Tabbed Squeegee Assembly for Fast Blade Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing squeegee assemblies for surface maintenance vehicles face challenges in efficient assembly and disassembly, particularly on uneven or textured floor surfaces, leading to blade damage and increased maintenance time.
Innovation Solution
A squeegee assembly with a novel tab retention structure, featuring multiple apertures in the squeegee blades and a vacuum core with protruding tabs, along with a clamp band system for secure assembly and disassembly, allowing for improved engagement and release of the blades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional squeegee blade attachment methods are used, then the structure is simple, but assembly and disassembly are time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The squeegee blade is divided into multiple segments with apertures that receive tabs from the vacuum core. This segmentation allows each blade segment to be independently attached and detached, enabling quick replacement without removing the entire blade assembly. The tabs protruding from the vacuum core align with apertures in the blade segments, creating a modular attachment system that significantly reduces assembly and disassembly time.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism is extracted from a complex fastening system to a simple tab-aperture interface. The tabs are protrusions extending from the vacuum core that directly engage with apertures in the blade segments, eliminating the need for screws, clips, or other retention mechanisms. This extracted simplification maintains secure attachment while enabling rapid blade replacement.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional blade retention structures are used, then fewer components are needed, but blade damage occurs during assembly and disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The blade segments are designed with localized apertures positioned to receive tabs from the vacuum core. These apertures are strategically placed to distribute mechanical stresses during attachment and detachment. The tabs are shaped and positioned to engage specific regions of the blade, concentrating forces in areas designed to handle them, thereby preventing blade damage while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tabs are pre-formed protrusions on the vacuum core that guide the blade segments into proper alignment during assembly. This preliminary positioning action ensures that blades are attached correctly the first time, preventing misalignment-induced damage. The tab-aperture interface is designed to naturally guide insertion, reducing the risk of forcing blades onto incorrect positions.
3Productivity
If simple retention structures are used, then assembly is quick, but consistent contact with the floor surface cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The tabs are designed with asymmetric geometries that provide different engagement characteristics. Some tabs may have larger surface areas or different orientations to ensure specific blade segments maintain optimal contact pressure with the floor. This asymmetric design allows quick assembly through simple tab insertion while simultaneously ensuring consistent blade-to-floor contact through strategically positioned and shaped engagement surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade segments are nested onto the vacuum core through the tab-aperture interface, with each blade segment positioned in a predetermined location. This nesting arrangement ensures that blades are consistently positioned relative to the vacuum core and each other, maintaining uniform contact with the floor surface. The nested structure provides mechanical guidance that preserves alignment and contact consistency during rapid assembly.
Data Source
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AI summary
A squeegee assembly for a floor surface maintenance machine having a tabbed frame, an apertured front squeegee blade adapted to receive at least portions of the tabs of said frame, a tabbed vacuum core having a surface adapted to receive portions of the tabs of the frame, a rear squeegee blade having apertures adapted to receive at least portions of the tabs of the vacuum core; and a clamp band for securing the frame, front and rear squeegee blades and vacuum core together. A method of quickly and efficiently assembling a squeegee assembly is also provided.