Foldable Mop Head Support for Stable Centrifugal Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning systems with centrifugal devices face issues such as large or tall centrifugal devices, complex and expensive container designs, reduced cleaning water volume, and handling difficulties due to non-uniform interiors and support structures, which lead to shaking and accessibility problems during the centrifugation process.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning system design featuring a mop head with foldable plate wings that form a support when down, allowing the mop head to rest on a peripheral support step of the centrifugal basket, enabling the use of standard containers and minimizing disruptive shaking, while a centrifugal basket carrier allows for easy attachment and detachment, maintaining the mop head's centering and preventing water ejection issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the centrifugal device is designed to accommodate the entire width of the flat mop head, then the mop head can be fully dried, but the centrifugal device becomes very wide or very tall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidcentrifugal device width or height
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The mop head is divided into a central part and two side parts that can be folded. During centrifugation, the side parts are folded onto the central part, segmenting the mop head structure to reduce its width and allow it to fit within a compact centrifugal basket while still maintaining full drying capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the container is specially designed to accommodate the drive device and store the centrifugal basket, then the centrifugal device can be integrated, but the container structure becomes complex and expensive to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration capabilityVSAvoidcontainer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive device is extracted from the container and integrated directly into the centrifugal basket. The centrifugal basket becomes a self-contained unit with its own drive mechanism, allowing it to be easily attached to or removed from any standard container without requiring special container design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The centrifugal basket is designed as a universal attachment that can be used with any standard container. The drive device serves multiple functions: driving the centrifugal basket for drying and providing a support surface for the mop head during operation, eliminating the need for separate support structures

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If the container is specially designed to accommodate the drive device, then the centrifugal function is integrated, but the cleaning water volume is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration capabilityVSAvoidcleaning water volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The drive device is extracted from the container and relocated to the centrifugal basket, eliminating the need for dedicated drive device space within the container volume, thereby maximizing the available cleaning water volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If a bearing dome is provided on the container to hold the centrifugal basket, then the centrifugal basket can be stored, but the interior becomes non-uniform and difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capabilityVSAvoidcontainer cleanliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing dome is extracted from the container design and integrated into the centrifugal basket assembly. The centrifugal basket becomes a self-contained unit with built-in bearing mechanisms, eliminating the need for permanent container modifications and maintaining a simple, cleanable container interior

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

5Weight of stationary object

If the support stage is positioned at a distance from the centrifugal basket, then the housing can be thinner, but the mop head cannot be properly centered and causes shaking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing thicknessVSAvoidmop head centering
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support stage function is merged with the centrifugal basket by integrating a bearing surface directly onto the basket structure. This eliminates the need for a separate distant support stage, allows the mop head to be properly centered on the basket, and maintains structural stability without requiring thick housing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The design simplifies the system, reduces manufacturing costs, enhances handling safety, and maintains a high-quality impression by allowing the use of standard containers, minimizing shaking, and ensuring efficient drainage without complex support structures, while enabling interchangeable drainage systems and easy mop head alignment for balanced centrifugation.

Implementation Method 1

the mop head or the mop cover arranged thereon is spun out. This enables a significantly higher degree of drying than would be achievable with wringing out

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

the centrifugal basket of the centrifugal device primarily serves to hold the rotating mop head in a spatially defined position during centrifugation and to prevent unwanted wobbling by centering the mop head over the axis of rotation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP2545837B1Cleaning system with drier basket
Publication Date: 2013.12.18 LEIFHEIT
  • EP2545837B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2545837B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The wiping head (4) has wiping head elements which are transferred from a working position into a centrifuge position. The wiping head is used for wiping operation in the working position and wiping head centrifuges in the centrifuge position. A wiping cover (5) is arranged at the wiping head. The wiping head elements form a bearing in the centrifuge position. The bearing is placed on a bearing stage (10) provided at peripheral portion of a centrifugal basket (7). Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a centrifugal basket with an extension; and (2) a cleaning system with a wall area.