Autonomous cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autonomous cleaners face challenges in achieving a miniaturized size while maintaining enhanced driving and cleaning performance, as larger power units and inlet motors increase the overall size to enhance performance.
Innovation Solution
The autonomous cleaner is designed with a unique housing configuration where the dust collecting unit, inlet motor, and power unit are strategically positioned to minimize size while maximizing performance, featuring a front bumper with ribs for increased inlet force, a guide flow path for dust collection, and sensors for obstacle detection and fall prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the power unit and inlet motor are enlarged to enhance driving performance and cleaning performance, then the driving performance and cleaning performance are improved, but the size of the entire autonomous cleaner is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The dust collecting container is nested within the housing structure, and the inlet motor is positioned to share space with the dust collecting unit. The power unit is integrated into the housing rather than being a separate external component, allowing multiple functional elements to occupy overlapping or adjacent spatial zones efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes vertical space by positioning the brush unit at the lower surface and arranging the dust collecting container and power unit in the longitudinal direction. The inlet motor is placed at the rear of the dust collecting unit, effectively using the depth dimension to accommodate all components without increasing the overall footprint or height excessively.
2Quantity of substance
If the dust collecting container is enlarged to increase dust storage capacity, then the dust storage capacity is improved, but the size of the autonomous cleaner is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a front unit and a rear unit, with the dust collecting container positioned in the rear unit. This segmentation allows the dust storage capacity to be maximized in the rear section without compromising the cleaning functions in the front section, effectively distributing volume requirements across different functional zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The dust collecting container is positioned to extend in the longitudinal direction of the body, utilizing the length dimension rather than increasing width or height. This allows increased storage capacity while maintaining a compact overall form factor suitable for navigating under furniture.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the power unit is enlarged to extend driving time without recharging, then the driving time is improved, but the size of the autonomous cleaner is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The power unit is merged with the housing structure and positioned in the rear unit adjacent to the dust collecting container. This integration allows the power unit to share space with other rear-section components, extending driving time through a larger battery capacity without proportionally increasing the overall size of the autonomous cleaner.
4Productivity
If the brush unit is positioned to maximize cleaning performance, then the cleaning performance is improved, but the inlet force of dust may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A guide flow path is introduced as an intermediary structure that channels dust from the lower surface toward the brush unit. This guide flow path ensures that dust is effectively directed into the brush rolling area, maintaining strong inlet force while allowing the brush unit to be positioned optimally for cleaning performance.
Data Source
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AI summary
An autonomous cleaner includes a body having a first housing formed at a front and a second housing formed at a rear of the first housing; a brush unit installed at the first housing and configured to sweep and collect dust from a floor; a dust collecting unit installed at the second housing and configured to store the dust inlet into the brush unit; a driving unit to drive the body and coupled to the second housing to be positioned at a lateral side of the dust collecting unit; and a power unit installed at the second housing and coupled to be positioned at a rear of the dust collecting unit. The miniaturization of the autonomous cleaner may be provided while at the same time the capacity of a dust collecting container and the capacity of a battery are increased.