Docking station for floor cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous floor cleaners adapted for wet cleaning require frequent human intervention to clean and maintain the mopping elements, which is time-consuming and unpleasant, and existing docking stations with separate collection tanks for wet and dry debris have a larger footprint and increased user effort.
Innovation Solution
A docking station with a scrubber to clean the mopping pad, a reservoir for liquid and debris, and a dual conduit system connected to a single suction source that generates both debris-laden and liquid-laden air streams, allowing for simultaneous collection and separation of dry and wet debris into a single collection tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate collection tanks are used for wet and dry debris, then debris can be collected and separated, but the docking station has a larger footprint and requires more user effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate collection tanks for wet and dry debris into a single collection tank. The system uses a single suction source that generates a debris-laden working air stream through a combined conduit system, allowing both wet and dry debris to be collected and separated within one tank, thereby reducing the docking station footprint while maintaining effective debris collection
Solution Approach 2:
The single suction source serves multiple functions by generating both debris-laden working air stream for dry debris collection and liquid-laden working air stream for wet debris collection through a unified conduit system. The single collection tank also serves as both wet and dry debris repository, making the system more versatile and space-efficient
2Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for wet and dry debris recovery, then debris can be effectively managed, but the system becomes more complex and requires more user effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (separate suction sources, separate conduits, separate collection tanks) into a unified system with a single suction source, combined conduit system, and single collection tank. This reduces component count and system complexity while maintaining effective debris recovery through intelligent fluid dynamics design
3Extent of automation
If autonomous floor cleaners are used, then cleaning automation is improved, but frequent human intervention is still needed for mopping element maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station provides self-service functionality by automatically cleaning mopping pads using integrated scrubbers that rotate against the pads during docking. The system also automatically removes liquid and debris from the pads through the single suction source, eliminating the need for manual mopping element maintenance and allowing the cleaner to service itself
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
Reduces the need for frequent human intervention by automating the cleaning process, minimizes user effort, and decreases the docking station's size and complexity while effectively separating and collecting both dry and wet debris.
Implementation Method 1
the suction source is configured to put the dry debris conduit and the wet debris conduit under negative pressure, and to generate a debris-laden working air stream through the dry debris conduit and a liquid-laden working air stream through the wet debris conduit
Implementation Method 2
a cyclone separator configured to separate debris from the working air stream and deposit the debris in the collection tank
Data Source
AI summary
A docking station for removing wet and dry debris from a floor cleaner. The docking station includes a dry debris conduit for evacuating a debris from the floor cleaner and a wet debris conduit for evacuating liquid and wet debris from the floor cleaner. The liquid and wet debris may be collected from a pad cleaning cycle performed at the docking station. Methods for servicing or performing maintenance on a floor cleaner by a docking station are disclosed.