Floor cleaning apparatus with offset cleaning unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor cleaning machines struggle to effectively clean areas close to walls and navigate through narrow spaces due to limitations in offset capabilities and mechanical complexity, leading to reliability and maintenance issues.

Innovation Solution

A floor cleaning apparatus with a cleaning unit that can be offset and linked to a steering mechanism via a swing mechanism, allowing for synchronization of the cleaning unit's position with the path of travel and incorporating a transition ratio between steering wheel and cleaning unit turns, while maintaining a fixed working width.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a variable working width cleaning unit is provided to enable narrow space passage, then the machine can pass through narrow slots or spaces, but the mechanical elements are exposed to dirt and water, system complexity increases, and maintenance accessibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to pass through narrow slots or spacesVSAvoidreliability of mechanical elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning apparatus is divided into a main body and a separate cleaning unit that can be detached. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning head and a support structure that can be separated from the main body, allowing independent access to mechanical elements for maintenance while maintaining the variable working width capability through offset positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning unit is extracted as a separate modular component from the main body. This extraction allows the cleaning unit to be removed for maintenance access while the main body remains stationary, solving the problem of maintaining reliability while enabling narrow space passage capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a variable working width cleaning unit is provided to enable narrow space passage, then the machine can pass through narrow slots or spaces, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to pass through narrow slots or spacesVSAvoidcomplexity of variable working width system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into a main body and a separate cleaning unit with independent positioning capability. The cleaning unit can be offset laterally without requiring complex variable width mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability for narrow space passage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the cleaning unit is attached directly to the steering axle to link cleaning unit turning with steering wheel turning, then the cleaning unit reorients with the path of travel, but no capability to incorporate a transition ratio between steering wheel turn and cleaning unit turn is provided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization of cleaning unit reorientation with path of travelVSAvoidcapability to incorporate transition ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A swing mechanism acts as an intermediary between the steering axle and the cleaning unit. This swing mechanism includes a swing arm and pivot points that provide mechanical advantage and transition ratio capability, allowing the cleaning unit to reorient with the path of travel while enabling adjustable turning ratios between steering input and cleaning unit response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If a considerable offset of the cleaning unit is provided to clean close to walls, then edge areas can be cleaned, but the machine cannot pass through narrow slots or spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to clean edge areas close to wallsVSAvoidcapability to pass through narrow slots or spaces

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning unit is designed with dynamic positioning capability through a lateral offset mechanism that can adjust the offset distance. This allows the cleaning unit to achieve considerable offset for edge cleaning when needed, while being able to reduce the offset to minimal dimensions for passing through narrow slots or spaces, providing both capabilities in a single system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11638511B2Floor cleaning apparatus with offset cleaning unit

Publication Date: 2023.05.02 DIVERSEY INC

AI summary

An apparatus for cleaning a floor includes a housing, wheels by which the apparatus is adapted to move; a motive device for moving the apparatus, a steering mechanism, and a cleaning assembly including a cleaning unit and an offset mechanism adapted to move the cleaning unit to or from an offset position projecting beyond one lateral side of the apparatus. In another embodiment, an apparatus for cleaning a floor includes a housing, wheels by which the apparatus is adapted to move, a motive device for moving the apparatus, a steering mechanism, and a cleaning assembly including a cleaning unit and a swing mechanism indirectly linking the cleaning unit to the steering mechanism such that when the apparatus is in an operative mode, the cleaning unit reorients its position in synchronization with the path of travel of the apparatus. Optionally, a lifting device may raise and lower the cleaning assembly.