Robotic Floor Cleaning with Sterile, Disposable Cartridges Cross-Reference to Related Applications

• US 20080209665A1
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optimus Licensing AG
• Original Assignee: Optimus Services AG
• Inventors: Mangiardi, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,127,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/40 Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/005 with a lid or cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/314 Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/362 for sharps
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 1/50 for storing hazardous materials in the laboratory, e.g. cupboards, waste containers sample containers B01L3/50
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/0093 specially adapted for collecting refuse from arrangements in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/06 with flexible inserts, e.g. bags or sacks B65F1/0073 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 5/48 Special adaptations of floors for incorporating ducts, e.g. for heating or ventilating in block-shaped elements E04C1/39; in slab- or sheet-shaped elements E04C2/52
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/005 Electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Abstract

An automated (robotic) floor cleaner (100) is adapted to allow sterile cleaning of sensitive environments, such as hospital room. In particular, the floor-cleaner chassis (124) is redesigned to be mounted on a deck (102) containing cleaning devices that contact the floor. The cleaning devices mounted on the deck (102) include vacuum head (132), brushes (120), cleaning fluid sprays (128), and conceivably sanitizing devices such as UV germicidal light, are provided pre-sterilized. As such, the adapted floor-cleaner chassis (124) allows the deck (102) to be mounted to the bottom of the chassis (124), the floor-cleaner (100) is then used to clean a floor, after which, the deck (102) is removed from the chassis (124) and disposed. The robotic-floor cleaner (100) and sterilization system cleans floor between or even during cases. Further, the robotic floor cleaner (100) reduces the “turnover time” required between cases, as it operates simultaneously while the staff prepares the room for the next case.

Claims

1. A robotic floor cleaner for locations needing sterile conditions, comprising:

a chassis,

a power subsystem for providing the energy to power said floor-cleaning robot,

a motive subsystem operative to propel and operate said floor-cleaning robot for cleaning operations,

a control module, such as an on-board computer, operative to control said floor-cleaning robot to effect cleaning operations, and

a cleaning subsystem, adapted for cleaning in locations needing sterile conditions, that includes;

a sterile, disposable deck which latches into and mounts in pivotal combination with said chassis, said deck further adapted to be interchangeable with like decks of similar construction;

a brush assembly mounted in said deck and powered by said motive subsystem to sweep up particulates during cleaning operations;

a vacuum assembly disposed in combination with said deck and powered by said motive subsystem to ingest particulates during cleaning operations; and

a spray assembly disposed in combination with said deck and powered by said motive subsystem to disperse fluids, such as cleaning fluid, during cleaning operations.

2. The automated robotic floor cleaner of claim 1 in which said deck is provided pre-sterilized in sterile packaging.

5. A method of cleaning a floor, comprising:

providing the automated robotic floor cleaner of claim 1;

providing a room with a floor;

if said deck on said chassis is non-sterile then

disengaging said deck from said chassis and disposing of said chassis, and reengaging a new, sterile deck onto said chassis;

placing said automated robotic floor cleaner in said room;

activating said automated robotic floor cleaner and allowing said automated robotic floor cleaner to clean said room;

deactivating said automated robotic floor cleaner;

disengaging said deck from said chassis;

reengaging a new, sterile deck onto said chassis.

6. The method of claim 5 in which said new, sterile deck is provided pre-sterilized in sterile packaging.

7. A method for sterilizing components of an automatic floor-cleaning device which have contacted a floor, comprising:

providing the automated robotic floor cleaner of claim 1;

disengaging said deck from said chassis; and

reengaging a new, sterile deck onto said chassis.

8. The method of claim 7 in which said new, sterile deck is provided pre-sterilized in sterile packaging.

3. A cleaning cartridge comprising

a sterile, disposable deck adapted to latch into and mount in pivotal combination with a chassis on a robotic floor cleaner, said deck further adapted to be interchangeable with like decks of similar construction;

a brush assembly mounted in said deck and powered by a motive subsystem on said robotic floor cleaner to sweep up particulates during cleaning operations;

a vacuum assembly disposed in combination with said deck and powered by said motive subsystem to ingest particulates during cleaning operations; and

a spray assembly disposed in combination with said deck and powered by said motive subsystem to disperse fluids, such as cleaning fluid, during cleaning operations.

4. The automated robotic floor cleaner of claim 3 in which said deck is provided pre-sterilized in sterile packaging.