Robotic floor cleaning device with controlled liquid release mechanism

Abstract

A robotic floor cleaning device that features a controlled liquid releasing mechanism. A rotatable cylinder with at least one aperture for storing a limited quantity of liquid is connected to a non-propelling wheel of the robotic floor cleaning device. There is a passage below the cylinder and between the cylinder and a drainage mechanism. The cylinder is within or adjacent to a liquid reservoir. Each time an aperture is exposed to the liquid within the reservoir it fills with liquid. As the wheel turns the connected cylinder is rotated until the aperture is adjacent to the passage. The liquid in the aperture will flow through the passage and enter the drainage mechanism which disperses the liquid to the working surface. The release of liquid is halted when the connected wheel stops turning.

1 . A robotic floor cleaning device, comprising:
 a chassis;   a set of wheels;   a mop module, comprising:
 a reservoir for storing liquid; and 
 a control mechanism for controlling a release of the liquid from the reservoir, 
 wherein the control mechanism only releases liquid from the reservoir when the robotic surface cleaning device is in motion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The robotic floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a drainage mechanism for dispersing the liquid released from the reservoir onto a work surface. 
     
     
         3 . The robotic floor cleaning device of  claim 2 , wherein the drainage mechanism comprises at least one opening in a bottom surface of the mop module through which the liquid is dispersed onto the work surface. 
     
     
         4 . The robotic floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein a speed at which the control mechanism releases liquid from the reservoir is proportional to a speed of the robotic surface cleaning device. 
     
     
         5 . The robotic floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one component of the mop module is detachable from the robotic floor cleaning device. 
     
     
         6 . The robotic floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein rotary motion of at least one wheel of the robotic floor cleaning device causes the control mechanism to release the liquid from the reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The robotic floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein only motion of the robotic floor cleaning device causes the control mechanism to release the liquid from the reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The robotic floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism releases a predetermined quantity of the liquid from the reservoir at a time. 
     
     
         9 . The robotic floor cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism comprises:
 a rotatable cylinder positioned adjacent to or within the reservoir and having at least one aperture for holding a portion of the liquid stored in the reservoir; and   an axle turning the rotatable cylinder whenever the robotic surface cleaning device is in motion or at least one wheel of the robotic surface cleaning device is in rotary motion.   
     
     
         10 . The robotic floor cleaning device of  claim 9 , wherein the rotatable cylinder is connected to the at least one wheel directly by at least one of an axle and a gear mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . A mopping method for a robotic floor cleaning device, comprising:
 storing liquid within a reservoir disposed on the robotic floor cleaning device;   releasing, with a control mechanism disposed on the robotic floor cleaning device, liquid from the reservoir, wherein the control mechanism only releases liquid from the reservoir when the robotic surface cleaning device is in motion.   
     
     
         12 . The mopping method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 dispersing, with a drainage mechanism disposed on the robotic floor cleaning device, the liquid released from the reservoir onto a work surface.   
     
     
         13 . The mopping method of  claim 12 , wherein the drainage mechanism comprises at least one opening in a bottom surface of the mop module through which the liquid is dispersed onto the work surface. 
     
     
         14 . The mopping method of  claim 11 , wherein a speed at which the control mechanism releases liquid from the reservoir is proportional to a speed of the robotic surface cleaning device. 
     
     
         15 . The mopping method of  claim 11 , wherein the reservoir is detachable from the robotic floor cleaning device. 
     
     
         16 . The mopping method of  claim 11 , wherein rotary motion of at least one wheel of the robotic floor cleaning device causes the control mechanism to release the liquid from the reservoir. 
     
     
         17 . The mopping method of  claim 11 , wherein only motion of the robotic floor cleaning device causes the control mechanism to release the liquid from the reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . The mopping method of  claim 11 , wherein the control mechanism releases a predetermined quantity of the liquid from the reservoir at a time. 
     
     
         19 . The mopping method of  claim 11 , wherein the control mechanism comprises:
 a rotatable cylinder positioned adjacent to or within the reservoir and having at least one aperture for holding a portion of the liquid stored in the reservoir; and   an axle turning the rotatable cylinder whenever the robotic surface cleaning device is in motion or at least one wheel of the robotic surface cleaning device is in rotary motion.   
     
     
         20 . The mopping method of  claim 19 , wherein the rotatable cylinder is connected to the at least one wheel directly by at least one of an axle and a gear mechanism.