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/19 Means for monitoring filtering operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02

Abstract

A docking station for a robotic vacuum cleaner may include a suction motor, a collection bin, and a filter system fluidly coupled to the suction motor. The suction motor may be configured to suction debris from a dust cup of the robotic vacuum cleaner. The filter system may include a filter medium to collect debris suctioned from the dust cup, a compactor configured to urge a first portion of the filter medium towards a second portion of the filter medium such that a closed bag can be formed, and a conveyor configured to urge the closed bag into the collection bin.

Claims

1. A docking station for a robotic vacuum cleaner comprising:

a suction motor configured to suction debris from a dust cup of the robotic vacuum cleaner;

a collection bin; and

a filter system fluidly coupled to the suction motor, the filter system including;

a filter medium to collect debris suctioned from the dust cup;

a compactor configured to urge a first portion of the filter medium towards a second portion of the filter medium such that a closed bag can be formed; and

a conveyor configured to urge the closed bag into the collection bin.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the compactor is configured to couple the first portion of the filter medium to the second portion of the filter medium using a sealer.

3. The docking station of claim 2, wherein the sealer includes at least three resistive elements configured to generate heat.

4. The docking station of claim 3, wherein a first and a second resistive element extend transverse to a third resistive element.

5. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the compactor is configured to form a bag having at least one open end.

6. The docking station of claim 5, wherein the compactor is configured to form a seal at the open end in response to a predetermined quantity of debris being disposed in the bag.

7. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the filter system includes a cavity over which the filter medium extends.

8. The docking station of claim 7, wherein the filter system further includes a pusher, the pusher being configured to urge the filter medium into the cavity.

9. The docking station of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the filter medium defines a filter roll.

10. The docking station of claim 9, wherein the compactor is configured to sever the filter medium such that, in response to the closed bag being formed, the compactor severs the filter medium, separating the closed bag from the filter roll.

11. An autonomous cleaning system comprising:

a robotic vacuum cleaner having a dust cup for collection of debris;

a docking station configured to couple to the robotic vacuum cleaner, the docking station including;

a suction motor configured to suction debris from the dust cup of the robotic vacuum cleaner;

a collection bin; and

a filter system fluidly coupled to the suction motor, the filter system including;

a filter medium to collect debris suctioned from the dust cup;

a compactor configured to urge a first portion of the filter medium towards a second portion of the filter medium such that a closed bag can be formed; and

a conveyor configured to urge the closed bag into the collection bin.

12. The autonomous cleaning system of claim 11, wherein the compactor is configured to couple the first portion of the filter medium to the second portion of the filter medium using a sealer.

13. The autonomous cleaning system of claim 12, wherein the sealer includes at least three resistive elements configured to generate heat.

14. The autonomous cleaning system of claim 13, wherein a first and a second resistive element extend transverse to a third resistive element.

15. The autonomous cleaning system of claim 11, wherein the compactor is configured to form a bag having at least one open end.

16. The autonomous cleaning system of claim 15, wherein the compactor is configured to form a seal at the open end in response to a predetermined quantity of debris being disposed in the bag.

17. The autonomous cleaning system of claim 11, wherein the filter system includes a cavity over which the filter medium extends.

18. The autonomous cleaning system of claim 17, wherein the filter system further includes a pusher, the pusher being configured to urge the filter medium into the cavity.

19. The autonomous cleaning system of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the filter medium defines a filter roll.

20. The autonomous cleaning system of claim 19, wherein the compactor is configured to sever the filter medium such that, in response to the closed bag being formed, the compactor severs the filter medium, separating the closed bag from the filter roll.