Base Station Mop Cleaning Device for Autonomous Robot Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning robots are unable to automatically clean their mops, leading to ineffective floor cleaning due to unclean or clogged mops, which burdens users with frequent maintenance and results in delayed washing or changing, causing inefficient cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A base station with a mop member cleaning device that includes a protruding structure, cleaning notch, and fluid inlet structure to autonomously clean the mop member, allowing for the scraping off of dirty fluid and injection of cleaning fluid, thereby maintaining the mop's effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cleaning robot mops the floor using its own gravity to drag the mop, then the cleaning robot can perform floor cleaning autonomously, but the relative motion between the mop and floor is insufficient leading to ineffective cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous floor cleaningVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling the mop to rotate relative to the cleaning robot body. The rotating mechanism transforms the static dragging motion into dynamic rotational motion, increasing the relative motion between the mop and floor surface. This allows the mop to scrub the floor more effectively while the robot moves forward, resolving the contradiction between autonomous operation and cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the cleaning robot does not have automatic mop cleaning capability, then the device complexity is low, but the mop becomes unclean and clogged requiring frequent manual maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidmaintenance burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by providing an automatic mop cleaning station that cleans the mop without user intervention. When the robot returns to the base station, the cleaning device automatically sprays water and rotates the mop to rinse it. This eliminates the need for manual mop maintenance while keeping the robot's own structure simple, as the cleaning functionality is separated into the base station.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the cleaning system into two independent parts: the mobile cleaning robot and the stationary base station with cleaning functionality. This segmentation allows the robot to remain simple and mobile while the base station handles the complex automatic cleaning tasks, reducing the maintenance burden on users without complicating the robot's structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the mop is not cleaned timely, then the device complexity remains low, but the floor cleaning effectiveness deteriorates due to unclean or clogged mops

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidfloor cleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic mop cleaning system enables the mop to be maintained independently without user intervention. The base station's cleaning device automatically detects when the robot returns and initiates the cleaning process, ensuring the mop is kept clean and functional without adding complexity to the overall system or requiring user maintenance activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system enables automatic mop cleaning, reducing user burden and ensuring timely maintenance, resulting in improved cleaning efficiency and effectiveness by preventing ineffective floor cleaning due to unclean or clogged mops.

Implementation Method 1

the fluid inlet structure is configured to spray cleaning fluid onto the mop member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpray: Spray

Implementation Method 2

the protruding portion is in contact with the mop member during the process of the mop member cleaning device cleaning the mop member and the mop member moving relative to the mop member cleaning device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3542695B1Base station and cleaning robot system
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 YUNJING INTELLIGENCE (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP3542695B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3542695B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3542695B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to the field of cleaning robot technology, and in particular to a cleaning robot system. The cleaning robot system includes the base station and a cleaning robot. The base station is independent to the cleaning robot of the cleaning robot system. The base station includes a base station body and a mop member cleaning device arranged on the base station body. The mop member cleaning device is configured to clean a mop member of the cleaning robot. Based on the base station, the cleaning robot system is capable of automatically cleaning the mop member with no need for users to change or clean the mop member frequently, which is helpful to free consumers from house cleaning, thus relieving the burden on the consumers, and also helpful to clean the mop member in time so as to ensure a better effect in next cleaning.