Robot Cleaner Station Lever for Reliable Dust Outlet Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robot cleaners face challenges in automatically emptying dust collected in their dust collecting chambers and preventing entanglement or malfunction of the outlet door during the dirt collection process.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning system comprising a robot cleaner with a dust collecting device featuring a dirt outlet and an outlet door that can be opened and closed using a lever device, which is controlled by a station controller to communicate with a collecting device at a station, ensuring safe and automatic dirt transfer without entanglement or malfunction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the outlet door is automatically opened by a lever device during dirt collection, then automatic dirt emptying is enabled, but the outlet door may become entangled or malfunction during the process
Solution Approach 1:
A lever device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the station controller and the outlet door. The lever device includes a lever that rotates to push the outlet door open, providing controlled mechanical interaction that prevents direct entanglement while enabling automatic operation. The lever device mediates the force transmission and motion control to ensure reliable door opening without malfunction.
2Ease of operation
If the outlet door is elastically biased to open direction, then automatic door opening is facilitated, but the door may open unintentionally or fail to seal properly
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet door incorporates an elastic biasing mechanism that changes the door's operational parameters by providing a predetermined opening force. This elastic bias assists the lever device in opening the door while the door magnetic body and lever magnetic body interaction controls the exact timing and extent of opening, ensuring the door opens when needed but seals properly when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
A door sensor provides feedback about the outlet door's position and state to the control system. This feedback mechanism ensures the door is properly closed and sealed before dirt collection begins, and confirms the door opening status during operation, preventing unintentional opening and ensuring proper sealing when closed.
3Reliability
If the lever device is used to open the outlet door, then controlled door opening is achieved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever device is segmented into distinct functional components: a lever arm for force application, a rotation mechanism for controlled motion, and a connection interface with the outlet door. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall simplicity. The modular structure reduces complexity by dividing the door opening function into manageable, independent elements.
4Measurement precision
If magnetic bodies are used for lever-door interaction, then precise positioning and control are achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with magnetic interaction between the door magnetic body and lever magnetic body. This substitution achieves precise lever-door positioning and controlled interaction without requiring complex mechanical guides, bearings, or adjustment mechanisms, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining positioning precision.
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
The system enables automatic and efficient removal of dust from the robot cleaner, prevents entanglement of the station in the collecting path, and ensures the outlet door is only opened under controlled conditions, preventing malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
The outlet door may include a door magnetic body, and the lever may include a lever magnetic body that allows an attractive force to act with the door magnetic body.
Implementation Method 2
The robot cleaner may include a door elastic member that elastically supports the outlet door in the direction toward the dirt outlet.
Implementation Method 3
a collecting device configured to generate a suction force to suction dirt of the duct collecting device
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a cleaning system including: a robot cleaner including a dust collecting device having a dirt outlet and an outlet door configured to open and close the dirt outlet; and a station including a collecting device configured to generate a suction force to suction dirt of the duct collecting device and a lever device provided with a lever configured to be fixable to the outlet door as the outlet door is being opened to allow the collecting device and the dust collecting device to communicate with each other, and a lever driving source configured to generate power for driving the lever.