Brush for autonomous cleaning robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous cleaning robots face challenges in effectively sweeping debris from corners and areas outside the main cleaning path, as existing brushes often interfere with other components or fail to reach these regions.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a side brush with a hub, angled arms, and bristle bundles that rotate to sweep debris toward the main brush, while the geometry of the arms prevents interference with other moving components, and an inset portion on the hub collects filament debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a side brush is positioned to sweep debris from corners and areas outside the main cleaning path, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the brush may interfere with other components of the robot
Solution Approach 1:
The side brush is segmented into multiple bristle bundles (e.g., five bristle bundles) distributed along the arms, allowing different sections to perform different functions: outer bristle bundles sweep debris from corners while inner bristle bundles direct debris toward the main brush, preventing interference with other components
Solution Approach 2:
The arms are configured at specific angles (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the plane normal to the axis of rotation, extending in multiple dimensions to reach corners and areas outside the main cleaning path without interfering with other robot components
2Productivity
If the brush arms extend outwardly to reach corner areas, then the cleaning capability is improved, but the brush may interfere with other moving components
Solution Approach 1:
The arms are configured with asymmetric angle arrangements (e.g., first arm at 45 degrees, second arm at 30 degrees, third arm at 15 degrees) relative to the plane normal to the axis of rotation, allowing optimized reach to corner areas while maintaining clearance from other moving components through non-uniform spatial distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The side brush is designed to rotate about an axis during operation, dynamically adjusting the position of arms and bristle bundles to sweep debris from corners while maintaining safe distances from other moving components throughout the rotation cycle
3Productivity
If the brush is designed to sweep beyond the main cleaning path, then the cleaning efficiency is improved, but filament debris may accumulate and impede operations
Solution Approach 1:
The hub includes an inset portion specifically designed to extract and collect filament debris (such as hair and threads) that accumulates during corner cleaning operations, removing it from areas where it could impede brush rotation or other robot operations
Solution Approach 2:
The inset portion of the hub acts as an intermediary collection zone that captures filament debris before it can interfere with brush mechanics, preventing entanglement and maintaining reliable operation continuity
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous cleaning robot includes a drive configured to move the robot across a floor surface, a brush proximate a lateral side of the robot, and a motor configured to rotate the brush about an axis of rotation. The brush includes a hub configured to engage the motor of the robot and arms each extending outwardly from the hub away from the axis of rotation and each being angled relative to a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the brush. Each of the arms include a first portion extending outwardly from the hub away from the axis of rotation and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion away from the axis of rotation. An angle between the first portion of each of the arms and the plane is larger than an angle between the second portion of the each of the arms and the plane.