An electric vacuum cleaning apparatus that offers a high degree of convenience is provided that is capable of easily switching between a function that empties dust from an electric vacuum cleaner by moving dust collected by the cleaner to a station and accumulating the dust at the station, and a function that accumulates dust that is swept up together after quickly performing localized cleaning using an cleaning implement other than the cleaner at the station. An electric vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 includes: a dust transfer pipe 22 that is connected to an autonomous robotic vacuum cleaner 2, and that sucks in dust collected by the cleaner 2; a suction passage 61 that sucks in other dust that is different to dust collected by the cleaner 2; a secondary dust container 28 that is connected to the pipe 22 and the suction passage 61; an electric blower 29 that applies a negative pressure to the pipe 22 and the suction passage 61; and a switching valve unit 72 that is capable of switching a channel that is connected to the dust container 28 so as to allow either one of, and block the other of, flowing between the pipe 22 and the dust container 28 and flowing between the suction passage 61 and the dust container 28.

An embodiment of the system for transporting and collecting waste includes a movable receptacle configured to translocate from a first position to a second position and back again, and a vacuum system associated with the movable receptacle. The vacuum system includes a motor for generating suction and a power source connector associated with the motor. The power source connector is associated with the power source and transmits power to the motor when the movable receptacle is in the first position, and the power source connector dissociates with the power source, thereby interrupting power to the motor, when the movable receptacle moves away from the first position. The power source connector includes a connection terminus and a semi-flexible stem that flexes to allow a proper alignment between the connection terminus and the power source when the movable receptacle translocates from the second position to the first position.

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

A system for transporting and collecting waste is disclosed. The system comprises a waste disposal bay comprising a front side, a bottom side, and a back side, wherein the back side includes an opening. The system further comprises a movable receptacle positioned above the waste disposal bay configured to translocate from a first position to a second position and back again, and wherein the movable receptacle comprises a through hole. The system further comprises a vacuum system associated with the through hole of the movable receptacle, comprising a motor for generating suction and a removable container for collecting waste; an attachment mechanism between the opening of the back side and the through hole, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to maintain fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum system when the movable receptacle is in the first position; and a switch configured to activate the motor.

A classification device includes a hose configured to suck dust containing fine dust and foreign matter, a body defining a classification space therein, connected to the hose, including an upper discharge port and a lower discharge port, the upper discharge port being provided in an upper portion of the body so as to be connected to a suction device, and the lower discharge port being provided in a lower portion of the body, a lid member configured to be mounted on a container defining a storage space for storing the foreign matter discharged from the lower discharge port of the body, including an air intake configured to communicate with the storage space, and positioned below the body, and an air introduction pipe connected to the air intake of the lid member and configured to be disposed in the storage space.

A vehicle for use with an object handling system, the object handling system including two substantially perpendicular sets of rails forming a first grid, a plurality of first uprights supporting the first grid, a plurality of containers arranged in stacks, each stack being located underneath the first grid, one or more robotic load handling devices configured to drive on top of the rails of the first grid, the one or more load handling devices including means for removing or replacing at least one container from the stacks. The vehicle includes two substantially perpendicular sets of rails forming a second grid substantially at the top of the vehicle above a storage space for carrying containers. The second grid interfaces with the first grid to allow the one or more load handling devices to drive from the rails of the first grid onto the rails of the second grid.

A dust removal device capable of normally dedusting a surface of a sheet-shaped object having an edge portion of a shape with protruding parts continuously arranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction, that is, a dust removal device discharging a gas to a surface of a sheet-shaped object 100 from a discharge outlet while drawing in the gas above the surface of the sheet-shaped object 100 through a suction inlet, the discharge outlet including a first discharge outlet 30 for discharging the gas to portions of the sheet-shaped object 100 other than the edge portion and a second discharge outlet 35 for discharging the gas to the edge portion 100b of the sheet-shaped object 10, and the suction inlet including a first suction inlet (31, 32) for drawing in the gas above the surface of the portions of the sheet-shaped object 100 other than the edge portion 100b and a second suction inlet (33, 34) for drawing in the gas of the surface of the edge portion 100b of the sheet-shaped object 100.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a UV suction door mat that comprises an air duct having an inner and outer portion. The outer portion is configured to come in contact with footwear of a user. The inner portion comprises a UV emitter that emits UV radiation having wavelength in the UV-C region. The inner portion is coupled to a suction mechanism that sucks air in order to remove debris stuck to the bottom of the footwear. The suction is achieved by a vacuum pump connected to the air duct through a hose. The hose is coupled to a container configured to collect the debris, dust, etc. from the footwear. The UV suction door mat of the invention provides the advantage of simultaneous cleaning and disinfecting the footwear. The UV suction door mat may also comprise suitable sensors to activate the UV emitter and the vacuum.

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 dust collecting device includes a frame having a plurality of shielding sides surrounding a working space and an open side. A plurality of impact-resistant plates made of heat-resistant and anti-stick material is detachably disposed on at least one of the plurality of shielding sides facing the open side. A receiving plate is disposed on a bottom portion of the frame and includes at least one slope and a pipe intercommunicating with a storage box. The at least one slope is inclined toward the pipe and includes a bottom end contiguous to an upper opening of the pipe. An angle between a bottom edge of the at least one slope and an edge of the upper opening of the pipe is greater than 90 degrees. A vibration module drives the receiving plate to vibrate to move dusts on the at least one slope into the storage box through the pipe.