US 12,390,066 B2
Smart cleaning system, autonomous robot, and dock station
Xing Li, Beijing (CN); Yongfei Zhou, Beijing (CN); and Chuanlin Duan, Beijing (CN)
Assigned to Beijing Roborock Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing (CN)
Appl. No. 17/599,802
Filed by Beijing Roborock Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing (CN)
PCT Filed May 13, 2020, PCT No. PCT/CN2020/090085
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 29, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/200328, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 8, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 201910250476.3 (CN), filed on Mar. 29, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0175206 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. A47L 9/14 (2006.01); A47L 9/12 (2006.01); A47L 9/20 (2006.01); A47L 9/24 (2006.01); A47L 9/28 (2006.01); A47L 11/28 (2006.01); A47L 11/40 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 9/149 (2013.01) [A47L 9/12 (2013.01); A47L 9/20 (2013.01); A47L 9/248 (2013.01); A47L 9/2836 (2013.01); A47L 11/28 (2013.01); A47L 11/4091 (2013.01); A47L 2201/024 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An intelligent cleaning system, comprising:
an autonomous robot, configured to perform a cleaning function and an emptying function, comprising:
a first receiving part, configured to receive an object collected by the autonomous robot when performing the cleaning function;
a first air duct, pneumatically connected with the first receiving part; and
a suction device, configured to generate airflow passing through the first receiving part, and be in a closable pneumatical connection with the first receiving part via the first air duct; and
a dock station, configured to be docked by the autonomous robot to empty and collect the object from the first receiving part, the dock station comprising:
a second receiving part, configured to receive the object emptied from the first receiving part;
a second air duct, pneumatically connected with the second receiving part and configured to allow the object to enter the second receiving part along with the airflow; and
a third air duct, pneumatically connected with the second receiving part and configured to allow the airflow to flow out of the second receiving part,
wherein, in a state when the autonomous robot is docked with the dock station to perform the emptying function, the intelligent cleaning system is configured to close the first air duct, and the first receiving part is pneumatically connected with the suction device via the second air duct, the second receiving part, and the third air duct,
wherein a working power of the suction device when the autonomous robot empties the object to the dock station during the emptying function is greater than another working power of the suction device when the autonomous robot collects the object from an to-be-cleaned surface during the cleaning function,
wherein the autonomous robot is provided with an air return inlet pneumatically connected with the suction device;
wherein the autonomous robot is further provided with:
a first valve, configured to control the first air duct to open and close; and
a third valve, configured to control the air return inlet to open and close;
wherein when the first valve is in an open state, the third valve is in a closed state; and when the third valve is in an open state, the first valve is in a closed state, and
wherein the third valve, in the open state, is configured to limit movement of the first valve, causing the first valve to be locked in the closed state, and preventing the first air duct from being directly connected to the third air duct,
wherein the first valve is provided with an extension part, and the first valve and the third valve are arranged in such a manner that, when the third valve is in the open state, the third valve abuts on the extension part, thereby restricting the first valve in the closed state.