Robot Base Station Wiping Pad Auto-Replacement Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning robots require manual intervention for wiping member replacement, leading to inefficient and user-unsatisfactory experiences due to the need for continuous monitoring and potential hand contamination.
Innovation Solution
A base station with a storage module and feeding module that automatically cuts and conveys a wiping base material to form a wiping member, allowing the cleaning robot to autonomously replace the wiping member without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual wiping member replacement is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to requiring continuous user monitoring and intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The base station is divided into functional modules: storage module for holding wiping base material, feeding module for conveying material, cutting module for separating wiping members, and mounting module for installation. This segmentation enables automated operation while keeping each module relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiping base material is prepared and stored in advance in the storage module. The feeding module continuously conveys the material to the cutting position before replacement is needed, and the cutting module pre-cuts the wiping members. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for user intervention during actual replacement operations.
2Ease of operation
If automated wiping member replacement is implemented, then ease of operation improves by eliminating manual intervention, but device complexity increases due to additional base station components
Solution Approach 1:
The base station integrates multiple functions into a single device: storage of wiping material, automated feeding, cutting, and mounting. This multi-functionality allows the system to perform complete automated replacement operations, improving ease of operation while consolidating complexity into one universal device rather than multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning robot returns to the base station autonomously when wiping member replacement is needed. The base station automatically detects the need for replacement, feeds new material, cuts the wiping member to correct dimensions, and mounts it without any user intervention. The system serves itself completely, eliminating manual operation requirements.
3Productivity
If continuous wiping base material is stored, then productivity improves through continuous supply, but volume of stationary object increases due to storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding module operates periodically rather than continuously, conveying the wiping base material in discrete segments to the cutting position. This periodic feeding action maintains continuous productivity while reducing the amount of material that needs to be stored at any one time, thereby minimizing the volume of the storage module.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a base station for a cleaning robot to park in, where the cleaning robot includes a wiping board, and a flexible wiping member replaceably butts the wiping board to form a wiping surface to wipe a working surface on which the cleaning robot walks, where the base station includes: a storage module, configured to store a continuous wiping base material; and a feeding module, configured to drive a free end of the wiping base material to be conveyed to a cutting position, to cause the free end to be cut from the wiping base material to form the wiping member. The present invention has the following beneficial effects: After returning to the base station, the cleaning robot may automatically mount a wiping member without intervention by a user.