Debris evacuation for cleaning robots
First Claim
1. A robotic floor cleaning system, comprising:
- a mobile floor cleaning robot comprisinga chassis with at least one drive wheel operable to propel the robot across a floor surface;
a cleaning bin disposed within the robot and arranged to receive debris ingested by the robot during cleaning; and
a robot vacuum comprising a motor and a fan connected to the motor and configured to generate a flow of air to pull debris into the cleaning bin from an opening on an underside of the robot; and
an evacuation station configured to evacuate debris from the cleaning bin of the robot, the evacuation station comprisinga housing defining a platform arranged to receive the robot in a position in which the opening on the underside of the robot aligns with a suction opening defined in the platform; and
an evacuation vacuum in fluid communication with the suction opening and operable to draw air into the housing through the suction opening,wherein the robot further comprises a one-way air flow valve disposed within the robot and configured to automatically close in response to operation of the evacuation vacuum, andwherein the air flow valve is disposed in an air passage connecting the robot vacuum to an interior of the cleaning bin.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A robot floor cleaning system features a mobile floor cleaning robot and an evacuation station. The robot includes: a chassis with at least one drive wheel operable to propel the robot across a floor surface; a cleaning bin disposed within the robot and arranged to receive debris ingested by the robot during cleaning; and a robot vacuum configured to pull debris into the cleaning bin from an opening on an underside of the robot. The evacuation station is configured to evacuate debris from the cleaning bin of the robot, and includes: a housing defining a platform arranged to receive the cleaning robot in a position in which the opening on the underside of the robot aligns with a suction opening defined in the platform; and an evacuation vacuum in fluid communication with the suction opening and operable to draw air into the evacuation station housing through the suction opening.
109 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A robotic floor cleaning system, comprising:
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a mobile floor cleaning robot comprising a chassis with at least one drive wheel operable to propel the robot across a floor surface; a cleaning bin disposed within the robot and arranged to receive debris ingested by the robot during cleaning; and a robot vacuum comprising a motor and a fan connected to the motor and configured to generate a flow of air to pull debris into the cleaning bin from an opening on an underside of the robot; and an evacuation station configured to evacuate debris from the cleaning bin of the robot, the evacuation station comprising a housing defining a platform arranged to receive the robot in a position in which the opening on the underside of the robot aligns with a suction opening defined in the platform; and an evacuation vacuum in fluid communication with the suction opening and operable to draw air into the housing through the suction opening, wherein the robot further comprises a one-way air flow valve disposed within the robot and configured to automatically close in response to operation of the evacuation vacuum, and wherein the air flow valve is disposed in an air passage connecting the robot vacuum to an interior of the cleaning bin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of evacuating a cleaning bin of a mobile floor cleaning robot, the method comprising:
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docking the robot to a housing of an evacuation station, the robot comprising the cleaning bin, the cleaning bin being disposed within the robot and carrying debris ingested by the robot during cleaning; and a robot vacuum comprising a motor and a fan connected to the motor, and the evacuation station comprising a housing defining a platform having a suction opening; and an evacuation vacuum in fluid communication with the suction opening and operable to draw air into the evacuation station housing through the suction opening; sealing the suction opening of the platform to an opening on an underside of the robot; drawing air into the evacuation station housing through the suction opening by operating the evacuation vacuum; and actuating a one-way air flow valve disposed within the robot to inhibit air from being drawn through the fan of the robot vacuum by operation of the evacuation vacuum. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A mobile floor cleaning robot, comprising:
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a chassis with at least one drive wheel operable to propel the robot across a floor surface; a cleaning bin disposed within the robot and arranged to receive debris ingested by the robot during cleaning; a robot vacuum comprising a motor and a fan connected to the motor and configured to motivate air to flow along a flow path extending from an inlet on an underside of the robot, through the cleaning bin, to an outlet, thereby pulling debris through the inlet into the cleaning bin; and a one-way air flow valve disposed within the robot and configured to automatically close in response to air flow moving through the underside of the robot and along the flow path from the outlet to the inlet. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A cleaning bin for use with a mobile robot, the cleaning bin comprising:
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a frame attachable to a chassis of the mobile robot, the frame defining a debris collection cavity and comprising; a vacuum housing; and a rear wall having one or more suction vents; a vacuum sealing member coupled to the frame in an air passage proximate the vacuum housing, wherein the vacuum sealing member comprises a flexible and resilient flap adjustable from an open position to a closed position in response to a reverse suction airflow out of the cleaning bin and through an underside of the mobile robot; and an elongated sealing member coupled to the frame proximate the rear wall in alignment with the suction vents, wherein the elongated sealing member comprises a flexible and resilient flap adjustable from a closed position to an open position in response to the reverse suction airflow. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification