Mobile Floor Cleaner Dock for On-Demand Service Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Floor cleaners, particularly wet models, require frequent service interventions such as refilling cleaning fluid, emptying waste liquid, recharging, and maintenance, which can be inconvenient and time-consuming, especially when users need to return to a fixed location for these tasks.
Innovation Solution
A mobile dock equipped with a receiving unit, drive unit, and control unit that allows the dock to follow the user or be summoned for service functions, featuring a battery for charging, waste liquid and cleaning fluid reservoirs, and cleaning devices, enabling on-demand access to these services without needing to return to a fixed location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed dock is used for floor cleaner service, then the dock can provide all service functions (charging, refilling, waste disposal), but the user must return to the fixed location which reduces convenience and increases time loss
Solution Approach 1:
The dock is transformed from a static fixed structure to a mobile dynamic system. The mobile dock includes a chassis with wheels or tracks, allowing it to move freely around the cleaning area. The control unit receives location information from the floor cleaner and automatically navigates the dock to the cleaner's position, enabling the service function to follow the user rather than requiring the user to return to a fixed location.
2Ease of operation
If the dock is made mobile to follow the user, then service access convenience is improved, but the device complexity increases due to addition of drive unit and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile dock is equipped with autonomous navigation capabilities where the control unit automatically processes location information from the floor cleaner and controls the drive unit to navigate to the correct position without human intervention. The system independently manages the complexity of mobile operations, communication protocols, and automatic positioning, while the user simply needs to request service when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the mobile dock carries all service supplies (cleaning fluid, waste capacity), then service autonomy is improved, but the weight of the mobile dock increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile dock is pre-equipped with essential service supplies including a cleaning fluid reservoir and a waste liquid container before service operations begin. The cleaning fluid reservoir stores cleaning solution for refilling the floor cleaner, and the waste liquid container provides capacity for collecting and disposing of waste liquid. This preliminary provisioning enables the dock to perform complete service cycles autonomously without returning to base stations.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile dock is disclosed and includes a receiving unit for receiving the floor cleaner. The paired device may be the floor cleaner, or a smart device of a user. The mobile dock follows a user, such that the dock is conveniently accessible during use of the floor cleaner.