System for maintaining a pool cleaning robot

Abstract

A system for maintaining a pool cleaning robot, the system may include a cover, a cleaning unit that is positioned within a space and a cover manipulator, wherein the cover manipulator is configured to move the cover between a first position in which the cover prevents the pool cleaning robot from entering the space and a second position in which the cover defines an opening through which the pool cleaning robot passes to enter the space.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for maintaining a pool cleaning robot, the system comprises a cover, a cleaning unit that is positioned within a space and a cover manipulator, wherein the cover manipulator is configured to move the cover between a first position in which the cover prevents the pool cleaning robot from entering the space and a second position in which the cover defines an opening through which the pool cleaning robot passes to enter the space. 
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  comprising a sloped portion that extends from an upper end of the space to a lower end of the space. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the sloped portion is smooth. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the sloped portion is not smooth. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning unit belongs to a docking station. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5  wherein the docking station comprises a cable reel 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 5  comprising a communication unit that is configured to communicate with the pool cleaning robot. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7  comprising a controller that is configured to control the cover manipulator based on information received from the pool cleaning robot. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1  comprising a drainage system for draining fluid from the space. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the cover is flexible and wherein the cover manipulator comprises a rolling unit that is configured to roll in the cover to be positioned at the first position and to roll in the cover to be positioned at the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10  further comprising supporting elements for supporting the cover. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11  further comprising supporting elements manipulator for positioning the supporting elements in the space or outside the space. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the cover is rigid and wherein the cover manipulator is configured to roll the cover to be positioned at the first position and to roll in the cover to be positioned at the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1  comprising a controller for sensing a proximity of the pool cleaning robot to the space. 
     
     
         15 . A system for maintaining a pool cleaning robot, the system comprises a cover, a cleaning unit that is positioned within a space and an elevator, wherein the elevator is configured to receive the pool cleaning robot and move the pool cleaning robot between an upper position to a lower position; wherein when positioned in the lower position the pool cleaning robot is placed at a bottom of the space; wherein when positioned at the upper position the pool cleaning robot is placed above the space. 
     
     
         16 . A method for extracting a pool cleaning robot from a pool, the method comprises assisting, by a docking system that is mechanically coupled to the pool cleaning robot, an extraction of the pool cleaning robot from the pool; and facilitating a propagation of the pool cleaning robot towards a docking station. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the facilitating of the propagation of the pool cleaning robot towards the docking station comprises moving a cover that covers the space to facilitate a passage of the pool cleaning robot into the space thereby exposing a sloped surface that leads to the docking station. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the facilitating of the propagation of the pool cleaning robot towards the docking station comprises lowering the pool cleaning robot by an elevator.