Robot Cleaner Cyclone Layout for Larger Dust Box Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cleaners have a small dust box capacity due to their low vertical height, leading to frequent emptying and reduced suction force from accumulated dust, causing user inconvenience and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner design with a cyclone unit positioned above the suction unit, guided by inclined members, and a dust box located between them, allowing for efficient dust filtration and collection, enhancing air flow and dust box capacity within a compact space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the robot cleaner is designed with low vertical height to clean below furniture, then it can access narrow spaces, but the dust box capacity becomes small
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the dust box from a vertical arrangement (below the cyclone) to a horizontal arrangement (between the cyclone and suction unit along the horizontal line). This dimensional change allows the dust box to utilize horizontal space within the cleaner body, significantly increasing dust box capacity while maintaining the low vertical height profile needed to clean below furniture.
2Quantity of substance
If the dust box capacity is increased, then less frequent emptying is needed, but the cleaner body size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dust box is arranged horizontally between the cyclone unit and suction unit, utilizing the horizontal space within the existing cleaner body dimensions. This arrangement increases dust box capacity without requiring an increase in the overall volume of the cleaner body, as the dust box fits within the available horizontal space along the air flow path.
3Volume of moving object
If the suction unit and cyclone unit are positioned close together, then the cleaner body can be more compact, but the air flow path becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guiding member that extends from the suction unit toward the cyclone unit to connect them. This intermediary component efficiently guides the air flow from the suction unit through the dust box area to the cyclone unit, maintaining optimal air flow speed and path while allowing the suction unit and cyclone unit to be positioned at an optimized distance for compact cleaner body design.
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 effectively separates dust from air, increases dust box capacity, and maintains suction efficiency by allowing for a larger dust collection volume within a restricted space, reducing the need for frequent emptying and maintaining cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
the cyclone unit having at least one cyclone for passing air therethrough, wherein the air is dust-filtered by a centrifugal force
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaner includes: a cleaner body; a suction unit provided at a front side of the cleaner body, and configured to suck dust-contained air; a cyclone unit provided at a rear upper side of the suction unit, the cyclone unit having a first suction opening and a second suction opening for sucking air, and the cyclone unit having a first cyclone and a second cyclone for passing air therethrough, the air having dust filtered therefrom by a centrifugal force; a first guiding member and a second guiding member upward extending from the suction unit toward the cyclone unit with an inclination angle, the first guiding member for connection between the suction unit and the first suction opening, the second guiding member for connection between the suction unit and the second suction opening; and a dust box communicated with a dust discharge opening provided at a front side of the cyclone unit so as to collect dust filtered by the cyclone unit, the dust box partially or wholly accommodated between the first and second guiding members.