Robot cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cleaners face challenges in effectively cleaning corners and navigating obstacles due to complex transmission structures and user intervention requirements.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner design featuring a movable unit that can protrude forward from the nozzle to clean corners and overlap with the nozzle to cross obstacles, utilizing a bumper and elastic member to change positions without user input or additional power sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a transmitting structure is added to transmit rotational force from the tilting lever to the gasket element, then the gasket element can be positioned to protrude, but the device complexity increases and the nozzle volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket base is merged with the tilting lever such that the tilting lever directly rotates the gasket base without requiring a separate transmission structure. This integration eliminates the need for additional transmitting components while maintaining the functionality of positioning the gasket element.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission structure is extracted/removed from the system by designing the tilting lever to directly rotate the gasket base. This eliminates the intermediate transmission components that were causing increased device complexity and nozzle volume.
2Ease of operation
If the tilting lever is positioned in back of the nozzle and the gasket element is positioned in front of the nozzle, then the user can handle the tilting lever, but a transmitting structure is required which complicates the device
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting lever and gasket base are merged into a single integrated component. The tilting lever is positioned at the rear for user accessibility while directly controlling the gasket element at the front, eliminating the need for a transmission structure to connect these separated components.
3Ease of operation
If the gasket element protrudes out of the nozzle only when the user handles the tilting lever, then the gasket element can be positioned, but this annoys the user requiring manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket base is designed to automatically return to its initial position (retracting the gasket element) after being rotated by the tilting lever. This self-returning mechanism eliminates the need for user intervention to reset the gasket element, making the system more automated and user-friendly.
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 design enhances corner cleaning efficiency and obstacle navigation by applying surface pressure and simplifying the structure, allowing the robot cleaner to automatically adjust its position in response to collisions.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member to elastically support the movable unit such that the movable unit is moved from the first position to the second position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A robot cleaner includes a body including a suction motor, a nozzle coupled to the body and including a suction port, and a movable unit coupled to the nozzle in front of the suction port and being movable between a first position where the movable unit overlaps with the nozzle and a second position where the movable unit protrudes forward from the nozzle.