Robot Cleaner Dust Bin Layout for Capacity and Obstacle Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot cleaners face issues with reduced suction force, separation of brush rollers, increased collision probability of the suction unit with obstacles, blind spots in sensing, and inconvenient HEPA filter replacement, which affect their performance and usability.
Innovation Solution
The robot cleaner design includes an inclined first sensing part for simultaneous photography of front and upper areas, a combined sensing unit with pattern irradiating parts for enhanced obstacle detection, bumper switches for collision sensing, a cliff sensor, a locking mechanism for the dust container, and a hinge-coupled filter case for easy replacement, improving obstacle avoidance, assembly convenience, and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the suction unit is disposed to protrude from the cleaner body, then the suction force is improved, but the probability of collision with obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction unit is designed to be movable relative to the cleaner body, capable of protruding forward during cleaning operations and retracting when obstacles are detected by the sensing unit. This dynamic configuration allows the suction unit to maintain an optimized position for suction performance while automatically avoiding collisions, thus resolving the contradiction between improved suction force and reduced collision probability
2Power
If the suction unit is disposed to protrude from the cleaner body, then the suction force is improved, but the suction unit is located in a blind spot of the sensing unit
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing function is divided into multiple sensing units positioned at different locations on the cleaner body. Additional sensing units are placed to cover the areas around the protruding suction unit, ensuring that the entire forward region including the suction unit's location is monitored without creating blind spots, while maintaining the suction unit's protruding position for optimal suction force
3Ease of repair
If the cleaner body is disassembled to replace the HEPA filter, then the filter replacement is possible, but the operation convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner body is divided into modular sections, with the HEPA filter housed in an independently accessible compartment. This compartment can be opened and the filter replaced without disassembling the entire cleaner body, maintaining structural integrity while significantly improving maintenance convenience and reducing the complexity of filter replacement operations
4Productivity
If the dust container capacity is increased, then the cleaning efficiency is improved, but the cleaner body height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dust container is designed to expand in horizontal dimensions rather than vertically. By increasing the container's length and/or width while maintaining a compact height profile, the dust storage capacity is significantly increased without making the cleaner body excessively tall, thus improving cleaning efficiency while preserving maneuverability and fit in standard doorways and furniture spaces
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
A robot cleaner comprising: a cleaner body including a wheel unit and a controller controlling driving of the wheel unit; a dust container accommodation part having a shape recessed toward the front from the rear thereof to be opened to the rear; a dust container detachably coupled to the dust container accommodation part, the dust container have a portion protruding rearward of a rear end of the cleaner body in a state in which the dust container is accommodated in the dust container accommodation part; and a dust container cover rotatably coupled to the cleaner body to cover the dust container, wherein the dust container cover is accommodated in the dust container accommodation part in a state in which the dust container cover is disposed to cover the dust container, and a portion of the dust container cover protrudes rearward of the rear end of the cleaner body.