Robot cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners struggle to effectively clean areas close to walls and corners due to the limited length of their side brushes, which cannot be extended without interfering with other elements of the cleaner.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a side brush assembly with a pivotable side arm that can protrude outward from the main body to reach corners, equipped with a brush unit and a rim cover, allowing for enhanced cleaning of areas near walls and corners without causing interference with other components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the side brush is made longer to reach corners and wall areas, then cleaning performance in hard-to-reach areas is improved, but the side brush interferes with other elements and impedes traveling of the robot cleaner
Solution Approach 1:
The side brush assembly is made movable between a retracted position (inserted into the main body) and an extended position (protruding outward). The side arm can pivot relative to the main body, allowing the brush to dynamically adjust its position based on cleaning needs, thus resolving the contradiction between needing long brush reach and maintaining travel capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The side arm and side brush are nested within the main body when not in use, with the side arm inserted into the main body housing. This nesting allows the brush mechanism to be compact during travel while enabling extension when needed for corner cleaning, effectively resolving the space conflict.
2Area of stationary object
If the side brush is extended to reach corners, then cleaning coverage is improved, but interference with other elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side brush assembly transitions from a static fixed-position brush to a dynamic movable brush that can pivot and extend only when needed. This dynamic capability allows the system to achieve full cleaning coverage while minimizing interference during normal operation and travel.
Solution Approach 2:
The side brush function is segmented into separate controllable components (side arm pivot mechanism, brush unit, rim cover) that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows selective deployment of the brush only when corner or wall cleaning is required, reducing unnecessary interference with other elements.
Data Source
AI summary
The robot cleaner includes a main body configured to remove dust from a floor while traveling on the floor, the main body having a lateral rim defining the external appearance of a lateral surface of the robot cleaner, and at least one side brush assembly mounted to the main body to clean the corner of the floor. The side brush assembly includes a side arm pivotably coupled to the main body, the side arm moving between a first position where the side arm is inserted into the main body and a second position where the side arm protrudes outward from the lateral rim of the main body, a brush unit provided at the side arm to sweep the floor, and a rim cover coupled to the side arm to form a part of the lateral rim of the main body when the side arm is inserted into the main body.