Movable Side Suction for Corner-Cleaning Robot Cleaners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners face challenges in effectively cleaning areas with obstacles and corners due to their cylindrical shape, which hampers traveling performance and cleaning efficiency, while polygonal shapes improve cleaning but compromise traveling performance.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner with a cylindrical shape and a suction device featuring a first suction member at the bottom and a movable second suction member on the sides, connected by a flexible pipe, allowing the second suction member to move outward and inward to expand the cleaning area and improve traveling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a robot cleaner has a cylindrical shape, then traveling performance is excellent, but cleaning area is reduced due to poorly cleaned corners
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device is divided into multiple independent suction members (first suction member at bottom, second suction member at side) that can be positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the cylindrical body to maintain its traveling performance while the distributed suction members collectively cover both open areas and corner regions, resolving the contradiction between shape-based mobility and comprehensive cleaning coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction members are extended in different spatial dimensions from the cylindrical body - the first suction member extends downward from the bottom surface, while the second suction member extends laterally from the side surface. This multi-dimensional arrangement allows the cylindrical robot to clean areas that would otherwise be inaccessible, particularly corners and edges, without compromising its cylindrical shape and traveling performance.
2Area of stationary object
If a robot cleaner has a polygonal shape, then cleaning area is increased, but traveling performance is reduced due to obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is segmented into multiple suction members positioned at different locations on the cylindrical body, with the second suction member specifically positioned to handle corner and edge cleaning. This allows the robot to maintain a cylindrical shape for optimal traveling performance while achieving comprehensive cleaning coverage through strategically placed suction points.
Solution Approach 2:
The second suction member is designed to be movable relative to the first suction member, allowing dynamic adjustment of its position. This mobility enables the suction member to adapt to different cleaning scenarios - extending outward to clean corners and edges when needed, and retracting when obstacles are present, thus maintaining both cleaning effectiveness and traveling performance.
3Device complexity
If a robot cleaner has only a bottom suction port, then structure is simple, but cleaning efficiency is reduced due to inability to suction outside foreign substances
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device is segmented into multiple functional components: a first suction member with suction port at the bottom surface for general cleaning, and a second suction member with suction port at the side surface for cleaning foreign substances outside the main body. This segmentation enables comprehensive cleaning of both interior and exterior areas while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction device is designed with multi-functionality to handle various cleaning scenarios - the first suction member cleans foreign substances on and under the main body, while the second suction member cleans foreign substances outside the main body. This universal design approach increases cleaning efficiency without significantly complicating the overall structure, as both suction members share common support and control mechanisms.
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 cleaning efficiency by allowing the robot cleaner to suction foreign substances from both the bottom and sides, expanding the cleanable area and maintaining excellent traveling performance by adapting to obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
a suction device provided in the main body and configured to suction outside foreign substances
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaner including: a main body, a driving unit configured to move the main body, and a suction device provided in the main body and configured to suction outside foreign substances, and the suction device may include a first suction member having a suction port provided at a bottom surface of the main body and configured to suction the foreign substances, and at least one second suction member formed to move relative to the first suction member and having a suction port configured to suction the foreign substances.