Suction robot and cleaning station

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Solution Overview

Problem

Robotic vacuum cleaners face challenges in effectively removing elongated dirt particles like hair from their brush rollers, which often wind around and require frequent, time-consuming, and unhygienic cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A robotic vacuum cleaner design featuring a rotatable brush roller with elastic lamellae and a cutting wheel that performs a rolling cutting function to collect and sever elongated dirt particles in a defined collection area, allowing for automated cleaning and improved dirt pickup efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a blade is used to cut through elongated dirt particles on the brush roller, then the dirt particles are severed, but the elongated dirt particles are not automatically cleaned off and cleaning is not sufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrush roller cleaningVSAvoidautomatic cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning station automatically performs the cleaning function by detecting when the robot docked and activating the cutting wheel to sever hair on the brush roller, eliminating the need for manual user intervention and providing self-service automatic cleaning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical cleaning action (user removing hair) is replaced by an automated mechanical cutting system with a rotating cutting wheel that severs hair on the brush roller automatically when the robot is docked

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If the brush roller picks up elongated dirt particles, then cleaning performance is improved, but the elongated dirt particles wind around the brush roller and require frequent manual cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidmanual cleaning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting wheel severs elongated dirt particles on the brush roller before they can wind around extensively, preventing the problem from worsening and reducing the frequency of manual cleaning interventions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically removes (discards) severed hair particles through the suction system during normal operation, continuously maintaining the brush roller without requiring manual cleaning time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If frequent manual cleaning of the brush roller is performed, then elongated dirt particles are removed, but the process is time-consuming and unhygienic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrush roller cleanlinessVSAvoidcleaning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The robot autonomously maintains its own brush roller cleanliness through automated cutting and suction at the cleaning station, eliminating the need for users to perform time-consuming and unhygienic manual cleaning tasks while ensuring continuous reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 solution enables automatic and complete removal of elongated dirt particles, enhancing cleaning performance and reducing the need for frequent manual cleaning, while maintaining hygiene and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a cutting wheel which is designed to perform a rolling cutting function on elongated dirt particles located on the brush roller when it is rotated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling cutting:

Implementation Method 2

elastic lamellae, which are firmly connected to the brush roller body, which are positioned in the brush roller cross-section in the circumferential direction in relation to the roller rotation direction at a predetermined distance behind the bristles and which have a transverse force component acting on the elongated dirt particles in an axial direction of the brush roller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

a suction chamber with a suction channel leading out of the suction chamber for transporting air and dirt particles away

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 4

The suction chamber is designed to build up a negative pressure, which is generated during operation by means of a fan of the vacuum robot

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3922154B1Suction robot and cleaning station

Publication Date: 2022.08.24 MIELE & CO KG

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Figure 4~5
Figure 6

AI summary

The invention relates to a robotic vacuum cleaner with a housing (11) which has a suction opening (18) on its underside for drawing in air and dirt particles and a suction chamber (15) with a suction channel (17) extending from the suction chamber (15) for transporting air and dirt particles away, and a rotatable brush roller (14) arranged in the suction chamber (15) for picking up dirt particles that can be transported to the suction channel (17), and a cutting wheel (6) which is configured to perform a rotary cutting function on elongated dirt particles (5) located on the brush roller (14) when it is set in rotation. The invention further relates to a cleaning station for a robotic vacuum cleaner, comprising a docking unit for a robotic vacuum cleaner, a cutting wheel (6), and a control unit configured to exert a defined cutting force on a cylindrical surface of a brush roller of a robotic vacuum cleaner located in the docking station.