Foldable Water-Soluble Cleaner Package for Narrow Tank Inlets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor cleaners face challenges in efficiently storing and dispensing water-soluble cleaning solutions due to the size mismatch between the water-soluble packages and the supply tank inlet openings, leading to difficulties in compact storage and easy integration.
Innovation Solution
A water-soluble package designed to unfold into a larger dimension than the supply tank inlet opening, allowing it to be folded into a compact size that fits through the opening, enabling easy insertion and combination with stored fluid to form a cleaning fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the water soluble package is designed with a large unfolded dimension to hold sufficient cleaning solution, then the cleaning solution capacity is improved, but the package cannot be inserted through the supply tank inlet opening
Solution Approach 1:
The water soluble package is divided into multiple sections or layers that can be folded relative to each other, allowing the package to be compressed into a compact form for insertion while maintaining the full cleaning solution capacity when unfolded
Solution Approach 2:
The package transitions from a two-dimensional folded state during insertion to a three-dimensional expanded state when deployed, utilizing the vertical dimension and spatial arrangement within the supply tank to achieve both compact storage and adequate capacity
2Volume of moving object
If the water soluble package is folded to a compact size for storage, then the ease of storage is improved, but the package structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The package utilizes flexible water-soluble film or foil material that can be easily folded and compressed without requiring complex rigid structural components, achieving compact storage through material flexibility rather than mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The package is designed as a disposable component where the folding structure is simplified because the package is replaced rather than reused, reducing the need for durable complex mechanisms while maintaining adequate folding capability for storage
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
Facilitates efficient storage and easy integration of the cleaning solution within the floor cleaner, ensuring effective cleaning fluid formation and operation.
Implementation Method 1
the water soluble package configured to be inserted within the supply tank and combine with the fluid stored in the supply tank to form a cleaning fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A floor cleaner includes a handle, a body, a base movable over a surface to be cleaned, and a supply tank coupled to the body. The supply tank having an inlet opening defining an inlet opening width and a fluid disposed therein. A water soluble package includes a cleaning solution disposed therein and is inserted within the supply tank to combine with the fluid disposed therein to form a cleaning fluid. A distribution nozzle is in communication with the supply tank and disperses the cleaning fluid towards a ground surface. The package has an unfolded dimension defined by a first width that is larger than the inlet width, a height defined orthogonal to the first width, and a thickness defined orthogonal to the first width and the height. The package folds from the unfolded dimension to a compact size having a folded dimension defined by a second width that is smaller than the inlet opening width.