Floor Cleaner Brushroll UV-C Sanitization in Self-Cleaning Tray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor cleaners do not effectively clean and sanitize their own brushrolls, leading to the accumulation of dirt and microbial growth.
Innovation Solution
A combination of a floor cleaner and a cleaning apparatus that includes a tray with a brushroll-receiving portion and a light source emitting ultraviolet light to sanitize the brushroll, along with a method of operating the light source and rotating the brushroll to achieve a desired dwell time for cleaning and sanitizing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the floor cleaner operates without a self-cleaning mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the brushroll accumulates dirt and microbial growth leading to poor cleaning performance
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning apparatus merges multiple cleaning functions (brushroll cleaning, sanitizing, and drying) into a single integrated device. The tray structure combines mechanical brushing elements with UV-C light sources and air drying capabilities, allowing the floor cleaner to maintain itself without requiring separate standalone devices for each cleaning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor cleaner is equipped with a self-service cleaning capability through the integrated cleaning apparatus. The brushroll can be cleaned and sanitized automatically by placing it in the tray, which activates brush elements, UV-C lights, and air drying functions without requiring external intervention or separate equipment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ultraviolet light is used to sanitize the brushroll, then microbial growth is prevented, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
UV-C light serves as an intermediary sanitizing mechanism that works in conjunction with the mechanical brush cleaning system. The UV-C lights are positioned to illuminate the brushroll during rotation, providing photonic disinfection that complements the physical cleaning action without requiring direct contact between cleaning elements and the brushroll surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV-C sanitizing function operates periodically when the brushroll is placed in the cleaning tray and activated. The system uses timed cycles where the brushroll rotates while UV-C lights are activated, providing intermittent but effective sanitization rather than continuous operation, which reduces energy consumption and component wear.
3Ease of operation
If the brushroll is cleaned mechanically only, then the cleaning process is simple, but dirt accumulates in the interior of the brushroll where mechanical cleaning cannot reach
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system adds a rotational dimension to the cleaning process. The brushroll rotates during cleaning, allowing cleaning bristles and UV-C lights to access the interior surfaces that would be inaccessible in a static position. This rotational movement enables comprehensive cleaning of all brushroll surfaces including the interior core area.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning apparatus segments the cleaning function into multiple zones: external brushing surfaces, internal brushing surfaces, UV-C illumination zones, and air drying zones. This segmentation allows different cleaning mechanisms to target specific areas of the brushroll, ensuring complete coverage from exterior to interior surfaces.
4Productivity
If the brushroll is not dried after cleaning, then the cleaning process is faster, but microbial growth occurs on the damp brushroll
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning apparatus provides continuous action by seamlessly transitioning from the wet cleaning phase to the air drying phase within the same tray structure. The brushroll remains in the tray after mechanical cleaning, and the air drying function activates automatically, eliminating idle time and ensuring uninterrupted protective action against microbial growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards the damp, potentially contaminated brushroll state by immediately activating the air drying function. The air drying mechanism recovers the brushroll by removing moisture, transforming it from a vulnerable damp state to a safe dry state that prevents microbial proliferation.
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 effectively cleans and sanitizes the brushroll of the floor cleaner, preventing dirt accumulation and microbial growth, thereby maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the floor cleaner.
Implementation Method 1
a light source operable to emit ultraviolet light onto the brushroll, the ultraviolet light having a wavelength less than 400 nm
Implementation Method 2
The light source is operable to emit ultraviolet light onto the brushroll, the ultraviolet light having a wavelength less than 400 nm
Data Source
AI summary
A combination of a floor cleaner and a cleaning apparatus for cleaning the floor cleaner is disclosed. The floor cleaner includes a base movable along a surface to be cleaned, a brushroll motor, and a brushroll rotatable about a brushroll axis relative to the base by the brushroll motor. The brushroll has a brushroll radius defined from the brushroll axis to an outer perimeter of the brushroll. The cleaning apparatus includes a tray that selectively removably receives a portion of the floor cleaner in a mounted position. The tray includes a brushroll-receiving portion to receive the brushroll of the floor cleaner. The combination further includes a light source directed toward the brushroll when the brushroll is received in the brushroll-receiving portion of the tray. The light source is operable to emit ultraviolet light onto the brushroll, the ultraviolet light having a wavelength less than 400 nm.