Autonomous coverage robot

• US 9,282,867 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, Joseph M., Reimels, John, Morin, Russell Walter, Williams, Marcus R., Sweezey, Andrew Stephen, Schregardus, Thomas, Fischella, Christopher J., Amaral, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bucci, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/729,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20140182627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/258, 700/259, 700/253, 700/246, 700/250, 901/1, 901/47, 901/46, 901/40, 901/9, 901/10, 901/17, 153/19, 153/20, 153/401, 153/39, 15/491, 15/501, 15/98, 15/3, 134/18, 134/10, 134/21, 134/117
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation

Abstract

A mobile surface cleaning robot including a robot body having a forward drive direction, a drive system supporting the robot body above a floor surface for maneuvering the robot across the floor surface, and a robot controller in communication with the drive system. The robot also includes a collection volume supported by the robot body and a cleaning module releasably supported by the robot body and arranged to clean the floor surface. The cleaning module includes a first vacuum squeegee having a first duct, a driven roller brush rotatably supported rearward of the first vacuum squeegee, a second vacuum squeegee disposed rearward of the roller brush and having a second duct, and a third duct in fluid communication with the first and second ducts. The third duct is connectable to the collection volume at a fluid-tight interface formed by selectively engaging the cartridge with the robot body.

Claims

1. A mobile surface cleaning robot comprising:

a robot body having a forward drive direction;

a drive system supporting the robot body above a floor surface for maneuvering the robot across the floor surface;

a robot controller in communication with the drive system;

a collection volume supported by the robot body;

a cleaning cartridge releasably supported by the robot body and arranged to clean the floor surface, the cleaning cartridge comprising;

a first vacuum squeegee having a first duct;

a driven roller brush rotatably supported rearward of the first vacuum squeegee;

a second vacuum squeegee disposed rearward of the roller brush and having a second duct; and

a third duct in fluid communication with the first and second ducts, the third duct connectable to the collection volume at a fluid-tight interface formed by selectively engaging the cartridge with the robot body;

a liquid applicator supported by the robot body rearward of the second vacuum squeegee;

a fluid accumulator supported by the robot body and in fluid communication with the liquid applicator; and

a smearing element suspended from the robot body by the fluid accumulator, the smearing element delivering fluid from the fluid accumulator onto the floor surface, wherein the fluid accumulator extends along the length of the smearing element.

2. The robot of claim 1, further comprising a smearing element arranged to receive fluid dispensed by the liquid applicator and smear the received fluid onto the floor surface.

3. The robot of claim 2, wherein the smearing element defines a lumen arranged to receive fluid dispensed by the liquid applicator.

4. The robot of claim 1, wherein the fluid retained by the fluid accumulator is pressurized for forced distribution through the smearing element.

5. The robot of claim 1, wherein the fluid retained by the fluid accumulator is gravity fed through the smearing element.

6. The robot of claim 1, wherein the smearing element is defined by a permeable material that draws the fluid from the fluid accumulator to the floor surface.

7. The robot of claim 1, wherein the smearing element is defined by a plurality of bristles extending between the fluid accumulator and the floor surface, the plurality of bristles directing the fluid form the fluid accumulator to the floor surface through capillary action.

8. The robot of claim 1, further comprising a detent mechanism for selectively engaging and disengaging the cleaning cartridge from the robot body.

9. The robot of claim 1, further comprising an engagement element for selectively engaging the cleaning cartridge with the robot body, the engagement element providing audible and/or physical verification of successful engagement.

10. The robot of claim 1, further comprising one or more guide connectors disposed on the cleaning module for releasably securing the cleaning module to the robot body, each guide connector receivable by a corresponding receptacle defined by the robot body, for guiding and orienting the cleaning module during attachment of the cleaning module to the robot body.

11. The robot of claim 1, wherein the cleaning cartridge further comprises a suspension supporting the second vacuum squeegee and biasing the second vacuum squeegee toward the floor surface.

12. The robot of claim 11, wherein the suspension biases the second vacuum squeegee downward with a force of between about 1 Newton and about 5 Newtons.

13. The robot of claim 1, wherein the robot weighs between about 40 Newtons and about 50 Newtons when the collection volume is empty and between about 50 Newtons and about 60 Newtons when the collection volume is full of water.

14. The robot of claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises right and left driven wheel modules disposed substantially opposed along a transverse axis defined by the robot body, each wheel module having a drive motor coupled to a respective wheel.

15. The robot of claim 14, wherein each wheel module movable secured by the robot body and spring biased downward away from the robot body with a biasing force of about 10 Newtons in a deployed position and about 20 Newtons in a retracted position.

16. The robot of claim 14, wherein the drive system comprises caster wheel disposed on a forward portion of the robot body, the caster wheel arranged to support between 0 and about 10% of the weight of the robot.

17. The robot of claim 14, wherein the drive system comprises right and left non-driven wheels disposed rearward of the right and left driven wheel modules.

18. The robot of claim 17, wherein the right and left non-driven wheels are arranged to support between 0 and about 10% of the weight of the robot.

19. A mobile surface cleaning robot comprising:

a robot body having a forward drive direction;

a drive system supporting the robot body above a floor surface for maneuvering the robot across the floor surface;

a wet cleaning system supported by the robot body and arranged to clean the floor surface; and

a robot controller in communication with at least one of the drive system or the cleaning system;

wherein the cleaning system comprises;

a liquid collection volume defining at least one fluid orifice and a shaft aperture; and

an anti-spill device in communication with the robot controller, the robot controller causing the anti-spill device to open and close the at least one orifice based on a robot state, the anti-spill device comprising;

at least one orifice sealer supported inside the liquid collection volume to move between an open position that allows fluid through the least one fluid orifice and a closed position that seals the at least one fluid orifice closed;

an actuator shaft coupled to the at least one orifice sealer and supported to move through the shaft aperture defined by the liquid collection volume; and

an orifice opener actuator coupled to the actuator shaft and in communication with the robot controller, the orifice opener actuator configured to move the actuator shaft to cause movement of the at least one orifice sealer between the open and closed positions.