Robot Cleaner Station Lever Lock for Dust Bag Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaner stations face issues with dust scattering and motor damage due to improper dust bag recognition and increased durability and manufacturing costs of electrical sensors.
Innovation Solution
A station with a docking suction port, duct, holder, and lever mechanism that ensures proper dust bag recognition and connection, preventing dust scattering and motor damage, while reducing manufacturing costs through a rotatable lever and elastic member design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an electrical sensor is used to detect a dust bag, then dust bag recognition accuracy is improved, but sensor durability decreases and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical sensor detection system with a purely mechanical lever-based detection system. The lever is positioned such that it is contacted by the dust bag when properly installed, causing the lever to rotate and mechanically trigger the connection between the holder and duct. This mechanical substitution eliminates the electrical sensor entirely, resolving the contradiction by achieving reliable dust bag recognition through mechanical means alone, thereby improving sensor durability (by removing the sensor) and reducing manufacturing costs.
2Ease of manufacture
If a dust bag is not properly recognized, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but dust scattering and motor damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by using the lever mechanism to verify dust bag installation before allowing the suction process to begin. The lever is positioned in advance to be contacted by the dust bag, and its rotation预先 (in advance) confirms proper installation. This preliminary mechanical verification ensures that the suction motor will only operate when a dust bag is correctly installed, preventing dust scattering and motor damage while maintaining simple manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever acts as an intermediary between the dust bag installation state and the suction operation. Instead of directly using an electrical sensor to detect and control the suction process, the lever serves as a mechanical mediator that translates the physical presence of the dust bag into a mechanical signal that enables or disables the connection between the holder and duct. This intermediary mechanism prevents harmful effects by ensuring proper installation before operation, while avoiding the cost and reliability issues of electrical sensors.
3Productivity
If the holder and duct are always connected, then productivity is improved, but dust bag recognition reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the connection between the holder and duct conditional rather than fixed. The lever mechanism dynamically adjusts the connection state based on dust bag installation: when the dust bag is properly installed, the lever rotates to allow connection; when not installed, the lever maintains the disconnected state. This dynamic, conditional connection ensures both productivity (connection occurs when needed) and reliability (connection only occurs with proper dust bag recognition).
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 effectively prevents dust scattering and motor damage, enhances durability, and decreases manufacturing costs by ensuring proper dust bag recognition and connection, improving the overall functionality and cost-effectiveness of the station.
Implementation Method 1
The holder may comprise an elastic member pressing the lever to maintain the lever at the first state to be protruded and disposed continuously on the surface of the holder
Implementation Method 2
The station may comprise a driver configured to suction the dust from the robot cleaner to the dust bag when the robot cleaner is connected to the docking suction port
Data Source
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AI summary
A station suctioning dust from the robot cleaner includes a docking suction port connectable to a robot cleaner, a dust container to store dust from the robot cleaner, a duct connected to the docking suction port and the dust container, a holder disposed in the dust container, and to which a dust bag is mountable, and a lever configured to hinder a connection of the holder and the duct while the dust bag is in a separated state from the holder, and the lever allows the connection of the holder and the duct while the dust bag is in a mounted state to the holder.