Self-Cleaning Mopping Cloth System for Autonomous Floor Cleaners
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current self-propelled cleaning robots cannot automatically clean their mopping cloths, leading to manual intervention and reduced cleaning efficiency over time due to accumulated dust and debris.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a clean water tank, waste-water tank, base, cleaning unit, clean water pipeline, and waste-water pipeline that automatically sprays cleaning liquid onto the mopping cloth, collects dirt, and directs it into the waste-water tank, preventing dust from accumulating on the base and enhancing automation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the self-propelled cleaning apparatus performs wet cleaning with a mopping cloth, then the cleaning function is enhanced, but the mopping cloth accumulates stains, dust, and hair requiring manual cleaning or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning apparatus automatically cleans its own mopping cloth by retracting it into the body, spraying cleaning liquid onto the cloth, and using a cleaning brush to scrub the cloth. The dirty water is then discharged automatically, eliminating the need for manual intervention in the cleaning process.
Solution Approach 2:
The mopping cloth is designed to be retractable, moving between an extended position during cleaning and a retracted position during automatic cleaning. This dynamic movement allows the cloth to be automatically cleaned without manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between enhanced cleaning function and ease of operation.
2Loss of time
If the mopping cloth is used for an extended period, then cleaning coverage increases, but cleaning effectiveness decreases due to accumulated dirt
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic cleaning system enables continuous operation by periodically cleaning the mopping cloth during or between cleaning cycles. The cleaning liquid is sprayed continuously onto the cloth, and the brush operates continuously to maintain cleaning effectiveness without interrupting the overall cleaning process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cleaning of the mopping cloth by spraying cleaning liquid and using the brush before the cloth becomes heavily soiled. This preliminary action prevents accumulation of dirt that would reduce cleaning effectiveness, allowing the cloth to be used for extended periods maintain high performance.
3Reliability
If manual cleaning of the mopping cloth is performed, then cleaning effectiveness is maintained, but automation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning apparatus automatically cleans its own mopping cloth through a self-contained system that includes cleaning liquid storage, spraying mechanisms, a cleaning brush, and waste water discharge. This self-service capability maintains cleaning effectiveness while maximizing automation, eliminating the need for manual cleaning intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning apparatus integrates multiple functions into a single automated system: it cleans floors using the mopping cloth, stores and dispenses cleaning liquid, mechanically scrubs the cloth with a brush, and discharges dirty water. This multi-functional integration maintains cleaning effectiveness while achieving high automation.
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 device effectively cleans and recycles the mopping cloth, reducing manual intervention and maintaining cleaning efficiency by automatically collecting and disposing of dirt, thus enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The water outlet is configured to spray a cleaning liquid toward a direction away from the base
Implementation Method 2
The cleaning chamber exposes at least one portion of the at least one cleaning brush and is for the at least one cleaning brush to clean a mopping cloth
Implementation Method 3
The waste-water pipeline communicates between the waste-water tank and the cleaning chamber of the cleaning unit, and is for the cleaning liquid sprayed while the cleaning unit cleans the mopping cloth to pass through the waste-water pipeline and be collected in the waste-water tank
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning a mopping cloth of a self-propelled cleaning apparatus. The cleaning device includes a clean-water tank, a waste-water tank, a base, a cleaning unit, a clean-water pipeline and a waste-water pipeline. The cleaning unit includes a water outlet, a cleaning brush and a cleaning chamber. The water outlet is configured to spray a cleaning liquid toward a direction away from the base. The cleaning brush cleans a mopping cloth. The clean-water pipeline communicates between the clean-water tank and the water outlet and is for the cleaning liquid in the clean-water tank to pass through the clean-water pipeline and be sprayed from the water outlet. The waste-water pipeline communicates between the waste-water tank and the cleaning chamber of the cleaning unit and is for the cleaning liquid sprayed while the cleaning unit cleans the mopping cloth to pass through the waste-water pipeline and be collected in the waste-water tank.