Robot Mop Water Tank Release Mechanism for Stable Wet Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile robots face challenges in evenly distributing water during mopping, stability due to limited support points, and difficulty in navigating straight paths, leading to inefficient cleaning performance.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot design with a detachable water tank system and improved support points, featuring a water-tank detachable module with a hook and operation button for easy water tank coupling and decoupling, and a sweep module for enhanced stability and friction control, allowing for efficient water supply and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the water tank is positioned at the rear side of the body, then space utilization is improved, but the water tank cannot be easily detached due to interference with mops and other components
Solution Approach 1:
The water tank detachment mechanism is segmented into independent components: a release button on the water tank, a release lever connected to the release button, and a hook on the body. This segmentation allows the detachment function to be distributed across multiple components, enabling easy removal of the water tank from the constrained rear position without interfering with mops and other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The release lever acts as an intermediary mechanism between the release button and the hook. When the release button is pressed, it activates the release lever, which in turn disengages the hook, allowing the water tank to be detached. This intermediary mechanism solves the problem of detaching the water tank from the constrained rear position by providing a mechanical transmission path that overcomes the spatial interference.
2Force
If the robot is supported by two points at a pair of mops, then friction force is generated for movement, but stability in front-rear direction is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is segmented into multiple independent support points: a front support point, a rear support point, and two lateral support points (left and right mops). This segmentation distributes the robot's weight across four points, forming a stable support polygon that prevents tipping in both lateral and front-rear directions while maintaining the friction force needed for movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure transitions from a one-dimensional line (two mops) to a two-dimensional plane (four support points forming a polygon). By adding support points in the front-rear dimension, the robot gains stability in this direction without sacrificing the friction force generated by the lateral mops, as all four points work together to provide both stability and propulsion.
3Productivity
If the robot moves by a pair of rotating mop surfaces, then cleaning is performed, but straight driving is difficult due to frequently changing friction force
Solution Approach 1:
The four support points serve multiple functions simultaneously: the left and right mops provide both cleaning function and lateral support, while the front and rear support points provide stability in the front-rear direction. This multi-functionality allows the robot to maintain straight driving by distributing the friction force generation across multiple points, reducing the variability in total friction force while still performing effective cleaning.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile robot is disclosed, including a body, a mop module installed on the body and being configured to clean using water, a water tank removably disposed in the body and being configured to store water to be supplied to the mop module, and a detachable water tank module installed on the water tank. The water-tank detachable module includes a hook engaged with or coupled to the body and an operation button disposed on a surface of the water tank to operate the hook.