An autonomous coverage robot detection system includes an emitter configured to emit a directed beam, a detector configured to detect the directed beam and a controller configured to direct the robot in response to a signal detected by the detector. In some examples, the detection system detects a stasis condition of the robot. In some examples, the detection system detects a wall and can follow the wall in response to the detected signal.

A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning head and a brushroll. The cleaning head includes a cleaning head body having an agitator chamber including an opening on an underside of the cleaning head body. The brushroll is rotatably mounted to the cleaning head body such that a portion of the brushroll extends below the underside for directing debris into the opening. The brushroll includes an elongated body extending laterally between a first and second end region, a slit opening extending between the first and second end region, angular stationary teeth extending proximate to an edge of the slit opening, and a cutting blade configured to be at least partially received within the slit opening and to move laterally between the first and second end regions. The cutting blade bar includes teeth that are configured to engage with the stationary teeth to cut hair.

A robotic vacuum (1) includes a main body (2) having a suction port (15) in a bottom surface (2B) thereof; a storage unit (6) housed in the main body and configured to store dust and debris suctioned in via the suction port (15); and at least one wheel (9) that supports the main body (2). The main body (2) has a width Wb in a first direction that is parallel to a rotational axis (AX) of the wheel (9), the storage unit (6) has a width Ws in the first direction, the main body (2) has a height Hb in a second direction that is perpendicular to the rotational axis (AX) and perpendicular to the first direction, and the storage unit (6) has a height Hs in the second direction. The width Wb is 470-600 mm, and the condition 0.5×Wb≤Ws≤0.7×Wb is satisfied.

A surface cleaning apparatus such as a vacuum cleaner includes a suction source, a recovery container, and a base assembly with at least one agitator that can be dampened to provide damp cleaning. More specifically a fluid delivery system including at least one cleaning pad can be carried by the base assembly to provide damp cleaning.

A robotic cleaner includes a housing, a suction conduit with an opening, and a leading roller mounted in front of a brush roll. An inter-roller air passageway may be defined between the leading roller and the brush roll wherein the lower portion of the leading roller is exposed to a flow path to the suction conduit and an upper portion of the leading roller is outside of the flow path. Optionally, a combing unit includes a plurality of combing protrusions extending into the leading roller and having leading edges not aligned with a center of the leading roller. Optionally, a sealing strip is located along a rear side of the opening and along a portion of left and right sides of the opening. The underside may define side edge vacuum passageways extending from the sides of the housing partially between the leading roller and the sealing strip towards the opening.

A surface cleaning apparatus can include a housing adapted to move across a surface to be cleaned, and an edge cleaning brush provided on the housing. The edge cleaning brush can include an attachment hub connectable with a drive coupling for rotating the brush, a cleaning implement configured to contact the surface to be cleaned, and a tensioner hub applying downward force onto the cleaning implement. Drive couplings for the edge cleaning brush are also disclosed, such as drive couplings including a worm and belt that are indirectly drive via a brushroll.

An agitator including an elongated main body configured to rotate about a pivot axis, one or more soft cleaning features coupled to and extending over a substantial portion of a surface of the elongated main body, the one or more soft cleaning features defining at least one channel, and at least one deformable flap disposed at least partially within the at least one channel and extending from the elongated main body. The deformable flap may extend beyond an outer surface of the soft cleaning features. The channel may have a generally U shape and/or V shape. The channel may be configured to allow the resiliently deformable flap to move front to back as the agitator rotates about the pivot axis.

A surface cleaning head with a leading roller may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The leading roller is generally positioned adjacent to and in advance of the opening of the suction conduit. The surface cleaning head may have dual agitators—a leading roller and a rotating brush roll—with the leading roller being located in front of the brush roll. The leading roller may have a smaller diameter than the brush roll and may provide a softer cleaning element. The leading roller may also have a bottom portion exposed to the flow path to the suction conduit and at least a top half that is not exposed to that flow path. The leading roller may also float relative to the surface cleaning head and/or may be adjustable relative to the brush roll.

An autonomous coverage robot includes a chassis having forward and rearward portions and a drive system carried by the chassis. The forward portion of the chassis defines a substantially rectangular shape. The robot includes a cleaning assembly mounted on the forward portion of the chassis and a bin disposed adjacent the cleaning assembly and configured to receive debris agitated by the cleaning assembly. A bin cover is pivotally attached to a lower portion of the chassis and configured to rotate between a first, closed position providing closure of an opening defined by the bin and a second, open position providing access to the bin opening. The robot includes a body attached to the chassis and a handle disposed on an upper portion of the body. A bin cover release is actuatable from substantially near the handle.

An automatically traveling floor cleaning appliance during travel is capable of traveling over low obstacles extending lengthwise, typically represented by a carpet border, having an upwardly inclined obstructing surface, with a direction of travel at a right or acute angle with respect to a longitudinal extent of the obstacle. The appliance also has an obstacle detector. The appliance is formed so that the obstacle or an area adjoining same may be cleaned using a procedure in which the appliance assumes a direction of travel based on the extent of the obstacle, and with regard to the obstructing surface includes traveling on a floor area in front of the obstacle, and at a lateral distance of an associated boundary edge of the appliance in the direction of travel from the obstructing surface which is smaller than that corresponding to a width of the appliance perpendicular to the direction of travel.