Supply and/or disposal system for autonomous floor cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11602255-B2
Application number	US-202117548895-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2021
Priority date	Jun 27, 2017
Publication date	Mar 14, 2023
Grant date	Mar 14, 2023

Abstract

A system for refilling, emptying and/or recharging of an autonomous floor cleaner includes a docking station adapted to be coupled with a household plumbing infrastructure. The docking station can be provided on a household appliance, which may be a toilet, a dishwasher, or another appliance coupled with the plumbing infrastructure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a docking station for docking an autonomous floor cleaner, the docking station comprising:
a liquid supply system configured to provide liquid to the autonomous floor cleaner, the liquid supply system comprising a supply conduit;
a reservoir refill valve;
a float coupled with the reservoir refill valve; and
an intermediate reservoir fluidly coupled to the liquid supply system via the reservoir refill valve, wherein the float is configured to close the reservoir refill valve when a liquid level in the intermediate reservoir rises to a predetermined level, and to open the reservoir refill valve when the liquid level in the intermediate reservoir drops below the predetermined level;
wherein the docking station is configured to be fluidly coupled to a plumbing infrastructure; and
wherein the liquid supply system is configured to automatically provide liquid to the autonomous floor cleaner.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the liquid supply system further comprises a shut-off valve configured for closing a fluid pathway when the autonomous floor cleaner is not docked with the docking station.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the shut-off valve is operated automatically upon docking of the autonomous floor cleaner with the docking station.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the docking station is communicatively coupled with the autonomous floor cleaner and configured to determine docking and/or receive a docking signal.

5. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a seal provided at an interface between the shut-off valve and the supply conduit to prevent liquid from escaping.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the docking station further comprises a disposal system configured to empty a recovery tank onboard the autonomous floor cleaner and comprising a waste receiver coupling configured to couple with a corresponding waste disposal coupling on the autonomous floor cleaner.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the docking station is configured to empty the recovery tank via the plumbing infrastructure and/or the liquid supply system is further configured to fill a supply tank onboard the autonomous floor cleaner and further comprises a supply coupling configured to couple with a corresponding receiver coupling on the autonomous floor cleaner.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising an autonomous floor cleaner comprising an autonomously moveable housing and a drive system for autonomously moving the autonomous floor cleaner.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the autonomous floor cleaner comprises an agitator and/or a fill pump for drawing liquid into a supply tank from the docking station.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the docking station further comprises a disposal system configured to empty a recovery tank onboard the autonomous floor cleaner and comprising a waste receiver coupling configured to couple with a corresponding waste disposal coupling on the autonomous floor cleaner.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the docking station is configured to empty the recovery tank via the plumbing infrastructure and/or the liquid supply system is further configured to fill a supply tank onboard the autonomous floor cleaner and further comprises a supply coupling configured to couple with a corresponding receiver coupling on the autonomous floor cleaner.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising an autonomous floor cleaner comprising an autonomously moveable housing and a drive system for autonomously moving the autonomous floor cleaner and wherein the autonomous floor cleaner comprises an agitator and/or a fill pump for drawing liquid into a supply tank from the docking station.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the docking station comprises a power cord, and the docking station is configured to be connected to a power supply by the power cord, wherein the docking station further comprises a charging system configured to recharge the autonomous floor cleaner and the autonomous floor cleaner comprises a battery pack.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an autonomous floor cleaner comprising an autonomously moveable housing and a drive system for autonomously moving the autonomous floor cleaner.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the autonomous floor cleaner comprises an agitator and/or a fill pump for drawing liquid into a supply tank from the docking station.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the docking station comprises a power cord, and the docking station is configured to be connected to a power supply by the power cord, wherein the docking station further comprises a charging system configured to recharge the autonomous floor cleaner and the autonomous floor cleaner comprises a battery pack.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the liquid supply system is further configured to fill a supply tank onboard the autonomous floor cleaner and further comprises a supply coupling configured to couple with a corresponding receiver coupling on the autonomous floor cleaner.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a float rod, wherein the float rod is configured to press against the reservoir refill valve to thereby close the reservoir refill valve when the intermediate reservoir is full.

Assignees

• Bissell Inc

Inventors

• Buehler Eric Daniel
• Scholten Jeffrey A
• Brown Adam

Classifications

• A47L11/28

  Floor-scrubbing machines, motor-driven (A47L11/29 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47L11/4083

  Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices · CPC title

• A47L2201/024

  Emptying dust or waste liquid containers · CPC title

• A47L2201/026

  Refilling cleaning liquid containers · CPC title

• A47L11/4016 Primary

  specially adapted for collecting fluids · CPC title