Debris bins and mobile cleaning robots including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11641990-B2
Application number	US-202017019924-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2020
Priority date	Dec 29, 2017
Publication date	May 9, 2023
Grant date	May 9, 2023

Abstract

A mobile cleaning robot includes a removable filter unit configured to receive a supply airflow generated by a blower and to filter debris from the supply airflow, a filter seat, a filter access opening, a filter access door, and a filter presence system. The filter access door is pivotable between a closed position, wherein the filter access door covers the filter access opening, and an open position, wherein the filter access door is displaced from the filter access opening to permit access to the filter seat. The filter presence system is configured to: permit the filter access door to move from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat; and prevent the filter access door from being moved into the closed position when the filter unit is not disposed in the filter seat. The filter presence system includes a lift arm movable between an extended position and a retracted position. When the filter access door is open, the lift arm assumes the extended position to receive the filter unit in the filter seat. Moving the filter access door from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat causes the lift arm to move to the retracted position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile cleaning robot comprising:
a bin seating;
a drive system operative to move the mobile cleaning robot;
a blower to generate a supply air flow;
a debris bin removably and replaceably disposed in the bin seating, the debris bin including a handle pivotable between a stored position and a raised position;
a filter unit disposed in the debris bin and in a path of the supply air flow; and
a bin retention system to retain the debris bin in the bin seating, the bin retention system including a latch mechanism selectively movable between a locking position, wherein the latch mechanism prevents displacement of the debris bin from the bin seating, and a releasing position, wherein the latch mechanism permits displacement of the debris bin from the bin seating, and wherein the bin retention system is transitioned from the locking position to the releasing position by pivoting the handle from the stored position to the raised position.

2. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 wherein:
the handle includes a handle body configured to be grasped by a user;
the handle body is oriented substantially horizontal when the handle is in the stored position; and
the handle body is oriented substantially vertical when the handle is in the raised position.

3. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 wherein the mobile cleaning robot includes a support structure and the bin retention system includes:
a latch portion on the handle; and
a latch member on the support structure, the latch member being displaceable relative to the bin seating;
wherein the latch portion engages the latch member and is movable with the handle such that:
when the handle is in the stored position, the latch portion interlocks with the latch member to prevent displacement of the debris bin from the bin seating; and
when the handle is transitioned from the stored position to the raised position and the debris bin is lifted from the bin seating, the latch portion displaces the latch member relative to the bin seating to permit displacement of the debris bin from the bin seating.

4. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 3 wherein the latch portion includes a cam feature that displaces the latch member as the handle is transitioned from the stored position to the raised position.

5. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 4 wherein the latch member is spring loaded.

6. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 3 wherein the latch member includes a rounded engagement end that contacts the latch portion as the debris bin is inserted into the bin seating.

7. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 1 including:
a filter seat;
a filter access opening;
a filter access door pivotable between a closed position, wherein the filter access door covers the filter access opening, and an open position, wherein the filter access door is displaced from the filter access opening to permit access to the filter seat; and
a filter presence system configured to:
permit the filter access door to move from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat; and
prevent the filter access door from being moved into the closed position when the filter unit is not disposed in the filter seat.

8. A mobile cleaning robot comprising:
a bin seating;
a drive system operative to move the mobile cleaning robot;
a blower to generate a supply air flow;
a debris bin removably locatable in the bin seating, the debris bin including a handle movable between a stored position and a raised position;
a filter unit located in the debris bin and in a path of the supply air flow; and
a bin retention system to retain the debris bin in the bin seating, the bin retention system including a latch mechanism selectively movable between a locking position, wherein the latch mechanism prevents displacement of the debris bin from the bin seating, and between a releasing position, wherein the latch mechanism permits displacement of the debris bin from the bin seating, and the bin retention system configured to transition from the locking position to the releasing when the handle is moved from the stored position to the raised position.

9. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 8 wherein:
the handle includes a handle body configured to be grasped by a user;
the handle body is oriented substantially horizontal when the handle is in the stored position; and
the handle body is oriented substantially vertical when the handle is in the raised position.

10. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 8 wherein the mobile cleaning robot includes a support structure and the bin retention system includes:
a latch portion on the handle; and
a latch member on the support structure, the latch member being displaceable relative to the bin seating.

11. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 10 wherein the latch portion engages the latch member and is movable with the handle such that:
when the handle is in the stored position, the latch portion interlocks with the latch member to prevent displacement of the debris bin from the bin seating; and
when the handle is transitioned from the stored position to the raised position and the debris bin is lifted from the bin seating, the latch portion displaces the latch member relative to the bin seating to permit displacement of the debris bin from the bin seating.

12. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 11 wherein the latch portion includes a cam feature that displaces the latch member as the handle is transitioned from the stored position to the raised position.

13. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 12 wherein the latch member is spring loaded.

14. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 11 wherein the latch member includes a rounded engagement end that contacts the latch portion as the debris bin is inserted into the bin seating.

15. A mobile cleaning robot comprising:
a bin seating;
a blower operable to generate a supply air flow;
a debris bin removably locatable in the bin seating, the debris bin including a handle movable between a stored position and a raised position;
a filter unit located in the debris bin and in a path of the supply air flow; and
a bin retention system to retain the debris bin in the bin seating, the bin retention system including a latch mechanism selectively movable between a locking position, wherein the latch mechanism limits displacement of the debris bin from the bin seating, and between a releasing position, wherein the latch mechanism permits displacement of the debris bin from the bin seating, and wherein the latch mechanism is configured to transition from the locking position to the releasing position when the handle is moved to the raised position.

16. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 15 including:
a filter seat;
a filter access opening; and
a filter access door pivotable between a closed position, wherein the filter access door covers the filter access opening, and an open position, wherein the filter access door is displaced from the filter access opening to permit access to the filter seat.

17. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 16 including:
a filter presence system configured to:
permit the filter access door to move from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat; and
prevent the filter access door from being moved into the closed position when the filter unit is not disposed in the filter seat.

18. The mobile cleaning robot of claim 15 wherein:
the handle includes a handle body configured to be grasped by a user;
the handle body

Assignees

• Irobot Corp

Inventors

• Burbank Eric
• Grace Christopher Robin
• Lewis Oliver Majer
• Hickey Stephen Albert
• Jonas Jude Royston

Classifications

• A47L9/1481

  Means for removing bags in suction cleaners, e.g. ejecting means; Means for exchanging bags · CPC title

• A47L11/4027

  Filtering or separating contaminants or debris · CPC title

• A47L2201/04

  Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection · CPC title

• A47L9/32

  Handles · CPC title

• A47L2201/00

  Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation · CPC title