Robotic vacuum cleaning system
First Claim
1. A robot cleaning system comprising:
- a debris collection volume;
a vacuum airway configured to deliver debris to the debris collection volume; and
a cleaning head in pneumatic communication with the vacuum airway, the cleaning head comprising;
two resilient shape-changing tubes separated by an air gap opposing the vacuum airway; and
a form-following housing surrounding an outer circumferential periphery of each of the shape-changing tubes, the housing spaced from a radially outermost part of each of the shape-changing tubes by less than or equal to about 1 mm;
wherein the cleaning head is operable in;
a first configuration wherein the two shape-changing tubes rotate against a cleaning surface to agitate debris to pass through the air gap and into the vacuum airway; and
a second configuration wherein both shape-changing tubes deform opposite one another to roll an object larger than the air gap to pass into the vacuum airway.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A robot cleaning system includes a debris collection volume, a vacuum airway configured to deliver debris to the debris collection volume, and a cleaning head in pneumatic communication with the vacuum airway. The cleaning head includes two shape-changing resilient tubes separated by an air gap opposing the vacuum airway. The cleaning head is operable in a first configuration, where the two shape-changing resilient tubes rotate against a cleaning surface engaged by the cleaning head to agitate debris on the cleaning surface to pass through the air gap and into the vacuum airway, and a second configuration, where both shape changing resilient tubes deform opposite one another to roll an object larger than the air gap to pass into the vacuum airway.
114 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A robot cleaning system comprising:
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a debris collection volume; a vacuum airway configured to deliver debris to the debris collection volume; and a cleaning head in pneumatic communication with the vacuum airway, the cleaning head comprising; two resilient shape-changing tubes separated by an air gap opposing the vacuum airway; and a form-following housing surrounding an outer circumferential periphery of each of the shape-changing tubes, the housing spaced from a radially outermost part of each of the shape-changing tubes by less than or equal to about 1 mm; wherein the cleaning head is operable in; a first configuration wherein the two shape-changing tubes rotate against a cleaning surface to agitate debris to pass through the air gap and into the vacuum airway; and a second configuration wherein both shape-changing tubes deform opposite one another to roll an object larger than the air gap to pass into the vacuum airway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A robot cleaning system comprising:
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a debris collection volume; a vacuum airway configured to deliver debris to the debris collection volume; and a cleaning head in pneumatic communication with the vacuum airway, the cleaning head comprising; two resilient shape-changing tubes separated by an air gap opposing the vacuum airway, each shape-changing tube having a circumferential wall; a plurality of agitator vanes extending outwardly along the circumferential wall of each shape-changing tube to agitate and direct debris from a cleaning surface location directly beneath the vacuum airway through the air gap, the agitator vanes extending into the air gap, the agitator vanes of one shape-changing tube non-overlapping with the agitator vanes of the other shape-changing tube; and a form-following housing surrounding between about 125 degrees and about 175 degrees of an outer circumferential periphery of each of the shape-changing tubes, the housing spaced from a radially outermost part of each of the shape-changing tubes by a distance that allows one or more air dams to form between the agitator vanes and the housing; wherein the cleaning head is operable in; a first configuration wherein the two shape-changing tubes rotate against a cleaning surface engaged by the cleaning head to agitate debris on the cleaning surface to pass through the air gap and into the vacuum airway; and a second configuration wherein both shape-changing tubes deform opposite one another to roll an object larger than the air gap to pass into the vacuum airway. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A robot cleaning system comprising:
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a debris collection volume; a vacuum airway configured to deliver debris to the debris collection volume; and a cleaning head in pneumatic communication with the vacuum airway, the cleaning head comprising; two resilient shape-changing tubes separated by an air gap opposing the vacuum airway; a plurality of agitator vanes extending outwardly along the circumferential wall of each shape-changing tube; and a form-following housing surrounding between about 125 degrees and about 175 degrees of an outer circumferential periphery of each of the shape-changing tubes, the housing spaced from a radially outermost part of each of the shape-changing tubes by a distance that allows one or more air dams to form between the agitator vanes and the housing; wherein the cleaning head is operable in; a first configuration wherein the two shape-changing tubes rotate against a cleaning surface engaged by the cleaning head to agitate debris on the cleaning surface to pass through the air gap and into the vacuum airway; and a second configuration wherein both shape changing resilient tubes deform opposite one another to roll an object larger than the air gap to pass into the vacuum airway. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification