Cleaning robot for cushioned surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning robots for upholstered surfaces are inefficient in removing mites due to energy-intensive methods like UV light and non-thermal plasma, which can be harmful and require extensive energy storage, leading to prolonged cleaning times and potential health risks.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning robot equipped with a mite attractant dispenser, a non-thermal plasma source, and a suction unit that uses a mite attractant to lure mites to a specific area, where they can be inactivated or removed using the plasma, minimizing energy consumption and health risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV light or non-thermal plasma is used to combat mites, then mite removal effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases and health risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by dispensing mite attractant onto the upholstered surface before the cleaning operation. This attracts mites to specific locations in advance, concentrating them in areas that will be treated by the cleaning device. By pre-positioning mites in target zones, the system achieves effective mite removal with less energy expenditure, as the cleaning device only needs to treat specific concentrated areas rather than scanning entire surfaces.
2Reliability
If UV light or non-thermal plasma is used to combat mites, then mite removal effectiveness is improved, but health risks increase due to ozone emission and skin irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful broad-spectrum plasma treatment into a targeted beneficial operation. By using mite attractant to concentrate mites in specific locations, the plasma cleaning device can be applied selectively only where mites are present. This transforms a harmful indiscriminate treatment into a beneficial targeted therapy, maintaining mite removal effectiveness while eliminating health risks associated with ozone emission and skin irritation from unnecessary plasma exposure.
3Reliability
If the entire surface of upholstered furniture is treated with UV light or plasma, then mite removal completeness is improved, but cleaning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the cleaning operation only in areas where mites are actually present. The mite attractant creates localized zones of high mite concentration on the upholstered surface. The cleaning device then applies plasma treatment selectively to these specific localized areas rather than treating the entire surface uniformly. This approach maintains complete mite removal effectiveness while dramatically reducing cleaning time by eliminating treatment of mite-free areas.
4Duration of action of moving object
If a large battery pack is used to power the cleaning robot for extended periods, then cleaning duration is improved, but robot size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces energy consumption through preliminary action by using mite attractant to pre-concentrate mites in target zones before cleaning. This allows the cleaning robot to operate efficiently with shorter duration tasks, enabling the use of smaller battery packs and reducing overall robot weight while still achieving complete mite removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables smaller battery capacity by applying cleaning treatment locally only where mites are concentrated rather than treating entire surfaces. This localized approach dramatically reduces total energy consumption, allowing the robot to be designed with lighter, smaller battery packs that provide sufficient power for the reduced cleaning duration required by the targeted approach.
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 robot effectively reduces energy expenditure, shortens cleaning time, and minimizes health risks by attracting and inactivating mites in a controlled manner, allowing for efficient and safe removal without ozone emission or skin irritation.
Implementation Method 1
a non-thermal plasma source, configured to provide a non-thermal plasma in the area of the dispensed attractant
Implementation Method 2
a suction unit that uses a mite attractant to lure mites to a specific area, where they can be inactivated or removed using the plasma
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning robot (100) for an upholstered surface (105) comprises a drive unit (115); a control unit (120) for guiding the cleaning robot (100) over the surface (105) to be cleaned; a cleaning unit (125) configured to combat mites in the area of the surface; and a dispensing device (130) for a mite attractant. The control unit (120) is configured to dispense the attractant onto the surface (105) and, after a predetermined waiting period, to activate the cleaning unit (125) in the area of the dispensed attractant.