Floor cleaning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor cleaning machines require manual maintenance to prevent mold growth and maintain cleaning effectiveness, as the brush roller and dirty liquid recovery units become clogged with debris, necessitating regular cleaning post-operation.
Innovation Solution
A floor cleaning system incorporating a self-cleaning station that communicates with the floor cleaning machine via a charging plug and control units to initiate self-cleaning operations, utilizing sensors for power, fluid, and turbidity monitoring to ensure efficient cleaning and maintenance, including a rechargeable battery and charging control circuit to manage power and fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning is required to maintain brush roller and dirty liquid recovery units, then cleaning effectiveness is maintained, but user time and effort are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-cleaning functionality where the brush roller and dirty liquid recovery unit automatically clean themselves without requiring manual intervention. The control unit coordinates the cleaning fluid supply unit to provide cleaning fluid to the brush roller, and the dirty liquid recovery unit to remove spent fluid, creating a self-maintaining system that resolves the contradiction between maintaining cleaning effectiveness and reducing user time investment
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cleaning actions by continuously or periodically supplying cleaning fluid to the brush roller and removing spent fluid before significant debris accumulation occurs. This preventive maintenance approach maintains cleaning effectiveness while minimizing the need for intensive manual cleaning interventions
2Productivity
If brush roller is in direct contact with surface to be cleaned, then cleaning capability is improved, but mold growth and debris adhesion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous or periodic action by constantly supplying cleaning fluid to the brush roller and continuously removing spent fluid through the dirty liquid recovery unit. This continuous circulation prevents debris accumulation and mold growth on the brush roller while maintaining its cleaning capability, resolving the contradiction between direct surface contact effectiveness and contamination prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic principles by utilizing cleaning fluid circulation through the brush roller and dirty liquid recovery unit. The fluid delivery mechanism and recovery system create a hydraulic flow that continuously washes the brush roller surface, preventing debris adhesion and mold growth while preserving cleaning effectiveness
3Extent of automation
If self-cleaning station is added to the system, then automation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the self-cleaning functionality into an integrated station that combines the cleaning fluid supply unit, dirty liquid recovery unit, and control unit into a single cohesive structure. This consolidation automates the cleaning process while managing system complexity by combining multiple functions into unified components rather than adding separate independent systems
4Extent of automation
If charging plug and control units are used for communication, then automation control is improved, but electrical pathway complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging plug serves multiple functions: it provides electrical power charging and simultaneously acts as a communication pathway for control signals between the self-cleaning station and the floor cleaning machine. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated communication wires, simplifying the overall electrical pathway structure while maintaining advanced automation control capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
A floor cleaning system includes a floor cleaning machine and a self-cleaning station. The machine includes a cleaning base, a rechargeable battery, a first control unit controlling the floor cleaning machine to perform cleaning operations and self-cleaning operations and a first charging interface. The self-cleaning station includes a station body, a second charging interface, a self-cleaning switch, a second control unit communicatively coupled with the self-cleaning switch a, and the first control unit is in signal communication with the second control unit via an electrical pathway passing through the first charging interface and the second charging interface when the first charging interface is electrically contacted with the second charging interface.