Surface Cleaning Robot Pad Motion for Dried Soil Scrubbing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional floor cleaning methods, such as using wet mops, can be inefficient and require manual effort, while existing autonomous robots may not effectively scrub and remove dried soils from surfaces like tiled floors and countertops.
Innovation Solution
A mobile floor cleaning robot with a drive system and a cleaning assembly that includes a pad holder and an orbital oscillator, allowing the robot to move in a birdsfoot motion and apply cleaning fluid efficiently, scrubbing the floor surface while distributing the weight between the pad holder and drive wheels for effective cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If traditional wet mops are used for floor cleaning, then manual cleaning can be performed, but it requires significant manual effort and time
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs cleaning tasks autonomously without human intervention, navigating floors independently and executing cleaning operations on its own, thereby automating the cleaning process while maintaining simplicity through self-contained functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple cleaning functions (scrubbing, fluid application, and surface treatment) into a single integrated robot system, eliminating the need for separate manual cleaning tools while achieving comprehensive automation
2Productivity
If existing autonomous robots are used for floor cleaning, then automation is achieved, but they cannot effectively scrub and remove dried soils from surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The robot employs an orbital oscillator that generates vibratory motion in the cleaning pad at frequencies between 100-500 Hz, creating mechanical agitation that effectively removes dried soils and stubborn stains from floor surfaces while maintaining simple autonomous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts cleaning parameters including orbital frequency, robot speed, and fluid application rate to optimize performance for different soil types and surface conditions, enhancing cleaning effectiveness without complicating user operation
3Force
If the cleaning pad has large orbital range for vigorous scrubbing, then cleaning power increases, but the pad holder structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The orbital oscillator generates high-frequency vibratory motion with orbital ranges of 0.5-2 mm, producing intense scrubbing action through rapid oscillation rather than large-amplitude movement, thereby maintaining simple pad holder geometry while achieving effective cleaning force
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system uses periodic orbital oscillation at controlled frequencies to deliver repeated scrubbing cycles that accumulate cleaning effect over time, allowing smaller individual orbital strokes to achieve the same cleaning power as larger single strokes
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 removes dried soils and dirt from floors by oscillating the cleaning pad and applying fluid in a controlled pattern, freeing up human time and improving cleaning efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an orbital oscillator... The pad holder is configured to permit more than 80 percent of the orbital range of the orbital oscillator to be transmitted from the top of the held cleaning pad to the bottom surface of the held cleaning pad
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A mobile floor cleaning robot (100) includes a body (110) defining a forward drive direction (F), a drive system (120), a cleaning system (160), and a controller (150) in communication with the drive and cleaning systems. The cleaning system includes a pad holder (190) having a bottom surface (194b) for receiving a cleaning pad (400), and a fluid applicator (162) configured to apply fluid (172) to the floor surface (10). The controller controls the drive system and the fluid applicator while executing a cleaning routing. The cleaning routine includes applying fluid to a floor surface area substantially equal to a footprint area (AF) of the robot and returning the robot to the floor surface area in a movement pattern that moves a center (Pc) and lateral edges (PR and PL) of the cleaning pad separately through the floor surface area to moisten the cleaning pad with the applied fluid.