Cleaner Station Dust Compression and Sensing Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaner stations face inefficiencies in dust storage, lack of accurate dust collection amount measurement, and inconvenience in checking dust levels without exposing the dust collection state, leading to potential missed emptying times and scattering during dust disposal.

Innovation Solution

A cleaner station with a compressing part that rotates to compress dust, using a power transmission unit and compression state sensing unit to calculate dust amount accurately and display it in multiple levels, allowing flexible emptying times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If a dust bag is used in the cleaner station, then dust storage capacity is increased and dust disposal cycle is extended, but dust storage efficiency is reduced due to air flow generation from centrifugal separation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust disposal cycleVSAvoiddust storage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The dust collecting part is divided into an upper separation chamber with centrifugal separation device and a lower dust storage chamber. This segmentation allows the air flow generated by centrifugal separation to be contained in the upper chamber while the compressed dust is stored in the lower chamber, resolving the contradiction between extended dust disposal cycle and maintained dust storage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Shape

If the cleaner station is covered with a transparent cover to prevent dust collection state exposure, then appearance is improved, but user convenience in checking dust levels is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveappearanceVSAvoiddust level checking convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A display unit is introduced as an intermediary device that translates the dust collection state into visual information. The display unit displays warning notifications in multiple levels based on the calculated dust collection amount, allowing users to check dust levels without opening the station, thus maintaining both appearance and user convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If dust collection amount is not accurately measured, then system complexity is reduced, but user awareness of dust levels and timely emptying is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement system complexityVSAvoiddust collection amount information
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

A compression state sensing unit is implemented to detect the rotational angle of the compressing part, providing feedback information about the dust collection amount. The control unit calculates the dust collection amount based on the rotational angle and displays warning notifications in multiple levels, enabling accurate measurement while maintaining relatively simple system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Quantity of substance

If a compressing part is added to compress dust, then dust storage efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust storage efficiencyVSAvoidcompressing mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compressing part is designed to perform multiple functions: it compresses dust during the dust collection process, serves as a rotor for the compression motor, and its rotational angle is used by the compression state sensing unit to calculate dust collection amount. This multi-functionality reduces the overall device complexity while maintaining improved dust storage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Improves dust storage efficiency, enables easy checking of dust levels without opening the station, and allows precise calculation of dust collection amount, reducing scattering and inconvenience.

Implementation Method 1

a compression state sensing unit disposed adjacent to the driving gear and sensing a rotational direction of the compressing part and a rotational angle with respect to the rotational direction by using a shape formed in the driving gear

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight interruption sensing: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

a compressing part rotatably disposed inside the dust collecting part and compressing collected dust

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical compression: Compression

Implementation Method 3

a dust collecting motor disposed inside the housing and generating a suction force to suck dust inside the dust bin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction force generation: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4573999A1Cleaner station and cleaner station dust collection method
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4573999A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4573999A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4573999A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner station and a dust collection method of the cleaner station. Disclosed is a cleaner station, including: a housing coupled to a dust bin of a cleaner; a dust collecting motor disposed inside the housing and generating a suction force to suck dust inside the dust bin; a dust collecting part provided with a dust accommodating space to collect dust sucked from an inside of the dust bin by the dust collecting motor; a compressing part rotatably disposed inside the dust collecting part and compressing collected dust; a compressing motor disposed outside the dust collecting part and generating power to rotate the compressing part; a power transmission unit disposed between the compressing part and the compressing motor and comprising a driving gear rotated by power of the compressing motor; and a compression state sensing unit disposed adjacent to the driving gear and sensing a rotational direction of the compressing part and a rotational angle with respect to the rotational direction by using a shape formed in the driving gear.