Evacuation station system

• US 10,856,709 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2017
• Issued: 12/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Kuhe, Tucker, Smith, Jennifer, Duffley, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding, David
• Application Number:
  US15/858,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20180125312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• 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:

an evacuation station comprising

a cleaner interface configured to mate with a robotic cleaner,

a vacuum interface, and

a switch configured to cause production of a signal when the robotic cleaner mates with the cleaner interface; and

a handheld portable vacuum configured to mate with the vacuum interface of the evacuation station, the portable vacuum comprising a vacuum motor configured to

produce an evacuating airflow through the vacuum interface of the evacuation station to remove debris from a debris bin of the robotic cleaner when the portable vacuum is mated with the vacuum interface of the evacuation station and when the robotic cleaner is mated with the cleaner interface of the evacuation station, and

draw air through an opening of the portable vacuum when the portable vacuum is not mated with the vacuum interface of the evacuation station, wherein the opening of the portable vacuum cleaner is configured to mate with a standard vacuum attachment.

2. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the cleaner interface comprises an evacuation connector to contact the robotic cleaner when the robotic cleaner is docked to the evacuation station.

3. The cleaning system of claim 2, wherein the evacuation connector is configured to be aligned with an evacuation port assembly of the robotic cleaner when the evacuation connector is mated with the robotic cleaner.

4. The cleaning system of claim 2, wherein the evacuation connector is configured to form a seal between the evacuation station and the robotic cleaner when the robotic cleaner is mated with the evacuation station.

5. The cleaning system of claim 2, wherein the evacuation connector is configured to contact the debris bin of the robotic cleaner to form a seal between the evacuation station and the robotic cleaner when the robotic cleaner is mated with the evacuation station.

6. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the evacuation station is configured to open a port door of the robotic cleaner as the robotic cleaner docks to the evacuation station.

7. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the portable vacuum is configured to store the debris removed from the debris bin of the robotic cleaner.

8. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the portable vacuum is configured to mate with the evacuation station when the portable vacuum is manually pushed onto the evacuation station.

9. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the evacuation station comprises a mechanical alignment structure to align the portable vacuum relative to the evacuation station when the portable vacuum is pushed onto the evacuation station.

10. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein configurations of the portable vacuum to produce the evacuating airflow through the vacuum interface of the evacuation station comprises configurations to maintain a port door of the robotic cleaner in an open position.

11. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the portable vacuum comprises a bypass mechanism engageable by the evacuation station when the portable vacuum is mated to the evacuation station, the bypass mechanism configured to route airflow produced by the vacuum motor through the vacuum interface of the evacuation station.

12. The cleaning system of claim 11, wherein the bypass mechanism comprises a valve configured to be actuated when the portable vacuum is mated to the evacuation station.

13. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the evacuation station is configured to charge a battery of the robotic cleaner when docked to the evacuation station.

14. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the evacuation station is configured to charge a battery of the portable vacuum when the portable vacuum is mated to the evacuation station.

15. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the evacuation station is configured to provide a control signal to cause the robotic cleaner to initiate a cleaning operation.

16. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the evacuation station is configured to

detect when the robotic cleaner properly docks to the evacuation station, and

cause the portable vacuum to initiate producing the evacuating airflow to remove the debris from the debris bin of the robotic cleaner.

17. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the evacuation station or the portable vacuum comprises a timing mechanism configured to produce the evacuating airflow for an amount of time based on a size of the debris bin of the robotic cleaner.

18. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a Hall effect sensor.

19. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises at least one of a reed switch or a photointerruptor.

20. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the evacuation station comprises a poker configured to open a port door of the robotic cleaner as the robotic cleaner mates with the cleaner interface of the evacuation station.

21. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the cleaner interface of the evacuation station is configured to mate with a first side of the robotic cleaner, and the evacuation station comprises an electrical contact configured to align with an electrical contact on a second side of the robotic cleaner.

22. A cleaning system comprising:

an evacuation station comprising

a cleaner interface configured to mate with a robotic cleaner, wherein the cleaner interface is formed of a compliant material, and

a vacuum interface; and

a handheld portable vacuum configured to mate with the vacuum interface of the evacuation station, the portable vacuum comprising a vacuum motor configured to

produce an evacuating airflow through the vacuum interface of the evacuation station to remove debris from a debris bin of the robotic cleaner when the portable vacuum is mated with the vacuum interface of the evacuation station and when the robotic cleaner is mated with the cleaner interface of the evacuation station, and

draw air through an opening of the portable vacuum when the portable vacuum is not mated with the vacuum interface of the evacuation station, wherein the opening of the portable vacuum is configured to mate with a standard vacuum attachment.

23. The cleaning system of claim 22, wherein the cleaner interface comprises an evacuation connector to contact the robotic cleaner when the robotic cleaner is docked to the evacuation station.

24. The cleaning system of claim 22, wherein the evacuation station is configured to open a port door of the robotic cleaner as the robotic cleaner docks to the evacuation station.

25. The cleaning system of claim 22, wherein the evacuation station comprises a switch configured to cause production of a signal when the robotic cleaner mates with the cleaner interface.

26. The cleaning system of claim 22, wherein the cleaner interface comprises a substantially rectangular portion formed of the compliant material.