Docking station and cleaning robot system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cleaning robots tend to slide out of docking stations during reciprocating movements, making it difficult to effectively clean their mopping cloths.

Innovation Solution

A docking station design featuring a base with a cleaning member assembly comprising a fixed and movable bracket, where the movable bracket drives cleaning members to reciprocate and swing relative to a central axis, allowing them to scrape the cleaning robot without requiring the robot to reciprocate, thus stabilizing the cleaning process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cleaning robot reciprocates on the docking station to clean the mopping cloth, then the cleaning function is achieved, but the cleaning robot slides out of the docking station

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidrobot position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the cleaning robot reciprocate on the docking station, the patent inverts the approach by making the cleaning member assembly reciprocate on the stationary cleaning robot. This inversion resolves the sliding problem while maintaining the cleaning function, as the robot remains stationary throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cleaning member assembly as an intermediary between the docking station and the cleaning robot. This assembly includes cleaning members that can reciprocate and swing to effectively clean the mopping cloth without requiring the robot itself to move, thus preventing sliding while achieving cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the cleaning robot reciprocates to clean the mopping cloth, then cleaning action is provided, but the cleaning process becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning process stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional cleaning approach by making the cleaning members reciprocate on the stationary robot rather than the robot reciprocating on the docking station. This provides stable cleaning action while maintaining high cleaning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning member assembly incorporates dynamic movement capabilities including reciprocation along a straight line and swinging around a central axis. This dynamic design allows the cleaning members to adaptively contact and clean different parts of the mopping cloth, ensuring stable and effective cleaning throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12053133B2Docking station and cleaning robot system

Publication Date: 2024.08.06 SHENZHEN FLY RODENT DYNAMICS INTELLIGENT TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A docking station includes a base and a cleaning member assembly. The cleaning member assembly includes at least one cleaning member, a first bracket, a second bracket, and a power source. Each of the at least one cleaning member is mounted on the first bracket and the second bracket. One of the first bracket and the second bracket is a fixed bracket, and the other is a movable bracket. The movable bracket is driven to reciprocate along a straight line, in order to drive each the cleaning member to swing relative to the first bracket around a central axis.