Base station for household appliance with automated movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current base stations for automatically movable household cleaning appliances lack flexibility, as they are only available with either a cyclone separator or a dust bag, limiting the ability to choose between different separation systems for the same cleaning system.
Innovation Solution
A modular base station design that allows for the attachment of multiple separation and collection modules, enabling the selection of either a dust bag or cyclone separator system, providing customers with flexibility in choosing the appropriate separation technology based on their needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a base station is designed with a fixed separation system (either cyclone separator or dust bag), then the manufacturing cost and development effort are reduced, but the adaptability and customer choice are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The base station is divided into modular components: a housing and interchangeable separating/collection modules. Each module contains a specific separation system (cyclone separator or dust bag) that can be independently attached or removed, allowing customers to choose different separation systems without redesigning the entire base station.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate multiple types of separating and collection modules. This universal design allows the same housing to work with different separation systems (cyclone or dust bag), providing multi-functionality and customer choice while maintaining a consistent overall structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If different separation systems are developed as separate base stations, then each system can be optimized independently, but the development cost and production complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the separation system into standalone modules that can be independently manufactured and then attached to the housing, the patent enables separate production optimization for each module type while maintaining the ability to offer multiple separation technologies through the same housing platform.
3Ease of operation
If the separation system is integrated into the base station housing, then the structure is more compact, but the ease of maintenance and module replacement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The separating and collection module is designed as a distinct, removable segment from the housing, connected through standardized interfaces. This segmentation allows the module to be easily detached and replaced by the user without tools, while the compact interface design minimizes the overall volume increase compared to a fully integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation function is extracted as a separate, removable module from the housing. This extraction enables users to easily remove and replace the separation module independently, simplifying maintenance and allowing upgrade to different separation systems without affecting the housing or other components.
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
This modular approach allows customers to select the preferred separation system, reduces development and production costs, and provides flexibility for future upgrades, catering to various customer preferences and regional variants.
Implementation Method 1
a blower (21) for generating a negative pressure for taking dirt from the household appliance (50) into the base station (2) by means of an air flow via the suction duct (5)
Implementation Method 2
at least one second separating and collecting module (7) that can be coupled to a second separation system which is different from the first separation system, in particular a cyclone separator, to separate dirt from the air flow
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a cleaning system (1) with a base station (2) for a self-propelled household appliance (50) for cleaning and maintaining floor surfaces, wherein the base station (2) has a housing (3), wherein the housing (3) has an interface for coupling with the household appliance (50), wherein the interface forms a suction channel between the base station (2) and the household appliance (50), wherein the base station (2) comprises a blower for generating a negative pressure for drawing dirt from the household appliance (50) into the base station (2) by means of an airflow via the suction channel, wherein the cleaning system (1) comprises at least a first connectable separation and collection module (6) with a first separation system for separating dirt from the airflow and at least a second connectable separation and collection module (7) with a second separation system, different from the first separation system, for separating dirt from the airflow.