Dual Vacuum Cleaner Dock With Shared Dust Suction Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cleaner stations for hand and robotic vacuum cleaners require separate holders for charging and dust management, leading to inefficiencies in space usage and convenience, as well as exposure to scattered dust during emptying.
Innovation Solution
A combined cleaner station that integrates both hand and robotic vacuum cleaners, featuring dual suction ports and a shared dust storage system, with selectively openable flow paths to prevent dust scattering and improve efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate holders are used for hand vacuum cleaner and robotic vacuum cleaner, then each device can be charged independently, but the space occupied by the holder increases and installation convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate holder functions into a single integrated holder that can accommodate both hand vacuum cleaner and robotic vacuum cleaner simultaneously. The holder includes a first holding portion for the hand vacuum cleaner and a second holding portion for the robotic vacuum cleaner, merging what were previously separate charging stations into one unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated holder is designed to serve multiple functions: it can charge both hand vacuum cleaner and robotic vacuum cleaner, provide dust collection for both devices, and offer a unified control interface. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated holders for each device type.
2Reliability
If separate holders are used for hand vacuum cleaner and robotic vacuum cleaner, then each device has dedicated dust management, but the device complexity increases and space efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate dust collection systems into a shared dust collection chamber. The holder includes a first dust collection chamber for receiving dust from the hand vacuum cleaner and a second dust collection chamber for receiving dust from the robotic vacuum cleaner, both managed within a single integrated structure rather than requiring separate complete holder systems.
3Ease of operation
If dust is removed by separating the dust bin from the vacuum cleaner, then dust can be emptied, but the user is exposed to scattered dust
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dust collection chamber as an intermediary between the vacuum cleaner dust bins and the external environment. Dust is transferred into this enclosed chamber through sealed connections, and the chamber can be emptied as a unified sealed unit, preventing dust from scattering during the emptying process.
Solution Approach 2:
The dust collection chamber is designed as a separable component that can be removed from the holder as a complete sealed unit. Users can detach the entire dust collection chamber and empty it in a controlled manner away from living spaces, rather than opening dust bins in situ where dust would scatter.
4Productivity
If multiple flow paths are provided for dust suction, then both vacuum cleaners can be serviced simultaneously, but the flow path control becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamically controllable flow paths using opening/closing portions that can adjust which dust collection chambers are connected to the suction source. The control unit selectively opens or closes specific flow paths based on which dust bins need servicing, allowing flexible adaptation between different operational modes without requiring complex permanent multi-path infrastructure.
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 allows for simultaneous charging and dust management of both vacuum cleaners, maximizing space efficiency, reducing dust exposure, and enhancing cleaning convenience by automatically sucking and storing dust.
Implementation Method 1
a suction motor that sucks dust through at least one of the first suction portion and the second suction portion
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a cleaner station including a first station with which a hand vacuum cleaner can be combined and a second station with which a robotic vacuum cleaner can be combined. The first station may include a first suction portion which sucks dust from a dust bin of the hand vacuum cleaner. The second station may include a second suction portion which sucks dust from a dust bin of the robotic vacuum cleaner. The cleaner station may include a dust inlet where the dust sucked by the first suction portion and the second suction portion is discharged. The cleaner station may include a dust storage box which communicates with the dust inlet and receives the dust sucked by the first suction portion and the second suction portion.