US 12,329,871 B2
Automatically moving disinfection robot for disinfecting surfaces
Henning Hayn, Hilden (DE); Andrej Mosebach, Unna (DE); and Georg Hackert, Bochum (DE)
Assigned to Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH, Wuppertal (DE)
Filed by Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH, Wuppertal (DE)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/501,056.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 127 988.4 (DE), filed on Oct. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0125977 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 21/00 (2006.01); A61L 2/10 (2006.01); A61L 2/14 (2006.01); A61L 2/22 (2006.01); A61L 2/24 (2006.01); A61N 5/00 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B25J 11/00 (2006.01); G01N 23/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61L 2/24 (2013.01) [A61L 2/10 (2013.01); A61L 2/14 (2013.01); A61L 2/22 (2013.01); B25J 9/1664 (2013.01); B25J 11/0085 (2013.01); A61L 2202/11 (2013.01); A61L 2202/14 (2013.01); A61L 2202/15 (2013.01); A61L 2202/16 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automatically moving disinfection robot for disinfecting surfaces, comprising:
a device housing,
a drive means configured for the movement of the disinfection robot within a surrounding area comprising at least one room,
a navigation means configured for navigation and self-localization of the disinfection robot within the surrounding area by means of a surrounding area map,
a disinfection means configured for performing a disinfection activity within the surrounding area, and
a control means configured for controlling the disinfection activity,
wherein the control means is configured to control a locally limited disinfection in only one predefined subregion of the room of the surrounding area, or a locally limited disinfection of only one defined object, in the room of the surrounding area in a fully automated manner,
wherein for attaining a locally limited disinfection effect, the disinfection means has a shielding means for separating the one subregion to be disinfected from adjacent subregions of the same room, wherein the shielding means is a housing, which is open only on one side and which is placed around the object to be disinfected or against the surface to be disinfected, so that the disinfection only takes place within the housing, but not outside of the housing,
wherein the control means is configured to access a disinfection plan, which is stored in a memory of the disinfection robot or an external memory, which is in data communication with the disinfection robot,
wherein the disinfection plan has a specification relating to an order of several disinfection activities to be performed,
wherein a disinfection performance is stored which specifies the disinfection effect such that more strongly contaminated subregions or objects of the surrounding area are disinfected more strongly than objects or subregions which are less contaminated in comparison, and
further comprising detection means that are configured to recognize living beings in the surrounding area, wherein the control means of the disinfection robot is configured to temporally postpone a disinfection activity, to terminate a disinfection activity, to reduce a disinfection performance, and/or to output a warning signal when the detection means detects a presence of a living being in the surrounding area.