Docking station and vacuum cleaner system

Abstract

A docking station (4000, 4002, 6000, 8000) configured to dock with a dirt bin (5104, 7104) of a vacuum cleaner (10) to receive dirt from the dirt bin (5104, 7104) of the vacuum cleaner (10), the docking station (4000, 6000, 8000) comprising: a dirt receptacle (6014, 8014) for receiving the dirt from the dirt bin (5104, 7104); a suction generator (1000, 6048, 8056); and a valve assembly configured to seal at least a part of the docking station (4000, 6000, 8000) for generation of a partial vacuum within at least the part of the docking station (4000, 6000, 8000), using the suction generator (1000, 6048, 8056). Further aspects relate to a vacuum cleaner system comprising the docking station and a vacuum cleaner.

Description

[0001] 1 P004914-W001

[0002] DOCKING STATION AND VACUUM CLEANER SYSTEM

[0003] BACKGROUND

[0004] Emptying dirt collected by vacuum cleaners can be cumbersome and dirty for users. It is desirable to be able to empty dirt from vacuum cleaners in a more effective way.

[0005] SUMMARY

[0006] According to a first aspect, there is provided a docking station configured to dock with a dirt bin of a vacuum cleaner to receive dirt from the dirt bin of the vacuum cleaner, the docking station comprising: a dirt receptacle for receiving the dirt from the dirt bin; a suction generator; and a valve assembly configured to seal at least a part of the docking station for generation of a partial vacuum within at least the part of the docking station, using the suction generator.

[0007] A docking station can allow a user to empty the dirt from vacuum cleaner, such as a handheld vacuum cleaner, in a convenient and hygienic manner. The partial vacuum can be generated by the suction generator in the part of the docking station sealed by the valve assembly. The partial vacuum can subsequently cause dirt to be sucked from the dirt bin of the vacuum cleaner into the part of the docking station, due to the lower pressure in the part of the docking station relative to the dirt bin. This for example allows the dirt to be removed from the dirt bin without the user having to handle the dirt bin directly, providing improved cleanliness.

[0008] Using a suction generator of the docking station to generate the partial vacuum provides for flexibility in the nature of the suction generator. For example, the vacuum cleaner itself typically includes a suction generator (which may be referred to herein as a further suction generator). However, the further suction generator may be comparatively lightweight and / or compact, especially for a handheld vacuum cleaner, so that the vacuum cleaner remains manoeuvrable for the user. The suction generator of the docking station need not be as lightweight as the further suction generator of the vacuum cleaner as portability requirements for the docking station are typically lower than for the vacuum cleaner. This may allow the docking station to include a higher 2 P004914-W001 power suction generator than the further suction generator of the vacuum cleaner itself, which can allow a lower pressure (relative to atmospheric pressure) to be achieved within the part of the docking station than would otherwise be achieved using the further suction generator. A greater pressure differential may allow dirt to be more effectively sucked into the docking station, upon docking of the dirt bin of the vacuum cleaner with the docking station and operating the valve assembly to unseal the part of the docking station. For example, a higher peak speed of an airflow from the dirt bin into the docking station may be achieved. The docking station may therefore be more effective at dislodging dirt stuck to inner surfaces or crevices of the dirt bin, removing a higher proportion of the dirt from the dirt bin than otherwise.

[0009] The valve assembly is configured to seal the part of the docking station so the partial vacuum can be generated by the suction generator. The partial vacuum can therefore be generated over time, and maintained by the valve assembly, until such time as the dirt bin of the vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking station. At this time, the valve assembly can then be operated to unseal the part of the docking station to cause the dirt to be sucked from the dirt bin into the docking station, due to the pressure difference between the part of the docking station and the dirt bin. The valve assembly therefore allows the partial vacuum to be obtained within the part of the docking station prior to docking of the dirt bin with the docking station, which can allow the dirt bin to be emptied more quickly compared to generating the partial vacuum (which may take of the order of tens of seconds, to around a few minutes) after docking of the dirt bin with the docking station.

[0010] It is to be appreciated that the part of the docking station sealed by the valve assembly may be at least part of an interior volume of the docking station, e.g. an entirety or a subset of the interior volume of the docking station. For example, the interior volume of the docking station may be divided into a plurality of chambers, and the part of the docking station may be one, more than one, or all of the plurality of chambers.

[0011] The suction generator may be operable to reduce a pressure within the part of the docking station by up to ambient pressure, such as up to 100 kilopascals, and for 3 P004914-W001 example by at least 10 kilopascals. The suction generator may be operable to reduce the pressure within the part of the docking station by up to at least one of: 45 kilopascals, 50 kilopascals, 55 kilopascals and 60 kilopascals. Reducing the pressure within the part of the docking station by at least one of these amounts may improve the effectiveness with which the dirt is ejected from the dirt bin, providing improved emptying of the dirt bin, without creating shock waves within the docking station, which may threaten the structural integrity of the docking station.

[0012] The part of the docking station may comprise a vacuum chamber. A vacuum chamber is for example a compartment within which gas is at least partially removed by the suction generator, in use, so as to reduce the pressure within the vacuum chamber relative to an ambient environment surrounding the docking station. A vacuum chamber for example provides a sufficiently strong enclosure for generating a partial vacuum therein.

[0013] The vacuum chamber may be a substantially spherical chamber. A substantially spherical chamber may be a spherical chamber, a spherical chamber within manufacturing tolerances and / or measurement uncertainties or a chamber with a generally spherical shape, e.g. with a diameter that varies around the equator of the chamber by less than 10% or less than 5%. A substantially spherical chamber may be stronger than a vacuum chamber of another shape. The substantially spherical chamber may therefore be more able to withstand a low pressure generated by the suction chamber without imploding. In other cases, though, the vacuum chamber may be a different shape that is nevertheless sufficiently strong to withstand a low pressure generated therein. For example, the vacuum chamber may be a substantially cylindrical chamber, such as a cylindrical chamber with a diameter that varies around the equator of the chamber by less than 10% or less than 5% in a width direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the chamber. A substantially cylindrical chamber may also be resilient to low pressures created therein.

[0014] The valve assembly may be disposed between the dirt receptacle and the vacuum chamber to seal the vacuum chamber from the dirt receptacle. This may allow a pressure 4 P004914-W001 difference between the dirt receptacle and the vacuum chamber to be created. For example, with the vacuum chamber sealed from the dirt receptacle by the valve assembly, a partial vacuum may be generated in the vacuum chamber, while the dirt receptacle remains at atmospheric pressure. This may facilitate the generation of the partial vacuum in the vacuum chamber prior to docking of the dirt bin with the docking station, which may allow the dirt to be ejected more rapidly from the dirt bin.

[0015] In a docking station with a dirt receptacle and a vacuum chamber, dirt may be evacuated from the dirt bin into the dirt receptacle and then from the dirt receptacle into the vacuum chamber, upon unsealing the vacuum chamber. This may provide further flexibility for components of the docking station, such as the dirt receptacle and the vacuum chamber. In other cases, though, the dirt may be retained within the dirt receptacle upon unsealing the vacuum chamber (e.g. if there is a suitable filter arranged between the dirt receptacle and the vacuum chamber), which may facilitate generation of a subsequent partial vacuum within the vacuum chamber.

[0016] The dirt receptacle may comprise a dirt inlet configured to dock with a dirt outlet of the dirt bin, and the docking station may comprise a further valve assembly configured to seal the dirt inlet for generation of a further partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle. This can allow partial vacuums to be generated independently in the vacuum chamber and in the dirt receptacle. For example, the pressure in each of the vacuum chamber and the dirt receptacle may be sufficiently low to aid in ejection of dirt from the dirt bin of the vacuum cleaner (upon docking of the dirt bin with the docking station and opening of the valve and further valve assemblies), but without being so low that structural integrity of the docking station is jeopardised. The pressure in the vacuum chamber may differ from that of the dirt receptacle. For example, the vacuum chamber may be able to withstand a lower pressure than the dirt receptacle.

[0017] The further valve assembly may alternatively or additionally selectively permit the dirt to enter the dirt receptacle, via the dirt inlet. The further valve assembly may therefore prevent dirt entering or exiting the docking station via the dirt inlet when the vacuum cleaner is undocked from the docking station, improving the cleanliness of the docking 5 P004914-W001 station. For example, after emptying the dirt from the dirt bin into the dirt receptacle, the further valve assembly may be operated upon undocking the dirt bin from the docking station to prevent the dirt escaping from the dirt receptacle through the dirt inlet and dirtying the exterior of the docking station and / or the local environment of the docking station.

[0018] The part of the docking station may comprise the dirt receptacle. The dirt receptacle may therefore be sealed by the valve assembly so as to generate the partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle, to aid in drawing dirt into the dirt receptacle upon docking of the dirt bin with the docking station and unsealing of the dirt receptacle by the valve assembly.

[0019] The dirt receptacle may comprise a dirt inlet configured to dock with a dirt outlet of the dirt bin, and the valve assembly may be configured to selectively permit the dirt to enter the dirt receptacle, via the dirt inlet. The valve assembly may thus be useable to both seal the dirt receptacle to allow the partial vacuum to be generated therein and to prevent dirt from exiting and entering the docking chamber itself. Such a docking station may be less complex to manufacture and / or maintain than a docking station with different valve assemblies for these different functions.

[0020] The docking station may comprise a controller configured to control at least one of: operation of the valve assembly or generation of the partial vacuum using the suction generator. The operation of the valve assembly and / or generation of the partial vacuum may therefore be controlled by the controller, e.g. without involving manual interaction between a user and the valve assembly and / or suction generator, which may be less messy, more straightforward or more convenient.

[0021] The controller may automatically control at least one of: operation of the valve assembly or generation of the partial vacuum using the suction generator, e.g. without requiring user input to initiate operation of the valve assembly or generation of the partial vacuum. For example, the controller may be configured to control emptying of the dirt bin at an appropriate time to avoid the dirt bin becoming overfull, reducing the 6 P004914-W001 risk of dirt spilling from the dirt bin or components of the vacuum cleaner becoming damaged due to prolonged exposure to dirt. For example, rather than relying on a user to observe that there is dirt in the dirt bin and to manually initiate the dirt bin emptying process (which the user may forget to do), the controller may automatically instigate emptying of the dirt bin upon docking of the dirt bin with the docking station.

[0022] The controller may be an electronic controller, such as a servo-actuator. In other examples, though, the controller may be a mechanical controller, such as a pneumatic system or pressure operated system.

[0023] The controller may be configured to, with the docking station disconnected from the dirt bin, operate the valve assembly to seal the part of the docking station. In this way, the controller may automatically control the valve assembly to prevent dirt and air from entering and exiting the part of the docking station upon undocking the dirt bin from the docking station. Dirt may therefore be retained more effectively within the docking station, reducing mess. In addition or alternatively, sealing of the part of the docking station may facilitate the generation of a partial vacuum within the part of the docking station in advance of future dirt bin emptying operations.

[0024] The controller may be configured to, with the part of the docking station sealed by the valve assembly, operate the suction generator to generate the partial vacuum within the part of the docking station. Efficiency may be further improved by using the controller to both control sealing of the part of the docking station by the valve assembly and, once the part of the docking station is sealed, generating the partial vacuum within the part of the docking station. The controller may therefore control the docking station to generate the partial vacuum before the dirt bin is docked with the docking station for emptying. As explained above, this can allow the dirt bin to be emptied more rapidly as the partial vacuum may be pre-emptively generated before docking of the dirt bin for emptying.

[0025] The docking station may comprise a sensor to obtain sensor data indicative that the docking station is disconnected from the dirt bin. The sensor may facilitate automatic 7 P004914-W001 control of the docking station based on whether the dirt bin is connected to the docking station.

[0026] The control system may be configured to operate the valve assembly to seal the part of the docking station based at least partly on the sensor data. In this way, the part of the docking station can be sealed by the valve assembly when it is determined by the sensor that the docking station is disconnected from the dirt bin. This may reduce mess compared to manual sealing of the part of the docking station.

[0027] With the part of the docking station sealed by the valve assembly, the controller may be configured to operate the suction generator to generate the partial vacuum within the part of the docking station based at least partly on the sensor data. This may improve the efficiency of the generation of the partial vacuum within the part of the docking station.

[0028] The valve assembly may be configured to maintain the partial vacuum over time, for example, until the dirt bin of the vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking station and dirty air is permitted to flow from the dirt bin of the vacuum cleaner and into the dirt receptacle. The valve assembly may be configured to maintain the partial vacuum for tens of seconds, to around a few minutes. The valve assembly may be configured to maintain the partial vacuum for at least 20 seconds.

[0029] The valve assembly is configured to admit a pulse of air from the dirt bin into the dirt receptacle via the valve assembly by the valve assembly unsealing at least the part of the docking station once a sufficient partial vacuum is generated within at least the part of the docking station and the vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking station. The pulse of air configured to be admitted by the valve assembly comprises an airflow speed of at least the speed of sound.

[0030] According to a second aspect, there is provided a vacuum cleaner system comprising the docking station of any examples in accordance with the first aspect and a vacuum cleaner. 8 P004914-W001

[0031] The vacuum cleaner may comprise a further suction generator configured to generate a further partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle, with the dirt bin docked with the docking station. The further suction generator may assist the suction generator in emptying the dirt from the dirt bin.

[0032] With the dirt bin docked with the docking station and the part of the docking station sealed by the valve assembly, the suction generator may be configured to generate a first pressure within the vacuum chamber and the further suction generator may be configured to generate a second pressure within the dirt receptacle, wherein the first pressure may be lower than the second pressure. The first pressure may be around 45 kilopascals to 60 kilopascals lower than an atmospheric pressure, and may be up to around 100 kilopascals lower than the atmospheric pressure. The second pressure may be atmospheric pressure prior to generation of the further partial vacuum by the further suction generator. After generating the further partial vacuum within the further chamber by the further suction generator, the second pressure may be around 15 kilopascals to 20 kilopascals lower than atmospheric pressure. Generation of both the first pressure within the vacuum chamber and the second pressure within the dirt receptacle may enhance the ejection of dirt from the dirt bin, upon docking of the dirt bin with the docking station and unsealing of the vacuum chamber by the valve assembly.

[0033] The vacuum cleaner may comprise a dirt bin valve operable to admit a dirt bin emptying pulse of air into the dirt bin, after generation of the partial vacuum in the part of the docking station and with the dirt bin docked with the docking station, to eject the dirt from the dirt bin into the dirt receptacle. The partial vacuum of the part of the docking station for example causes the dirt bin emptying pulse of air to be admitted at a high speed, such as a speed of the order of the speed of sound (i.e. of the order of 343 metres per second, which may be referred to as a sonic speed), from the dirt bin and into the dirt receptacle. A higher speed air pulse is more effective at ejecting dirt from the dirt bin, improving the effectiveness of the vacuum cleaner system at emptying the dirt bin. 9 P004914-W001

[0034] The valve assembly and the dirt bin valve may be configured to open substantially simultaneously to admit the dirt bin emptying pulse of air into the dirt bin to eject the dirt from the dirt bin into the dirt receptacle. This may improve the impulse speed and / or duration of the dirt bin emptying pulse of air admitted into the dirt bin, causing the dirt bin emptying pulse of air to more effectively dislodge dirt from the dirt bin. In addition or alternatively, substantially simultaneous operation of the valve assembly and the dirt bin valve may reduce back flow of air and / or dirt out from the dirt receptacle, improving cleanliness, and / or may reduce inertial supercharging effects.

[0035] The dirt bin valve may be configured to operate repeatedly, with the dirt bin docked with the docking station, to repeatedly admit respective dirt bin emptying pulses of air into the dirt bin to eject the dirt from the dirt bin into the dirt receptacle. The dirt bin valve may therefore be switched between preventing air from entering the dirt bin, during generation of the partial vacuum within the at least part of the docking station and, in some cases, generation of the further partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle and, subsequently, permitting air to enter the dirt bin, so as to cause the dirt bin pulse of air to be admitted into the dirt bin due to the partial vacuum and, in some cases, the further partial vacuum. In this way, repeated dirt bin pulses of air can be caused to flow through the dirt bin, which can provide more effective emptying of the dirt from the dirt bin.

[0036] The vacuum cleaner may comprise a separation system and a separation system valve. The separation system valve may be operable to admit a separation system cleaning pulse of air into the separation system, after generation of the partial vacuum in the part of the docking station and with the dirt bin docked with the docking station, to eject separation system dirt from the separation system into the dirt receptacle. In this way, the separation system can be cleaned by the separation system cleaning pulse of air, which may be more hygienic and / or less cumbersome than a manual cleaning process.

[0037] The valve assembly and the separation system valve may be configured to open substantially simultaneously to admit the separation system cleaning pulse of air into the separation system to eject the separation system dirt from the separation system into 10 P004914-W001 the dirt receptacle. This may improve the impulse speed and / or duration of the separation system cleaning pulse of air so that the separation system cleaning pulse of air is more effective at ejecting separation system dirt from the separation system into the dirt receptacle. In addition or alternatively, substantially simultaneous operation of the valve assembly and the separation system valve may reduce back flow of air and / or dirt out from the dirt receptacle, improving cleanliness, and / or may reduce inertial supercharging effects.

[0038] The separation system valve may be configured to operate repeatedly, with the dirt bin docked with the docking station, to repeatedly admit respective separation system cleaning pulses of air into the separation system to eject the separation system dirt from the separation system into the dirt receptacle. This may more effectively eject dirt from the separation system into the dirt receptacle.

[0039] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Figure l is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner of a vacuum cleaner system;

[0041] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1 docked with a docking station;

[0042] Figure 3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of part of a vacuum cleaner system during generation of a partial vacuum within a dirt receptacle of a docking station according to an example;

[0043] Figure 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the part of the vacuum cleaner system of Figure 3 during generation of a dirt bin emptying pulse of air to eject dirt from a dirt bin of a vacuum cleaner of the vacuum cleaner system into the dirt receptacle;

[0044] Figure 5 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the part of the vacuum cleaner system of Figure 4 during generation of a separation system cleaning pulse of air to eject dirt from a separation system of the vacuum cleaner into the dirt receptacle;

[0045] Figure 6 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of part of a vacuum cleaner system during generation of a partial vacuum within a vacuum chamber of a docking station according to a further example; 11 P004914-W001

[0046] Figure 7 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the part of the vacuum cleaner system of Figure 6 during generation of a dirt bin emptying pulse of air to eject dirt from a dirt bin of a vacuum cleaner of the vacuum cleaner system into a dirt receptacle of the docking station; and

[0047] Figure 8 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the part of the vacuum cleaner system of Figure 6 during generation of a separation system cleaning pulse of air to eject dirt from a separation system of the vacuum cleaner into the dirt receptacle.

[0048] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] A vacuum cleaner 10 is shown in Figure 1. The vacuum cleaner 10 comprises a main unit 12, and a cleanerhead 3000. The vacuum cleaner 10 is a cord-free vacuum cleaner, with the user able and intended to support the main unit 12 in their hand in use, and is battery-powered.

[0050] The cleanerhead 3000 comprises an elongate neck portion 3002 having a distal end 3006 and a proximal end 3008 opposite to the distal end 3006. A floor tool 3004 of the cleanerhead 3000 is attached to the distal end 3006 of the neck portion 3002, which is further from the vacuum cleaner 10 than the proximal end 3008, with the cleanerhead 3000 attached to the vacuum cleaner 10. The cleanerhead 3000 is detachable from the vacuum cleaner 10, which allows the cleanerhead 3000 to be replaced by a different cleanerhead for a different cleaning task. For example, the cleanerhead 3000 may be replaced by a different type of cleanerhead such as nozzle, for example in the form of a crevice tool.

[0051] Figure 2 shows the vacuum cleaner 10 of Figure 1 docked with a docking station 4000 with the cleanerhead 3000 attached. In other examples, the cleanerhead 3000 is removed to allow the main unit 12 of the vacuum cleaner 10 to be docked with a docking station 4000. It is to be appreciated that the vacuum cleaner 10 or a portion thereof may be considered to be docked with the docking station 4000 where at least a or the portion of the vacuum cleaner 10 is docked with the docking station 4000, either directly (without another component therebetween) or indirectly (with another component therebetween that nevertheless allows fluid communication between at least a or the 12 P004914-W001 portion of the vacuum cleaner 10 and the docking station 4000). Thus, the vacuum cleaner 10 is considered to be docked with the docking station 4000 when the main unit 12 is docked with the docking station 4000. A combination of the vacuum cleaner 10 and the docking station 4000 may be considered to be a vacuum cleaner system.

[0052] The docking station 4000 comprises a body 4002 having a first side 4004 configured to be placed on a surface to support the docking station 4000. The first side 4004 may include a non-slip surface to inhibit sliding of the docking station 4000 relative to the surface. The body 4002 of the docking station 4002 has a second side 4006 opposite to the first side 4004 and a side wall 4008 connecting the first side 4004 to the second side 4006. The body 4002 defines a dirt receptacle for receiving dirt from the main unit 12. A variety of different shapes are suitable for the docking station. In Figure 2, the side walls 4008 are perpendicular to the first and second sides 4004, 4006.

[0053] The first and second sides 4004, 4006 are generally flat and parallel to each other. In plane view, the first and second sides 4004, 4006 are generally circular. The docking station 4000 is shaped to be disposed in a stable freestanding position on the surface. The cleanerhead 3000 of the vacuum cleaner 10 is positioned upon the second side 4006 of the docking station 4000 to dock the vacuum cleaner 10 with the docking station 4000. The shape of the second side 4006 allows the vacuum cleaner 10 to be stably disposed on the second side 4006.

[0054] The vacuum cleaner 10 may be supported on the docking station 4000 by a retention structure 4011 extending upwardly from the second side 4006 to contact a side of the vacuum cleaner 10, to aid in supporting the main unit 12 in the substantially upright position.

[0055] The main unit 12 is elongate and has a generally cylindrical form. A user can grasp an outer surface of the main unit 12 to hold the vacuum cleaner 10, in use. The main unit 12 therefore forms a handle for the user. The main unit 12 has a first end 14 and a second end 16 opposite to the first end 14. In use, the first end 14 of the main unit 12 is connected to the proximal end 3008 of the neck portion 3002 of the cleanerhead 3000. 13 P004914-W001

[0056] A diameter of the neck portion 3002 is approximately the same as a diameter of the main unit 12 such that the neck portion 3002 and the main unit 12 are located at different respective positions along the same central longitudinal axis, which defines a central longitudinal axis 18 of the main unit 12. The neck portion 3002 and the main unit 12 each have a substantially constant diameter along the central longitudinal axis.

[0057] The main unit 12 comprises a separation system 100, a suction generator 1000, and a battery assembly 2000, which are each disposed at different respective positions along the central longitudinal axis 18. The suction generator 1000 is between the battery assembly 2000 and the separation system 100 along the central longitudinal axis 18. The separation system 100 comprises the first end 14 of the main unit 12, and the battery assembly 2000 comprises the second end 16 of the main unit 12.

[0058] The battery assembly 2000 is arranged to support battery cells to provide power to electrical components of the vacuum cleaner 10, including the suction generator 1000. The battery cells may be cylindrical lithium ion battery cells. Each battery cell may be rechargeable so that a combination of the battery cells can function as a rechargeable battery.

[0059] The suction generator 1000 comprises an impeller and a motor configured to drive the impeller so as to draw air into the vacuum cleaner 10 via the cleanerhead 3000, in use, thereby sucking dirty air into the vacuum cleaner 10, as the skilled person will appreciate. The airflow generated by the suction generator 1000 passes from the cleanerhead 3000 to the separation system 100, in which dirt is at least partly separated from the airflow, in use, as discussed further below. An example of a separation system is discussed further below with reference to Figure 3.

[0060] The suction generator 1000 includes a user interface assembly 1024 via which the user can operate the suction generator 1000. The user interface assembly 1024 comprises an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen 1100, a power button 1108 and a mode button 1110. The power button 1108 can be actuated by the user to turn the suction generator 1000 on and off. The mode button 1110 can be used by the user to alter the mode in which 14 P004914-W001 the vacuum cleaner 10 is operating. For example, the vacuum cleaner 10 can be configured in different modes depending on the nature of the surface to be cleaned. The suction power generated by the suction generator 1000 may be different in different modes. The LCD screen 1100 displays various information about the vacuum cleaner 10, in use, such as battery indicator for the battery assembly 2000, indicating the state of charge of the battery assembly 2000, the mode selected by the user, and so forth.

[0061] The user interface assembly 1024 is electrically connected to a valve controller 1126 for controlling a configuration of at least part of a valve assembly of the vacuum cleaner system based on a mode of the vacuum cleaner 10 or the vacuum cleaner system selected by the user using the user interface 1024. The valve controller 1126 can be used to adjust the configuration of the valve assembly to correspond to a configuration for a particular mode, for example by controlling operation of at least one servo-actuator coupled to the valve assembly or at least one valve thereof e.g. to move the at least one valve from a closed configuration to an open configuration or vice versa.

[0062] During cleaning of a surface using the vacuum cleaner 10, airflow generated by the suction generator 1000 enters the floor tool 3004 of the cleanerhead 3000 via an airflow inlet of the floor tool 3004 (not shown) along with entrained dirt such as dust or other debris. Airflow flows from the cleanerhead 300 into the first end 14 of the main unit 12, into the dirt bin of the separation system 100. The separation system 100 separates dirt from airflow. Airflow exits the separation system 100 and enters the suction generator 1000. Airflow passes through an impeller of the suction generator 1000 (not shown) in a bulk direction substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis 18 of the main unit 12. Airflow flows over various control circuitry for controlling the suction generator 1000 and exits the vacuum cleaner 10 via airflow outlets of the suction generator 1000 (not shown).

[0063] Figure 3 shows part 5003 of a vacuum cleaner system, in which a dirt bin 5104 of a separation system 5100 of a main unit 5012 of the vacuum cleaner is docked with a docking station 6000. In this example, a cleanerhead similar to the cleanerhead 3000 of Figures 1 and 2 has been detached from the main unit 5012 of the vacuum cleaner prior 15 P004914-W001 to docking of the main unit 5012 with the docking station 6000. The vacuum cleaner comprising the main unit 5012 and the docking station 6000 are similar to the vacuum cleaner 10 and the docking station 4000 of Figures 1 and 2; corresponding descriptions are to be taken to apply.

[0064] The bin body 5108 is elongate and hollow, with an internal volume defining the dirt bin 5104. A body 6002 of the docking station 6000 defines a dirt receptacle 6014 for receiving dirt from the dirt bin 5104. The body 6002 has a first side 6004, arranged to be placed on a surface to support the docking station 6000, a second side 6006 opposite to the first side 6004 and side walls 6008 connecting the first and second sides 6004, 6006.

[0065] The dirt bin 5104 comprises a dirt outlet 5118 configured to mate with a dirt inlet 6012 of the docking station 6000. The dirt outlet 5118 and the dirt inlet 6012 may be configured in various ways provided that they together allow the dirt bin 5104 to communicate with the dirt receptacle 6014 of the docking station 6000.

[0066] The separation system comprises a first filter 5200 and a second filter 5300. The first filter 5200 comprises a mesh (not shown) configured to filter coarse debris from airflow in use, and hence may also be referred to as a coarse filter. In view of the nature of the first filter 5200, the separation system 5100 may be considered a non-cy clonic separation system. The first filter 5200 has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional shape when viewed in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the first filter 5200. The curvature of the first filter 5200 is such that free ends of the U-shaped cross-sectional shape face away from one another, and hence the first filter 5200 has a relatively shallow curvature. The first filter 5200 also comprises a filter medium (not shown). The mesh overlies the filter medium. The first filter 5200 is disposed longitudinally within the bin body 5108 and extends substantially perpendicularly away from the second side 6006 of the body 6002 of the docking station 6000, when the dirt bin 5104 is docked with the docking station 6000. 16 P004914-W001

[0067] The first filter 5200 overlies the second filter 5300. The second filter 5300 is elongate in form and comprises an auxiliary mesh (not shown). The auxiliary mesh acts to filter fine debris from airflow in use, and hence may also be referred to as a fine filter.

[0068] The separation system 5100 has a stepped cylindrical shape, with a first portion 5120 comprising the dirt outlet 5118 having a cross-section with a first diameter, and a second portion 5122 coupled to the first portion 5120 at an opposite end of the first portion 5120 to the dirt outlet 5118 having a cross-section with a second diameter, smaller than the first diameter. The first and second portions 5120, 5122 are aligned at a side 5124 of the separation system 5100 (the left side in the orientation shown in Figure 3) to form a smooth surface of the separation system 5100 along the side 5124. An opposite side of the separation system 5100 to the side 5124 includes a step 5126 where the first portion 5120 meets the second portion 5122 due to the decrease in diameter of the separation system 5100 from the first diameter to the second diameter.

[0069] The first filter 5200 extends from an end of the bin body 5108 comprising the dirt outlet 5118 to the step 5126, substantially perpendicularly to the second side 6006 of the docking station 6000, with the dirt bin 5104 docked with the docking station 6000. The second filter 300 extends from a protrusion 5128, which protrudes internally within the separation system 5100 from the side 5124 of the separation system 5100 at a distance from the dirt outlet 5118. The second filter 300 extends within the first portion 5120 of the separation system 5100 to the step 5126, substantially perpendicularly to the second side 6006, with the dirt bin 5104 docked with the docking station 6000.

[0070] In the cross-sectional view of Figure 3, the first filter 5200 and the second filter 5300 are illustrated as parallel to each other. However, it is to be appreciated that the first filter 5200 is convexly curved relative to the second filter 5300, with a central portion of the first filter 5200 closer to the second filter 5300 than free ends of the first filter 5200 along the first filter 5200 in a direction perpendicular to the second surface 6006.

[0071] The dirt bin 5104 is divided into a first portion 5130 and a second portion 5132 by the first filter 5200. The first portion 5130 is formed of a first region between the second 17 P004914-W001 filter 5300 and the first filter 5200 from a first plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the separation system 5100 (parallel to the second surface 6006, with the dirt bin 5104 docked with the docking station 6000) and comprising the step 5126, to a second plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and comprising the protrusion 5128; and a second region between the side 5124 of the separation system 5100 and the first filter 5200, from the second plane to a third plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and comprising the dirt outlet 5118. A region between the first filter 5200 and the opposite side of the separation system 5100 to the side 5124 comprising the protrusion 5128 defines the second portion 5132 of the dirt bin 5104.

[0072] Airflow flowing through the dirt bin 5104, during use of the vacuum cleaner to clean a surface, flows over the primary mesh of the first filter 5200 in a bulk direction generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the main unit 5012 (which is the same as the central longitudinal axis 18 of Figure 1). As the airflow flows over the primary mesh, the airflow passes through through-holes of the primary mesh, with the primary mesh acting to filter out relatively large debris from the airflow.

[0073] Airflow that has passed through the primary mesh then flows over and through the filter medium in a direction substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis 18 of the main unit 12. The filter medium acts to filter debris from the airflow, with such debris being relatively fine in comparison to the debris filtered out by the primary mesh. Filtered debris accumulates on the filter medium, and airflow passes from the filter medium toward the auxiliary mesh of the second filter 5300.

[0074] Airflow flows through the auxiliary mesh of the second filter 5300 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis of the main unit 5012. The auxiliary mesh acts to filter debris from the airflow, with such debris being relatively fine in comparison to the debris filtered out by the filter medium. Filtered debris accumulates on the auxiliary mesh, and airflow flows out of the separation system 5100.

[0075] During use of the vacuum cleaner to clean a surface, coarse dirt filtered from air by the first filter 5200 remains in the second portion 5132 of the dirt bin 5104 until the dirt bin 18 P004914-W001

[0076] 5104 is emptied. Fine dirt filtered from air passing through the first filter 5200 is filtered from the air by the second filter 5300, during cleaning of the surface, and remains in the first portion 5130 of the dirt bin 5104 until the dirt bin 5104 is emptied. Dirt from the first and second portions 5130, 5132 of the dirt bin 5104 can be ejected through the dirt outlet 5118 of the dirt bin 5104 and into the dirt inlet 6012 of the docking station 6000.

[0077] It is to be appreciated that a dirt bin in any of the examples herein may be taken to be any portion of the vacuum cleaner within which dirt that has been separated from an airflow collects. For example, the dirt bin may form part of or be included within the separation system, such as part of a primary or secondary separator of a separation system.

[0078] In Figure 3, the docking station 6000 includes a suction generator 6048, which in this case is in addition to the suction generator of the vacuum cleaner. The suction generator of the vacuum cleaner is referred to herein as a further suction generator. The suction generator 6048 of the docking station 6000 is useable to evacuate air from dirt receptacle 6014 of the docking station 6000 so as to generate a partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle 6014. The suction generator 6048 of Figure 3 is a vacuum pump, which is capable of obtaining a greater pressure differential compared to atmospheric pressure than the further suction generator of the vacuum cleaner.

[0079] The partial vacuum generated by the suction generator 6048 for example corresponds to a pressure lower than typical atmospheric pressure. The level of vacuum generated will depend on the type of the suction generator 6048 and the power of the suction generator 6048. The suction generator 6048 may be capable of reducing the pressure within the dirt receptacle 6014 by up to 50 kilopascals, up to 55 kilopascals, or up to 60 kilopascals, which may take of the order of a minute or a few minutes, although acceptable functionality may nevertheless be achieved with a somewhat smaller reduction in pressure within the dirt receptacle 6014. For example, the suction generator 6048 may be capable of removing around three litres of air from a container, such as the dirt receptacle 6014, per minute. In this example, for a dirt receptacle 6014 with an 19 P004914-W001 internal volume of six litres, the suction generator 6048 is capable of reducing the pressure to around half atmospheric pressure in about two minutes.

[0080] In other cases, the suction generator 6048 may create a pressure difference between the dirt receptacle 6014 and an ambient environment of the docking station 6000 of around 64 kilopascals so as to cause an air pulse with a speed of around or greater than the speed of sound upon unsealing the dirt receptacle 6014 and allowing air to enter the vacuum cleaner system.

[0081] The docking station 6000 of Figure 3 includes a valve assembly, which in this example comprises a docking station valve 6050 and is configurable to assist in the generation of a partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle 6014. The vacuum cleaner also comprises a dirt bin valve 5136 and a separation system valve 5140 to aid in cleaning the dirt bin 5104 and the separation system 5100, respectively.

[0082] The docking station valve 6050 is positioned over the dirt inlet 6012 of the docking station 6000. The docking station valve 6050 can be configured in a closed configuration to seal the dirt receptacle 6014 for generation of the partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle 6014. With the dirt receptacle 6014 sealed by the docking station valve 6050, air is inhibited from entering the docking station 6000 via the dirt inlet 6012, to allow the partial vacuum to be generated.

[0083] The dirt bin valve 5136 is disposed at an opposite end of the dirt bin 5104 to the dirt outlet 5118, and is disposed to cover an opening in the bin body 5108. The opening of the bin body 5108 provides an aperture into the second portion 5132 of the dirt bin 5104. The dirt bin valve 5136 can be configured in a closed configuration to inhibit air from entering the dirt bin 5104 and in an open configuration to allow air to enter the second portion 5132 of the dirt bin 5104.

[0084] The separation system valve 5140 is disposed in the second portion 5122 of the separation system 5100, remote from the dirt outlet 5118. The separation system valve 5140 can be configured in a closed configuration in which air is inhibited from entering 20 P004914-W001 the separation system 5100 and in an open configuration in which air is permitted to flow into the separation system 5100.

[0085] In Figure 3, the docking station valve 6050, the dirt bin valve 5136, and the separation system valve 5140 are each in the closed configuration. It is to be appreciated that various different valves may be used as the docking station valve 6050, the dirt bin valve 5136, and the separation system valve 5140, provided that a given valve is configurable in at least the closed and open configurations described. At least one different type of valve may be used for the docking station valve 6050, the dirt bin valve 5136, and the separation system valve 5140, or the docking station valve 6050, the dirt bin valve 5136, and the separation system valve 5140 may each be of the same type but disposed in a different respective location within the vacuum cleaner system. In Figure 3, the docking station valve 6050, the dirt bin valve 5136, and the separation system valve 5140 are each pivotable about a hinge to move between the closed and open configurations. The docking station valve 6050, the dirt bin valve 5136, and the separation system valve 5140 are each biased to remain in the closed configuration shown in Figure 3, for example by a suitably configured biasing spring (not shown). In other examples, though, this need not be the case.

[0086] Various mechanisms are suitable for actuating the valve assembly, the further valve assembly and / or at least one valve of the vacuum cleaner system such as the dirt bin valve 5136 and / or the separation system valve 5140. For example, the valve assembly may be actuated manually, e.g. by a user manually opening and / or closing particular valve(s) of the valve assembly. The valve assembly may instead be actuated mechanically or electronically. For example, a pneumatic device that is pressure- controlled may be operable to generate sufficient force to change a configuration of a valve from closed to open and vice versa. An electronic controller may include a servoactuator to close or open a valve, for example in response to an input from a user (e.g. via the user interface assembly 1024 shown in Figure 1 or a button push) and / or in response to sensor data obtained by a sensor of the vacuum cleaner system. Different valves of a multi-valve valve assembly may be controlled using different mechanisms. 21 P004914-W001

[0087] In this example, the valves of the main unit 5012 (which in this case are the dirt bin valve 5136 and the separation system valve 5140) are controlled by a valve controller such as the valve controller 1126 of Figure 1, which sends appropriate control signals to a respective servo-actuator (not shown in Figure 3) coupled to each of the valves of the main unit 5012 to pivot a respective valve between the closed and open configurations, based on a mode selected by the user via the user interface assembly.

[0088] The docking station valve 6050 is controlled by a controller 6052, which is an electronic controller (shown schematically in Figure 3) configured to control a configuration of the docking station valve 6050. The docking station 6000 comprises a sensor 6054 to obtain sensor data indicative of whether the docking station 6000 is docked to the dirt bin 5104. The sensor 6054, which is shown schematically in Figure 3, may be a proximity sensor disposed within or near the dirt inlet 6012 to detect the presence of the dirt outlet 5118, to determine whether the dirt outlet 5118 is docked with the dirt inlet 6012. For example, the proximity sensor may generate a signal indicative that the dirt bin 5104 is docked with the docking station 6000 if the dirt outlet 5118 is brought into close proximity to the dirt inlet 6012. Conversely, in the absence of the dirt outlet 5118 in close proximity to the dirt inlet 6012, the proximity sensor may be in an off state, may not generate a signal indicative of docking and / or may generate a signal indicative of an absence of docking. The signal (or lack thereof) generated by a proximity sensor at a given time may be considered to correspond to the sensor data. This is merely an example, though, and in other cases a sensor that detects contact between the dirt outlet 5118 and the dirt inlet 6012 (or suitable interfaces thereof), such as a limit switch or other mechanical switch that is physically actuated by bringing the dirt outlet 5118 into contact with the dirt inlet 6012 during docking, may instead be used to generate sensor data indicative of whether the dirt bin 5104 is docked with the docking station 6000.

[0089] The controller 6052 receives the sensor data from the sensor 6054 and sends an appropriate control signal to a servo-actuator (not shown in Figure 3) coupled to the docking station valve 6050 to pivot the docking station valve 6050 between the closed and open configurations, based at least partly on the sensor data. For example, the 22 P004914-W001 controller 6052 may include internal components comprising at least a processor, storage, at least one data interface for transferring data to another component and / or receiving data from another component, such as the sensor 6052, and a bus to allow communication between the various internal components of the controller 6052. The processor of the controller 6052 may receive the sensor data via the at least one data interface, store the sensor data in the storage, process the sensor data (for example based on instructions stored within the storage defining processing to be performed by the controller 6052), in conjunction with other data indicative of a current mode of the vacuum cleaner system, to determine whether the docking station valve 6050 is to be configured in the open or closed configuration, and generate an appropriate control signal, based on the processing of the sensor data, to control the servo-actuator coupled to the docking station valve 6050.

[0090] In Figure 3, the controller 6052 configures the docking station valve 6050 in the closed configuration in response to sensor data indicating that the docking station 6000 is disconnected from the dirt bin 5104. The docking station valve 6050 remains in the closed configuration once the sensor data indicates that the docking station 6000 is docked with the dirt bin 5104 and with the vacuum cleaner system configured in an evacuation mode. However, once the sensor data indicates that the docking station 6000 is docked with the dirt bin 5104 and the vacuum cleaner system is configured in a dirt bin emptying mode (shown in Figure 4), the docking station valve 6050 is configured in the open configuration by the controller 6052.

[0091] In this example, the controller 6052 is electrically connected to a user interface assembly of the vacuum cleaner (such as the user interface assembly 1024 of Figure 1), either directly or via at least one further electronic control system of the vacuum cleaner system, once the docking station 6000 is docked with the dirt bin 5104, so as to receive an indication of a mode of the vacuum cleaner system selected by the user via the user interface assembly. The controller 6052 can thus determine an appropriate configuration for the docking station valve 6050 based on the sensor data and the indication of the mode (which may be represented by mode data) once the docking station 6000 is docked with the dirt bin 5104. 23 P004914-W001

[0092] In addition to controlling the configuration of the docking station valve 6050, the controller 6052 of the docking station 6000 also controls operation of the suction generator 6048 based on the sensor data and the mode data (although in other cases, separate controllers may be used for controlling the docking station valve 6050 and the suction generator 6048, and / or the suction generator 6048 may be controlled based on solely the sensor data or solely the mode data). In this example, the controller 6052 operates the suction generator 6048 to generate the partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle 6014 once the dirt receptacle 6014 is sealed by the docking station valve 6050, and with the vacuum cleaner system configured in the evacuation mode.

[0093] Figure 3 shows the part 5003 of the vacuum cleaner system configured in the evacuation mode in which the dirt receptacle 6014 is sealed by the docking station valve 6050 in the closed configuration and an airflow is generated by the suction generator 6048 of the docking station 6000 to generate the partial vacuum in the docking station 6000. Air is thus at least partly evacuated from the dirt receptacle 6014 during the evacuation mode. Evacuation of air from the dirt receptacle 6014 into the suction generator 6048 is indicated by arrows 6096 in Figure 3. Although the dirt bin 5104 is docked with the docking station 6000 in Figure 4, it is to be appreciated that the dirt receptacle 6014 may be sealed by the docking station valve 6050 and the partial vacuum may be generated within the dirt receptacle 6014 with the docking station 6000 disconnected from the vacuum cleaner, to generate the partial vacuum pre-emptively in the dirt receptacle 6014, in anticipation that the dirt bin 5104 will be docked with the docking station 6000 in future.

[0094] Once a sufficient negative pressure level has been generated within the dirt receptacle 6014, and after the dirt bin 5104 has been docked with the docking station 6000, the vacuum cleaner system is changed to a dirt bin emptying mode and / or a separation system cleaning mode. Figure 4 illustrates the dirt bin emptying mode.

[0095] In the dirt bin emptying mode, the docking station valve 6050 is configured in the open configuration to unseal the dirt receptacle 6014 and permit air (and dirt within the air) 24 P004914-W001 to flow into the dirt receptacle 6050 via the dirt outlet 5118 of the dirt bin 5104 and the dirt inlet 6012 of the docking station 6000.

[0096] The suction generator 6048 is in an on state in the dirt bin emptying mode, in which an airflow is being generated by the suction generator 6048 (although in other examples the suction generator 6048 may be in an off state, in which an airflow is not being generated by the suction generator 6048, during the dirt bin emptying mode). The suction generator 6048 may be turned off by the user selecting to cease operation of the suction generator 6048, such as by actuation of a button or other control element of the suction generator 6048) and / or by the user selecting to operate the vacuum cleaner system in the dirt bin emptying mode, for example via the user interface assembly, and the controller 6052 turning the suction generator 6048 off in response to the vacuum cleaner system being in the dirt bin emptying mode (in examples in which the suction generator 6048 is configured to be off during the dirt bin emptying mode).

[0097] The further suction generator of the vacuum cleaner is also on in the dirt bin emptying mode but in other examples may also or alternatively be off in the dirt bin emptying mode. Although the further suction generator would generally cause air to flow out of the docking station 6000 in the absence of a partial vacuum in the docking station 6000, the partial vacuum in the docking station 6000 creates a significantly higher flow rate of air towards the docking station 6000 than that which would be generated by the further suction generator, so as to cause the dirt bin emptying pulse of air to flow into the docking station 6000.

[0098] The dirt bin valve 5136 is in the open configuration and the separation system valve 5140 is in the closed configuration in the dirt bin emptying mode. In Figure 4, the dirt bin valve 5136 and the docking station valve 6050 are opened substantially simultaneously (in this case, by the controller 6052) in the dirt bin emptying mode. In this case, the controller 6052 sends control signals to respective actuators for the dirt bin valve 5136 and the docking station valve 6050 at substantially the same time, so as to open these valves at the same time as each other within measurement uncertainties, for example. 25 P004914-W001

[0099] With the dirt bin valve 5136 and the docking station valve 6050 in the open configuration, the dirt bin emptying pulse of air enters an upper region of the second portion 5132 of the dirt bin 5104 (in the orientation of Figure 4), due to the partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle 6014. The dirt bin emptying pulse of air flows rapidly downwards through the dirt bin 5104 to eject dirt from the dirt bin 5104 into the dirt receptacle 6014. The partial vacuum causes ambient air to be drawn forcefully through the open dirt bin valve 5136, causing a high-speed pulse of air (referred to herein as a dirt bin emptying pulse of air) to flow from the dirt bin 5104 to the dirt receptacle 6014 to dislodge dirt from interior walls of the bin body 5108 and components within the dirt bin 5104 such as the first filter 5200. This allows dirt to be emptied in a hygienic and effective manner from the dirt bin 5104.

[0100] An area of the opening uncovered by the dirt bin valve 5136 in the open configuration is configured to achieve a high speed flow of air into the dirt bin 5104 after generating the partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle 6014. An appropriate area to be uncovered by the dirt bin valve 5136 for a given vacuum cleaner system may be within plus or minus 50% of a minimum cross-sectional area in a flow path from the dirt bin valve 5136 to the docking station 6000. Due to the large difference in pressure between the dirt bin 5104 and the dirt receptacle 6014 and the appropriately sized opening uncovered by the dirt bin valve 5136 during the dirt bin emptying mode, the dirt bin emptying pulse of air has a very high flow rate for a short period of time. The pressure within the docking station 6000 determines the peak velocity of an airflow into the docking station 6000 (such as the dirt bin emptying pulse of air). A peak flow rate of the airflow into the docking station can thus be calculated as the peak velocity of the airflow multiplied by a minimum cross-sectional area of a flow path from the dirt bin valve 5136 to the docking station 6000.

[0101] Figure 4 illustrates a single dirt bin emptying pulse of air, which is obtained by firstly configuring the vacuum cleaner system in the evacuation mode and subsequently configuring the vacuum cleaner system in the dirt bin emptying mode. However, this process may be performed more than once in order to enhance emptying of the dirt bin 26 P004914-W001

[0102] 5104. For example, the vacuum cleaner system may be repeatedly switched between the evacuation and dirt bin emptying modes (although in some cases at least one mode may be used between the evacuation and dirt bin emptying modes and / or vice versa).

[0103] With the suction generator 6048 in the on state during the bin emptying mode, air may flow through the vacuum cleaner system at a relatively constant rate in between the dirt bin emptying pulses. The dirt bin emptying pulses may thus periodically amplify the rate at which the air flows through the vacuum cleaner system to boost removal of dirt from the dirt bin 5104.

[0104] After generating a partial vacuum in the dirt receptacle 6014 in the evacuation mode, the vacuum cleaner system may be switched to the separation system cleaning mode shown in Figure 5 instead of the dirt bin emptying mode of Figure 4. In the separation system cleaning mode, dirt (which may be referred to as separation system dirt) is ejected from the separation system 5100 into the dirt receptacle 6014 so as to clean the separation system 5100.

[0105] In the separation system cleaning mode, the docking station valve 6050 is in the open configuration to allow air to enter the dirt receptacle 6014. The separation system valve 5140 is in the open configuration and the dirt bin valve 5136 is in the closed configuration. In Figure 5, the separation system valve 5140 and the docking station valve 6050 are opened substantially simultaneously (in this case, by the controller 6052) in the separation system cleaning mode. In this case, the controller 6052 sends control signals to respective actuators for the separations system valve 5140 and the docking station valve 6050 at substantially the same time, so as to open these valves at the same time as each other within measurement uncertainties, for example.

[0106] In the separation system cleaning mode, a separation system cleaning pulse of air is admitted into the vacuum cleaner to eject dirt from the separation system 5100 into the dirt receptacle 6014. Due to the partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle 6014, the separation system cleaning pulse of air enters an opening in the second portion 5122 of the separation system 5100 which is uncovered by the separation system valve 5140 in 27 P004914-W001 the open configuration. The opening in the second portion 5122 of the separation system 5100 is located in a side wall of the second portion 5122 at a position between the further suction generator and the second filter 5300 longitudinally along the main unit 5012. The separation system cleaning pulse of air flows down through the main unit 5012 towards the dirt outlet 5118 and passes through the second filter 5300 and the first filter 5200 within the separation system 5100 in an opposite direction to that in which air flows through the second filter 5300 and the first filter 5200 during cleaning of a surface by the vacuum cleaner, with the vacuum cleaner undocked from the docking station 6000. The separation system cleaning pulse of air flowing in the opposite direction through the separation system 5100 (comprising the second filter 5300 and the first filter 5200) during the separation system cleaning mode dislodges dirt trapped in the separation system 5100, thereby cleaning the separation system 5100. For example, the separation system cleaning pulse of air may eject dirt trapped on a side of the second filter 5300 and / or a side of the first filter 5200 downstream of the opening in the portion 5122 of the bin body 508, and convey the ejected dirt through the dirt bin 5104 and into the dirt receptacle 6014 of the docking station 6000, via the dirt inlet 6012 of the docking station 6000.

[0107] The separation system cleaning pulse of air generated during the separation system cleaning mode is similar to or the same as that generated during the dirt bin emptying mode except that it enters the vacuum cleaner system via a different opening. The separation system cleaning pulse of air of the separation system cleaning mode is therefore a high-speed pulse of air with a relatively short duration, that is effective at ejecting dirt from the separation system 5100 so the separation system 5100 can be cleaned in-situ, for example without having to remove the separation system 5100 from the vacuum cleaner or without having to remove various components of the vacuum cleaner to access the separation system 5100 for cleaning. In some cases, though, the separation system 5100 may also be removed or accessed through the vacuum cleaner for additional cleaning to that provided by the separation system cleaning pulse of air.

[0108] The suction generator 6048 and the further suction generator are in the on state in the separation system cleaning mode in this example, although in other cases at least one 28 P004914-W001 of the suction generator 6048 and / or the further suction generator may be in the off state.

[0109] As explained with reference to the bin emptying mode, a plurality of separation system cleaning pulses of air may be conveyed through the separation system 5100 in order to clean the separation system 5100 more thoroughly. In order to generate a plurality of separation system cleaning pulses of air through the separation system 5100, a process of configuring the vacuum cleaner system in the evacuation mode and, subsequently, the separation system cleaning mode is performed a plurality of times. For example, the vacuum cleaner system may be repeatedly switched between the evacuation and separation system cleaning modes (although in some cases at least one mode may be used between the evacuation and separation system cleaning modes and / or vice versa).

[0110] Figure 6 shows part 7003 of a vacuum cleaner system, with a separation system 7100 of a main unit 7012 of a vacuum cleaner docked with a docking station 8000. The vacuum cleaner system of Figure 6 is the same as the vacuum cleaner system of Figure 3, except for the valve assembly and the suction generator of the docking station. Features of Figure 6 that are similar to corresponding features of Figure 3 are labelled with the same reference numeral but incremented by 2000; corresponding descriptions are to be taken to apply.

[0111] In Figure 6, the suction generator 8056 is capable of generating a higher pressure difference compared to an ambient environment than the suction generator 6048 of Figure 3 and / or generating a similar pressure difference compared to an ambient environment but more rapidly than the suction generator 6048 of Figure 3.

[0112] In Figure 6, the suction generator 8056 comprises a vacuum chamber 8058, which in this case is a spherical chamber, which is resilient to implosion in the presence of low pressures within the vacuum chamber. The spherical chamber 8058 is connected to the docking station 8000 by a tubular neck portion 8060 of the suction generator 8056. The suction generator 8056 is arranged at a side of the body 8002 of the docking station 29 P004914-W001

[0113] 8000, with the neck portion 8060 coupled to an opening in a side wall 8004 of the bin

[0114] 8002.

[0115] In Figure 3, the valve assembly (formed of the docking station valve 6050) is disposed at the dirt inlet 6012 of the dirt receptacle 6014 to selectively permit dirt (and air) to enter the dirt receptacle 6014. In contrast, in Figure 6, the valve assembly (formed of a suction generator valve 8062) is disposed between the dirt receptacle 6014 and the vacuum chamber 8058 to seal the vacuum chamber 8058 from the dirt receptacle 6014. The suction generator valve 8062 is located at an end of the neck portion 8060 of the suction generator 8056 coupled to the dirt receptacle 8014, which is an opposite end to an end of the neck portion 8060 coupled to the vacuum chamber 8058. The suction generator valve 8062 is closed in Figure 6, so that a partial vacuum can be generated within the vacuum chamber 8058 of the suction generator 8056.

[0116] The docking station 8000 comprises a further valve assembly, in this case formed of a dirt inlet valve 8064 disposed at the dirt inlet 8012 of the docking station 8000. The dirt inlet valve 8064 is configurable in an open configuration to allow fluid communication between the dirt bin 7104 and the dirt receptacle 8014 and in a closed configuration to inhibit fluid communication between the dirt bin 7104 and the dirt receptacle 8014.

[0117] The valve assembly and the further valve assembly of the docking station 8000 are controlled by a controller 8052 of the docking station 8000 based on sensor data obtained by a sensor 8054 of the docking station 8000, in a similar manner to that described with reference to Figures 3 to 5.

[0118] The dirt inlet valve 8064 of Figure 6 selectively permits dirt (and air) to enter the dirt receptacle 8014. In this example, the dirt inlet valve 8064 is configured in the closed configuration with the dirt bin 7104 undocked from the docking station 8000 so as to limit ingress of dirt into and out of the dirt receptacle 8014 while the docking station 8000 is disconnected from the docking station 8000. The dirt inlet valve 8064 may remain in the closed configuration with the dirt bin 7104 docked with the docking station 8000 and the partial vacuum being generated by the suction generator 8056, so 30 P004914-W001 as to inhibit the flow of dirt from the dirt bin 7104 into the dirt receptacle 8014. With the dirt inlet valve 8064 in the closed configuration and the dirt bin 7104 docked with the docking station 8000, a further partial vacuum can for example be generated within the dirt receptacle 8014 by an additional suction generator coupled to the dirt receptacle 8014.

[0119] However, Figure 6 illustrates an example in which the dirt inlet valve 8064 is configured in the open configuration with the dirt bin 7104 docked with the docking station 8000. In Figure 6, a further partial vacuum is generated within the dirt receptacle 8014 by an airflow generated by the further suction generator (of the vacuum cleaner) to evacuate air out of the dirt receptacle 8014 via the dirt inlet 8012 and into the dirt bin 7104, in a direction towards the further suction generator. In this example, the suction generator 8056 generates a first pressure within the vacuum chamber 8058, and the further suction generator (of the vacuum cleaner) generates a second pressure within the dirt receptacle 8014. The first pressure is lower than the second pressure as the suction generator 8056 in this example is capable of generating a higher pressure difference than that of the vacuum cleaner, which is typically a relatively lightweight suction generator to allow the vacuum cleaner to be handled easily by a user. Figure 6 therefore illustrates an evacuation mode of the vacuum cleaner system.

[0120] It is to be appreciated that, similarly to the example of Figure 3, the partial vacuum may be generated within the vacuum chamber 8056 with the docking station 8000 disconnected from the vacuum cleaner, to generate the partial vacuum pre-emptively in the vacuum chamber 8056, in anticipation that the dirt bin 7104 will be docked with the docking station 8000 in future.

[0121] Once a sufficient negative pressure level has been generated within the dirt receptacle 6014 and the dirt bin 5104 is docked with the docking station 6000, the vacuum cleaner system is changed to a dirt bin emptying mode or a separation system cleaning mode.

[0122] Figure 7 shows the part 7003 of the vacuum cleaner system of Figure 6 configured in the dirt bin emptying mode, once a sufficient partial vacuum has been generated in the 31 P004914-W001 vacuum chamber 8058 and a sufficient further partial vacuum has been generated in the dirt receptacle 8014. In the dirt bin emptying mode, the separation system valve 7140 is in the closed configuration, and the dirt bin valve 7136, the suction generator valve 8062 and the dirt inlet valve 8064 are in the open configuration. In this example, the suction generator 8056 and the further suction generator are on during the dirt bin emptying mode, but in other cases at least one of the suction generator 8056 and the further suction generator may be off during the dirt bin emptying mode. Due to the partial vacuum and the further partial vacuum in the vacuum chamber 8056 and the dirt receptacle 8014, a dirt bin emptying pulse of air flows into the dirt bin 7104 and from the dirt outlet 7116 of the dirt bin 7104 into the dirt inlet 8012 of the docking station 8000 to eject dirt from the dirt bin 7104 into the docking station 8000.

[0123] In this example, the docking station 8000 includes a filter (not shown in Figure 7) arranged in the opening of the side wall 8008 of the body 8002 at which the suction generator 8056 is coupled to the body 8002. The dirt bin emptying pulse of air enters the dirt receptacle 8014 from the dirt bin 7104 and flows into the vacuum chamber 8058, via the filter, due to the lower pressure within the vacuum chamber 8058 compared to the dirt receptacle 8014. Thus, the filter permits air to flow therethrough, as indicated by arrows 8096 in Figure 7, which show the direction in which the air is flowing in this example. However, the filter inhibits the flow of dirt from the dirt receptacle 8014 into the vacuum chamber 8058. This can simplify removal of dirt from the docking station 8000, by retaining the dirt within the dirt receptacle 8014, which may be more easily accessible than the vacuum chamber 8058. In other cases, though, the filter may be omitted, and dirt and air may be sucked into the vacuum chamber 8058 during the bin emptying mode due to the partial vacuum within the vacuum chamber 8058.

[0124] Figure 8 shows the part 7003 of the vacuum cleaner system of Figure 6 configured in the separation system cleaning mode, once a sufficient partial vacuum has been generated in the vacuum chamber 8058 and a sufficient further partial vacuum has been generated in the dirt receptacle 8014. In the separation system cleaning mode, the dirt bin valve 7136 is in the closed configuration, and the separation system valve 7140, the 32 P004914-W001 suction generator valve 8062 and the dirt inlet valve 8064 are in the open configuration. In this example, the suction generator 8056 and the further suction generator are on during the separation system cleaning mode, but in other cases at least one of the suction generator 8056 and the further suction generator may be off during the separation system cleaning mode. Due to the partial vacuum and the further partial vacuum in the vacuum chamber 8056 and the dirt receptacle 8014, a separation system cleaning pulse of air flows into the separation system 7100 in an opposite direction to that in which air flows into the separation system 7100 during use of the vacuum cleaner to clean a surface, as described with reference to Figure 5. The separation system cleaning pulse of air flows through the separation system 7100, into the dirt bin 7104 and from the dirt outlet 7116 of the dirt bin 7104 into the dirt inlet 8012 of the docking station 8000 to eject dirt from the separation system 7100 into the dirt receptacle 8014.

[0125] As in Figure 7, in this example, the docking station 8000 includes a filter (not shown in Figure 8) arranged in the opening of the side wall 8008 of the body 8002 at which the suction generator 8056 is coupled to the body 8002. The direction in which air flows through the part 7003 of the vacuum cleaner system is shown via arrows 8096 in Figure 8. As can be seen, the air flows through the filter into the vacuum chamber 8058 but the filter inhibits the ingress of dirt ejected from the separation system 7100 into the dirt receptacle 8014 from flowing into the vacuum chamber 8058. In other cases, though, the filter may be omitted.

[0126] It is to be appreciated that in further examples otherwise the same as that of Figures 6 to 8, the dirt inlet valve 8064 may be omitted. In addition or alternatively, the further suction generator need not be used to generate a further partial pressure in the dirt receptacle 8014; instead, the partial pressure may be generated in the vacuum chamber 8058 without generating a further partial pressure in the dirt receptacle 8014. The dirt receptacle 8014 may, for example, remain at atmospheric pressure.

[0127] In examples above, the vacuum cleaner comprises a plurality of valves comprising a dirt bin valve and a separation system valve, which may be referred to as a vacuum cleaner valve assembly. However, it is to be appreciated that the functionality of at least 33 P004914-W001 one of the plurality of valves may be combined in a combined valve arrangement. For example, the valve assembly may include a combined valve arrangement configured to perform the function of the dirt bin valve and the separation system valve.

[0128] In examples above, the dirt bin valve and the separation system valve are closed in the evacuation mode. However, in examples, at least one of these valves may be open during the evacuation mode. The partial vacuum may nevertheless be generated in an effective manner by the suction generator due to the valve assembly sealing at least a part of the docking station in which the partial vacuum is to be generated.

[0129] In examples above, the separation system cleaning pulse of air passes through the entire separation system in the separation system cleaning mode. In other examples, the separation system cleaning pulse of air may pass through part of the separation system in the separation system cleaning mode and / or a further separation system cleaning pulse of air may pass through part of the separation system in a further separation system cleaning mode. In such cases, the separation system dirt from the separation system may nevertheless be considered to be ejected into the dirt receptacle. For example, the separation system valve or a further separation system valve in addition to the separation system valve may be arranged to permit air to enter the separation system between a first separator and a second separator of the separation system (such as the first filter 5200 and the second filter 5300 described above), when configured in an open configuration, and to inhibit air from entering the separation system between the first and second separator when configured in a closed configuration. For example, the separation system valve 5140 described above with particular reference to Figure 5 may instead be arranged to cover and uncover an opening in the step 5126 portion of the bin body 5108 so as to selectively permit air to enter the separation system 5100 between the first filter 5200 and the second filter 5300, or the vacuum cleaner system may comprise a further separation system valve arranged to cover and uncover an opening in the step 5126 portion of the bin body 5108, in addition to the separation system valve 5140 of Figure 5, to selectively permit air to enter the separation system 5100 between the first filter 5200 and the second filter 5300. In examples with both a 34 P004914-W001 separation system valve and a further separation system valve, both of these valves may be opened at the same time to enhance cleaning of the separation system.

Claims

35 P004914-W001CLAIMS1. A docking station configured to dock with a dirt bin of a vacuum cleaner to receive dirt from the dirt bin of the vacuum cleaner, the docking station comprising: a dirt receptacle for receiving the dirt from the dirt bin; a suction generator; and a valve assembly configured to seal at least a part of the docking station for generation of a partial vacuum within at least the part of the docking station, using the suction generator.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the suction generator is operable to reduce a pressure within the part of the docking station by up to at least one of 45 kilopascals, 50 kilopascals, 55 kilopascals, 60 kilopascals and 100 kilopascals.

3. The docking station of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the part of the docking station comprises a vacuum chamber.

4. The docking station of claim 3, wherein the vacuum chamber is a substantially spherical chamber or a substantially cylindrical chamber.

5. The docking station of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the valve assembly is disposed between the dirt receptacle and the vacuum chamber to seal the vacuum chamber from the dirt receptacle.

6. The docking station of claim 5, wherein the dirt receptacle comprises a dirt inlet configured to dock with a dirt outlet of the dirt bin, and the docking station comprises a further valve assembly configured to at least one of seal the dirt inlet for generation of a further partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle; or selectively permit the dirt to enter the dirt receptacle, via the dirt inlet.36 P004914-W0017. The docking station of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the part of the docking station comprises the dirt receptacle.

8. The docking station of claim 7, wherein the dirt receptacle comprises a dirt inlet configured to dock with a dirt outlet of the dirt bin, and the valve assembly is configured to selectively permit the dirt to enter the dirt receptacle, via the dirt inlet.

9. The docking station of any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a controller configured to control at least one of: operation of the valve assembly or generation of the partial vacuum using the suction generator.

10. The docking station of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to, with the docking station disconnected from the dirt bin, operate the valve assembly to seal the part of the docking station.

11. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to, with the part of the docking station sealed by the valve assembly, operate the suction generator to generate the partial vacuum within the part of the docking station.

12. The docking station of any one of claims 9 to 11, comprising a sensor to obtain sensor data indicative that the docking station is disconnected from the dirt bin.

13. The docking station of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to operate the valve assembly to seal the part of the docking station based at least partly on the sensor data.

14. The docking station of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein, with the part of the docking station sealed by the valve assembly, the controller is configured to operate the suction generator to generate the partial vacuum within the part of the docking station based at least partly on the sensor data.37 P004914-W00115. The docking station of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the valve assembly is configured to maintain the partial vacuum over time, for example, until the dirt bin of the vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking station and dirty air is permitted to flow from the dirt bin of the vacuum cleaner and into the dirt receptacle.

16. The docking station of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the valve assembly is configured to admit a pulse of air from the dirt bin into the dirt receptacle via the valve assembly by the valve assembly unsealing at least the part of the docking station once a sufficient partial vacuum is generated within at least the part of the docking station and the vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking station.

17. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the pulse of air configured to be admitted by the valve assembly comprises an airflow speed of at least the speed of sound.

18. A vacuum cleaner system comprising the docking station of any one of claims 1 to 17 and a vacuum cleaner.

19. The vacuum cleaner system of claim 18, when dependent on any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a further suction generator configured to generate a or the further partial vacuum within the dirt receptacle, with the dirt bin docked with the docking station.

20. The vacuum cleaner system of claim 19, wherein, with the dirt bin docked with the docking station and the part of the docking station sealed by the valve assembly, the suction generator is configured to generate a first pressure within the vacuum chamber and the further suction generator is configured to generate a second pressure within the dirt receptacle, wherein the first pressure is lower than the second pressure.

21. The vacuum cleaner system of any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a dirt bin valve operable to admit a dirt bin emptying pulse of air into the dirt bin, after generation of the partial vacuum in the part of the docking station and38 P004914-W001 with the dirt bin docked with the docking station, to eject the dirt from the dirt bin into the dirt receptacle.

22. The vacuum cleaner system of claim 21, wherein the valve assembly and the dirt bin valve are configured to open substantially simultaneously to admit the dirt bin emptying pulse of air into the dirt bin to eject the dirt from the dirt bin into the dirt receptacle.

23. The vacuum cleaner system of claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the dirt bin valve is configured to operate repeatedly, with the dirt bin docked with the docking station, to repeatedly admit respective dirt bin emptying pulses of air into the dirt bin to eject the dirt from the dirt bin into the dirt receptacle.

24. The vacuum cleaner system of any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a separation system and a separation system valve, and the separation system valve is operable to admit a separation system cleaning pulse of air into the separation system, after generation of the partial vacuum in the part of the docking station and with the dirt bin docked with the docking station, to eject separation system dirt from the separation system into the dirt receptacle.

25. The vacuum cleaner system of claim 24, wherein the valve assembly and the separation system valve are configured to open substantially simultaneously to admit the separation system cleaning pulse of air into the separation system to eject the separation system dirt from the separation system into the dirt receptacle.

26. The vacuum cleaner system of claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the separation system valve is configured to operate repeatedly, with the dirt bin docked with the docking station, to repeatedly admit respective separation system cleaning pulses of air into the separation system to eject the separation system dirt from the separation system into the dirt receptacle.

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