Robotic surface treating system

Abstract

A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a traction arrangement, a docking interface and an articulated arm defining an end effector. The end effector includes a suction tool. The robotic unit defines a suction flow path which extends from the suction tool to the docking interface. The system further includes a handheld vacuum cleaner configured to be docked with the docking interface, the handheld vacuum cleaner including a vacuum motor for drawing air through the suction flow path when docked with the docking interface.

1 . A surface treating system comprising:
 a robotic unit comprising a main body, a traction arrangement, and an articulated arm,   wherein the articulated arm comprises includes an upper arm section and a lower arm section, wherein the upper arm section is attached to the main body at a shoulder joint, and wherein the lower arm section is attached to the upper arm section at an elbow joint, and wherein an end effector is defined at a distal end of the lower arm section,   wherein the shoulder joint and the elbow joint are configured such that the upper arm section and the lower arm section are pivotable in a generally vertical plane relative to a ground plane defined by the traction arrangement,   wherein the articulated arm is movable to a stowed position, in which position no part of the articulated arm extends above an uppermost extremity of the robotic unit,   and wherein the main body of the robotic unit includes a docking interface for receiving a handheld vacuum cleaner in releasable engagement.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the traction arrangement comprises a pair of rolling elements each of which defines a matching circumferential shape, wherein the pair of rolling elements are spaced apart along a rolling axis such that the circumferential shapes of the rolling elements define an imaginary cylindrical volume between them with a cross sectional area that matches the circumferential shape, wherein the main body is configured so as not to extend outside of the imaginary cylindrical volume. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the main body is generally cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld vacuum cleaner has a longitudinal axis along which a suction nozzle and a vacuum motor are oriented, wherein the handheld vacuum cleaner is mounted to the docking interface so that the longitudinal axis extends transversely, and optionally perpendicularly, to the ground plane defined by the traction arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld vacuum cleaner comprises a pistol grip and wherein, when the handheld vacuum cleaner is mounted to the docking interface, the pistol grip extends over at least a part of the main body of the robotic unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the pistol grip supports a battery pack on the end thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the docking interface is defined on a first side of the traction arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the articulated arm extends from the main body on a second side of the traction arrangement. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper extremity of the robotic unit is defined by the handheld vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the articulated arm is movable from the stowed position to a deployed position, during which movement no part of the articulated arm extends above the uppermost extremity of the robotic unit.