Dual-Roller Fabric Sweeper With Self-Cleaning Debris Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fabric cleaning devices, particularly mechanical vacuum cleaners, are cumbersome and inefficient for small or hard-to-reach surfaces, and alternative devices like cleaning brushes often fail to effectively retain debris due to inefficient bristle contact and collection mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight fabric cleaning device with rotatable cleaning members that pick up debris and deposit it into a collection chamber, utilizing materials that attract and retain dust, dirt, and allergens, allowing for easy disposal of collected debris without the need for inversion or shaking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical vacuum cleaning device is used to effectively remove dirt and debris from fabric surfaces, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device becomes large and cumbersome making it unsuitable for small or hard-to-reach areas
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into two distinct cleaning members (first and second cleaning members) that can independently contact the fabric surface, allowing the lightweight device to effectively clean various surface areas including hard-to-reach spots without requiring a large bulky structure
Solution Approach 2:
The first cleaning member is rotatably mounted within the housing that contains the second cleaning member, creating a nested structure where one cleaning mechanism is positioned inside another, maximizing cleaning capability within a compact form factor
2Productivity
If a cleaning brush with movable brush and brush members is used to pick up dirt, then debris collection is achieved, but the brush fails to effectively retain debris due to inefficient bristle contact and requires inversion and shaking for disposal
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on bristle contact from the exterior as in conventional brushes, this device uses the first cleaning member that rotates within the housing to contact and transfer debris to the second cleaning member, which is positioned to receive debris directly within the housing, eliminating the need for inversion and shaking
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating first cleaning member automatically transfers debris to the second cleaning member through its rotational motion and contact with the fabric surface, creating a self-contained debris collection system that does not require external manual intervention for debris transfer or disposal preparation
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 device effectively picks up and retains debris on fabric surfaces, providing a more efficient and practical solution for cleaning small or hard-to-reach areas with easy disposal of collected materials, enhancing user convenience and reducing waste.
Implementation Method 1
The materials are also chosen to be somewhat flexible such that the material, in addition to being cleaned by the material positioned on the opposed rotatable member, can be further cleaned of the dirt, dust and other debris picked up by the material as a result of the contact of the material on each cleaning member with the housing
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is a device (10) for use in cleaning a fabric surface (16) of dust, dirt, pet hair and other debris (20) present on the surface (16). The device (10) includes a pair of cleaning members or rollers (60,61) disposed on an underside of the device (10) which can roll with respect to the device (10) and with respect to one another. The rollers (60,61) are selectively contacted with one another such that each roller (60,61) can assist in removing debris (20) picked up by the opposite roller (60,61) and dispensing the debris (20) into a collection chamber (32) releasably positioned within a housing (11). The removal of the debris (20) from each roller (60,61) is also facilitated by opposed edges of a central opening (58) in the housing (11) that contact the rollers (60,61) and direct the debris (20) into the debris collection chamber (32).