Liquid container and autonomous cleaning robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous cleaning robots face challenges in efficiently installing and removing the water tank, which often requires the robot to be turned upside down, leading to inconvenience and potential water leakage issues.
Innovation Solution
A liquid container with a guide portion and a mounting system that includes a guiding strip and mounting groove, along with an auxiliary fixing structure like adhesive, ensures proper alignment and secure attachment of the cleaning cloth, allowing for horizontal loading and unloading of the liquid container, eliminating the need to invert the robot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the water tank is connected to the robot at the bottom, then the water source is provided for mopping, but the robot bottom always needs to be turned upside down to install or disassemble the water tank
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional bottom-mounted water tank design by providing a front-mounted water tank connection. The cleaning subassembly is detachably mounted to the main body from the front direction, allowing users to install or remove the water tank without turning the robot upside down, thereby simplifying the operation process.
2Reliability
If the cleaning cloth is mounted on the container case, then the cleaning function is provided, but misalignment and leakage issues occur during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates guide portions (first guide portion on cleaning cloth, second guide portion on container case) that define the installation direction beforehand. These guide portions cooperate to automatically align the cleaning cloth with the container case during installation, ensuring proper positioning before the cleaning cloth is fully attached, thereby preventing misalignment and leakage issues.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaning cloth is removable and mounted on the container case, then the cleaning assembly can be detached, but the cleaning cloth may move or misalign during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric guide portions with specific geometric features (guiding groove and guiding rod, or mounting groove and guiding strip) that create a unique fit between the cleaning cloth and container case. This asymmetric design ensures the cleaning cloth can only be installed in the correct orientation and position, preventing movement or misalignment during operation while maintaining detachability.
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 easy and secure installation of the liquid container, preventing misalignment and leakage, while enhancing the cleaning efficiency and safety by ensuring the cleaning cloth is properly fixed and aligned.
Implementation Method 1
The guiding rod is configured to insert into the guiding groove and restrict the movement of the cleaning cloth relative to the container case
Implementation Method 2
The guiding strip is configured to insert and fix in the mounting groove, to limit the movement of the cleaning cloth relative to the container case
Implementation Method 3
The auxiliary fixing structure may include an adhesive structure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a liquid container and an autonomous cleaning robot. The liquid container may include a container case and a cleaning cloth that is removable and mounted on the container case. The cleaning cloth may include a first guide portion disposed thereon. The container case may include a second guide portion. The first guide portion and the second guide portion cooperate with each other to define an installation direction of the cleaning cloth. The cleaning cloth can be installed correctly by defining the installation direction of the first guide portion and the second guide portion.