Autonomous floor cleaner

Abstract

An autonomous floor cleaner includes a base that is movable over a surface to be cleaned, a top plate coupled with the base, a collection chamber, at least one dirt inlet in communication with the collection chamber, and at least one sweeping element for sweeping dirt on the surface to be cleaned toward the collection chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An autonomous floor cleaner, comprising:
 a base;   a top operably coupled with the base;   a drive system provided with the base and adapted for moving the base over a surface to be cleaned;   a collection chamber having an inlet; and   at least one sweeping element extending beyond a portion of the base or a portion of the top and configured to mechanically move dirt towards the inlet of the collection chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the top is a top plate and the drive system is operably coupled to the top plate to rotate the top plate relative to the base about a top axis. 
     
     
         3 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 2  wherein the top axis is generally perpendicular to a direction of movement of the base over the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         4 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 2  wherein the at least one sweeping element comprises at least one rotating brush and the drive system rotates the at least one rotating brush about a brush axis. 
     
     
         5 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 4  wherein the top axis is generally perpendicular to a direction of movement of the base over the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         6 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 2  wherein the top axis is non-perpendicular to the base. 
     
     
         7 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 2  wherein the drive system further comprises a motor coupled with the top plate for rotating the top plate about the top axis. 
     
     
         8 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 7  wherein the drive system further comprises at least one wheel coupled with the motor and the base for propelling the base over the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         9 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sweeping element comprises at least one of a brush strip, a resilient film, or a rotating brush. 
     
     
         10 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 9  wherein the brush strip comprises a plurality of bristles, with at least some of the bristles extending outwardly beyond a periphery of the top. 
     
     
         11 . An autonomous floor cleaner, comprising:
 a base;   a top plate operably coupled with the base;   a collection chamber; and   at least one sweeping element located at least partially between the base and the top plate, wherein the at least one sweeping element is configured to mechanically move dirt toward the collection chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 11 , further comprising a drive system associated with the base, wherein the drive system is coupled to the top plate to rotate the top plate relative to the base about a top axis. 
     
     
         13 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 12  wherein the drive system is further coupled with the base for moving the base over a surface to be cleaned, wherein the top axis is generally perpendicular to a direction of movement of the base over the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         14 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 12  wherein the at least one sweeping element comprises at least one rotating brush, and the drive system rotates the at least one rotating brush about a brush axis. 
     
     
         15 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 14  wherein the drive system is further coupled with the base for moving the base over a surface to be cleaned, wherein the top axis is generally perpendicular to a direction of movement of the base over the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         16 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 12  wherein the top axis is non-perpendicular to the base. 
     
     
         17 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 12  wherein the drive system further comprises a motor coupled with the top plate for rotating the top plate about the top axis, and wherein the drive system further comprises at least one wheel coupled with the motor and the base for propelling the base over the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         18 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the at least one sweeping element comprises at least one of a brush strip, a resilient film, or a rotating brush. 
     
     
         19 . An autonomous floor cleaner, comprising:
 a base adapted for movement over a surface to be cleaned and having a bottom surface;   a top plate operably coupled with the base;   a collection chamber having at least one opening; and   a bottom plate attached to the bottom surface of the base and wherein the bottom plate is at least partially removably from the base to enable emptying of the collection chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The autonomous floor cleaner of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 at least one dirt inlet at a periphery of the base and in communication with the collection chamber, the dirt inlet comprising:   a ramped surface at least near the at least one opening; and   a guide provided adjacent to the ramped surface and on the base for directing direct into the collection chamber and wherein the guide comprises a curved vane which projects upwardly from the base and extends along the ramped surface.