Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet and dry cleaning

Abstract

An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . An autonomous cleaning robot comprising:
 a chassis a fore-aft axis and a perpendicular transverse axis;   a first collecting apparatus, attached to the chassis and defining a first cleaning zone configured to collect loose particulates from the cleaning surface across a cleaning width, said cleaning width being disposed substantially parallel with the transverse axis; and   a second apparatus, attached to the chassis aft of the first apparatus and defining a second cleaning zone, comprising at least one liquid applicator configured to pump a cleaning fluid onto the cleaning surface, wherein the arrangement of the first collecting apparatus with respect to the liquid applicator causes the first collecting apparatus to precede the liquid applicator over the cleaning surface when transporting the chassis in a forward direction.   
     
     
         43 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 42 , wherein the second apparatus further comprises at least one of a smearing element, a scrubbing element, and a liquid collecting apparatus. 
     
     
         44 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 42 , further comprising a waste storage container in fluid communication with at least one of the first apparatus and the second apparatus. 
     
     
         45 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 42 , wherein the second apparatus further comprises a fluid storage container in fluid communication with the at least one liquid applicator. 
     
     
         46 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 45 , wherein the fluid storage container is removably coupled to the chassis. 
     
     
         47 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 42 , wherein the second apparatus comprises two fluid applicators adapted to apply fluid along an axis substantially parallel with the transverse axis. 
     
     
         48 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 47 , wherein the two fluid applicators apply fluid sequentially. 
     
     
         49 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 47 , wherein fluid is delivered to the two fluid applicators by a pump assembly. 
     
     
         50 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 49 , wherein, during operation, the pump assembly receives a continuous flow of fluid from a fluid storage container and alternatively delivers the fluid to the fluid applicators through operation of a cam assembly. 
     
     
         51 . An autonomous cleaning robot comprising:
 a chassis comprising a fore-aft axis and a perpendicular transverse axis;   a first collecting apparatus, attached to the chassis and defining a first cleaning zone, wherein the first apparatus comprises an air moving system including a suction device and is disposed along a first axis substantially parallel with the transverse axis; and   a second apparatus, attached to the chassis aft of the first apparatus and defining a second cleaning zone configured to pump a cleaning fluid onto the cleaning surface, wherein the arrangement of the first collecting apparatus with respect to the liquid applicator causes the first collecting apparatus to precede the liquid applicator over the cleaning surface when transporting the chassis in a forward direction.   
     
     
         52 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 51 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises a waste storage container. 
     
     
         53 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 51 , wherein the waste storage container is removably coupled to the chassis. 
     
     
         54 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 51 , wherein the air moving system comprises an air jet port. 
     
     
         55 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 54 , wherein the air jet port expels air substantially parallel with the transverse axis. 
     
     
         56 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 54 , wherein the suction device comprises an air intake port. 
     
     
         57 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 56 , wherein the air intake port entrains air substantially parallel with the transverse axis. 
     
     
         58 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 56 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises a channel extending along the first axis between the air jet port and the air intake port. 
     
     
         59 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 58 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises a first doctor blade extending along at least a portion of an aft edge of the channel. 
     
     
         60 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 59 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises a second doctor blade extending at an angle to the first axis. 
     
     
         61 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 51 , wherein the first axis extends at an acute angle to the transverse axis.