Retractable Side Brush Assembly for Obstacle-Safe Robot Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners face challenges in effectively cleaning corners and areas with obstacles due to limited side brush exposure and potential damage from external interference, and lack reliable detection of side arm retraction completion.
Innovation Solution
A side brush assembly with a rotatable side arm and cam mechanism, driven by a motor, that can be exposed and retracted using elastic members and a locking mechanism, along with a control method that includes sensors to ensure complete retraction and prevent damage from obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the side brush unit is exposed outside the main body to increase cleaning area, then the cleaning area coverage is improved, but the side brush unit becomes vulnerable to damage from obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The side arm is designed to be dynamically movable between an exposed position (for cleaning corners and edges) and a retracted position (for protection). The movable structure allows the side brush unit to transition between these states based on operational needs, resolving the contradiction between exposure for cleaning and retraction for protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system detects obstacles using sensors before the side brush unit can be damaged, and preemptively retracts the side arm or alerts the user to remove obstacles. This preliminary protective action prevents damage before it occurs.
2Reliability
If the side arm is made to retract reliably inside the main body to protect the side brush unit, then the protection reliability is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member (spring) provides self-service by automatically pushing the side arm into the retracted position when obstacles are detected or during non-cleaning phases, eliminating the need for a motor-driven retraction mechanism and simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member acts as an intermediary between the side arm and the housing, providing the necessary force for reliable retraction without requiring complex control mechanisms. This mediator simplifies the retraction system while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If sensors and control mechanisms are added to ensure complete retraction and prevent damage, then the operational reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Optical sensors provide feedback to the control system about the presence of obstacles and the position of the side arm. This feedback loop enables the control system to make informed decisions about when to extend or retract the side arm, ensuring complete retraction when needed while maintaining operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical interlocking mechanisms with a combination of optical sensors and electronic control, substituting mechanical complexity with sensor-based detection and control logic to achieve reliable operation.
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
Enhances cleaning area coverage while protecting the side brush unit from damage and ensures reliable detection and retraction of the side arm, preventing operational errors and maintaining the side arm's integrity.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member connecting the lever and the cam in order to rotate the lever by elastic force thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A side brush assembly including a side arm capable of being exposed outside a main body and returning inside the main body and a side brush unit mounted to the side arm, a robot cleaner and a control method of the robot cleaner is provided. The robot cleaner includes a main body and at least one side brush assembly to increase a dust-removing area. The side brush assembly includes a side brush body, a side arm mounted to a bottom surface of the side brush body and configured to be exposed outside the main body, a side brush unit rotatably mounted to the side arm, a lever configured to rotate together with the side arm, a cam configured to rotate by receiving driving force from a driving motor, and an elastic member connecting the lever and the cam to rotate the lever by elastic force thereof.