Robotic cleaner debris removal docking station

Abstract

A docking station for a robotic cleaner may include a base, the base including a support and a suction housing, a docking station suction inlet defined in the suction housing, the docking station suction inlet being configured to fluidly couple to the robotic cleaner, and a docking station suction motor, wherein the docking station suction motor is activated after the robotic cleaner is determined to be docked with the docking station and in response to a triggering event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A docking station for a robotic cleaner comprising:
 a base, the base including a support and a suction housing;   a docking station suction inlet defined in the suction housing, the docking station suction inlet being configured to fluidly couple to the robotic cleaner; and   a docking station suction motor, wherein the docking station suction motor is activated after the robotic cleaner is determined to be docked with the docking station and in response to a triggering event.   
     
     
         2 . The docking station of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event is an expiration of a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         3 . The docking station of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event is a generation of a synchronization signal. 
     
     
         4 . The docking station of  claim 1 , wherein the docking station suction motor is activated for a predetermined time. 
     
     
         5 . The docking station of  claim 1 , wherein the docking station suction motor is deactivated before expiration of a predetermined time in response to determining an evacuation pivot door of a robotic cleaner dust cup is in a closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The docking station of  claim 1 , wherein the docking station is configured to generate a synchronization signal in response to determining the robotic cleaner is docked with the docking station. 
     
     
         7 . The docking station of  claim 1 , wherein the docking station is configured to generate a function signal in response to determining an evacuation pivot door of a robotic cleaner dust cup is an open position. 
     
     
         8 . A robotic cleaner configured to dock with a docking station comprising:
 a robotic cleaner dust cup configured to receive debris, the robotic cleaner dust cup including a robotic cleaner dust cup inlet and an outlet port, the outlet port configured to fluidly couple to the docking station;   a robotic cleaner suction motor being configured to operate in a suction motor forward direction and a suction motor reverse direction; and   an agitator, the agitator being configured to rotate in an agitator forward direction and an agitator reverse direction.   
     
     
         9 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the robotic cleaner suction motor is caused to operate in the suction motor reverse direction in response to being docked with the docking station. 
     
     
         10 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the agitator is caused to rotate in the agitator reverse direction in response to being docked with the docking station. 
     
     
         11 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the agitator is caused to rotate in the agitator reverse direction and the agitator forward direction in response to being docked with the docking station. 
     
     
         12 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the robotic cleaner dust cup further includes a rib having a plurality of teeth configured to engage the agitator. 
     
     
         13 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the robotic cleaner suction motor is caused to operate in the suction motor reverse direction in response to receiving a function signal from the docking station. 
     
     
         14 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the agitator is caused to rotate in the agitator reverse direction in response to receiving a function signal from the docking station. 
     
     
         15 . A robotic cleaning system comprising:
 a docking station, the docking station including:
 a base, the base including a support and a suction housing; 
 a docking station suction inlet defined in the suction housing; and 
 a docking station suction motor; and 
   a robotic cleaner, wherein the docking station suction motor is activated after the robotic cleaner is determined to be docked with the docking station and in response to a triggering event, the robotic cleaner including:
 a robotic cleaner dust cup configured to receive debris, the robotic cleaner dust cup including a robotic cleaner dust cup inlet and an outlet port, the outlet port configured to fluidly couple to the docking station; 
 a robotic cleaner suction motor being configured to operate in a suction motor forward direction and a suction motor reverse direction; and 
 an agitator, the agitator being configured to rotate in an agitator forward direction and an agitator reverse direction. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the docking station is configured to generate a synchronization signal in response to determining the robotic cleaner is docked with the docking station. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the docking station is configured to generate a function signal in response to determining an evacuation pivot door of the robotic cleaner dust cup is an open position. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the robotic cleaner suction motor is caused to operate in the suction motor reverse direction in response to receiving the function signal from the docking station. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the agitator is caused to rotate in the agitator reverse direction in response to receiving the function signal from the docking station. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the robotic cleaner dust cup further includes a rib having a plurality of teeth configured to engage the agitator.