Debris bins and mobile cleaning robots including same

• US 10,779,695 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2018
• Issued: 09/22/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Burbank, Eric, Grace, Christopher Robin, Lewis, Oliver Majer, Hickey, Stephen Albert, Jonas, Jude Royston
• Primary Examiner(s): Carlson, Marc
• Application Number:
  US16/039,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20190200826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• 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 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/102 Dust separators cyclones A47L9/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1409 Rigid filtering receptacles dust collecting receptacles for cyclones A47L9/1683
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1472 combined with security means, e.g. for preventing use, e.g. in case of absence of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1481 Means for removing bags in suction cleaners, e.g. ejecting means; Means for exchanging bags
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/32 Handles

Abstract

A mobile cleaning robot includes a removable filter unit configured to receive a supply airflow generated by a blower and to filter debris from the supply airflow, a filter seat, a filter access opening, a filter access door, and a filter presence system. The filter access door is pivotable between a closed position, wherein the filter access door covers the filter access opening, and an open position, wherein the filter access door is displaced from the filter access opening to permit access to the filter seat. The filter presence system is configured to: permit the filter access door to move from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat; and prevent the filter access door from being moved into the closed position when the filter unit is not disposed in the filter seat. The filter presence system includes a lift arm movable between an extended position and a retracted position. When the filter access door is open, the lift arm assumes the extended position to receive the filter unit in the filter seat. Moving the filter access door from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat causes the lift arm to move to the retracted position.

Claims

1. A mobile cleaning robot comprising:

a removable filter unit configured to receive a supply airflow generated by a blower and to filter debris from the supply airflow;

a filter seat;

a filter access opening;

a filter access door pivotable between a closed position, wherein the filter access door covers the filter access opening, and an open position, wherein the filter access door is displaced from the filter access opening to permit access to the filter seat; and

a filter presence system configured to;

permit the filter access door to move from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat; and

prevent the filter access door from being moved into the closed position when the filter unit is not disposed in the filter seat;

wherein;

the filter presence system includes a lift arm movable between an extended position and a retracted position;

when the filter access door is open, the lift arm assumes the extended position to receive the filter unit in the filter seat; and

moving the filter access door from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat causes the lift arm to move to the retracted position.

2. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 wherein:

the filter seat is a filter loading seat; and

the filter presence system is configured to move the filter unit from a filter loading position to an installed filter seat when the filter access door is moved from the open position into the closed position with the filter unit disposed in the filter loading seat.

3. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 2 wherein:

when the filter unit is disposed in the filter loading seat and the filter access door is moved from the open position toward the closed position, the filter access door will contact the filter unit and push the filter unit into the installed filter seat; and

when the filter unit is not disposed in the filter loading seat and the filter access door is moved from the open position toward the closed position, the filter access door will interlock with the lift arm to prevent the filter access door from being moved into the closed position.

4. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 2 wherein:

the mobile cleaning robot defines an internal containment chamber;

the mobile cleaning robot includes an internal barrier that separates the internal containment chamber into first and second subchambers, the internal barrier including an aperture providing fluid communication between the first and second subchambers; and

when positioned in the installed filter seat, the filter unit is supported by the internal barrier and over the aperture to filter airflow through the aperture.

5. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 2 wherein the lift arm is a first lift arm, and including a second lift arm located opposite the first lift arm, wherein the first and second lift arms define the filter loading seat therebetween.

6. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 wherein the lift arm is spring loaded toward the extended position.

7. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 wherein the lift arm is configured to pivot between the extended position and the retracted position about a pivot axis.

8. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 including an interlock feature located on one of the filter access door and the lift arm, wherein the interlock feature is configured to interlock with the other of the filter access door and the lift arm when the filter access door is moved toward the closed position without the filter unit disposed in the filter seat and to thereby prevent the filter access door from moving into the closed position.

9. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 8 wherein:

the interlock feature is an integral first interlock feature on the filter access door;

the mobile cleaning robot includes an integral second interlock feature on the lift arm;

one of the first and second interlock features is an interlock slot, and the other of the first and second interlock features is an interlock tab; and

the filter presence system is configured such that the interlock tab interlocks with the interlock slot when the filter access door is moved toward the closed position without the filter unit disposed in the filter seat, and the interlock between the interlock tab and the interlock slot prevents the filter access door from moving into the closed position.

10. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 including:

a bin seating; and

a debris bin removably and replaceably disposed in the bin seating;

wherein the filter seat, the filter access opening, the filter access door, and the filter presence system each form a part of the debris bin.

11. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 10 including a bin retention system to retain the debris bin in the bin seating, the bin retention system including a latch mechanism selectively movable between a locking position, wherein the latch mechanism prevents displacement of the debris bin from the bin seating, and a releasing position, wherein the latch mechanism permits displacement of the debris bin from the bin seating.

12. A debris bin for a mobile cleaning robot, the mobile cleaning robot including a support structure, the debris bin comprising:

a bin housing configured to be removably and replaceably mounted in the support structure, the bin housing including;

a filter seat; and

a filter access opening;

a removable filter unit configured to receive a supply airflow and to filter debris from the supply airflow;

a filter access door pivotable between a closed position, wherein the filter access door covers the filter access opening, and an open position, wherein the filter access door is displaced from the filter access opening to permit access to the filter seat; and

a filter presence system configured to;

permit the filter access door to move from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat; and

prevent the filter access door from being moved into the closed position when the filter unit is not disposed in the filter seat;

wherein;

the filter presence system includes a lift arm movable between an extended position and a retracted position;

when the filter access door is open, the lift arm assumes the extended position to receive the filter unit in the filter seat; and

moving the filter access door from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat causes the lift arm to move to the retracted position.