A drive unit with a cleaning module for cleaning an inventory system includes a frame, a drive module, a blower module, and at least one cleaning module mounted to the frame. The drive module includes at least two drive wheels that can move the unit, and the blower module can generate negative pressure in a debris container for applying to one or more cleaning modules. A first cleaning module includes a rotating brush and spans a cleaning path at least as wide as the drive wheels of the drive module as the drive unit with a cleaning module operates. Some cleaning-enabled drive units can include a bifurcation of the first cleaning module to avoid damaging fiducial markings in the inventory system. Such units include a second cleaning module with a stationary brush positioned in line with the bifurcation to clean the fiducial markings along the cleaning path without causing damage.

A method is provided for operating a suction device that includes a suction unit and a removable filtering device. The suction unit generates a suction flow that flows through the filtering device when arranged on the suction device, in which, after the suction unit is started up, a check is performed of whether the filtering device is present, and if detected as not present, the suction unit is switched off. An evaluation unit uses check data to determine whether a switch-off signal is to be generated for the suction unit. The evaluation unit uses an algorithm or a table to arrive at a decision on switching off the suction unit based on the check data. The table contains at least one threshold value or the algorithm defines at least one threshold value, wherein the at least one threshold value is a threshold value for switching off the suction unit.

The present invention relates to a device that is in particular detachable, connectable, or connected with a cleaning device, wherein the device comprises at least one sensor means in order to record the position of at least one cleaning area of a cleaning device, which area can be or is used for cleaning, at least one display device, and at least one data processing unit which interacts or can be made to interact functionally with the display device, and with the at least one sensor means, wherein the data processing device is configured and adapted to display at least one representation of at least one surface to be cleaned in at least one first color or without color and, based on a recorded change in the position of at least the cleaning area of the cleaning device, to display the surface to be cleaned in at least one second color or without superimposition of color.

An evacuation station includes a base and a canister removably attached to the base. The base includes a ramp having an inclined surface for receiving a robotic cleaner having a debris bin. The ramp defines an evacuation intake opening arranged to pneumatically interface with the debris bin. The base also includes a first conduit portion pneumatically connected to the evacuation intake opening, an air mover having an inlet and an exhaust, and a particle filter pneumatically the exhaust of the air mover. The canister includes a second conduit portion arranged to pneumatically interface with the first conduit portion to form a pneumatic debris intake conduit, an exhaust conduit arranged to pneumatically connect to the inlet of the air mover when the canister is attached to the base, and a separator in pneumatic communication with the second conduit portion.

A vacuum cleaner includes a surface cleaning head, a pivot assembly pivotally coupled to the surface cleaning head such that the pivot assembly is pivotable relative to the surface cleaning head, and a canister assembly coupled to the pivot assembly such that the canister assembly is supported above the surface cleaning head. The pivot assembly pivotally couples to the surface cleaning head such that the pivot assembly is pivotable relative to the surface cleaning head. The canister assembly includes an electrical source connector configured to connect to a power source. The electrical source connector is electrically connected to a plurality of electrical components via a pivot assembly electrical connection. The surface cleaning head further includes an appliance board having an appliance controller, a display board having a display, and a floor-type sensor, each of which being one of the plurality of electrical components.

An evacuation station for collecting debris from a cleaning robot includes a controller configured to execute instructions to perform one or more operations. The one or more operations includes initiating an evacuation operation such that an air mover draws air containing debris from the cleaning robot, through an intake of the evacuation station, and through a canister of the evacuation station and such that a receptacle received by the evacuation station receives at least a portion of the debris drawn from the cleaning robot. The one or more operations includes ceasing the evacuation operation in response to a pressure value being within a range. The pressure value is determined based at least in part on data indicative of an air pressure, and the range is set based at least in part on a number of evacuation operations initiated before the evacuation operation.

An apparatus and method for monitoring the productivity of a portable machine are provided. The method includes receiving motion data for at least one component of the portable machine from a multi-axis accelerometer, receiving position data for the at least one component from a process parameter sensor communicatively coupled to the at least one component, and determining, based on the received motion data and the received position data that the at least one component is oriented in a predetermined position for productive operation. The method also includes determining an area of productive operation using at least one physical dimension of the at least one component and the received motion data when the at least one component is oriented in the predetermined position for productive operation and incrementing a total area counter based on the determination.

Disclosed is a cleaner having a structure that a supporting member and a cleaning module are coupled to or separated from a cleaner body. The cleaner includes a cleaner body having a module mounting portion; a supporting member inserted and mounted to the module mounting portion, and separated and withdrawn from the module mounting portion, through a bottom part of the cleaner body; and a cleaning module coupled to the supporting member so as to be inserted or withdrawn together with the supporting member when the supporting member is inserted or withdrawn.

A surface cleaning head for a surface cleaning apparatus includes a dirty air inlet, a dirty air outlet, and a dirty airflow path extending between the dirty air inlet and the dirty air outlet. The surface cleaning head also includes an automated valve assembly operable to open and place the dirty airflow path in fluid communication with ambient pressure. The automated valve assembly is adjustably opened based upon a suction level within the dirty airflow path. The automated valve assembly includes an adjustable valve, a sensor operable to measure the suction within the dirty airflow path, and a controller operable to control the adjustable valve based on the sensor measurement.

A handheld vacuum cleaner (10, 1010) includes a main body (22, 1022) with a handle (98, 1098) and a bottom surface (102) upon which the vacuum cleaner is configured to be positioned on a horizontal surface (106), a motor assembly (114, 1114) positioned in the main body, and a cyclonic separator assembly (26) removably coupled to the main body. The cyclonic separator assembly includes an inlet nozzle (42) having a dirty air inlet (14, 1014) positioned at a front (50, 1050) of the handheld vacuum cleaner when the cyclonic separator assembly is coupled to the main body, a cyclonic chamber (30, 1030) in fluid communication with the dirty air inlet, and a dirt collection region (38) configured to receive debris separated in the cyclonic chamber. The handheld vacuum cleaner further includes a release actuator (438) configured to release the cyclonic separator assembly from the main body when actuated by a user. The release actuator is accessible from a bottom (94) of the main body.