A floor cleaning and disinfecting system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current floor cleaning and disinfection technologies often fail to ensure thorough disinfection due to uneven coverage and inefficient disinfection processes, particularly when surfaces are not properly cleaned before disinfection, leading to incomplete germ and virus elimination.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled unit equipped with both a surface cleaning element and a surface disinfecting element, controlled by a system that determines and distinguishes between cleaned and disinfected areas, allowing for optimized movement and intensity control to ensure thorough disinfection, with the cleaning element preceding the disinfecting element to remove debris and reduce disinfection time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the surface disinfecting element is positioned behind the surface cleaning element in the main direction of movement, then disinfection thoroughness is improved by cleaning debris first, but the device complexity increases due to coordinated control of multiple elements
Solution Approach 1:
The disinfection system is divided into separate functional modules: a surface cleaning element and a surface disinfecting element positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function independently while working in sequence, with the cleaning element removing debris first and the disinfecting element applying disinfection afterward, thereby improving thoroughness without requiring complex integration
Solution Approach 2:
The surface cleaning element performs preliminary cleaning action by removing debris and deposits from the surface before the surface disinfecting element applies disinfection. This preliminary action reduces the thickness of organic matter layers, allowing the disinfecting radiation to penetrate more effectively and achieve thorough disinfection of the underlying surface
2Reliability
If the surface cleaning element and surface disinfecting element are positioned at different positions, then disinfection quality is improved by ensuring cleaned surfaces are disinfected, but the area coverage efficiency decreases due to potential gaps or overlaps
Solution Approach 1:
The controller receives information about the positions of both the surface cleaning element and the surface disinfecting element, as well as their movement trajectories. Based on this feedback, the controller adjusts the operation to ensure optimal overlap between cleaned and disinfected areas, maintaining high disinfection quality while minimizing gaps or redundant coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from considering only linear path coverage to three-dimensional spatial coverage by accounting for the vertical positioning and angular orientation of both elements. This dimensional approach allows the controller to optimize the spatial relationship between cleaning and disinfection zones, ensuring complete coverage without excessive overlap
3Reliability
If the controller determines and distinguishes between cleaned and disinfected areas, then disinfection completeness is improved, but the measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously receives feedback from position sensors and movement detection systems to track the exact locations and trajectories of both the cleaning element and the disinfecting element. This real-time feedback enables the controller to accurately determine which areas have been cleaned and which have been disinfected, ensuring complete coverage without requiring excessive measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system intentionally creates some overlap between the cleaned area and the disinfected area, applying disinfection to slightly more areas than strictly necessary. This partial excess action compensates for any minor imprecisions in area determination, ensuring that all potentially contaminated surfaces receive adequate disinfection treatment
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
This approach enables efficient and thorough disinfection of surfaces by ensuring that all areas are properly cleaned before disinfection, reducing disinfection time and ensuring effective germ and virus elimination, even in areas with thick debris or fluid deposits.
Implementation Method 1
Disinfection may be obtained by e.g. irradiating the surface by disinfecting radiation, such as UV radiation, such as UV-C radiation
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
An assembly of a self-propelled floor cleaning unit and a floor disinfecting unit. The floor disinfecting unit may be detachably attached to the floor cleaning unit. The areas covered by the floor cleaning unit and floor disinfecting unit may be logged and reported.