Water Surface Cleaner Bin Access and Anti-Leakage Baffle Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Water surface cleaning robots face challenges with inconvenient garbage bin removal and hinge connections that are prone to damage, affecting their durability and usability.

Innovation Solution

A water surface cleaning robot design featuring a slidably connected upper cover that facilitates easy removal of the garbage bin and incorporates an anti-leakage baffle mechanism to prevent accidental damage, along with a rotating element for efficient garbage collection and a solar panel for energy efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the upper cover is fixed, then the structure is simple, but the garbage bin cannot be removed easily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegarbage bin removalVSAvoidupper cover connection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The upper cover is designed to slide between a closed position and an open position along guide rails, transforming from a fixed static structure to a dynamic movable structure. This allows the upper cover to be easily opened for garbage bin removal while maintaining structural simplicity through the sliding mechanism rather than complex hinges or locks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If hinges are used to connect upper cover and main body, then the upper cover can be opened, but the hinges are easy to be damaged accidentally

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupper cover openingVSAvoidhinge connection durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the hinge component entirely, replacing it with a sliding connection mechanism where the upper cover moves along guide rails. This removes the weak hinge joint that was prone to damage, while still achieving the necessary opening and closing functionality through the sliding action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the shaft lever of the anti-leakage baffle directly faces the rotating element, then the structure is compact, but it may cause collision and damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent arrangementVSAvoidanti-leakage baffle and rotating element
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft lever of the anti-leakage baffle is intentionally positioned asymmetrically so that it does not directly face the rotating element. This asymmetric arrangement prevents direct collision between the two components during operation, reducing the risk of damage while maintaining a relatively compact overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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

Enhances user convenience, extends the robot's service life, and improves garbage collection efficiency while reducing energy consumption and maintenance needs.

Implementation Method 1

a solar panel for energy efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolar energy conversion: Photovoltaic Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4696838A2Water surface automatic cleaning apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 SHENZHEN AIPER INTELLIGENT CO LTD
  • EP4696838A2 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4696838A2 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4696838A2 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

A water surface automatic cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The water surface automatic cleaning apparatus includes: a main body including a cavity inside; a garbage bin arranged at the cavity and including an inlet on a side of the garbage bin; an anti-leakage baffle arranged on the main body, the anti-leakage baffle being configured to allow to open or close at least a part of area of the inlet by rotating; and a rotating element arranged near to the inlet on the main body and configured to feed garbage in water into the garbage bin by rotating, wherein a shaft lever of the anti-leakage baffle is positioned below all portions of the rotating element or, in a direction parallel to the forward direction of the water surface automatic cleaning apparatus, a shaft lever of the anti-leakage baffle does not directly face the rotating element.