Robot cleaner, cleaning method and automatically charging system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning robots contaminate different regions with the same wiping member, leading to poor cleaning effectiveness and requiring manual intervention for mop replacement, which degrades user experience.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning robot system with a base station that combines charging and mop replacement functions, allowing the robot to autonomously switch wiping members based on region classification and condition, ensuring cleanliness and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the same mop is used to clean multiple regions, then the cleaning robot can maintain continuous operation without frequent mop replacements, but stains from different regions contaminate each other and cleaning effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single mop into multiple independent mop sections, each designated for specific region types (e.g., kitchen mop for oily areas, bathroom mop for wet areas, bedroom mop for dry areas). This segmentation allows the robot to use appropriate mop sections for different regions without complete mop replacement, maintaining cleaning effectiveness while enabling continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different mop sections are equipped with different cleaning properties tailored to specific region requirements. For example, kitchen mop sections have oil-absorbing characteristics, bathroom mop sections have water-absorbing characteristics, and bedroom mop sections have dust-collecting characteristics. This local quality differentiation ensures optimal cleaning performance in each region type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If manual mop replacement is implemented after a specific period, then cleaning effectiveness is maintained, but user experience deteriorates due to degraded automated operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidautomated operation level
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning robot automatically monitors the cleaning state of each mop section through sensors (detecting dirt accumulation, moisture levels, or wear) and autonomously replaces only the specific contaminated mop section without requiring user intervention. The system self-manages the entire process of detecting, returning to base, and replacing mop sections, maintaining full automation while ensuring cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The robot incorporates sensors that continuously monitor the cleaning state of mop sections and provide feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system determines when and which mop sections need replacement, enabling automated decision-making and execution of replacement operations without user involvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple types of mops are stored and managed, then region-specific cleaning is achieved, but device complexity increases due to additional storage and management requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregion-specific cleaning capabilityVSAvoidmop management system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple mop section types into a single integrated mop assembly that can be divided into separate replaceable sections. Instead of storing and managing completely separate mop units for different regions, the system stores multiple mop sections within one mop holder, reducing storage space requirements and simplifying management while maintaining region-specific cleaning capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mop holder and replacement mechanism are designed with universal compatibility to accommodate different types of mop sections (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom mops) using a standardized interface. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware structure to handle various mop section types, reducing the need for specialized storage and replacement mechanisms for each mop type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3900591B1Robot cleaner, cleaning method and automatically charging system
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 POSITEC POWER TOOLS (SUZHOU) CO LTD
  • EP3900591B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3900591B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3900591B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cleaning robot, a cleaning method, and an automatic charging system. The cleaning robot includes a body; a moving mechanism, configured to support the body and drive the cleaning robot to move; a power module, configured to provide a driving force for moving and working; a mopping module, configured to be mounted on the body and perform predetermined mopping work, where a wiping member is capable of being mounted on the mopping module; a control module, configured to be electrically connected to the power module and control the power module, to implement automatic moving and automatic working of the cleaning robot; and a detection module configured to detect a region type. When the mopping module completes mopping work of a current region, the detection module detects a region type of a next region to determine whether the region type is the same as that of the current region, and when it is determined that the region types are different, the control module controls the cleaning robot to transfer information indicating that the wiping member is to be replaced to a user or replace the wiping member. The beneficial effect of the present invention is that stains in different types of regions are not contaminated mutually, thereby improving the degree of cleanliness of the cleaning robot, and improving user experience.