Removing Debris From Cleaning Robots
First Claim
1. A cleaning robot system comprising:
- a robot comprising;
a chassis;
a drive system supporting the chassis and configured to maneuver the robot as directed by a controller in communication with the drive system;
a driven cleaning head rotatably carried by the chassis; and
a cleaning bin carried by the chassis and configured to receive debris from the cleaning head during cleaning, the cleaning bin defining a service opening for removing debris held in a debris holding area of the cleaning bin;
a robot maintenance station comprising;
a station housing configured to receive the robot for maintenance;
a collection bin received by the station housing; and
a motorized vacuum pump housed by the station housing;
a hose having first and second ends, the first hose end in pneumatic communication with the vacuum pump, the second hose end receivable by the service opening of the cleaning bin;
wherein the vacuum pump draws air and debris through the hose received by the robot cleaning bin to deposit the debris into the debris collection bin.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cleaning robot system including a robot and a robot maintenance station. The robot includes a robot body, a drive system, a cleaning assembly, and a cleaning bin carried by the robot body and configured to receive debris agitated by the cleaning assembly. The robot maintenance station includes a station housing configured to receive the robot for maintenance. The station housing has an evacuation passageway exposed to a top portion of the received robot. The robot maintenance station also includes an air mover in pneumatic communication with the evacuation passageway and a collection bin carried by the station housing and in pneumatic communication with the evacuation passageway. The station housing and the robot body fluidly connect the evacuation passageway to the cleaning bin of the received robot. The air mover evacuates debris held in the robot cleaning bin to the collection bin through the evacuation passageway.
60 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A cleaning robot system comprising:
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a robot comprising; a chassis; a drive system supporting the chassis and configured to maneuver the robot as directed by a controller in communication with the drive system; a driven cleaning head rotatably carried by the chassis; and a cleaning bin carried by the chassis and configured to receive debris from the cleaning head during cleaning, the cleaning bin defining a service opening for removing debris held in a debris holding area of the cleaning bin; a robot maintenance station comprising; a station housing configured to receive the robot for maintenance; a collection bin received by the station housing; and a motorized vacuum pump housed by the station housing; a hose having first and second ends, the first hose end in pneumatic communication with the vacuum pump, the second hose end receivable by the service opening of the cleaning bin; wherein the vacuum pump draws air and debris through the hose received by the robot cleaning bin to deposit the debris into the debris collection bin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A cleaning robot system comprising:
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a robot comprising; a chassis; a drive system supporting the chassis and configured to maneuver the robot as directed by a controller in communication with the drive system; a cleaning head carried by the chassis; and a cleaning bin carried by the chassis and disposed to receive debris from the cleaning head during cleaning, the cleaning bin defining a service opening for removing debris held in a debris holding area of the cleaning bin; a robot maintenance station comprising; a collection bin; and a motorized vacuum pump; a conduit having first and second ends, the first conduit end in pneumatic communication with the vacuum pump, the second conduit end receivable by the service opening of the cleaning bin, wherein the collection bin, vacuum pump and conduit are an assembly manually operable as a vacuum cleaner to remove debris from the cleaning surface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification