JP2005348914A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner capable of detecting the rotation of a rotating member of a suction head part and detecting dust and the amount of the dust in a dust collecting part using a power generating element producing an electromotive force when an impact applies thereto and an LED lit using the power generating element as the power supply. <P>SOLUTION: This vacuum cleaner is disposed with a rotating member 40 such as a brush, a rotation driving means 43 rotating the rotating member 40 and a power transmission mechanism 46 connecting the rotating member 40 to the rotating driving means 43 in a head part 30 attached to the tip of a suction rod 20 grasped by a user. The head part 30 is disposed with the power generating element 90 electrically connected to the LED 92 and producing the electromotive force by receiving the impact, the rotating member 40, the power transmission mechanism 46 or the rotation driving means 43 is provided with a striking member 50, when the rotating member 40 is rotated, abutting on the power generating element 90 and applying an impact to the power generating element 90, and the LED 92 is provided in a visible position from the outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  This invention is providing the vacuum cleaner incorporating the electric power generation element which is electrically connected to LED and generate | occur | produces an electromotive force by receiving an impact.

The electric vacuum cleaner has a suction head portion at the tip of the suction hose, and performs cleaning by sucking dust from the head portion.
In the suction head section, rotating members such as brushes and rubber rollers are arranged to efficiently suck out dust from floors, carpets, tatami mats (hereinafter referred to as `` floor surfaces ''), and the rotating members are rotated by motors, etc. There is a vacuum cleaner that is forced to rotate by a driving means.
There is a vacuum cleaner that detects the amount of dust sucked from the suction hose and checks whether there is a lot of dust on the floor surface, etc., or changes the output of the suction motor according to the amount of dust on the floor surface etc. .
There is also a vacuum cleaner that detects the amount of dust accumulated in the dust collection unit and tells the user when to discard the dust in the dust collection unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-89769 (FIG. 2)

  In either case, the LED display is generally performed together with the detection means so that the user can visually recognize it. However, wiring for supplying power to the detection means and the LED is necessary, and the increase in size and weight of the apparatus becomes a problem. In particular, when the detection means and the LED display are provided in the suction head section, the detection hose and the LED wiring are required for the suction hose, and the suction hose becomes thicker or heavier, and the user becomes tired or longer. There were times when it could not be used for hours.

  The present invention uses a power generating element that generates an electromotive force when an impact is applied, and an LED that is lit using the power generating element as a power source, to rotate the rotating member of the suction head unit, detect dust, and control the amount of dust in the dust collecting unit. It aims at providing the vacuum cleaner which enabled it to detect.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention has a suction head unit by arranging a power generation element that is electrically connected to an LED and generates an electromotive force when subjected to an impact at an appropriate position of the vacuum cleaner. The rotation of the rotating member, the detection of dust, or the amount of dust in the dust collecting section can be detected.

  Since the vacuum cleaner of the present invention is electrically connected to the power generating element that generates electromotive force by receiving the impact as described above, the wiring for receiving power supply from the power source of the vacuum cleaner is provided. I don't need it. Therefore, there is an advantage that the weight is not increased in any position and the installation is easy.

In the present invention, the power generation element (90) and the LED (92) are arranged at appropriate positions of the vacuum cleaner so that the situation of the vacuum cleaner can be accurately grasped.
The vacuum cleaner used in the present invention is connected to a dust collecting part (60) for collecting sucked dust, a suction mechanism for generating an air flow in the suction direction to the dust collecting part (60), and a dust collecting part (60). A flexible suction hose, a suction rod (20) provided in communication with the tip of the suction hose, and a general one provided with a suction head (30) provided at the tip of the suction rod (20) Can do.

As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation element (90) (also referred to as “piezoelectric element”) is an element that generates an electromotive force upon receiving an impact. For example, two piezoelectric ceramics (94) (94) An element having a bi-moful structure in which is laminated. An LED (92) is electrically connected in series to the power generation element (90), and when an impact or vibration is applied to the power generation element (90), an electromotive force is generated in the power generation element (90), and the LED (92 ) Can be lit.
As such a power generation element with LED, a light emitting stick (LES) manufactured by Nissin Electric Co., Ltd. can be exemplified.

  Hereinafter, embodiments using the power generation element (90) will be described in order.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tip suction head portion (30) of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which a part of the outer cover (32) of the suction head portion (30) of FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
In the suction head section (30), a connection port (33) connected to the suction rod (20) is rotatably connected to the head body (31).
The head body (31) is configured by communicating a suction port (34) for sucking dust and a connection port (33). The suction port (34) is widely formed in the lateral direction, and a rotary member (40) such as a brush or a rubber roller is rotatably supported by the suction port (34). The rotating member (40) is connected to the motor (45), which is the rotational driving means (43), disposed above the rear part in the head body (31) via the belt (47), which is a power transmission mechanism (46). Has been.
The wiring of the motor (45) extends to the cleaner body (12) through the head body (31), the connection port (33), the suction rod (20), and the suction hose (18). In addition, the wiring for operating the motor (45) extends to a switch disposed on the grip part (not shown) on the proximal end side of the suction rod (20), depending on the user's operation and the selected operation. Turned on and off.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a striking member (50) is disposed at the tip of the rotating shaft (44) of the motor (45) so as to be rotatable integrally with the rotating shaft (44). As the striking member (50), as shown in FIG. 4, a resin rotating body in which three blades (52) (52) (52) project from the tip of the rotating shaft (44) in the outer peripheral direction is illustrated. can do. The power generation element (90) is disposed in the rotational transition path at the tip of the blades (52), (52), and (52) so as to contact the tip of the blades (52), (52), and (52).
As shown in FIGS. 3 (shown by dotted lines) and FIG. 4, the power generation element (90) is attached to the upper part inside the head body (31), and the striking member (50) abuts against the power generation element (90). An electromotive force is generated by receiving an impact force and a vibration force. At the tip of the power generation element (90), an LED (92) is electrically connected in series with the power generation element (90), and the LED (92) is a transparent window provided on the upper surface of the head body (31) ( The lighting state is visible from 99).

According to the vacuum cleaner of the above configuration, when the motor (45) is operated by a user operation or the like, the rotating member (40) rotates through the belt (47) connected to the rotating shaft (44). The striking member (50) attached to the tip of the rotating shaft (44) rotates.
By the rotation of the striking member (50), each blade (52), (52), (52) of the striking member (50) sequentially hits the power generation element (90) to give impact power and vibration force to the power generation element (90). As a result, an electromotive force is generated in the power generation element (90), and the LED (92) blinks. The rotation speed of the motor (45) is several hundred rpm or more, and the blade (52) (52) (52) is added to the power generation element (90) three times in total for one rotation of the motor (45). As a result, the LED (92) appears to be lit instead of blinking.
As described above, whether or not the rotating member (40) is rotating can be directly recognized by light. Moreover, since it is not necessary to arrange the wiring for turning on the LED (92) up to the cleaner body (12) via a suction hose or the like, the weight and size can be reduced. Increase in burden can be suppressed.

  In the above embodiment, the striking member (50) is provided on the rotating shaft (44) of the motor (45). However, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the striking member (50) is provided on the rotating member (40). The power generating element (90) may be disposed so as to be able to come into contact with the striking member (50). The striking member (50) can be formed by providing a protrusion (54) on the rotating shaft (41) of the rotating member (40). By providing the striking member (50) on the rotating member (40), the rotation of the rotating member (40) can be directly detected, so the motor (45) is rotating, but the belt (47) is cut and the rotating member is rotated. When power is not transmitted to (40), or when the belt (47) slips and the rotating member (40) does not rotate well, the support part of the rotating member (40) is clogged with dust and the rotating member (40) rotates. In the case where there is not, the LED (92) does not light up or blink, so there is an advantage that the state of the rotating member (40) can be surely visually confirmed.

  5 and 6, the power generating element (90) is pivotally supported (56) so that one end of the power generating element (90) is exposed on the rotation transition path of the protrusion (54), and the upper end is inclined rearward. The power generation element (90) is urged by the return spring (58) so as to contact the projection (54).

  The striking member (50) can be disposed not only on the rotating shaft (41) and rotating member (40) of the motor (45) but also on the power transmission mechanism (46) between them as described above. Of course. For example, when the belt (47), which is the power transmission mechanism (46), is provided with a protrusion that becomes the striking member (50), or when power is transmitted using a gear or the like, the striking member (50 ) May be provided.

In the present embodiment, the power generation element (90) and the LED (92) are mounted in order to detect the amount of dust in the dust collecting section (60).
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner body (12) with the suction hose of the vacuum cleaner removed.
As shown in FIG. 7, the vacuum cleaner body (12) has a connection port (13) to which a suction hose (18) is connected on the front side of the housing (14), and a dust collecting port that communicates with the connection port (13). A suction mechanism (16) for sucking air from the part (60), the dust collecting part (60), and an exhaust port (17) provided at the rear part of the cleaner body (12). The illustrated vacuum cleaner houses the paper pack (62) in the dust collecting section (60), and the dust flowing into the dust collecting section (60) through the suction hose is stored in the paper pack (62).

As shown in FIG. 7, when the air in the dust collecting part (60) becomes a negative pressure lower than a predetermined pressure, the vacuum cleaner body (12) is opened at the upper part of the housing (14). A movable valve (70) that allows
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the movable valve (70) includes a valve body (71) having a circular cross section, and an urging means (72) for urging the valve body (71) upward from below. And a cylindrical member (73) that supports the valve body (71) so as to be movable up and down.
The valve body (71) has a bottomed cylindrical shape and is fitted with sufficient margin to the cylindrical member (73). A rubber member (76) that comes into contact with the valve body (71) and maintains airtightness in a state in which the valve body (71) is urged upward is fitted on the upper peripheral surface of the cylindrical member (73). Yes. The lower end of the cylindrical member (73) is closed, and a projection (74) that supports the biasing means (72) such as a coil spring without deviation is formed at the center.
An opening (75) through which the sucked air passes is formed on the side surface of the cylindrical member (73), and the opening (75) has an end of the power generation element (90) on the transition path of the valve body (71). The department is deployed so that it comes out.
The LED (92) electrically connected in series to the power generation element (90) is a vacuum cleaner body (99) by a transparent window (99) made of a transparent resin or the like on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the vacuum cleaner body (12). It is visible from the outside of 12).

In the vacuum cleaner having the above-described configuration, when dust accumulates in the dust collecting section (60) from the normal state shown in FIG. 8 and the suction ability is reduced, the air pressure in the dust collecting section (60) is lowered. When the atmospheric pressure in the dust collecting section (60) is lowered to a predetermined atmospheric pressure or lower, the valve element (71) is pulled downward against the urging force of the urging means (72) as shown in FIG. Air is sucked from between the body (71) and the cylindrical member (73), and supplied to the dust collecting part (60) through the opening (75).
When the valve body (71) is pulled downward, the lower end of the valve body (71) collides with the power generation element (90) protruding from the opening (75) as shown in FIG. An electromotive force is generated, and the LED (92) is lit.
When a large amount of dust is collected in the dust collection part (60), the air pressure in the dust collection part (60) is always below the predetermined pressure, so the valve disc (71) is finely pulled downward. It vibrates and repeats many collisions with the power generation element (90). Therefore, the LED (92) is visually recognized as being repeatedly turned on and off.

According to the vacuum cleaner having the above-described configuration, it can be visually recognized using the LED (92) that dust has accumulated in the dust collecting section (60). For this reason, it is not necessary to receive power from the cleaner body (12), and no complicated wiring is required.
Moreover, the member which consists of the said movable valve (70), an electric power generation element (90), and LED (92) can be unitized, and it can also be attached to various vacuum cleaners, without depending on a model.

In this embodiment, the power generation element (90) and the LED (92) are used to detect the amount of dust in the cyclone dust cup (80) of the vacuum cleaner and notify the user. .
The dust cup (80) is attachable to and detachable from the dust collecting part (60) of the cleaner body (12), and as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a suction port (81) communicating with the suction hose at the front end. A filter (82) is provided at the rear end, and a grip (83) is formed on the upper part to be gripped when the user puts in and out of the cleaner body (12). The air flow including dust enters the dust cup (80) from the suction port (81), and then swirls, so that dust and air can be separated by centrifugation.

  The power generation element (90) and the LED (92) are arranged in the portion indicated by the oblique line (86) in FIG. 10, that is, in the dust cup (80) shown in FIGS. If the entire dust cup (80) is transparent, there is no problem if it is placed inside, but if the transparency is low or opaque, the LED (92) in the dust cup (80) cannot be seen from the outside. It is desirable to make the proper place transparent so that the LED (92) can be visually recognized from the outside.

In the dust cup (80), a plurality of ribs (85) and (85) are provided at predetermined intervals so as to extend substantially to the center of the side surface of the power generation element (90) and sandwich the power generation element (90). 11 and 12, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the LED (92) is vertically positioned so as to be sandwiched between the ribs (85) and (85) and disposed in the dust cup (80). .
In the illustrated embodiment, four power generating elements (90) and four LEDs (92) are mounted (A, B, C, D from the side close to the filter (82) in FIGS. 11 and 12).

When dust is sucked by operating the vacuum cleaner from the empty state of the dust cup (80), part of the dust sucked and guided into the dust cup (80) collides with the power generation element (90). . Due to the impact force, an electromotive force is generated in the power generation element (90), and the LED (92) is turned on.
After that, as shown in FIG. 12, dust accumulates in the dust cup (80), and if the dust (100) covers the power generation element (90) at the position of A, the power generation element (90) of A will no longer have Since the separated dust does not collide, no electromotive force is generated, and the A LED (92) remains off.

As dust (100) accumulates in the dust cup (80), the B power generation element, then the C power generation element (90) is covered with dust, and no electromotive force is generated, and the B LED (92), The C LEDs (92) are turned off in sequence.
As shown in FIG. 13, the D power generating element (90) is covered with dust (100), and no electromotive force is generated, and the D LED (92) is turned off, that is, all the LEDs (92) are turned off. Then, the dust (100) is full in the dust cup (80), and the user can be notified visually that it is time to discard the dust (100) in the dust cup (80).

  According to the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, the power generation element (90) and the LED (92) are arranged in the dust cup (80), so that it is possible to notify the user of the time for throwing away the trash. For this reason, it is not necessary to supply power from the vacuum cleaner body (12). Therefore, by using such a configuration for a member that is attached to and detached from the cleaner body (12), such as the dust cup (80), it is possible to achieve a reduction in size and weight.

  In the above embodiment, four power generating elements (90) and LEDs (92) are provided, but the number is not particularly limited as long as it is one or more. When only one power generation element (90) and LED (92) are used, it is desirable to provide them at a position near the upper limit of dust (100) in the dust cup (80), that is, at a position D shown in FIG. .

  Further, since the power generation element (90) and the LED (92) have water resistance, even if the dust cup (80) is washed with water, it can be used if it is dried. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for the dust cup (80) that requires washing with water.

  In the present embodiment, the power generation element (90) and the LED (92) are used to detect the amount of dust in the sucked air and determine the cleanliness of the cleaned part.

  The power generation element (90) and the LED (92) can be provided in the suction head portion (30) as shown in FIG. 14, or at the base end of the suction rod (20) as shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 shows an embodiment in which the power generation element (90) and the LED (92) are provided in the suction head section (30).
The power generation element (90) is arranged so as to be exposed to the air passage (35) containing dust in the suction head section (30).
For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the power generation element (90) is housed in the passage (35) of the suction head portion (30) and is behind the rotating member (40) such as a rotatable brush or rubber roller, that is, The dust scraped up by the rotating member (40) can be disposed at a position where it can easily hit.

The power generation element (90) is disposed so as to protrude inside the suction head section (30). In FIG. 14, the power generation element (90) is bonded to an L-shaped protrusion (36) protruding downward from the upper part of the suction head section (30).
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a transparent window (99) made of a transparent material is fitted into the outer cover (32) of the suction head section (30) at a position where the LED (92) faces. The LED (92) is visible from the outside.

When the vacuum cleaner is operated and dust is sucked from the suction head section (30), the sucked dust collides with the power generation element (90) together with the sucked air, and an electromotive force is generated in the power generation element (90). As a result, the LED (92) is lit. Therefore, while the LED (92) is lit, dust remains on the floor surface and the like, so that it can be visually confirmed that further cleaning is better.
If there is no dust in the cleaned place and the cleanliness level is increased, the dust is no longer in the sucked air, so that no impact is applied to the power generation element (90), and the LED (92) is turned off.

  Since the LED (92) is arranged on the upper surface of the suction head (30) viewed when the user cleans, the user can easily check the lighting state of the LED (92). Therefore, it can be easily known whether or not the floor surface or the like has been cleaned.

In the above embodiment, the power generation element (90) and the LED (92) are provided in the suction head section (30). However, as shown in FIG. 16, the power generation element (90) is mounted in the suction rod (20). May be.
The power generation element (90) is disposed so as to protrude from the inner surface on the proximal end side of the suction rod (20) toward the center of the suction rod (20).
The power generation element (90) can be attached to an L-shaped projection (22) projecting inward from the suction rod (20) or can be attached by insert molding.
The LED (92) is provided at a position visible from the outside. For example, a part of the operation panel (26) on the upper surface on the base end side of the grip part (24) may be a transparent window (99), and the LED (92) may be positioned in the transparent window (99).
Even when the power generation element (90) is provided on the suction rod (20), the sucked dust collides with the power generation element (90) in the suction rod (20) in the same manner as described above, and the LED (92) is turned on. . Therefore, it can be determined whether or not the floor surface or the like is sufficiently cleaned by confirming whether or not the LED (92) is lit.

  Since the power generation element (90) and the LED (92) have water resistance, even if the suction head (30) and the suction rod (20) are washed with water, they can be used if they are dried. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for the suction head portion (30) and the suction rod (20) that require washing with water.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as a vacuum cleaner that can confirm various operations and the like by incorporating a power generation element and an LED into a desired position of the vacuum cleaner.

It is a perspective view of a power generation element and LED. It is a top view of a suction head. It is a figure which shows and shows a part of suction head. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3. It is explanatory drawing which shows the Example which provides a protrusion in a rotating member and gives an impact to a power generation element, and makes LED light. It is explanatory drawing which shows the Example which provides a protrusion in a rotating member and gives an impact to a power generation element, and makes LED light. It is sectional drawing of a cleaner body. It is an enlarged view of a movable valve. It is an enlarged view which shows the state which the movable valve opened. It is a perspective view of a dust cup. It is a top view of a dust cup. It is sectional drawing which follows the line YY of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the line YY of FIG. It is sectional drawing which mounted the electric power generation element in the suction head. It is a top view of a suction head. It is base end side sectional drawing of a suction rod.

Explanation of symbols

(20) Suction rod
(30) Suction head
(40) Rotating member
(43) Rotation drive means
(50) Impact member
(60) Dust collector
(80) Dust cup
(90) Power generation element
(92) LED

Claims (6)

The head (30) attached to the tip of the suction rod (20) gripped by the user, a rotating member (40) such as a brush, a rotation driving means (43) for rotating the rotating member (40), and a rotating member ( 40) and a vacuum cleaner provided with a power transmission mechanism (46) linking the rotation drive means (43),
In the head part (30), a power generation element (90) that is electrically connected to the LED (92) and generates an electromotive force by receiving an impact is provided,
The rotating member (40), the power transmission mechanism (46), or the rotation driving means (43) hits the power generating element (90) and hits the power generating element (90) when the rotating member (40) is rotated. Comprising member (50),
A vacuum cleaner characterized in that the LED (92) is provided at a position where it can be seen from the outside.   The rotating shaft (44) of the rotation driving means (43) includes a striking member (50) that can rotate integrally with the rotating shaft (44) and protrudes toward the peripheral surface, and the striking member (50) The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the power generation element (90) is arranged so as to come into contact with the striking member (50) in the rotation transition path.   The rotating shaft (41) of the rotating member (40) includes a striking member (50) that can rotate integrally with the rotating shaft (41) and protrudes toward the circumferential surface, and the striking member (50) The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the power generation element (90) is disposed in the rotation transition path so as to be in contact with the striking member (50). In a vacuum cleaner with a dust collector (60),
In the dust collecting part (60), a power generation element (90) that is electrically connected to the LED (92) and generates an electromotive force by receiving an impact is arranged in a direction in which dust is collected, and the LED (92) An electric vacuum cleaner provided at a position visible from the outside. Electricity provided with a dust collecting part (60) inside the housing (14), and a movable valve (70) that opens when dust accumulates in the dust collecting part (60) and the inside of the housing (14) becomes negative pressure. In the vacuum cleaner,
The housing (14) includes a power generation element (90) that is electrically connected to the LED (92) and generates an electromotive force upon receiving an impact.
A vacuum cleaner characterized in that when the movable valve (70) is opened or closed, the power generation element (90) hits the movable valve (70), and the LED (92) is lit or blinked. In a vacuum cleaner in which the head (30) is attached to the tip of the suction rod (20) gripped by the user,
Inside the suction rod (20) or the head part (30), the power generation element (90), which is electrically connected to the LED (92) and generates an electromotive force by receiving an impact, hits the sucked air. The vacuum cleaner is characterized in that the LED (92) is provided at a position that is visible from the outside.

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