Cleaning apparatus comprising cleaner and docking station
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning apparatuses lack ease of use and stability in closing the dust container cover, requiring manual effort and not ensuring secure closure.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning apparatus with a dust container and rotatably coupled cover, featuring a docking station with a collecting portion, duct portion, and independent cover opening and closing devices. The cover closing device includes a rotary lever, driven by a motor, and an elastic member to support the cover in the closed position, allowing automatic opening and stable closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual closing of the dust container cover is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover closing device enables the dust container cover to close itself automatically without user intervention. The rotary lever mechanism, when activated, self-propels the cover into the closed position through the elastic member's stored energy, eliminating the need for manual closing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member is pre-loaded with potential energy during the opening operation and maintains readiness to close the cover. The rotary lever is positioned to allow the elastic member to automatically propel the cover closed when triggered, performing the closing action in advance of user need.
2Reliability
If simple cover closure mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary lever utilizes rotational motion around a pivot point to achieve smooth, controlled closing action. This curved path ensures consistent force application and reliable engagement of the cover with the dust container, preventing partial or unstable closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover closing function is segmented into distinct components: the rotary lever for motion control, the elastic member for force generation, and the linkages for force transmission. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, ensuring reliable overall performance.
3Device complexity
If the rotary lever forms part of the channel, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary lever is merged with the channel structure, forming an integrated component that serves dual functions: guiding the closing motion and forming part of the contaminant discharge path. This merging reduces the total number of separate parts and simplifies the overall device architecture.
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 apparatus automatically opens and closes the dust container cover, enhancing user convenience and ensuring stable closure, improving ease of use and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaner further including an elastic member configured to elastically support the dust container cover in the closing direction
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning apparatus includes a cleaner including a dust container in which contaminants are collected and a dust container cover rotatably coupled to the dust container to open or close the dust container, and a docking station on which the cleaner is detachably mounted, the docking station including a collecting portion to collect the contaminants in the dust container in response to the mounting and a duct portion forming a channel to guide the contaminants in the dust container to the collecting portion in response to the mounting; a cover opening device configured to open the dust container cover, and a cover closing device configured to close the dust container cover, the cover closing device including a rotary lever configured to be movable between a first position forming a portion of the channel of the duct portion and a second position supporting the dust container cover in a closing direction.