Controlled self operated vacuum cleaning system

Abstract

A controlled self operating vacuum cleaning system which comprises a stationary housing for the storage of a mobile vacuum cleaner apparatus and where the housing is provided with an automatically openable and closable closure allowing exit and entry of the mobile vacuum cleaner unit. The mobile unit is driven by an internal drive motor which is powered by one or more batteries carried by the mobile vacuum cleaner unit. At preestablished times and preestablished time intervals, the closure of the housing will automatically open providing for ingress and egress and the mobile vacuum cleaner unit will exit and randomly clean the carpet of a certain specified area for a predetermined time period. The mobile vacuum cleaner unit is provided with obstacle detectors for causing the mobile unit to move beyond an obstacle, if it contacts an obstacle, as well as detectors for detecting the edge of a staircase and the edge of a carpet to cause the mobile unit to remain on the carpeted area. Upon return to the housing after the predetermined time interval, the mobile vacuum cleaner unit is automatically connected to a recharging electrical circuit for recharging the batteries of the mobile vacuum cleaner unit and simultaneously an additional vacuum dirt collection system causes evacuation of the dirt collected by the mobile cleaner unit.

Having thus described the invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:  
     
         1 . An automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus capable of movement in a specified area at predetermined time intervals, said cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a) a mobile cleaning apparatus having a body which is powered for driving movement in the specified area and in a non-controlled randomly operated path;    b) drive means in said body for generating a powered movement and driving the mobile cleaning apparatus in the specified area;    c) contact means associated with said body which is actuated when the body contacts a fixed structure; and    d) control means operatively connected to said contact means and said drive means to cause said drive means to alter the driving movement of the apparatus in another non-controlled randomly generated path which is different from the path followed by the apparatus when contacting the fixed structure until the apparatus thereby moves beyond the fixed structure.    
     
     
         2 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further characterized in that said contact means comprise a plurality of spaced apart contacts which, are separately actuated when the body contacts a fixed structure in the region of the contact, and that the contact means which is actuated will cause a drive movement different than if another contact means is actuated.  
     
     
         3 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further characterized in that said contact means comprises a shiftable bumper on said body and which will actuate a sensor associated with that bumper when the bumper contacts a fixed structure.  
     
     
         4 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further characterized in that the drive means comprises a drive motor mounted in the body and which is connected to wheels on the body for positively driving same.  
     
     
         5 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  further characterized in that the drive motor is a bi-directional drive motor to enable the drive motor to drive the apparatus in a forward direction and in a rearward direction.  
     
     
         6 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  further characterized in that a pair of drive wheels are mounted on said body and a separate drive motor is connected to each of said drive wheels.  
     
     
         7 . An automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus capable of movement in a specified area at predetermined time intervals, said cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a) a movable cleaning apparatus body which is powered for movement in the specified area;    b) drive means carried with said body for causing a powered movement of the apparatus body in the specified area;    c) control means associated with the body for energizing the drive means and causing the apparatus to move in the specified area under its own control and without any external drive control at predetermine time intervals.    
     
     
         8 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 7  further characterized in that said control means comprises a microprocessor which is programmed to cause the energization of the drive means at specified time intervals.  
     
     
         9 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 8  further characterized in that said drive means comprises a drive motor means in said body, and wheels on said body operatively connected to said drive motor means and where the control means is operatively connected to the drive motor means to cause energization at the selected time intervals.  
     
     
         10 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 9  further characterized in that a pair of drive wheels are mounted on said body and a separate drive motor is connected to each of said drive wheels.  
     
     
         11 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 7  further characterized in that: 
 a) contact means is associated with said body and which is actuated when the body contacts a fixed structure; and  
 b) said control means is operatively connected to said contact means and said drive means to cause said drive mens to alter the driving movement of the apparatus and thereby move the apparatus beyond the fixed structure.  
 
     
     
         12 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 11  further characterized in that said control means comprises a plurality of spaced apart contacts which are separately actuated when the body contacts a fixed structure in the region of the contact, and that the contact means which is actuated will cause a drive movement different than if another contact means is actuated.  
     
     
         13 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 12  further characterized in that said contact means comprises a shiftable bumper on said body and which will actuate a sensor associated with that bumper when the bumper contacts a fixed structure.  
     
     
         14 . An automatically operable vacuum cleaning system with automatic recharging means for recharging a source of stored energy forming part of the apparatus, said vacuum cleaning system comprising: 
 a) a movable cleaning apparatus body which is powered for movement;    b) drive means in said body for causing powered movement of the apparatus body;    c) a battery source of power carried by said apparatus body and being connected to the drive means for causing the powered movement;    d) a housing for storage of said apparatus body when not in use; and    e) recharging means associated with said housing for automatically connecting to said battery source of power without any manual intervention when said apparatus is moved into said housing to thereby automatically recharge the battery source of power.    
     
     
         15 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 14  further characterized in that said recharging means is located within said housing.  
     
     
         16 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 15  further characterized in that said recharging means comprises electrical contactors in said housing and cooperating electrical contactors on said apparatus body which automatically connect to one another when the body is moved into the housing, and conductor means connecting the contactors on the body to the battery source of power.  
     
     
         17 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 16  further characterized in that the homing means is associated with said body to cause the contactors on the body to become electrically connected to the contactors on the housing when the body is moved into the housing.  
     
     
         18 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 14  further characterized in that the drive means causes powered movement in a specified and limited area, and control means is operatively connected to said drive means to cause the battery source of power to energize the drive means and thereby cause the apparatus to move in the specified area under its own control without any manual guidance thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 18  further characterized in that: 
 a) contact means is associated with said body which is actuated when the body contacts a fixed structure, and  
 b) control means is operatively connected to said contact means and said drive means to cause said drive means to alter the driving movement of the apparatus and thereby move beyond the fixed structure.  
 
     
     
         20 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 19  further characterized in that said contact means comprises a plurality of spaced apart contacts which are separately actuated when the body contacts a fixed structure in the region of the contact, and that the contact means which is actuated will cause a drive movement different than if another contact means is actuated.  
     
     
         21 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 20  further characterized in that each said contact means comprises a shiftable bumper on said body and which will actuate a sensor associated with that bumper when the bumper contacts a fixed structure.  
     
     
         22 . An automatically operable vacuum cleaning system with a stationary debris collection station capable of receiving debris collected by a movable carpet cleaner apparatus and temporarily stored in a temporary storage chamber of the apparatus, said apparatus comprising: 
 a) a movable cleaning apparatus body which is powered for movement;    b) drive means in said body causing powered movement of the apparatus body;    c) a temporary storage means carried by said apparatus for collecting debris picked-up by the apparatus during a cleaning operation;    d) valve means associated with said apparatus body for being openable to discharge the debris collected in the temporary storage means; and    e) a stationary debris collection station in a housing for said apparatus body and automatically removing debris from the temporary storage area when the movable apparatus body is stored in said housing.    
     
     
         23 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 22  further characterized in that said apparatus body comprises a means for creating a vacuum therein to draw debris collected by the apparatus body into the temporary storage area.  
     
     
         24 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 22  further characterized in that said stationary debris collection system comprises an arm which is movable when the body is stored within the housing and includes a head and connectable to the valve means of said apparatus body for withdrawing debris temporarily stored in the temporary storage means.  
     
     
         25 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 24  further characterized- in that said stationary debris collection system further comprises a storage chamber for holding the debris withdrawn from the temporary storage means.  
     
     
         26 . An automatically operable vacuum cleaning system which enables a mobile unit to be moved into and out of a housing for that mobile unit, said apparatus comprising: 
 a) a mobile cleaning unit which is self-powered for movement;    b) drive means in said mobile unit for randomly driving said mobile unit in a selected area;    c) a housing means for temporarily storing said mobile unit when not in use;    d) door means on said housing and being automatically openable upon initiation of a cleaning cycle which is preprogrammed into said housing and allowing said mobile unit to exit said housing; and    e) a means enabling said mobile unit on its own power to re-enter said housing after a cleaning cycle and to enable closing of the door on said housing.    
     
     
         27 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 26  further characterized in that said system comprises a programmable timer which allows a user of the system to program a vacuum cleaning start and a vacuum cleaning end.  
     
     
         28 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 26  further characterized in that said mobile unit comprises drive wheels and drive motors therein for driving the mobile unit in a random path during a cleaning operation.  
     
     
         29 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 26  further characterized in that said housing has recharging means for automatically recharging the mobile unit when it returns to the housing after the cleaning cycle.  
     
     
         30 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 29  further characterized in that said housing comprises means for automatically removing any debris collected by the mobile unit when the mobile unit re-enters the housing after a cleaning operation.  
     
     
         31 . An automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus capable of movement in a specified area at predetermined time intervals and which is capable of avoiding driving into and over a drop-off, said apparatus comprising: 
 a) a mobile cleaning apparatus having a body which is powered for driving movement in the specified area;    b) drive means in said body for generating a powered movement and driving the mobile cleaning apparatus in the specified area;    c) a sensor capable of sensing a floor surface and being adapted for vertical shifting movement in response to variations in said floor surface; and    d) a driving control means for causing said drive means to move the mobile unit away from a drop-off in the floor surface sensed by said sensing means.    
     
     
         32 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus of  claim 30  further characterized in that said sensing means comprises an arm capable of riding on or being spaced from a floor surface in very close proximity thereto.  
     
     
         33 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 31  further characterized in that said drive means comprises a pair of drive wheels and with a separate motor driving each of said drive wheels, said driving correction means being operable to cause selected energization and de-energization of the separate drive motors in response to detection of a drop-off.  
     
     
         34 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 33  further characterized in that said body is provided with contact means actuated when the body contacts a fixed structure and a control means connected to the contact means and to the drive means to cause the drive means to alter driving movement of the mobile unit in a path which is different from that previously followed by the mobile unit when contacting a fixed structure.  
     
     
         35 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 34  further characterized in that said mobile unit moves in a non-controlled randomly generated path.  
     
     
         36 . An automatically operable vacuum cleaning system with means for cleaning a mobile unit forming part of said system upon completion of a cleaning cycle, said vacuum cleaning system comprising: 
 a) a movable mobile unit which is powered for movement in a selected area for creating a vacuum cleaning of that area;    b) drive means in said mobile unit for causing powered movement of said mobile unit;    c) means in said mobile unit for creating a vacuum and withdrawing debris from a floor surface and storing same in said mobile unit;    d) a housing for storage of said mobile unit when not in a cleaning operation; and    e) a means for automatically removing any debris collected from said mobile unit upon completion of a cleaning operation and when said mobile unit is located within said housing.    
     
     
         37 . The automatically operable vacuum cleaning system of  claim 36  further characterized in that said debris collection means comprises an arm which automatically moves to the mobile unit and connects to the mobile unit upon entry of the mobile unit into the housing and thereupon withdraws any debris collected by the mobile unit during a vacuum cleaning operation.