Docking station for an autonomous floor cleaner

A docking station for an autonomous floor cleaner, the docking station comprising:

• at least two charging contacts, the at least two charging contacts configured to contact corresponding charging contacts of an autonomous floor cleaner to charge a battery of the autonomous floor cleaner;
• a storage tank configured to hold a supply of cleaning fluid;
• a discharge path configured to convey cleaning fluid from the storage tank to the autonomous floor cleaner;
• a dispensing port configured to couple with a first port on the autonomous floor cleaner to refill a supply tank on the autonomous floor cleaner with cleaning fluid from the storage tank;
• a recirculation path configured to convey cleaning fluid from the autonomous floor cleaner to the discharge path;
• a recirculation port configured to couple with a second port on the autonomous floor cleaner to circulate cleaning fluid from the supply tank on the autonomous floor cleaner to the recirculation path;
• and
• an indexer carrying the dispensing port and the recirculation port, and configured to move the dispensing and recirculation ports into and out of engagement with the autonomous floor cleaner.

A method of servicing an autonomous floor cleaner, the method comprising:

• docking the autonomous floor cleaner at a docking station, the docking station having a storage tank configured to hold a supply of cleaning fluid, a dispensing port, a heater, and a discharge path configured to convey liquid from the storage tank to the dispensing port;
• coupling a supply tank on the autonomous floor cleaner to the dispensing port of the docking station;
• and
• exchanging cooled cleaning fluid in the supply tank with heated cleaning fluid from the docking station by recirculating cooled cleaning fluid in the supply tank on the autonomous floor cleaner to the docking station.