CN111938502A

CN111938502A - Electric dust suction device

Info

Publication number: CN111938502A
Application number: CN202010241406.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 笹木宏格; 室崎贵大
Original assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Priority date: 2019-05-17
Filing date: 2020-03-31
Publication date: 2020-11-17
Also published as: JP2020185304A

Abstract

The invention provides an electric dust collector capable of inhibiting the breeding of mixed bacteria of a dust collecting component used in wiping dust collection or polishing dust collection. An electric dust collector (1) is provided with: an electrolyzed water production device (17) for electrolyzing water to produce electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid; a wiping/dust-collecting member mounting part (45) to which the wiping/dust-collecting member (43) can be attached/detached; and a first supply unit (18) which can supply electrolyzed water directly to the wiping and dust-collecting member (43) or indirectly to the wiping and dust-collecting member (43) via the surface to be cleaned, thereby sterilizing the wiping and dust-collecting member (43).

Description

Electric dust suction device

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electric dust collector.

Background

A cleaning robot is known which applies a cleaning liquid from a spray nozzle (spray nozzle) to a cleaning surface and performs wiping or polishing cleaning of the cleaning surface using a pad held in contact with the cleaning surface.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2018-86423

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

A wiping member such as a pad is used for wiping or polishing.

However, if the wiping and dust collecting member is left alone, which is wetted with moisture such as cleaning liquid, bacteria may grow in the wiping and dust collecting member, which is not preferable.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an electric vacuum cleaner capable of suppressing the propagation of bacteria in a wiping dust suction member used for wiping dust suction or polishing dust suction.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problem, an electric dust collector according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an electrolytic water generator for generating electrolytic water containing hypochlorous acid by electrolyzing water; a wiping dust-absorbing component mounting part which can be assembled and disassembled; and a supply unit capable of supplying the electrolyzed water directly to the wiping and dust-collecting member or indirectly to the wiping and dust-collecting member via a surface to be cleaned to sterilize the wiping and dust-collecting member.

Drawings

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

Fig. 2 is a right side view of the electric vacuum cleaner of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the reference numerals

1 … electric vacuum cleaner, 2 … electric vacuum cleaner, 3 … station, 5 … main body, 6 … secondary battery, 7 … power cord, 8 … charging circuit, 11 … moving part, 12 … vacuum cleaner, 13 … detector, 15 … controller, 16 … storage tank, 17 … electrolytic water generator, 18 … first supply part, 19 … second supply part, 21 … main body housing, 22 … buffer, 26 … driving wheel, 27 … motor, 28 … driven wheel, 31 … suction dust cleaner, 32 … dust cleaner, 34 … suction inlet, 35 … brush, 36 … brush motor, 37 … dust container, 38 … electric vacuum cleaner, 39 … suction air duct, 39u … upstream side, 39d … downstream side air duct, 41 … exhaust air duct, 43 … wiping dust cleaner, 45 … wiping dust cleaner mounting part, 51a … camera, 39 a … camera …, 51b shooting optical component system 49751 b, 52 … approach detection section, 53 … contact detection section, 55 … distance measurement device, 55a … light emitting section, 55b … light receiving section, 59 … water amount detection section, 61 … electrode, 65 … first supply mechanism section, 66 … second supply mechanism section, 71 … first supply port, 72 … first on-off valve, 73 … second supply port, 74 … second on-off valve, 75 … atomizing device, 76 … water guide path, 78 … water retention body, 79 … moisture absorption section, 81 … communication section, 81a … transmission section, 81b … reception section, 82 … report section, 83 … electrolytic water generation power supply section, 85 … self-movement control section, 86 … detection control section, 87 … map information storage section, 88 … movement control section, 89 … suction dust collection control section, 91 … bacteria elimination control section, 92 … detection result storage section.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 4. In the drawings, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in fig. 1, an electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment includes: an electric vacuum cleaner 2; and a station 3 that can be coupled to and separated from the electric vacuum cleaner 2.

The electric vacuum cleaner 2 is a so-called autonomous vacuum cleaner or a floor cleaning robot. The electric vacuum cleaner 2 autonomously moves by consuming electric power of the secondary battery 6 mounted on the main body 5. The electric vacuum cleaner 2 travels on a surface f to be cleaned, i.e., a so-called floor surface, of a region a to be cleaned, which is a cleaning place in a room. The electric vacuum cleaner 2 performs cleaning while moving back and forth on the surface f to be cleaned in the cleaning region a. The electric vacuum cleaner 2 moves in a line in the dust-suction area a to perform dust suction. When the vacuum cleaner 2 finishes the cleaning of the surface f to be cleaned, it autonomously returns (also referred to as "return") to the station 3 to wait for the next cleaning operation.

The electric vacuum cleaner 2 may be a non-autonomous type that can be connected to and stored in the station 3, such as a horizontal type, a vertical type, a stick type, or a hand-held type.

The station 3 can be installed on a surface f to be cleaned in a living room. The station 3 enables the electric vacuum cleaner 2 to be smoothly attached or detached. The station 3 has a function of a so-called cradle. In other words, the station 3 is a charging stand capable of charging the secondary battery 6 of the electric vacuum cleaner 2. The station 3 includes: a power supply line 7 for supplying electric power from a commercial ac power supply; and a charging circuit 8 for converting an ac voltage supplied via a power supply line 7 and supplying a dc voltage to the secondary battery 6.

The electric vacuum cleaner 2 returning to the station 3 charges the secondary battery 6 while waiting for the next dust suction operation. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can eliminate the trouble of charging by the user and can cope with an abrupt dust collection operation in response to the user's request.

Note that solid arrows F in fig. 2 and 3 indicate the forward direction of the electric vacuum cleaner 2.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes, in addition to fig. 1: a main body 5; a moving part 11 for generating a force for moving the electric vacuum cleaner 2; a dust suction unit 12 for sucking dust from a surface to be cleaned below the main body 5; a detection unit 13 for detecting an object to be detected around the main body 5; a control unit 15 for controlling the operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 2 by controlling the detection unit 13, the moving unit 11, and the dust collection unit 12; and a secondary battery 6 for supplying electric power to each unit of the electric vacuum cleaner 2 including the moving unit 11, the dust suction unit 12, the detection unit 13, and the control unit 15.

Further, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 includes: a storage tank 16 provided in the main body 5 and storing water; an electrolyzed water generation device 17 for generating electrolyzed water by electrolyzing the water stored in the tank 16; a first supply unit 18 for supplying the electrolyzed water stored in the tank 16 to the outside of the main body 5; and a second supply unit 19 for supplying the electrolyzed water stored in the tank 16 into the main body 5.

The body 5 has a flat cylindrical shape, in other words a disc shape. The substantially circular body 5 can suppress the turning radius at the time of turning to be smaller than other shapes in plan view. The main body 5 may have a square shape in plan view, or may be a constant-width pattern having a constant diameter, for example, a Reuleaux Triangle (Reuleaux Triangle).

The main body 5 includes, for example, a main body case 21 made of synthetic resin, and a damper 22 provided on a side surface of the main body case 21.

The main body case 21 and the sump 16 cooperate to define an outline of the main body 5 in a plan view. In the present embodiment, the main body case 21 and the sump 16 have an outer contour line in the shape of an arc cut by a chord in a plan view. The circular arc-shaped outline of the main body case 21 and the circular arc-shaped outline of the sump 16 are outlines that draw a circle of the main body 5 by the combination of the strings. Even if the main body 5 has a shape other than a circular shape, the outline of the main body 5 is drawn by combining the outline of the main body case 21 and the outline of the sump 16. The tank 16 is preferably housed inside a locus described by an outline of the main body case 21 when the main body 5 is caused to spiral (counter-rotation) in place.

The height of the main body housing 21 is substantially the same as the height of the sump 16. The height of main body case 21 may be different from the height of sump 16. For example, sump 16 may be higher than main body case 21, and sump 16 may protrude upward. Further, the sump 16 may be recessed with a height lower than that of the main body case 21. Further, the height of sump 16 may be lower than the height of main body case 21, and sump 16 may be mounted on the upper surface of main body case 21. In this case, the upper surface of main body case 21 may have a step-like difference between the portion where sump 16 is mounted and another portion. In a state where tank 16 is mounted on main body case 21, it is preferable that the height of the upper surface of tank 16 substantially matches the height of the upper surface of main body case 21.

The moving unit 11 includes: a plurality of driving wheels 26 capable of being grounded to the surface f to be cleaned; a plurality of motors 27 for driving the drive wheels 26 independently; and a driven wheel 28 that supports the main body 5 on the surface f to be cleaned together with the driving wheel 26.

The respective driving wheels 26 transmit the force for moving the main body 5 to the surface f to be cleaned. Each of the drive wheels 26 rotates about an axis extending in the width direction of the main body 5, i.e., in the lateral width direction. The plurality of drive wheels 26 includes at least one pair of drive wheels 26. The rotation shafts of the pair of drive wheels 26 are arranged on substantially the same line. The electric vacuum cleaner 2 can perform straight traveling and turning by the pair of driving wheels 26. The drive wheel 26 is pressed against the surface f to be cleaned by a suspension device, i.e., a so-called suspension (hereinafter referred to as "suspension"). The electric vacuum cleaner 2 may have an endless track instead of the driving wheel 26.

Each motor 27 drives each drive wheel 26 independently. The electric vacuum cleaner 2 is configured to move straight by rotating the left and right drive wheels 26 in the same direction, and to turn by rotating the left and right drive wheels 26 in different directions. In straight travel, forward and backward are included. Including right turns and left turns in turns. The electric vacuum cleaner 2 can adjust the forward or backward speed by increasing or decreasing the output of the left and right driving wheels 26, or adjust the turning radius by varying the output of the left and right driving wheels 26.

The driven pulley 28 is disposed at a substantially central portion in the width direction of the lower portion of the main body 5 and is a front portion. The driven wheel 28 is a circular rotating body, such as a caster. The driven pulley 28 easily changes its direction as the electric vacuum cleaner 2 moves forward, backward, and turns, and the traveling of the electric vacuum cleaner 2 is stabilized. The center of gravity of the electric vacuum cleaner 2 supported by the driving wheel 26 and the driven wheel 28 is preferably disposed inside a triangle formed by the pair of driving wheel 26 and driven wheel 28. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can move more stably.

The dust suction unit 12 sucks dust from the surface f to be cleaned directly below and around the main body 5. The dust suction part 12 includes: a suction dust suction unit 31 for generating suction negative pressure to suck dust on the dust suction surface f; and a wiping and dust collecting unit 32 for wiping and collecting dust or polishing dust on the surface f to be cleaned below the main body 5.

The suction/dust collection unit 31 includes: a suction port 34 provided on the bottom surface of the main body 5; a rotary brush 35 disposed at the suction port 34; a brush motor 36 for rotationally driving the rotary brush 35; a dust container 37 as a dust collecting part provided in the main body 5; and an electric blower 38 accommodated in the main body 5 and fluidly connected to the dust container 37.

The air passage extending from suction port 34 to the suction side of electric blower 38 through dust container 37 is a suction air passage 39 fluidly connected to the suction side of electric blower 38. The intake air passage 39 includes: an upstream air passage 39u extending from the suction port 34 to the dust container 37; and a downstream air passage 39d extending from the dust container 37 to the electric blower 38.

An air passage extending from the discharge side of electric blower 38 to the discharge port of main body 5 is an exhaust air passage 41 fluidly connected to the discharge side of electric blower 38. The exhaust air from electric blower 38 is discharged to the outside of main body 5 through exhaust air duct 41.

The suction port 34 sucks in dust together with air by a suction negative pressure generated by the electric blower 38. The suction port 34 is disposed on the front side in the forward direction F of the wiping and dust collecting unit 32. The suction port 34 extends in the width direction of the main body 5. In other words, the opening width of the suction port 34 in the left-right direction is larger than the opening width of the suction port 34 in the front-rear direction. Since the bottom surface of the main body 5 faces and faces the surface f to be cleaned during autonomous movement, the suction port 34 easily sucks in dust on the surface f to be cleaned or dust collected from the surface f to be cleaned by the rotary brush 35.

The rotation center line of the rotating brush 35 is directed in the width direction of the electric vacuum cleaner 2. When the electric vacuum cleaner 2 is placed on the surface f to be cleaned in a movable state, the rotary brush 35 contacts the surface f to be cleaned. Therefore, the rotary brush 35 driven to rotate collects dust on the dust suction surface f. The collected dust is efficiently sucked into the suction port 34.

The brush motor 36 rotates the rotary brush 35 forward or backward. The normal rotation direction of the rotary brush 35 is a rotation direction that assists the driving force (propelling force) of the electric vacuum cleaner 2 when the electric vacuum cleaner moves forward. The reverse direction of the rotary brush 35 is a rotational direction that assists the driving force (propelling force) of the electric vacuum cleaner 2 when the brush is retracted.

The dust container 37 is a part of the suction air passage 39. The dust container 37 accumulates dust sucked from the suction port 34 by the suction negative pressure generated by the electric blower 38. The dust container 37 is a separator that accumulates dust by inertial separation such as a filter that filters and traps dust, centrifugal separation (cyclone separation), and straight separation (separation method that separates dust from air by a difference in inertial force between straight air and dust). The dust container 37 is detachable from the main body 5. The dust container 37 has a lid that can be opened and closed. The user can detach the dust container 37 from the main body 5, open the cover of the dust container 37, and easily discard the dust stored in the dust container 37, or clean the dust container 37.

The electric blower 38 consumes electric power of the secondary battery 6 and drives the same. The electric blower 38 sucks air from the dust container 37 to generate a suction negative pressure. The suction negative pressure generated in the dust container 37 acts on the suction port 34. The main body 5 has an exhaust port through which the exhaust air of the electric blower 38 flows out of the main body 5.

The wiping and dust collecting unit 32 is disposed at the bottom of the main body 5 and behind the suction port 34. The wiping and dust collecting portion 32 may be provided at the bottom of the main body casing 21, or may be provided at the bottom of the sump 16 that defines the outline of the main body 5 in cooperation with the main body casing 21.

The suction port 34 and the wiping member 43 are arranged in front of and behind each other in the forward direction (solid arrow F in fig. 2) of the electric vacuum cleaner 2, and the suction port 34 is disposed on the front side of the wiping member 43. Thus, when the electric vacuum cleaner 2 advances, the suction port 34 moves earlier than the wiping suction member 43. Therefore, the wiping and cleaning unit 32 wipes and cleans the surface to be cleaned from which the dust is removed by the suction and cleaning unit 31.

The wiping and cleaning unit 32 wipes and cleans the surface f to be cleaned below the main body 5. The wiping and dust collecting unit 32 includes a wiping and dust collecting member mounting portion 45 to which the wiping and dust collecting member 43 can be attached and detached, and the wiping and dust collecting member 43.

The dust wiping member mounting portion 45 is a base to which the sheet-like dust wiping member 43 is attached by hook and loop fasteners, the sheet-like dust wiping member 43 is wound, or a part of the dust wiping member 43 is inserted into an insertion opening and fixed. The wiping and dust collecting member attachment portion 45 is configured to bring the wiping and dust collecting member 43 into contact with the surface f to be cleaned with the electric vacuum cleaner 2 placed on the surface f to be cleaned. The wiping/dust collecting member attachment portion 45 itself may be detachable from the electric vacuum cleaner 2.

The wiping and dust collecting member 43 is attachable to and detachable from the bottom surface of the wiping and dust collecting member mounting portion 45. When the electric vacuum cleaner 2 is placed on the surface f to be cleaned in a movable state, the wiping and cleaning portion 32 is brought into contact with the surface f to be cleaned. The wiping and cleaning unit 32 is preferably pressed against the surface f to be cleaned with a pressure that is such that the driving wheel 26 does not idle on the surface f to be cleaned. An elastic member such as foamed resin is provided between the wiping and dust suction portion 32 and the bottom surface of the main body 5. The elastic member presses the wiping and dust suction portion 32 against the surface f to be cleaned with a uniform pressure.

The wiping/suction member 43 is also an embodiment of the first supply unit 18 for supplying the electrolyzed water to the outside of the main body 5. The wiping and dust-collecting member 43 wipes the surface f to be cleaned with water in a wet state by the electrolyzed water supplied from the electrolyzed water forming apparatus 17. The dust-cleaned surface f wiped with the electrolytic water is sterilized.

The wiping and dust-collecting member 43 is a wiping and dust-collecting sheet made of a fibrous material such as a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric. The dust-cleaning member 43 is a variety of absorbent dust-cleaning tools such as a wiping sheet, a dust cloth, a wiper, a mop (a fiber mass at the tip other than the handle portion), and the like. The material of the wiping and dust collecting member 43 is natural fibers such as cotton, regenerated fibers such as cellulose, polyamide fibers such as polyester fibers, nylon 6, nylon 66, and nylon 46, and synthetic fibers such as polyolefin fibers such as polyethylene and polypropylene. The dust-wiping member 43 may be a sponge. The dust wiping member 43 may be integrally formed of a super absorbent polymer (SAP, so-called absorbent polymer, super absorbent resin, or polymer absorber). The wiping and dust-collecting member 43 integrally having a member made of a highly water-absorbent polymer can hold a larger amount of electrolyzed water.

When supplying the electrolyzed water to the surface f to be cleaned without passing through the wiping and dust-collecting member 43, the wiping and dust-collecting member 43 can also wipe off the electrolyzed water scattered on the surface f to be cleaned.

That is, the wiping/suction member 43 can be used for so-called water wiping in which the electrolytic water is included and is wetted and the electrolytic water is applied to the surface f to be cleaned, and can also be used for so-called wiping in which the electrolytic water scattered on the surface f to be cleaned is wiped off. In other words, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 removes bacteria from the surface f to be cleaned by spreading or applying the electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid on the surface f to be cleaned as it moves.

Whether wiping by the wiping and dust-collecting means 43 is dry wiping or water wiping depends on the amount of electrolyzed water sprayed from the electrolyzed water forming apparatus 17 onto the surface f to be cleaned and the amount of electrolyzed water supplied from the electrolyzed water forming apparatus 17 to the wiping and dust-collecting means 43. For example, if the amount of electrolytic water to be supplied to the floor surface is small, the electrolytic water evaporates before the wiping and dust collecting member 43 becomes wet. In this case, the drying operation by the dust suction wiping part 43 is continued. If the amount of the electrolyzed water to be supplied to the floor surface is large, the electrolyzed water is not completely evaporated and the wiping/suction member 43 is wetted. In this case, the drying based on the wiping of the dust suction part 43 is finally transferred from the drying to the water wiping.

The detection unit 13 detects an object to be detected that approaches the main body 5 as the main body 5 moves, or an object to be detected that is in contact with the main body 5. The detection section 13 includes: a camera unit 51 provided in the main body 5 and configured to photograph an image around the electric vacuum cleaner 2; an approach detection unit 52 provided in the main body 5 and detecting that the main body 5 approaches an object other than the electric vacuum cleaner 2, that is, a detected object; and a contact detection unit 53 provided in the main body 5, for detecting that the main body 5 has contacted an object other than the electric vacuum cleaner 2, i.e., a detection object.

The camera unit 51 is provided on the front surface of the main body 5, and photographs the front side of the electric vacuum cleaner 2, that is, the traveling direction when the electric vacuum cleaner is traveling forward.

The electric vacuum cleaner 2 may be provided with a distance measuring device 55 for obtaining depth information in the imaging range by a principle different from that of the stereo camera, instead of or in addition to the camera unit 51.

The proximity detection unit 52 is, for example, an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor. The proximity detection unit 52 using an infrared sensor includes a light emitting element that generates infrared light and a light receiving element that receives light and converts the light into an electrical signal. The proximity detection unit 52 emits infrared rays from the light emitting element, receives infrared rays reflected by the object to be detected by the light receiving element, converts the infrared rays into electric power, and detects that the object to be detected approaches within a predetermined distance before the main body 5 comes into contact with the object to be detected when the converted electric power is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. The proximity detection unit 52 using an ultrasonic sensor detects an object to be detected using ultrasonic waves instead of infrared rays.

The contact detection unit 53 is a so-called bumper sensor. The contact detection unit 53 is interlocked with the damper 22 that alleviates the impact on the main body 5 when the moving main body 5 comes into contact with the object to be detected. When the buffer 22 comes into contact with the object, it is displaced so as to be pushed toward the inside of the main body 5. The contact detection unit 53 detects the displacement of the damper 22 and detects that the main body 5 is in contact with the object to be detected. The contact detection unit 53 includes, for example, a micro switch that is turned on and off by displacement of the bumper 22, or an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor that contactlessly measures the displacement amount of the bumper 22.

The secondary battery 6 stores electric power consumed by each unit of the electric vacuum cleaner 2 including the moving unit 11, the dust suction unit 12, the detection unit 13, and the control unit 15. The secondary battery 6 supplies electric power to each unit of the electric vacuum cleaner 2 including the moving unit 11, the dust suction unit 12, the detection unit 13, and the control unit 15. The secondary battery 6 is, for example, a lithium ion battery, and has a control circuit for controlling charging and discharging. The control circuit outputs information on charging and discharging of the secondary battery 6 to the control unit 15.

The sump 16 is a container for storing water and brine. The water stored in the sump 16 may also be tap water. The sump 16 is preferably attachable to and detachable from the main body 5 in order to improve convenience of water supply. The storage tank 16 includes a lid that can be opened and closed. The storage tank 16 can be easily supplied with water or brine by opening the lid. A water amount detection unit 59 for detecting the amount of water in the sump 16 is provided in the sump 16.

The electrolyzed water production apparatus 17 electrolyzes water to produce electrolyzed water in which ozone is dissolved, or electrolyzes brine to produce electrolyzed water in which Hypochlorous Acid (HClO) is dissolved, for example. In japan, tap water that is readily available at home contains chlorine according to the regulations of the tap water law. In the tap water law in japan, it is specified that the concentration of chlorine in tap water is one-tenth ppm (parts per million by mass, milligrams per liter) or more (article 17, No. 3) based on the rule imposed by the tap water law in article 22 of the tap water law (ministry of health and labor). The electrolyzed water forming apparatus 17 can easily form electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid by electrolyzing water containing chlorine such as tap water in japan or brine. The electrolyzed water forming apparatus 17 includes an electrode 61 including a positive electrode and a negative electrode.

A material that is hardly soluble in water, such as titanium or platinum, is used for the electrodes 61 of the electrolytic water generator 17. The electrode 61 may support a platinum group metal such as iridium, platinum, or ruthenium, or an oxide thereof, in order to promote electrolysis. The electrolyzed water generates chemical species such as hydrogen peroxide, active oxygen, OH free radical and the like. An electrode 61 is disposed within the reservoir 16.

The electrolytic water generator 17 may be a 1-chamber type having no partition between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a 2-chamber type having a partition between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, or a multi-chamber type including a 3-chamber type. The 1-chamber electrolyzed water forming apparatus 17 neutralizes acidic ionized water formed on the positive electrode side and alkaline ionized water formed on the negative electrode side to form electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid at an appropriate concentration. On the other hand, the multi-chamber electrolytic water generator 17 generates acidic ionized water in a chamber housing the positive electrode and generates basic ionized water in a chamber housing the negative electrode.

In addition, the multi-chamber electrolytic water generator 17 may not use the acidic ionized water and the alkaline ionized water in the same amount, and may place a burden on the treatment of any remaining ionized water. The 1-chamber electrolyzed water forming apparatus 17 does not cause a burden of treating the remaining ionized water unlike the multi-chamber type, and may be more convenient for the user than the multi-chamber type.

The first supply unit 18 supplies the electrolyzed water so as to be diffused or dispersed on the surface f to be cleaned. The first supply unit 18 supplies the electrolyzed water to at least one of the wiping and dust collecting member 43 and the surface f to be cleaned. The first supply unit 18 includes: a first supply mechanism 65 for supplying electrolyzed water from the storage tank 16 to the wiping and dust-collecting member 43; and a second supply mechanism 66 for supplying electrolyzed water from the tank 16 to the surface f to be cleaned. The first supply unit 18 may have one of the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 66.

The first supply mechanism 65 includes: a first supply port 71 for supplying electrolytic water to the back surface of the dust wiping and sucking member 43; and a first on-off valve 72 for shutting off the supply of the electrolyzed water to the first supply port 71. The front surface of the dust wiping and sucking member 43 is a surface contacting the surface f to be sucked, and the back surface of the dust wiping and sucking member 43 is a surface on the back side of the front surface, that is, a surface not contacting the surface f to be sucked.

The first supply port 71 may be plural. For example, the first supply ports 71 are preferably arranged in a row in the width direction of the main body 5, that is, in the width direction of the wiping and suctioning member 43. The first supply port 71 arranged in this manner can wet a wide area of the wiping and dust suction member 43 by the electrolyzed water. The first supply port 71 may be an elongated, flat opening having a long side extending in the width direction of the main body 5.

The first opening-closing valve 72 is a so-called electromagnetic valve. The first supply mechanism 65 opens the first on-off valve 72 to supply the electrolyzed water by using a head difference, which is a difference in height between the water level of the electrolyzed water in the tank 16 and the first supply port 71. The first supply mechanism 65 may be provided with a pump for pumping up the electrolytic water in the tank 16 instead of the first on-off valve 72. The first supply mechanism 65 may be a flow path, such as a narrow tube or a small hole, through which the electrolytic water in the tank 16 flows. In this case, the inner diameter or the small pore diameter of the narrow tube is appropriately and favorably set so as to obtain a required supply amount (supply amount per unit time) of the electrolyzed water.

The second supply mechanism 66 includes: a second supply port 73 for spraying electrolyzed water onto the surface f to be cleaned; and a second shut-off valve 74 for shutting off the supply and supply of the electrolyzed water to the second supply port 73.

The second supply port 73 is, for example, a nozzle capable of spraying electrolytic water. The second supply port 73 supplies the electrolyzed water to the surface f to be cleaned sandwiched between the suction port 34 and the wiping and cleaning member 43 in a state where the electric vacuum cleaner 2 is placed on the surface f to be cleaned. In other words, the second supply mechanism 66 supplies the electrolyzed water from the second supply port 73 to the surface f to be cleaned sandwiched between the suction port 34 and the wiping and cleaning member 43 in a state where the electric vacuum cleaner 2 is placed on the surface f to be cleaned.

The second supply port 73 may be plural. For example, the second supply ports 73 are preferably arranged in a row in the width direction of the main body 5, i.e., in the width direction of the wiping and suctioning member 43. The second supply port 73 thus arranged spreads the electrolytic water to a wider extent as the main body 5 advances. The second supply port 73 may be an elongated, flat nozzle having a long side extending in the width direction of the main body 5.

The second opening-closing valve 74 is a so-called electromagnetic valve. The second supply mechanism 66 opens the second on-off valve 74 to supply the electrolyzed water by using a head difference, which is a difference in height between the water level of the electrolyzed water in the tank 16 and the second supply port 73. The second supply mechanism 66 may be provided with a pump for pumping up the electrolytic water in the tank 16 instead of the second on-off valve 74. The second supply mechanism 66 may be a flow path, such as a narrow tube or a small hole, through which the electrolytic water in the tank 16 flows. In this case, the inner diameter or the small pore diameter of the narrow tube is appropriately and favorably set so as to obtain a required supply amount (supply amount per unit time) of the electrolyzed water.

The second supply unit 19 supplies the electrolyzed water stored in the tank 16 to the intake air passage 39. The second supply unit 19 may supply electrolytic water to the upstream air passage 39u connecting the suction port 34 and the dust container 37, may supply electrolytic water to the dust container 37, or may supply electrolytic water to the downstream air passage 39d connecting the dust container 37 and the electric blower 38. In other words, second feeder 19 supplies the electrolytic water stored in tank 16 to at least one of upstream air passage 39u connecting suction port 34 and dust container 37, the inside of dust container 37, and downstream air passage 39d connecting dust container 37 and electric blower 38.

The second feeder 19 vaporizes the electrolytic water and supplies the electrolytic water to at least one of an upstream air passage 39u connecting the suction port 34 and the dust container 37, the inside of the dust container 37, and a downstream air passage 39d connecting the dust container 37 and the electric blower 38. Therefore, the second supply unit 19 includes: atomizing device 75 for atomizing electrolytic water and supplying it to at least one of upstream air passage 39u, dust container 37, and downstream air passage 39d connecting dust container 37 and electric blower 38; and a water guide path 76 for guiding the electrolyzed water from the storage tank 16 to the atomization device 75.

The atomizing device 75 may be exposed in the upstream air passage 39u itself or a space connected to the upstream air passage 39u, the dust container 37 itself or a space connected to the dust container 37, or the downstream air passage 39d itself or a space connected to the downstream air passage 39 d. The atomizing device 75 diffuses or spreads the atomized electrolytic water in at least one of the upstream air passage 39u, the dust container 37, and the downstream air passage 39 d.

Here, "the space connected to the upstream air passage 39 u", "the space connected to the dust container 37", and "the space connected to the downstream air passage 39 d" include a portion in which the suction negative pressure generated by the electric blower 38 acts and the flow of air is sufficiently generated, and include a portion in which the suction negative pressure generated by the electric blower 38 acts and the flow of air due to the suction negative pressure is insufficiently generated and the flow is stagnant.

The atomizing device 75 is used in various atomizing methods such as a heating type for heating and atomizing the electrolytic water, an ultrasonic type for vibrating and atomizing the electrolytic water by ultrasonic waves, a method for atomizing the electrolytic water by spraying using a venturi effect, for example, electrostatic atomization for atomizing the electrolytic water by corona discharge, and a water pulverization type for pulverizing water molecules by diffusing the electrolytic water by a propeller rotating at a high speed. In either mode, the atomizing device 75 atomizes the electrolytic water to include fine particles having a diameter of 100 μm or less, and more preferably atomizes the electrolytic water to include fine particles having a diameter of 10 μm or less.

The water guide path 76 may be, for example, a pipe connecting the tank 16 and the atomizer 75, or may be a string or rope that sucks up the electrolyzed water in the tank 16 by capillary action and guides the sucked electrolyzed water to the atomizer 75.

In addition to the atomizing device 75, the second supply unit 19 may include a water retaining body 78 for vaporizing the electrolyzed water in at least one of an upstream air passage 39u connecting the suction port 34 and the dust container 37, an inside of the dust container 37, and a downstream air passage 39d connecting the dust container 37 and the electric blower 38, instead of or in addition to the atomizing device 75.

The water retention body 78 is connected to the sump 16 via the same or a different water conducting path as the atomizing device 75. The water retaining body 78 absorbs the electrolyzed water supplied through the water guide path, and becomes a state containing the electrolyzed water. A portion of water holding body 78 is in contact with the electrolyzed water via the water conducting path connecting sump 16 with water holding body 78. A portion of the water retaining body 78 may also be in direct contact with the electrolyzed water in the sump 16 without passing through a water guiding path. The other part of the water retainer 78 may be exposed in the upstream air passage 39u itself or the space connected to the upstream air passage 39u, the dust container 37 itself or the space connected to the dust container 37, or the downstream air passage 39d itself or the space connected to the downstream air passage 39 d.

The water-retaining body 78 retains the electrolyzed water by its water-absorbing property. In addition, the water holding body 78 sucks up the electrolyzed water of the water guiding path connecting the storage tank 16 and the water holding body 78 by its water absorption property. That is, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 supplies the electrolytic water to at least one of the upstream air passage 39u connecting the suction port 34 and the dust container 37, the inside of the dust container 37, and the downstream air passage 39d connecting the dust container 37 and the electric blower 38 by bringing the member having water-absorbing property into contact with the electrolytic water. Even if the supply location of the electrolyzed water (the upstream air passage 39u, the dust container 37, or the downstream air passage 39d) is located higher than the tank 16, the water retainer 78 can suck up the liquid by capillary action and move it. By changing the degree and size of the water absorption of the water retaining body 78, the suction force and height can be adjusted to avoid over-supply. The water retaining body 78 may be disposed below the sump 16. In this case, the electrolyzed water is easily supplied to the water retaining body 78 by the water head difference.

The water-retaining body 78 is, for example, a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric. The water-retaining body 78 is made of natural fibers such as cotton, regenerated fibers such as cellulose, polyamide fibers such as polyester fibers, nylon 6, nylon 66, and nylon 46, and synthetic fibers such as polyolefin fibers such as polyethylene and polypropylene. The water retention body 78 may also be a sponge. The water retention body 78 may integrally include a member made of a super absorbent polymer (SAP, so-called absorbent polymer, super absorbent resin, or polymer absorber). The water retaining member 78 integrally having a member made of a highly water-absorbent polymer can retain a larger amount of electrolyzed water.

The electrolytic water is vaporized until the vapor pressure of the gas in the suction air duct 39 reaches the saturated vapor pressure. The vaporized electrolyzed water passes through the intake air passage 39 and reaches the dust container 37, and the dust accumulated in the dust container 37 is sterilized.

The water retaining body 78 can supply the electrolytic water to the dust container 37 by vaporizing the electrolytic water by the flow of air in the upstream air passage 39u and the dust container 37. The electrolytic water vaporized by the flow of air sterilizes the dust accumulated in the dust container 37. Part of the electrolyzed water passes through the dust container 37 by the suction negative pressure and reaches the electric blower 38 to sterilize the exhaust gas of the electric blower 38. The water retaining body 78 vaporizes the electrolytic water by the flow of air in the downstream air passage 39d, passes through the dust container 37, and reaches the electric blower 38 to sterilize the exhaust gas of the electric blower 38. In addition, water retaining body 78 can supply electrolytic water to dust container 37 by vaporizing electrolytic water in upstream air passage 39u, the interior of dust container 37, and downstream air passage 39d in a state where electric blower 38 is stopped. The vaporized electrolyzed water is diffused in the intake air passage 39, and the dust accumulated in the dust container 37 is sterilized.

When second feeder 19 is provided in downstream air passage 39d, the exhaust gas from electric blower 38 can be sterilized by vaporizing the electrolytic water while electric blower 38 is driven. In other words, when the second supply unit 19 is provided in the downstream air passage 39d, the dust accumulated in the dust container 37 can be removed while the total amount of the electrolyzed water after evaporation is used and the electric blower 38 is stopped in order to remove the dust from the exhaust air blown out from the electric vacuum cleaner 2 while the electric blower 38 is being driven.

On the other hand, when the second supplier 19 is provided in the upstream air passage 39u or the dust container 37, the second supplier 19 can supply the electrolytic water to the dust container 37 by vaporizing the electrolytic water by the flow of the air in the intake air passage 39. The electrolytic water vaporized by the flow of air in the intake air duct 39 sterilizes the dust accumulated in the dust container 37. Further, a part of the electrolytic water having reached the dust container 37 passes through the dust container 37 by the suction negative pressure, and reaches the electric blower 38 to sterilize the exhaust gas of the electric blower 38.

The vacuum cleaner 2 includes a moisture absorption portion 79 provided in the suction air duct 39 and absorbing the electrolyzed water (moisture) sucked into the suction air duct 39 by the suction negative pressure. When the electrolytic water is sucked into suction air duct 39, moisture absorption unit 79 absorbs the electrolytic water before it reaches electric blower 38, thereby preventing the electrolytic water from reaching electric blower 38. The moisture absorption portion 79 is, for example, a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric. The material of the moisture absorbing portion 79 is natural fiber such as cotton, regenerated fiber such as cellulose, polyamide fiber such as polyester fiber, nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 46, and the like, and synthetic fiber such as polyolefin fiber such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like. The absorbent portion 79 may be a sponge. The absorbent unit 79 may integrally include a member made of a super absorbent polymer (SAP, so-called absorbent polymer, super absorbent resin, or polymer absorbent). The moisture absorption portion 79 integrally having a high water-absorbent polymer member can hold a larger amount of electrolytic water.

The moisture absorber 79 may be provided in the upstream air passage 39u or the downstream air passage 39d of the intake air passage 39. The moisture absorption portion 79 may be provided in the dust container 37. The moisture absorbing unit 79 may be provided on the downstream side of the atomizing device 75 and the water retaining body 78 in the flow of air. That is, moisture absorber 79 is located closer to electric blower 38 than atomizing device 75 and water retaining body 78 in intake air passage 39. The moisture absorbing portion 79 may also serve as a filter of the dust container 37 for separating dust from the dust-containing air sucked into the suction air duct 39.

As shown in fig. 4, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment includes a communication unit 81, a notification unit 82, and an electrolytic water generation power supply unit 83 that applies a voltage to the electrolytic water generation device 17, in addition to the motor 27 of the moving unit 11, the brush motor 36 and the electric blower 38 of the suction/dust collection unit 31, the detection unit 13, the control unit 15, the electrolytic water generation device 17, the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 66 of the first supply unit 18, the atomization device 75 of the second supply unit 19, the water amount detection unit 59, and the secondary battery 6.

The communication unit 81 includes a transmission unit 81a for transmitting an infrared signal to the station 3, and a reception unit 81b for receiving the infrared signal transmitted by the station 3 and the remote controller. The transmission unit 81a includes, for example, an infrared light emitting element. The receiving portion 81b includes, for example, a phototransistor.

The notification unit 82 notifies the user or a third person located around the electric vacuum cleaner 2 of appropriate information such as start of operation by at least one of sound such as voice or warning sound, optical display including lighting and blinking, and display of characters and graphics. The report unit 82 is, for example, a speaker built in the main body casing 21 or a display provided on the top surface of the main body casing 21.

The camera unit 51 of the detection unit 13 is, for example, a digital camera. That is, the camera unit 51 includes an image pickup device 51a (image sensor) that converts an image picked up into an electric signal, and an optical system 51b that forms (generates) an image on the image pickup device 51 a. The image sensor 51a is, for example, a CCD image sensor (Charge-Coupled Device image sensor) or a CMOS image sensor (Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor). Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can immediately process the digital data of the image captured by the camera section 51. That is, the image captured by the camera unit 51 can be compressed into a predetermined data format, converted into a binary image, or converted into a grayscale by an image processing circuit, for example. The camera unit 51 captures an image in a visible light region, for example. An image in the visible light region has better image quality than an image in the infrared region, for example, and information that can be visually recognized can be easily provided to a user without performing complicated image processing.

The camera section 51 is a so-called stereo camera. The camera unit 51 superimposes the captured images on each other within a capturing range including a front position where a center line of the electric vacuum cleaner 2 in the width direction is extended. The camera unit 51 can obtain information on the depth within the imaging range, that is, the separation distance viewed from the electric vacuum cleaner 2. An image containing depth information is referred to as a "distance image".

The camera unit 51 may be provided with an illumination device such as an led (light Emitting diode) or a bulb in parallel. The illumination device illuminates a part or all of the imaging range of the camera unit 51. The lighting device is capable of causing the camera unit 51 to acquire an appropriate image even in a dark place such as a shadow of an obstacle such as furniture or in a dark environment such as at night.

A large number of pixels are arranged on the light receiving surface of the imaging element 51 a. Each pixel of the light receiving surface converts received light into an electrical signal. The information of the light received by each pixel is combined according to the position of each pixel, thereby obtaining an image representing the scene captured by the camera unit 51. The general imaging element 51a images a color image. The color image is expressed by mixing three colors of red, green, and blue, for example.

The distance measuring device 55 includes a light emitting unit 55a that emits light to a range in which depth information is to be obtained, and a light receiving unit 55b that receives reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 55 a. The electric vacuum cleaner 2 can acquire distance information from the electric vacuum cleaner 2 to the object to be detected based on a time difference between when the light emitting portion 55a starts emitting light and when the light receiving portion 55b receives the reflected light. The light emitting section 55a emits infrared light or visible light, for example.

The control unit 15 includes, for example: a Central Processing Unit (CPU); an auxiliary storage device (for example, Read Only Memory: ROM) for storing various operation programs, parameters, and the like executed (processed) by the central processing unit; and a main storage device (e.g., Random access memory: RAM) that dynamically secures a work area of the program. The auxiliary storage device is preferably a rewritable storage device such as a nonvolatile memory.

The control unit 15 is electrically connected to the motor 27 of the moving unit 11, the brush motor 36 and the electric blower 38 of the suction/dust collection unit 31, the detection unit 13, the electrolyzed water generation device 17, the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 66 of the first supply unit 18, the atomization device 75 of the second supply unit 19, the water amount detection unit 59, the secondary battery 6, and the communication unit 81. The control unit 15 controls the brush motor 36 and the electric blower 38 of the suction/suction unit 31, the detection unit 13, the electrolyzed water forming apparatus 17, the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 66 of the first supply unit 18, the atomizing device 75 of the second supply unit 19, the water amount detection unit 59, and the secondary battery 6, based on a control signal received from the station 3 and the remote controller via the communication unit 81.

The control unit 15 includes an autonomous movement control unit 85 that controls autonomous movement of the electric vacuum cleaner 2, and a detection control unit 86 that controls the operation of the detection unit 13. The autonomous movement control unit 85 and the detection control unit 86 are calculation programs.

The autonomous movement control unit 85 includes: a Map information storage unit 87 for storing Environment Map information (Environment Map) of a dust collection place; a movement control unit 88 for controlling the operation of the motor 27 of the moving unit 11; a suction/dust collection control unit 89 for controlling the operations of the brush motor 36 and the electric blower 38 of the suction/dust collection unit 31; and a bacteria elimination control unit 91 that controls the operation of the electrolytic water generator 17, the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 66 of the first supply unit 18, and the atomizing device 75 of the second supply unit 19.

The map information storage unit 87 is a collection of data constructed in a storage area secured in the auxiliary storage device, and has an appropriate data structure. The map information storage unit 87 is read from the auxiliary storage device into the main storage device and used, and is overwritten to the auxiliary storage device through appropriate updating.

The environment map information is information used for autonomous movement of the electric vacuum cleaner 2, and includes the shape of an area in which the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can move, at least in a place to be cleaned. The environment map information is constructed, for example, as a set of rectangles having one side of 10 centimeters that are neatly arranged. The environment map information may be information prepared in advance when the electric vacuum cleaner 2 is used, or may be information created while estimating its own position by Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). The environment map information may be created and updated during the movement accompanying the dust suction operation. When environment map information is created by SLAM, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 preferably includes various sensors such as an encoder in addition to the detection unit 13. The movement control unit 88 creates environment map information based on information acquired from the detection unit 13 and various sensors.

The movement control unit 88 controls the moving unit 11 based on the environment map information to autonomously move the electric vacuum cleaner 2. The movement control unit 88 controls the magnitude and direction of the current flowing to the motor 27 to rotate the motor 27 in the normal or reverse direction. The movement control unit 88 controls the driving of the driving wheels 26 by rotating the motor 27 forward or backward.

The suction/dust collection control unit 89 controls the brush motor 36 and the electric blower 38 independently of each other.

The sterilization control unit 91 controls the supply amount of the electrolytic water supplied from the tank 16 to the wiping and dust-collecting member 43 by opening and closing the first on-off valve 72 of the first supply unit 18. The sterilization control unit 91 opens and closes the first on-off valve 72 of the first supply unit 18 to control the supply amount of the electrolyzed water supplied from the storage tank 16 to the surface f to be cleaned. The sterilization controller 91 turns on/off (switches, drives, and stops) the operation of the atomizing device 75 of the second supply unit 19 to control the supply amount of the electrolyzed water supplied from the tank 16 to the intake air passage 39.

The detection control unit 86 controls the operation of the camera unit 51. The detection control unit 86 causes the camera unit 51 to capture images at predetermined time intervals. The detection control unit 86 stores the image captured by the camera unit 51 in the detection result storage unit 92. The image captured by the camera unit 51 is secured to the main storage device by the detection result storage unit 92. The detection result storage unit 92 stores the image captured by the camera unit 51. The detection result storage unit 92 has a capacity capable of storing a plurality of images.

The detection result storage unit 92 may store image information representing an image captured by the camera unit 51 without processing, or may store image information processed so as to reduce the data size while retaining information necessary for the analysis processing of the image as much as possible. The image information stored in the detection result storage unit 92 may be, for example, an image obtained by converting an image captured by the camera unit 51 into a grayscale (hereinafter, the image may be referred to as an image as well as the original image captured by the camera unit 51). In the case of a grayscale image, the pixel values of the image coincide with the luminance values. In the case of storing an image converted into a grayscale, the control unit 15 may be configured to reduce the capacity (resource) of the memory area allocated to the detection result storage unit 92 to a smaller amount than in the case of storing the original image. In addition, when the image converted into the gray scale is used for the subsequent analysis processing, the control unit 15 can reduce the load on the central processing unit as compared with the case of processing the original image. Image processing including image graying may be performed by the camera unit 51. The camera unit 51 performs image processing, thereby reducing the load on the central processing unit.

The detection control unit 86 controls turning on and off of the illumination device. The illumination device brightens the image, facilitates the analysis process, and improves the accuracy.

The detection control unit 86 stores the detection result of the proximity detection unit 52, that is, the proximity of the object to be detected to the main body 5, and the separation distance between the object to be detected and the main body 5 at this time in the detection result storage unit 92. The detection control unit 86 stores the detection result of the contact detection unit 53, that is, the contact state of the object to be detected with the main body 5 in the detection result storage unit 92. The information stored in the detection result storage unit 92 can be used to optimize a movement path in autonomous movement of the electric vacuum cleaner 2 in association with the environment map information.

The water amount detection unit 59 may be either a contact type or a noncontact type. The contact type water amount detector 59 can be of a float type for measuring the water level based on the position of a float (float) provided in the tank 16 in the vertical direction, or of a capacitance type for measuring the water level by detecting the capacitance between a pair of electrodes, for example. The non-contact type water level detector 59 can employ a known method of measuring the water level using radio waves, ultrasonic waves, or light waves, for example.

Further, the electrode 61 of the electrolyzed water forming apparatus 17 can also be used as the water amount detection unit 59. The electrode 61 extending in the vertical direction is such that, as the water level of the tank 16 (the liquid level of the electrolyzed water) changes, the ratio of the portion immersed in the water (in the liquid of the electrolyzed water) to the portion exposed to the gas in the tank 16 changes. The change in the ratio changes the current value flowing between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode 61. Therefore, the amount of water stored in the tank 16 is estimated based on the change in the current value flowing between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode 61.

The electrolytic water generation power supply unit 83 applies a voltage to the electrodes 61 of the electrolytic water generation device 17. The electrolyzed water generation power supply unit 83 converts the electric power charged in the secondary battery 6 into a voltage suitable for generation of electrolyzed water and applies the voltage to the electrodes 61.

The electrolytic water generation power supply unit 83 controls the voltage applied to the electrodes 61 based on the amount of water in the tank 16 detected by the water amount detection unit 59. Specifically, the electrolytic water generation power supply unit 83 increases the applied voltage as the water amount in the tank 16 detected by the water amount detection unit 59 increases. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can generate electrolyzed water at an appropriate voltage for an appropriate required time in accordance with the amount of water in the tank 16.

However, after wiping or polishing, there are cases where germs remain in the wiping member 43. Even when water wiping is performed using electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid, there are cases where unwanted bacteria remain in the wiping/dust-collecting member 43.

Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment includes the first supply unit 18 that supplies the electrolyzed water to the wiping and dust-collecting member 43 to sterilize the wiping and dust-collecting member 43. In other words, the first supply unit 18 can supply the electrolyzed water to the surface f to be cleaned for sterilization of the surface f to be cleaned, and can supply the electrolyzed water to the wiping member 43 for sterilization of the wiping member 43.

The first supply unit 18 directly supplies the electrolyzed water to the wiping and dust collecting member 43 by the first supply mechanism unit 65. The first supply unit 18 opens the first on-off valve 72 based on the control signal of the sterilization control unit 91 to directly supply the electrolyzed water to the wiping and dust collecting member 43. In this case, it is preferable to sterilize the wiping dust suction member 43 in a state where the electric vacuum cleaner 2 is stopped. By sterilizing the wiping and dust collecting member 43 in a stopped state, that is, by supplying the electrolyzed water to the wiping and dust collecting member 43, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 does not uselessly supply the electrolyzed water to the surface f to be cleaned.

When the wiping and cleaning member 43 is sterilized with electrolyzed water, it is preferable that the wiping and cleaning member 43 is separated from the surface f to be cleaned. For example, the station 3 may be provided with a high-floor pedestal on which the electric vacuum cleaner 2 is disposed so that the wiping and cleaning member 43 of the electric vacuum cleaner 2 returned to the station 3 is spaced apart from the surface f to be cleaned. The station 3 may be provided with a tray disposed directly below the wiping and dust collecting member 43 of the electric vacuum cleaner 2 returned to the station 3. The electric vacuum cleaner 2 may be inclined so that the main body 5 is spaced apart from the surface f to be cleaned by the wiping member 43. For example, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 may be inclined such that the wiping member 43 is spaced apart from the surface f to be cleaned by bringing the ground point of the driven wheel 28 closer to the bottom surface of the main body 5, thereby tilting the main body 5.

The first supply unit 18 supplies the electrolyzed water to the wiping and dust collecting member 43 indirectly via the dust-to-be-collected surface f by the second supply mechanism 66. The first supply unit 18 opens the second on-off valve 74 based on the control signal of the sterilization control unit 91 to supply the electrolyzed water to the surface f to be cleaned. Then, the movement controller 88 drives the moving unit 11 to move the electric vacuum cleaner 2, and wipes the electrolyzed water supplied to the surface f to be cleaned with the wiping and cleaning member 43. Thus, the electrolyzed water is indirectly supplied to the wiping and dust collecting member 43 via the dust-to-be-collected surface f. After the supply of the electrolyzed water to the wiping and dust-collecting member 43 is finished, the wiping and dust-collecting member 43 is preferably separated from the surface f to be cleaned.

That is, the first supply unit 18 can supply the electrolyzed water to the wiping member 43 directly or indirectly via the surface f to be cleaned to sterilize the wiping member 43.

The sterilization control unit 91 causes the first supply unit 18 to supply the electrolyzed water when the electric vacuum cleaner 2 is waiting for the cleaning operation. That is, the sterilization control unit 91 can perform both control of supplying the electrolyzed water from the first supply unit 18 during the dust suction operation and control of supplying the electrolyzed water from the first supply unit 18 during the standby. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can sterilize the wiping and dust-collecting member 43 without hindering the dust-collecting operation.

The sterilization control unit 91 causes the first supply unit 18 to discontinuously supply the electrolyzed water while the electric vacuum cleaner 2 is waiting for the cleaning operation. The sterilization control unit 91 causes the first supply unit 18 to supply the electrolytic water periodically every several hours, or causes the first supply unit 18 to supply the electrolytic water at irregular time intervals, for example. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can avoid the state in which the wiping dust suction member 43 is excessively wetted by the electrolyzed water during the dust suction operation. In addition, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can appropriately remove bacteria adhering to the wiping and dust-cleaning member 43 during standby.

The sterilization control unit 91 causes the first supply unit 18 to supply the electrolyzed water immediately before the electric vacuum cleaner 2 starts the vacuum cleaning operation. For example, the autonomous electric vacuum cleaner 2 can start a cleaning operation at a certain time according to a timer setting. Therefore, immediately before starting the dust suction operation, the sterilization control unit 91 sterilizes the wiping and dust suction member 43 with the electrolyzed water. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can perform wiping and dust collection using the sterilized wiping and dust collection member 43. The sterilized and cleaned wiping and dust-collecting member 43 is used to wipe and collect dust, thereby preventing the spread of bacteria on the surface f to be cleaned.

The sterilization control unit 91 causes the first supply unit 18 to sterilize the wiping and cleaning member 43 before a predetermined time period during which the vacuum cleaner 2 starts the cleaning operation. The predetermined time is set to, for example, a time required for drying the wiping and dust-collecting member 43 to which the electrolytic water is supplied. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can perform wiping and dust cleaning with the sterilized and dried wiping and dust cleaning member 43.

The sterilization control unit 91 sterilizes the area a to be cleaned with the electrolytic water during the cleaning operation, and retains the electrolytic water used for sterilization by wiping the cleaning member 43 during standby. Even if the electrolytic water for sterilizing the entire area of the dust-suction area a is insufficient and the entire area of the dust-suction area a cannot be sterilized, the sterilization control unit 91 keeps the electrolytic water used for sterilizing the wiping member 43 on standby. The remaining amount of electrolyzed water is based on the detection result of the water amount detection unit 59. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can reliably remove bacteria from the wiping and cleaning member 43 during standby.

The sterilization control unit 91 notifies the wiping and cleaning member 43 of sterilization via the notification unit 82. In other words, the notification unit 82 has a function of notifying that the wiping and cleaning member 43 is under sterilization. The sterilization control unit 91 outputs, for example, voice information indicating that sterilization is being performed from the notification unit 82, causes the notification unit 82 to display a code indicating that sterilization is being performed, or causes the notification unit 82 to display a character string indicating that sterilization is being performed. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can make the user or a third person located around the electric vacuum cleaner 2 know that the wiping and cleaning member 43 is sterilizing, and can recognize that, for example, electrolytic water is not leaked due to a failure.

However, in the plane of the surface f to be cleaned, a sufficient bacteria removing effect can be obtained by a relatively small amount of electrolyzed water, and in the water absorbing body or the water retaining body containing the electrolyzed water and carrying moisture such as the wiping and cleaning member 43, a large amount of electrolyzed water is required in order to obtain a sufficient bacteria removing effect by the electrolyzed water over the entire surface. That is, if the wiping and cleaning member 43 is sterilized during the cleaning operation, there is a risk that the supply amount of the electrolyzed water to the surface f to be cleaned becomes excessive.

Therefore, the sterilization control unit 91 makes the supply amount of the electrolyzed water during the dust suction operation different from the supply amount of the electrolyzed water during the standby. For example, the sterilization control unit 91 supplies the electrolytic water in a standby state for sterilization of the wiping and cleaning member 43 in an amount larger than the amount of the electrolytic water in a cleaning operation for sterilization of the surface f to be cleaned. In other words, the total supply amount of the electrolyzed water at a certain time interval is such that the amount used for sterilization of the wiping and cleaning member 43 during standby is larger than the amount used for sterilization of the cleaning region a during cleaning operation. For example, if the total supply amount per 1 hour is compared, the amount of electrolytic water used for sterilization of the wiping and cleaning member 43 during standby is larger than the amount of electrolytic water used for sterilization of the dust-cleaned area a during cleaning operation.

It is preferable that the electrolyzed water be continuously supplied to the surface f to be cleaned as the electric vacuum cleaner 2 moves during the sterilization of the surface f to be cleaned, and that the electrolyzed water be intermittently and discretely supplied during the sterilization of the wiping and cleaning member 43. Therefore, when the average value of the supply amount of both is compared in a short time, for example, several seconds, the magnitude of the supply amount may be reversed, but when the average value of both is compared in a sufficient time, for example, every 1 hour, the average supply amount of the electrolyzed water is such that the amount of the electrolyzed water supplied to the wiping and dust suction member 43 during standby is larger than the amount of the electrolyzed water supplied to the dust suction region a during the dust suction operation.

As described above, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment includes the first supply unit 18 capable of supplying the electrolyzed water directly to the wiping member 43 or indirectly to the wiping member 43 via the surface to be cleaned to sterilize the wiping member 43. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can sterilize bacteria remaining in the wiping and cleaning member 43.

In addition, in the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, the first supply unit 18 is caused to supply the electrolyzed water while the cleaning operation is being awaited. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can sterilize the wiping and dust-collecting member 43 without hindering the dust-collecting operation.

In the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, immediately before the start of the vacuum cleaning operation, the first supply unit 18 is caused to sterilize the wiping and cleaning member 43. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can perform wiping and dust collection using the sterilized wiping and dust collection member 43.

In the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, the first supply unit 18 is configured to discontinuously supply the electrolyzed water during the standby vacuum operation. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can avoid the wiping dust suction member 43 from being excessively wetted with the electrolytic water during the dust suction operation. In addition, the electric vacuum cleaner 2 can appropriately remove bacteria adhering to the wiping and dust-cleaning member 43 during standby.

In the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, the first supply unit 18 is configured to sterilize the wiping and cleaning member 43 before a predetermined time elapses from the start of the cleaning operation. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can perform sterilization of the wiping and dust-collecting member 43 in advance, and can perform wiping and dust-collection with the sterilized and dried wiping and dust-collecting member 43.

In addition, in the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, the first supply unit 18 is supplied with electrolyzed water during the vacuum operation. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can perform water wiping of the surface f to be cleaned with the electrolyzed water.

In the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, the electrolyzed water used for sterilization of the wiping and cleaning member 43 is retained during standby. That is, even if the electrolyzed water is insufficient and bacteria can not be removed from the entire region of the dust-sucked region a, the electrolyzed water used for removing bacteria from the wiping dust-sucking member 43 is retained in the electric vacuum cleaner 2 during standby. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can reliably perform wiping and cleaning using the sterilized wiping and cleaning member 43.

In the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, a larger amount of electrolyzed water is supplied to the wiping and dust-collecting member 43 during standby than during the dust-collecting operation. The supply amount of electrolytic water here is the total supply amount of electrolytic water in a certain time interval. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can appropriately set the supply amount of the electrolyzed water necessary for the sterilization of the surface f to be cleaned and the supply amount of the electrolyzed water necessary for the sterilization of the wiping and cleaning member 43.

The electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment performs sterilization of the wiping and cleaning member 43 in a stopped state. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 does not uselessly supply the electrolyzed water to the surface f to be cleaned.

The electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment further includes a notification unit 82 for notifying that the wiping and cleaning member 43 is performing sterilization. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can make the user or a third person located around the electric vacuum cleaner 2 know that the wiping and cleaning member 43 is sterilizing, and can recognize that the electrolyzed water is not leaked due to a failure, for example.

Therefore, according to the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, the propagation of bacteria in the wiping member used for wiping or polishing can be suppressed.

Several embodiments of the present invention have been described, but 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.

Claims

1. An electric dust collector is provided with:

an electrolytic water generator for generating electrolytic water containing hypochlorous acid by electrolyzing water;

a wiping dust-absorbing component mounting part which can be assembled and disassembled; and

and a supply unit configured to supply the electrolyzed water directly to the wiping and dust-collecting member or indirectly to the wiping and dust-collecting member via a surface to be cleaned to sterilize the wiping and dust-collecting member.

2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1,

the electric dust collector is provided with a control part which enables the supply part to supply the electrolyzed water when the electric dust collector waits for dust collection operation.

3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2,

the control unit causes the supply unit to sterilize the wiping and dust-collecting member immediately before the dust-collecting operation is started.

4. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 or 3,

the control unit causes the supply unit to discontinuously supply the electrolyzed water while waiting for the dust collection operation.

5. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 2 to 4,

the control unit causes the supply unit to sterilize the wiping and cleaning member before a predetermined time elapses from the start of the cleaning operation.

6. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 2 to 5,

the control unit causes the supply unit to supply the electrolyzed water during the dust suction operation.

7. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 6,

the control unit retains the electrolyzed water used for sterilizing the wiping and dust-collecting member while waiting for the dust-collecting operation.

8. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 6 or 7,

the total supply amount of the electrolyzed water in a certain time interval is larger during waiting for the dust-suction operation than during the dust-suction operation.

9. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

the electric dust collector performs sterilization to the wiping dust collection component in a stopped state.

10. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

the electric dust collector is provided with a notification unit for notifying that the wiping and dust collecting member is in sterilization.