Robot Cleaner Circular Body Layout for Wide Agitator and Easy Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cleaners face challenges in effectively cleaning corners and areas adjacent to walls due to limited agitator width, complex operation structures, and insufficient driving power, which restricts their ability to perform meticulous cleaning and adjust traveling directions.
Innovation Solution
A cleaner design with a circular body shape and integrated agitator and dust housing, where the agitator is positioned close to the center and the storage space is at the front, allowing for a wider cleaning area and easier rotation, and the sweep module is placed at the front to collect debris before it contacts the mop modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the agitator width is increased to maximize cleaning area, then the cleaning area is improved, but the body cannot rotate easily due to the agitator protruding and being disturbed by obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The dust housing is positioned in the front direction rather than extending laterally, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the body. This allows the agitator to achieve maximum width within the lateral boundaries while the dust housing stores debris forward of the agitator, preventing rotation interference while maintaining full cleaning coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaner body adopts an asymmetric layout where the dust housing is positioned forward of the agitator rather than symmetrically distributed. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the agitator width for maximum cleaning area while ensuring the dust housing does not interfere with rotation mechanics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate components are provided for traveling and inhaling functions, then each function can be performed, but the operation structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The traveling and inhaling functions are merged into a single integrated structure. The agitator serves dual purposes: it propels the cleaner forward through friction with the floor while simultaneously collecting debris. The dust housing integrates both the storage function and the structural framework for the inhaling mechanism, eliminating the need for separate traveling and collection components.
Solution Approach 2:
The agitator is designed as a multi-functional component that performs both propulsion and debris collection. The dust housing serves multiple functions including structural support, debris storage, and integration with the inhaling mechanism, reducing the total number of components required while maintaining full functional capability.
3Device complexity
If the cleaner proceeds only by friction force of spin mops, then the structure is simple, but driving power is insufficient and traveling direction adjustment is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner transitions from static friction-based propulsion to dynamic inhaling-powered movement. The inhaling mechanism creates airflow that actively propels the cleaner forward, providing sufficient driving power. The system dynamically adjusts between friction-based fine positioning and inhaling-based primary propulsion, enabling both simple operation and powerful movement.
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
This design enhances the cleaner's ability to rotate easily around obstacles, maximize the cleaning area, and perform pattern-driven cleaning with increased friction force, enabling more effective and meticulous floor cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
since a robot cleaner proceeds only by friction force of spin mops
Implementation Method 2
an agitator which rotates to collect a foreign material on a floor
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed is a cleaner including a body and a sweep module. The body forms an appearance or an exterior. The body has an insertion hole formed at the body and opened to a floor and an installation space positioned at an inside of the body and communicating with the insertion hole. The sweep module is detachably assembled to the installation space through the insertion hole. The sweep module includes a dust housing and an agitator. The dust housing includes a collection space for collecting the foreign material on the floor and the storage space where the foreign material in the collection space is stored. The agitator is rotatably assembled to the dust housing and is disposed at the collection space to collect the foreign material on the floor. The agitator is disposed at the collection space and the storage space is disposed at a front side of the collection space. According to the present disclosure, interference with a body or a structure of the body can be minimized when an agitator rotates and also a cleaning area through the agitator can be maximized since a collection space is disposed at a rear side of a storage space in the body having a circular shape or a shape close to a circular shape when viewed in a top view.