Dust box, self-moving cleaning device, and cleaning robot system

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing self-moving cleaning devices face inefficiencies in dust collection due to debris accumulation and airflow obstruction within the dust box, leading to incomplete cleaning and potential damage to components.

Innovation Solution

A dust box design with an arc-shaped flow guide member and oblique sidewalls to facilitate smooth airflow and debris collection, combined with a base station featuring a dust bag compartment with a jamming-and-pinch-prevention structure and noise-reducing features for efficient dust collection and user comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a traditional dust box design is used, then the structure is simple, but debris accumulation and airflow obstruction occur leading to incomplete cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoiddust collection completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs curved sidewalls and an arc-shaped flow guide member instead of straight lines and sharp corners. The sidewalls transition from straight to curved toward the bottom, and the flow guide member features a concave arc-shaped windward surface. These curved geometries guide airflow smoothly along the debris storage chamber, preventing dead zones where debris could accumulate, thereby ensuring complete dust collection while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Productivity

If the dust box lacks airflow guidance structures, then the device complexity is low, but airflow obstruction occurs reducing cleaning effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow efficiencyVSAvoiddust box structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow guide member is designed with an arc-shaped geometry and a concave arc-shaped windward surface that naturally directs airflow. This curved structure creates a smooth flow path from the air inlet through the debris storage chamber to the dust exhaust port without requiring complex mechanical components, multi-layer structures, or adjustable mechanisms, thus improving airflow efficiency while keeping the device simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of manufacture

If the dust exhaust port is positioned on a straight sidewall, then manufacturing is easier, but debris accumulation occurs at corners reducing collection thoroughness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust box fabricationVSAvoiddebris collection thoroughness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The dust exhaust port is positioned on a curved sidewall rather than a straight one. The curved geometry eliminates sharp corners where debris could accumulate, ensuring that the airflow continuously reaches all areas of the debris storage chamber including regions near the exhaust port. This design maintains manufacturing feasibility while significantly improving debris collection thoroughness by preventing dead zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Ease of operation

If the base station lacks noise-reducing features, then the device complexity is low, but user comfort is reduced due to high operating noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser comfortVSAvoidbase station structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a noise-reducing cavity as an intermediary structure between the dust collection components and the external environment. This cavity acts as a buffer zone that absorbs and dampens noise generated during dust collection operations. The noise-reducing feature is integrated into the base station structure without requiring separate active noise control systems or complex acoustic treatments, thus improving user comfort while adding minimal complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enhances debris collection thoroughness and reduces airflow obstruction, prolongs component lifespan, and improves user comfort by minimizing noise and ensuring reliable dust collection operations.

Implementation Method 1

a flow guide member which is arranged in the debris storage chamber and used for guiding an airflow flowing into the air inlet to the dust exhaust port

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAirflow guidance:

Implementation Method 2

a sidewall of the debris storage chamber where the dust exhaust port is located being obliquely arranged with respect to other sidewalls of the debris storage chamber in a circumferential direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow optimization:

Data Source

PatentEP4684720A1Dust box, self-moving cleaning device, and cleaning robot system
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 BEIJING ROCKROBO TECH CO LTD
  • EP4684720A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4684720A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4684720A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Provided are a dust box (160), a self-moving cleaning device (100), and a cleaning robot system. The dust box (160) is provided with a garbage storage cavity (162), and an air inlet (163) and a dust discharge port (164) that are communicated with the garbage storage cavity (162), the side wall of the garbage storage cavity (162) where the dust discharge port (164) is located and other side walls of the garbage storage cavity (162) in the circumferential direction being obliquely arranged; and a flow guide member (165) provided in the garbage storage cavity (162) and used for guiding an airflow flowing into the air inlet (163) to the dust discharge port (164). Therefore, the problem of garbage in the dust box (160) gathering in the corner of the garbage storage cavity (162) without being collected can be avoided, thereby improving the thoroughness of collecting the garbage in the dust box (160) to a base station (200).