Floor Head Stand Structure for Roller Lift and Edge Cleaning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor cleaning machines face challenges in achieving optimized cleaning results with a compact design while avoiding damage to substrates and ensuring effective drying of cleaning rollers, particularly in tight spaces and near edges.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a tank device with a continuous recess to allow the cleaning roller to be lifted off the base in the parking position, preventing contact with the substrate and enabling better drying, and a compact stand device that allows the machine to be used in hand-held or self-steering configurations without compromising external dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cleaning roller is kept in contact with the base during parking, then the machine structure remains simple, but the cleaning roller develops flat spots and the substrate may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning roller conditionVSAvoidsupport foot device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support foot is extracted as a separate movable component from the main machine body, allowing it to be deployed independently during parking to lift the cleaning roller off the base, preventing flat spots while keeping the main structure simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support foot device transitions from a static to a dynamic configuration, moving between retracted and extended positions based on whether the machine is in operation or parking mode, enabling the cleaning roller to be lifted during parking without permanent structural changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the cleaning roller extends to the transverse sides for edge cleaning, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the external dimensions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge cleaning capabilityVSAvoidfloor head width
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The support foot extends in the vertical dimension through the tank device rather than increasing the horizontal width, allowing the cleaning roller to reach the transverse sides for edge cleaning while maintaining a compact floor head width for clearance under furniture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the tank device is designed with high walls for fluid containment, then fluid retention is improved, but clearance under obstacles is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid containmentVSAvoidbase plate height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The tank device is segmented with a through recess that divides the fluid containment space, allowing the support foot to pass through while maintaining adequate fluid retention volume in the separated chambers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tank device utilizes a flexible or thin-walled structure with the through recess that can accommodate the support foot passage without significantly compromising fluid containment capability, reducing the overall height of the base plate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Ease of operation

If the support foot extends through the tank device, then cleaning roller drying is improved, but the tank device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning roller dryingVSAvoidtank device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The through recess in the tank device serves multiple functions: it allows the support foot to pass through for lifting the cleaning roller during parking, provides a passage for air circulation to enhance drying, and maintains structural integrity of the tank device without requiring additional separate components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4003118B1Floor cleaning machine
Publication Date: 2023.07.19 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP4003118B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4003118B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4003118B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a floor cleaning machine comprising a floor head (12), at least one cleaning roller (14) which is arranged on the floor head (12), a tank device (84) which is arranged on the floor head (12), and a movable stand device (152) which is arranged on the floor head (12), the floor head (12) being supported, in a parked position (162) of the floor cleaning machine, on an underlying surface (16) by the stand device (152) in such a way that the at least one cleaning roller (14) is spaced apart from the underlying surface (16), and the tank device (84) has at least one continuous recess (154a, 154b), through which a foot (170a, 170b) of the stand device (152) is passed at least in the parked position (162).