Zoned Pile Density Cleaning Textile for Uniform Contact Pressure

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning textiles with uniform pile density fail to achieve even cleaning results due to uneven contact pressure distribution, leading to uneven dirt pickup and mechanical stress, resulting in uneven wear and soiling.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning textile with a cleaning surface that has a lower pile density in the middle than at the edges, allowing for greater central pressure while maintaining even cleaning performance by balancing contact pressure forces through varying pile densities across different zones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the cleaning surface has a uniform pile density, then the manufacturing is simple, but the cleaning result is uneven due to uneven contact pressure distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform pile densityVSAvoidcleaning result uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning textile implements local quality by varying the pile density across different regions of the cleaning surface. Specifically, the central region has a lower pile density while the peripheral regions have a higher pile density. This non-uniform pile density distribution compensates for the uneven contact pressure that occurs during wiping operations, where the center typically experiences higher pressure. The result is a more uniform cleaning performance across the entire surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If greater contact pressure is applied to the center of the cleaning surface, then the cleaning efficiency in the central area is improved, but the mechanical stress becomes unevenly distributed causing uneven wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidmechanical stress distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by creating distinct pile density zones: a central zone with lower pile density that accommodates higher contact pressure, and peripheral zones with higher pile density that experience lower contact pressure. This spatial variation in pile density ensures that each region is optimized for its specific pressure conditions, balancing mechanical stress distribution and preventing uneven wear while maintaining high cleaning efficiency in the central area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the pile density is increased in the central area to improve dirt pickup, then the dirt pickup capability is enhanced, but the contact pressure distribution becomes more uneven leading to stronger cleaning in some areas and weaker in others

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirt pickup capabilityVSAvoidcleaning uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements local quality by decreasing the pile density in the central area rather than increasing it. This counterintuitive approach allows the softer, lower-density central region to conform better to surfaces under high contact pressure, distributing the pressure more evenly. The peripheral regions maintain higher pile density for effective dirt pickup where contact pressure is naturally lower, achieving both good dirt pickup capability and uniform cleaning across the surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3367869B1Cleaning textile and methode of application and flat mop comprising said cleaning textile
Publication Date: 2021.09.29 CARL FREUDENBERG KG
  • EP3367869B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3367869B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Cleaning textile, which has a cleaning side (1) comprising a cleaning surface (2) which is delimited by an edge (3) on the outer periphery, wherein the cleaning surface (2) comprises three cleaning zones (4, 5, 6) which are functionally arranged in series in the mopping direction (7) of the cleaning textile. The first cleaning zone (4) which is front in the mopping direction (7) comprises a first cleaning gauze (8) that has a first gauze height (9) and a first gauze thickness (10), the central second cleaning zone (5) comprises a second cleaning gauze (11) that has a second gauze height (12) and a second gauze thickness (13) and the rear third cleaning zone (6) comprises a third cleaning gauze (14) which has a third gauze height (15) and a third gauze thickness (16). The second cleaning zone (5) which is central in the cleaning direction has a relatively larger second gauze height (12) and a respectively smaller second gauze thickness (13) with respect to the first cleaning zone (4) which is front in the mopping direction (7) and the third cleaning zone (6) which is rear in the mopping direction, and each cleaning zone (4, 5, 6) has a smaller gauze thickness (10, 13, 16) in the centre than at the edge, viewed transversely with respect to the mopping direction (7).