Cleaning Roller Housing Lid With Pivotable Bracket Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning machines with exchangeable cleaning rollers often require complex mechanisms and multiple components for easy roller replacement, complicating user operation and increasing structural complexity.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning machine design featuring a pivotable bracket with convex holding bodies and receptacles on the roller housing, allowing for simple locking and release of the lid without tools, using a retaining ball mechanism for secure locking and easy transition between positions, minimizing components and enhancing operability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex mechanism with multiple components is used for roller replacement, then the roller can be securely fixed, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure fixation of rollerVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device combines multiple functions into a single integrated mechanism. The bracket serves both as a structural support and as a locking element that engages with the roller housing. The spring provides both the locking force and the release mechanism through a single component, eliminating the need for separate locking pins, clips, or multiple fasteners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-loaded bracket automatically locks into place when the roller is inserted, requiring no manual intervention for securing. The user simply needs to push the roller in, and the spring mechanism self-activates to engage the locking position. For release, the user presses a single button that triggers the spring to automatically disengage the roller.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If a simple locking mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of secure fixation may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of componentsVSAvoidsecure fixation of roller

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket utilizes a curved, arc-shaped engagement surface that complements the roller's cylindrical shape. This curved geometry creates a natural mechanical interlock where the bracket wraps around a portion of the roller, distributing locking forces across a larger contact area and preventing accidental disengagement while maintaining a simple single-component structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring is pre-loaded during assembly to store elastic potential energy, which is then released to provide the locking force when the roller is inserted. This preliminary energizing of the spring ensures that the locking mechanism is always ready to secure the roller firmly without requiring additional power sources or complex actuation systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple components are used for locking, then secure fixation is achieved, but the ease of operation and release becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure lockingVSAvoidroller exchange simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The release button extracts the essential function of unlocking from a complex multi-step process and concentrates it into a single, easily accessible component. Pressing this button releases the spring's locking force, allowing the roller to be removed with a simple pulling motion. This extraction of the release function to a dedicated button makes the operation intuitive and requires minimal user effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If a tool-free release mechanism is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but the reliability of secure locking during operation may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool-free releaseVSAvoidlocking stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The spring acts as an intermediary between the user's simple button press and the complex task of releasing the locked roller. When the button is pressed, the spring mediates the force transmission to disengage the bracket from the roller, providing a smooth, controlled release that maintains reliability while requiring minimal user effort. The spring absorbs and translates the small button press force into the larger force needed to overcome the locking engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11517161B2Cleaning machine with roller housing

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG

AI summary

A cleaning machine is provided, including at least one cleaning roller, a roller housing having a roller receptacle for the at least one cleaning roller, wherein the at least one cleaning roller is exchangeably positioned on the roller housing and the roller receptacle has an opening to the outside, a lid for closing the opening, and a locking device for fixing the lid to the roller housing, wherein at least one convex holding body is arranged on the roller housing, in that a pivotable bracket is arranged on the lid, in that at least one receptacle for the at least one holding body is arranged on the pivotable bracket, and wherein a release position of the pivotable bracket, the at least one holding body can dip into and/or exit the associated receptacle, and in a locking position, an exit of the holding body from the associated receptacle is blocked.