Pivoting Side Brush Assembly for Robot Cleaner Corner Reach
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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 extend outward from the main body to reach corners, equipped with a brush unit and a rim cover, allowing the side brush to protrude and sweep dust from the corner areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the side brush length is extended to reach corner areas, then cleaning performance at corners is improved, but the side brush interferes with other elements and impedes robot cleaner traveling
Solution Approach 1:
The side brush assembly is designed with a pivotable side arm that can dynamically change its position between a retracted state (inserted into the main body) and an extended state (protruding outward). This dynamic configuration allows the side brush to adapt its length based on operational needs, resolving the contradiction between reaching corners and avoiding interference during normal travel.
Solution Approach 2:
The side brush assembly is segmented into multiple components: the main body, the pivotable side arm, and the side brush itself. This segmentation allows the side arm to be independently controlled to protrude only when needed for corner cleaning, while remaining retracted during normal operation to avoid impeding the robot cleaner's movement.
2Area of stationary object
If the side brush is made longer to clean corner areas, then the cleaning area coverage is improved, but the side brush causes interference with other elements arranged at the bottom of the robot cleaner
Solution Approach 1:
The side arm's ability to pivot between retracted and extended positions enables the side brush to achieve maximum cleaning area coverage at corners only when necessary, while remaining retracted during normal operation to avoid interfering with other elements arranged at the bottom of the robot cleaner.
3Productivity
If the side brush length is increased to reach walls and corners, then cleaning effectiveness at walls is improved, but the side brush impedes the traveling of the robot cleaner
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable side arm allows the side brush to extend dynamically when approaching walls or corners, improving cleaning effectiveness at these areas. During normal traveling between cleaning zones, the side arm remains retracted, preventing any impediment to the robot cleaner's speed and movement.
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.