Floor cleaning robot and docking station therefore

1. A system for autonomously cleaning a floor comprising:

a robot, the robot having a chassis, a clean water tank disposed within the chassis, and a dirty water tank disposed within the chassis, a two-way valve in fluid communication with the dirty water tank for receiving dirty water from a cleaning surface and inputting the dirty water to the dirty water tank during a cleaning operation; and

a docking station having a platform for supporting the robot when the robot is in a docked position; the docking station having a drain communicating with the two-way valve for receiving contents of the dirty water tank, from the two way valve, when the robot is in the docked position; a water source communicating with the clean water tank to fill the clean water tank when the robot is in the docked position; and a charging structure to charge the robot when the robot is in the docked position.

2. The system for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 1 , wherein the docking station further comprises wheels.

3. The system for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the clean water tank and dirty water tank is transparent.

4. The system for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical current contact disposed on an exterior surface of the chassis; wherein the charging structure includes a charging contact, and when the electrical current contact is operatively coupled to the charging contact to charge the robot, the two-way valve is disposed in fluid communication with the drain.

5. The system for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 1 , wherein the robot further comprises a dispenser for dispensing liquid from the clean water tank.

6. The system for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 5 , wherein the robot further comprises a scrubbing pad disposed on the chassis, the scrubbing pad being down stream of the dispenser in an operating direction of the chassis.

7. The system for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 6 , wherein the two way valve is down stream of the scrubbing pad in an operating direction of the chassis.

8. The system for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 1 , wherein the two way valve is under negative pressure during a cleaning operation.

9. The system for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 1 , further comprising a drainage tank disposed within the platform and communicating with the drain.

10. The system for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 1 , wherein the dirty water tank is selectively removable from the chassis.

11. The system for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 4 , wherein the docking station further comprises a docking arm, the docking arm forming a robot receiving area with the platform, the charging contacts being disposed on the docking arm, facing the receiving area.

12. The system for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 1 , wherein the docking station further comprises a docking arm, the docking arm forming a robot receiving area with the platform, the water source being disposed in the docking arm.

13. A robot for autonomously cleaning a floor comprising:

a chassis;

a clean water tank disposed within the chassis;

a dirty water tank disposed within the chassis;

a dispenser for dispensing clean water onto the floor; and

a two-way valve in fluid communication with the dirty water tank for receiving dirty water from a cleaning surface and inputting the dirty water to the dirty water tank during a cleaning operation.

14. The robot for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the clean water tank and dirty water tank is transparent.

15. The robot for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 13 , further comprising a dispenser disposed on the chassis for dispensing liquid from the clean water tank.

16. The robot for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 15 , wherein the robot further comprises a scrubbing pad disposed on the chassis, the scrubbing pad being down stream of the dispenser in an operating direction of the chassis.

17. The robot for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 16 , wherein the two way valve is down stream of the scrubbing pad in an operating direction of the chassis.

18. The robot for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 13 , wherein the two way valve is under negative pressure during a cleaning operation.

19. The robot for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 13 , wherein the dirty water tank is selectively removable from the chassis.

20. A docking station for a robot for autonomously cleaning a floor comprising;

a platform for supporting a robot when the robot is in a docked position;

a drain disposed on the platform for receiving contents of a dirty water tank when the robot is in the docked position;

a water source communicating with the robot to fill the robot when the robot is in the docked position; and

a charging structure to charge the robot when the robot is in the docked position.

21. The docking station for a robot for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 20 , further comprising wheels.

22. The docking station for a robot for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 20 , wherein the charging structure includes a charging contact, and when operatively coupled to the robot to charge the robot, a valve on the robot to discharge dirty water is disposed in fluid communication with the drain.

23. The docking station for a robot for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 20 , further comprising a drainage tank disposed within the platform and communicating with the drain.

24. The docking station for a robot for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 20 , further comprising a docking arm, the docking arm forming a robot receiving area with the platform, the charging structure being disposed on the docking arm, facing the receiving area.

25. The docking station for a robot for autonomously cleaning a floor of claim 20 , further comprising a docking arm, the docking arm forming a robot receiving area with the platform, the water source being disposed in the docking arm.