Removing debris from cleaning robots

• US 9,492,048 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2013
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Won, Chikyung, Hickey, Stephen A., Schnittman, Mark Steven, Dubrovsky, Zivthan A., Svendsen, Selma, Lowry, Jed, Swett, David, Devlin, John
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US14/140,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20140109339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19, 153/53
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/33 having means for storing dirt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4002 Installations of electric equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4097 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Exhaust-air treatment, e.g. air purification; Means for sound or vibration damping
• 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: A47L 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/024 Emptying dust or waste liquid containers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/028 Refurbishing floor engaging tools, e.g. cleaning of beating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/108 : Dust compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/19 : Means for monitoring filtering operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/281 : the amount or condition of incoming dirt or dust

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.

Claims

1. A robotic cleaner maintenance station, comprising:

a station housing and a platform configured to support a robotic cleaner during servicing, the station housing defining an evacuation passageway exposed to the robotic cleaner, for evacuating debris from the robotic cleaner during servicing;

a collection bin removably attached to the station housing, the collection bin being in pneumatic communication with the evacuation passageway and configured to be disengaged from the station housing in a vertical direction relative to the station housing;

a filter arranged to filter air passing from the collection bin to outside the maintenance station; and

an air mover configured to draw air from the evacuation passageway and into the collection bin to evacuate a robotic cleaner supported on the platform, wherein the air mover comprises a bagless cyclonic vacuum configured to divert debris from an incoming flow using centripetal acceleration of the debris.

2. The maintenance station of claim 1, further comprising a user interface device configured to wirelessly communicate with a communication module on the maintenance station, the user interface device including a maintenance station collection bin full indicator.

3. The maintenance station of claim 2, wherein the user interface device is further configured to wirelessly communicate with a compatible communication facility on the robot.

4. The maintenance station of claim 2, wherein the maintenance station further comprises a controller configured to operate the maintenance station as directed by commands received by the user interface device.

5. The maintenance station of claim 4, wherein the user interface provides visual feedback in response to the commands received by the user interface device.

6. The maintenance station of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to control a device compatible with the maintenance station.

7. The maintenance station of claim 6, wherein the device is an auxiliary brush cleaner.

8. The maintenance station of claim 1, wherein the station housing further comprises a station cover pivotally attached to the top portion of the station housing.

9. The maintenance station of claim 1, wherein the collection bin and filter are removable from the station housing as an assembly that also includes a graspable handle.

10. The maintenance station of claim 1, wherein the collection bin and filter are separately removable from the station housing.

11. The maintenance station claim 1, wherein the maintenance station further comprises a locking assembly configured to secure the robotic cleaner to the platform, the evacuation passageway being substantially sealed to a cleaning bin of the robotic cleaner supported on the platform.

12. 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 cleaning assembly carried by the chassis comprising a first cleaning brush rotatably coupled to the chassis to rotate substantially parallel to a cleaning surface; and

a cleaning bin carried by the chassis and configured to receive debris agitated by the cleaning assembly, the cleaning bin defining a service opening in a bottom portion of the cleaning bin for removing debris held in a debris holding area of the cleaning bin; and

a robotic cleaner maintenance station comprising;

a station housing defining an evacuation passageway exposed to the robotic cleaner, for evacuating debris from the robotic cleaner during servicing;

a collection bin removably attached to a top portion of the station housing, the collection bin being in pneumatic communication with the evacuation passageway and configured to be disengaged from the station housing in a vertical direction relative to the station housing; and

an air mover configured to draw air from the evacuation passageway and into the collection bin to evacuate a robotic cleaner, wherein the air mover comprises a bagless cyclonic vacuum configured to divert debris from an incoming flow using centripetal acceleration of the debris.

13. The cleaning robot system of claim 12, the robot maintenance station further comprising a user interface device configured to wirelessly communicate with a communication module on the maintenance station, the user interface device including a maintenance station collection bin full indicator.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the user interface device is further configured to wirelessly communicate with a compatible communication facility on the robot.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the maintenance station further comprises a controller configured to operate the maintenance station as directed by commands received by the user interface device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the user interface device provides visual feedback in response to the commands received by the user interface device.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the collection bin and filter are removable from the station housing as an assembly that also includes a graspable handle.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the collection bin and filter are separately removable from the station housing.

19. The system claim 12, wherein the maintenance station further comprises a locking assembly configured to secure the robotic cleaner to the maintenance station, the evacuation passageway being substantially sealed to a cleaning bin of the robotic cleaner.