Cleaning robot roller processing

• US 8,418,303 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Kapoor, Deepak Ramesh, Dubrovsky, Zivthan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, Monica
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERRY, STEPHANIE R
• Application Number:
  US13/307,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20120159725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19
• US Class Current: 15/52.1
• 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 coverage robot includes a chassis, a drive system, and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly includes a housing and at least one driven cleaning roller including an elongated core with end mounting features defining a central longitudinal axis of rotation, multiple floor cleaning bristles extending radially outward from the core, and at least one compliant flap extending radially outward from the core to sweep a floor surface. The flap is configured to prevent errant filaments from spooling tightly about the core to aid subsequent removal of the filaments. In another aspect, a coverage robot includes a chassis, a drive system, a controller, and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly includes a housing and at least one driven cleaning roller. The coverage robot includes a roller cleaning tool carried by the chassis and configured to longitudinally traverse the roller to remove accumulated debris from the cleaning roller.

Claims

1. A floor cleaner comprising:

a chassis; and

a cleaning assembly carried by the chassis and comprising;

a cleaning assembly housing; and

at least one driven brush rotatably coupled to the cleaning assembly housing and comprising;

an elongated core having an outer surface and end mounting features extending beyond respective axial ends of the outer surface of the core and defining a central longitudinal axis of rotation;

a compliant portion extending radially outward from the core to sweep a floor surface as the core is rotated about the central longitudinal axis of rotation; and

an axial end guard mountable about one of the end mounting features, the axial end guard configured to prevent spooled filaments from traversing axially beyond the extremity of the mounting feature about which the axial end guard is mounted, wherein the end guard is removable from a longitudinal end of the core.

2. The floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the axial end guard forms an interference fit with the end mounting feature about which the axial end guard is mounted.

3. The floor cleaner of claim 2, wherein the end guard comprises a flat torus and a mounting ring, the mounting ring extending in a direction away from a surface of the flat torus, and the mounting ring forming an interference fit with the end mounting feature about which the axial end guard is mounted.

4. The floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein the outward radial extension of the brush is greater than the outward radial extension of the axial end guard mounted on the end mounting feature.

5. The floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein the axial end guard defines a through hole through which extends the end mounting feature about which the axial end guard is mounted.

6. The floor cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a bearing circumscribed by the axial end guard, wherein the core is rotatable relative to the bearing.

7. The floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein the compliant portion further comprises multiple floor cleaning bristles extending radially outward from the core.

8. The floor cleaner of claim 7, wherein the bristles are disposed about the core in multiple rows, each row forming a substantially V-shaped groove configuration along the core.

9. The floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein the axial end guard forms a labyrinth seal about the end mounting feature on which the axial end guard is mounted.

10. A floor cleaner comprising:

a chassis;

a cleaning assembly carried by the chassis and comprising;

a cleaning assembly housing; and

at least one brush rotatably coupled to the cleaning assembly housing and comprising;

an elongated core having an outer surface and end mounting features extending beyond respective axial ends of the outer surface of the core and defining a central longitudinal axis of rotation, the core rotatable relative to the cleaning assembly housing;

a compliant portion extending radially outward from the core to sweep a floor surface as the core is rotated about the central longitudinal axis of rotation; and

an axial end guard mountable in a fixed axial position relative to the core, the axial end guard configured to prevent spooled filaments from traversing axially beyond the extremity of at least one of the end mounting features, wherein the end guard is removable from a longitudinal end of the core.

11. The floor cleaner of claim 10, further comprising an end cap disposed at an axial end of the core, between the core and the mounted axial end guard.

12. The floor cleaner of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the axial end guard is mountable in an interference fit with one of the end mounting features extending beyond respective axial ends of the outer surface of the core.

13. The floor cleaner of claim 12, wherein the end guard comprises a flat torus and a mounting ring, the mounting ring extending in a direction away from a surface of the flat torus, and the mounting ring forming an interference fit with the end mounting feature about which the axial end guard is mounted.

14. The floor cleaner of claim 10, wherein the axial end guard is mountable to circumscribe one of the end mounting features extending beyond respective axial ends of the outer surface of the core.

15. The floor cleaner of claim 10, wherein the compliant portion further comprises multiple floor cleaning bristles extending radially outward from the core.