Suction robot

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum robots face challenges in safely and comfortably carrying their housing up or down stairs due to dust separation issues when the carrying handle is used, leading to potential dust leakage.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum robot design featuring a two-part closure flap for the dust collection container and an extendable carrying handle with spring elements, allowing the handle to automatically retract for space-saving and ergonomic carrying, while the closure flap ensures dust containment during transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a carrying handle is used to transport the vacuum robot, then ease of carrying is improved, but dust leakage from the dust collection container occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of carryingVSAvoiddust leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The closure flap is divided into two separate parts: a first closure flap portion and a second closure flap portion. Each portion can independently close different openings (intake opening and discharge opening), allowing effective dust containment while maintaining structural flexibility and ease of operation during carrying.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a continuous closure flap is used to prevent dust leakage, then dust containment is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust containmentVSAvoidclosure flap structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closure system is segmented into two independent flap portions rather than one continuous flap. This reduces the complexity of each individual flap component and allows them to be positioned and sized more efficiently within the dust collection container structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The closure function is extracted and distributed to separate flap portions positioned at different locations (intake opening and discharge opening). This eliminates the need for a single large continuous flap, reducing overall structural complexity and space requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Volume of moving object

If the carrying handle is retracted into the housing, then space saving is improved, but ease of carrying deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace savingVSAvoidease of carrying
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The carrying handle is designed to be retractable into the housing structure when not in use, nesting the handle within the available space of the vacuum robot body. This minimizes the overall volume occupied by the carrying mechanism while maintaining full carrying functionality when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enables safe and comfortable carrying of the vacuum robot across multiple levels by preventing dust leakage and optimizing space usage, ensuring effective cleaning and maintenance without dust loss.

Implementation Method 1

at least one spring element is arranged on the carrying handle, which is designed to automatically move the carrying handle, once it has been pulled out into the carrying position against the spring force of the spring element, back into its home position by means of spring force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a fan arranged in the housing for generating a vacuum to collect dust by means of an air stream

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 3

a separation system for cleaning the collected air of dust

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSeparation:

Data Source

PatentEP4197414B1Suction robot
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP4197414B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4197414B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4197414B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a vacuum robot (1) for cleaning and maintaining floor surfaces (2) with a mobile housing (3) and a blower arranged in the housing (3) for generating a negative pressure for picking up dust by means of an airflow, with a separation system (4) for cleaning the picked-up air from the dust and with a dust collection container (5) for picking up separated dust, wherein an extendable carrying handle (6) is arranged on the housing (3).