Base station for a floor processing device, drive wheel for a floor processing device as well as system comprised of a base station and a floor processing device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor processing devices require complex software to precisely dock with a base station, which complicates the process of connecting electrical contacts and suction channels.
Innovation Solution
A base station with a guide extension arm that mechanically guides the floor processing device for docking, featuring a wedge-shaped or trapezoidal outer contour and a drive wheel with a run-on element of smaller diameter to interact with the guide extension arm, allowing for purely mechanical alignment and docking without the need for directional control mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex software control systems are used to precisely dock the floor processing device to the base station, then docking precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the software-based directional control system with a mechanical guidance system. The guide extension arm with wedge-shaped contour provides passive mechanical guidance that automatically aligns the drive wheel with the docking interface during the docking process, eliminating the need for complex software control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide extension arm serves as a mechanical intermediary between the base station and the drive wheel. It mediates the docking process by providing a physical interface that guides the drive wheel into the correct position, replacing the need for direct software-controlled positioning.
2Extent of automation
If optical markers and sensors are used to control docking, then docking automation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical guidance system enables the docking process to occur automatically through passive mechanical interaction. The wedge-shaped guide extension arm and corresponding run-on element work together to self-align and guide the drive wheel to the docking interface without requiring active sensing or control systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If a rectangular guide extension arm is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but docking guidance precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide extension arm employs an asymmetric wedge-shaped or trapezoidal cross-section instead of a symmetric rectangular shape. This asymmetric geometry is specifically designed to guide the drive wheel into the correct alignment position, providing mechanical guidance precision while remaining manufacturable.
Data Source
AI summary
A base station performs a service treatment on a floor processing device, wherein the base station has a basic housing with an interface for docking the floor processing device. In order to support docking in a purely mechanical way, the base station has a guide extension arm allocated to the interface and facing away from the basic housing with a predominant longitudinal extension for exclusively mechanically guiding a docking movement of the floor processing device to the interface, wherein an outer contour of the guide extension arm as observed in a vertical top view tapers proceeding from the basic housing up to a free end area of the guide extension arm facing away from the basic housing.