Favorites｜White Paper on Sweeping Robot Core Component Testing: In-depth Analysis of Airtightness and Flow Testing

I. Why are "sealing" and "unclogging" so critical?

With the rapid development of science and technology, sweeping robots have quietly entered thousands of households, becoming an indispensable intelligent cleaning assistant for modern families. However, theThe performance of any smart device is dependent on the stable operation of its internal precision components.::

User pain point scenarios::
Wet floor from leaking water tank? Insufficient suction due to poor sealing of the dust bin? Clogged water panel preventing mopping? Nozzle leakage affects cleaning?The root cause of these problems often points to poor airtightness or imprecise flow control of fittings.

ISO 9001 Revelation::
As the international quality management system standard emphasizes, "Product quality is the cornerstone of the survival and development of an enterprise". Airtightness and flow testing is a key part of ensuring product quality.

II. Core components of sweeping robots and their quality 'pain points'

To get a deeper understanding of the importance of airtightness and flow testing, let's take a look at a few key components of a floor sweeper specifically:

1. Water Tank: as containers for storing clean water.The air tightness of the tank is directly related to the possibility of leaks and the ability to provide a consistent and reliable source of water to the water circuit board.Once the water tank leaks, the mopping effect will be affected, or the electronic components inside the machine may be damaged.
2. Dustbin: The dust box is responsible for collecting dust and debris inhaled during the sweeping process.Good airtightness is a prerequisite for maintaining strong suction power of a sweeping robot, and if the dust box is not sealed properly, it will not only lead to a decrease in suction power, and also cause dust secondary pollution, affecting indoor air quality.
3. Water Circuit Board: The water circuit board is the core control hub of the sweeper's water system, which is responsible for accurately controlling the direction and flow of water, and ultimately delivering it to the nozzles and mopping cloths.The airtightness of the water circuit board directly determines whether it can work stably and reliably to prevent failures such as water leakage and short circuit.Also, the precision of the flow control directly affects the mopping results.
4. Nozzle: A nozzle mounted on the bottom of the sweeper is responsible for spraying water evenly onto the mopping cloth.The airtightness of the nozzle determines whether or not dripping will occur in the non-sprayed state, while its flow characteristics directly affect the coverage and uniformity of the water spray.

III. Tank air tightness test

The air tightness of the water tank is critical to the user experience. In the event of a leak, not only will the cleaning results be compromised, but damage may also be caused to the machine itself.

Relevant airtightness standards

In the field of floor sweeping robots, the airtightness of water tanks is usually tested with reference to the IP Protection Rating (Ingress Protection Rating).. The standard expresses a product's protection against solid foreign objects and liquids by means of a two-digit number. For water tanks, the second digit is particularly critical, as it represents the level of protection of the equipment against water:

• IPX7::Indicates that the device will not be affected by harmful effects when immersed in water for a short period of time (typically 1 meter of water for 30 minutes).This is an important reference for evaluating the sealing of water tanks in case of accidental water immersion. Precision Engineering precisely adopts the positive (negative) pressure method of testing, by monitoring the pressure decay value to determine whether the sealing is up to standard.
• IPX8::Indicates that the unit can be submerged for extended periods of time, the exact depth and duration of which are specified by the manufacturer.Some high-end sweepers may emphasize that their water tanks are IPX8 rated to ensure that they won't leak even under tougher conditions.
• IP67::This is a combination of IP6X (full dust protection) and IPX7 (short-term water immersion protection).Some industry analysts have pointed out that future sweeping robots as a whole may need to reach the IP67 level of protection, which also means that their water tanks may need to meet this standard.

Of course, in addition to IP ratings, many brands have more stringent in-house corporate standards with more specific requirements for tank airtightness, such as maximum allowable leakage rates.

Common Airtightness Test Methods

For the airtightness test of the water tank of the sweeping robot, there are two main methods commonly used in the industry:

• Pressure decay method (pneumatic method)::This is a more advanced and widely used method. The basic principle is to fill the tank with gas at a certain pressure.(usually compressed air)The pressure is then precisely monitored over a period of time.If the pressure drop exceeds a preset threshold, it can be determined that the tank is leaking. The advantages of this method are high testing accuracy, high efficiency, and automated testing can be realized, which is very suitable for quality control of mass production. As a professional test equipment manufacturer, Precision Engineering also strongly recommends the use of positive or negative pressure method to determine the sealing performance by accurately measuring the pressure decay value.
• Immersion method (bubble method)::This is a relatively traditional but still effective method. This is done by submerging a tank filled to a certain pressure and then carefully watching for bubbles to rise from the surface of the tank.If bubbles appear, it indicates that there is a leakage point in the water tank. The advantage of this method is that it is intuitive and easy to understand, and the cost of equipment is relatively low, but its accuracy and efficiency is relatively low, and it is easily affected by human factors.

IV. Dust box airtightness test

The airtightness of the dust box is directly related to the vacuuming effect of the sweeping robot, and if it is not sealed properly, it will not only reduce the cleaning efficiency, but also cause secondary pollution, which is a potential threat to the user's health.

Relevant airtightness standards

With regard to the airtightness of the dust box of the sweeping robot, we are mainly interested in its ability to prevent dust leakage. In this regard, you can refer to the dust protection class (first digit) in the IP protection class standard:

• IP5X::Indicates that it prevents harmful dust buildup, and although a small amount of dust is allowed to enter, it does not affect the normal operation of the equipment.
• IP6X::This is the highest level of dust protection and indicates that it is completely dust-proof and no dust can get in.For high-performance sweeping robots, dust boxes often need to be IP6X rated for dust protection to ensure optimal cleaning results and user experience.

In addition, although it is not a direct airtightness standard, the vacuum test can also indirectly reflect the sealing performance of the dust box. The dust box needs to be able to maintain a certain negative pressure to ensure that inhaled dust will not easily escape.

Common Airtightness Test Methods

For the airtightness test of the dust box of the sweeping robot, the common method used in the industry:

• pressure decay method: Similar to the water tank test, it is also possible to apply a certain positive pressure to the inside of the dust box and then monitor the change in pressure. If the pressure drops rapidly, again this means that the dust box is not sealing properly.

V. Water circuit board and nozzle airtightness and flow test

The water circuit board and nozzle are the core components of the sweeping robot to realize the mopping function.Their airtightness and flow characteristics have a direct impact on the uniformity of the water spray, the volume of water and the reliability of the entire water system., which is directly related to the user's mopping experience.

Relevant airtightness standards for water circuit boards

As the water circuit board is the electronic component that controls the flow of water, its airtightness is essential to prevent water leakage from short-circuiting the circuit. In this regard, we can again refer to the waterproof rating in the IP protection class standard. ConsiderThe water circuit board may come into contact with water during operation and therefore needs to be rated at least IPX7., to ensure that they are not damaged in the event of accidental water immersion.

Flow test standards and indicators related to water circuit boards and nozzles

Flow testing focuses on the accuracy of the water circuit board in controlling the flow of water as well as the amount and uniformity of water spray from the nozzles. Relevant key metrics include:

• flow rate::Refers to the amount of water that passes through a water circuit board or nozzle per unit of time, usually measured in milliliters per minute (ml/min). Different mopping modes may require different flow rates, for example, gentle scrubbing and deep cleaning require different amounts of water.
• stresses::The water circuit board needs to be able to provide sufficient and stable water pressure to ensure that the nozzles can spray water properly.The spraying distance and range can meet the design requirements.
• Spray pattern uniformity: The design of the nozzle needs to ensure that the water can be evenly sprayed onto the mop to avoid localized over-wetting or over-drying, which affects the mopping effect.

At present, the industry has not formed a unified standard for the flow test of water circuit boards and nozzles for sweeping robots. Typically, manufacturers set their own key metrics such as flow rate, pressure and spray pattern based on the design requirements of their product and the desired mopping results.

Common Airtightness Test Methods for Water Circuit Boards and Nozzles

• pressure decay method::Apply a certain amount of water or air pressure to the assembled water circuit board and nozzle system, and then monitor the pressure change, to determine if a leak exists. This method is effective in detecting small leaks.
• soaking::Detect leaks by submerging the water circuit board and nozzle system in water and observing for air bubbles.This method is simple and intuitive and is suitable for initial leak detection.

Sweeping robot water circuit boardAirtightness Tester

Common Flow Test Methods for Water Circuit Boards and Nozzles

• Visual inspection of spray patterns::Evaluate the performance of the nozzle by observing the shape, coverage and uniformity of the water stream emitted from the nozzle.This method is simple and easy to use, and can quickly detect defects in nozzle design, but cannot be adapted to high-volume production quality control.
• Gas Flow Detection Method::Precision Engineering's water circuit boards for floor sweeping robotsGas Flow DetectorIt is possible to test the patency of multiple pipelines at the same time.Although it is a gas flow, the structure of the water circuit board and potential clogging problems can be assessed indirectly.

Sweeper TankGas Flow Detector

VI. Suppliers of gas tightness test equipment

There are a number of equipment suppliers in the market that are noteworthy for the need of airtightness testing of accessories such as water tanks, dust boxes, water circuit boards and nozzles of sweeping robots:

• Precision Engineering: As an expert specializing in the field of airtightness testing, Precision Engineering not only has a comprehensive product line, but has also launched a new product line for floor sweeping robotsDual-channel airtightness testerThe machine and the support for customized fixture design make it a very promising partner.
• -ATEQ: As the world's leading provider of airtight andFlow Detection EquipmentAs a supplier, ATEQ provides solutions for a wide range of industries, including electronics and automotive, with a wide range of models ofairtightness leak detectorThe company is a leading supplier of electronic components of different sizes and accuracies. Its comprehensive product line and global service network make it a reliable choice.

Imported instruments, such as ATEQ, have a comprehensive product line and can provide the requiredAir tightness test equipment, enabling one-stop shopping, but with long delivery times and mediocre localization features. WhileJingcheng Industrial Technology, a leading manufacturer of domestic brands, has a wealth of practical application cases and industry experience in the field of floor sweeping robots., better understand the needs of the industry.

vii. conclusions and recommendations

This paper provides a preliminary analysis of the need for airtightness and flow testing of accessories such as sweeper robot tanks, dust boxes, water circuit boards, and nozzles, and identifies relevant industry standards, test methods, and potential equipment suppliers.

As a leader in the field of airtightness testing, Precision Engineering is undoubtedly a leader in the supply chain of floor sweeping robots.Air tightness testing equipmentThe preferred supplier of the

Based on the above analysis, we would like to propose the following suggestions in order to help Sweeping Robot industrial chain to choose the most suitable test equipment:

Clarify product model and specific test requirements

It is recommended that manufacturers further clarify the specific models of their sweeping robots andDetailed definition of airtightness specifications (e.g. IP rating, maximum allowable leakage rate) and flow rate specifications (e.g. target flow rate, pressure range, spray pattern requirements) to be achieved for each accessory (water tank, dust box, water circuit board, nozzle)The

Actively exploring customized solutions

If the standard equipment does not fully meet the specific needs of the manufacturer, you can actively engage in in-depth communication with yourself and other suppliers who have the ability to customize.Explore the feasibility of customized test solutions to ensure that the test solution is a perfect fit for the product characteristics.

Get a detailed quote and technical proposal

Obtain detailed equipment quotations and technical proposals from initially screened suppliers for a comprehensive comparative analysisIn addition, it focuses on the technical characteristics, testing accuracy, efficiency, after-sales service and the ability of different suppliers to provide comprehensive technical support.

Conduct equipment demonstrations or site visits

Where conditions permit, it is recommended thatRequire suppliers to conduct equipment demonstrations or arrange site visits to better visualize equipment performance and operating proceduresThe final decision will be made on a more informed basis.

Through the above steps, sweeping robot brand manufacturers will be able to more effectively evaluate the equipment and services provided by different suppliers, choose the one-stop solution for air tightness and flow testing of sweeping robot accessories that best suits their needs, thus comprehensively improving product quality, maintaining a leading position in the fierce market competition, and ultimately bringing users a better smart cleaning experience.

Currently, Precision Technology has a market share of 35% in the field of floor sweeping robots, providing complete solutions from stand-alone machines to complete line testing.

Original Statement: This article was written byShenzhen Jingchenggongke Technology Co., Ltd.Written by the technical team, reproduced with attribution.Data sources: Precision Engineering internal test data and customer cases.