IP Library Granted Patent US 12,390,071
Granted Patent B2
US 12,390,071 · App. 18/076,718 · Granted Aug 19, 2025

Evacuation station with debris separation

Inventors: Erik Amaral (Bolton, MA); Charles Hudson (Salem, NH)
Assignee: iRobot Corporation
A47L9/2873A47L9/0063A47L2201/024
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,390,071
App. No.
18/076,718
Granted
Aug 19, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A docking station for a mobile cleaning robot can include a base configured to receive at least a portion of the mobile cleaning robot thereon, where the base can include a debris port. The docking station can include a canister connected to the base and located at least partially above the base. The canister can include a debris bin to receive debris from the mobile cleaning robot. The canister can include a debris duct connected to the debris port and to the debris bin. The canister can include a debris collector connected to the debris duct upstream of the debris bin, where the debris collector can collect debris from a debris airstream of the debris duct.

Claims (43)

1. A docking station for a mobile cleaning robot, the docking station comprising:

a base configured to receive at least a portion of the mobile cleaning robot thereon, the base including a debris port;

a canister connected to the base and located at least partially above the base, the canister comprising:

a debris bin to receive debris from the mobile cleaning robot;

a debris duct connected to the debris port and to the debris bin; and

a debris collector connected to the debris duct upstream of the debris bin, the debris collector configured to collect debris from a debris airstream of the debris duct; and

a damper connected to the debris duct upstream of the debris collector, the damper movable between an open position and a bypass position.

2. The docking station of claim 1 , further comprising:

a damper actuator connected to the canister and operably connected to the damper, the damper actuator user-operable to move the damper between the open position and the bypass position.

3. The docking station of claim 2 , further comprising:

a debris drawer connected to the debris collector and slidably insertable into a collection compartment of the canister between an open position and a closed position.

4. The docking station of claim 3 , wherein removal of the debris drawer moves the actuator to the bypass position.

5. The docking station of claim 1 , further comprising:

a damper actuator connected to the canister and operably connected to the damper; and

a controller in communication with the damper actuator, the controller configured to control the damper actuator to move the damper between an open position and a bypass position.

6. The docking station of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to receive a debris signal from a debris senor of the mobile cleaning robot, the controller configured to operate the damper actuator based on the debris signal.

7. The docking station of claim 6 , further comprising:

a bypass duct connected to the damper, the bypass duct connected to the debris bin, and the bypass duct configured to receive the debris airstream therethrough when the damper is in the bypass position.

8. The docking station of claim 1 , further comprising:

a cyclone separator located within the debris collector, the cyclone separator configured to separate debris from the debris airstream.

9. The docking station of claim 8 , further comprising:

a screen connected to the cyclone separator, the screen configured to separate debris from the debris airstream.

10. The docking station of claim 1 , further comprising:

a screen connected to an outlet of the debris collector, the screen configured to separate debris from the debris airstream.

11. The docking station of claim 1 , further comprising:

a baffle located within the debris collector, the baffle configured to separate debris from the debris airstream.

12. The docking station of claim 11 , wherein the baffle includes one or more perforations therein or therethrough.

13. The docking station of claim 1 , wherein the debris bin is configured to capture or collect dust or hair and the debris collector is configured to capture relatively large debris.

14. A docking station for a mobile cleaning robot, the docking station comprising:

a base configured to receive at least a portion of the mobile cleaning robot thereon, the base including debris port;

a canister connected to the base and located at least partially above the base, the canister comprising:

a debris bin to receive debris from a debris airstream from the mobile cleaning robot; and

a debris collector connected to the debris bin and the debris port, the debris collector configured to collect debris from the debris airstream;

an evacuation fan connected to the canister and connectable to the mobile cleaning robot to evacuate debris from a debris bin of the mobile cleaning robot to a debris bag of the canister; and

a damper located upstream of the debris collector, the damper movable between an open position and a bypass position.

15. The docking station of claim 14 , further comprising:

a damper actuator connected to the canister and operably connected to the damper, the damper actuator user-operable to move the damper between the open position and the bypass position.

16. The docking station of claim 15 , further comprising:

a debris drawer connected to the debris collector and slidably insertable into a collection compartment of the canister between an open position and a closed position.

17. The docking station of claim 14 , further comprising:

a cyclone separator located within the debris collector, the cyclone separator configured to separate debris from the debris airstream.

18. The docking station of claim 17 , further comprising:

a screen connected to the cyclone separator, the screen configured to separate debris from the debris airstream.

Assignments (5)
NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Nov 25, 2025
From: TCG SENIOR FUNDING L.L.C., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SANTRUM HONG KONG CO., LIMITED, AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073707/0516 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2023
From: AMARAL, ERIK; HUDSON, CHARLES
To: IROBOT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064877/0572 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2023
From: IROBOT CORPORATION
To: TCG SENIOR FUNDING L.L.C., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064532/0856 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2023
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: IROBOT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064431/0136 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2023
From: IROBOT CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 062407/0379 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240188780A1 · Jun 13, 2024
References Cited (2)
US 20230172415A1 · Park · 2023 [cited by examiner]
CN 113558525A · 2021 [cited by examiner]