Cleaning head including cleaning rollers for cleaning robots
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous cleaning robots face challenges in effectively picking up debris, particularly hair and filaments, which can wrap around rollers, reducing their efficiency and durability, and existing designs often require more material and generate noise due to inadequate torque transfer and vibration.
Innovation Solution
The cleaning head features multiple rollers with a non-solid core and a conical sheath, allowing for improved torque transfer and durability, with a solid core for enhanced floor engagement, and a resilient design that reduces material usage and noise, while the forward roller's conical shape and radial support structure facilitate debris pickup and airflow concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a solid core is used across the entire length of the roller, then torque transfer is improved, but material usage increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The roller core is divided into two segments: a solid core portion and a hollow core portion. The solid core portion is positioned at the forward end where torque transfer is most critical, while the hollow core portion is positioned at the rearward end where less torque transfer is needed. This segmentation allows the roller to achieve effective torque transfer while reducing overall material usage and manufacturing cost.
2Productivity
If the roller length is increased to pick up more debris, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but torque requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The roller incorporates a resilient sheath that can dynamically deform during operation. When the roller encounters debris or uneven floor surfaces, the sheath compresses and expands, allowing the roller to maintain effective contact with the floor surface throughout its length without requiring proportionally increased torque. This dynamic response enables longer rollers to function effectively with moderate torque input.
3Reliability
If more material is used in the roller construction, then durability is improved, but noise and vibrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The roller uses a resilient sheath that acts as a flexible shell surrounding the core structure. This sheath absorbs vibrations and dampens noise generated during roller operation, while still providing sufficient structural support for durability. The flexible nature of the sheath allows it to conform to floor surface variations without generating excessive impact noise, thus achieving durability without increased noise and vibrations.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the sheath is supported across the entire length, then structural stability is improved, but material usage and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The roller core is segmented into solid and hollow portions, with the sheath effectively supported by the solid core portion where structural stability is most critical. The hollow core portion provides sufficient support for the sheath in regions where full structural support is less critical, thereby reducing material usage while maintaining adequate structural stability throughout the roller assembly.
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 debris pickup efficiency, reduces noise and vibrations, and improves the durability and stability of the cleaning head, allowing for longer rollers without increased torque requirements and easier filament debris collection, thereby improving overall cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
the resilience of the sheath enables the sheath to deform radially inward in response to contact with debris and other objects and then resiliently return to an undeformed state when the debris or other objects are no longer contacting the sheath
Implementation Method 2
The first cleaning roller contacts the floor surface with greater friction than the second roller to improve the cleaning capability of the cleaning head
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A robot that includes a cleaning head including a first cleaning roller comprising a first sheath comprising a first shell and a first plurality of vanes extending along the first shell and extending radially outward from the first shell, the first shell tapering from end portions of the first sheath toward a center of the first cleaning roller, and the first plurality of vanes having a uniform height relative to a first axis of rotation of the first cleaning roller; and a second cleaning roller comprising a second sheath comprising a second shell and a second plurality of vanes extending along the second shell and extending radially outward from the second shell, the second shell being cylindrical along an entire length of the second cleaning roller, and the second plurality of vanes having a uniform height relative to a second axis of rotation of the second cleaning roller.