Surface cleaning machine

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surface cleaning machines face challenges in maintaining a consistent spacing between the cleaning roller and sweeping element, especially when cleaning at various angles, which affects the effectiveness of dirt collection and removal.

Innovation Solution

A rotatable sweeping element on the cleaning roller holder allows for adaptable positioning relative to the cleaning roller, ensuring a constant spacing and effective dirt collection, with a resilient device providing spring force to maintain contact and resist wear, enabling efficient dirt removal regardless of the machine's angular position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the sweeping element is fixed on the cleaning roller holder, then the structure is simple, but the spacing between the cleaning roller and sweeping element varies with angular position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidspacing consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sweeping element is made rotatable on the cleaning roller holder, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position relative to the cleaning roller as the machine changes angular position during cleaning operations. This dynamic adjustment maintains a substantially constant spacing between the cleaning roller and sweeping element throughout the operating range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the sweeping element is made rotatable, then the spacing consistency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespacing consistencyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A rotatable mounting mechanism is provided that allows the sweeping element to rotate on the cleaning roller holder while maintaining a substantially constant spacing relationship. The rotation is enabled through a bearing or pivot connection that permits angular adjustment without requiring complex actuation systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sweeping element's rotatability is made independent of the cleaning roller's rotation, allowing the sweeping element to self-adjust its position passively as the machine moves, without requiring additional motors or active control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the cleaning machine operates at various angles, then the adaptability is improved, but the spacing between cleaning components varies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular position adaptabilityVSAvoidspacing consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sweeping element is configured to rotate on the cleaning roller holder in response to changes in the machine's angular position during cleaning operations. This dynamic rotation compensates for angular variations, maintaining a substantially constant spacing between the cleaning roller and sweeping element across the full operating range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The solution addresses the angular position variation by introducing rotational freedom in a different dimension - the sweeping element rotates on the holder rather than translating linearly, thereby compensating for angular changes while maintaining spacing consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If the sweeping element is made resilient with spring force, then the contact and wear resistance are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact maintenance and wear resistanceVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A resilient device with spring force is provided that acts on the sweeping element to maintain continuous contact with the cleaning roller holder. The spring force compensates for wear and maintains optimal spacing relationships without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient device automatically maintains contact and compensates for wear through its spring force, without requiring external adjustment or intervention. The spring-loaded connection self-adjusts as components wear or positions change.

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

This configuration ensures optimized cleaning results by maintaining a consistent spacing and effective dirt collection across all angular positions, enhancing the machine's maneuverability and cleaning efficiency, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient device is provided that acts with a spring force on the sweeping element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS10327619B2Surface cleaning machine

Publication Date: 2019.06.25 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG

AI summary

A surface cleaning machine is provided, including a cleaning roller holder, a cleaning roller that is arranged on the cleaning roller holder, a drive device for rotary driving of the cleaning roller, and a sweeping element that is associated with the cleaning roller and supplies swept material to the cleaning roller, wherein the sweeping element is arranged rotatably on the cleaning roller holder.