Autonomous Cleaner D-Shaped Body Design for Corner Rubbish Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous travel-type cleaners with circular bodies struggle to effectively suction rubbish from corners due to a wide gap between the suction port and the corner, limiting their corner cleaning ability, and existing solutions with side brushes face constraints in bristle length and mobility.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous travel-type cleaner with a body shape resembling a Reuleaux triangle, equipped with a suction port on the bottom surface, corner detection, and a control unit that performs a reciprocating motion to efficiently clean corners, utilizing a rubbish detection sensor to ensure thorough removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a circular body shape is used, then turning performance is improved, but corner cleaning ability deteriorates due to wide gap between suction port and corner
Solution Approach 1:
The body shape is changed from a circular symmetric form to an asymmetric D-shaped form. This asymmetric design allows the suction port to be positioned closer to the corner tip when the cleaner approaches a corner, reducing the gap and improving corner cleaning ability while maintaining adequate turning performance through the rounded portions of the D-shape.
2Manufacturing precision
If side brushes with long bristle bundles are used, then corner cleaning ability is improved, but mobility and operation trajectory are constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The side brush component is removed from the cleaner design. Instead of relying on side brushes to collect rubbish at corners, the invention positions the suction port itself closer to the corner tip through the D-shaped body design, allowing the suction unit to directly suction rubbish at corners without the need for additional side brush components that would constrain mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction port is designed to serve dual functions: cleaning the main cleaning surface and cleaning corners. By positioning the suction port close to the corner tip through the D-shaped body, the same suction unit effectively cleans both flat surfaces and corner areas, eliminating the need for separate side brush components.
3Manufacturing precision
If D-shaped body is used to improve corner approach, then corner cleaning ability is improved, but rotation capability at corner position is reduced due to wall contact
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner is designed to approach corners to a sufficient but not excessive degree. The D-shaped body allows the suction port to reach close to the corner tip for effective cleaning, while the overall body dimensions are controlled to prevent excessive protrusion that would cause wall contact and restrict rotation capability for moving to adjacent areas.
Data Source
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AI summary
Once it is determined in Step S2 that a corner has been detected, a control unit causes a body to perform a reciprocating motion and initiate corner cleaning in Step S3. Then, once it is determined in Step S4 that a rubbish detection sensor detects no rubbish, the corner cleaning is terminated in Step S6. Once it is determined in Step S4 that the rubbish detection sensor detects rubbish, the corner cleaning continues to be executed by the body being caused to perform the reciprocating motion in Step S5. In other words, an autonomous travel-type cleaner is realized that can remove a large amount of the rubbish accumulating at the corner by causing the body to perform the reciprocating motion.