Cleaner Station Cover Opening Unit for Automatic Dust Bin Discharge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaners, such as handy, stick, and robot cleaners, face issues with frequent dust bin emptying, dust scattering during emptying, residual dust affecting suction force and odor, and limited space utilization due to small dust bins.
Innovation Solution
A cleaner station with a cover opening unit that automatically detects and opens the dust bin discharge cover upon coupling, incorporates a dust collecting motor to suck dust into the station, and minimizes space occupation while preventing dust scattering and odor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the dust bin capacity is increased, then the frequency of emptying is reduced, but the space occupation is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The dust collection system is segmented into two parts: a small dust bin in the cleaner for frequent use, and a large dust collecting chamber in the stationary station for bulk storage. The cleaner automatically transfers dust to the station, effectively increasing capacity without increasing the portable cleaner's size.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary cleaner station acts as an intermediary bulk storage system. The dust bin in the handheld cleaner transfers dust to the station's larger collecting chamber through automatic suction, mediating between frequent small-capacity needs and large-capacity storage requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the dust bin is opened manually for emptying, then the dust can be removed, but dust scatters and harms user health
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical opening and pouring of dust is replaced by an automated pneumatic system. The cover opening unit automatically opens the dust bin, and the dust collecting motor creates negative pressure to suction dust directly into the station, eliminating the need for manual handling and preventing scattering.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service dust emptying without user intervention. The cover opening unit detects when the cleaner is docked and automatically opens the dust bin cover, then the dust collecting motor automatically sucks dust into the station, freeing the user from the harmful manual emptying process.
3Device complexity
If residual dust remains in the dust bin, then the cleaner structure is simple, but suction force deteriorates and odor develops
Solution Approach 1:
The dust collection system operates continuously without residual dust remaining. After each cleaning cycle, the dust collecting motor continues to maintain negative pressure in the dust bin, and any residual dust is automatically drawn into the station during the docking process, ensuring complete evacuation and preventing odor or performance degradation.
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 cleaner station eliminates the need for frequent dust bin emptying, prevents dust scattering, maintains suction force, and reduces odor by automatically handling dust disposal, allowing simultaneous use of stick and robot cleaners with minimal space impact.
Implementation Method 1
a dust collecting motor accommodated in the housing and configured to generate a suction force for sucking dust in a dust bin of a cleaner
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a cleaner station including: a housing; a dust collecting motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking dust in a dust bin of a cleaner; a dust collecting part disposed at an upper side in a gravitational direction of the dust collecting motor; a coupling part including a coupling surface to which the cleaner is coupled; and a cover opening unit disposed on the coupling part and configured to open a discharge cover of the dust bin, such that the cover opening unit may automatically open the discharge cover of the dust bin without a user's effort.