Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Segmented Side Arm to Prevent Object Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic vacuum cleaners with movable side arms often get stuck due to objects caught in the gap between the side arm and the appliance housing, especially in complex layouts, disrupting autonomous cleaning operations.
Innovation Solution
The robotic vacuum cleaner features a side arm with two interconnected arm elements, one rotationally and one linearly mounted, which projects and retracts to eliminate the gap, ensuring objects cannot get caught and improving cleaning power in edge and corner regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a movable side arm is used to clean edge and corner regions, then cleaning capability in hard-to-reach areas is improved, but objects may become caught in the gap between the side arm and appliance housing causing the cleaning operation to stop
Solution Approach 1:
The side arm is divided into two separate arm elements that can move independently relative to each other. The first arm element is rotationally mounted to the appliance housing while the second arm element is linearly mounted to the first arm element. This segmentation allows the arm elements to move independently, preventing objects from becoming trapped between them and the appliance housing, while still enabling the side arm to reach edge and corner regions for cleaning.
2Area of stationary object
If the side arm projects in front of the appliance housing to reach edge regions, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the gap between side arm and housing allows objects to get caught
Solution Approach 1:
The side arm structure employs dynamic mounting mechanisms where the first arm element is rotationally mounted to the appliance housing and the second arm element is linearly mounted to the first arm element. This dynamic configuration allows the arm elements to move and adjust their positions, eliminating fixed gaps where objects could become trapped while maintaining the ability to project forward for extended cleaning coverage in edge and corner regions.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic vacuum cleaner for autonomously cleaning surfaces. The robotic vacuum cleaner comprises an appliance housing and a side arm. The side arm is movably mounted on the appliance housing. A brush element is disposed on the side arm. The side arm projects, in a first position, in front of the appliance housing in part and, in a second position, is received by the appliance housing. The side arm comprising a first arm element having a first end and a second end. The first arm element is movably mounted in the appliance housing at the first end. The side arm comprises a second arm element having a first end and a second end. The second arm element is movably mounted in the appliance housing at the first end and is movably connected to the second end of the first arm element at the second end.