Robotic Floor Cleaner Unitary Assembly for Sweep-Mop Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous floor cleaners lack an efficient and integrated system for sweeping and mopping, with limitations in fluid distribution and debris collection, leading to incomplete cleaning and increased complexity in operation.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous floor cleaning robot with a unitary assembly including a brush chamber, debris receptacle, and a fluid delivery system, featuring a brushroll, fluid distributor, and pump for controlled fluid application, along with a removable tank assembly for easy maintenance and refilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate sweep and mop system is used, then cleaning functionality is provided, but device complexity increases and circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sweep and mop systems into a single integrated unitary assembly that includes both the brushroll for sweeping and the fluid distributor for mopping. This integration reduces device complexity and circuit complexity while maintaining both cleaning functionalities, directly resolving the technical contradiction between versatility and complexity.
2Reliability
If fluid is applied during cleaning, then deep cleaning is achieved, but fluid distribution consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fluid distributor as an intermediary component between the cleaning system and the floor surface. This fluid distributor ensures consistent and uniform application of cleaning fluid across the floor, resolving the issue of inconsistent fluid distribution while maintaining effective deep cleaning capabilities.
3Stability of the object's composition
If tank assembly is fixed, then structural stability is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tank assembly from the main body of the robotic cleaner, making it a removable component. This segmentation allows the tank assembly to be easily removed for maintenance and refilling operations, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining structural stability when assembled. The removable design enables users to access and service the tank without disassembling the entire device.
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 robot effectively sweeps and mops in a single pass, ensuring a clean and dry floor surface with consistent fluid distribution and reduced circuit complexity, while the removable tank assembly simplifies maintenance and refilling processes.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid delivery pump configured to control a flow of the cleaning fluid to the at least one fluid distributor
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous floor cleaner or floor cleaning robot can include an autonomously moveable housing and a drive system for autonomously moving the autonomously moveable housing over a surface to be cleaned based on inputs from a controller. A brush chamber, a debris receptacle, and a supply tank can be formed as a unitary assembly removable from the autonomously moveable housing.