Wet cleaning device for cleaning a surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wet cleaning devices often cause damage to surfaces due to prolonged contact with cleaning agents, especially when the cleaning element remains damp or stationary, leading to issues like surface swelling, particularly on wooden floors.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a detection device that distinguishes between movement and standstill, and compares the cleaning device's speed with a threshold value, triggering the displacement of the cleaning element into a lifted position when it detects a standstill or low speed, thereby preventing prolonged contact and potential damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the cleaning element remains in contact with the surface during standstill, then cleaning continuity is maintained, but surface damage occurs due to prolonged exposure to cleaning agents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning continuityVSAvoidsurface damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning element is designed to dynamically change its position relative to the surface based on the device's movement state. During movement, the cleaning element contacts the surface for cleaning; during standstill, it is automatically lifted away to prevent damage. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining cleaning continuity and preventing surface damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates a detection device that monitors the movement state (movement vs. standstill) and provides feedback to the control device. Based on this feedback, the control device automatically adjusts the cleaning element's position. This closed-loop feedback system ensures the cleaning element is lifted during standstill to prevent surface damage while maintaining contact during active cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the cleaning element is automatically lifted during standstill, then surface damage is prevented, but cleaning interruption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface damage preventionVSAvoidcleaning interruption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the cleaning element's contact state based on real-time movement detection. During standstill, the cleaning element is lifted to prevent surface damage; during movement, it automatically returns to contact the surface for cleaning. This dynamic behavior prevents surface damage while minimizing cleaning interruptions through automatic resumption upon movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The detection device continuously monitors movement state and provides feedback to the control device. When movement is detected after standstill, the control device receives feedback and automatically lowers the cleaning element to resume cleaning. This feedback mechanism ensures cleaning interruption is minimized while maintaining surface protection during standstill.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a detection device is added to distinguish movement from standstill, then surface damage is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface damage preventionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates a detection device that monitors movement state and provides feedback to the control device. Based on this feedback, the control device automatically adjusts the cleaning element's position. This closed-loop feedback system ensures the cleaning element is lifted during standstill to prevent surface damage while maintaining contact during active cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control device automatically determines the cleaning element's position based on detection device feedback without requiring manual intervention. The system self-adjusts to prevent surface damage during standstill and automatically resumes cleaning when movement is detected, reducing the need for complex manual control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If the cleaning element is kept in contact with the surface, then cleaning effectiveness is maintained, but the cleaning element may swell or cause surface swelling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidcleaning element stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning element dynamically adjusts its contact state with the surface based on movement detection. During active cleaning, it maintains contact for effectiveness; during standstill, it is automatically lifted to prevent swelling and maintain reliability. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and element stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The detection device provides feedback on movement state to the control device, which automatically adjusts the cleaning element's position. This feedback mechanism ensures the cleaning element is lifted during standstill to prevent swelling, thereby maintaining reliability, while keeping it in contact during cleaning to maintain effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3482669B1Wet cleaning device for cleaning a surface
Publication Date: 2022.09.21 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP3482669B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3482669B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3482669B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a wet cleaning device (1) with a cleaning element (2) for the mechanical wet cleaning of a surface (3) to be cleaned and a device part section (4) supporting the wet cleaning device (1) relative to the surface (3), wherein the wet cleaning device (1) has a displacement device (5) which is configured to automatically cause a displacement of the cleaning element (2) relative to the device part section (4), or vice versa, depending on a movement state and/or a fault status of the wet cleaning device (1), so that the cleaning element (2) can be displaced from a working position lowered onto the surface (3) to a distance position raised from the surface (3).It is proposed that the relocation device (5) be associated with a detection device (6) which is configured to distinguish between a standstill of the wet cleaning device (1) and a movement of the wet cleaning device (1).