Integrated evacuation station and rubbish bin

Abstract

A docking station for a mobile cleaning robot can include a base and a cannister. The base can be configured to receive at least a portion of the mobile cleaning robot thereon, where the base can include a debris port. The cannister can be connected to the base and can be located at least partially above the base. The cannister can include a debris duct connected to the debris port and configured to receive an air stream from the mobile cleaning robot. The lid assembly can be connected to the debris duct and can be configured to receive at least a portion of the air stream from the mobile cleaning robot. A receptacle can be connected to the lid assembly, where the receptacle can be configured to receive at least a portion of debris from the air stream or the lid assembly.

1 . A docking station for a mobile cleaning robot, the docking station comprising:
 a base configured to receive at least a portion of the mobile cleaning robot thereon, the base including a debris port; and   a cannister connected to the base and located at least partially above the base, the cannister comprising:
 a debris duct connected to the debris port and configured to receive an air stream from the mobile cleaning robot; 
 a lid assembly connected to the debris duct and configured to receive at least a portion of the air stream from the mobile cleaning robot; and 
 a receptacle connected to the lid assembly, the receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of debris from the air stream or the lid assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The docking station of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a debris blower connected to the cannister or the base, the debris blower operable to produce the air stream that travels from the mobile cleaning robot, through the debris port and the debris duct, through the lid assembly, and out of the cannister.   
     
     
         3 . The docking station of  claim 2 , comprising:
 a discharge duct connected to the cannister, the discharge duct configured to receive at least a portion of the air stream therethrough, and   a filter connected to the discharge duct and configured to receive at least a portion of the air stream at least partially therethrough.   
     
     
         4 . The docking station of  claim 1 , comprising:
 pad washing system comprising an agitator engageable with a cleaning pad of the mobile cleaning robot;   a clean water tank configured to deliver clean liquid to the mobile cleaning robot and the pad washing system; and   a dirty water tank configured to receive dirty water from the pad washing system.   
     
     
         5 . The docking station of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a sweep port extending at least partially through the base or the cannister, the sweep port connected to the debris duct; and   a valve movable to direct at least a portion of the air stream through the sweep port or the debris port.   
     
     
         6 . The docking station of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a lid connected to the receptacle and movable between an open position, where the receptacle is open to an environment, and a closed position.   
     
     
         7 . The docking station of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a discharge duct connected to the lid assembly and the receptacle, the discharge duct configured to receive at least a portion of the air stream therethrough;   a first volume connected to the debris duct, the first volume at least partially defined by the receptacle; and   a second volume connected to the debris duct and at least partially fluidically isolated from the first volume, the second volume at least partially defined by the cannister.   
     
     
         8 . The docking station of  claim 7 , comprising:
 a port connected to the discharge duct, the port configured to fluidically connect the second volume to the discharge duct.   
     
     
         9 . The docking station of  claim 6 , comprising:
 a lid actuator connected to the lid;   a lid sensor connected to the cannister or the lid, the lid sensor configured to produce a lid signal; and   a controller in communication with the lid actuator, the controller configured to operate the lid actuator based on the lid signal.   
     
     
         10 . The docking station of  claim 9 , comprising:
 a deflector connected to the lid, the deflector configured to interact with at least a portion of the air stream to direct debris toward the receptacle.   
     
     
         11 . The docking station of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a discharge duct connected to the cannister, the discharge duct configured to receive at least a portion of the air stream therethrough;   a first volume connected to the debris duct, the first volume at least partially defined by the receptacle; and   a second volume at least partially fluidically connected to the first volume, the second volume at least partially defined by the cannister.   
     
     
         12 . The docking station of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a lid connected to the receptacle and movable between an open position, where the receptacle is open to an environment, and a closed position.   
     
     
         13 . The docking station of  claim 12 , wherein the debris duct includes a fixed portion connected to the cannister and includes a movable portion connected to an underside of the lid, the movable portion movable with the lid between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The docking station of  claim 11 , the cannister comprising:
 a support engageable with a portion of the receptacle to support the receptacle within the cannister, the support defining a plurality of ports configured to receive at least a portion of the air stream therethrough.   
     
     
         15 . The docking station of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a discharge duct connected to the cannister, the discharge duct configured to receive at least a portion of the air stream therethrough;   a first volume connected to the debris duct, the first volume at least partially defined by the debris duct; and   a second volume at least partially fluidically isolated from the first volume, the second volume at least partially defined by the receptacle.   
     
     
         16 . The docking station of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a lid connected to the receptacle and movable between an open position, where the receptacle is open to an environment, and a closed position, the lid forming at least a portion of the lid assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The docking station of  claim 16 , comprising:
 a bin door connected to the lid and the lid assembly, the bin door operable to move between a closed position to retain debris within the lid and the lid assembly and between an open position to dispense debris from the lid assembly and the lid into the receptacle; and   bin door actuator connected to the bin door and operable to move the bin door between the open position and the closed position.   
     
     
         18 . The docking station of  claim 17 , comprising:
 a lid sensor connected to the cannister or the lid, the lid sensor configured to produce a lid signal; and   a controller in communication with the bin door actuator, the controller configured to operate the bin door actuator based on the lid signal.   
     
     
         19 . The docking station of  claim 17 , wherein the lid and the receptacle form a seal therebetween to at least partially fluidically isolate the first volume from the second volume. 
     
     
         20 . A docking station for a mobile cleaning robot, the docking station comprising:
 a base configured to receive at least a portion of the mobile cleaning robot thereon, the base including a debris port; and   a cannister connected to the base and located at least partially above the base, the cannister comprising:
 a debris duct connected to the debris port; 
 a lid assembly connected to the debris duct; and 
 a receptacle connected to the lid assembly, the receptacle configured to receive debris from the lid assembly or the debris duct. 
   
     
     
         21 . The docking station of  claim 20 , comprising:
 a debris blower connected to the cannister or the base, the debris blower operable to produce an air stream that travels from the mobile cleaning robot, through the debris port and the debris duct, through the lid assembly, and out of the cannister.   
     
     
         22 . The docking station of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a discharge duct connected to the cannister, the discharge duct configured to receive at least a portion of the air stream therethrough, and   a filter connected to the discharge duct and configured to receive at least a portion of the air stream at least partially therethrough.