Mobile Supply Coupling for Floor Cleaning Machine Docking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor cleaning systems face challenges in coupling and decoupling the supply device with the floor cleaning machine, which can cause stress on the devices, lead to potential damage, and require reverse movement of the cleaning machine for detachment.
Innovation Solution
A supply device designed to move on a floor surface, equipped with a drive unit that allows it to be easily positioned and coupled to a floor cleaning machine without the need for reverse movement, using a coupling arrangement connected to fresh water, dirty water, and power supply interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the floor cleaning machine is moved towards the stationary supply device for coupling, then the coupling arrangements can form a secure connection, but additional stress is caused on the supply device which can cause damage or tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional coupling approach by making the supply device movable and the floor cleaning machine stationary. Instead of moving the cleaning machine towards a fixed supply device, the supply device autonomously moves towards the cleaning machine to establish coupling, thereby eliminating the stress and damage risks associated with the previous method.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply device is equipped with a drive unit that enables it to move autonomously towards the floor cleaning machine for coupling and to reverse for decoupling. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual positioning and reduces the risk of damage during coupling operations.
2Ease of operation
If the floor cleaning machine moves in reverse to detach the coupling, then the coupling can be released, but greater space requirement is needed and sensors are required to check for obstacles and people
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reverses the decoupling mechanism by having the movable supply device reverse and move away from the stationary floor cleaning machine to detach the coupling. This eliminates the need for the cleaning machine to perform reverse movements, reducing space requirements and eliminating safety concerns related to reversing autonomous robots.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply device's drive unit enables it to autonomously reverse and move away from the cleaning machine for decoupling, making the detachment process simple and safe without requiring additional space or safety sensors on the cleaning machine.
3Ease of operation
If the supply device remains stationary during coupling, then it can be easily positioned, but the coupling process causes stress and potential damage to the supply device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the roles by making the supply device movable and the floor cleaning machine stationary during coupling. This maintains the ease of positioning the cleaning machine while eliminating the stress and damage risks to the supply device by having the supply device initiate and control the coupling movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A supply device for moving on a floor surface and for coupling to a floor cleaning machine includes a frame, a coupling arrangement which is designed to be detachably coupled to a further coupling arrangement on the floor cleaning machine, and a drive unit which is designed to move the supply device in or against a possibly rectilinear first travel direction between a first and a second position, wherein the drive unit is supported at a proximal end on the frame and has a distal end which is designed to be connected to a fastening element which is stationary relative to the floor surface. Further illustrated and described is a system comprising a supply device according to the disclosure for moving on a floor surface and two guide pins aligned with one another in the travel direction which are fixedly attached relative to the floor surface.