Curved Wiper Element for Surface-Cleaning Roller Dirt Fluid Guidance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surface cleaning machines face inefficiencies in the removal and guidance of dirt fluid from cleaning rollers, leading to equipment contamination and foam escape at the ends of the rollers.

Innovation Solution

The use of a curved scraper element with a contact line shorter than the cleaning roller unit's length, guiding dirt fluid to a central area and preventing foam escape, combined with a discharge device that directs fluid to a central region without the need for suction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a straight scraper element is used to remove dirt fluid from the cleaning roller unit, then the dirt fluid can be removed across the entire width of the roller, but the wiped-off dirt fluid is not effectively guided and causes equipment contamination and foam escape

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirt fluid removal efficiencyVSAvoidequipment contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper element is designed with a curved contact line that matches the cylindrical shape of the cleaning roller unit. This curvature allows the scraper to follow the roller's surface contour, effectively guiding the wiped-off dirt fluid toward the discharge device and preventing it from spreading and contaminating the equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Area of stationary object

If the contact line of the scraper element matches the full length of the cleaning roller unit, then complete coverage is achieved, but the distance between ends of the contact line equals the roller length, reducing guidance effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact line coverage areaVSAvoiddirt fluid guidance effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper element's contact line is designed with non-uniform distribution - it covers the full width of the cleaning roller unit for complete dirt fluid removal, but the curved geometry concentrates the wiping action toward the central discharge area. This creates different functional zones: outer regions for collection and central region for directed discharge, optimizing both coverage and guidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a curved scraper element with shorter contact line distance is used, then dirt fluid guidance to central area is improved, but the contact line length is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefoam escape preventionVSAvoidcontact line area
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper element utilizes the curved surface geometry of the cleaning roller unit by designing a contact line that wraps around the cylinder. The arc length along the curved surface is longer than the straight-line distance between endpoints, allowing the scraper to maintain extended contact area while effectively guiding fluid toward the central discharge region through the curvature's natural convergence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This design simplifies dirt fluid discharge, reduces equipment contamination, and optimizes the transfer of cleaning fluid, minimizing foam escape and equipment weight, while allowing for interchangeable cleaning roller units for various cleaning operations.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one scraper element is curved and has a contact line with the at least one cleaning roller unit, which has a first length, and that a distance between the ends of the contact line is smaller than the first length

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGeometric curvature: Geometry

Data Source

PatentEP4452034B1Surface-cleaning machine with a curved wiper element
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP4452034B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4452034B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4452034B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a surface-cleaning machine, comprising a cleaning head (12), at least one cleaning roller unit (18) which is arranged on the cleaning head (12) and can be rotated about an axis of rotation (46), and at least one wiper element (70) for wiping dirty fluid off the at least one cleaning roller unit (18), wherein the at least one wiper element (70) is curved and has a contact line (262) with the at least one cleaning roller unit (18), which has a first length (L1), and wherein a distance (D) between the ends of the contact line (262) is smaller than the first length (L1), wherein the distance (D) lies parallel to the axis of rotation (46) in one direction.