Washer-Dryer Scrubber Fluid Containment for Low-Waste Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current washer-dryer machines suffer from significant dispersion of washing mixtures during operation, leading to water and detergent waste, incomplete collection of dirty water, poor cleaning quality, and increased maintenance costs due to the lack of a front and side containing and guiding system for the washing fluid, which results in inefficient cleaning and drying, especially in dusty or crowded environments.
Innovation Solution
A washer-drier scrubbing machine with a containing unit for the front and lateral flows of the washing mixture oriented towards a central operating brush, featuring a directional guiding system that prevents lateral dispersion and includes a rear floor wiper with adjustable pressure and a bi-helical brush for effective dirt collection and dust filtration, along with compressed air diffusers for enhanced drying and debris collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a conventional washer-dryer machine without front and side containing systems is used, then the machine structure is simple, but significant dispersion of washing mixture occurs on the ground leading to water and detergent waste
Solution Approach 1:
The containing system is divided into separate functional modules: front containing means (17) with curved rubber straps, side containing means (18) with rubber straps, and a floor wiper (16). Each module addresses specific dispersion zones, allowing targeted containment without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate containing structures (curved rubber straps and side containing means) that act as mediators between the washing mixture dispersion and the floor. These intermediaries capture and redirect the washing mixture before it disperses, reducing waste without requiring complete system redesign.
2Loss of substance
If counter-rotating cylindrical brushes with rubber straps are used, then the machine can collect dirty water, but excessive washing mixture is wasted on sides and rear especially in bends
Solution Approach 1:
The containing system applies different containment strategies to different zones: front containing means with curved rubber straps for the washing mixture flow, side containing means for lateral dispersion, and a floor wiper for rear collection. Each zone receives tailored containment appropriate to its specific dispersion characteristics.
3Reliability
If rubber straps scrape the floor to convey dirty water, then some collection is achieved, but abrasion causes rubber failure and incomplete collection especially on concrete floors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical scraping action of rubber straps with a floor wiper system that uses a different mechanism (pivoting wiper with suction) to convey dirty water. This substitution reduces mechanical abrasion on the rubber components while maintaining or improving collection effectiveness.
4Manufacturing precision
If wide turning radiuses are used to avoid wet marks, then drying quality improves, but operating manoeuvrability deteriorates in crowded or small rooms
Solution Approach 1:
The front containing means and side containing means perform preliminary containment of the washing mixture before the floor wiper acts. This preliminary action ensures that the washing mixture is already contained and guided when the machine turns, allowing tighter turning radiuses without compromising drying quality or leaving wet marks.
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 achieves efficient simultaneous sweeping, washing, and drying with reduced water and detergent consumption, improved cleaning quality, and reduced operational and purchase costs, allowing for effective operation in tight spaces and maintaining cleanliness without slippery residues.
Implementation Method 1
and then oriented towards said aligned openings (3) with the specific function to prevent that the discharged washing mixture could expand outside the outline of said structure (2)
Implementation Method 2
a front rotating roll brush (1) the peripheral surface thereof being covered of spiked bristles (1′) facing upwards
Implementation Method 3
the rotating brush (1) rotating anti-clockwise, performs a washing action on the ground
Implementation Method 4
conveying everything in a separator container (8) which retains the high consistency dirt, leaving the dirty water to settle in an intermediate container (9)
Implementation Method 5
has as well the function to suck and discharge in said tank (15), through ducts (16′), the dirty water which is collected from the processed floors
Implementation Method 6
a rear floor wiper (16) having a parabolic shape... the pressure of the floor wiper on the floors, which allows to compress the front (17′) and rear (17′′) shaped rubbers
Data Source
AI summary
A washer-drier scrubbing machine includes a rotating roll brush the surface covered by spiked bristles facing upwards and towards the center near the front portion, and is covered by a casing which extends downwards and near the ground is provided with a “flap” having aligned openings oriented and facing the floor at the sides of the casing and facing the ground are sprayers fed with water-detergent mixtures pumped from a tank. Proximate the sprayers are arranged diffusers of compressed air which prevent the sprayed washing mixture from expanding outside the outline of the casing and being conveyed only towards the casing openings and towards a rotating brush and not beyond, on the track along which the machine proceeds the dirty water collected by the brush is sent to a tank through a separator which retains the high consistency dirt, and an intermediate container.