US 11,980,331 B2
Trolley and method for loading and unloading cleaning robots into and out of a trolley
Nicolas Stroop, Bielefeld (DE); and Mathis Budke, Bielefeld (DE)
Assigned to MIELE & CIE. KG, Gütersloh (DE)
Filed by Miele & Cie. KG, Guetersloh (DE)
Filed on May 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/735,447.
Claims priority of application No. 2021/5350 (BE), filed on May 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0346620 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. A47L 11/40 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 11/4091 (2013.01) [A47L 11/4011 (2013.01); A47L 2201/022 (2013.01); A47L 2201/024 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A trolley for storing, emptying and supplying energy to cleaning robots, the trolley comprising:
an energy supply unit that is designed to be connected to a power grid;
storage compartments for storing the cleaning robots, each storage compartment having a charging contact which is designed to be contacted with a cleaning robot arranged in the corresponding storage compartment in order to supply the cleaning robot with energy by means of the energy supply unit;
transport wheels which are designed to move the trolley over a substrate;
a suction system, which has a foldable suction platform and is configured to empty one of the cleaning robots when it is arranged on the suction platform in its unfolded state;
a lift system with a foldable receiving element, the foldable receiving element being segmented to define two receiving element segments, wherein the lift system is designed to transport the cleaning robots individually by way of the receiving element in an unfolded state to the storage compartments and away from the storage compartments, wherein the suction platform is located between the two receiving element segments in the unfolded states of the suction platform and receiving element; and
at least one door element which can be arranged in such a way that it closes or exposes the foldable receiving element and the foldable suction platform.