A vacuum tool configured to be removably coupled to hose or wand of a vacuum includes a body including a first end, a second end, and a first longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end. The vacuum tool also includes a head coupled to the first end of the body, a connection portion coupled to the second end of the body and configured to couple the body to a hose or wand of a vacuum cleaner, and a brush coupled to the head. The brush includes an elongate support defining a second axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body and configured to couple the brush to the head, and a plurality of bristles positioned on the elongate support.

A trashcan system is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the trashcan system includes an inlet located about a trashcan to be proximate to a surface upon which the trashcan is placed in order to entrain materials disposed upon the surface into air communicated into the inlet. The trashcan system, in various aspects, includes a collector disposed within the trashcan. A chamber of the collector may receive air with materials entrained therein communicated from the inlet, and the chamber may be adapted to collect materials entrained in the air. An exit may be located about the trashcan that communicates with the chamber to exhaust the air from the chamber, in various aspects. A vacuum assembly located about the trashcan, the vacuum assembly cooperates with the inlet, the chamber, and the exit to communicate the air into the inlet, through the chamber, to the exit where the air is exhausted.

A storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of tracks on which load handling devices run. The load handling devices take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out. Each container may be provided with connectors having a push fit male connector located at a top edge of the container and a female connector at a bottom edge of the container. Adjacent containers in a stack can be linked by routing means, which form moldings on each container. The connectors can also have spring-loaded contacts. The provision of these services within individual containers rather than across the system as a whole, allows for flexibility in storage whilst reducing cost and inefficiency.

A particle remover for selectively augmenting a receptacle is provided. The particle remover has a body which may be removably attachable to the receptacle. The body of the particle remover includes a number of particle removing apertures that are fluidly connected to a suction source. The particle removing apertures may be in fluid communication with one or more channels defined within the body. The suction source creates a negative pressure to suck particles from an exterior of the body through the particle removing apertures. The body of the particle remover is adjustable along one or more dimensions.

A storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of tracks on which load handling devices run. The load handling devices take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out. The containers may be provided with one or more of the following services: power, power control, heating, lighting, cooling, sensing, and data logging. The provision of these services within individual containers rather than across the system as a whole, allows for flexibility in storage whilst reducing cost and inefficiency.

An electric cleaning apparatus, which comprises an autonomous cleaning unit which moves autonomously over a surface to be cleaned and collects dust, and a station unit which has a charging electrode for the autonomous cleaning unit, wherein the autonomous cleaning unit includes a first body case having a first inlet, a secondary battery which accumulates electric power supplied from the charging electrode, a first dust collecting container which accumulates dust sucked from the first inlet, and an electric blower which is driven by electric power supplied from the secondary battery and makes negative pressure act on the first dust collecting container, and wherein the station unit is provided with a second body case having a second inlet which sucks other dust different from the dust which the autonomous cleaning unit collects.

A cyclone bin assembly for a surface cleaning apparatus has a flexible closure member that is moveable to a deployed position wherein a first portion of the closure member is provided on the cyclone bin assembly and a second portion of the closure member closes the upper end of a refuse container, whereby when the closure member is in the deployed position, a closed volume is provided which includes an interior volume of the refuse container and an openable door of a dirt collection region of the cyclone bin assembly is located in the closed volume.

An apparatus comprising one or more of a surface treatment apparatus having an air treatment member and a refuse container wherein at least one of the surface treatment apparatus and the refuse container is provided with one or more of (a) a dust control member providing a dust control agent comprising one or more of a liquid mist, positive ions and negative ions to an area below a dirt emptying outlet of a dirt collection region of the surface treatment apparatus; and, (b) a treatment applicator providing a treatment agent comprising one or more of a deodorizing agent, a disinfecting agent and a sanitizing agent to an interior volume of the air treatment member and an interior volume of the refuse container.

A dust suction device includes: a housing having a plurality of inlets for the inflow of impurities formed thereon and an inner region of which is independently divided; and resilient actuating members, provided inside the inlets, for opening or closing the inlets by pressure applied from the outside.

An object handling system is described, the system having two substantially perpendicular sets of rails forming a grid above a workspace, the workspace having a plurality of stacked containers. The system includes a series of robotic load handling devices operating on the grid above the workspace, the load handling devices having a body mounted on wheels. The robotic devices can move around the grid under instruction from a computing device, the robotic devices being moved to a point on the grid above a stack of containers and then, using a lifting device, engage and lift a container from the stack. The container is then moved to a point where the objects in the container can be accessed. Modifications to the workspace and grid are described that allow vehicles and roll cages to be used to move stacks from the workspace to a point outside the workspace or from outside the workspace into the workspace.