Robot Cleaner Wet-Mop Module with Wheel-Driven Water Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cleaners are inadequate for complete cleaning as they rely solely on suction and require human effort for mopping, which can be strenuous and inefficient, especially in maintaining moisture to remove invisible dust.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner equipped with a detachable wet-mop module that uses a pump to automatically supply water to a mop during travel, eliminating the need for human power and ensuring continuous moisture without excessive water consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a robot cleaner uses only suction power to clean, then the device complexity is low, but the cleaning effectiveness is insufficient for removing attached foreign substances and large dust particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines suction cleaning and wet mopping functions into a single robot cleaner system. The cleaning module includes both a suction unit for removing dust particles and a wet-mop module with a mop head for removing attached foreign substances, allowing the device to handle various types of contaminants effectively
2Extent of automation
If a robot cleaner adds a wet-mop module with motor-driven water supply, then the mopping function is effective, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wet-mop module uses the rotational motion of the module wheel itself to drive the pump through an eccentric connection, eliminating the need for a separate motor. The pump is automatically actuated by the wheel's rotation, converting the wheel's mechanical energy directly into pumping action for water supply to the mop
Solution Approach 2:
The module wheel serves dual functions: it propels the robot cleaner forward by contacting the ground and simultaneously drives the pump mechanism through its eccentric connection. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the system
3Reliability
If water is supplied continuously to the mop, then the mop remains moist for effective cleaning, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operates intermittently based on the rotational position of the module wheel, delivering water to the mop in periodic pulses rather than continuously. The eccentric connection causes the pump to discharge water at specific points in the rotation cycle, maintaining mop moisture while reducing overall water consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the rotational motion of the module wheel as a feedback mechanism to control pump operation. The pump is automatically activated and deactivated based on the wheel's position, creating a rhythmically controlled water supply that responds to the mechanical state of the system
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
Enables efficient and automated mopping, reducing user effort and water usage while maintaining effective cleaning by ensuring the mop remains moist throughout the cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
a pump connector eccentric to a center of the rotation shaft and connected to the wet-mop pump
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaner is provided, including a main body forming a robot cleaner exterior, a driver coupled to the main body to move the main body, a cleaning module coupled to the main body to suck dust from a traveling surface, a dust collector removing dust from air suctioned through the cleaning module, and a wet-mop module coupled to the main body to mop the traveling surface, wherein the wet-mop module includes a wet-mop module housing surrounding at least a portion of the main body and accommodating water in an internal space, a wet-mop module wheel disposed in the wet-mop module housing, a mop disposed between the wet-mop module housing and the traveling surface, and a wet-mop pump connected to the wet-mop module wheel to supply water to the mop in response to rotation of the wet-mop module wheel. Mopping may be performed without applying physical force of a person.