Robot Cleaner Mop Attachment Detection to Prevent Floor Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robot cleaners face issues such as damage to the cleaner or floor due to separation of cleaning components, instability due to liquid consumption affecting center of gravity, and difficulty in maintaining stable cleaning operations without a central water container.

Innovation Solution

The cleaner design includes a pair of rotating mops with support and auxiliary wheels, where the mops contact the floor when attached and are spaced apart when detached, and a water container positioned off-center to maintain stability and prevent damage, with actuator-controlled movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the first cleaner or second cleaner is detachably coupled to the first rotating member or second rotating member, then the cleaner can be easily maintained and the mops can be replaced, but the cleaner may be inadvertently operated with detached cleaners causing damage to the rotating members or floor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoidoperational safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A detection unit is introduced as an intermediary between the cleaning operation and the driving operation. The detection unit monitors whether the first cleaner is properly attached to the first rotating member and the second cleaner to the second rotating member, and only allows the driving unit to operate when both cleaners are properly attached, preventing inadvertent operation with detached cleaners

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The detection unit provides feedback about the attachment status of the cleaners to the controller, which then controls the driving unit accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the cleaner cannot be operated when cleaners are detached, while still allowing easy attachment and detachment for maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Stability of the object's composition

If the liquid management unit is disposed at the center position, then the center of gravity remains stable during liquid consumption, but this design creates many design constraints and reduces adaptability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecenter of gravity stabilityVSAvoiddesign flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The driving unit is configured to generate frictional force in a direction opposite to the direction in which the center of gravity shifts due to liquid consumption. As liquid is consumed and the center of gravity moves, the driving unit adjusts the direction of frictional force to counterbalance this shift, maintaining stable cleaning operation without requiring the liquid management unit to be centrally positioned

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Speed

If the first rotating member and second rotating member directly contact the floor, then the cleaner can move through friction, but the rotating members may be damaged or scratch the floor when cleaners are detached

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement capabilityVSAvoidfloor damage
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The detection unit acts as an intermediary that monitors the attachment status of cleaners and controls the driving unit to prevent direct contact between the rotating members and the floor when cleaners are detached, thereby avoiding floor damage while maintaining movement capability when cleaners are properly attached

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Ensures stable mopping and movement without damaging the cleaner or floor, even when mops are detached, and maintains cleaning efficiency as liquid is consumed, allowing for controlled direction changes.

Implementation Method 1

as the first cleaner and the second cleaner are rotated by the rotational motion of the first rotating member and the second rotating member, foreign matter stuck to the floor may be removed through friction with the floor surface, and when a frictional force with the floor surface is generated, the frictional force can be used as power for moving the robot cleaner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4032455B1cleaner
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4032455B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4032455B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4032455B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A cleaner is provided. A cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a body, a first rotating plate, a second rotating plate, a first mop, a second mop, a support wheel, and an auxiliary wheel. The lowest part of the first rotating plate and the lowest part of the second rotating plate may be positioned higher than a virtual reference line connecting the lowest part of the support wheel and the lowest part of the auxiliary wheel, and the lowest part of the first mop and the lowest part of the second mop may be positioned lower than the reference line. An embodiment of the present invention may provide a cleaner configured such that a floor can be mopped by a first mop and a second mop while preventing damage to a first rotating plate, a second rotating plate, and the floor.