Cleaning Roller Flap Structure for Pet Hair Spool Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning robots and vacuum cleaners face issues with pet hair and filaments becoming tightly wrapped around rollers, leading to decreased cleaning performance and difficulty in removal.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a cleaning assembly with a driven flapper brush featuring an elongated core with compliant flaps and axial end guards to prevent filaments from spooling tightly, along with a roller cleaning tool that includes protrusions and a guide ring to remove accumulated debris, and a sensor system to detect spooled material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a brush or beater roller is used to agitate and sweep debris, then cleaning performance is improved, but filaments become tightly wrapped around the roller making removal difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The roller is segmented into multiple functional zones along its length: a spooling section with compliant flaps that allows filaments to wrap loosely, and a cleaning section with rigid bristles that performs the actual cleaning. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function without the negative effects transferring between them.
Solution Approach 2:
Compliant flaps are introduced as an intermediary element between the roller core and the filaments. These flaps capture and spool filaments in a controlled manner, preventing them from wrapping tightly around the rigid cleaning bristles, thus facilitating easier removal.
2Productivity
If pet hair accumulates rapidly on the roller, then cleaning effectiveness increases, but the roller jams and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The roller design includes a dedicated spooling section at the leading end that preemptively captures and organizes filaments before they reach the cleaning bristles. This preliminary action prevents jamming by ensuring filaments are properly spooled rather than randomly accumulating on the roller.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller incorporates compliant flaps that are flexible and capable of dynamic movement. These flaps can bend and adapt to the accumulation of filaments, maintaining their spooling function even as debris builds up, thereby preserving reliable operation throughout the cleaning cycle.
3Ease of repair
If filaments are allowed to spool around the core, then subsequent removal is facilitated, but cleaning bristles may be obscured or blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The roller is divided into distinct functional sections: a spooling section with compliant flaps where filaments are allowed to wrap, and a cleaning section with rigid bristles that remains clear of filament accumulation. This spatial segmentation ensures that filament spooling does not interfere with cleaning efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the roller have different properties: the spooling section has compliant, flexible flaps that facilitate filament capture and spooling, while the cleaning section has rigid, stiff bristles that maintain their cleaning effectiveness. Each local region is optimized for its specific function.
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 effectively prevents filaments from wrapping around the core, facilitates easy removal of accumulated debris, and enhances cleaning efficiency by ensuring continuous operation without jamming.
Implementation Method 1
The flapper brush includes a compliant flap extending radially outward from the core to sweep a floor surface as the roller is driven to rotate. The flap is configured to prevent errant filaments from spooling tightly about the core
Implementation Method 2
The flapper brush includes axial end guards mounted on the core adjacent the ends of the outer core surface and configured to prevent spooled filaments from traversing axially from the outer core surface onto the mounting features
Implementation Method 3
The sensor system includes an emitter disposed near a first end of the cleaning roller and a detector disposed near an opposite, second end of the cleaning roller and aligned with the emitter. The detector configured to receive a signal emitted by the emitter to detect spooled material accumulated by the cleaning roller
Data Source
AI summary
A coverage robot includes a chassis, a drive system, and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly includes a housing and at least one driven cleaning roller including an elongated core with end mounting features defining a central longitudinal axis of rotation, multiple floor cleaning bristles extending radially outward from the core, and at least one compliant flap extending radially outward from the core to sweep a floor surface. The flap is configured to prevent errant filaments from spooling tightly about the core to aid subsequent removal of the filaments. In another aspect, a coverage robot includes a chassis, a drive system, a controller, and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly includes a housing and at least one driven cleaning roller. The coverage robot includes a roller cleaning tool carried by the chassis and configured to longitudinally traverse the roller to remove accumulated debris from the cleaning roller.