Cleaning system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning systems are inefficient in washing and drying long cleaning fringes due to the need for significant user effort and the risk of the fringes touching the bucket wall during spin-drying, leading to slowed rotation and inadequate drying.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning system with a disk-shaped mop head and a rotationally symmetrical basket that allows for a ratio of basket width to mop head diameter ≥ 1.5, enabling thorough washing and efficient drying without the fringes touching the bucket wall, using a basket that can be moved up and down for washing and rotated for drying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the basket width is increased to accommodate long cleaning fringes without touching the bucket wall, then the drying effectiveness is improved, but the device dimensions become excessively large and impractical to handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying effectivenessVSAvoidbucket diameter
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the washing and spin-drying functions into distinct operational phases. During washing, the basket is positioned at the bottom to immerse fringes in water. During spin-drying, the basket is elevated above the water level, allowing fringes to be thrown outward against the basket wall without contacting the bucket wall, even with long fringes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves the spin-drying operation from a horizontal plane concern (bucket diameter) to a vertical plane solution (basket elevation). By lifting the basket above the water level, the system creates vertical clearance that prevents fringe-bucket wall contact during rotation, eliminating the need for excessive horizontal space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the cleaning fringes are pressed between the supporting body and the basket bottom for spin-drying, then the structure is compact, but the fringes become pressed together and rotation is slowed down

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure compactnessVSAvoidrotation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of pressing fringes against the basket bottom (axial direction), the system inverts the approach by allowing fringes to be thrown outward against the basket's side wall (radial direction) during rotation. This inversion enables effective spin-drying without axial compression that would slow rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static pressing arrangement to a dynamic spin-drying arrangement. The basket rotates to throw fringes outward against the wall, using centrifugal force for drying rather than mechanical pressing, thereby maintaining high rotation speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Extent of automation

If a foot pedal actuating device is used for spin-drying, then the operation is automated, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespin-drying automationVSAvoidactuating mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the user's own body weight and natural pressing motion on the mop head handle to drive the spin-drying operation. The user presses the mop head downward, and this force is directly transmitted to rotate the basket, eliminating the need for separate foot pedals or complex actuating mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables thorough washing and efficient drying of long cleaning fringes with minimal user effort, maintaining compact dimensions and preventing fringes from being pressed together or touching the bucket wall, thus ensuring effective and quick cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

a ejection device arranged in the bucket for spinning the cleaning fringes dry, comprising the basket, which can be set into a rotational movement by a second actuating device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3654812B1Cleaning system
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 CARL FREUDENBERG KG
  • EP3654812B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3654812B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3654812B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cleaning system, comprising a bucket (1) and a cleaning device (2) with a mop head (3), wherein the mop head (3) comprises a carrier body (4) and cleaning fringes (5) which are attached to the carrier body (4), wherein the carrier body (4) is connected on its side facing away from the cleaning fringes (5) to a handle (7). The cleaning system further comprises a washing device (8) arranged in the bucket (1) for washing the cleaning fringes (5), comprising a basket (11) that can be moved in an up and down movement (10) by a first actuation device (9), and a spinning device (12) arranged in the bucket (1) for spin-drying the cleaning fringes (5), comprising the basket (11), which can be rotated (14) by a second actuation device (13), and a centring pin (15), which is arranged in the basket (11) to centre the cleaning device (2), wherein the carrier body (4) is substantially disc-shaped, with a boundary (16) on the circumferential side and with a greatest extension d1 between two circumferential regions (17, 18) that lie opposite each other, wherein the basket (11) has a rotationally symmetrical design, with a greatest clear first width d2 and wherein a first ratio of d2 to d1 is > 1.5.