Robot vacuum charging station
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing charging apparatuses for robot cleaners often result in the mop surface being continuously in contact with the floor during charging, leading to mop contamination, odor generation, and floor staining. Additionally, these apparatuses are bulky and prone to damage during transportation due to their L-shape design.
Innovation Solution
A charging apparatus with a detachable docking plate that maintains the mop spaced apart from the floor during charging. The docking plate is designed to be easily mounted and detached from the charging apparatus body, which accommodates a power module, and includes an engaging protrusion and hook mechanism for secure alignment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot cleaner is docked on a traditional charging apparatus with the mop in continuous contact with the floor, then the charging function is achieved, but the mop surface becomes contaminated and generates odor, and the floor becomes stained
Solution Approach 1:
The charging apparatus is divided into a charging body and a detachable docking plate. The docking plate can be selectively mounted on or detached from the charging body, allowing the mop to be elevated during charging when docked on the plate, thus preventing contamination while maintaining charging functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The docking plate is designed to position the robot cleaner at a different vertical height during charging, elevating the mop surface above the floor level. This dimensional change in positioning prevents the mop from contacting the floor while maintaining all charging functions
2Reliability
If the charging apparatus is designed as a bulky L-shape structure to accommodate the power module, then the charging function is achieved, but the apparatus becomes prone to damage during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The charging apparatus is segmented into a charging body and a detachable docking plate. When not in use, the docking plate can be detached and removed, allowing the charging body to be transported separately without the vulnerable L-shape structure, reducing transportation damage risk while preserving charging functionality when needed
3Ease of operation
If the docking plate is made detachable to enable easy transport and cleaning, then user convenience is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking plate is extracted as a separate, detachable component from the charging body. It can be easily mounted or detached without requiring disassembly of the entire charging apparatus, simplifying transport and cleaning operations while adding minimal complexity through the mounting/detaching mechanism
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 prevents mop contamination and floor staining by keeping the mop elevated during charging, and enhances user convenience by allowing easy transport and cleaning of the docking plate. The design also reduces the bulkiness and risk of damage associated with traditional charging apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
The docking plate includes an engaging protrusion that is disposed in a front portion, at least a portion of which is inserted into the charging apparatus body, and a hook that is disposed at a rear of the engaging protrusion, at least a portion of which is caught on the charging apparatus body.
Implementation Method 2
the robot cleaner may be configured to drive in a specific direction by using a friction force generated by a plurality of mops rotating on the floor surface and in contact therewith
Implementation Method 3
the greater the frictional force between the mop and the floor surface, the stronger the mop can wipe the floor surface, so that the robot cleaner can effectively clean the floor surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a charging apparatus for a robot cleaner including a charging apparatus body including a housing that accommodates a power module therein, and a bottom plate that is coupled to a bottom surface of the housing and on which a charging terminal is disposed, and a docking plate that is selectively mounted on the bottom plate of the charging apparatus body and docks the robot cleaner on an upper portion, wherein the docking plate includes an engaging protrusion that is disposed in a front portion, at least a portion of which is inserted into the charging apparatus body, and a hook that is disposed at a rear of the engaging protrusion, at least a portion of which is caught on the charging apparatus body. It is an invention related to a charging apparatus for a robot cleaner in which the docking plate is easily attached to and detached from the charging apparatus body.