Mop attachment for robotic surface cleaning devices

Abstract

A removable mop attachment module, including: a reservoir; an opening for filling the reservoir with a fluid; a lid for sealing the opening; at least one drainage aperture positioned on a bottom surface of the reservoir for draining fluid from the at least one drainage aperture; a mopping cloth; a means for holding the mopping cloth; and a pressure actuated valve positioned at least partially inside the reservoir.

1 . A removable mop attachment module, comprising:
 a reservoir;   an opening for filling the reservoir with a fluid;   a lid for sealing the opening;   at least one drainage aperture positioned on a bottom surface of the reservoir for draining fluid from the at least one drainage aperture;   a mopping cloth;   a means for holding the mopping cloth; and   a pressure actuated valve positioned at least partially inside the reservoir, wherein:
 the pressure actuated valve opens from a closed position when an air pressure inside the reservoir reaches a predetermined amount of negative air pressure due to the fluid flowing out of the reservoir through the at least one drainage aperture; 
 the pressure actuated valve closes from an open position when the air pressure inside the reservoir increases to a predetermined amount due to air flowing into the reservoir through the at least one breathing aperture; and 
 the opening and closing of the pressure actuated valve at least partially controls the flow of the fluid out of the reservoir through the at least one drainage aperture. 
   
     
     
         2 . The removable mop attachment module of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a robotic cleaning device comprises the removable mop attachment module; and   the mopping cloth is positioned on at least a portion of a bottom surface of the robotic cleaning device.   
     
     
         3 . The removable mop attachment module of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the removable mop attachment module further comprises at least one breathing aperture; and   the pressure actuated valve covers the at least one breathing aperture.   
     
     
         4 . The removable mop attachment module of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the opening for filling the reservoir with the fluid is positioned on a top surface of the reservoir; and   the at least one breathing aperture and the pressure actuated valve are positioned on a surface of the reservoir different than the top surface on which the opening is positioned.   
     
     
         5 . The removable mop attachment module of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow reduction valve positioned on the at least one drainage aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The removable mop attachment module of  claim 1 , wherein the means for holding the mopping cloth to the at least the portion of the bottom surface of the removable mop attachment module comprises hooks and loops. 
     
     
         7 . The removable mop attachment module of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure actuated valve further comprises:
 a valve body positioned at least partially external to the reservoir; and   a valve member connected to the valve body having at least a flexible element disposed inside the reservoir moveable relative to the valve body that forms a seal on at least one breathing aperture when in a closed position;   wherein:
 a pressure difference between a first side and a second side of the valve member moves the flexible element from the closed position to an open position; and 
 the flexible element returns to the closed position when the pressure has equalized. 
   
     
     
         8 . The removable mop attachment module of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible element is made from any of: silicon, rubber, or plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The removable mop attachment module of  claim 1 , wherein the removable mop attachment module is removable as a unit from a body of a robotic cleaning device. 
     
     
         10 . The removable mop attachment module of  claim 9 , wherein the removable mop attachment module is adapted to slide into one or more slots on a rear portion of the body of the robotic cleaning device. 
     
     
         11 . The removable mop attachment module of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the removable mop attachment module is attachable to a robotic cleaning device; and   the robotic cleaning device is configured to mop and vacuum.   
     
     
         12 . A robotic cleaning device comprising:
 a chassis including a set of wheels;   a motor to drive the wheels;   a processor for controlling the motor and cleaning operations of the robot; and   a removable mop attachment module, comprising:
 a reservoir; 
 an opening disposed on a top surface of the reservoir for filling the reservoir with a fluid; 
 a lid for sealing the opening; 
 at least one drainage aperture positioned on a bottom surface of the reservoir; 
 a mopping cloth positioned on at least a portion of a bottom surface of the robotic cleaning device and dampened with fluid drained from the at least one drainage aperture during mopping; 
 a means for holding the mopping cloth to the at least the portion of the bottom surface of the robotic cleaning device; 
 at least one breathing aperture; and 
 a pressure actuated valve positioned at least partially inside the reservoir, wherein:
 the pressure actuated valve opens from a closed position when an air pressure inside the reservoir reaches a predetermined amount of negative air pressure; 
 the pressure actuated valve closes from an open position when the air pressure inside the reservoir increases to a predetermined amount; 
 the opening and closing of the pressure actuated valve at least partially control the flow of the fluid out of the reservoir through the at least one drainage aperture; 
 the removable mop attachment module is removable from a body of the robotic cleaning device; and 
 the robotic cleaning device is configured to at least one of: vacuum and mop. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The robotic cleaning device of  claim 12 , further comprising a flow reduction valve positioned on the at least one drainage aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The robotic cleaning device of  claim 12 , wherein the pressure actuated valve further comprises:
 a valve body adapted for mounting on the top surface of the reservoir and positioned at least partially external to the reservoir; and   a valve member connected to the valve body having at least a flexible element disposed inside the reservoir moveable relative to the valve body that forms a seal on the at least one breathing aperture when in a closed position;   wherein:
 a pressure difference between a first side and a second side of the valve member moves the flexible element from the closed position to an open position; and 
 the flexible element returns to the closed position when the pressure has equalized. 
   
     
     
         15 . The robotic cleaning device of  claim 12 , wherein the removable mop attachment module is adapted to slide into one or more slots on a rear portion of the body of the robotic cleaning device. 
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling a fluid flow of fluid from a reservoir of a mop module, comprising:
 autonomously and iteratively opening a pressure actuated valve to an open position from a closed position in response to a first change in air pressure within the reservoir caused by at least a portion of the fluid flowing out of at least one drainage aperture positioned on a bottom surface of the reservoir;   autonomously and iteratively closing the pressure actuated valve to the closed position from the open position in response to a second change in air pressure within the reservoir caused by air flowing into the reservoir through at least one air aperture, wherein:
 the reservoir comprises an opening disposed on the reservoir for filling the reservoir with the fluid; 
 the reservoir further comprises a lid for sealing the opening; and 
 the pressure actuated valve is positioned at least partially inside the reservoir; 
   draining fluid through the at least drainage aperture, wherein:
 the mop module is attachable to a robotic cleaning device; and 
 the robotic cleaning device is configured to mop and vacuum as the robotic cleaning device traverses a floor surface. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a flow reduction valve is positioned on the at least one drainage aperture;   the fluid flow of fluid through the at least one flow reduction valve and the at least one drainage aperture is at least partially controlled by the opening and the closing of the pressure actuated valve;   the flow reduction valve comprises a fluid passage through which the fluid flows prior to reaching the at least one drainage aperture;   a mopping cloth is attached to at least a portion of a bottom surface of the mop module to receive the fluid drained from the at least one drainage aperture; and   the mop module comprises a means for holding the mopping cloth to the at least the portion of the bottom surface of the mop module.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pressure actuated valve further comprises:
 a valve body adapted for mounting on the top surface of the reservoir and positioned at least partially external to the reservoir; and   a valve member connected to the valve body having at least a flexible element disposed inside the reservoir moveable relative to the valve body that forms a seal on the at least one air aperture when in a closed position, wherein:
 a pressure difference between a first side and a second side of the valve member moves the flexible element from the closed position to an open position; and 
 the flexible element returns to the closed position when the pressure has equalized. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mop module comprising the reservoir, the pressure actuated valve, and the at least one drainage aperture is removable as a unit from a body of a robotic cleaning device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 installing the mod module on the body of the robotic cleaning device by sliding the mop module into one or more slots on a rear portion of the body of the robotic cleaning device.