Machines Patents (Class 15/3)
  • Patent number: 11903554
    Abstract: A dock assembly is provided. The dock assembly is configured for docking with a robot. An alignment platform of said dock assembly is configured to receive a sweeper module from the robot when the robot is docked and said sweeper module disengages from the robot. The alignment platform has a plurality of cones positioned on a top side of the alignment platform. The plurality of cones are configured to engage a plurality of holes positioned on an underside of the sweeper module when the sweeper module becomes disengaged from the robot. The plurality of cones enable self-alignment of the alignment platform to the sweeper module as the plurality of cones engage the plurality of holes. The alignment platform has a plurality of support pads positioned on a bottom side of the alignment platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ViaBot Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Xie, Dawei Ding, Gregg Ratanaphanyarat
  • Patent number: 11730329
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning system includes an interlock for physically interlocking an autonomous floor cleaner with a docking station. The interlock selectively engages when the robot is docked at the docking station, and can automatically engage as when a predefined locking criterion is met. The interlock can remain engaged until a predefined unlocking criterion is met. Methods for docking an autonomous floor cleaner with a docking station are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Brown
  • Patent number: 11712145
    Abstract: A reservoir device includes: a liquid storage structure, configured to store liquid; a liquid feeding assembly, configured to feed the liquid into the liquid storage structure; a barrier assembly; a sensing field generator, configured to generate a sensing field; a sensor; and an electrical control assembly. The barrier assembly is arranged inside the liquid storage structure. The sensor is configured to sense the sensing field. The barrier assembly is configured to float under a buoyance action of the liquid, and to block the sensor from sensing the sensing field when the barrier assembly floats in a first liquid level position. The electrical control assembly is configured to control the liquid feeding assembly to stop feeding the liquid into the liquid storage structure when the barrier assembly blocks the sensor from sensing the sensing field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN FLY RODENT DYNAMICS INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Li, Linlin Zhou
  • Patent number: 11503971
    Abstract: A cleaning robot according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a traveling motor configured to generate a driving force for traveling; a cleaning module changing unit configured to selectively activate any one of at least one cleaning module; a sensing unit configured to sense characteristics of a floor surface; and a processor configured to perform a cleaning operation of cleaning the floor surface by controlling the cleaning module changing unit to activate any one of the at least one cleaning module based on the sensed characteristics of the floor surface, wherein the processor is configured to: sense characteristics of a contaminant present on the floor surface by using the sensing unit while performing the cleaning operation; and control the cleaning module changing unit to change or maintain the activated cleaning module based on the sensed characteristics of the contaminant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyongguk Kim, Jaeyoung Kim, Hyoungmi Kim, Yujune Jang
  • Patent number: 11478119
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner (10) includes a main body (22), a handle (98), and a receptacle (150) having an inlet (154). The handheld vacuum cleaner also includes a motor assembly (114) positioned within the main body, a dirty air inlet (14) positioned at a front of the handheld vacuum cleaner, a cyclonic chamber (30) in fluid communication with the dirty air inlet and the motor assembly, and a battery (138) including a first side surface (142) and a second side surface (146) opposite the first side surface. The battery is configured to be selectively received within the receptacle through the inlet. When the battery is positioned within the receptacle, each of the first side surface and the second side surface are at least 25 percent exposed through apertures at the respective first and second lateral sides (58, 62) of the main body such that the first and second side surfaces are graspable by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Mohammed Irfan, Ritha Chan
  • Patent number: 11360481
    Abstract: A method for covering a surface by a robotic device including: generating a two-dimensional map of a workspace using data from at least a depth measurement device positioned on the robotic device, dividing the two-dimensional map into a grid of cells, identifying the cells as free, occupied, or unknown, localizing the robotic device within the two-dimensional map, identifying at least one frontier within the map for exploration, generating a spanning tree such that a movement path of the robotic device includes a repetition of movement in a first direction along a straight line, 180 degree rotation over a distance perpendicular to the first direction, movement in a second direction opposite the first direction along a straight line, and 180 degree rotation over a distance perpendicular to the second direction, and recording the number of collisions incurred and the areas covered by the robotic device while executing the movement path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Soroush Mehrnia, Sebastian Schweigert
  • Patent number: 11147425
    Abstract: A service station and a service process for servicing cleaning machines are provided, the service station comprising a first inlet line including an electric conduit and configured to connect to a power source, a second inlet line including a fluid conduit and configured to connect to a cleaning liquid source, a control unit, a charging unit electrically connected to the first inlet line and to the control unit, the charging unit being configured to provide a charging current, a first flow controller fluidly connected to the second inlet line, a first supply line electrically connected to the charging unit and configured to receive the charging current and to deliver the charging current to a first connector plug for providing the charging current to the machine to be serviced, a second supply line fluidly connected to the first flow controller and to a second connector plug for providing cleaning liquid to the machine to be serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
    Inventor: Dieter Windmeisser
  • Patent number: 11045058
    Abstract: A cleaner includes: a battery housing: a main body terminal that is disposed in the battery housing; and a battery that is separably coupled to the battery housing, wherein the battery includes: a plurality of battery cells; a battery management unit to manage voltage of the battery cells; and a battery terminal that is connected to the battery management unit and is connected to the main body terminal when the battery is inserted into the battery housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Philjae Hwang, Mantae Hwang, Jungbae Hwang, Eunji Sung, Taekgi Lee
  • Patent number: 11027321
    Abstract: A device and related method for removing debris from a metal wire formed by a process utilizing a lubricant is provided. The device includes at least two segments forming a passage through which the wire passes, each having a leading edge for stripping debris from the wire, and a resilient member positioned around the at least two segments and applying a force to the segments sufficient to cause contact between the leading edges and at least the debris on the metal wire passing through the passage. The method broadly includes the steps of moving the metal wire through a passage formed by a plurality of segments, contacting the wire moving through the passage using a leading edge of each of the at least two segments, and applying a force to the at least two segments to cause contact between the leading edge of each of the at least two segments and at least the debris on the wire passing through the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Timothy George Beyer
  • Patent number: 10758101
    Abstract: Battery-powered upright vacuum cleaners are disclosed. The vacuum cleaner includes a battery support plate from which the battery is suspended. The battery support plate is connected to a debris tube of the vacuum cleaner. In some embodiments, the debris tube includes mounting members that are received in recesses formed within the battery support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Fogarty, Jr., John L. Theising
  • Patent number: 10551843
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for a robotic cleaning device to determine a plan to clean an environment based on types of surfaces in the environment. The plan can include a route to take in the environment and/or one or more configurations to apply to the robotic cleaning device during the route. Determining the plan can include inserting detected surface types into an environmental map of the environment. The environmental map can then be used on future routes such that the robotic cleaning device can know a surface type of a surface before the robotic cleaning device reaches the surface. In some examples, a type of a surface of the environment can be detected by the robotic cleaning device based on optical polarization of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Neato Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kingman Yee, Rachel Lucas, Sarath Suvarna
  • Patent number: 10368708
    Abstract: The invention relates to a household robot, in particular an automatically movable cleaning robot for a floor area, having a housing, having running gear which is arranged on the underside of the housing, having a sensor system for detecting the area surrounding the housing and having a control for automatically controlling the running gear, in which the technical problem of preventing soiling by excrement from a living being is solved by providing detection element for detecting a sub-area of the floor area which has been soiled by excrement from a living being and by the control element changing the operating mode of the household robot dependent on an output signal from the detection element. The invention also relates to a method for operating a household robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Cornelissen
  • Patent number: 10299649
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a first flexible electrified air flow conduit having an air inlet end that is electrified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 10293631
    Abstract: An agitatable coloring utensil is an apparatus that spins the tip of a drawing, coloring, or writing utensil as the user is using the drawing, coloring, or writing utensil. The apparatus includes a tubular body, a marking tip, a motor, a portable power source, and at least one user control. The tubular body is the structural housing for the other component of the apparatus and allows the user to have a firm grasp of the apparatus while using the apparatus to write or draw. The motor is used to drive the rotation of the marking tip. The portable power source is used to electrically power the motor and allows the apparatus to be easily transportable by the user. The user control allows the user to either activate, deactivate, or adjust the rotation of the marking tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventor: Rahab W Kaniaru
  • Patent number: 10278561
    Abstract: The present application provides an intelligent floor mopping apparatus, including: a body, a driving mechanism, a cleaning mechanism, and a sensing mechanism. The driving mechanism is disposed on the body, and is adapted to drive the body to move. The sensing mechanism is disposed on the body, and is adapted to sense the situation of a floor of an area to be cleaned, so as to adjust the moving direction of the body. The cleaning mechanism is disposed below the body for cleaning the floor and includes two circular mopping blocks and one rectangular mopping block. The two circular mopping blocks are disposed side by side below a front part of the bottom of the body and are rotatable parallel to the floor, and the rectangular mopping block is disposed below a rear part of the bottom of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: FINE DRAGON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Zhenren Zou
  • Patent number: 10252409
    Abstract: A magnetic cleaner distributes ferromagnetic cleaning particles to a surface to agglomerate dirt and dust, agitates the cleaning particles on the surface so that dirt particles adhere to the cleaning particles, and collects the dirt laden cleaning particles. A dispenser for holding and dispensing the ferromagnetic cleaning particles, an agitator to agitate the ferromagnetic particles on the surface, a magnetic collector for picking up ferromagnetic cleaning particles from the surface, and a dirt cup for collecting the ferromagnetic cleaning particles picked up by the collector are provided by the cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Pruiett, Jay M. Kellis, Herbert J. Vanderbilt
  • Patent number: 9975254
    Abstract: A rigid magnetic tag line safety tool is an apparatus that allows a user to guide and connect to a steel plate as it is placed onto or removed from a trench. The rigid magnetic tag line safety tool includes a handle bar, an electrically insulative shaft, a universal joint, a stator, and a magnetized rotor. The handle bar allows a user to grip the apparatus. The handle bar is positioned perpendicular to the electrically insulative shaft and is mounted adjacent to the first shaft end. The electrically insulative shaft distances the user from the steel plate. The stator is pivotably mounted to the second shaft end by the universal joint such that the present invention is not hindered by the varied path of a steel plate being positioned onto or removed from a trench. The magnetized rotor is rotatably mounted to the stator and attaches to the steel plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventors: Adam Zane Bell, Mark Anthony Cole
  • Patent number: 9968233
    Abstract: A device for cleaning or processing a surface, wherein the device has a light source for illuminating the surface with light and an optical detection device for detecting the light reflected by the surface. In addition, the invention relates to a method for operating a device according to the invention. To create a device for cleaning or processing a surface and a method of the type in question, which differentiates various surfaces with a better resolution than that in the prior art, it is proposed that the optical detection device has at least one filter element and at least one sensor element, which are arranged and designed to detect the light reflected from the surface with respect to at least four different spectral ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventor: Benjamin Strang
  • Patent number: 9901227
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises an upper section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a floor cleaning position, in which the upright surface cleaning apparatus is useable for cleaning a floor, and a storage position, the upper section also being rotatably coupled to the surface cleaning head whereby rotation of the upper section relative to the surface cleaning head is enabled. The upright surface cleaning apparatus further comprises an anti-rotation locking mechanism inhibiting rotation of the upper section when the upper section is in the storage position and a cleaning unit that is removably mounted to the upper section and is removable while the upper section is in the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9834881
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a soiled substrate using solid particulate material having a cleaning volume; a collecting volume; a pumping device having a pump inlet; and a circulation pathway by which solid particulate material and a transporting fluid can be transferred from the collecting volume to the cleaning volume via said pumping device. The apparatus further includes a flow regulating device disposed in the collecting volume and comprising a flow through enclosure defined by at least one wall, an enclosure outlet in communication with the pump inlet, at least one particle inlet orifice disposed at an underside of the flow through enclosure and configured to admit both solid particulate material and transporting fluid to the enclosure. The apparatus can further include at least one relatively smaller fluid inlet orifice configured only to admit transporting fluid to the flow through enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Xeros Limited
    Inventors: Michael David Sawford, Wayne Robert Szymczyk, Gareth Evan Lyn Jones
  • Patent number: 9632489
    Abstract: An autonomous working device, in particular an autonomous lawn mower, is configured to travel across a surface that is to be worked. The working device includes a processing unit configured to divide the surface that is to be worked into at least two dynamic partial surfaces to be traveled across separately by the working device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Biber, Steffen Petereit, Christoph Koch, Amos Albert
  • Patent number: 9598117
    Abstract: A metallic debris collection system includes a vehicle that has at least one mud flap and a cab. The at least one mud flap has a distal edge with respect to the vehicle. The distal edge is suspended above the support surface. A collection unit is removably coupled to the at least one mud flap and the collection unit is suspended above the support surface. The collection unit is electrically coupled to the vehicle such that the collection unit generates a magnetic field. Thus, the collection unit magnetically attracts magnetic objects from the support surface while the vehicle is driven. Thus, the magnetic objects are inhibited from puncturing a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Eric Hilburn
  • Patent number: 9550139
    Abstract: A filter cleaning apparatus has a top section and a base section. The top section rests on a housing support. A lid in the top section is connected to the top section by a hinge. Internally, there is a threaded rod supporting a cone and a positioning nut. The positioning nut is used to secure the position of the cone. When a filter is to be placed in the apparatus, the position of the cone is adjusted with the positioning nut. A filter is then placed thereon and the lid closed. A locking mechanism secured the lid in place. A textured disk is positioned on the underside of the lid. When a crank handle on top of the lid is turned, the textured disk is turned thereby turning the filter resting on the cone. As the filter turns, cleaning mechanisms remove debris which pass through openings for removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventors: Vincent James Madonia, Gerald Madonia
  • Patent number: 9487898
    Abstract: A washing machine and washing method thereof comprises an inner tub, an outer tub and solid particles as washing medium. The inner tub, of which the inner wall is provided with lifting ribs protruding inward, rotates under the driving power of a driving device. Inside the washing machine, a storage tank for storing particles connects to the inner tub through a discharge channel for recycling particles and a feeding channel for putting in particles, and an air suction device is arranged on the feeding channel. Through alternate clockwise and counter-clockwise rotates of the inner tub, clothes and particles within are overturned in all directions, thus clothes and particles get better blended, and the cleaning rate gets improved. Meanwhile, putting-in and recycling particles through an air suction device is conducive to 100% recycling of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignees: HAIER GROUP TECHNIQUE R&D CENTER, HAIER GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhengbao He, Yimin Li, Shilong Hao, Chunfeng Lao
  • Patent number: 9452848
    Abstract: An apparatus for the cleaning of a turbine engine comprises a towable wash cart having a reservoir for cleaning fluid. The reservoir is connected through a pump system to a wash ring operatively mounted to the cart. The wash ring has a plurality of spray nozzles about its periphery arid positionably adjustable for directing an atomized spray of the cleaning fluid into an inlet of the engine. The cart and wash ring is aligned with the engine such that there is no physical contact between the wash ring and engine during the entirety of the cleaning process. While a preferred cleaning fluid is pure water, the reservoir may be segmented to carry a number of different cleaning solutions, which can be mixed in a manifold of the pump system as may be desired for a particular cleaning process. The reservoirs may be heated and insulated to maintain the cleaning solutions at an elevated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Rochem Aviation, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter McDermott
  • Patent number: 9144751
    Abstract: Systems for extracting solute from source material, including solvent source containers configured to store solvent, canisters in fluid communication with the solvent source containers and configured to contain the source material, extract containers in fluid communication with the canister and configured to fluidly receive extract solution from the canisters, heating elements thermally coupled with the extract containers. Some examples include solvent collection containers configured to receive post-extraction portions of the solvent from extract containers. In some examples, solvent collection containers are in fluid communication with solvent source containers and are configured to fluidly receive the post-extraction portion of the solvent and direct a portion of the post-extraction solvent to the solvent source containers. Some examples include a plurality of detachable canisters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Inventors: Jason Wasserman, Jess Ordower, Samual Decker
  • Patent number: 9039844
    Abstract: A steam cleaning apparatus including a main body having a main switch, a steam cleaning head coupled to the main body, and a position sensitive switch having a first state when the steam apparatus is in a substantially vertical storage position and a second state when the steam cleaning apparatus is in a tilted, cleaning position, the position sensitive switch being connected in electrical series with the main switch such that when the position-sensitive switch is in the first state the position-sensitive switch interrupts the flow of electrical current from the main switch and when the position-sensitive switch is in the second state, electrical power is supplied by the main switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Barry Pears, David Rowntree, Martyn Riley, Stephen Houghton, Andrew Walker
  • Publication number: 20150128362
    Abstract: A foreign matter removal mechanism for removing foreign matter on a power-supplying coil that wirelessly supplies power to a parked vehicle from below, including: a movable unit that is pushed by the vehicle to move horizontally; and a movable cleaning unit that is coupled to the movable unit and moves, in conjunction with a movement of the movable unit, along an upper surface of the power-supplying coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Motonao NIIZUMA
  • Publication number: 20150113757
    Abstract: A hand-guided floor treatment device includes a bottom part, which includes at least one tool which is rotatable on a floor by a drive, as well as a guide part which includes at least one handle and is connected to the bottom part by an articulated arrangement which is developed in such a manner that the guide part, proceeding from a perpendicular, is pivotable in relation to the perpendicular in angular positions rotating in all directions and is operatively connected to the bottom part so as to transmit torque in an angularly limited manner in each angular position in relation to the perpendicular. The at least one rotatable tool is arranged in such a manner on the bottom part that when the floor treatment device is operating the at least one rotatable tool exerts permanent linear propulsion on the bottom part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Rudolf FRANKE, Rainer KENTER
  • Patent number: 9004081
    Abstract: A household appliance, in particular a household dishwasher, includes an external display, a transmission interface connected for signal transmission to the external display, and a power supply network for supply of electrical energy. The household appliance is isolated from the power supply network after completion of a treatment cycle, and the transmission interface is configured to transmit a signal to activate the external display to display at least the completion of the treatment cycle before the household appliance is isolated from the power supply network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Hering, Michael Georg Rosenbauer
  • Patent number: 8985128
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dish washer in which a structure for mounting a drain pump is improved for minimizing residual water, vibration and noise. The dish washer includes a cabinet which forms an exterior of the dish washer, a tub in the cabinet to form a space for washing the dishes, a sump assembly at a lower portion of the cabinet, the sump assembly having a drain chamber for holding washing water to be drained, and a drain pump assembly coupled to a lower side of an outside of the sump assembly so as to be in communication with one side of the drain chamber for draining the washing water from the drain chamber by pumping, wherein the drain pump assembly is mounted tilted upward at a predetermined angle from an inside bottom surface of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Joon Ho Pyo, Byeong Hyeon Ju, Yong Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 8973196
    Abstract: A wet and dry vacuum cleaner system is disclosed, wherein the system includes a debris container having an inlet and outlet, a filter support having a filter and being adapted to situate at least a portion of the filter within the container and intermediate between the inlet and outlet, a vacuum unit adapted to be coupled to the container, and a housing. A wet/dry vacuum appliance system is also disclosed, which includes means for housing a vacuum unit, means for slidably receiving a debris container, and means for releasably holding the container in sealed engagement with the vacuum unit. In addition, methods of removing debris from such a vacuum cleaner and vacuum appliance systems are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Mark J. Tomasiak
  • Publication number: 20150033496
    Abstract: A floor treatment apparatus is provided that includes a chassis that supports at least one cleaning element. The chassis is supported by a plurality of wheels, one which is steerable via a steering wheel interconnected to a housing also associated with the chassis. The chassis provided includes a plurality of movable housing members, one of which is associated with the steering wheel. To access the internal components of the floor treatment apparatus, the front housing is rotated or moved away from the other housings wherein the steering wheel does not require disconnection to allow this movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Roger PEDLAR, Daniel PEARSON, Eric L. SHARK, Daniel C. VENARD, Brian J. DOLL, Rusty SIMMONS, Nevin GREEN, Loi X. TRAN, Robert S. GORSKY, Steven W. TUCKER, Todd LEIFHEIT
  • Publication number: 20150013720
    Abstract: A battery cleaning device for cleaning a battery cell to be roller pressed, the battery cell having at least one flat surface, the battery cleaning device includes a cleaning unit configured to clean the flat surface of a battery cell prior to or simultaneously with roller-pressing the flat surface of the battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi Yasooka, Atsushi Kamata
  • Publication number: 20150013085
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for cleaning contaminants on a contact portion of an electromagnetic contactor, and more particularly, a device for cleaning contaminants on a contact portion of an electromagnetic contactor in which a magnetic force the acting direction of which is changed in time is generated to the outside of the electromagnetic contactor for cleaning contaminants generated at a contact portion thereof with an arc extinguishing method, thereby effectively and broadly performing the cleaning of contaminants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Sik AN, Hyun Woo JOO
  • Publication number: 20150000703
    Abstract: A bowling ball maintenance device performs a de-oiling process on bowling balls having porous surfaces. The maintenance device may comprise a container sized to store at least one bowling ball within the container and structured to receive the bowling ball. A heating element is structured to warm an internal environment of the container at least to a level at which oil that may have accumulated in the pores of the ball begins to flow out of the pores. Embodiments also include a ball support within the container that is structured to contain the oil that has flowed out of the pores of the ball. Depending on the embodiment, the ball support may include three or more ball support extensions structured to support the ball in a stationary position over a height of a floor of the ball support during operation of the maintenance device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Wylie Ott
  • Publication number: 20150000068
    Abstract: The self-propelled cleaner (1) of the present invention includes an event detecting section (101) for detecting an event which relates to cleaning and has occurred in the cleaner, a feeling selecting section (201) for selecting, from a plurality of options, an operation mode with which the cleaner carries out an operation in response to the event, in accordance with measured information which relates to the cleaning and is measured by the cleaner, and a response operation control section (301) for controlling the cleaner to carry out the operation based on the operation information which is associated with the event and the operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Masanori Tsuboi, Jitsuo Sakamoto, Masashi Matsumoto, Mami Yatake
  • Patent number: 8924019
    Abstract: A cleaning robot a dirt recognition device thereof and a cleaning method of the robot are disclosed. The recognition device includes an image collecting module and an image processing module. The image collecting module may be used for collecting the image information of the surface to be treated by the cleaning robot and sending the image information to the image processing module. The image processing module may divide the collected image information of the surface to be treated into N blocks, extract the image information of each block and process the image information in order to determine the dirtiest surface to be treated that corresponds to one of the N blocks. Through the solution provided by the present invention, the cleaning robot can make an active recognition to the dirt such as dust, so that it can get into the working area accurately and rapidly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ecovacs Robotics Suzhou Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jinju Tang
  • Publication number: 20140373302
    Abstract: An automatic floor cleaner includes a cover, a base plate, a motive assembly, a driving wheel assembly, and a flat bottom plate. In use, the flat bottom plate can be attached with a dust removal sheet to mop a floor surface. When the floor cleaner hits an object, the driving wheel assembly can rotate about a vertical output axle of the motive assembly to cause the moving direction of the floor cleaner to be changed to a randomly new direction, so that the floor cleaner can escape the object to continue advancing and cleaning the floor surface. Furthermore, the floor cleaner can be mounted with a vacuum cleaning unit, so that the cleaning effect can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Pei-Cheng Hsu
  • Publication number: 20140366287
    Abstract: The lighted vehicle wash component includes a frame portion and a drive mechanism supported by the frame portion. The component also includes a rotatable hub portion supported by the frame portion. The hub portion is in communication with the drive mechanism to effectuate its rotation about an axis of rotation. The component includes a plurality of wash media elements engageable with the hub portion and which are configured to engage a vehicle surface as the hub portion rotates. The plurality of wash media elements are arranged on the hub portion in a plurality of spaced apart rows. The component includes a plurality of lighting elements removeably engaging the hub portion. The lighting elements are disposed in an open area defined between each of the plurality of spaced apart rows. A slip ring assembly is in communication with the hub portion to allow the plurality of lighting elements to rotate about the axis of rotation as the hub portion rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Michael J. Belanger, Barry S. Turner, Curtis S. Prater, Michael S. Sayyae
  • Publication number: 20140366286
    Abstract: A surface cleaning appliance having a cleaner head that includes an agitator and a motor for driving the agitator. The appliance includes a switch coupling the motor to a supply voltage, a voltage sensor for measuring the magnitude of the supply voltage, a current sensor for measuring the magnitude of current through the motor, and a controller configured to output a PWM signal for controlling the switch. The controller then adjusts the duty cycle of the PWM signal in response to changes in the supply voltage and in response to changes in the current through the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Libo ZHENG, Yongji ZHOU, James Douglas CHISHOLM, David John HAWKER
  • Publication number: 20140352103
    Abstract: A coverage robot including a chassis, multiple drive wheel assemblies disposed on the chassis, and a cleaning assembly carried by the chassis. Each drive wheel assembly including a drive wheel assembly housing, a wheel rotatably coupled to the housing, and a wheel drive motor carried by the drive wheel assembly housing and operable to drive the wheel. The cleaning assembly including a cleaning assembly housing, a cleaning head rotatably coupled to the cleaning assembly housing, and a cleaning drive motor carried by cleaning assembly housing and operable to drive the cleaning head. The wheel assemblies and the cleaning assembly are each separately and independently removable from respective receptacles of the chassis as complete units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Chikyung Won, Scott Thomas Burnett, Stephen A. Hickey, Deepak Ramesh Kapoor, Zivthan A. Dubrovsky, Selma Svendsen, Robert Rizzari, Paul E. Sandin
  • Publication number: 20140331440
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus including a self-cleaning device is disclosed. The substrate cleaning apparatus includes a self-cleaning device configured to clean a cylindrical scrub-cleaning tool that is rubbed against a substrate surface. The self-cleaning device includes a cleaning body having an inner circumferential surface that is shaped along an circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool, and at least one cleaning nozzle configured to eject a cleaning fluid toward the circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool through a gap between the circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool and the inner circumferential surface of the cleaning body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoatsu ISHIBASHI
  • Patent number: 8876985
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning system for a set of instruments associated or in contact with an image plate readout device, as well as to a readout device comprising the cleaning system. The cleaning system comprises a disinfecting element, which emits electromagnetic radiation and/or ultrasonic radiation capable of destroying disease carriers, and which is adapted to emit said radiation towards an image plate conveyor mechanism encompassed by the image plate readout device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: PaloDEx Group Oy
    Inventors: Jari Taskinen, Markus Weber, Jarto Luotola, Douglas Woods, Markus Gygax
  • Patent number: 8863342
    Abstract: A clutch assembly for a surface treatment appliance includes an input clutch member, an output clutch member driven by the input clutch member, a motorized mechanism for effecting relative movement between the input clutch member and the output clutch member from an engaged position, in which torque is transmitted by the output clutch member to an output, to a disengaged position, in which torque is not transmitted to the output, and a control system for actuating the motorized mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Scott Andrew Maguire, Matthew Charles Edward Wilson
  • Publication number: 20140261542
    Abstract: The present invention discloses personal hygiene device or cleaning devices and cleaning apparatuses. The cleaning devices include an elongate member, at least one housing coupled to a proximal end of the elongate member, at least one agitation mechanism movably coupled to the at least one housing, and a cleaning device removably coupled to the at least one housing. The cleaning apparatuses include a cleaning portion, a first attachment portion at a first end of the cleaning portion, and a second attachment portion at a second end of the cleaning portion. Methods of using the cleaning devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: DR. BURK'S BEST, LLC
    Inventor: Juliet Colyer Burk
  • Publication number: 20140254311
    Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a marine element towed in water and related methods are provided. The cleaning device includes a body configured to enclose the marine element; at least one wing attached to the body and configured to impart translational and rotational motion to the body when interacting with the water; a switching and locking mechanism configured to change an orientation of the at least one wing between a first orientation and a second orientation when contacting a stopper and also to lock the selected orientation; rotating means attached to an internal surface of the body and configured to contact the marine element, the rotating means having axles that make a fix angle with a longitudinal axis of the body; and a cleaning tool attached to the body and configured to clean the marine element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: CGG SERVICES SA
    Inventor: Raphael MACQUIN
  • Patent number: 8813409
    Abstract: Disclosed is a remote contrivance refurbishment apparatus and related methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventors: Richard Worrall, William Rearick
  • Publication number: 20140223675
    Abstract: A floor-cleaning robot having a chassis for moving the floor-cleaning robot in a direction of travel over a surface to be cleaned, a cleaning implement, a control unit and first and second measuring devices for three-dimensional distance measurement. Each of the first and second measuring devices is configured to sense distance between the measuring device and a plurality of surface elements within a respective solid angle that is spanned from the measuring device. The first and second measuring devices are aligned in such a manner that the direction of travel runs through the first solid angle. The second solid angle is offset in relation to the first solid angle. The control unit is designed to generate and/or update a representation of the surface to be cleaned, on the basis of the distances from surface elements sensed by first and second measuring devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: HAKO GMBH
    Inventors: Jan Helge Klüssendorff, Dariush Forouher, Rainer Bavendiek, Axel Zimny
  • Publication number: 20140215731
    Abstract: Disclosed is mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner which is delivered to the site of the xeriscaping to be cleaned by a wheel/axle assembly, leveled with adjustable jack stands mounted on the metal frame. Xeriscape material to be cleaned is collected and deposited in a hopper with slide plate to control flow of material into the receiving chamber. Using an external power system, the auger/screener device rotation begins and picks up and carries forward the material, passing through the transition plate to the auger/cleaner chamber where foreign material passes through the screen. The cleaned material proceeds to the discharge chamber where it is collected and returned to the original xeriscaped site. The mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner can clean xeriscape gravel at a lower cost, with improved quality and a higher rate of speed than was previously possible, with significantly reduced burden to the ecosystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas R. Hill