Surface maintenance machine light projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In environments with obstacles like shelving or product stands, surface maintenance machines are difficult to see, hindering quick information gathering about their location and status, especially in autonomously driven modes where a user may not be present.
Innovation Solution
Equipping surface maintenance machines with a light projection mechanism that projects light onto a ceiling surface, allowing for quick and easy information gathering about the machine's location and status, even when direct sight is blocked by obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate systems (sweep mechanism, water spray system, vacuum system, light projection system) are used to maintain different aspects of the playing surface, then comprehensive surface maintenance is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate maintenance systems (sweep mechanism, water spray system, vacuum system, and light projection system) into a single integrated cart. The housing contains all these subsystems, allowing them to work together simultaneously as the cart moves across the playing surface, thereby achieving comprehensive surface maintenance without requiring multiple separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The cart is designed as a multi-functional device that performs sweeping, water spraying, vacuum collection, and light projection simultaneously. This universal design allows a single device to address multiple aspects of playing surface maintenance (debris removal, moisture control, and defect detection) that would traditionally require separate specialized equipment.
2Ease of manufacture
If a housing encloses the sweep mechanism, water spray system, and vacuum system, then component protection and integration are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing serves as a unified enclosure that integrates multiple subsystems (sweep mechanism, water spray system, vacuum system, and light projection system) into a single structural unit. This consolidation simplifies manufacturing by providing a common platform for all components and reduces the number of separate assemblies that would need to be coordinated.
3Area of stationary object
If the cart moves across the playing surface to maintain it, then coverage area increases, but time to complete maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cart is designed to continuously perform multiple maintenance functions (sweeping, water spraying, vacuum collection, and light projection) simultaneously as it moves across the playing surface. This continuous multi-functional operation maximizes the use of travel time, ensuring that every moment of movement contributes to comprehensive surface maintenance rather than performing functions sequentially.
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 light projection mechanism enables rapid discernment of the machine's location and status by projecting light onto the ceiling, reducing the time needed to address any operational issues or deviations.
Implementation Method 1
light projection system (420)
Implementation Method 2
light projection system (420)
Data Source
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AI summary
A surface maintenance machine includes a body, a surface maintenance tool coupled to the body, processing circuitry supported at the body, and a light projection mechanism supported at the body and coupled to the processing circuitry. The light projection mechanism includes a light housing, a light emitting element within the light housing, and a projection lens that is configured to focus light emanating from the light emitting element. The light projection mechanism is configured to project light onto a ceiling surface that is above a floor surface along which the surface maintenance machine is configured to perform a surface maintenance task using the surface maintenance tool.