Robot Cleaner Wheel Rotation for Wet-Mopping Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot cleaners lack the ability to perform wet-cloth-mopping-like functions due to insufficient friction force, resulting in deteriorated cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The robot cleaner incorporates a front wheel with a water supply system and a rear wheel made of fabric to increase friction, using centrifugal force to distribute water uniformly across the mop pad/brush fabric, and rotates the wheels in opposite directions to enhance cleaning efficiency and remove water from the floor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a conventional robot cleaner uses a microfiber or fabric mop pad to clean floors, then it can remove fine dust contaminants, but it cannot perform wet-cloth-mopping-like functions due to insufficient friction force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the cleaning component from a passive fabric mop pad to an actively rotating wheel structure. This parameter change enables the cleaner to generate sufficient friction force through rotational motion, thereby achieving wet-cloth-mopping-like cleaning functions that were previously impossible with conventional static mop pads
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic rotation to the cleaning mechanism by equipping the cleaner body with rotating wheels covered in cleaning cloths. This dynamic element allows the cleaning components to generate friction force through rotation, transforming the static friction limitation into a dynamic friction advantage that enables effective wet cleaning
2Area of stationary object
If the robot cleaner uses a fabric mop pad for cleaning, then it can cover a larger area, but the friction force is insufficient resulting in deteriorated cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static fabric mop pad into a dynamically rotating wheel structure. This dynamic rotation enables the cleaning cloth to generate sufficient friction force while maintaining contact with the floor surface, thereby achieving both adequate cleaning area and high cleaning efficiency simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the cleaning function into multiple rotating wheel units, each equipped with its own cleaning cloth. This segmentation allows for distributed friction force generation across multiple contact points, improving overall cleaning efficiency while maintaining broad coverage area
3Productivity
If the robot cleaner rotates wheels in opposite directions to increase friction force, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple wheel units into a single integrated cleaning system where wheels rotate in opposite directions. This merging of multiple rotating components into one coordinated system achieves enhanced friction force and cleaning efficiency while managing the complexity through unified control architecture
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 solution enables effective wet-cleaning and enhanced cleaning efficiency by increasing friction force, allowing for improved removal of floor contaminants and preventing water stains, while also facilitating the washing and drying of the cleaning components.
Implementation Method 1
the water is flowing to the front wheels rotated at a high speed and rotating to be injected to an internal surface of the front wheel by the centrifugal force of the front wheel
Implementation Method 2
The rear wheel is made of fabric with a high moisture content and good mopping performance and absorbs the water spread by the front wheels
Implementation Method 3
The weight of the robot cleaner is delivered to the wheel and the wheel rotating in contact with the floor increases the friction with the floor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a cleaner comprising a cleaner body, a front wheel rotatably provided in a front portion of the cleaner body, a rear wheel rotatably provided in a rear portion of the cleaner body, a first member attached to an outer circumferential surface of the front wheel and configured to contact with a cleaning object surface, a second member attached to an outer circumferential surface of the rear wheel and configured to contact with the cleaning object surface, a front motor rotating the front wheel, a rear motor rotating the rear wheel and a controller driving the front motor and the rear motor, wherein the controller controls the front motor and the rear motor to become rotated in the opposite directions while cleaning is performed.