Patent Application
20240041281
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A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The invention relates generally to the field of cleaning robots. More specifically, the present invention relates to an autonomous cleaning robot system and method which recycles cleaning fluid and employs germicidal ultraviolet radiation to disinfect both cleaning fluid as well as the surface to be cleaned.
Autonomous robot floor cleaning devices are known in the art. Such devices are configured to clean hard floor surfaces such as tile, wood, and concrete floors, and to freely move from one surface type to the other unattended and without interrupting the cleaning process. Known devices typically include an autonomous locomotion mechanism, a brush mechanism and a vacuum mechanism.
Germicidal techniques including the use of various types of sanitizers have been developed to combat the contamination of surfaces, and are well known in the art. Numerous methods inventions have been created and implemented to clean and sanitize surfaces, the surrounding air, and liquids. Among the most popular methods of sanitizing both surfaces and the surrounding air is the use of chemical sanitizers.
Chemical sanitizers for surfaces involve the introduction of a chemical mixture onto the surface. Chemical sanitizers ranging from alcohols to chlorine-based sanitizers have been used for well over 100 years. In recent years, the use of alcohol-based solutions has become prevalent among surface cleaners and disinfectants. Though this method of disinfecting air has proven effective, many chemical sanitizers can irritate respiratory and integumentary systems. Finally, chemical based sanitizer systems, when used in a reservoir, lose their effectiveness after use.
As an alternative to chemical sanitizers, the use of ultraviolet irradiation devices has become widely used. Ultraviolet sanitizing devices essentially consist of a device where ultraviolet lights irradiate surfaces and the surrounding space. Such ultraviolet irradiation has proven itself highly effective in killing pathogens, and several portable devices have been created.
Newer autonomous cleaning robots provide surface and floor clearing in the form of collecting loose particulates, as well as applying a cleaning fluid to a floor. However, there exists no compact autonomous cleaning robot with a system for recycling cleaning fluid in such a manner which enables a cleaning robot to clean a larger surface area. Moreover, there is currently no teaching of an autonomous floor cleaning robot capable of employing germicidal ultraviolet radiation to disinfect both the surface to be cleaned and the cleaning fluid. Presently, there exists a need for such an autonomous cleaning robot system with a system for recycling cleaning fluid in such a manner which enables a cleaning robot to clean a larger surface area. Additionally, there exists a need for an autonomous cleaning robot capable of using germicidal ultraviolet radiation to both disinfect used cleaning fluid as well as disinfect a cleaning surface.
The present invention is directed an improved autonomous cleaning robot system and method which employs a fluid recycling system and germicidal ultraviolet radiation technology to filter, disinfect and re-use used cleaning fluid. Furthermore, the improved autonomous cleaning robot system uses germicidal ultraviolet radiation technology to disinfect surfaces. Such an improved autonomous cleaning robot is designed to clean and disinfect floors without having to frequently change out cleaning fluid. Moreover, the improved autonomous cleaning robot system produces improved results in the form of a cleaner and sanitized surface.
The invention, at its essence, includes a main body including a main mounting frame and an outer shell; a drive wheel assembly; a collision mitigation mechanism; a sweeping and vacuum assembly; a cleaning fluid applicator and cleaning roller assembly; a germicidal ultraviolet light disinfection mechanism, said germicidal ultraviolet light disinfection mechanism capable of disinfecting both cleaning fluid and a cleaning surface; and a main controller unit. The use of germicidal ultraviolet radiation to both disinfect a cleaning surface as well as to disinfect used and/or recycled cleaning fluid.
More specifically, the invention includes a main body including a main mounting frame and an outer shell; a drive wheel assembly; a collision mitigation mechanism; a sweeping and vacuum assembly; a cleaning fluid applicator and roller assembly; a germicidal ultraviolet light disinfection mechanism capable of disinfecting both cleaning fluid and a cleaning surface; a cleaning fluid recycling assembly; and a main controller unit. The autonomous cleaning robot adds a cleaning fluid recycling system which works in tandem with the sweeping mechanism, the vacuuming mechanism, and the mopping mechanism. A wringing roller wrings cleaning fluid from a roller brush. The used cleaning fluid is directed into a receiving tray capable of accommodating dirty cleaning fluid. The used cleaning solution is filtered by a filter mechanism, is disinfected by an ultraviolet light assembly, and the disinfected and filtered cleaning fluid is pumped back to a fluid reservoir to continue circulating in the mopping mechanism.
Embodiments of the invention include sweeping and vacuum assembly which comprises a sweeper having two counterrotating brushes, a dust collector, a vacuum cannister, and a suction tube connecting the dust collector with the vacuum cannister. The twin counterrotating brushes sweep debris into a dust collector where the vacuum draws any dust and debris into a cannister.
The cleaning fluid applicator and roller assembly includes a cleaning fluid reservoir; a cleaning fluid outlet pipeline; and a roller brush assembly for cleaning and mopping a floor. The cleaning fluid recycling assembly includes a wringing roller mechanism for wringing a roller brush assembly for cleaning and mopping a floor, the roller mechanism for wringing the roller brush assembly for cleaning and mopping a floor being engageable with the roller brush assembly; a fluid receiving tray; a filtering mechanism for cleaning fluid; and a cleaning fluid pump. Such a mechanism allows for the efficient dispensation, application, recycling and filtering of cleaning fluid.
The germicidal ultraviolet light disinfection mechanism of the cleaning roller assembly includes at least one UV-C disinfecting lamp. In embodiments of the invention, the UV-C disinfecting lamp is configured to apply germicidal ultraviolet radiation to the contents inside the fluid reservoir as well as configured to apply germicidal ultraviolet radiation to the surface to be cleaned and disinfected.
Use of the autonomous is designed to be simple. As a method for cleaning a floor using an autonomous cleaning robot system involves activating the autonomous cleaning robot; checking of cleaning fluid levels; the robot system acquiring imagery of the space to be cleaned; the robot activating the sweeping and vacuum assembly; the robot dispensing cleaning fluid through a cleaning fluid applicator and roller assembly; the robot recycling recovered and excess cleaning fluid; the robot activating the germicidal ultraviolet light disinfection mechanism to irradiate recovered and excess cleaning fluid, and irradiating a cleaning surface; the autonomous cleaning robot moving across the area or space to be cleaned; the autonomous cleaning robot recording its travel path; the autonomous cleaning robot traveling across areas not previously traveled across; and housing and powering down the autonomous cleaning robot when the autonomous cleaning robot completes the task of cleaning the surface to be cleaned.
The invention directed by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be understood that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes all equivalents known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described. But any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein should also be understood to refer to functional equivalents of such structures.
References to “one embodiment,” “one variant,” “an embodiment,” “a variant,” “various embodiments,” “numerous variants,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include particular features, structures, or characteristics. However, not every embodiment or variant necessarily includes the particular features, structures, or characteristics. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” or “a variant,” or “another variant,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment although they may. A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments and/or variants of the present invention.
A “computer” may refer to one or more apparatus and/or one or more systems that are capable of accepting a structured input, processing the structured input according to prescribed rules, and producing results of the processing as output. Examples of a computer may include: a personal computer (PC); a stationary and/or portable computer; a computer having a single processor, a computer having multiple processors, or a computer having multi-core processors, which may operate in parallel and/or not in parallel; a general purpose computer; a supercomputer; a mainframe; a super mini-computer; a mini-computer; a workstation; a micro-computer; a server; a client; an interactive television; a web appliance; a telecommunications device with internet access; a hybrid combination of a computer and an interactive television; a portable computer; a tablet personal computer; a personal digital assistant (PDA); a portable telephone; a portable smartphone; wearable devices such as smartwatches; application-specific hardware to emulate a computer and/or software, such as, for example, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an application specific instruction-set processor (ASIP), a chip, chips, a system on a chip, or a chip set; a data acquisition device; an optical computer; a quantum computer; a biological computer; and generally, an apparatus that may accept data, process data according to one or more stored software programs, generate results, and typically include input, output, storage, arithmetic, logic, and control units.
The term “processor” may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that may be stored in registers and/or memory. A “computing platform” may comprise one or more processors.
A “computer monitor” or “display” is an output device that displays information in pictorial form. A monitor usually comprises the visual display, circuitry, casing, and power supply. The display device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) with LED backlighting having replaced cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlighting. Monitors are typically connected to computers via VGA, Digital Visual Interface (DVI), S-Video, HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) or other proprietary and/or integrated connectors and signals.
It will be readily understood by persons skilled in the art that the various methods and algorithms described herein may be implemented by appropriately programmed computers and computing devices. Typically, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) will receive instructions from a memory or memory-like device, and execute those instructions, thereby performing a process defined by those instructions. Further, programs that implement such methods and algorithms may be stored and transmitted using a variety of known media.
“Software” may refer to prescribed rules and/or instructions used to operate a computer. Examples of software may include code segments in one or more computer-readable languages; graphical and or/textual instructions; applets; pre-compiled code; interpreted code; compiled code; and computer programs. An operating system or “OS” is software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs.
Certain embodiments described herein can be implemented in an operating environment comprising computer-executable instructions (e.g., software) installed on a computer, in hardware, or in a combination of software and hardware. The computer-executable instructions can be written in a computer programming language or can be embodied in firmware logic. If written in a programming language conforming to a recognized standard, such instructions can be executed on a variety of hardware platforms and for interfaces to a variety of operating systems. Although not limited thereto, computer software program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention can be written in any combination of one or more suitable programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages and/or conventional procedural programming languages, and/or programming languages or other compilers, assemblers, interpreters or other computer languages or platforms.
A “computer system” may refer to a system having one or more computers, where each computer may include a computer-readable medium employing software to operate the computer or one or more of its components. Examples of a computer system may include: a distributed computer system for processing information via computer systems linked by a network; two or more computer systems connected together via a network for transmitting and/or receiving information between the computer systems; a computer system including two or more processors within a single computer; and one or more apparatuses and/or one or more systems that may accept data, may process data in accordance with one or more stored software programs, may generate results, and typically may include input, output, storage, arithmetic, logic, and control units.
Terms such as, but not limited to, “Sanitizer,” or “Disinfectant” refers to a substance or device for killing or reducing levels of pathogenic microorganisms.
“Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation” or “UVGI” is a germicidal technique where ultraviolet radiation is used to kill or inactivate microorganisms. Ultraviolet radiation is mutagenic and harmful to bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, with short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation considered to be “germicidal” at wavelengths between 100-280 nanometers.
As is well known to those skilled in the art, many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing the optimal manufacture or commercial implementation of such an autonomous cleaning robot system and method. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the invention may be configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art.
The exemplary autonomous cleaning robot system and method will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Visible from the outside of the system is a display interface 106. Such a display interface can be coupled with a main controller unit including at least one processor and memory having computer readable instructions capable of controlling the individual components of the autonomous cleaning robot system. The autonomous cleaning robot employs front sensors which include visual cameras and radar sensors known in the art. The radar sensors are the main or primary sensors and can perform functions such as scanning and obstacle avoidance. However, the radar is installed at a certain height, and the area below the radar installation height cannot be scanned. In one embodiment of the invention, each camera intervenes to scan for unknown risks such as obstacles and stairs on the ground. Data gathered from both radar and the cameras is stored in memory, where calculations are made and instructions delivered to the drive wheels to achieve optimal obstacle avoidance.
One or more apertures 302 in the underside of the autonomous cleaning robot allow for germicidal ultraviolet radiation to travel from a light source located internally to the cleaning surface. Such a configuration allows for a germicidal light assembly to irradiate and disinfect cleaning fluid, cleaning brushes and other components while simultaneously being able to irradiate and disinfect a cleaning surface such as a floor. Persons having skill in the art will readily appreciate that various UV-C lighting devices can be used and positioned to achieve such results.
In embodiments of the invention, an ultraviolet light disinfection mechanism 408 is installed on a rear structure of the main mounting frame 204. When the robot begins a cleaning cycle, the main controller unit will control the ultraviolet light disinfection mechanism to turn on and sterilize and/or disinfect the circulating cleaning fluid and cleaning roller assembly. The ultraviolet light disinfection mechanism is capable of projecting germicidal light through one or more openings or apertures in the chassis or underside or undercarriage where it can also irradiate the ground and disinfect the cleaning surface. Such a unique combination allows for both sanitized cleaning fluid and a disinfected cleaning surface. In one embodiment of the invention, the ultraviolet light disinfection system employs a tube lamp with a length of 287 mm, power is 8 W, and operates at a wavelength of 254 nm. Such a wavelength belongs to short-wave UV-C, which is easily absorbed by the DNA of the organism and is the strongest sterilizer. However, other embodiments of the invention can employ LED UV germicidal lamps. By way of example, and not limitation, use of one or more LED lamps in various configurations can provide a more optimal disinfection system while requiring less space than conventional tube lamps. Moreover, LED lamps may draw less electricity from any batter used.
The cleaning fluid reservoir 502 supplies cleaning fluid to the roller brush 508 through a cleaning fluid outlet pipeline 504. The roller brush 508 is rotatably mounted on the rolling brush mounting frame 510. The spray plate assembly 506 is located above the roller brush 508. Positioned above the spray plate 506 is a clean fluid distribution well 512, the bottom of the clean fluid distribution well 512 is provided with two equalizing dams 514. The cleaning fluid reservoir 502 has a handle 518, so that a user can lift the cleaning fluid reservoir 502 to add or remove or change a suitable cleaning fluid or clean the fluid reservoir 502.
The spray plate 506 has a flow channel inside where the clean fluid distribution well 512 is filled with cleaning fluid. The flow channel connects with the bottom of the spray plate 506 and includes a plurality of spray ports. The flow channel connects with the spray ports, and the spray ports are in communication with the fluid outlet pipeline 504.
The cleaning roller assembly includes a fluid circulation system which consists of a wringing roller 702 for wringing or applying pressure to the roller brush 508. The fluid circulation system includes a fluid receiving tray 704 for accommodating the dirty fluid squeezed or wrung out from the roller brush 508. The system further includes a deflector 706. Filter mechanism for filtering sewage, UVC disinfection lamp and fluid pump 708.
The wringing roller 702 and the deflector 706 are fixedly installed on the rolling brush mounting frame 510. The wringing roller 702 is positioned close to the outer periphery of the roller brush 508, with the axes of the two rollers being parallel. The fluid receiving tray 704 is located below the roller brush 508 with the wringing roller 702 positioned above the roller brush 508. In an embodiment of the invention, the wringing roller 702 is cylindrically shaped, with its surface including protrusions assuming different shapes, through which a frictional force is applied to the roller brush 508.
The deflector 706 is inclined (with a certain angle to the horizontal plane) and is arranged between the fluid receiving tray 704 and the roller brush 508, and its lower side is connected to the fluid receiving tray 704, so that contaminated or used cleaning fluid can be guided from the roller brush 508 to the fluid receiving tray 704.
In order to prevent water from flowing into the bearing and affecting the bearing, the two ends of the above-mentioned roller brush 508 and the wringing roller 702 are embedded within a fluid retaining wall. The roller brush mounting frame 510 is a skeleton-type metal frame, which is more convenient to assemble and can better ensure the positional accuracy of the rotating shaft. A filtering mechanism is installed between the fluid receiving tray 704 and the fluid pump 708. Dirty cleaning fluid or solution recovered in the fluid receiving tray 704 is filtered by a filtering mechanism and is then returned to the fluid tank 502 through the water pump 708.
The cleaning roller assembly includes a fluid circulation system which consists of a wringing roller 702 for wringing or applying pressure to the roller brush 508. The fluid circulation system includes a fluid receiving tray 704 for accommodating the dirty fluid squeezed or wrung out from the roller brush 508. The system further includes a deflector 706. The deflector 706 is inclined (with a certain angle to the horizontal plane) and is positioned between the fluid receiving tray 704 and the roller brush 508, and its lower side is connected to the fluid receiving tray 704, so that used cleaning fluid can be guided from the roller brush 508 to the fluid receiving tray 704. In other words, the deflector is positioned between the fluid receiving tray and the roller brush in such a manner that used cleaning fluid can be guided from the roller brush into the fluid receiving tray.
In order to prevent cleaning fluid from flowing into the roller brush bearings and fouling the bearings, the two ends of the roller brush 508 and the two ends of wringing roller 702 are protected by a fluid retaining wall. The roller brush mounting frame 510 is a skeleton-type metal frame, which is more convenient to assemble and can better ensure the positional accuracy of the rotating shaft. A filtering mechanism is installed between the fluid receiving tray 704 and the fluid pump 708. Dirty cleaning fluid or solution recovered in the fluid receiving tray 704 is filtered by a filtering mechanism and is then returned to the fluid tank 502 through the cleaning fluid pump 708.
The main body of the vacuum cleaner includes an upper cover 1104, a barrel 1106, a dust filter component 1108, a chassis 1110 and a vacuum cleaner motor assembly 1112. The upper cover 1104 covers the barrel body 1106 in a detachable manner, and the barrel body 1106 covers the chassis 1110 in a detachable manner. In an embodiment of the invention, a professional strength vacuum motor and vacuum assembly 1112, powered by a battery, and controlled by a main controller is used.
In an embodiment of the invention, the upper cover 1104 is connected to the top end of the barrel body 1106 by a locking means known and appreciated in the art, and the bottom end of the barrel body 1106 is connected to the chassis 1110 by means of a screw connection. The barrel body 1106 has a hollow cavity for accommodating trash and debris and an installation cavity for installing the dust filter part 1108. The wall of the installation cavity is provided with a number of air inlet holes, and the air in the accommodating cavity enters the dust filter part 1108 through the air inlet holes. Inside, the interior of the dust filter part 1108 has an air outlet, the chassis 1110 is provided with an air outlet 1116 at the position corresponding to the air outlet channel, the fan 1112 is located under the chassis 1110, and the air inlet of the fan 1112 faces the air outlet 1116. The top end is mounted on the upper cover 1104.
In this embodiment, the horizontal section of the accommodating cavity is annular, the installation cavity is located at the center of the accommodating cavity, and the dust filter member 1108 is in the shape of a hollow cylinder as a whole. Air, dust and trash are sucked into the accommodating cavity of the barrel 1106 from the dust suction port, and the air flows into the dust filter part 1108 under the suction force of the fan 1112 for filtering, and then is discharged through the air outlet channel and the exhaust port 1116.
In an embodiment of the invention, the upper cover 1104 is connected to the top end of the barrel body 1106 by a locking means known and appreciated in the art, and the bottom end of the barrel body 1106 is connected to the chassis 1110 by means of a screw connection. The barrel body 1106 has a hollow cavity for accommodating trash and debris and an installation cavity for installing the dust filter part 1108. The wall of the installation cavity is provided with a number of air inlet holes, and the air in the accommodating cavity enters the dust filter part 1108 through the air inlet holes. Inside, the interior of the dust filter part 1108 has an air outlet, the chassis 1110 is provided with an air outlet 1116 at the position corresponding to the air outlet channel, the fan 1112 is located under the chassis 1110, and the air inlet of the fan 1112 faces the air outlet 1116. The top end is mounted on the upper cover 1104.
In this embodiment, the horizontal section of the accommodating cavity is annular, the installation cavity is located at the center of the accommodating cavity, and the dust filter member 1108 is in the shape of a hollow cylinder as a whole. Air, dust and trash are sucked into the accommodating cavity of the barrel 1106 from the dust suction port, and the air flows into the dust filter part 1108 under the suction force of the fan 1112 for filtering, and then is discharged through the air outlet channel and the exhaust port 1116.
In the present embodiment, the main mounting frame 204 is a girder-type complete machine skeleton, and the complete machine has high strength and is relatively simple to manufacture. The above-mentioned spray plate, the roller brush for rolling and mopping the floor, the rolling brush mounting frame, the wringing roller, the fluid receiving tray, the deflector, the filter mechanism, and the suspension frame are jointly made into an integral module. The integral module is assembled on the main mounting frame 204 in a detachable manner. In order to avoid the impact of up and down bumps on the parts when the robot encounters a bumpy field, a shock absorbing structure is provided above each of the drive wheels.
The above-mentioned collision mitigation system includes at least one image capture device for collecting ground image information, and the image capture device sends the collected image information to the main controller for processing to obtain current terrain information. The main controller has pre-stored information of various terrain types (including but not limited to: flat terrain, stepped terrain) and operation instructions corresponding to various types of terrain. The main controller compares the current terrain information with all types of pre-stored terrain features. The terrain information is compared to obtain the current terrain type, and the main control controls the mobile mechanism to execute the operation instruction matching the current terrain type.
In one embodiment of the invention, the sensor technology employs light detection and ranging (Lidar) sensors. The lidar sensors can measure a contour of an object in a two-dimensional scanning plane. The sensors have an effective range of up to 20 meters. Such sensors provide the robot with up to a 270-degree field of detection in front of the robot body. Additional sensors include one or more indoor/outdoor use video cameras. Such cameras employ 1920×1080 pixel resolution at 30 frames per second using. More than one camera enables the robot to stereoscopically map terrain, giving a true three-dimensional means of detecting objects. Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other sensing technologies both known and yet to be known can be employed to provide the autonomous cleaning robot improved functionality.
The CPU 1402 is coupled to the various components 1410 of the invention such as the drive wheel assembly, the collision mitigation mechanism, the sweeping and vacuum assembly, the cleaning fluid applicator and cleaning roller assembly, and the germicidal ultraviolet light disinfection mechanism. The CPU can also be configured to operate and interpret data the various sensors used by the autonomous cleaning robot. The CPU 1402 may also be coupled to an interface 1410 that connects to one or more input/output devices such as buttons, track balls, mice, keyboards, microphones, touch-sensitive displays, transducer card readers, magnetic or paper tape readers, tablets, styluses, voice or handwriting recognizers, or other well-known input devices such as, of course, other computers. Such interfacing can allow for program modification as well as data gathering. Finally, the CPU 1402 optionally may be coupled to an external device such as a database or a computer, tablet, smartphone, or internet network using an external connection shown generally as a network 1412, which may be implemented as a hardwired or wireless communications link using suitable conventional technologies. With such a connection, the CPU 502 might receive information from a network, or might output information to a network in the course of performing the method steps described in the teachings of the present invention.
It will be understood by persons having skill in the art that memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause autonomous cleaning robot system, by at least one processor, to perform the steps of certain functions such as, but not limited to, activating the autonomous cleaning robot; acquiring imagery of the space to be cleaned; checking cleaning fluid levels; activating the sweeping and vacuum assembly; dispensing cleaning fluid through cleaning fluid applicator and roller assembly; recycling recovered and excess cleaning fluid; activating the germicidal ultraviolet light disinfection mechanism to irradiate recovered and excess cleaning fluid, and irradiating a cleaning surface; moving the autonomous cleaning robot across the space to be cleaned; recording the travel path of the autonomous cleaning robot; and housing and powering down the autonomous cleaning robot when the autonomous cleaning robot completes the task of cleaning the surface to be cleaned. It will be further understood by those skilled in the art that other computer readable instructions can be implemented into memory so as to provide a more adaptable and upgradeable cleaning robot.
Having fully described at least one embodiment of the autonomous cleaning robot system, other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing such an autonomous cleaning robot system and method according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various aspects of the invention have been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. The particular implementation of the autonomous cleaning robot system may vary depending upon the particular context or application. By way of example, and not limitation, the autonomous cleaning robot was designed to sweep, vacuum, clean and disinfect flooring. However, similar techniques may instead be applied to other types of cleaning robots, which implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. It is to be further understood that not all of the disclosed embodiments in the foregoing specification will necessarily satisfy or achieve each of the objects, advantages, or improvements described in the foregoing specification.
All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Although specific features of the autonomous cleaning robot system are shown in some drawings and not others, persons skilled in the art will understand that this is for convenience. Each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Claim elements and flowchart steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering of flowchart or flow diagram steps is not intended to, and should not be taken to, indicate or limit the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims to be added at a later date.
Any amendment presented during the prosecution of the application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claim element presented in the description or claims to be filed. Persons skilled in the art cannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literally encompass each and every equivalent.
