Cleaning pad for a cleaning device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning cloths for motor-driven mopping devices lack optimal cleaning efficiency due to uniform fiber properties, leading to inadequate dirt removal and frequent cloth replacement.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning cloth with a repeating arrangement of active areas having different mechanical properties, including super microfibers, microfibers, and fiber-free zones, designed to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses, ensuring comprehensive surface coverage and improved sliding properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If uniform fiber properties are used in cleaning cloth, then manufacturing is simple, but cleaning efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidcloth structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning cloth is divided into multiple zones with different fiber properties: super microfiber areas for fine dust removal, microfiber areas for general cleaning, and fiber-free areas for sliding. Each zone has locally optimized fiber characteristics to perform specific cleaning functions, thereby improving overall cleaning efficiency without requiring complete uniformity across the entire cloth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning cloth is segmented into distinct functional areas with different fiber types and densities. The cloth surface is divided into multiple zones, each containing specific fiber configurations (super microfibers, microfibers, or fiber-free regions), allowing different parts of the cloth to perform specialized cleaning tasks simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If single fiber type is used, then cloth structure is simple, but dirt removal capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirt removal capabilityVSAvoidfiber composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning cloth uses a composite structure combining multiple fiber types (super microfibers with 0.3 dtex or smaller fineness, microfibers with 0.3-1.0 dtex fineness) and fiber-free areas in specific spatial arrangements. This composite fiber composition enables the cloth to handle different types of dirt simultaneously - super microfibers for fine dust, microfibers for larger particles, and fiber-free areas for sliding and moisture distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If frequent cloth replacement is needed, then cleaning effectiveness is maintained, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidtime for cloth replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning cloth is designed as a multi-functional tool that can handle various cleaning scenarios simultaneously. The combination of super microfiber areas, microfiber areas, and fiber-free areas enables a single cloth to perform fine dust removal, general dirt removal, and sliding functions, replacing the need for multiple specialized cloths and reducing replacement frequency.

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

4Productivity

If uniform mechanical properties are used, then manufacturing is easier, but cleaning performance on diverse surfaces is inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performance on diverse surfacesVSAvoidmechanical property variation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different zones of the cleaning cloth have locally optimized mechanical properties: super microfiber areas with high fineness for smooth surfaces, microfiber areas with coarser fineness for textured surfaces, and fiber-free areas for sliding. This local optimization of mechanical properties enables the single cloth to adapt to diverse floor surfaces and cleaning scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3424396B1Cleaning pad for a cleaning device
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP3424396B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3424396B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3424396B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d

AI summary

The invention relates to a cleaning cloth (1) for a cleaning device (2), in particular for a motor-driven wiping device, preferably for attachment to an oscillatingly driven vibrating plate (3) of the cleaning device (2), wherein the cleaning cloth (1) has an effective side (4) for mechanical action on a surface to be cleaned, wherein the effective side (4) of the cleaning cloth (1) has several effective areas (6, 7, 8, 9) lying next to each other in an effective plane (5) and having a plurality of fibers, and wherein at least two effective areas (6, 7, 8, 9) have different mechanical properties.In order to advantageously further develop such a cleaning cloth (1), it is proposed that the working areas (6, 7, 8, 9) are selected from the group: working area (6, 7) with supermicrofibers with a fineness of 0.3 dtex or less, working area (7, 8) with microfibers with a fineness greater than 0.3 dtex and less than 1.0 dtex, working area (9) without fibers.