Cleaning Blade Assembly for Floor Contact on Uneven Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous cleaning devices face inefficiencies in dust suction and noise generation due to the blade's inconsistent contact with the floor, which is exacerbated by uneven surfaces and crevices.

Innovation Solution

The autonomous cleaning device features a blade assembly with a support member and fixing member that maintain the blade's contact with the floor, preventing bending and misalignment, and include contact portions designed to maintain horizontal contact even on rugged surfaces, ensuring consistent dust collection and reducing noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the blade is fixed rigidly to maintain contact with the floor, then cleaning performance is improved, but the blade bends excessively on uneven surfaces causing noise and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidnoise and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is designed with a flexible second part that can dynamically adjust its position and angle in response to floor unevenness, transitioning from a rigid fixed structure to a dynamic adaptable structure that maintains contact while absorbing shocks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The second part of the blade is constructed as a flexible element that can bend and deform to conform to the floor surface, allowing the blade to maintain effective contact with uneven surfaces without transmitting excessive forces that cause noise and damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Stability of the object's composition

If the blade is made flexible to adapt to uneven surfaces, then travel stability is improved, but dust suction performance deteriorates due to inconsistent contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetravel stabilityVSAvoiddust suction performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is segmented into a first part for structural support and a second part for flexible contact, allowing each segment to perform its specific function - the first part maintains overall blade position while the second part adapts to surface variations to ensure consistent dust contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the blade have different properties - the first part is rigid for stability while the second part is flexible for adaptation, creating local quality variations that optimize both travel stability and dust suction performance simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the blade structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then production cost is reduced, but the blade cannot maintain contact on rugged surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidcontact consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blade incorporates a simple dynamic element - a flexible second part that requires no complex mechanisms or adjustments, achieving adaptability to rugged surfaces through material flexibility rather than complex mechanical structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8732897B2Autonomous cleaning device

Publication Date: 2014.05.27 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A blade assembly of an autonomous cleaning device. The blade assembly includes a blade having a first part fixed to the main body and a second part extended from the first part toward a floor and a support member having at least a portion disposed adjacent to the second part of the blade to restrict movement of the second part of the blade to within a predetermined range.