EVACUATION STATION SYSTEM

• US 20120291809A1
• Filed: 01/06/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Kuhe, Tucker, Smith, Jennifer, Duffley, Sam
• Granted Patent: US 8,984,708 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/33 having means for storing dirt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/024 Emptying dust or waste liquid containers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers

Abstract

A cleaning system includes a robotic cleaner and an evacuation station. The robotic cleaner can dock with the evacuation station to have debris evacuated by the evacuation station. The robotic cleaner includes a bin to store debris, and the bin includes a port door through which the debris can be evacuated into the evacuation station. The evacuation station includes a vacuum motor to evacuate the bin of the robotic cleaner.

Claims

1. A cleaning system comprising:

a portable vacuum including a vacuum motor, a cleaning head, an evacuation port, and a bypass mechanism configured to direct suction from the vacuum motor to either the cleaning head or the evacuation port;

a robotic cleaner including a debris bin and an evacuation port assembly for the debris bin; and

an evacuation station including a vacuum interface configured to mate with the portable vacuum, a cleaner interface configured to mate with the robotic cleaner, and a linkage connecting the evacuation port assembly of the debris bin and the evacuation port of the portable vacuum, wherein the evacuation station is configured to engage the bypass mechanism on mating with the portable vacuum to direct suction from the vacuum motor to the evacuation port.

2. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the cleaner interface includes an evacuation connector formed of compliant material coupled to the linkage.

3. The cleaning system of claim 2, wherein the evacuation connector is generally rectangular and defines a hole through which air and debris can flow into the linkage.

4. The cleaning system of claim 2, wherein the evacuation connector is configured to move with one degree of freedom.

5. The cleaning system of claim 2, wherein the evacuation connector is curved and configured to mate with a spherical shell of the robotic cleaner.

6. The cleaning system of claim 2, wherein the evacuation connector includes a poker configured to engage a port door of the evacuation port assembly.

7. The cleaning system of claim 6, wherein the poker includes a reed switch coupled to a controller of the portable vacuum, and wherein the port door includes a magnet.

8. The cleaning system of claim 6, wherein the port door is configured to form a seal that is substantially air tight when not in contact with the poker.

9. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the debris bin includes a microprocessor and a serial connection to the robotic cleaner.

10. The cleaning system of claim 9, wherein the debris bin includes a navigational sensor coupled to the microprocessor.

11. The cleaning system of claim 10, wherein the microprocessor is configured to communicate a bin full signal to the robotic cleaner using the serial connection.

12. The cleaning system of claim 10, wherein the microprocessor is configured to communicate a navigational signal to the robotic cleaner using the serial connection.

13. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the robotic cleaner includes an omnidirectional navigational sensor on a forward end opposite the debris bin and bin sensor on the debris bin.

14. The cleaning system of claim 13, wherein the bin sensor is configured to receive omnidirectionally, within 180 degrees, or within 90 degrees.

15. A method performed by a robotic cleaner for evacuation a debris bin of the robotic cleaner, the method comprising:

determining a bin full event has occurred;

navigating to an evacuation station;

docking front-first at the evacuation station, wherein a front of the robotic cleaner is substantially opposite the debris bin;

backing out of the evacuation station and rotating approximately 180 degrees;

docking bin-first at the evacuation station; and

waiting while the evacuation station vacuums debris from the debris bin for an amount of time.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising driving away from the evacuation station.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining that a battery is low on charge, driving away from the evacuation station, rotating 180 degrees, and docking front-first at the evacuation station to contact at least one electrical charging contact.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein determining a bin full event has occurred includes receiving a bin full signal from the debris bin.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the bin full signal is based on input from debris sensors in the debris bin.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein docking bin-first at the evacuation station comprises using a navigational sensor on the debris bin.

21. A cleaning system comprising:

an evacuation station including an evacuation vacuum motor;

a robotic cleaner;

a bin in the robotic cleaner configured to collect debris, the bin including a port door; and

an evacuation connector coupled to an evacuation chamber of the evacuation station, the evacuation connector configured to open the port door on the bin of the robotic cleaner when the robotic cleaner drives into the evacuation station;

wherein the bin includes a downwardly extending baffle behind the port door, the baffle being configured to direct evacuating suction from the evacuation vacuum motor of the evacuation station downwardly to reach a bottom of the bin.

22. The cleaning system of claim 21, wherein the bin includes vertical side wall next to the baffle and the port door, and the baffle is configured to direct evacuating suction along the vertical side wall.

23. The cleaning system of claim 21, wherein the bin includes a filter next to the baffle, the filter being configured to block debris from flowing into a vacuum fan and to allow debris to accumulate at the bottom of the bin.

24. The cleaning system of claim 21, wherein the bin includes a bevel on the bottom of the bin, and the baffle is configured to direct the evacuating suction across the bevel to the bottom of the bin.

25. The cleaning system of claim 21, wherein the evacuation connector is configured to rotate about a pivot as the robotic cleaner docks with the evacuation station.

26. A robotic cleaner comprising:

a drive system configured to move the robotic cleaner about a coverage area;

a vacuum motor to collect debris from the coverage area; and

a bin to store collected debris from the coverage area, the bin comprising;

an exhaust vent for the vacuum motor;

a filter between the vacuum motor and a bottom of the bin;

a port door next to the exhaust vent for evacuating the bin;

a vertical side wall; and

a downwardly extending baffle behind the port door, the baffle being configured to direct evacuating suction downwardly along the vertical side wall to reach the bottom of the bin.

27. The robotic cleaner of claim 26, wherein the bin includes a bevel on the bottom of the bin, and the baffle is configured to direct the evacuating suction across the bevel to the bottom of the bin.

28. The robotic cleaner of claim 26, wherein the baffle is curved along a direction from the filter to the vertical side wall.

29. The robotic cleaner of claim 26, wherein the port door is configured to rotate so that when the port door is open part of the port door recedes into a pocket volume.

30. The robotic cleaner of claim 26, the bin further comprising a spring configured to hold the port door closed until engaged by a poker of an evacuating connector.