Floor Cleaning Machine Lever Mechanism for Automatic Sweeper Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor cleaning machines lack an efficient mechanism for automatically adjusting contact pressure on different floor types, leading to suboptimal cleaning results when transitioning between carpets and smooth floors.

Innovation Solution

A floor cleaning machine design featuring a lever system with pivot bearings that automatically adjusts the contact pressure of the sweeping roller based on the floor type, using a traction mechanism with a load section and deflection element to respond to torque changes, allowing for optimized cleaning across various surfaces without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual adjustment of contact pressure is used, then operator control is maintained, but cleaning efficiency decreases due to continuous intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidoperator intervention requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically adjusts contact pressure through the lever mechanism that responds to torque changes from the motor device, eliminating the need for continuous manual adjustment and enabling self-regulating operation across different floor types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The lever mechanism provides automatic feedback control by detecting torque changes in the traction element and adjusting the contact pressure accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that maintains optimal cleaning performance without operator intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If fixed contact pressure is used, then device structure is simple, but cleaning performance deteriorates on different floor types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different floor typesVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The contact pressure is made dynamically adjustable through the lever mechanism that automatically changes position in response to motor torque, allowing the system to adapt to different floor types without complex manual adjustment systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The lever acts as an intermediary mechanism between the motor device and the sweeping roller, translating torque changes into contact pressure adjustments and enabling automatic adaptation without direct operator control

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

Ensures effective cleaning by automatically adjusting contact pressure and position of the sweeping roller, maintaining optimal cleaning performance across different floor types, including carpets and smooth floors, without operator intervention.

Implementation Method 1

a lever (96) which is pivotably arranged at the base (12) on a second pivot bearing (98) about a second pivot axis (100)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever mechanism: Lever

Implementation Method 2

The motor unit (72) exerts a corresponding tensile force via the load section (88) to drive the rotation of the sweeping roller (64). The action of the sweeping roller (64) on the floor to be cleaned generates a counter-torque

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorque: Torque

Implementation Method 3

a traction device with a traction element for transmitting torque from the motor device to the sweeping roller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4192318B1Floor cleaning machine and method for operating a floor cleaning machine
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP4192318B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4192318B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4192318B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A floor cleaning machine is provided, comprising a base (12), a rocker (40) which is arranged on the base (12) at a first pivot bearing (42) so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis (44), a sweeper roller (64) which is arranged on the rocker (40) at a rotary bearing (66) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (68), a motor device (72) for driving the sweeper roller (64) in rotation, and a traction drive (84) having a traction member (86) for transmitting torque from the motor device to the sweeper roller, wherein the traction member (86) has a loading portion (88), wherein a lever (96) is arranged on the base (12) at a second pivot bearing (98) so as to be pivotable about a second pivot axis (100), wherein the lever (96) is articulated to the rocker (40), and wherein a deflection element (106) for the traction member (86) is arranged on the lever (96), wherein the traction member (86) is guided on the deflection element (106) in the loading portion (88).