Lawn Mower Robot Wheel With Integrated Seed Sowing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic lawn mower robots are unable to simultaneously mow grass and sow seeds efficiently, requiring separate tasks that increase time and labor in lawn management.
Innovation Solution
A wheel for lawn mower robots equipped with a seed storage portion and a seed supply system that allows seeds to be discharged while rotating, combined with a digging member to create grooves for seed distribution, enabling simultaneous mowing and sowing without seed clogging or excessive discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a separate seeding machine is used to sow grass seeds, then the sowing task can be completed, but the total time and labor needed in managing grass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the seeding machine with the lawn mower robot into an integrated system. The seed storage portion is mounted on the mower body, and the seed supply passage is positioned to discharge seeds onto the cutting portion during operation. This merging allows both mowing and sowing to be performed simultaneously in a single pass, eliminating the need for separate operations and reducing total management time.
Solution Approach 2:
The lawn mower robot is transformed into a multi-functional device that performs both grass cutting and seed sowing. The cutting portion maintains its mowing function while the added seed storage and supply system provides sowing capability. This universality allows one machine to replace two separate machines, improving productivity without increasing operational time.
2Productivity
If grass seeds are supplied through a passage during wheel rotation, then sowing can occur simultaneously with mowing, but seeds may become clogged in the passage
Solution Approach 1:
The seed supply passage is designed with a curved configuration rather than a straight line. This curvature prevents seeds from becoming lodged in sharp corners or dead ends, allowing for smoother seed flow during wheel rotation. The curved passage geometry reduces the risk of clogging while maintaining the simultaneous sowing capability during mowing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply passage acts as an intermediary channel that facilitates seed transport from the storage portion to the discharge point. By providing a dedicated, smoothly curved passage, the system mediates between the stationary seed storage and the moving cutting mechanism, ensuring reliable seed delivery without direct contact between seeds and mechanical moving parts that could cause clogging.
3Productivity
If the seed storage portion is integrated into the wheel structure, then sowing and mowing can be unified, but maintenance and management of the seed storage portion becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The seed storage portion is designed as a separate, detachable module rather than being permanently integrated into the wheel structure. This segmentation allows the storage portion to be easily removed for filling, cleaning, and maintenance, while remaining integrated during operation. The modular design enables quick replacement or service of the seed storage component without affecting the main mower system.
Solution Approach 2:
The seed storage portion is designed with dynamic accessibility, allowing it to be opened or detached during maintenance intervals. This dynamic design enables easy access to the interior for seed refilling and cleaning operations, while maintaining the integrated configuration during actual mowing and sowing operations. The system transitions between operational integration and maintenance accessibility.
4Productivity
If a digging member is used to create grooves for seed distribution, then seed sowing effectiveness improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The digging member is integrated into the existing mower structure rather than being a separate attachment. The digging portion is positioned to work in coordination with the cutting portion and seed supply system, creating grooves in the ground as the mower advances. This merging of digging, cutting, and sowing functions into a single coordinated system improves seed distribution effectiveness without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The digging member creates grooves in the ground before seeds are discharged, preparing the receptacle for seed placement in advance. This preliminary action ensures that seeds are deposited into pre-formed grooves that facilitate proper seed-to-soil contact, improving sowing effectiveness. The groove creation occurs simultaneously with the mowing and sowing processes, maintaining operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel for a lawn mower robot includes a structure in which grass seeds can be discharged during a rotation of the wheel. Accordingly, grass seeds are shown as the lawn mower robot travels while performing a lawn mowing task. Therefore, a task of mowing the lawn and a task of sowing seeds can be performed in a unified manner. Thus, the lawn can be managed more efficiently.