Docking Station Air Separation for Robotic Vacuum Self-Emptying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic surface cleaning apparatuses face challenges in efficiently emptying dirt from their collection chambers without requiring manual dismantling, and existing cyclonic cleaning systems may obstruct dirt outlets, hindering effective dirt collection.
Innovation Solution
A cyclonic array with staggered and angled cyclones that direct dirt outlets away from each other, allowing dirt to travel unimpeded to a common collection chamber, and a docking station with air treatment members that use momentum separators and cyclonic units to treat and separate air streams for efficient dirt removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple cyclones are arranged in parallel in a compact array, then the device footprint is reduced and cleaning capacity is increased, but the cyclones may obstruct each other's dirt outlets hindering effective dirt collection
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclones are arranged in multiple stacked arrays positioned at different vertical heights rather than simply spreading them horizontally. This vertical dimensionality allows dirt outlets at different heights to discharge into a common collection chamber without mutual obstruction, maintaining compact footprint while eliminating interference between adjacent cyclones
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclone array is divided into multiple stacked segments or layers, each containing cyclones that discharge into dedicated portions of the collection chamber. This segmentation prevents dirt outlet obstruction by ensuring each segment's cyclones have unobstructed discharge paths to their respective collection zones
2Area of stationary object
If cyclones are arranged in a compact parallel array, then space is saved, but manual dismantling is still required to empty the dirt collection chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-emptying through the docking station, which uses airflow to automatically eject dirt from the collection chamber without requiring manual intervention. The cyclone array design facilitates this by providing clear airflow paths and unobstructed dirt discharge points that work efficiently with the automated emptying mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The dirt collection and emptying function is extracted from the robotic surface cleaning apparatus itself and transferred to a separate docking station. This allows the robot to maintain a compact design while the docking station provides automated dirt removal capabilities through dedicated airflow channels and emptying mechanisms
3Productivity
If dirt outlets are positioned to avoid obstruction, then dirt collection efficiency is improved, but the cyclone arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cyclone arrays at different heights are merged into a single integrated system that discharges into a common dirt collection chamber. This merging approach maintains high dirt collection efficiency for each cyclone while organizing the overall arrangement in a systematic, manageable structure rather than creating isolated complex configurations
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
Enables efficient and automated emptying of dirt from robotic surface cleaning apparatuses without manual intervention, ensuring effective dirt collection and maintaining system cleanliness.
Implementation Method 1
surface cleaning apparatus that use a cyclonic cleaning stage that comprises a plurality of cyclones in parallel
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of cyclones arranged in parallel, the plurality of cyclones comprising a first upper cyclone and a first lower cyclone, each cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation
Implementation Method 3
a docking station with air treatment members that use momentum separators and cyclonic units to treat and separate air streams
Data Source
AI summary
A docking station for a vacuum cleaner has a first stage momentum separator which has a plurality of walls comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a first sidewall, wherein the first sidewall comprises a first side screen which comprises an air outlet of the momentum separator. A first air flow chamber is located between a first end wall, which is spaced from and faces the first side screen, and the first side screen. A second stage separator, which comprising at least one cyclone, is provided downstream from the first air flow chamber. In operation, air exits the momentum separator through the first side screen and travels through the first air flow chamber to the at least one cyclone.