CN110022746B - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an electric dust collector which is easy to hold and lift a handle and can reduce the burden of the wrist of a user. An electric vacuum cleaner (3) is provided with: a main body case (11); a wheel (12) that supports the main body case (11); a main body handle (14); and a base portion (133) integrated with the main body handle (14). The base (133) is rotatably supported by the main body case (11). The rotation center line of the wheel (12) and the rotation center line of the base (133) are substantially arranged on the same line.

Description

Electric vacuum cleaner

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electric vacuum cleaner.

Background

A horizontal (Canister type) vacuum cleaner having a rotatable main body handle at a front end of a cleaner main body is known. In the conventional electric vacuum cleaner, when the main body handle is held and the cleaner main body is lifted, the insertion port of the dust collection hose is oriented upward.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2014-204773

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, when cleaning a high place such as a curtain or a ceiling surface of furniture, a user may grip a handle of the cleaner body and lift the cleaner body to use the electric cleaner.

The horizontal type electric vacuum cleaner is provided with a dust collection hose connected to a cleaner main body. The user moves the cleaner body while pulling the dust collection hose. Therefore, the dust collection hose is connected exclusively to the front surface of the cleaner body, or to the cleaner body so as to be able to freely bend a portion extending from the front surface of the cleaner body. Therefore, when the cleaner body is lifted up by gripping the handle, the front portion of the cleaner body is sagged and the rear portion is raised due to the weight of the dust collection hose. In other words, the posture of the cleaner body when the cleaner body is placed on a surface to be cleaned (floor surface) is different from the posture of the cleaner body when the cleaner body is lifted by gripping the handle.

This change in posture may be difficult to lift the cleaner body depending on the position where the handle is attached and the direction in which the handle is attached, and may cause a user to feel pain by putting a burden on the wrist. In addition, in the conventional vacuum cleaner, if the suction port is directed to a high position, the dust collection hose must be pulled up to pull up the front portion of the cleaner body.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an electric vacuum cleaner that can be easily lifted by grasping a handle and can reduce the burden on the wrist of a user.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problem, an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a main body case; a wheel supporting the main body case; a handle; and a base portion integrated with the handle, the base portion being rotatably supported by the body case, and a rotation center line of the wheel and a rotation center line of the base portion being substantially aligned with each other.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the wheel is rotatably supported by the base.

Also, the wheels and the base of the electric vacuum cleaner of the embodiment of the present invention are preferably annular.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the wheel support portion includes a plurality of first rotating bodies provided on an outer periphery of the base portion and rotatably supporting the wheel.

In addition, the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention preferably includes: a base holding body fixed to the main body case; and a plurality of second rotating bodies interposed between the main body case and the base holding body to rotatably support the base and the wheel.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the plurality of second rotating bodies include a plurality of third rotating bodies provided on one side surface of the base portion and contacting the base portion holder, and a plurality of fourth rotating bodies provided on the other side surface of the base portion and contacting wheels.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the third rotating body and the fourth rotating body are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction of the base portion.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the plurality of second rotating bodies include a plurality of fifth rotating bodies provided on an inner periphery of the base and contacting the base holder.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the plurality of second rotating bodies include a plurality of sixth rotating bodies provided in the main body case and contacting the wheels.

In the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the handle restoring portion is provided to store energy when the handle is pulled up, and the handle restoring portion consumes the stored energy to generate a force to store the handle.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the handle returning section includes: a first gear provided at the base; a second gear rotatably supported by the main body case and meshed with the first gear; a third gear rotatably supported by the main body case and meshed with the second gear; and a spring that accumulates energy by rotation of the third gear.

The invention has the following effects: according to the present invention, there is provided an electric vacuum cleaner which can be easily lifted by grasping a handle and can reduce the burden on the wrist of a user.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a cleaner body of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cleaner body of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a primary dust container of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the primary dust container of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the primary dust container of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a dust removing mechanism of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a diagram of a power transmission mechanism of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a diagram of a power transmission mechanism of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a diagram of a power transmission mechanism of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a diagram of a power transmission mechanism of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the electric vacuum cleaner in an extracted state of the main body handle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the main body handle and the wheels of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a main body handle and wheels of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view of a main body handle and wheels of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of a main body handle and wheels of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view of a main body handle and wheels of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view of a main body handle and wheels of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a handle returning part of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a station of the electric vacuum cleaner of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of a station of the electric vacuum cleaner of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a power transmission path of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 23. In the drawings, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes a stationary station 2 and an electric vacuum cleaner 3 that can be connected to and disconnected from the station 2.

Fig. 1 shows a mode in which the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is coupled to the station 2. This system is referred to as a storage system of the electric vacuum cleaner 1. Fig. 2 shows the manner in which the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is separated from the station 2. Fig. 2 shows a mode in which the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is used for cleaning.

The electric vacuum cleaner 3 is of a so-called cordless type. The electric vacuum cleaner 3 is a so-called horizontal type, but is not limited thereto, and may be a vertical type (Upright type), a Stick type (Stick type), or a hand-held type (hand type).

The station 2 has both a function of charging the electric vacuum cleaner 3 and a function of collecting dust collected by the electric vacuum cleaner 3 and accumulating the collected dust. The station 2 is disposed in a suitable place in a living room.

The user separates the cleaner body 7 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 connected to the station 2 from the station 2 (fig. 2), and moves the electric vacuum cleaner 3 over a surface to be cleaned in a living room or holds the electric vacuum cleaner 3 and moves the electric vacuum cleaner to clean the surface to be cleaned. Thereafter, the user returns (connects) the cleaner main body 7 to the station 2 and stores it (fig. 1). When the cleaner body 7 is connected, the station 2 charges the cleaner body 7 and collects dust accumulated in the electric vacuum cleaner 3 at a proper time. That is, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 collects dust collected by the electric vacuum cleaner 3 to the station 2 and empties the electric vacuum cleaner 3 each time the cleaner body 7 is connected to the station 2 after the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is used for cleaning.

Note that the frequency of collecting dust from the electric vacuum cleaner 3 to the station 2 may not be every time the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is connected to the station 2. The frequency of collecting dust may be 7 times, which is the number of times dust is collected every 1 cycle, for example, on the premise that the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is used 1 time per day when the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is connected to the station 2a plurality of times.

The electric vacuum cleaner 3 includes a cleaner body 7 capable of traveling on a surface to be cleaned, and a pipe portion 8 detachable from the cleaner body 7. The duct portion 8 is fluidly connected to the cleaner body 7.

The cleaner body 7 includes: a main body case 11; a pair of wheels 12 provided on each of the left and right sides of the main body case 11; a primary dust container 13 detachably attached to the main body case 11; a main body handle 14; a primary electric blower 15 housed in the main body case 11; a cleaner control unit 16 for mainly controlling the primary electric blower 15; and a secondary battery 17 for storing electric power supplied to the primary electric blower 15.

The cleaner main body 7 drives the primary electric blower 15 by the electric power stored in the secondary battery 17. The cleaner body 7 causes a negative pressure generated by the primary electric blower 15 to act on the pipe portion 8. The electric vacuum cleaner 3 sucks air containing dust (hereinafter referred to as "dust-containing air") from a surface to be cleaned through the duct portion 8. The electric vacuum cleaner 3 separates dust from the sucked dust-containing air. The electric vacuum cleaner 3 collects and accumulates the separated dust, and exhausts the clean air from which the dust has been separated.

A main body connection port 18 corresponding to the suction port of the cleaner main body 7 is provided in a front portion of the main body casing 11. The main body connection port 18 is a joint to which the pipe portion 8 can be attached and detached. The main body connection port 18 fluidly connects the tube portion 8 and the primary dust container 13.

The cleaner body 7 according to the present embodiment is connected to the station 2 in such a manner that the body connection port 18 faces upward. The cleaner main body 7 is connected to the station 2 by dropping (descending) from above.

The wheels 12 support the cleaner main body 7 so as to be able to travel. The cleaner body 7 is supported by casters (not shown) in addition to the pair of wheels 12.

The primary dust container 13 stores dust sucked by the electric vacuum cleaner 3. The primary dust container 13 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from dust-containing air flowing into the cleaner body 7, and sends clean air from which the dust is removed to the primary electric blower 15.

The main body handle 14 is used when the cleaner main body 7 is carried. The main body handle 14 is arched in the width direction of the main body case 11.

The primary electric blower 15 sucks air from the primary dust container 13 to generate a negative pressure (suction negative pressure).

The cleaner control unit 16 includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a storage device (not shown) for storing various calculation programs and parameters executed by the microprocessor. The storage device stores various settings (arguments) relating to a plurality of operation modes set in advance. A plurality of operating modes are associated with the output of the primary electric blower 15. Different input values (an input value of the primary electric blower 15, a current value flowing through the primary electric blower 15) are set for each operation mode. Each operation mode is associated with an operation input received by the pipe portion 8. The cleaner control unit 16 selects an arbitrary operation mode corresponding to an input operation to the duct unit 8 from a plurality of operation modes set in advance, reads the setting of the selected operation mode from the storage unit, and operates the primary electric blower 15 in accordance with the read setting of the operation mode.

The secondary battery 17 supplies electric power to the primary electric blower 15 and the cleaner control unit 16. The secondary battery 17 is electrically connected to a pair of charging electrodes 19 provided on the cleaner body 7.

The duct portion 8 draws in dust-containing air from the surface to be cleaned by negative pressure applied from the cleaner body 7 and guides the air to the cleaner body 7. The pipe portion 8 includes: a connection pipe 21 serving as a joint that can be attached to and detached from the cleaner body 7; a dust collection hose 22 fluidly connected to the connection pipe 21; a hand-operated tube 23 fluidly connected to the dust collection hose 22; a grip 25 protruding from the manual operation tube 23; an operation unit 26 provided in the grip 25; an extension pipe 27 detachably connected to the hand operation pipe 23; and a suction port body 28 detachably connected to the extension pipe 27.

The connection pipe 21 is a joint that is detachable from the main body connection port 18. The connection pipe 21 is fluidly connected to the primary dust container 13 through the main body connection port 18.

The dust collection hose 22 is an elongated flexible substantially cylindrical hose. One end (here, the rear end) of the dust collection hose 22 is fluidly connected to the connection pipe 21. The dust collection hose 22 is fluidly connected to the primary dust container 13 via a connection pipe 21.

The hand-operated pipe 23 connects the dust collection hose 22 to the extension pipe 27. One end (here, the rear end) of the manual operation pipe 23 is fluidly connected to the other end (here, the front end) of the dust collection hose 22. The hand operation pipe 23 is fluidly connected to the primary dust container 13 via the dust collection hose 22 and the connection pipe 21.

The grip portion 25 is a portion to be gripped by a hand of a user for operating the electric vacuum cleaner 3. The grip portion 25 protrudes from the hand operation tube 23 in an appropriate shape that can be easily gripped by a hand of a user.

The operation unit 26 includes switches corresponding to the respective operation modes. For example, the operation unit 26 includes: a stop switch 26a corresponding to the operation stop operation of the primary electric blower 15; a start switch 26b corresponding to the operation start operation of the primary electric blower 15; and a brush switch 26c corresponding to the power supply to the suction port body 28. The stop switch 26a and the start switch 26b are electrically connected to the cleaner control unit 16. The user of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 can select an operation mode of the primary electric blower 15 by operating the operation unit 26. The start switch 26b also functions as a selection switch of an operation mode during operation of the primary electric blower 15. The cleaner control unit 16 switches the operation mode in the order of strong → medium → weak → … … each time it receives an operation signal from the start switch 26 b. Instead of the start switch 26b, the operation unit 26 may be provided with a strong operation switch (not shown), a medium operation switch (not shown), and a weak operation switch (not shown) independently.

The extension pipe 27 having a telescopic structure in which a plurality of cylindrical bodies are stacked can be extended and retracted. One end (here, the rear end) of the extension pipe 27 is provided with a joint that is detachable from the other end (here, the front end) of the manual operation pipe 23. The extension pipe 27 is fluidly connected to the primary dust container 13 via the hand operation pipe 23, the dust collection hose 22, and the connection pipe 21.

The suction port body 28 can travel or slide on a surface to be cleaned, such as a wooden floor or a carpet, and has a suction port 31 on a bottom surface facing the surface to be cleaned in the traveling state or the sliding state. The suction port body 28 further includes: a rotatable cleaning element 32 disposed at the suction port 31; and a motor 33 for driving the rotary cleaning element 32. One end (here, the rear end) of the suction port body 28 has a joint that is detachable from the other end (here, the front end) of the extension pipe 27. The suction port body 28 is fluidly connected to the primary dust container 13 via the extension pipe 27, the manual operation pipe 23, the dust collection hose 22, and the connection pipe 21. That is, the suction port body 28, the extension pipe 27, the manual operation pipe 23, the dust collection hose 22, the connection pipe 21, and the primary dust container 13 are a suction air passage from the suction port 31 to the primary electric blower 15. The motor 33 alternately repeats the start and stop of the operation each time it receives the operation signal from the brush switch 26 c.

When the start switch 26b is operated, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 starts the primary electric blower 15. For example, in the electric vacuum cleaner 3, when the start switch 26b is operated in a state where the primary electric blower 15 is stopped, the primary electric blower 15 is first started in the strong operation mode, when the start switch 26b is operated again, the operation mode of the primary electric blower 15 is changed to the medium operation mode, and when the start switch 26b is operated for the third time, the operation mode of the primary electric blower 15 is changed to the weak operation mode, and the following procedure is repeated in the same manner. The strong operation mode, the middle operation mode, and the weak operation mode are a plurality of operation modes set in advance, and the input values to the primary electric blower 15 are reduced in the order of the strong operation mode, the middle operation mode, and the weak operation mode. The primary electric blower 15 after the start sucks air from the primary dust container 13 to make the inside of the primary dust container 13 negative pressure.

The negative pressure in the primary dust container 13 passes through the main body connection port 18, the connection pipe 21, the dust collection hose 22, the manual operation pipe 23, the extension pipe 27, and the suction port body 28 in this order and acts on the suction port 31. The vacuum cleaner 3 sucks dust on a surface to be cleaned together with air by a negative pressure acting on the suction port 31. The primary dust container 13 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from the sucked dust-containing air, and sends the air separated from the dust-containing air to the primary electric blower 15. The primary electric blower 15 discharges air sucked from the primary dust container 13 to the outside of the cleaner body 7.

The station 2 is provided at an arbitrary position on the surface to be cleaned. The station 2 includes a base 41 to which the cleaner body 7 can be coupled, and a dust collection unit 42 provided integrally with the base 41. The station 2 further includes a dust transport pipe 43 connected to the primary dust container 13 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 in the housed state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

The base 41 has a width dimension similar to that of the dust collecting portion 42, and extends in a rectangular shape to extend toward the front side of the dust collecting portion 42. The base 41 has a shape and a size capable of accommodating the cleaner body 17 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 in a plan view.

The base 41 includes a charging terminal 45 connectable to the cleaner body 7. When the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is coupled to the station 2, the charging terminal 45 is in contact with and electrically connected to the charging electrode 19 of the cleaner main body 17.

The base 41 has a bulging portion 46 disposed to abut against a side surface of the cleaner body 7 in a housed state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

The dust collecting unit 42 is disposed behind the base 41. The dust collecting unit 42 is a box of an appropriate shape that is integrated with the base 41 and can be placed on a surface to be cleaned. The dust collecting portion 42 extends upward from the base 41. The dust collection unit 42 has an appropriate shape that does not interfere with the cleaner body 7 connected to the base 41.

The dust collection unit 42 includes: a housing 47; a secondary dust container 48 for collecting dust discarded from the primary dust container 13 through the dust transport pipe 43 and accumulating the collected dust; a secondary electric blower 49 housed in the dust collection unit 42 and fluidly connected to the secondary dust container 48; a station control unit 51 that mainly controls the secondary electric blower 49; and a power cable 52 for guiding electric power from a commercial ac power supply to the dust collection unit 42.

The top plate of the housing 47 and the base 41 is an integrally molded resin product.

The secondary dust container 48 is fluidly connected to the dust transport pipe 43. The secondary dust container 48 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from the air containing dust flowing in from the dust transport pipe 43, and on the other hand, conveys the clean air from which the dust is removed to the secondary electric blower 49. The secondary dust container 48 is detachably attached to the left side (right side as viewed from the front) of the dust collection unit 42, and is exposed from the external appearance of the station 2.

The secondary electric blower 49 generates a negative pressure (suction negative pressure) by sucking air from the secondary dust container 48, and moves dust from the primary dust container 13 to the secondary dust container 48. The secondary electric blower 49 is housed on the right side (left side as viewed from the front) of the dust collecting unit 42.

The station control unit 51 includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a storage device (not shown) for storing various operation programs, parameters, and the like executed by the microprocessor. The station control unit 51 performs operability control of the secondary electric blower 49 and charging control of the secondary battery 17 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3.

The dust transport pipe 43 is connected to the primary dust container 13 in the accommodated state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1. The dust transport pipe 43 is an air passage for moving the dust collected by the vacuum cleaner 3 to the secondary dust container 48. When the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is connected to the station 2, the dust transport pipe 43 is connected to the primary dust container 13, and the primary dust container 13 is fluidly connected to the secondary dust container 48.

The dust transport pipe 43 is connected to the suction side of the secondary dust container 48. The negative pressure generated by the secondary electric blower 49 acts on the dust transport pipe 43 via the secondary dust container 48.

The dust transport pipe 43 has an inlet connected to the primary dust container 13 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 and an outlet connected to the secondary dust container 48. The dust transport pipe 43 extends rearward from an inlet disposed on the base 41 to the inside of the dust collection unit 42, bends in the dust collection unit 42, extends upward, and reaches an outlet disposed on the side of the secondary dust container 48.

The charging terminal 45 is provided on the base 41 in parallel with the inlet of the dust transport pipe 43.

When the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is coupled (returned) to the station 2, the charging electrode 19 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is electrically connected to the charging terminal 45 of the station 2, and the dust transport pipe 43 of the station 2 is connected to the primary dust container 13. After that, the station 2 starts charging of the secondary battery 17 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3. In addition, the station 2 causes the secondary electric blower 49 to start at a proper time. The secondary electric blower 49 after the start sucks air from the secondary dust container 48, and the inside of the secondary dust container 48 is made negative pressure.

The negative pressure in the secondary dust container 48 acts on the primary dust container 13 through the dust transport pipe 43. The station 2 sucks in the dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 together with air by the negative pressure acting on the primary dust container 13. The secondary dust container 48 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from the sucked air, and sends the air from which the dust has been separated to the secondary electric blower 49. The secondary electric blower 49 exhausts the clean air sucked from the secondary dust container 48 to the outside of the station 2.

Next, the cleaner body 7 of the electric cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a cleaner body of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cleaner body of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The transverse cross section of the cleaner body 7 shown in fig. 3 corresponds to a cross section in a plane substantially parallel to the front surface in the accommodated state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1. Fig. 3 shows a state where the connection pipe 21 of the pipe portion 8 is detached from the cleaner body 7. Fig. 4 shows a state where the connection pipe 21 is attached to the cleaner body 7.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the cleaner body 7 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a main body case 11, and the main body case 11 includes a cylindrical rear half portion lying in the width direction of the main body case 11 and a front half portion bulging in an arc shape from the cylindrical rear half portion toward the front in a plan view.

The main body connection port 18 extends along a line (hereinafter, referred to as a center line C) passing through a substantial center in the width direction and a substantial center in the height direction of the main body case 11, and reaches the primary dust container 13. Fig. 3 and 4 are sectional views through the center line C.

The wheels 12 are disposed at left and right ends of a cylindrical rear half of the body case 11. Each wheel 12 is disposed concentrically in the cylindrical rear half of the body case 11. The wheel 12 has a diameter larger than a vertical dimension of the body case 11, that is, a height (corresponding to a diameter of a rear half of the cylindrical shape). Further, the wheels 12 shield the rear surface of the main body case 11 when viewed from the side surface of the cleaner main body 7, that is, when viewed from the rotation center line direction of the wheels 12. Therefore, even when the cleaner body 7 is in a state where the upper and lower sides (front and back sides) of the main body casing 11 are reversed, the wheels 12 can be brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned in a process of reversing the upper and lower sides of the main body casing 11. The body casing 11 can be inverted vertically (forward and backward) about the rotation center line of the wheel 12 without causing interference between the back surface and the surface to be cleaned. The cleaner body 7 is provided with auxiliary wheels 12a that support the cleaner body 7 with the front side facing upward together with the wheels 12. The connection pipe 21 is provided with auxiliary wheels 12b that support the cleaner body 7 with the rear surface side facing upward together with the wheels 12. The difference between the upper and lower sides (front and back sides) of the cleaner body 7 is for convenience of description. The electric vacuum cleaner 3 can be used for cleaning in the same manner whether the front side is directed upward or the rear side is directed upward.

The secondary battery 17 is disposed on the opposite side of the body connection port 18, i.e., in the rear end center portion of the body case 11, with respect to the rotation center line of the wheel 12. That is, the secondary battery 17 is housed in the cylindrical rear half of the main body case 11. The secondary battery 17 includes a plurality of cylindrical cells 17a arranged to follow the inner surface of the cylindrical rear half portion.

Here, the center line of the cylindrical rear half of the main body case 11 and the rotation center line of the wheel 12 are substantially on the same line. The inside of the cylindrical rear half of the main body case 11 centered on this line is referred to as an area a. The wheel 12 avoids the area a. That is, the wheel 12 has a circular ring shape having an inner diameter larger than the area a.

The primary dust container 13 and the primary electric blower 15 are disposed in the region a and arranged in the width direction of the main body case 11. The primary dust container 13 is disposed in an area a1 extending from the center to one of the wheels 12 (e.g., the right wheel 12 in a state where the cleaner body 7 is connected to the station 2) in the area a. The primary electric blower 15 is disposed in an area a2 of the other wheel 12 (e.g., the left wheel 12 in a state where the cleaner body 7 is connected to the station 2) in the area a.

The main body case 11 has a dust container chamber 61 for detachably accommodating the primary dust container 13, and an electric blower chamber 62 for accommodating the primary electric blower 15. The dust container chamber 61 occupies the area a 1. The electric blower chamber 62 occupies the area a 2.

The primary electric blower 15 is housed in the electric blower chamber 62. The suction port of the primary electric blower 15 faces the dust container chamber 61.

The dust container chamber 61 defines a cylindrical space based on the shape of the primary dust container 13. The dust container chamber 61 has a dust container insertion/removal opening 61a disposed in a side surface of the main body case 11. The opening diameter of the dust container insertion/removal opening 61a is smaller than the inner diameter of the annular wheel 12. The dust container insertion/removal opening 61a is disposed inside the annular wheel 12 when viewed from the side of the cleaner body 7.

The primary dust container 13 has a cylindrical appearance having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the wheel 12. The primary dust container 13 is inserted into and removed from the dust container chamber 61 through the dust container insertion/removal opening 61 a. That is, the primary dust container 13 is inserted into and removed from the cleaner body 7 in the width direction. Thereby, the primary dust container 13 is attached to and detached from the cleaner body 7.

Next, the primary dust container 13 will be explained.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a primary dust container of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the primary dust container of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the primary dust container of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention taken along line VII-VII in fig. 6.

As shown in fig. 5 to 7, in addition to fig. 3 and 4, the primary dust container 13 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment stores dust sucked by the electric vacuum cleaner 3. The primary dust container 13 includes: a separating part 64 for separating dust from the air containing dust sucked by the negative pressure generated by the primary electric blower 15; a dust collecting section 65 for accumulating the dust separated by the separating section 64; and a connecting air passage 66 for guiding the air flowing out of the dust collector 65 to the primary electric blower 15.

The separation portion 64 is connected to the main body connection port 18. The separation unit 64 includes: a first separating part 68 for separating relatively heavy dust from air by the difference of inertia force acting on the dust and the air while the air containing the dust is moving forward; and a filter section 69 as a second separating section for separating dust from the air containing relatively light dust passing through the first separating section 68.

The dust collector 65 is provided in parallel with the separator 64 and the connecting air passage 66. The dust collecting unit 65 includes a coarse dust collecting chamber 71 for storing relatively heavy dust among the dust separated by the separating unit 64, and a filter chamber 72 for accommodating the filter unit 69.

Further, the relatively heavy dust separated by the first separating portion 68 is referred to as coarse dust. The relatively light dust separated by the filter section 69 is referred to as fine dust. The coarse dust collection chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72 are collectively referred to as a dust collection chamber 73.

The dust-containing air flowing into the primary dust container 13 from the main body connection port 18 is separated into coarse dust and other parts (air containing fine dust) by the first separating portion 68. The separated coarse dust is accumulated in the coarse dust collecting chamber 71. The air containing fine dust separated by the first separating portion 68 flows into the filter chamber 72. The air flowing into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 also flows into the filter chamber 72. The air containing fine dust flowing into the filter chamber 72 is separated into fine dust and air by the filter unit 69. The separated fine dust is captured by the filter unit 69 and accumulated in the filter chamber 72. The clean air having passed through the filter 69 is sucked into the primary electric blower 15 through the connecting air duct 66.

The first separating portion 68 includes a nozzle portion 75 connected to the main body connection port 18, a truncated cone-shaped primary filter frame 76 including the nozzle portion 75, and a first mesh filter 77.

The nozzle 75 extends from the suction port 78a of the container body 78 corresponding to the housing of the primary dust container 13 into the container body 78.

The primary filter frame 76 is provided on the inner surface of the container body 78. The primary filter housing 76 extends in a tapered shape along the center line of the main body connection port 18, that is, substantially the center line C of the cleaner main body 7 in a state where the primary dust container 13 is attached to the main body case 11. The bottom portion with the large diameter is in contact with the inner surface of the container body 78, and the bottom portion with the small diameter has a coarse dust discharge port 79 connected to the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 of the dust collecting section 65. The diameter of the bottom of the large diameter is larger than the opening diameter of the suction port 78 a. The center line of coarse dust discharge port 79 is substantially along the center line of suction port 78a and substantially along the center line of main body connection port 18.

The first mesh filter 77 is provided on a side surface of the primary filter frame 76. A relay air passage 81 connected to the filter chamber 72 is defined outside the first mesh filter 77.

The first separating portion 68 has a negative pressure due to the flow of air sucked into the primary electric blower 15 through the first mesh filter 77 and the flow of air sucked into the primary electric blower 15 through the coarse dust discharge port 79.

The coarse dust collecting chamber 71 accumulates relatively heavy dust separated by the first separating portion 68. The coarse dust collection chamber 71 is a part of an air passage of air sucked into the primary electric blower 15. The coarse dust collecting chamber 71 is connected to a coarse dust discharge port 79 of the first separating portion 68. The coarse dust collecting chamber 71 is also connected to a filter chamber 72. The coarse dust collecting chamber 71 is disposed on the center line of the main body connection port 18, that is, substantially on the center line C of the cleaner main body 7. The coarse dust collection chamber 71 is expanded in a direction away from the primary electric blower 15, in other words, in a direction toward the filter unit 69. A partition wall 83 having a plurality of coarse dust collecting chamber outlets 82 is provided between the expanded portion and the filter chamber 72 accommodating the filter portion 69. A second mesh filter 84 is provided at the coarse dust collecting chamber outlet 82 of the partition wall 83. Second mesh filter 84 prevents coarse dust from flowing out of coarse dust collection chamber 71 to filter chamber 72. The second mesh filter 84 compresses the dust accumulated in the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 by the flow of air passing therethrough. The second mesh filter 84 has substantially the same mesh as the first mesh filter 77. It is assumed that the fine dust flowing into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 without being separated by the first separating portion 68 flows into the filter chamber 72 through the second mesh filter 84, or the coarse dust compressed in the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 is captured like a filter.

The filter unit 69 filters and separates dust, particularly fine dust passing through the first separating unit 68, from air containing dust (dust-containing air) sucked in by the negative pressure generated by the primary electric blower 15. The filter unit 69 includes a pair of filters 86 and 87 facing each other, and a secondary filter frame 88 for maintaining and supporting the shape of the pair of filters 86 and 87.

The pair of filters 86 and 87 face each other on the downstream side. The filters 86 and 87 filter and separate dust from the air containing dust sucked into the primary dust container 13. The mesh sizes of the filters 86 and 87 are smaller than those of the first mesh filter 77 of the first separating portion 68 and the second mesh filter 84 of the coarse dust collecting chamber 71. The filters 86 and 87 are, for example, nonwoven fabrics. The fine dust captured by the filters 86 and 87 includes dust that can pass through the first mesh filter 77 and the second mesh filter 84.

One of the filters 86 and 87 (filter 86) is directly exposed to the air flowing into the filter chamber 72, and the other of the filters 86 and 87 (filter 87) is exposed to the air bypassing one of the filters 86 and 87 (filter 86). That is, the filter 86 faces the relay air passage 81 connecting the first separating portion 68 and the filter portion 69, and faces the coarse dust collecting chamber outlet 82 connecting the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72. The filter 87 is disposed at a position which is blocked by the filter 86 and is not visible from the relay air passage 81 and the coarse dust collecting chamber outlet 82.

The pair of filters 86 and 87 are folded filters having substantially the same area (interval) and folds ( ridge lines 86a and 87a) of the same depth.

The filter 86 facing the intermediate air passage 81 and the coarse dust collecting chamber outlet 82 may have a wider and shallower fold than the filter 87. Since the filter 86 faces the intermediate air passage 81 and the coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82, the dust passing through the first separator 68 and the dust flowing out of the coarse dust collection chamber 71, that is, fine dust, are blown onto the filter 86 first. Then, the filter 86 captures the fine dust and gradually causes clogging. As the filter 86 is clogged, the fine dust blown onto the filter 86 from the relay air passage 81 and the coarse dust collecting chamber outlet 82 is bypassed to the filter 87. Then, the filter 87 also starts to be clogged. That is, the filter 86 is more likely to be clogged than the filter 87. In other words, dust is more likely to adhere to the filter 86 than the filter 87. Accordingly, by making the fold line of the filter 86 wider and shallower than the filter 87, dust can be easily removed from the filter 86 to which dust is more likely to adhere.

The filters 86 and 87 may have a Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film on the upstream side to facilitate removal of dust adhering thereto. Further, the filter 86, which is more likely to be clogged than the filter 87, may have a polytetrafluoroethylene film on the upstream side.

In the housed state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1, the filters 86 and 87 have ridge lines 86a and 87a (folds) extending in the vertical direction (vertical direction). In other words, the ridges 86a and 87a of the filters 86 and 87 extend in the front-rear direction of the cleaner main body 7. The end faces of the filters 86, 87 intersecting the fold are open.

The open end surfaces of the filters 86 and 87 may have a zigzag shape having peaks and valleys along the shape of the end surfaces of the filters 86 and 87, and a plate-shaped frame having a vent hole (not shown) may be interposed between adjacent peaks and peaks.

The secondary filter frame 88 supports the pair of filters 86 and 87 in a manner to face each other and to be separated from each other. The space defined by the secondary filter frame 88 and the pair of filters 86 and 87 corresponds to the air passage on the downstream side of the filter unit 69. The inner space of the filter portion 69 is connected to the connecting air passage 66. The secondary filter frame 88 is disposed on both sides of the filter 86, and has a secondary filter outlet 89 connected to the connection air passage 66. The secondary filter outlet 89 allows the air having passed through the filters 86 and 87 to flow out to the connecting air passage 66.

The filter chamber 72 functions as a fine dust collecting chamber for collecting fine dust captured by the filter unit 69 by filtering and separating. The fine dust having passed through the first mesh filter 77 and the second mesh filter 84 is captured by the pair of filters 86 and 87 having a finer mesh, and is accumulated in the filter chamber 72. That is, the dust collecting chamber 73 (the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72) is disposed on the upstream side of the filters 86 and 87.

The filter chamber 72 is a part of an air passage of air sucked by the primary electric blower 15. The filter chamber 72 is connected to the relay air passage 81. The filter chamber 72 is also connected to the coarse dust collecting chamber 71.

Coarse dust having a relatively large mass in the dust-containing air flowing from the nozzle 75 to the first separating portion 68 advances from the nozzle 75 to the coarse dust discharge port 79 by an inertial force and is conveyed to the coarse dust collecting chamber 71. Dust (coarse dust) flowing into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 from the coarse dust discharge port 79 is accumulated in the coarse dust collecting chamber 71. On the other hand, of the dust-containing air flowing from the nozzle portion 75 into the first separating portion 68, the fine dust and air having a relatively small mass radially spread from the nozzle portion 75, pass through the first mesh filter 77 provided on the side surface of the primary filter housing 76, and flow into the filter chamber 72 through the relay air passage 81. Together with the dust (coarse dust) flowing into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 from the coarse dust discharge port 79, a part of the air also flows into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71. The air flowing into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 passes through the second mesh filter 84 and flows into the filter chamber 72. Fine dust contained in the air flowing into the filter chamber 72 through the first mesh filter 77 or the second mesh filter 84 is filtered and separated by the filter unit 69 and is captured by the surfaces of the pair of filters 86 and 87. The clean air passing through the filters 86 and 87 is sucked into the primary electric blower 15 through the connecting air duct 66.

The container body 78 defines a dust collecting chamber 73, i.e., a coarse dust collecting chamber 71 and a filter chamber 72. The first separator 68 and the connection air passage 66 of the separator 64 are disposed between the filter 69 and the primary electric blower 15 and are arranged in parallel with each other.

The pair of wheels 12 sandwich the primary electric blower 15, the separating portion 64 (the first separating portion 68 and the filter portion 69), the dust collecting portion 65 (the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72), and the connecting air passage 66 therebetween.

The first separating portion 68 is disposed at the center portion in the width direction of the main body case 11, the filter portion 69 is biased toward one side portion, for example, the right side portion, of the main body case, and the primary electric blower 15 is biased toward the other side portion, for example, the left side portion, of the main body case 11.

The primary dust container 13 includes: a container body 78 which defines a dust collection chamber 73 for storing dust sucked by the electric vacuum cleaner 3 and has a disposal opening 91 for disposing of the dust stored in the dust collection chamber 73; and a disposal lid 92 for opening and closing the disposal opening 91.

Further, the primary dust container 13 includes: an air inlet 93 through which air is directly introduced from the outside of the air passage including the primary dust container 13 by negative pressure generated by the secondary electric blower 49 of the station 2; and an intake cover 94 for opening and closing the intake port 93.

Further, the primary dust container 13 includes: a dust removing mechanism 95 for removing dust adhering to the filter unit 69, that is, dust adhering to the filters 86 and 87; and a power transmission mechanism 96 for linking the dust removal operation of the dust removal mechanism 95 with the actuation of the waste cover 92.

The container body 78 houses the first separating portion 68, which is the separating portion 64, and the filter portion 69. The container body 78 defines a coarse dust collection chamber 71 as a dust collection chamber 73 and a filter chamber 72. The container body 78 defines a machine chamber 97 for accommodating the power transmission mechanism 96. The container body 78 is generally cylindrical. The container body 78 is attached to the area a1 with the center line of the cylindrical shape oriented in the width direction of the body case 11.

The waste port 91 and the air inlet 93 are provided on the side surface of the container body 78. The suction cover 94 is opened and closed together with the disposal cover 92. The disposal opening 91 is closed by a disposal cover 92 except when dust is moved from the cleaner body 7 to the station 2. The air inlet 93 is closed by an air inlet cover 94 except when the dust is moved from the cleaner body 7 to the station 2.

The disposal port 91 disposes the dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 together with the air introduced through the air inlet 93. The disposal opening 91 is disposed at the rear end of the main body case 11. The disposal port 91 is disposed at a portion where the station 2 and the cleaner body 7 are connected. That is, the disposal port 91 is disposed on the rear surface of the main body case 11. In the stored state (fig. 2) of the electric vacuum cleaner 1, the rear surface of the main body case 11 is located at the lowermost end of the main body case 11. In the housed state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1, the disposal port 91 is disposed below the filter unit 69.

A body housing disposal port 98 larger than the disposal port 91 is provided at the rear end portion of the body housing 11. The main body housing waste port 98 connects the inlet of the dust transport pipe 43 to the waste port 91 by the dust transport pipe 43 of the station 2 in the stored state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

The disposal port 91 includes a coarse dust disposal port 101 connected to the coarse dust collecting chamber 71, and a fine dust disposal port 102 connected to the filter chamber 72. The coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102 are arranged in the width direction of the main body casing 11, that is, in the center line direction of the container main body 78. The coarse dust collection chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72 are adjacent to each other with the partition wall 83 in common in the vicinity of the disposal opening 91.

The disposal cover 92 and the suction cover 94 are part of the side surface of the container body 78. The suction cap 94 is provided so as to be capable of reciprocating in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical container body 78. The disposal lid 92 is supported by the container body 78 by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The disposal cover 92 opens and closes both the coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102. When the disposal cover 92 is opened, the coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102 are connected to the dust transport pipe 43 together.

Further, a packing 103 is appropriately provided in the disposal port 91. The filler 103 is an integrally molded product. Packing 103 is interposed between disposal lid 92 and container body 78, and seals both coarse dust disposal port 101 and fine dust disposal port 102.

The air inlet 93 is an inlet for taking in air from outside the cleaner body 7 or from outside the main body casing 11, which is an air passage connected to the primary electric blower 15, into the filter chamber 72. The suction port 93 is a suction port through which air flows when dust is moved from the cleaner body 7 to the station 2.

The air inlet 93 is disposed at a position farthest from the disposal port 91, that is, a position separated by 180 degrees, as viewed in the circumferential direction of the container body 78, in other words, at a line-symmetric position with respect to the center line of the container body 78 as a symmetric line. That is, the air inlet 93 is disposed above the filter unit 69 in the housed state (fig. 1) of the electric vacuum cleaner 1. In other words, the filters 86 and 87 are disposed so as to be sandwiched between the inlet 93 and the waste port 91.

The air inlet 93 is disposed in an air passage upstream of the filters 86 and 87 (upstream of the flow generated by the primary electric blower 15).

The air introduced through the air inlet 93 flows out fine dust filtered by the filters 86 and 87 and coarse dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 from the disposal opening 91. When a negative pressure is applied to the filter chamber 72 from the dust transport pipe 43 through the fine dust discharge port 102, the air inlet 93 blows air out of the filters 86 and 87. The air blown to the filters 86 and 87 blows off the dust captured on the surfaces of the filters 86 and 87, and guides the dust to the fine dust disposal port 102. The filters 86 and 87 have ridge lines 86a and 87a extending in the vertical direction when dust is removed, that is, in the housed state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1, and have open end faces intersecting the fold lines. Therefore, the air blown to the filters 86 and 87 easily flows along the fold, and the separated fine dust can smoothly flow out from the end of the fold.

At this time, a negative pressure is also applied to the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 from the dust transport pipe 43 through the coarse dust disposal port 101. Since the coarse dust collection chamber 71 is directly connected to the filter chamber 72 or indirectly connected to the filter chamber 72 via the first separating portion 68, a part of the air flowing in from the air inlet 93 also flows into the coarse dust collection chamber 71. The air flowing into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 causes the coarse dust accumulated in the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 to flow out (to be discarded) from the coarse dust discarding port 101.

The air inlet 93 according to the present embodiment is provided in the air passage on the upstream side of the filters 86 and 87 in the container main body 78 of the primary dust container 13, but may be provided in the air passage on the downstream side of the filters 86 and 87 (the downstream side of the flow generated by the primary electric blower 15) (the air inlet 93 and the air intake cover 94 shown by the two-dot chain line in fig. 6). In this case, the air inlet 93 communicates with an air passage from the filters 86 and 87 to the primary electric blower 15, for example, the connection air passage 66.

The secondary battery 17 surrounds the coarse dust collecting chamber 71. That is, the plurality of cells 17a included in the secondary battery 17 are arranged along the inner surface of the cylindrical rear half of the main body case 11, and surround the periphery of the coarse dust collecting chamber 71.

Next, the dust removing mechanism 95 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment will be described.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a dust removing mechanism of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 8, the dust removing mechanism 95 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment is disposed between the pair of filters 86 and 87. In other words, the dust removing mechanism 95 is disposed in the internal space of the filter unit 69. The dust removing mechanism 95 removes dust from both the pair of filters 86 and 87.

The dust removing mechanism 95 includes: a passive portion 106 including a plurality of racks 105 joined together; and a gear 107 that rotates in one direction and sequentially engages with the plurality of racks 105 to move the passive section 106 along a predetermined guide rail.

The passive section 106 includes, in addition to the rack 105: a frame 108 integrally connecting the plurality of racks 105; a mechanism for defining the moving direction of the rack 105, for example, a slider 109; and a dust removing member 111 connected to each of the filters 86, 87.

The plurality of racks 105 of the present embodiment is a pair of racks 105 arranged in parallel. The driven portion 106 reciprocates by alternately engaging a gear 107 with the pair of racks 105.

The frame 108 connects respective ends of the pair of racks 105. The pair of racks 105 describes a rectangle integrally with the frame 108.

The slider 109 has a hole 105a of the rack 105 and a rod-shaped guide rail 112 inserted through the hole 105a and fixed to the secondary filter frame 88 of the filter unit 69. The slider 109 may have, for example, a long hole provided in the frame 108 or the rack 105, and a pin member such as a screw or a bolt inserted through the long hole and fixed to the secondary filter frame body 88.

The gear 107 is disposed in the center of the filter unit 69. In other words, the gear 107 is sandwiched between the pair of filters 86 and 87, and is disposed in the center of the projection surfaces of the filters 86 and 87.

The teeth 107a of the gear 107 are partially provided. In other words, the gear 107 has no teeth 107a in a part. The teeth 107a of the gear 107 are sequentially engaged with the plurality of racks 105 in the process of 1 rotation of the gear 107. The teeth 107a of the gear 107 are defined as a range (number of teeth) that does not mesh with 2 or more racks 105 at the same time.

In more detail, the teeth 105b of the rack 105 are one more than the teeth 107a of the gear 107. That is, the number of grooves between the teeth 105b and 105b of the rack 105 is the same as the number of teeth 107a of the gear 107. For example, the number of teeth 107a of the gear 107 is 4, and the number of teeth 105b of the rack 105 is 5. The distance from the groove bottom to the groove bottom of the pair of racks 105 is slightly larger than the maximum outer diameter of the gear 107. This difference (gap) allows the teeth 107a of the gear 107 to smoothly engage with and disengage from the teeth 105b of the rack 105.

While the gear 107 partially having no teeth 107a rotates for half a revolution, the teeth 107a mesh with one of the racks 105, and the driven portion 106 moves on the forward path. When the gear 107 is rotated forward (approximately 180 degrees), the teeth 107a disengage from one of the racks 105, engage with the other rack 105, and move the passive section 106 on the return path. The gear 107 may be provided between the forward path and the backward path of the driven portion 106, with a period during which none of the racks 105 is engaged with the teeth 107a temporarily.

The dust removing mechanism 95 having 3 or more racks 105 may include a mechanism other than the slider 109 that defines the moving direction of the racks 105, and a gear 107 having teeth over the entire circumference. The dust removing mechanism 95 having 3 or more racks 105 may rotate the gear 107 by 1 or more revolution when the driven portion 106 is caused to travel one revolution on the guide rail.

Next, the power transmission mechanism 96 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment will be described.

Fig. 9 to 12 are views of a power transmission mechanism of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 and 11 show a state in which the waste cover 92 and the intake cover 94 are closed by the power transmission mechanism 96. Fig. 10 and 12 show a state in which the disposal cover 92 and the suction cover 94 are opened by the power transmission mechanism 96. Fig. 11 and 12 show the power transmission mechanism 96 without the second gear 122.

As shown in fig. 9 to 12, in addition to fig. 3 and 5, the power transmission mechanism 96 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment receives the driving forces of the dust removing mechanism 95, the waste cover 92, and the suction cover 94 from the station 2, and distributes and transmits the driving forces to the dust removing mechanism 95, the waste cover 92, and the suction cover 94, respectively. The power transmission mechanism 96 includes: a joint half body 115; a first transmission mechanism 117 for transmitting a driving force from the joint half body 115 to the dust removing mechanism 95; a second transmission mechanism 118 for transmitting a driving force from the joint half body 115 to the disposal cover 92; and a third transmission mechanism 119 for transmitting a driving force from the joint half body 115 to the suction cover 94.

The joint half 115 is a part of a shaft joint 120 that transmits rotational drive force. The joint half 115 is joined with the joint half 116 of station 2.

The first transmission mechanism 117 transmits the driving force input to the joint half body 115 to the gear 107 of the dust removing mechanism 95 at all times. The first transmission mechanism 117 simply transmits the rotational driving force input to the joint half body 115 to rotate the gear 107. That is, the first transmission mechanism 117 rotates the gear 107 in the reverse direction if the joint half body 115 rotates in the normal direction, and rotates the gear 107 in the normal direction if the joint half body 115 rotates in the reverse direction.

The first transmission mechanism 117 includes a first gear 121 that rotates integrally with the joint half body 115, and a second gear 122 having a large diameter that meshes with the first gear 121. The second gear 122 penetrates the secondary filter housing 88 of the filter unit 69 and is rotatably supported by a shaft 99 that rotates integrally with the gear 107 of the dust removing mechanism 95. That is, the second gear 122 rotates integrally with the gear 107 of the dust removing mechanism 95. The second gear 122 is larger than the first gear 121, and therefore the dust removing mechanism 95 that causes the filters 86 and 87 to bounce or deform and to operate can be driven by a motor (a driving source 149 of the station 2 described later) having a smaller output.

The second transmission mechanism 118 opens and closes the disposal cover 92 by a driving force input to the joint half body 115. The third transmission mechanism 119 opens and closes the suction cover 94 by a driving force input to the joint half body 115. The suction cover 94 is opened and closed together with the disposal cover 92. In other words, when the second transmission mechanism 118 opens the disposal cover 92, the third transmission mechanism 119 also opens the suction cover 94. When the second transmission mechanism 118 closes the disposal cover 92, the third transmission mechanism 119 also closes the suction cover 94.

The third transmission mechanism 119 includes: a first gear 121 shared with the first transmission mechanism 117; a rod portion 123 having teeth 123a arranged in a circular arc shape and meshing with the first gear 121; a guide portion 124 for guiding the swing of the lever portion 123; and a pair of stoppers 125 for defining a swing range of the rod 123.

The rod portion 123 has a swing center coinciding with the rotation center of the second gear 122. That is, the lever portion 123 is supported together with the second gear 122 by supporting the second gear 122 to be rotatable. The rod portion 123 is directly connected to the suction cover 94.

The guide portion 124 includes a groove 126 provided in the container body 78, and a guide plate 127 disposed in the groove 126. The groove 126 extends in a circular arc shape in accordance with the locus of the swing of the rod portion 123. The guide plate 127 is integrated with the rod portion 123.

The stopper 125 defines (limits) the swing range of the lever 123 in accordance with the fully closed position and the fully open position of the disposal cover 92 and the suction cover 94.

The second transmission mechanism 118 includes: a first gear 121 shared with the first transmission mechanism 117 and the third transmission mechanism 119; a lever portion 123, a guide portion 124, and a stopper 125 that are common to the third transmission mechanism 119; a slider 128 that converts the swing of the rod portion 123 into a reciprocating motion and transmits it to the discard cap 92; and a waste lid closing spring 129 for generating an elastic force to fully close the waste lid 92. The slider 128 opens the waste cover 92 against the elastic force of the waste cover closing spring 129. Further, the slider 128 closes the waste cover 92 by the elastic force of the waste cover closing spring 129.

Here, the power transmission mechanism 96 transmits the driving force from the station 2 to the dust removing mechanism 95 for an appropriate period of time, and after the disposal cover 92 and the air intake cover 94 are fully opened or fully closed, the power transmission from the station 2 to the disposal cover 92 and the air intake cover 94 is cut off (isolated) even during an appropriate period of time during the driving of the dust removing mechanism 95.

That is, when the disposal cover 92 is fully opened or fully closed, the second transmission mechanism 118 blocks transmission of the driving force from the joint half body 115 to the disposal cover 92. When the suction cover 94 is fully opened or fully closed, the third transmission mechanism 119 blocks transmission of the driving force from the joint half body 115 to the suction cover 94.

Specifically, when the disposal cover 92 and the suction cover 94 are fully opened or fully closed, the second transmission mechanism 118 and the third transmission mechanism 119 release the engagement between the teeth 123a of the lever portion 123 and the first gear 121. That is, the teeth 123a arranged in the circular arc shape are provided (limited) in a range where they are disengaged from the first gear 121 when the disposal cover 92 and the suction cover 94 are fully opened or fully closed.

The teeth 123a of the lever 123 are configured to be unable to completely overcome the waste cap 92 that has prevented movement when the waste cap 92 is fully closed or fully opened, and to disengage from the first gear 121 to cut off the transmission of the driving force (torque). When the suction cover 94 is fully closed or fully opened, the teeth 123a of the lever portion 123 disengage from the first gear 121, and transmission of the driving force (torque) is cut off.

The power transmission mechanism 96 includes a drive source, for example, a return spring 131, which promotes smooth engagement between the teeth 123a of the lever 123 and the first gear 121 when the engagement between the two is returned. When the disposal cover 92 and the suction cover 94 are fully opened or fully closed, the recovery spring 131 is compressed to store energy. When the disposal cover 92 and the suction cover 94 start to be opened or closed, the return spring 131 dissipates energy to push the rod portion 123 back, and helps the tooth 123a of the rod portion 123 to return to mesh with the first gear 121.

The dust removing mechanism 95 is preferably operated for an appropriate period of time, and the disposal cover 92 and the suction cover 94 are preferably kept fully open during the dust removal of the filters 86 and 87. When the dust removing mechanism 95 is reciprocated by switching between normal rotation and reverse rotation of a motor (a drive source 149 of the station 2 described later), it is not preferable that the disposal cover 92 and the suction cover 94 are both opened or closed every time the normal rotation and reverse rotation of the motor are switched. Therefore, the dust removing mechanism 95 according to the present embodiment has a structure in which the driven part 106 is made to reciprocate by the gear 107 that rotates in one direction.

Next, the wheels 12 and the main body handle 14 of the cleaner main body 7 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the electric vacuum cleaner in an extracted state of the main body handle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the main body handle and the wheels of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a main body handle and wheels of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 16 to 19 are sectional views of a main body handle and wheels of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 13 to 19, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the present embodiment includes a main body housing 11, wheels 12 supporting the main body housing 11, a main body handle 14 provided on the main body housing 11, and a base portion 133 integrated with the main body handle 14.

The wheel 12 includes an annular ground contact wall 12c that is in contact with the surface to be cleaned, and a side wall 12d that is connected to the ground contact wall 12c and extends toward the rotation center of the wheel 12.

The body handle 14 is arranged between the left and right wheels 12 in an arch shape. The main body handle 14 is housed in a handle housing recess 11b (fig. 2) provided in a front edge portion of the top surface of the main body housing 11 when not in use. The main body handle 14 is drawn out from the handle storage recess 11b and moved to the rear end portion of the main body case 11 in use. The shape of the main body handle 14 matches the shape of the front edge of the front arcuate half of the main body case 11. The main body handle 14 reaches the rear end of the cleaner main body 7 when it is maximally drawn out. The main body handle 14 can move substantially over the top (fig. 13) of the cleaner main body 7 to the rear of the cleaner main body 7 in a state where the cleaner main body 7 is arranged on a horizontal plane.

The base 133 is rotatably supported by the main body case 11. The wheel 12 is rotatably supported by the base 133. That is, the wheel 12 is rotatably supported by the main body case 11 via the base 133. The rotation range of the base 133 is limited. The base portion 133 rotates within a range in which the main body handle 14 reaches the rear end portion of the main body case 11 from the handle housing recess 11b of the main body case 11.

The rotation center line of the wheel 12 and the rotation center line of the base 133 are substantially aligned on the same line. That is, the main body handle 14 moves so as to rotate around the rotation center line of the wheel 12 and is stored in the handle storage recess 11b of the main body housing 11, or is pulled out from the handle storage recess 11 b.

The wheel 12 and base 133 are annular. The wheel 12 and the base 133 have an inner diameter through which the primary dust container 13 can pass so that the primary dust container 13 can be inserted into and removed from the dust container chamber 61 of the main body case 11 in the width direction of the cleaner body 7. The wheel 12 and the base 133 that are not involved in attachment and detachment of the primary dust container 13, and the wheel 12 and the base 133 on the left side of the cleaner body 7 in the present embodiment may not be annular.

The base 133 is provided with a plurality of first rotating bodies 134a that rotatably support the wheels 12. The plurality of first rotating bodies 134a are provided on the outer periphery of the base portion 133 (fig. 16).

The electric vacuum cleaner 1 further includes a plurality of second rotating bodies 134b interposed between the main body casing 11 and the base holding body 135 to rotatably support the base 133 and the wheels 12.

The plurality of second rotating bodies 134b include a third rotating body 134c (fig. 17) provided on one side surface of the base portion 133 and contacting the base portion holding body 135, and a fourth rotating body 134d (fig. 18) provided on the other side surface of the base portion 133 and contacting the side wall 12d of the wheel 12. The third rotating body 134c and the fourth rotating body 134d regulate the position of the base portion 133 in the rotation center line direction. The third rotating bodies 134c and the fourth rotating bodies 134d are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the base portion 133.

The plurality of second rotating bodies 134b include a plurality of fifth rotating bodies 134e (fig. 19) provided on the inner periphery of the base portion 133 and contacting the base portion holder 135.

The plurality of second rotating bodies 134b include a sixth rotating body 134f provided in the main body case 11 and contacting the wheel 12. The sixth rotating body 134f sandwiches the side wall 12d of the wheel 12 with the fourth rotating body 134d of the base portion 133. The sixth rotating body 134f prevents the wheel 12 from being detached from the base portion 133 in the rotation center line direction. In other words, the fourth rotating body 134d and the sixth rotating body 134f regulate the position of the wheel 12 in the rotation center line direction. Further, the third rotating body 134c, the fourth rotating body 134d, and the sixth rotating body 134f regulate the positions of the base portion 133 and the wheel 12 in the rotation center line direction.

The base holder 135 is annular in shape as in the base 133. The base holding body 135 is fixed to the main body case 11. The base holding body 135 has a flange portion 135a that enters the inner periphery of the base portion 133 and contacts the plurality of fifth rotating bodies 134 e.

The base holder 135 is in contact with the third rotating body 134c (fig. 17) and the fifth rotating body 134e (fig. 19) of the base 133, and the sixth rotating body 134f of the main body case 11 is in contact with the wheel 12. The first rotating body 134a (fig. 16) and the fourth rotating body 134d (fig. 18) of the base portion 133 are in contact with the wheel 12. The base holder 135 supports the base 133, the body handle 14, and the wheel 12 together with the body case 11.

The base holding body 135 of the present embodiment is disposed inside the main body case 11 and fixed to the main body case 11, but may be disposed outside the main body case 11. That is, the structure of the rotating bodies (first rotating body, second rotating body) that support the base portion 133, the body handle 12, and the wheel 12 may be disposed outside the body case 11. In this case, the base holding body 135 preferably functions as a cover of the structure of the rotating body.

The third rotating body 134c, the fourth rotating body 134d, and the fifth rotating body 134e of the plurality of first rotating bodies 134a and the second rotating body 134b are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the annular base 133. Among the plurality of first and second rotating bodies 134a, 134b, the third, fourth, and fifth rotating bodies 134c, 134d, and 134e are offset in position (phase) with respect to the rotation center line of the wheel 12 and the rotation center line of the base portion 133. This deviation contributes to a difference in size between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the base portion 133 and a reduction in the thickness dimension of the base portion 133 in the width direction of the cleaner body 7.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a handle returning part of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 20 in addition to fig. 14 and 15, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the present embodiment includes a handle returning portion 136, and when the main body handle 14 is pulled up, the handle returning portion 136 accumulates energy, while consuming the accumulated energy to generate a force to store the main body handle 14. The handle returning part 136 is provided on the left side of the cleaner body 7 which does not affect the attachment and detachment of the primary dust container 13.

The handle returning section 136 includes a first gear 137a provided on the base section 133, a second gear 137b rotatably supported by the main body case 11 and meshed with the first gear 137a, a third gear 137c rotatably supported by the main body case 11 and meshed with the second gear 137b, and a returning spring 138 that accumulates energy by the rotation of the third gear 137 c.

The first gear 137a is provided on the inner periphery of the base portion 133 without the first rotating body 134a and the second rotating body 134 b. That is, the first gear 137a is a so-called internal gear. The first gear 137a is provided so as to avoid the flange 135a that contacts the fifth rotating body 134 e. In other words, the first gear 137a and the fifth rotating body 134e are juxtaposed on the inner periphery of the base portion 133.

The second gear 137b has a smaller diameter than the first gear 137a and the third gear 137 c.

The third gear 137c is disposed inside the annular base portion 133. The rotation center line of the third gear 137c is substantially aligned with the rotation center line of the wheel 12 and the rotation center line of the base 133.

The restoring spring 138 is a so-called torsion spring. The recovery spring 138 accumulates energy by the rotation of the third gear 137 c.

When the main body handle 14 is drawn out from the handle housing recess 11b of the main body case 11 toward the rear end portion of the main body case 11, the handle returning portion 136 rotates the first gear 137a that rotates integrally with the base portion 133, the second gear 137b that transmits the rotation of the first gear 137a to the third gear 137c, and stores energy in the returning spring 138. When the main body grip 14 is in a no-load state, that is, in a state where no force is applied by the user, the grip restoring portion 136 consumes the energy accumulated in the restoring spring 138 to rotate the third gear 137c, and the main body grip 14 is accommodated in the grip accommodating recess 11b via the second gear 137b and the first gear 137 a.

While the cleaner body 7 is being lifted, the dust collection hose 22 is in a forward-bent posture in which the front surface is lowered and the rear surface is raised. Therefore, the main body handle 14 and the base portion 133 move relative to the cleaner main body 7 in a configuration in which the user grips the main body handle and lifts the cleaner main body 7. In other words, the cleaner body 7 swings with respect to the body handle 14 gripped by the user. The swinging of the cleaner body 7 alleviates the transmission of the bending of the dust collection hose 22 to the user in association with the operation of the pipe portion 8.

The wheel 12 and the base 133 may be rotatably supported by the main body case 11 independently from each other.

The wheel 12 and the base 133 may not be annular when the primary dust container 13 is integrated with the main body case 11 or the primary dust container 13 is detachable from the top surface or the bottom surface of the main body case 11. In this case, the wheel 12 and the base 133 may have a hub (not shown) at the center of rotation, or may be simple disc-shaped. The main body case 11 in fig. 14 and 15 is a left side surface of the cleaner main body 7, which is not related to attachment and detachment of the primary dust container 13. Therefore, the main body case 11 in fig. 14 and 15 is provided with an air outlet cover 11a having a diffuser for flowing out the exhaust air of the primary electric blower 15.

Next, the station 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

Fig. 21 and 22 are perspective views of a station of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the station 2 with the top plate of the base 41 and the housing 47 of the dust collection unit 142 removed.

As shown in fig. 21 and 22, the secondary dust container 48 of the station 2 according to the present embodiment includes a centrifugal separator 143 that centrifugally separates the dust flowing in from the dust transport pipe 43 from the air. The centrifugal separation section 143 is of a multistage type, and includes a first centrifugal separation section 144 for centrifugally separating the dust flowing in from the dust transport pipe 43 from the air, and a second centrifugal separation section 145 for centrifugally separating the dust passing through the first centrifugal separation section 144 from the air.

The first centrifugal separation part 144 centrifugally separates coarse dust from the dust flowing into the secondary dust container 48. The second centrifugal separating unit 145 centrifugally separates the fine dust particles passing through the first centrifugal separating unit 144. The coarse dust means generally fibrous dust such as lint and cotton, or dust having a large mass such as sand, and the fine dust means granular or powdery dust having a small mass.

The secondary electric blower 49 is connected to the secondary dust container 48 via a downstream air passage pipe 146. The secondary electric blower 49 applies a negative pressure to the primary dust container 13 via the downstream air passage pipe 146, the secondary dust container 48, and the dust transport pipe 43, and moves the dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 to the secondary dust container 48 together with the air.

Further, the station 2 includes: a connection guide 148 provided on the base 41; a drive source 149 for generating an opening drive force and a closing drive force of the waste cover 92 of the primary dust container 13 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3; and a power transmission mechanism 151 for transmitting a driving force from the driving source 149 to the electric vacuum cleaner 3.

The coupling guide 148 guides the cleaner body 7 to a position where the charging terminal 45 of the station 2 is favorably connected to the charging electrode 19 of the cleaner body 7 and the dust transport pipe 43 is favorably connected to the disposal port 91 of the cleaner body 7 when the cleaner body 7 is coupled to the station 2.

The vacuum cleaner main body 7 is connected to the station 2, the charging terminal 45 of the station 2 is connected to the charging electrode 19 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7, and the dust transport pipe 43 is connected to the waste port 91 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7, which is the storage state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

The coupling guide 148 is recessed in a shape fitting the rear end of the main body case 11 of the cleaner main body 7. That is, the coupling guide 148 is fitted to the cylindrical rear half of the main body case 11 and is recessed in an arc shape when viewed from the side of the station 2. Since the cleaner body 7 is dropped (lowered) from above the base 41 and coupled to the station 2, the coupling guide 148 that matches the shape of the rear end of the cleaner body 7 reliably positions the cleaner body 7 in the housed state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

The charging terminal 45 and the inlet of the dust transport pipe 43 are disposed on the connection guide portion 148.

The driving source 149 is, for example, a motor. The driving source 149 is electrically connected to the station control unit 51. The drive source 149 is controlled by the station control unit 51, similarly to the secondary electric blower 49.

The driving source 149 generates an opening driving force and a closing driving force of the suction cover 94 of the vacuum cleaner 3. The driving source 149 generates a driving force of the dust removing mechanism 95 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3. That is, the driving source 149 generates driving forces for the disposal cover 92, the suction cover 94, and the dust removing mechanism 95. The driving source 149 is provided between the inlet of the dust transport pipe 43 and the dust collection unit 142.

The power transmission mechanism 151 is a suitable mechanism for transmitting the power of the drive source 149 from the output shaft of the motor, which is the drive source 149, to the center line of the half joint body 115 of the cleaner body 7 in the storage state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1. The power transmission mechanism 151 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of, for example, 3 gears 151a, 151b, and 151c that mesh with each other, and a gear box (not shown) that rotatably supports and accommodates the gears 151a, 151b, and 151 c. The power transmission mechanism 151 may be a mechanism in which a pulley and a belt are combined, or a mechanism in which a chain and a sprocket are combined.

Next, a power transmission path for transmitting the driving force of the driving source 149 from the station 2 to the cleaner body 7 will be described.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a power transmission path of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 23 shows the power transmission mechanism 151 of the station 2, which is only the station 2 side in the power transmission path 155.

As shown in fig. 23, in addition to fig. 9 and 22, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes: a power transmission path 155 for transmitting a driving force from the driving source 149 of the station 2 to the waste cover 92 of the cleaner body 7; and a coupling 156 for coupling and disconnecting the power transmission path 155 between the station 2 and the electric vacuum cleaner 3.

The power transmission path 155 includes the power transmission mechanism 96 on the electric vacuum cleaner 3 side and the power transmission mechanism 151 on the station 2 side. The coupling 156 couples the power transmission mechanism 96 on the electric vacuum cleaner 3 side and the power transmission mechanism 151 on the station 2 side to operate the power transmission path 155.

The power transmission mechanism 151 and the coupling 156 other than the joint half body 115 of the cleaner body 7 are covered with the bulging portion 46 of the base 41. The bulge portion 46 accommodates the joint half body 116 in a retractable manner.

The coupling 156 includes the shaft joint 120, a drive source such as a joint disconnecting spring 157 that generates a force to disconnect the shaft joint 120, and a cam mechanism 158 that connects the shaft joint 120 by a drive force generated by the drive source 149. The coupling 156 connects the shaft joint 120 by the driving force of the driving source 149, and disconnects (isolates) the shaft joint 120 by the elastic force of the joint cutting spring 157.

The shaft joint 120 is a so-called dog clutch, a coupling. The shaft joint 120 includes a half joint body 115 provided in the power transmission mechanism 96 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3, and a half joint body 116 provided in the power transmission mechanism 151 of the station 2.

The half joint body 115 includes a plurality of arc-shaped grooves 161 arranged in a circular shape. The half joint body 116 includes a plurality of shafts 162 arranged in a circular shape. Each shaft 162 has a diameter sized to be able to pass in and out relative to the arcuate slot 161. The shaft 162 is preferably tapered so as to be easily inserted into the arc-shaped groove 161.

The joint half body 116 is constantly rotated by the driving force transmitted by the power transmission mechanism 151. The adapter half 115 rotates with the adapter half 116 as the shaft adapter 120 is connected. Half joint body 116 protrudes from bulging portion 46 of station 2 and is coupled to half joint body 115. The half joint member 116 protrudes in the width direction of the cleaner body 7 from the bulging portion 46 disposed on the side of the cleaner body 7, and is connected to the half joint member 115. In other words, when the cleaner body 7 is separated from the station 2 and when the cleaner body 7 is returned to the station 2, the coupling unit 156 couples the shaft joint 120 by moving the joint half 116 in the direction in which the cleaner body 7 moves with respect to the bulging portion 46, that is, in the direction intersecting the vertical direction. Therefore, the coupling 156 can prevent dust from entering the station 2 through the gap between the bulging portion 46 and the half joint body 116, for example, and can ensure satisfactory operation of the power transmission mechanism 151.

The half joint body 116 may be provided so as to protrude from the bulging portion 46 in the width direction of the cleaner body 7 and be coupled to the half joint body 115, or may be provided so as to protrude toward the coupling guide portion 148 and be coupled to the half joint body 115 at the same time when the cleaner body 7 is coupled to the station 2 (the half joint body 116 shown by the two-dot chain line in fig. 21). The half joint body 116 may be disposed in the dust collecting unit 42, and may protrude forward of the station 2 to be connected to the half joint body 115 (the half joint body 116 shown by a two-dot chain line in fig. 21).

The joint cutting spring 157 pulls the joint half 116 in a direction to break the shaft joint 120, i.e., in a direction away from the joint half 115. In other words, the joint cutting spring 157 draws in the joint half 116 in a direction to bury the joint half in the bulging portion 46.

The cam mechanism 158 is provided on the station 2 side. The cam mechanism 158 is a so-called face cam. The cam mechanism 158 converts the rotational motion of the power transmission mechanism 151 into linear motion of the joint half body 116, that is, motion of the joint half body 116 with respect to the bulging portion 46, and when the linear motion of the joint half body 116 is appropriately performed, the joint half body 116 is rotationally moved. The cam mechanism 158 includes a driving node 163 rotated by the power transmission mechanism 151, and a driven node 164 provided on the joint half body 116. The driven node 164 has: a first cam surface 164a that is closest to the shaft 162 of the joint half 116 and extends in the circumferential direction of the joint half 116, i.e., in a direction orthogonal to the rotation center line of the joint half 116; a second cam surface 164b inclined with respect to the rotational center line of the joint half 116 and extending in the opposite direction of the shaft 162 of the joint half 116; and a third cam surface 164c connected to a top of the second cam surface 164b and extending in a direction away from the first cam surface 164 a. The third cam surface 164c extends substantially parallel with respect to the rotational centerline of the connector half 116. The driving link 163 has a shape capable of coming into line contact with the first cam surface 164a and the second cam surface 164b and capable of coming into surface contact with the third cam surface 164 c.

When not coupled, the coupler 156 brings the driving link 163 into contact with the first cam surface 164a of the driven link 164 of the cam mechanism 158, or brings the driving link 163 into closest proximity to the first cam surface 164 a. In this state, the half joint body 116 enters the bulging portion 46 of the station 2 to the maximum extent. When the driving source 149 is started, the driving link 163 rotates together with the gear 115c of the power transmission mechanism 151. The rotating prime mover 163 moves over the first cam surface 164a of the follower 164 and approaches the second cam surface 164b, eventually riding up the second cam surface 164 b. Then, the force of the driving link 163 pressing the second cam surface 164b pushes out the half joint body 116 from the bulging portion 46, and the half joint body 115 is connected thereto. When the driving link 163 comes into surface contact with the third cam surface 164c as the joint half 116 rotates, the entire coupling 156 rotates in synchronization with the driving link 163.

The joint half 116 is drawn into the bulging portion 46 by the elastic force of the joint cutting spring 157. This elastic force generates an appropriate frictional force between the driving node 163 and the driven node 164, and the driving node 163 reliably rides up the second cam surface 164b of the driven node 164.

The cam mechanism 158 has a second cam surface 164b and a third cam surface 164c in both the normal rotation direction (clockwise direction) and the reverse rotation direction (counterclockwise direction) of the half joint body 116 when the half joint body 115 of the cleaner body 7 is viewed from the half joint body 116 of the station 2. In other words, the cam mechanism 158 has a pair of second cam surfaces 164b and third cam surfaces 164c sandwiching the first cam surface 164 a.

Here, for example, the power transmission path 155 will be described as opening the waste cover 92 and the suction cover 94 by rotating the joint half body 116 forward, and closing the waste cover 92 and the suction cover 94 by rotating the joint half body 116 backward. The one second cam surface 164b and the one third cam surface 164c connect the connector 156 in accordance with the normal rotation of the contact half body 116, and open the disposal cover 92 and the suction cover 94. The other second cam surface 164b and the other third cam surface 164c connect the connector 156 and close the waste cover 92 and the suction cover 94 as the half joint body 116 is reversed.

The cleaner main body 7 is connected to the station 2, and the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is put into a storage state. Then, the charging electrode 19 of the cleaner body 7 is brought into contact with the charging terminal 45 of the station 2, and is electrically connected to the charging terminal 45. The inlet of the dust transport pipe 43 is in close contact with the outer surface of the container main body 78 of the primary dust container 13 through the main body housing disposal port 98 of the cleaner main body 7.

The station control unit 51 detects that the cleaner body 7 is connected to the station 2 by a detection method such as a charging circuit (not shown) connected to the charging terminal 45, a contact sensor (not shown) such as a micro switch, or a non-contact sensor (not shown) using an infrared sensor. The station control unit 51 starts the driving source 149 at a proper timing when detecting that the cleaner body 7 is connected to the station 2. When the drive source 149 is activated, the joint half 116 of the station 2 protrudes from the bulging portion 46 and is coupled to the joint half 115 of the cleaner body 7. That is, the connector 156 is connected. The station control section 51 continues the operation of the driving source 149. The power transmission path 155 connected to the connector 156 distributes and transmits the driving force of the driving source 149 to the waste cover 92, the suction cover 94, and the dust removing mechanism 95.

The waste cover 92 and the suction cover 94 are fully opened by the driving force transmitted from the power transmission path 155. The dust removing mechanism 95 removes fine dust adhering to the filters 86, 87 by the driving force transmitted from the power transmission path 155. The station control unit 51 keeps the driving source 149 in operation for an appropriate period, for example, 10 seconds, during which the dust removing mechanism 95 removes the fine dust adhering to the filters 86 and 87, and then temporarily stops the driving source 149.

Next, the station control unit 51 starts the secondary electric blower 49. The activated secondary electric blower 49 sucks air from the secondary dust container 48 to generate a negative pressure. That is, the secondary electric blower 49 applies a negative pressure to the secondary dust container 48 after the drive source 149 opens the disposal cover 92. The secondary electric blower 49 applies a negative pressure to the secondary dust container 48 after the drive source 149 opens the suction cover 94. The secondary electric blower 49 drives the dust removing mechanism 95 by the drive source 149, and then applies a negative pressure to the secondary dust container 48.

The negative pressure applied to the secondary dust container 48 is applied to the primary dust container 13 through the dust transport pipe 43 and the disposal port 91. Then, the primary dust container 13 sucks air from the air inlet 93. At this time, air is also sucked from the main body connection port 18. The air sucked into the primary dust container 13 flows the coarse dust in the coarse dust collection chamber 71 out of the coarse dust discharge port 101 into the dust transport pipe 43, and flows the fine dust in the filter chamber 72 out of the fine dust discharge port 102 into the dust transport pipe 43. The dust (dust in which coarse dust and fine dust are mixed) flowing into the dust transport pipe 43 is sucked into the secondary dust container 48 through the dust transport pipe 43.

The first centrifugal separation part 144 of the secondary dust container 48 separates and accumulates coarse dust from the dust flowing in from the dust transport pipe 43. The second centrifugal separation unit 145 separates and accumulates the fine dust particles passing through the first centrifugal separation unit 144.

The rotation center line of the wheel 12 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the present embodiment is substantially aligned with the rotation center line of the base 133. When the main body grip 14 is gripped and lifted, the cleaner main body 7 of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is brought into a forward-bent posture in which the front portion side is the lowest and the rear portion side is the highest, and the dust collection hose 22 is suspended toward the surface to be cleaned (floor surface). Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 prevents the moment accompanying the bending of the dust collection hose 22 from being transmitted to the user, and the burden on the user is greatly reduced. In addition, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 does not need to pull up the front portion of the cleaner body 7 with the dust collection hose 22 even when the suction port is directed to a high position, and is highly convenient. When the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is driven by reversing the front and back of the main body case 11, the main body handle 14 falls down on the same rotation center as the wheel 12 while reversing around the wheel 12. In this regard, if the main body housing 11 is inverted while keeping the main body handle 14 pulled up, the main body handle 14 is prevented from abutting and the inversion of the main body housing 11 is prevented.

The electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the present embodiment includes wheels 12 rotatably supported by the base 133. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is more efficient in structure, smaller in size, and lighter in weight than a case where the base 133 and the wheels 12 are supported by the main body case 11 independently of each other.

The electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the present embodiment includes the annular wheel 12 and the base portion 133. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 can dispose a structure, for example, the primary dust container 13, at the center of the base 133 and the wheel 12.

The electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of first rotating bodies 134a provided on the outer periphery of the base portion 133 and rotatably supporting the wheels 12. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 can stably travel while suppressing the influence of the deflection of the axle and the deflection of the wheel, as compared with the case where the wheel 12 is supported by the axle arranged on the rotation center line.

The electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of second rotating bodies 134b interposed between the main body housing 11 and the base holder 135 to rotatably support the base 133 and the front wheels 12. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 suppresses the influence of the deflection of the shaft and stabilizes the movement (swing) of the main body handle 14, as compared with the case where the main body handle 14 is supported by the shaft disposed on the rotation center line.

The electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of second rotating bodies 134b including a third rotating body 134c in contact with the base holder 135 and a fourth rotating body 134d in contact with the front wheel 12. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 reliably supports the base portion 133 sandwiched between the main body casing 11 and the base portion holding body 135, and moves (rotates) smoothly.

The electric vacuum cleaner 3 further includes third and fourth rotating members 134c and 134d alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the base portion 133. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 firmly rotatably supports the base portion 133.

The electric vacuum cleaner 3 further includes a fifth rotating body 134e provided on the inner periphery of the base portion 133. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 suppresses the influence of the deflection of the shaft and the deflection of the base portion 133 and stabilizes the swing of the main body handle 14, as compared with the case where the base portion 133 is supported by the shaft disposed on the rotation center line.

The electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the present embodiment includes a sixth rotating body 134f provided in the main body case 11 and contacting the wheels 12. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 is prevented from rotating and shaking the wheels 12 and smoothly travels.

The electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the present embodiment includes a handle returning section 136. Therefore, if the user separates the hand from the main body handle 14, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 stores the main body handle 14. This is particularly effective in the electric vacuum cleaner 3 that can be used even if the front and back are reversed with the wheel 12 as the center.

The electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the present embodiment includes a handle returning unit 136, and the handle returning unit 136 includes a plurality of gears (a first gear 137a, a second gear 137b, and a third gear 137c) and a return spring 138. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 3 can reduce the force required to pull out the main body handle 14 and reduce the force when storing the main body handle 14 by applying a spring having a high degree of freedom of the transmission ratio, for example, a relatively low spring constant to the return spring 138.

Therefore, according to the electric vacuum cleaner 3 of the present embodiment, the main body grip 14 can be easily gripped and lifted, and the burden on the wrist of the user can be reduced.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Description of the reference numerals

1 … electric vacuum cleaner, 2 … station, 3 … electric vacuum cleaner, 7 … vacuum cleaner body, 8 … tube part, 11 … body case, 11a … air outlet cover, 11b … handle receiving recess, 12 … wheel, 12a, 12b … auxiliary wheel, 12c … grounding wall, 12d … side wall, 13 … primary dust container, 14 … body handle, 15 … primary electric blower, 16 … vacuum cleaner control part, 17 … secondary battery, 17a … single cell, 18 … body connection port, 19 … charging electrode, 21 … connection tube, 22 … dust collection hose, 23 … hand operation tube, 25 … holding part, 26 … operation part, 27 … extension tube, 28 … suction port body, 26a … stop switch, 26b … start switch, 26c … brush switch, 31, … suction port, 3632 … rotary body cleaning device, 3633, …, motor …, … dust collection seat, 45 … charging terminal, 46 … bulge, 47 … casing, 48 … secondary dust container, 49 … secondary electric blower, 51 … station controller, 52 … power cable, 61 … dust container chamber, 61a … dust container insertion opening, 62 … electric blower chamber, 64 … separator, 65 … dust collector, 66 … connection air passage, 68 … first separator, 69 … filter, 71 … coarse dust collector, 72 … filter chamber, 73 … dust collector, 75 … nozzle, 76 … primary filter frame, 77 … first mesh filter, 78 … container body, 78a … suction opening, 79 … coarse dust discharge opening, 81 … relay air passage, 82 … coarse dust chamber outlet, 83 …, 84 … second mesh filter, 86 … filter, 87 … filter, 88 a 88 … secondary filter frame, 3686 a …, 3689 a … line, … outlet … waste filter outlet opening, 92 … waste cover, 93 … air suction port, 94 … air suction cover, 95 … dust removing mechanism, 96 … power transmission mechanism, 97 … machine room, 98 … main body housing waste port, 99 … shaft, 101 … coarse dust waste port, 102 … fine dust waste port, 103 … filler, 105 … rack, 105a … hole, 105b … tooth, 106 … passive part, 107 … gear, 107a … tooth, 108 … frame, 109 … slider, 111 … dust removing part, 112 … guide rail, 115 … joint half, 116 … joint half, 117 … first transmission mechanism, 118 … second transmission mechanism, 119 … third transmission mechanism, 120 … shaft joint, 121 … first gear, 122 … second gear, 123 … rod part, 123a … tooth, 124 a … guide part, 125 … stopper, 36126 slot, … slider, … slide block, … spring …, … cover closing first rotation body, … base part, … b …, … base part, … cover closing spring …, … base part, …, 134c … third rotating body, 134d … fourth rotating body, 134e … fifth rotating body, 135 … base holding body, 135a … flange portion, 136 … handle restoring portion, 137a … first gear, 137b … second gear, 137c … third gear, 138 … restoring spring, 142 … dust collecting portion, 143 … centrifugal separating portion, 144 … first centrifugal separating portion, 145 … second centrifugal separating portion, 146 … downstream air passage pipe, 148 … connecting guide portion, 149 … driving source, 151 … power transmission mechanism, 151a, 151b, 151c … gear, 155 … power transmission path, 156 … connector, 157 … joint cutting spring, 158 … cam mechanism, 161 … arc groove, 162 … shaft, 163 … prime segment, cam surface 164 … driven segment, 164a … first, 164b … second gear, 164c … third cam surface.

Claims (9)

1. An electric vacuum cleaner is provided with: a main body case; an annular base retainer fixed to the main body case; a handle; an annular base portion integral with the handle and rotatably supported by the base portion holding body; an annular wheel rotatably supported by the base and supporting the main body case; and a dust container detachably attached to the main body case; a rotation center line of the wheel and a rotation center line of the base are substantially arranged on the same line; the annular base holder, the annular base, and the annular wheel have inner diameters through which the dust container can pass; the dust container is attached to and detached from the main body case through the annular base holder, the annular base, and an inner space of the annular wheel.

2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of first rotating bodies are provided on an outer periphery of the base and rotatably support the wheels.

3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: and a plurality of second rotating bodies interposed between the main body case and the base holding body to rotatably support the base and the wheel.

4. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of second rotating bodies include a plurality of third rotating bodies provided on one side surface of the base portion and contacting the base portion holder, and a plurality of fourth rotating bodies provided on the other side surface of the base portion and contacting wheels.

5. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the third rotating body and the fourth rotating body are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction of the base portion.

6. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of second rotating bodies includes a plurality of fifth rotating bodies provided on an inner periphery of the base and contacting the base holder.

7. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of second rotating bodies includes a plurality of sixth rotating bodies provided in the main body case and contacting the wheel.

8. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a handle returning portion is provided, and the handle returning portion accumulates energy when the handle is pulled up, and the handle returning portion consumes the accumulated energy to generate a force to store the handle.

9. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the handle returning portion includes: a first gear provided at the base; a second gear rotatably supported by the main body case and meshed with the first gear; a third gear rotatably supported by the main body case and meshed with the second gear; and a spring that accumulates energy by rotation of the third gear.

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