Surface Cleaning Machine with Gravity-Based Dirt Fluid Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surface cleaning machines are complex, energy-intensive, and require vacuum systems, making them inefficient and difficult to operate, especially for hard floors, as they lack a direct and efficient method to collect and manage dirt fluid without suction.

Innovation Solution

A surface cleaning machine design featuring a dirt fluid tank positioned between the cleaning roller unit and the drive motor, utilizing a stripping guide to direct dirt fluid from the cleaning roller into the tank, eliminating the need for suction and simplifying the structure, allowing for energy-saving operation and self-cleaning of the roller unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a suction fan is used to extract dirt fluid from the cleaning roller unit, then the dirt fluid can be collected effectively, but the device complexity increases and energy consumption rises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirt fluid collection efficiencyVSAvoidvacuum system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the suction fan from the system entirely, replacing it with a passive gravity-based collection mechanism. The dirt fluid tank is positioned to receive fluid directly from the cleaning roller without active suction, eliminating the vacuum system while maintaining collection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning system uses the natural weight and flow of dirt fluid to guide it into the collection tank without external energy input. The fluid flows passively from the roller surface into the tank under gravity, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for powered extraction devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If a suction fan is used to collect dirt fluid, then complete fluid removal is achieved, but the weight of the machine increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirt fluid collection completenessVSAvoidmachine weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The suction fan, which is the primary source of additional weight, has been completely removed from the system. The passive gravity-based collection mechanism achieves sufficient fluid removal without the heavy motorized components required for active suction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If a suction fan is used to extract dirt fluid, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system utilizes gravity and the natural flow characteristics of dirt fluid to achieve collection without external energy input. The passive mechanism maintains cleaning effectiveness while eliminating the continuous energy consumption associated with powered suction fans.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If the dirt fluid tank device is positioned close to the cleaning roller unit, then the transport path is minimized, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid transport efficiencyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dirt fluid tank is integrated directly with the cleaning roller assembly, combining the cleaning and collection functions into a unified structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate fluid transfer mechanisms and reduces overall structural complexity while maintaining efficient fluid collection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 machine operates efficiently with reduced energy consumption, eliminates the need for vacuum systems, and ensures the operator does not come into contact with dirt fluid, providing a high degree of automation and effective cleaning with minimal effort.

Implementation Method 1

The scraper guide device allows the dirt fluid to be removed from the at least one cleaning roller unit, particularly via a scraping effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScraping effect:

Implementation Method 2

The driven cleaning roller unit acts on the surface to be cleaned and performs a wiping motion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3426122B1Surface cleaning machine
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP3426122B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3426122B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3426122B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a surface cleaning machine, which comprises an appliance body (12) and a cleaning head (14) that is arranged on the appliance body (12), wherein at least one driven cleaning roll unit (18) is positioned on the cleaning head (14) and a dirty fluid tank device (66) is arranged on the cleaning head (14), and a drive motor (28), wherein the at least one cleaning roll unit (18) is assigned a stripper guide device (142) which acts on the at least one cleaning roll unit (18), wherein the stripper guide device (142) is arranged on an inlet opening (144) of the dirty fluid tank device (66), and wherein the stripper guide device (142) is arranged and formed such that dirty fluid from the at least one cleaning roll unit (18) can be coupled into the dirty fluid tank device (66) via the inlet opening (144) of the dirty fluid tank device (66) without a suction fan.