Cleaning machine station for a cleaning machine, cleaning machine and combination of cleaning machine station and cleaning machine

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning machine stations lack ease of operation and require multiple manual interventions for maintenance and preparation, leading to increased operator effort and reduced convenience.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning machine station with a receiving chamber and discharge device for dirty fluid, featuring a suction pump and gravity-assisted emptying, along with integrated supply and charging systems that automatically fill and charge components when the machine is properly positioned, minimizing operator interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual emptying and filling operations are used, then device complexity is reduced, but operator effort and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning machine station automatically performs filling and emptying operations without operator intervention. The discharge device with suction pump automatically extracts dirty fluid from the dirty fluid tank device, and the supply device automatically refills cleaning liquid, enabling the system to service itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The station prepares the cleaning machine for operation in advance by automatically filling the cleaning liquid tank and emptying the dirty fluid tank before the operator needs to use the machine again, reducing wait time and manual effort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If automatic discharge device with suction pump is added, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning machine station acts as an intermediary system that houses the suction pump and discharge device, transferring the weight burden from the portable cleaning machine to the stationary station. The connection between the machine and station enables automatic emptying without adding weight to the handheld device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Weight of moving object

If permanent tank device arrangement is used, then cleaning machine weight is reduced, but ease of operation for tank maintenance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveweightVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic supply and discharge devices continuously maintain the tank devices without operator intervention. Cleaning liquid is automatically supplied when levels are low, and dirty fluid is automatically discharged, eliminating the need for manual tank handling while keeping the permanent arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution enhances operational convenience by automating the filling of cleaning liquid, emptying of dirty fluid, and charging of the battery, reducing the number of operator actions required and ensuring the cleaning machine is always ready for use, while also simplifying the design and reducing weight.

Implementation Method 1

the discharge device for dirty fluid has a suction pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

the at least one connection of the discharge device for fluidically effective connection to the dirty fluid tank device of the cleaning machine is at a lower gravitational potential than an associated emptying connection of the dirty fluid tank device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3453302B1Cleaning machine station for a cleaning machine, cleaning machine and combination of cleaning machine station and cleaning machine
Publication Date: 2022.05.11 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP3453302B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3453302B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3453302B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Cleaning machine station for a cleaning machine (10), comprising a cleaning head (12) with at least one rotating cleaning roller unit (14), a tank assembly (30) for cleaning fluid, and a dirty fluid tank assembly (20), wherein the cleaning machine station comprises a receiving chamber (52) for the cleaning head (12) and a discharge device (68) for dirty fluid with a connection (108) through which dirty fluid can be discharged from the dirty fluid tank assembly (20), wherein the discharge device (68) for dirty fluid comprises a suction pump (110) and/or the at least one connection (108) of the discharge device (68) for fluid-effective connection with the dirty fluid tank assembly (20) of the cleaning machine (10) is at a lower gravitational potential than an associated drain connection (42) of the dirty fluid tank assembly (20).when the cleaning machine (10) is held at the cleaning machine station with the cleaning machine station properly positioned.