Robotic cleaner debris removal integrated docking station
AssigneeSharkNinja Operating LLC
InventorsLloyd OLSEN, Simon HUGHES, Spencer WALKER-FOOKS, Pol Bernat BELENGUER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an approach to a docking station for a robotic cleaner, the docking station includes a base; a trash bin having a substantially air-impermeable trash bag removably disposed thereon; a dock dirty air inlet defined in the base, the dock dirty air inlet being configured to fluidly couple to the robotic cleaner; and a dock suction motor, wherein the dock suction motor is activated after the robotic cleaner is determined to be docked with the docking station and configured to urge debris from the robotic cleaner into the trash bin.
Claims20
A docking station for a robotic cleaner comprising:
- a base that includes a dirty air inlet configured to fluidly couple to a dust cup of the robotic cleaner;
- a trash bin extending from the base and configured to receive a trash bag, the trash bin being fluidly coupled to the dirty air inlet and including an open end configured to receive the trash bag;
- a suction motor configured to cause air to move along an evacuation flow path that extends from the dirty air inlet and through the trash bin;
- and
- a lid coupled to the trash bin and being accessible to a user during an auto-evacuation operation, the lid being configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, wherein:
- when in the open position, the open end is exposed, disrupting the evacuation flow path, to allow a user to deposit trash into the trash bin;
- and
- when in the closed position, the lid extends over the open end, allowing air to flow through the trash bin along the evacuation flow path.
A robotic cleaning system comprising:
- a robotic cleaner having a dust cup;
- and
- a docking station including:
- a base that includes a dirty air inlet configured to fluidly couple to the dust cup of the robotic cleaner;
- a trash bin extending from the base and configured to receive a trash bag, the trash bin being fluidly coupled to the dirty air inlet and including an open end configured to receive the trash bag;
- a suction motor configured to cause air to move along an evacuation flow path that extends from the dirty air inlet and through the trash bin;
- and
- a lid coupled to the trash bin and being accessible to a user during an auto-evacuation operation, the lid being configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, wherein:
- when in the open position, the open end is exposed, disrupting the evacuation flow path, to allow a user to deposit trash into the trash bin;
- and
- when in the closed position, the lid extends over the open end, allowing air to flow through the trash bin along the evacuation flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.