Vacuum cleaner with emptying indicator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum cleaners lack effective indicators for determining the optimal time to empty suction material based on weight, leading to potential overfilling and increased manual handling risks, especially with high-density materials, which can result in reduced efficiency and health hazards.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating electronic weigh cells and a control panel that allow operators to set and monitor a desired weight increase, emitting optical or acoustic signals when the set weight is reached, ensuring timely emptying and preventing overfilling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If vacuum cleaner operates without frequent emptying checks, then productivity is improved, but receiver may become overfilled causing contamination and health hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvework process efficiencyVSAvoidcontamination and health hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a weight measurement system that continuously monitors the receiver content and provides feedback to the operator through visual indicators. When the weight reaches a predetermined threshold, the indicator signals the operator to empty the receiver, preventing overfilling and its associated hazards while maintaining continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a predetermined weight threshold before the receiver becomes full. By detecting when this threshold is reached, the system enables preliminary emptying action before overfilling occurs, preventing contamination and health hazards before they can manifest.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If vacuum cleaner is emptied frequently to prevent overfilling, then overfilling is prevented, but productivity decreases due to unnecessary interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of overfillingVSAvoidwork process efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The weight-based feedback system provides accurate information about receiver content, enabling emptying only when necessary. This eliminates unnecessary emptying interruptions while ensuring the receiver is emptied before overfilling occurs, maintaining both reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual checking methods with an automated weight measurement system. This substitution provides continuous, accurate monitoring without requiring operator intervention, thereby preventing overfilling while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If indicator is based on suction pressure measurement, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision is insufficient for determining actual filling degree

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindicator system simplicityVSAvoidfilling degree accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces pressure-based measurement with weight-based measurement using load cells. This substitution provides direct measurement of the actual filling degree (weight of suction material) rather than inferring it from pressure, significantly improving measurement precision while maintaining acceptable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If weight measurement system is implemented, then measurement precision for suction material amount is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuction material weight measurementVSAvoidweighing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The weight measurement system serves multiple functions: it measures the filling degree of the receiver, monitors suction material accumulation, and provides feedback for timely emptying. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering comprehensive monitoring capability from a single integrated system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The weight measurement system automatically monitors and signals when emptying is needed without requiring operator intervention or manual checking. The system serves itself by providing continuous monitoring and automatic alerting, reducing the operational burden despite the added complexity.

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 solution optimizes emptying intervals, adheres to manual handling regulations, and reduces the risk of overloading operators by providing real-time weight monitoring and customizable settings for different materials.

Implementation Method 1

wherein the vacuum cleaner is equipped with a weigh cell for measuring a weight of the vacuum cleaner and the receiver assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWeight measurement:

Data Source

PatentEP2820991B1Vacuum cleaner with emptying indicator

Publication Date: 2019.05.22 V BROENDUM

Figure 1A~1B

AI summary

The present invention concerns a vacuum cleaner wherein the weight increase of the vacuum cleaner is continuously measured in connection with suction off or collecting various suction material, and when the measured increase reaches a desired adjustable value, an indication is emitted, indicating to the operator that the set amount of suction material has been sucked up and that emptying is to be performed.