7116results about "Cleaning equipment" patented technology

A method of rendering materials having hard and soft surfaces hydrophilic or more hydrophilic is disclosed. The method involves hydrophilizing such materials by applying a high energy treatment and charged particles and / or one or more hydrophilic polymeric materials with discrete charges to such materials.

A control system for automatically detecting moisture on the windshield of a vehicle. The automatic moisture detecting system includes an optical system for imaging a portion of the windshield on to an image array sensor, such as a CMOS active pixel sensor. The voltages of each of the pixels which represents the illumination level is converted to a corresponding gray scale value by an analog digital converter. The gray scale values corresponding to the image are stored in memory. The spatial frequency composition of the gray scale values are analyzed to determine the amount of rain present. In order to provide a control signal to control the operation of the windshield wipers of the vehicle as a function of the amount of moisture present. The system is also adapted to detect the level of fog both on the interior of the windshield as well as the exterior of the windshield. By providing a system for automatically detecting the presence of fog on the interior and exterior of the windshield, serious performance limitations of known automatic rain sensors are eliminated.

A mobile robot includes a processor connected to a memory and a wireless network circuit, for executing routines stored in the memory and commands generated by the routines and received via the wireless network circuit. The processor drives the mobile robot to a multiplicity of accessible two dimensional locations within a household, and commands an end effector, including at least one motorized actuator, to perform mechanical work in the household. A plurality of routines include a first routine which monitors a wireless local network and detects a presence of a network entity on the wireless local network, a second routine which receives a signal from a sensor detecting an action state of one of the network entities, the action state changeable between waiting and active, and a third routine which commands the end effector to change state of performing mechanical work based on the presence and on the action state.

A robot cleaner system having an improved docking structure to allow a dust discharge port of a robot cleaner to come into close contact with a dust suction port of a docking station without an additional drive device. The robot cleaner system includes a robot cleaner having a dust discharge port, a docking station having a dust suction port to suction dust collected in the robot cleaner, and a docking device to perform a seesaw movement as it comes into contact with the robot cleaner when the robot cleaner docks with the docking station, so as to allow the dust suction port to come into close contact with the dust discharge port. The docking device further includes a link member installed in the docking station in a pivotally rotatable manner. The link member has one end provided with a contact portion to come into contact with the robot cleaner, and the other end provided with a docking portion defining the dust suction port therein.

An autonomous floor-cleaning robot comprising a housing infrastructure including a chassis, a power subsystem; for providing the energy to power the autonomous floor-cleaning robot, a motive subsystem operative to propel the autonomous floor-cleaning robot for cleaning operations, a command and control subsystem operative to control the autonomous floor-cleaning robot to effect cleaning operations, and a self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem that includes a deck mounted in pivotal combination with the chassis, a brush assembly mounted in combination with the deck and powered by the motive subsystem to sweep up particulates during cleaning operations, a vacuum assembly disposed in combination with the deck and powered by the motive subsystem to ingest particulates during cleaning operations, and a deck adjusting subassembly mounted in combination with the motive subsystem for the brush assembly, the deck, and the chassis that is automatically operative in response to an increase in brush torque in said brush assembly to pivot the deck with respect to said chassis. The autonomous floor-cleaning robot also includes a side brush assembly mounted in combination with the chassis and powered by the motive subsystem to entrain particulates outside the periphery of the housing infrastructure and to direct such particulates towards the self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem.

An vacuum cleaning robot has a drive system adapted to autonomously move a base housing along a horizontal surface and is controlled by a computer processing unit. A dusting assembly is mounted to the base housing and is adapted to selectively rest on a surface to be cleaned. A suction source draws dirt and debris through a suction nozzle and deposits the same in the recovery tank. A power source is connected to the drive system and to the computer processing unit. The computer processing unit is adapted to direct horizontal movement of the base housing within boundaries of the surface to be cleaned based upon input data defining said boundaries.

A robot cleaner capable of returning to an external recharging device. The robot cleaner includes a driving portion for driving a plurality of wheels, at least one camera installed on a body of the robot cleaner, the camera for photographing external surroundings, and a controller for photographing an image through a camera for recognition of a connection position where the external recharging device is connected with the robot cleaner and stores the photographed image, and controls the driving portion so that the robot cleaner can move from the external recharging device to a destination when an operation start signal is received in the robot cleaner connected to the external recharging device, and for tracing a path to the connection position of the external recharging device and the robot cleaner during a robot cleaner's return to the external recharging device while comparing a current image currently taken by the camera with a stored image of the connection position of the robot cleaner and the external recharging device. Returning of the robot cleaner is carried out when the robot cleaner, separated from the external recharging device, completes its job or needs a recharging, by using the previously stored image and an image currently taken by the camera. Accordingly, an error in the location process, mainly caused due to external interference signals, is decreased, and errors in tracing a path and connecting to the external recharging device can also be decreased.

An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.

A robotic surface treating device that can perform carpet sweeping, hard-surface dry sweeping / wiping, and hard-surface sweeping / mopping is disclosed. The robotic surface treating device includes a sweeper brush, a dust bin for collecting debris from the brush, a reel-to-reel sheet of cleaning material, and a fluid delivery system for delivering fluid from a fluid reservoir onto the sheet of cleaning material and / or onto the surface to be treated. The dust bin, reel-to-reel sheet of cleaning material, and the fluid reservoir are separately installed from the top of the device, and may be separately removed for replacement.

A robot cleaner system having an improved docking structure between a robot cleaner and a docking station, which is capable of an easy docking operation of the robot cleaner and preventing loss of a suction force generated in the docking station. The robot cleaner includes a docking portion to be inserted into a dust suction hole of the docking station upon a docking operation. The docking portion may be a protrusion, which protrudes out of a robot body to be inserted into a dust suction path defined in the docking station, the protrusion communicates a dust discharge hole of the robot cleaner with the dust suction path of the docking station. The robot cleaner system includes a coupling device to keep the robot cleaner and the docking station in their docked state. The coupling device is configured to have a variety of shapes.

A multi-function robotic device may have utility in various applications. In accordance with one aspect, a multi-function robotic device may be selectively configurable to perform a desired function in accordance with the capabilities of a selectively removable functional cartridge operably coupled with a robot body. Localization and mapping techniques may employ partial maps associated with portions of an operating environment, data compression, or both.

The invention relates to a method for operating a floor cleaning system having a central suction station with which there is associated a self-propelled and self-steering suction appliance, dirt being picked up from a floor surface that is to be cleaned by means of the suction appliance and being transferred into a dirt collection vessel of the suction appliance, and the suction station having a suction unit, and the dirt collection vessel being sucked out by means of the suction unit. To refine the method in such a manner that the levels of noise produced by the floor cleaning system can be reduced, it is proposed, according to the invention, that the suction unit is optionally operated with a maximum suction power or a reduced suction power. The invention also proposes a floor cleaning system for carrying out the method.

A cartridge is disclosed comprising a reel-to-reel roll of cleaning material, for use in a hand-held or robotic cleaning device. The cartridge provides either an electrostatic dust cloth or wet mop, and includes a fluid reservoir for maintaining the wet mop cloth during use. A dust bin is also provided on the cartridge, and includes a hinged lid for providing selective access to the dust inside of the bin. A motor, optical sensor, and fluid pump inside of a cleaning apparatus control the operation of the reel-to-reel cloth, and control fluid delivery to the wet cloth.

A mobile robotic system includes a charging device and a mobile robot. The charging device is provided with a light emitter and a set of first charging contacts for supplying a charging signal. The mobile robot has a first side provided with a first light sensor, a second side provided with a second light sensor and a set of second charging contacts corresponding to the first charging contacts, a rechargeable battery unit, and a control unit. When charging of the battery unit is intended, the control unit enables movement of the mobile robot until the first light sensor detects light emitted by the light emitter, subsequently enables rotation of the mobile robot until the second light sensor detects the light from the light emitter, and then enables movement of the mobile robot toward the charging device until the first and second charging contacts come into contact.

A method for energy management in a robotic device includes providing a base station for mating with the robotic device, determining a quantity of energy stored in an energy storage unit of the robotic device, and performing a predetermined task based at least in part on the quantity of energy stored. Also disclosed are systems for emitting avoidance signals to prevent inadvertent contact between the robot and the base station, and systems for emitting homing signals to allow the robotic device to accurately dock with the base station.

A robot cleaner. The robot cleaner comprises a bumper for buffering a shock caused by a sudden collision with an unexpected obstacle, and an unexpected obstacle detecting means and a controller to change a running direction in the collision with the obstacle to avoid the obstacle. Accordingly, when an unexpected obstacle appears in front of the cleaner and the cleaner collides with the obstacle, the bumper buffers and absorbs the shock, thereby preventing damages to a cleaner body and inner parts. Also, the robot cleaner can avoid the obstacle, and thus complete a cleaning operation without stopping the cleaning operation.

The toothbrush of the present invention comprises an elongated handle having a head attached to one end. The head has a bristle-bearing face having longitudinal perimeter portions adjacent longitudinal edges and at least two perimetric, elastomeric massaging elements alternately arranged with groups of bristle tufts along each of the longitudinal perimeter portions. The brush can comprise further massaging elements which are not located along the longitudinal perimeter portions though the use of such additional elements is preferably minimised. The perimetric massaging elements have rotational symmetry through an angle of 120° or less, preferably being circular. The cross-sectional area proportion of elastomeric massaging elements to bristles on the brush head is less than 25%. Alternately there are four or fewer elastomeric massaging elements which are not perimetric massaging elements. A brush with both bristles and gum massaging elements arranged as set out above provides both cleaning and gum massaging benefits without creating an undesirable aesthetic impression derived from the use of rubber-like materials in the part of the brush head traditionally comprising only bristles.

Disclosed are an automatic charging apparatus of an autonomous mobile robot and an automatic charging method using the same in that a moving robot can automatically detect infrared signals emitted from a charging station and can automatically induce charging station so as to automatically charge a battery of the robot, whereby improving convenience thereof. The automatic charging apparatus of the autonomous mobile robot, comprises a charging station having connecting terminals for charging the battery and an infrared signal generator for emitting infrared signals on a position information thereof; and a moving robot having an infrared receiving apparatus for receiving the infrared signals from the infrared signal generator in a cast that a remnant capacity of the battery is insufficient or a charging order is inputted, a microcomputer for controlling a traveling of the moving robot by using a detected position information of the charging station through the infrared signals received from the infrared receiving apparatus, and charging terminals for charging the battery with electricity through the contact with the connecting terminal.

A robot cleaner is provided. The robot cleaner comprises a bumper to buffer a shock caused by a sudden collision with an unexpected obstacle and an unexpected obstacle detecting means and a controller to change a running direction of the robot cleaner to avoid the obstacle. Accordingly, when an unexpected obstacle appears in front of the cleaner and the cleaner collides with the obstacle, the bumper buffers and absorbs the shock, thereby preventing damage to a cleaner body and inner parts. Also, the robot cleaner can avoid the obstacle and, thus, complete a cleaning operation without stopping the cleaning operation.

A multi-function robotic device may have utility in various applications. In accordance with one aspect, a multi-function robotic device may be selectively configurable to perform a desired function in accordance with the capabilities of a selectively removable functional cartridge operably coupled with a robot body. Localization and mapping techniques may employ partial maps associated with portions of an operating environment, data compression, or both.

In a brush assembly of a cleaner including plural brushes arranged at the bottom surface of a cleaner body radially at regular intervals; plural supporting shafts for rotatively supporting the brushes; and a driving unit connected to the brushes in order to rotate the brushes, by arranging the plural brushes radially, dust and filth can be collected in a wider region, and accordingly a cleaning performance can be improved. In addition, by forming the brushes as a curved shape, it is possible to compact a size of the cleaner.

A self-propelling cleaner 1 performs dust removal processing in which a comb is brought close to a rotary brush with prescribed timing and dust is removed from the rotary brush. In the dust removal processing, the comb is slid in such a direction as to come closer to the brush, even dust that is stuck to the base portions of bristles of the rotary brush can be removed. A self-propelling cleaner is provided that is free of an event that it performs cleaning in a state that a large amount of dust is stuck to the rotary brush.

An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.

A cleaner system having an improved connecting position and structure between a robot cleaner and a docking station for achieving an improvement in dust removal performance of the docking station. The docking station performs manual cleaning. The robot cleaner has a dust outlet at a top wall of the robot body to discharge the dust collected in the first dust collector into the docking station, and the docking station has a connection port at a position thereof corresponding to the dust outlet to receive the dust discharged from the dust outlet. The robot cleaner or docking station includes a connector to connect the dust outlet to the connection port. The docking station includes a suction part, suction pipe, and suction hole for manual operation. A channel switching member is mounted in the docking station to selectively apply power required to suck dust to the connection port or suction hole.

A robot cleaner system and a method for the robot cleaner to return to an external recharging apparatus. The robot cleaner system has an external recharging apparatus including a charging stand having a charging terminal, and a plurality of transmission parts for sending signals having different codes and strengths; a robot cleaner including a rechargeable battery, a connection terminal for connection with the charging terminal to supply power to the rechargeable battery, a receiving part for receiving signals from the plurality of transmission parts, and a control part for controlling a movement of the robot cleaner using the signals received by the receiving part, so that the connection terminal is connected to the charging terminal.