A vacuum collection vehicle may include a chassis, a vacuum container, a filter unit, a first discharge conduit and a second discharge conduit. The filter unit may include a filter housing that supports a filter independent of opposing interior walls. The vehicle may include a storage container supported by the chassis and containing a vacuum source or hose reel. The vehicle may include inner and outer collection receptacle supports for supporting collection receptacles within the vacuum container.

A cleaning device and a method therefor are provided. The cleaning device includes a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting container and a docking station to which the dust collecting container is coupled. The docking station includes a suction device configured to move air from the dust collecting container to inside of the docking station, a collector configured to collect a foreign substance that is moved together with the air by driving of the suction device, a suction flow path along which air moves inside the docking station, a flow adjusting device configured to open or close the suction flow path, and at least one processor configured to control the suction device to operate based on the dust collecting container being coupled to the docking station, and control the flow adjusting device to periodically open and close the suction flow path in a state in which the suction device operates.

A cleaning device and a method therefor are provided. The cleaning device includes a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting container and a docking station to which the dust collecting container is coupled. The docking station includes a suction device configured to move air from the dust collecting container to inside of the docking station, a collector configured to collect a foreign substance that is moved together with the air by driving of the suction device, a suction flow path along which air moves inside the docking station, a flow adjusting device configured to open or close the suction flow path, and at least one processor configured to control the suction device to operate based on the dust collecting container being coupled to the docking station, and control the flow adjusting device to periodically open and close the suction flow path in a state in which the suction device operates.

A mobile robot includes a body configured to traverse a surface and to receive debris from the surface, and a debris bin within the body. The debris bin includes a chamber to hold the debris received by the mobile robot, an exhaust port through which the debris exits the debris bin; and a door unit over the exhaust port. The door unit includes a flap configured to move, in response to air pressure at the exhaust port, between a closed position to cover the exhaust port and an open position to open a path between the chamber and the exhaust port. The door unit, including the flap in the open position and in the closed position, is within an exterior surface of the mobile robot.

A mobile robot includes a body configured to traverse a surface and to receive debris from the surface, and a debris bin within the body. The debris bin includes a chamber to hold the debris received by the mobile robot, an exhaust port through which the debris exits the debris bin; and a door unit over the exhaust port. The door unit includes a flap configured to move, in response to air pressure at the exhaust port, between a closed position to cover the exhaust port and an open position to open a path between the chamber and the exhaust port. The door unit, including the flap in the open position and in the closed position, is within an exterior surface of the mobile robot.

A cleaning device and a method therefor are provided. The cleaning device includes a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting container and a docking station to which the dust collecting container is coupled. The docking station includes a suction device configured to move air from the dust collecting container to inside of the docking station, a collector configured to collect a foreign substance that is moved together with the air by driving of the suction device, a suction flow path along which air moves inside the docking station, a flow adjusting device configured to open or close the suction flow path, and at least one processor configured to control the suction device to operate based on the dust collecting container being coupled to the docking station, and control the flow adjusting device to periodically open and close the suction flow path in a state in which the suction device operates.

The invention relates to an autonomous domestic appliance (1) in the form of a floor cleaning robot or a lawn mower robot with a platform (3) which comprises means of locomotion (4), environmental sensors (5a, 5b, 5c) for detecting properties of the environment of the autonomous domestic appliance (1) and a control unit (6). The environmental sensors (5a, 5b, 5c) are connected to the control unit (6), and the control unit (6) is designed for autonomous movement of the domestic appliance (1) by actuating the means of locomotion (4) as a function of the detected environmental properties and for permanent travel in an area for carrying out its actual domestic activity. The autonomous domestic appliance (1) has a communication unit (7) for establishing a communication link with a remotely arranged service unit (2) and, in addition to its actual domestic activity, is designed to detect the need of help of a person as a function of the environmental properties.

A robotic vacuum cleaner has a pneumatic transfer mechanism that is used to transfer dirt from the robotic vacuum cleaner to a docking station.

This invention relates to a bagged vacuum cleaner, i.e. to a vacuum cleaner in which dirt and debris is collected in a disposable bag. The vacuum cleaner (10) has a body (12), the body having a dirt-collection chamber (26), a motor (14) and an impeller (16). The body also has an inlet duct (30) upstream of the dirt-collection chamber, the inlet duct being connected to an inlet tube (36) adapted to fit to an opening of the disposable bag. A wall (40) of the inlet duct adjacent to the inlet tube (36) is transparent so that a user can look through the wall and into the inlet tube to observe whether or not the bag is full.

This invention relates to a bagged vacuum cleaner, i.e. to a vacuum cleaner in which dirt and debris is collected in a disposable bag. The vacuum cleaner (10) has a body (12), the body having a dirt-collection chamber (26), a motor (14) and an impeller (16). The body also has an inlet duct (30) upstream of the dirt-collection chamber, the inlet duct being connected to an inlet tube (36) adapted to fit to an opening of the disposable bag. A wall (40) of the inlet duct adjacent to the inlet tube (36) is transparent so that a user can look through the wall and into the inlet tube to observe whether or not the bag is full.