Chromogenic Dust Container for Hygienic Fill-Level Checking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bagless vacuum cleaners face the issue of unhygienic appearance due to dust deposition on the inner surfaces of the dust container, which cannot be made opaque as it hinders visual fill-level checking.
Innovation Solution
The dust container is made from or coated with chromogenic material, particularly electrochromic material, allowing its transparency to be controlled, enabling visual fill-level inspection while maintaining hygiene by avoiding dust interference when opaque.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the dust container is made transparent to enable visual fill-level checking, then the operator can check the fill level visually, but the inner surfaces become visible and acquire an unhygienic appearance due to deposited dust
Solution Approach 1:
The dust container's transparency is made dynamic rather than static. The container can switch between transparent and opaque states based on operational requirements, allowing the operator to view the fill level when needed while maintaining a clean appearance at other times.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical parameter (transparency) of the dust container is changed to resolve the contradiction. By altering the transparency parameter between transparent and opaque states, the system enables fill-level checking when required while preventing the unhygienic appearance during normal operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the dust container is made opaque to avoid unhygienic appearance, then the aesthetic impression is improved, but the operator can no longer check the fill level visually
Solution Approach 1:
The dust container transitions from a static opaque state to a dynamic state where transparency can be activated on demand. This allows the container to maintain its aesthetically pleasing opaque appearance during normal operation while enabling visual fill-level checking when the operator needs to assess the dust capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparency parameter of the dust container is dynamically adjusted. The container remains opaque to maintain aesthetic appearance but can switch to a transparent state when the operator needs to check the fill level, thus resolving the contradiction between appearance and functionality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the dust container is made partly reflective and partly transparent with internal illumination, then the dust visibility is reduced under normal conditions, but the fill level can be checked when illuminated, the device complexity increases due to additional lighting components
Solution Approach 1:
The dust container uses a dynamic transparency mechanism that simplifies the overall system. Instead of requiring complex reflective surfaces and internal illumination systems, the container simply switches between transparent and opaque states, reducing device complexity while achieving the same functional benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The container changes its transparency parameter to control dust visibility without requiring additional lighting components or reflective surfaces. This parameter change approach eliminates the need for complex illumination systems while still enabling fill-level checking when needed.
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
Enables users to visually check the dust container's fill level without the unhygienic appearance, ensuring a cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing device.
Implementation Method 1
the dust container is made entirely or partially of a chromogenic material manufactured or coated with such a material and can therefore be influenced in terms of its transparency. The expression 'its transparency can be influenced' used here and below means that the material itself changes its optical properties in a controlled manner between transparent (transparent or essentially transparent) and non-transparent/opaque or essentially opaque). In the case of a special form of a chromogenic material in the form of an electrochromic material, its transparency, ie its translucency, changes when an electrical voltage is applied.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a bagless vacuum cleaner (10) whose dust container (12) can be influenced in its transparency according to the invention by the use of chromogenic material.