CN113395926B - Dust collecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The application discloses a dust collecting device for collecting dust. The dust collecting device is provided with: a housing forming an inlet port into which the dust flows; a dust collecting mechanism for sucking the dust into the housing through the inlet; and an operation request unit that requests the start and stop of the dust collection mechanism. The operation request unit includes a switch piece that is displaceable between an on position for activating the dust collection mechanism and an off position for stopping the dust collection mechanism. The switch piece is disposed at a position adjacent to the inlet port at a position not overlapping the inlet port in an opening direction of the inlet port, and is displaced from the off position to the on position upon receiving an external force, and returned from the on position to the off position as the external force disappears.

Description

Dust collecting device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a dust collecting device for collecting dust.

Background

Various dust collecting devices for collecting dust have been developed (see patent document 1). The dust collecting device includes a housing having an inlet port through which dust flows, and a dust collecting mechanism configured to suck dust into the housing through the inlet port.

The dust is collected in the case through the inlet port, and the worker performs a dust collecting operation for collecting the dust in the case around the inlet port.

The dust collecting mechanism has an operation button disposed on the upper surface of the housing. In order to operate and stop the dust collecting mechanism, the operator manually operates the operation button. Therefore, the operator needs to operate the operation button in addition to the dust collection operation around the inlet port. This makes the operator cumbersome.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2015-39378

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a technology which does not cause the trouble of operators and can make a dust collecting mechanism operate with high reliability.

A dust collecting device according to an aspect of the present invention is used for collecting dust. The dust collecting device is provided with: a housing forming an inlet port into which the dust flows; a dust collecting mechanism for sucking the dust into the housing through the inlet; and an operation request unit that requests the start and stop of the dust collection mechanism. The operation request unit includes a switch piece that is displaceable between an on position for activating the dust collection mechanism and an off position for stopping the dust collection mechanism. The switch piece is disposed at a position adjacent to the inflow port at a position not overlapping the inflow port in an opening direction of the inflow port, and is displaced from the off position to the on position upon receiving an external force, and returned from the on position to the off position as the external force disappears.

The dust collecting device does not cause troublesome operation personnel and enables the dust collecting mechanism to work with high reliability.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary dust collecting apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the dust collecting device.

Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of the dust collecting device.

Fig. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the dust collecting device.

Fig. 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the dust collecting device.

Fig. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the dust collecting device.

Fig. 7 is a schematic expanded perspective view of a part of a dust collecting mechanism of the dust collecting device.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a power supply path from a power line of the dust collecting device to the suction motor.

Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a switch piece of the dust collecting device.

Fig. 10 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the dust collecting device.

Fig. 11 is a schematic side view of the switch piece and the activation switch.

Fig. 12 is a schematic side view of the switch piece and the activation switch.

Fig. 13 is a schematic view of a power supply path from a power line of the dust collecting device to the suction motor.

Fig. 14 is a schematic flowchart showing an exemplary processing operation of the dust collection command unit of the dust collection device.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of an exemplary dust collecting apparatus 100. Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of the dust collecting device 100. A dust collecting device 100 is explained with reference to fig. 1 to 3.

The dust collection device 100 scrapes dust from a cleaning tool (e.g., mop) after a cleaning operation, and sucks and collects the scraped dust. The dust collecting device 100 includes: a housing 110 having an inlet 154 through which dust flows and an internal space through which dust is collected; a dust collecting mechanism (not shown) for sucking dust and storing the sucked dust; and a first scraping part 121 and a second scraping part 122 for scraping dust from the cleaning tool. The dust collecting device 100 further includes a power cord (not shown) for supplying power from an external power source to the dust collecting mechanism.

The housing 110 includes a substantially hexagonal plate-shaped bottom wall 111 (see fig. 2), a substantially rectangular plate-shaped top wall 112 (see fig. 1) disposed at a position spaced upward from the bottom wall 111, and a substantially rectangular tubular peripheral wall 113 erected between the bottom wall 111 and the top wall 112. The housing 110 includes 4 legs 171 to 174 attached to the bottom wall 111.

As shown in fig. 2, the bottom wall 111 includes a substantially rectangular main plate portion 131 located directly below the bottom wall 111 and a substantially trapezoidal protruding portion 132 protruding rearward from the main plate portion 131. Among the 4 corner portions of the main plate 131, 2 corner portions on the front side are formed with 4 discharge ports 133 having a substantially rectangular shape. These discharge ports 133 are long in the front-rear direction. These discharge ports 133 are used for discharging dust that has inadvertently entered the internal space of the housing 110. The protrusion 132 is formed to separate the dust collection device 100 from a wall of a building in which the dust collection device 100 is installed.

The leg portions 171 and 172 are substantially rectangular plate-shaped portions that protrude downward from the main plate portion 131 so as to be adjacent to the rear end of the discharge port 133. The leg portions 173 and 174 are substantially rectangular plate-shaped portions protruding downward from the main plate portion 131 (i.e., toward the floor surface on which the dust collecting device 100 is installed) at 2 corner portions on the rear side of the main plate portion 131. These leg portions 171 to 174 have a predetermined thickness, and slightly separate the bottom wall 111 from the floor surface.

The peripheral wall 113 includes an upper front wall 134, a concave front wall 135, a rear wall 136, a right wall 137, and a left wall 138. The right wall 137 and the left wall 138 are substantially rectangular plate-like portions that are provided upright from the right edge and the left edge of the main plate portion 131 of the bottom wall 111. The right wall 137 and the left wall 138 are laterally separated from each other.

The rear wall 136 is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped portion that is erected from the bottom wall 111 between the front end and the rear end of the bottom wall 111. The rear wall 136 is erected from a position between the main plate portion 131 and the protruding portion 132 of the bottom wall 111. Therefore, the projecting portion 132 of the bottom wall 111 projects rearward from the rear wall 136. Rear wall 136 joins the rear edges of right wall 137 and left wall 138. The rear wall 136 includes a generally rectangular exhaust region 141 in which a plurality of exhaust ports are formed. The air discharge region 141 is formed substantially at the center in the height direction. The exhaust port in the exhaust area 141 is used to exhaust air used for dust suction. A connection port 142 for connecting a power cord and a receiving recess 143 for receiving the power cord when the dust collection device 100 is not in use are concavely provided on a lower side of the exhaust region 141 of the rear wall 136. The connection opening 142 is formed at a position closer to the right wall 137 than the housing recess 143. The receiving recess 143 is formed closer to the left wall 138 than the connecting port 142. A recess 144, which is long in the lateral direction, is formed on the upper side of the air discharge region 141 of the rear wall 136. The recess 144 is used for movement of the dust collection device 100.

The upper front wall 134 and the concave front wall 135 are disposed at positions separated forward from the rear wall 136, forming the front surface of the housing 110. The upper front wall 134 and the concave front wall 135 are described with reference to fig. 1, 3, and 4. Fig. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the dust collecting device 100 on a virtual plane parallel to the right wall 137 and the left wall 138.

As shown in fig. 1, the concave front wall 135 forms a concave space recessed rearward between the upper front wall 134 and the bottom wall 111. The concave front wall 135 is divided into 3 wall portions for explanation with reference to fig. 4. One of these wall portions projects rearward from the lower edge of the upper front wall 134, and is referred to as an "upper mounting wall 145" in the following description. The other wall portion is formed so as to curve downward from the rear edge of the upper mounting wall 145, and will be referred to as a "middle mounting wall 146" in the following description. The remaining wall portion projects rearward from the lower edge of the middle mounting wall 146, and will be referred to as a "lower mounting wall 147" in the following description. These mounting walls 145, 146, and 147 are used for mounting the first scraper 121 and the second scraper 122.

As shown in fig. 3, the middle attachment wall 146 is a substantially C-shaped plate-like portion that opens downward when viewed from the front. The middle mounting wall 146 has 3 plate-like portions. One of these plate-like portions is disposed at a corner portion formed by the bottom wall 111 and the right wall 137, and will be referred to as "right plate portion 151" in the following description. The other plate-like portion is disposed at a corner portion formed by the bottom wall 111 and the left wall 138, and will be referred to as a "left plate portion 152" in the following description. The remaining plate-like portion extends laterally between the right plate portion 151 and the left plate portion 152, and is referred to as a "central plate portion 153" in the following description. The lower edge of the central plate portion 153 extends in the lateral direction at a position higher than the bottom wall 111, and an inlet 154 into which dust flows is formed between the lower edge of the central plate portion 153 and the front edge of the bottom wall 111. A substantially rectangular opening 155 that is long in the vertical direction is formed in each of the right plate portion 151 and the left plate portion 152.

Reference is made to fig. 5 and 6 regarding the internal configuration of the housing 110. Fig. 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the dust collection device 100 on a virtual first vertical plane set in parallel with the right wall 137 in the vicinity of the right wall 137. Fig. 6 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dust collector 100 on a virtual second vertical plane set perpendicular to the first vertical plane near the upper front wall 134 and the concave front wall 135.

The housing 110 has a pair of right and left partition wall structures at a corner portion formed by the bottom wall 111 and the right wall 137 and a corner portion formed by the bottom wall 111 and the left wall 138. These partition wall structures form a pair of isolation spaces behind right plate portion 151 and left plate portion 152 of middle mounting wall 146, which are isolated from other spaces in case 110. The partition space formed by the partition wall structure on the right side forms an internal space connected to the 2 discharge ports 133 formed at the right front corner of the bottom wall 111. The partition space formed by the left partition wall structure forms an internal space connected to 2 discharge ports 133 formed at the left front corner of the bottom wall 111. These internal spaces are also connected to the opening 155. The right partition wall structure will be described below. The left partition structure is bilaterally symmetric to the right partition structure. Considering the bilaterally symmetric structure, the explanation of the right bulkhead structure is referred to the left bulkhead structure.

The partition wall structure includes an upper partition wall 161, a rear partition wall 162, a front partition wall 163, a left support wall 164, and a right support wall 165. The upper partition wall 161 is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped portion having a posture substantially parallel to the bottom wall 111 at a position spaced upward from the bottom wall 111. Upper partition wall 161 is disposed at a position higher than upper mounting wall 145 of concave front wall 135. The rear partition portion 162 is a substantially rectangular portion that is erected from the bottom wall 111 toward the rear edge of the upper partition portion 161. The front partition wall 163 is a plate-shaped portion bent downward from the front edge of the upper partition wall 161, and is connected to the upper edge of the middle mounting wall 146 of the concave front wall 135. The left support wall 164 is provided upright between the bottom wall 111 and the upper partition wall 161 along the left edge of the right opening 155. A through hole 166 is formed in the left support wall 164. Right support wall 165 is a substantially trapezoidal plate-shaped portion protruding downward from upper partition wall 161 at a position separated rightward from left support wall 164 by a distance slightly longer than the width of opening 155. A through-hole 167 is formed in the right support wall 165 so as to be substantially coaxial with the through-hole 166 of the left support wall 164. The lower edge of the upper partition wall 161 is spaced upward from the bottom wall 111.

As shown in fig. 4, the first scraper 121 is a plate-like member fixed to the lower mounting wall 147 of the concave front wall 135. The first scraping portion 121 is long in the lateral direction. The first scraping portion 121 protrudes downward from the lower mounting wall 147, and covers the upper portion of the inflow port 154 in the concave space formed by the concave front wall 135. The lower edge of the first scraping portion 121 is located higher than the bottom wall 111 and is formed in a wave shape (see fig. 1).

As shown in fig. 4, the second scraping portion 122 is a plate-like member fixed to a corner portion formed by the upper mounting wall 145 and the middle mounting wall 146. The second scraping portion 122 is long in the lateral direction. The lower edge of the second scraping portion 122 is located forward and higher than the lower edge of the first scraping portion 121, and is formed in a wave shape (see fig. 1). The wave-like shape of the lower edges of the first scraping portion 121 and the second scraping portion 122 is suitable for removing dust from the upper surface of the hair part of the mop.

The dust collection mechanism is generally indicated by reference numeral 200 in fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a schematic expanded perspective view of a part of the dust collection mechanism 200. The dust collection mechanism 200 will be described with reference to fig. 4 and 7.

The dust collection mechanism 200 includes: a dust collecting part 210 where dust is stored; a duct part 220 for guiding the dust and the air sucked together with the dust from the inlet 154 to the dust collecting part 210; and a suction mechanism 230 that causes a suction force to be generated at the inflow port 154. The pipe portion 220 forms a substantially C-shaped flow path extending along the bottom wall 111, the rear wall 136, and the top wall 112. The dust collection unit 210 and the suction mechanism 230 are disposed in an area surrounded by the C-shaped pipe portion 220. The suction mechanism 230 is disposed below the dust collection unit 210.

The pipe portion 220 includes: an upstream duct portion 221 provided on the bottom wall 111; an intermediate pipe portion 222 that forms a flow path extending upward from the upstream pipe portion 221; and a downstream pipe portion 223 connecting the intermediate pipe portion 222 and the dust collecting portion 210.

As shown in fig. 7, the upstream pipe portion 221 includes: a trapezoidal tube section 224 forming a tapered flow path that narrows from the inlet 154 toward the rear; and a bent tube portion 225 bent upward from the rear end of the trapezoidal tube portion 224. The upper surface of the trapezoidal tube portion 224 is formed with a plurality of sound emission holes. The sound emission hole is formed to emit sound generated from air flowing through the tapered flow path. The front end of the trapezoidal tube 224 is fitted to the inlet 154. The bent tube portion 225 is bent upward from the rear end of the trapezoidal tube portion 224 along the corner portion formed by the bottom wall 111 and the rear wall 136. The downstream end of the bent pipe portion 225 opens upward.

The intermediate pipe portion 222 forms a substantially J-shaped flow path. The upstream end of the intermediate pipe portion 222 is connected to the downstream end of the curved pipe portion 225. The intermediate pipe portion 222 extends from the downstream end of the curved pipe portion 225 along the rear wall 136, and is curved along a corner portion formed by the rear wall 136 and the top wall 112. The downstream end of the intermediate pipe portion 222 opens forward.

As the downstream pipe portion 223, an elbow bend is used. The upstream end of the downstream pipe portion 223 is connected to the downstream end of the intermediate pipe portion 222. The downstream pipe portion 223 is bent downward and connected to an upper portion of the dust collecting portion 210.

The dust collecting unit 210 is formed using a breathable bag body that captures dust and allows air sucked together with the dust to pass therethrough. The dust collection part 210 is fixed in the housing 110 at a position higher than the upper edge of the upper front wall 134 and lower than the top wall 112.

Suction mechanism 230 is disposed rearward of upper front wall 134 and forward of intermediate pipe portion 222. The suction mechanism 230 is fixed above the trapezoidal pipe portion 224 and below the dust collection portion 210. The suction mechanism 230 includes: a suction fan 231 configured to suck air in the dust collection unit 210 downward; and a suction motor 232 driving the suction fan 231. The suction motor 232 is disposed below the suction fan 231.

The dust collecting device 100 further includes a sound absorbing structure (see fig. 7) for absorbing sound emitted from the air flowing through the tapered flow path. The sound absorbing structure is formed above the region where the plurality of sound emission holes of the trapezoidal pipe portion 224 are formed. The sound absorbing structure includes a sound absorbing member 241 having a substantially trapezoidal plate shape and a box portion forming a housing space for housing the sound absorbing member 241. The box part is formed by the following components: an accommodating wall 242 that is provided upright from the upper surface of the trapezoidal tube 224 so as to surround the formation area of the plurality of sound emission holes of the trapezoidal tube 224; and a substantially trapezoidal cover 243 for holding the sound absorbing member 241 in the housing space formed by the housing wall 242. The sound absorbing member 241 closes a plurality of sound emission holes formed on the upper surface of the trapezoidal tube portion 224. The sound absorbing member 241 is complementary to the housing space formed by the housing wall 242. The housing space formed by the housing wall 242 opens upward. The lid 243 covers the accommodating wall 242 and the sound absorbing member 241, and is fixed to the accommodating wall 242.

The dust collection device 100 further includes a drawing part 250 (see fig. 1 and 4) inserted into an opening area between the upper edge of the upper front wall 134 and the front edge of the top wall 112. The extraction portion 250 is extracted forward from the housing 110. The dust collecting part 210 is fixed to the drawing part 250 inside the housing 110. If the extraction part 250 is extracted forward, the dust collection part 210 is exposed outside the housing 110.

The dust collecting device 100 further includes a buffer part 260 provided along the lower edge of the upper front wall 134. The buffer part 260 serves to prevent the housing 110 and the withdrawing part 250 from being damaged by contact with a hard part of the cleaning tool (e.g., a handle of a mop). The cushion portion 260 is attached to the upper front wall 134 so as to project forward from the upper front wall 134. The cushioning portion 260 is detachable from the upper front wall 134. The buffer portion 260 is formed of a material (for example, hard resin) softer than a material (for example, hard resin) used to form the housing 110 and the extraction portion 250.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a power supply path from the power cord 300 to the suction motor 232. The power supply path is described with reference to fig. 1, 2, 4, and 8.

The dust collecting device 100 includes a main switch 310 and an operation request unit 330 as a power supply unit to the suction motor 232 in addition to the power supply line 300.

The power supply line 300 includes: a plug 301 connected to an external power supply; a connector 302 inserted into the connection port 142 of the rear wall 136; and a power cable 303 extending between the plug 301 and the connector 302. When the dust collection device 100 is not in use, the power cord 300 is received in the receiving recess 143 of the rear wall 136.

The main switch 310 includes: a main switch circuit 311 arranged on a power supply path extending from the connector 302 to the suction motor 232; and a switch knob 312 (see fig. 2) exposed to the right end portion of the recess 144 of the rear wall 136. The main switch circuit 311 closes or opens a circuit formed between the connector 302 and the suction motor 232 according to a manual operation of the switch button 312.

The operation requesting unit 330 requests the dust collecting apparatus 100 to start and stop. The operation requesting section 330 includes a pair of switch pieces 331 and 332, a start switch 361, and a capacitor 362. The operation requesting unit 330 will be described with reference to fig. 1 and 3 to 10. Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the switch piece 331. The switch piece 332 has a bilaterally symmetrical structure with the switch piece 331. Considering a bilaterally symmetric structure, the description of the switch plate 331 is referred to the switch plate 332. Fig. 10 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the dust collecting device 100. The switch piece 331 shown in fig. 10 is different in posture from the switch piece 331 shown in fig. 5.

As shown in fig. 1, the switch piece 331 protrudes forward from the right plate portion 151 of the recessed front wall 135 through the right opening 155. The opening-closing piece 332 protrudes forward from the left plate portion 152 of the recessed front wall 135 through the left opening 155. The switch piece 331 is located on the right of the right end of the inflow port 154. The switch plate 332 is positioned to the left of the left end of the inflow opening 154. That is, the switch pieces 331 and 332 are located on the side of the inlet 154. The inlet port 154 is located between the switch pieces 331 and 332, and the switch pieces 331 and 332 do not overlap the inlet port 154 in the opening direction of the inlet port 154. The interval between the switch pieces 331 and 332 is slightly larger than the width of the inlet 154.

The switch piece 331 includes: a shaft portion 334 extending in the lateral direction; an opening/closing plate 335 disposed at a position spaced downward from the shaft 334; and a connecting rod 336 formed integrally with the switch plate 335 and the shaft portion 334 so as to connect them. The shaft portion 334 and the connecting rod 336 are disposed in the isolated space. A portion of the switch plate 335 is disposed within the isolation space. The remaining portion of the switch plate 335 protrudes from the housing 110 through the opening 155.

As shown in fig. 6, the right end of the shaft portion 334 of the switch piece 331 is fitted into the through hole 167 of the right support wall 165. The shaft portion 334 is inserted through the through hole 166 of the left support wall 164. As a result, the switch piece 331 is supported by the right support wall 165 and the left support wall 164. The switch piece 331 rotates around the shaft portion 334 and moves in and out with respect to the opening 155. As a result of the rotation about the shaft portion 334, the switch piece 331 can be displaced between the position shown in fig. 5 and the position shown in fig. 10. The position shown in fig. 5 is referred to as "off position" in the following description. When the switch piece 331 is in the off position, the dust collection mechanism 200 is stopped. The position shown in fig. 10 is referred to as the "on position". When the switch piece 331 is in the on position, the dust collection mechanism 200 operates. The amount of protrusion of the switch piece 331 from the opening 155 when the switch piece 331 is in the off position is larger than the amount of protrusion of the switch piece 331 from the opening 155 when the switch piece 331 is in the on position. The discharge port 133 described with reference to fig. 3 is formed in the bottom wall 111 at a position below the operation region of the switch piece 331 in the isolated space.

As shown in fig. 9, the opening/closing plate 335 has a front edge surface 337 and an inclined edge surface 338 inclined rearward and upward from the upper end of the front edge surface 337. Even if the switch piece 331 enters the housing 110 from the off position and reaches the on position, the front edge surface 337 and the inclined edge surface 338 are exposed to the outside of the housing 110 (see fig. 10). When the switch piece 331 is in the off position, the leading edge surface 337 forms a leading end of the switch plate 335 and extends in the height direction (refer to fig. 4). At this time, the upper end of the leading edge surface 337 is located higher than the lower edge of the first scraping portion 121. The inclined edge surface 338 is at a position higher than the lower edge of the second scraping portion 122. When the switch plate 331 is in the off position, the front edge surface 337 is located rearward relative to the upper front wall 134.

As shown in fig. 3, the thickness of the switch plate 335 is set to a value slightly smaller than the width of the opening 155. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the switch plate 335 is complementary to the shape of the opening 155.

Fig. 11 is a schematic side view of the switch piece 331 and the start switch 361 in the off position. Fig. 12 is a schematic side view of the switch piece 331 and the start switch 361 in the on position. The switch piece 331 and the start switch 361 are explained with reference to fig. 10 to 12.

The switch piece 331 further includes a pressing portion 339 projecting rearward from the shaft portion 334. The pressing unit 339 opens and closes the start switch 361.

The starting switch 361 is disposed above the isolation space and is fixed to the rear of the pressing portion 339. The start switch 361 has a lever structure mechanically operated by a pressing portion 339. As shown in fig. 11, when the switch piece 331 is at the off position, the start switch 361 is not pressed by the pressing portion 339 and is in the on state. As shown in fig. 12, when the switch piece 331 is at the on position, the start switch 361 is pressed by the pressing portion 339 to be in the closed state. Thereafter, if the switch piece 331 returns to the off position, the lever portion of the start switch 361 (i.e., the portion in contact with the pressing portion 339) returns to the original position by its own restoring force, and the start switch 361 is turned on.

When the starting switch 361 is in the closed state, electric power is supplied to the suction motor 232 through the capacitor 362. During this period, a predetermined amount of electric power is stored in the capacitor 362. The power stored in the capacitor 362 is consumed when the switch 361 is turned on thereafter.

As shown in fig. 9, the dust collecting device 100 has a pushing part 350 integrally formed with the switch plate 335 of the right switch 331 so as to push the plate-like object entering the separation space out of the housing 110. The pushing portion 350 provided on the left switch piece 332 and the pushing portion 350 provided on the right switch piece 331 are bilaterally symmetrical. Therefore, the following description of the pushing portion 350 refers to the pushing portion 350 provided on the left switch piece 332 in consideration of the bilaterally symmetrical structure.

The push-out part 350 includes 3 ribs 351 protruding rightward from the right surface of the switch plate 335 and 2 ribs 352 protruding leftward from the left surface of the switch plate 335. These ribs 351, 352 are formed at the rear end portion of the switch plate 335. The 3 ribs 351 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction on the right side of the switch plate 335. The 2 ribs 352 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction on the left side of the switch plate 335. The right ends of the 3 ribs 351 protrude to the vicinity of the inner surface of the right wall 137 of the housing 110 (see fig. 6). The amount of projection of the 2 ribs 352 is smaller than the amount of projection of the right rib 351. The left ends of the 2 ribs 352 are located near the right surface of the left support wall 164. As shown in fig. 3, the 3 ribs 351 are located behind the boundary between the right surface of the switch plate 335 and the vertical edge portion of the concave front wall 135 that forms the long edge of the right side of the opening 155. The 2 ribs 352 are located behind the boundary between the left surface of the switch plate 335 and the vertical edge portion of the concave front wall 135 forming the left long edge of the opening 155.

The operation of the dust collecting device 100 will be described below.

The switch knob 312 (see fig. 2) is operated to close the main switch circuit 311. The cleaning site of the cleaning tool (e.g., the distal end of the mop swab) is then inserted into the concave space formed by the concave front wall 135 (see fig. 1). At this time, the switch plate 335 of at least one of the switch pieces 331 and 332 is pressed by the cleaning tool. That is, the switch pieces 331 and 332 receive an external force from the cleaning tool, which acts in a direction in which the switch pieces 331 and 332 enter the opening 155. The switch pieces 331 and 332 pressed by the cleaning tool enter the opening 155 and are shifted from the off position (see fig. 5) to the on position (see fig. 10). In response to the displacement of the switch pieces 331 and 332 from the off position to the on position, the pressing portions 339 of the switch pieces 331 and 332 close the starter switch 361. As a result of both the main switch circuit 311 and the start switch 361 being closed, electric power is supplied from the external power source to the suction motor 232 through the power supply line 300. The suction motor 232 operates in response to the supply of electric power, and operates the suction fan 231 (see fig. 4). During this time, electric power is stored in the capacitor 362.

The suction fan 231 sucks air in the dust collection unit 210 to make the internal space of the dust collection unit 210 a negative pressure atmosphere. At this time, the inner space of the duct portion 220 connected to the dust collecting portion 210 is also in a negative pressure environment, and the air outside the housing 110 flows in through the inlet 154 and passes through the duct portion 220 and the dust collecting portion 210 in order. The air drawn out from the dust collection part 210 is discharged to the outside of the case 110 through the plurality of exhaust ports of the exhaust region 141.

After the suction fan 231 is started, the cleaning tool is swung in the concave space formed by the concave front wall 135 (see fig. 1). If the cleaning portion is so thin that most of the cleaning portion of the cleaning tool (e.g., the bristles of the mop) enters between the lower edge of the first scraping member 121 and the floor surface, dust attached to the cleaning portion is mainly scraped by the first scraping member 121. If the cleaning portion is relatively thick, dust adhering to the cleaning portion is mainly scraped by the second scraping portion 122. The scraped dust is sucked into the casing 110 together with the air flowing into the duct portion 220 (see fig. 4) from the inlet 154. The dust flows into the dust collecting part 210 through the pipe part 220. The dust collecting part 210 captures dust.

If the dust is sufficiently removed from the cleaning site, the cleaning tool is pulled out from the concave space formed by the concave front wall 135 (see fig. 1). As a result, the external force acting on the switch pieces 331 and 332 is removed, and the switch pieces 331 and 332 return from the on position to the off position by their own weights. As a result of the switch pieces 331 and 332 being displaced from the on position to the off position, the pressing portions 339 of the switch pieces 331 and 332 do not press the start switch 361, and the start switch 361 is turned on. Since the electric power is stored in the capacitor 362 as described above, the suction motor 232 consumes the electric power in the capacitor 362 and continues to drive the suction fan 231. The dust collection device 100 continues to suck the air around the inflow port 154 until the voltage obtained by the capacitor 362 is lower than the voltage required for the operation of the suction motor 232 and the suction fan 231.

The extraction unit 250 (see fig. 1) extracts dust forward if the amount of dust accumulated in the dust collection unit 210 reaches a certain amount. As a result, the dust collecting part 210 is exposed to the outside of the housing 110. The dust collecting unit 210 in which the dust is accumulated is replaced with a new dust collecting unit 210. After the new dust collecting part 210 is disposed at the drawing part 250, the drawing part 250 is pushed into the housing 110.

When the dust collection device 100 is not used for a long time, the power cord 300 (refer to fig. 8) can be detached from the housing 110. The power cord 300 is folded and received in the receiving recess 143 of the rear wall 136.

The dust collecting device 100 can be operated with high reliability without requiring troublesome work for the operator as described below.

The pair of switch pieces 331 and 332 are disposed on the right and left sides of the inlet 154. Since the switch pieces 331 and 332 are disposed on the side of the inflow port 154, if the operator brings a cleaning tool (for example, mop) having a laterally long cleaning portion close to the inflow port 154, the switch pieces 331 and 332 are pressed against the cleaning portion of the cleaning tool. The switch pieces 331 and 332 are displaced from the off position (see fig. 5) to the on position (see fig. 10) by an external force applied from the cleaning tool. At this time, the start switch 361 is closed, and the suction mechanism 230 (see fig. 4) is started. As a result, the air near the inflow port 154 and the dust attached to the cleaning tool are sucked by the suction mechanism 230. The dust flowing into the dust collecting device 100 together with the air is stored in the dust collecting part 210.

As described above, the switch pieces 331 and 332 can be shifted from the off position to the on position by only bringing the cleaning tool close to the inlet 154 for removing dust from the cleaning tool. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform an operation for activating the dust collecting device 100 separately from an operation for cleaning the cleaning tool. Therefore, the dust collecting device 100 is activated without making the operator feel troublesome.

If the cleaning tool is separated from the inlet 154, the external force acting on the switch pieces 331 and 332 disappears. As a result, the switch pieces 331 and 332 return from the on position to the off position by their own weights. At this time, the pressing portions 339 of the switch pieces 331 and 332 do not press the start switch 361, and the start switch 361 is turned off. The amount of the stored electricity in the capacitor 362 then gradually decreases, and the dust collection device 100 stops. The operator does not have to manually operate the dust collection device 100 when the dust collection device 100 is stopped. Therefore, the dust collecting device 100 is stopped without complicating the operator.

Since the capacitor 362 stores electric power while the switch pieces 331 and 332 are in the on position, the dust collection device 100 continues to collect dust using the electric power in the capacitor 362. As a result, the dust remaining around the dust collecting device 100 after the cleaning tool is separated from the inlet 154 is also accumulated in the dust collecting device 100. Therefore, the worker does not need to clean the periphery of the dust collecting device 100 after separating the cleaning tool from the inflow port 154.

If one of the start switches 361 provided corresponding to the switch pieces 331 and 332 is turned off, power is supplied to the suction motor 232. That is, both of the switch pieces 331, 332 need not be shifted from the off position to the on position in order to supply power to the suction motor 232. Therefore, even when the cleaning tool having a width smaller than the arrangement interval of the switch pieces 331 and 332 is cleaned, the worker can remove dust from the cleaning tool in a state where either one of the switch pieces 331 and 332 is shifted to the on position.

The start switch 361 has a structure mechanically opened and closed by being pressed by the pressing portions 339 of the switch pieces 331 and 332. Therefore, the start switch 361 has a stronger structure with respect to dust than a switch device that opens and closes an electric circuit optically or electromagnetically, and the dust collection device 100 is started and stopped with high reliability. Further, since the start switch 361 is disposed above the isolated space, the operation of the start switch 361 is less likely to be hindered by dust entering the isolated space, and therefore, the dust collection device 100 is started and stopped with high reliability.

The switch pieces 331 and 332 are disposed near the inflow port 154, but do not overlap the inflow port 154 in the opening direction of the inflow port 154. Therefore, dust sucked into the case 110 through the inlet 154 is less likely to come into contact with the switch pieces 331 and 332, and is less likely to fit into the boundary between the switch pieces 331 and 332 and the edge portion of the concave front wall 135 forming the opening 155. Since the switch pieces 331 and 332 are less likely to be obstructed by dust, the dust collection device 100 can be started and stopped with high reliability.

When the switch blades 331, 332 are in the off position, the front edge surface 337 of the switch plate 335 extends in the height direction. This effectively shifts the switch pieces 331, 332 from the off position to the on position when the object to be dust-removed has a soft portion and a hard portion arranged in the vertical direction. For example, when the object to be cleaned is a mop, the bristles of the mop form the soft portions, and the portions of the mop where the bristles are implanted form the hard portions. If the mop cloth approaches the inflow opening 154, the leading edge surface 337 of the switch plate 335 comes into contact with the bristle part of the mop cloth and the hard part of the bristles implanted in the mop cloth. A part of the leading edge surface 337 is buried in the bristles of the mop cloth, and the hard portion of the bristles implanted in the mop cloth pushes the leading edge surface 337 with a strong force. Therefore, the contact portion with the front edge surface 337 of the hard portion of the cleaning tool can receive an external force sufficient to displace the switch pieces 331 and 332 from the off position to the on position.

When the mop cloth is thin, most of the bristles of the mop cloth enter a space between the lower edge of the first scraping portion 121 and the floor surface. If the mop cloth is shaken thereafter, dust attached to the bristles of the mop cloth is scraped by the lower edge of the waveform of the first scraping part 121. When the switch pieces 331 and 332 are in the off position, the upper end of the leading edge surface 337 is positioned higher than the lower edge of the first scraping portion 121, and therefore the switch pieces 331 and 332 are pushed from the off position to the on position by the hard portion in which the bristles of the mop are implanted.

When the mop swab is thick, most of the bristles of the mop swab enter between the second scraping portion 122 and the floor surface. If the mop cloth is shaken thereafter, dust attached to the bristles of the mop cloth is scraped by the lower edges of the waves of the second scraping section 122.

As described above, the dust collection device 100 can remove dust from a thick cleaning tool and a thin cleaning tool. Therefore, the dust collecting device 100 can be used for cleaning tools of various thicknesses.

When the cleaning tool approaches the inflow port 154, the handle of the cleaning tool sometimes comes into contact with the front portion of the dust collection device 100. Since the buffer portion 260 protrudes forward from the upper front wall 134, the handle of the cleaning tool is more likely to contact the buffer portion 260 than the case 110. Therefore, the handle of the cleaning tool has a low possibility of damaging the housing 110 and the extraction portion 250 appearing on the front surface of the housing 110. Even if the buffer 260 is damaged by contact with the cleaning tool, the buffer 260 can be removed from the housing 110 and replaced with a new buffer 260.

The buffer portion 260 is softer than the case 110 and the drawer portion 250. Therefore, even if the handle of the cleaning tool comes into contact with the buffer portion 260, a loud noise is less likely to be generated.

Since the switch pieces 331 and 332 have a cross section complementary to the opening 155, the gap formed between the concave front wall 135 where the opening 155 is formed and the switch pieces 331 and 332 is narrowed. However, dust smaller than the width of the gap may enter the isolated space formed in the housing 110 through the gap. The dust having entered the isolated space falls into the space below the bottom wall 111 formed by the legs 172 to 174 through the discharge port 133 formed in the bottom wall 111.

A vertically long space is formed between the side surface of the opening/closing plate 335 and the edge of the concave front wall 135 forming the opening 155. It is considered that a part of something (e.g., a coin) having a size of the extent of the cross section complementary to the gap accidentally enters the isolated space. At this time, the substance partially entering the isolation space collides against the push-out portion 350 located behind the gap. Since the pushing portion 350 is formed integrally with the switch plate 335, if the switch pieces 331 and 332 return from the on position to the off position, the pushing portion 350 moves forward together with the switch pieces 331 and 332. The things partially entered into the isolated space are pushed out toward the outside of the housing 110 by the push-out portion 350 moving forward.

When the switch blades 331, 332 are in the off position, the front edge surface 337 of the switch plate 335 is located rearward with respect to the front surface of the upper front wall 134. Since the protruding portion of the switch plate 335 of the housing 110 is accommodated in the concave space formed by the concave front wall 135, the switch pieces 331 and 332 are less likely to be pressed against the floor surface even if the dust collection device 100 is tilted forward. That is, the dust collection device 100 that is tilted forward is less likely to be inadvertently activated.

The bottom wall 111 projects rearward from the rear wall 136. Therefore, when the dust collection device 100 is provided so that the rear wall 136 faces the wall of the building in which the dust collection device 100 is disposed, a space is formed between the rear wall 136 and the wall of the building. This space can be used for extending the power cord 300. This space is also used for exhausting air from the suction fan 231 through the exhaust area 141 of the rear wall 136.

The power cord 300 may be separated from the housing 110. Therefore, when the dust collection device 100 is not in use, the power cord 300 is detached from the housing 110 and can be received in the receiving recess 143 of the rear wall 136.

In the illustrated embodiment, the switch pieces 331 and 332 return from the on position to the off position by their own weights. However, a member (for example, a torsion spring attached to the shaft portion 334 of the switch pieces 331, 332) that urges the switch pieces 331, 332 to the off position may be used. At this time, the switch pieces 331 and 332 can be returned to the off position with high reliability.

In the embodiment described, 2 switch plates 331, 332 are used. However, only one of the switch pieces 331 and 332 may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the switch pieces 331 and 332 are disposed on the side of the inflow port 154. However, the opening/ closing pieces 331 and 332 may be disposed above the inlet 154 in accordance with the height of the hard portion of the cleaning tool.

In the illustrated embodiment, the dust collection device 100 continues to suck after the switch pieces 331, 332 are restored to the off position. If the pump continue function is not required, then capacitor 362 is not required.

The switch pieces 331 and 332 are not limited to a specific shape. The shape of the switch pieces 331 and 332 may be designed according to the structure of the cleaning tool to be cleaned.

In the illustrated embodiment, the dust collecting device 100 has the first and second scrapers 121 and 122, and thus, dust can be effectively removed from a thin mop and a thick mop. If only a thin mop is the object of dust removal, only the first scraping part 121 may be used. If only a thick mop is the object of dust removal, only the second scraping portion 122 may be used. The first scraper 121 and the second scraper 122 may not be used if the suction mechanism 230 is capable of generating a suction force sufficient to remove dust.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lower edges of the first scraping portion 121 and the second scraping portion 122 have a wave shape. This shape is suitable for removing dust from the hair parts of the mop. However, the lower edges of the first scraping portion 121 and the second scraping portion 122 may have other shapes according to the shape of the object to be dust-removed, so that dust can be effectively scraped from the object to be dust-removed.

In the embodiment, the pushing portion 350 is formed integrally with the switch pieces 331 and 332 in order to push out the substance entering the isolated space. The push-out portion 350 may not be formed if the function of pushing out the entered item is not required. Instead of the pushing portion 350 or in addition to the pushing portion 350, a portion that contacts the side surface of the switch plate 335 with low friction may be provided on the peripheral edge of the opening 155. In this case, the low friction portion provided at the periphery of the opening 155 can reduce the possibility of the substance entering the isolated space.

In the above-described embodiment, the signal generation circuit that generates the dust collection request signal and the stop request signal is disposed outside the isolation space. However, the signal generating circuit may be disposed in the isolation space. In this case, the signal generating circuit is preferably covered with a cover member that protects the signal generating circuit from dust.

In the illustrated embodiment, the power cord 300 may be separate from the housing 110. However, the power cord 300 may not be separable from the housing 110.

In the illustrated embodiment, the buffer 260 protrudes forward from the housing 110. The buffer part 260 may not be used if damage of the outer surface of the dust collection device 100 and noise caused by contact of the dust collection device 100 and the cleaning tool are not problematic.

In the above-described embodiment, a mop is exemplified as the cleaning tool. However, the dust collection device 100 may be used to remove dust from other types of cleaning tools.

In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving recess 143 is formed in the rear wall 136. However, the housing recess 143 may be provided at another portion forming the outer surface of the housing 110.

In the illustrated embodiment, the switch blades 331, 332 are rotatably mounted with respect to the housing 110. However, the displacement of the switch pieces 331 and 332 may be linear displacement. At this time, the switch pieces 331 and 332 may be attached to the housing 110 so as to move in and out of the opening 155 using linear guides.

In the illustrated embodiment, a mechanical activation switch 361 is used. However, a circuit that opens and closes in response to a given signal may be used. Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of an alternative power supply path from the power cord 300 to the suction motor 232. The power supply path will be described with reference to fig. 8, 10, 11, and 13.

The start switch circuit 320 is used instead of the start switch 361 of fig. 8. The position determining unit 341 is used instead of the pressing unit 339 shown in fig. 10 and 11. The delay section 342 is used instead of the capacitor 362 of fig. 8. The position determination unit 341 and the delay unit 342 constitute a dust collection command unit 333 that gives a command to the operation of the suction motor 232.

The starting switch circuit 320 is disposed on a power supply path extending from the connector 302 to the suction motor 232. The start switch circuit 320 opens or closes the power supply path in accordance with a request from the dust collection instructing section 333.

The dust collection command unit 333 closes or opens the start switch circuit 320 in accordance with the displacement of the switch pieces 331 and 332. The position determination unit 341 of the dust collection command unit 333 may be configured using a position sensor (not shown) that detects the position of the switch pieces 331 and 332, and a signal generation unit (not shown) that generates a dust collection request signal or a stop request signal based on the position detected by the position sensor. The dust collection request signal is generated to request the dust collection mechanism 200 to collect dust. The stop request signal is generated to request the dust collection mechanism 200 to stop. The position sensor may detect the rotational position of the shaft portion 334 of the switch pieces 331 and 332 or the position of the switch plate 335. The signal generating section may be formed by using a general circuit technique. The circuit formed as the signal generating unit is preferably fixed in the housing 110 outside the isolation space.

The dust collection request signal is output from the position determination unit 341 to the start switch circuit 320 without passing through the delay unit 342. The stop request signal is output from the position determination unit 341 to the start switch circuit 320 via the delay unit 342. The delay unit 342 transmits the stop request signal to the start switch circuit 320 after a predetermined delay period has elapsed from the reception timing of the stop request signal. The delay period is set to a length sufficient for dust distributed around the dust collection device 100 after the cleaning tool is separated from the dust collection device 100 to be sucked by the dust collection device 100. The delay section 342 may be a delay circuit that delays and relays a signal. The delay circuit is preferably fixed within the housing 110 outside said isolated space.

The processing operation of the dust collection command unit 333 will be described with reference to fig. 13 and 14. Fig. 14 is a schematic flowchart showing an exemplary processing operation of the dust collection command unit 333.

(step S110)

The dust collection command unit 333 waits for the displacement of the switch pieces 331 and 332. If the position determination unit 341 detects the displacement of at least one of the switch pieces 331 and 332, step S120 is executed.

(step S120)

The position determination portion 341 determines whether at least one of the switch pieces 331, 332 is shifted from the off position to the on position or from the on position to the off position. If a result of the determination that at least one of the switch pieces 331, 332 is shifted from the off position to the on position is obtained, step S130 is performed. In other cases, step S140 is performed.

(step S130)

In the above-described judgment processing of step S120, if the result of judgment that the shift from the off position to the on position has occurred is obtained, the position judgment section 341 generates a dust collection request signal. The dust collection request signal is output to the start switch circuit 320. The start switch circuit 320 is closed in accordance with the dust collection request signal to start power supply to the suction motor 232. Then, step S110 is performed.

(step S140)

In the determination processing of step S120 described above, if the determination result that the shift from the on position to the off position has occurred is obtained, the position determination portion 341 generates the stop request signal. The stop request signal is output to the delay section 342. Then, step S150 is performed.

(step S150)

The delay unit 342 starts timing. Then, step S160 is performed.

(step S160)

The delay unit 342 waits for the elapsed period from the processing of step S150 to exceed a predetermined delay period. If the elapsed time exceeds the delay period, step S170 is performed.

(step S170)

The delay section 342 outputs a stop request signal to the start switch circuit 320. The start switch circuit 320 is turned off according to the stop request signal to stop the power supply to the suction motor 232. As a result, the dust collecting operation of the dust collecting device 100 is stopped.

When the electrical configuration shown in fig. 13 is used, the dust collection duration after the switch pieces 331, 332 return from the on position to the off position is maintained at a constant length. Unlike the electrical configuration of fig. 8 in which the dust collection duration depends on the amount of electricity in the capacitor 362, the dust collection duration is a delay period set in the delay portion 342. Therefore, the electrical configuration shown in fig. 13 is advantageous in the point that the dust collection duration is not excessively shortened.

The above-described embodiment mainly includes the following configurations.

A dust collecting device according to an aspect of the embodiment is used for collecting dust. The dust collecting device is provided with: a housing forming an inlet port into which the dust flows; a dust collecting mechanism for sucking the dust into the housing through the inlet; and an operation request unit that requests the start and stop of the dust collection mechanism. The operation request unit includes a switch piece that is displaceable between an on position for activating the dust collection mechanism and an off position for stopping the dust collection mechanism. The switch piece is disposed at a position adjacent to the inlet port at a position not overlapping the inlet port in an opening direction of the inlet port, and is shifted from the off position to the on position upon receiving an external force, and returned from the on position to the off position as the external force disappears.

According to the above configuration, since the dust is sucked into the housing through the inlet port, the dust collecting operation for collecting the dust in the dust collecting device is performed around the inlet port. The opening/closing piece is disposed adjacent to the inlet port, so that the worker can apply an external force to the opening/closing piece while performing dust collection work. For example, the operator may bring the cleaning tool to which dust has adhered close to the inlet port and apply an external force to the opening/closing piece with the cleaning tool. The switch piece is shifted from the off position to the on position by receiving an external force, so that an operator can start the dust collecting mechanism in a series of operations of the dust collecting operation. After the dust collecting operation, the external force acting on the switch piece disappears. For example, if the operator moves the cleaning tool away from the inlet, external force does not act on the switch piece. At this time, the switch piece is returned from the on position to the off position, and therefore, the dust collecting mechanism is stopped in response to the end of the dust collecting operation.

The switch piece is arranged at a position not overlapping with the inlet in the opening direction of the inlet, so that the switch piece is difficult to contact with dust sucked into the shell through the inlet. Therefore, the possibility that the displacement of the switch piece is hindered by the dust is low. That is, the request function of the operation request unit for starting and stopping the dust collecting mechanism is maintained with high reliability.

In the above configuration, the switch piece may be disposed on a side of the inlet.

According to the above configuration, the dust collecting device is suitably used for removing dust from a horizontally long dust-removal object as described below. Since the switch piece is disposed on the side of the inlet, if the operator brings a horizontally long object to be cleaned close to the inlet, the switch piece comes into contact with the object to be cleaned and receives an external force. As a result, the switch piece is displaced from the off position to the on position, and the dust collection mechanism is activated.

In the above configuration, the operation requesting unit may further include another switch piece disposed on an opposite side of the inlet port from the switch piece so as to sandwich the inlet port with the switch piece. The other switch piece may also be displaced from the off position to the on position by receiving an external force, and returned from the on position to the off position as the external force disappears.

According to the above configuration, since the two switch pieces are disposed on the side of the inlet port so as to sandwich the inlet port, the operator can apply an external force to at least one of the switch pieces by the horizontally long object to be cleaned.

In the above configuration, the operation requesting unit may activate the dust collecting mechanism if at least one of the two switch pieces is displaced from the off position to the on position.

According to the above configuration, even in the object to be dust-removed having a width narrower than the arrangement interval of the two shutter pieces, the dust collecting mechanism can be operated as follows. Even in the object to be dust-removed having a width narrower than the arrangement interval of the two switch pieces, one of the two switch pieces can be shifted from the off position to the on position. The operation request unit activates the dust collecting mechanism even if only one of the two switch pieces is displaced from the off position to the on position. Therefore, even when dust is removed from an object to be dust-removed having a relatively narrow width, the worker can start dust removal from the object to be dust-removed by shifting one switch piece from the off position to the on position.

In the above configuration, the operation requesting unit may cause the dust collecting mechanism to continue the dust collection until a predetermined period of time elapses after the switch piece is displaced from the on position to the off position.

According to the above configuration, the operation requesting unit allows the dust collecting mechanism to continue collecting dust until a predetermined period of time elapses after the switch piece is displaced from the on position to the off position. Therefore, when the dust remains around the inlet port after the external force disappears, the dust collecting mechanism can suck the dust around the inlet port.

In the above configuration, the switch piece may include a leading edge surface that forms a leading end of the switch piece and extends in the height direction.

According to the above configuration, the dust collecting device can be suitably used for removing dust from the dust removal object in which the soft portion and the hard portion are arranged in the vertical direction. For example, if the object to be cleaned is a mop, the soft part is formed by the bristles of the mop, and the part of the mop where the bristles are implanted becomes a hard part. The front edge surface of the switch sheet forms the front end of the switch sheet, and therefore, the switch sheet is easy to receive external force. At this time, the leading edge surface extends in the height direction, and therefore, comes into contact with both the soft portion and the hard portion arranged in the vertical direction. The soft portion may not exert enough external force on the leading edge surface of the switch piece to displace the switch piece from the off position to the on position, but the hard portion exerts larger external force on the leading edge surface of the switch piece than the soft portion. Therefore, the switch piece can be displaced from the off position to the on position with high reliability.

In the above configuration, the housing may include a front surface formed by an upper front wall and a concave front wall recessed rearward below the upper front wall. An opening portion allowing the opening/closing piece to enter and exit may be formed in the concave front wall. The switch piece may be displaced from the off position to the on position by entering the opening portion. The front edge face of the switch plate may also be located rearward relative to the upper front wall when the switch plate is in the open position.

According to the above configuration, when the switch piece is in the off position, the front edge surface of the switch piece is located rearward with respect to the upper front wall of the housing. That is, the front end of the switch plate is located in the concave space formed by the concave front wall. Therefore, even if the housing is tilted forward, the switch piece is not pressed by the floor surface. When the housing is tilted forward, the switch piece does not enter the opening and is not displaced from the off position to the on position. I.e., prevent the dust collection mechanism from being accidentally activated.

In the above configuration, the dust collecting device may further include a first scraping portion and a second scraping portion each having a lower edge formed to scrape the dust. The first scraping portion may protrude downward in a concave space formed by the concave front wall such that the lower edge of the first scraping portion is disposed at a position spaced upward from the floor surface. The lower edge of the second scraping portion may be disposed at a position higher than and forward of the lower edge of the first scraping portion.

According to the above configuration, the first scraping portion protrudes downward at a position lower than the second scraping portion. Since the lower edge of the first scraping portion is located at a position spaced upward from the floor surface, the operator can insert the object to be dust-removed into the recessed space formed by the recessed front wall and dispose the object in a space between the floor surface and the lower edge of the first scraping portion. At this time, the lower edge of the first scraping portion abuts against the upper surface of the object to be dust-removed. Since the lower edge of the first scraping portion scrapes dust, dust on the upper surface of the object to be dust-removed is scraped by the lower edge of the first scraping portion. Since the lower edge of the second scraping portion is disposed at a position higher than the first scraping portion, it can be suitably used for scraping dust from the upper surface of a relatively thick object to be cleaned. Since the lower edge of the second scraping portion is located forward relative to the lower edge of the first scraping portion, thick objects to be cleaned are disposed below the second scraping portion without interfering with the first scraping portion.

In the above configuration, the case may include a front surface forming the inlet and an opening allowing the opening/closing piece to enter and exit. The dust collecting device may further include a pushing portion for pushing the dust entering the housing through the opening portion toward the outside of the housing. The switch sheet may have a cross section complementary to the opening portion. The pushing portion may protrude from the switch piece behind a boundary formed between the switch piece and the front surface by the opening.

According to the above configuration, since the opening/closing piece has a cross section complementary to the opening portion, most of the opening portion is closed by the opening/closing piece. Therefore, dust is less likely to enter the case through the opening. However, since the opening forms a boundary between the switch piece and the front surface of the case, something (e.g., a coin) thinner than the boundary may enter the case through the boundary. Since the push-out portion protrudes from the switch piece at the rear of the boundary, the above-mentioned object is caught by the push-out portion and is difficult to completely enter the housing. When the switch piece is displaced from the on position to the off position, the push-out portion moves forward together with the switch piece and approaches the opening. As a result, the article that has not completely entered the housing is pushed out of the housing by the push-out portion.

In the above configuration, the case may include a bottom wall forming a discharge port located below an operation region of the switch piece in the case, and a leg portion projecting downward from the bottom wall.

According to the above configuration, small dust entering the housing through the opening is discharged to the outside of the housing as follows. Since the leg portion protrudes downward from the bottom wall, a space is formed between the bottom wall and the floor surface. Since the discharge port is formed in the bottom wall so as to be positioned below the operation region of the switch piece in the case, small dust entering the case together with the switch piece entering the opening falls into the case and is discharged to the space below the bottom wall through the discharge port.

In the above configuration, the case may include a front surface forming the inlet and an opening allowing the opening/closing piece to enter and exit. The operation requesting section may include a dust collection command section having a signal generating section that outputs a dust collection request signal requesting the dust collection mechanism to collect dust if the switch piece is shifted from the off position to the on position. The housing may be formed with an isolation space isolated from other spaces in the housing at a position corresponding to a portion of the opening through which the switch sheet enters. The signal generating section may be disposed in the other space.

According to the above configuration, the signal generating section of the dust collection command section is disposed in the other space isolated from the isolation space formed at the position corresponding to the entry position of the opening/closing piece from the opening portion, so that dust entering the isolation space through the opening portion does not come into contact with the signal generating section. Therefore, the possibility of the dust-induced signal generating portion failing is reduced.

In the above configuration, the dust collecting device may further include a power supply line for supplying power to the dust collecting mechanism. The housing may include a bottom wall and a rear wall, and the rear wall may be provided upright between a front end and a rear end of the bottom wall so that the bottom wall protrudes rearward. The power cord may also extend from the rear wall outwardly of the housing.

According to the above configuration, since the bottom wall protrudes rearward beyond the rear wall, if the dust collecting device is disposed so that the rear wall faces the wall of the building, a space corresponding to the amount of protrusion of the bottom wall from the rear wall is formed between the wall of the building and the rear wall. Since the power cord extends from the rear wall to the outside of the housing, the space can be used for extension.

In the above configuration, the dust collecting device may further include a power supply line for supplying power to the dust collecting mechanism. A receiving recess for receiving the power supply line may be formed on an outer surface of the housing.

According to the above configuration, when the dust collecting device is not used, the power cord is accommodated in the accommodating recess portion of the outer surface of the housing.

In the above configuration, the dust collecting device may further include a buffer portion protruding forward from the front surface of the housing. The buffer portion may be softer than the case.

According to the above configuration, since the buffer portion protrudes forward from the front surface of the housing, an object (for example, a handle of a mop) used in dust collection operation easily comes into contact with the buffer portion prior to the housing. Therefore, the shell is protected by the buffer part to avoid contacting with the object used in the dust collection operation. Since the buffer part is softer than the case, no loud noise is generated even if the buffer part contacts with an object used in dust collection operation.

In the above configuration, the buffer portion may be detachable from the housing.

According to the above configuration, since the buffer portion is detachable from the housing, the buffer portion can be replaced even if it is damaged by contact with the object to be dust-removed.

Industrial applicability

The principle of the present embodiment is suitably used for a device used in cleaning work.

Claims (14)

1. A dust collecting device for collecting dust, characterized by comprising:

a housing having an inlet port into which the dust flows;

a dust collecting mechanism for sucking the dust into the housing through the inlet; and the number of the first and second groups,

an operation request part for requesting the start and stop of the dust collecting mechanism,

the operation request unit includes a switch piece displaceable between an on position for activating the dust collection mechanism and an off position for stopping the dust collection mechanism,

the switch piece is disposed at a position adjacent to the inlet port at a position not overlapping the inlet port in an opening direction of the inlet port, and is shifted from the off position to the on position upon receiving an external force and returned from the on position to the off position with disappearance of the external force,

the housing includes a front surface forming the inlet and an opening allowing the opening/closing piece to enter and exit,

the dust collecting device further includes: a push-out portion that pushes out the contents that have entered the housing through the opening portion toward the outside of the housing,

the switch plate has a cross section complementary to the opening portion,

the push-out portion protrudes from the switch piece behind a boundary formed between the switch piece and the front surface through the opening.

2. The dust collecting device according to claim 1,

the switch piece is arranged on the side of the inflow opening.

3. The dust collecting device according to claim 2,

the operation requesting unit further includes another switch piece disposed on the opposite side of the inflow port from the switch piece so as to sandwich the inflow port with the switch piece,

the other switch piece is displaced from the off position to the on position by receiving an external force, and returns from the on position to the off position as the external force disappears.

4. A dust collecting device according to claim 3,

the operation request unit activates the dust collection mechanism if at least one of the two switch pieces is displaced from the off position to the on position.

5. The dust collecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the operation request unit allows the dust collection mechanism to continue the dust collection until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the switch piece is displaced from the on position to the off position.

6. The dust collecting device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,

the switch sheet includes a front edge surface forming a front end of the switch sheet and extending in a height direction.

7. The dust collecting device according to claim 6,

the housing includes a front surface formed by an upper front wall and a concave front wall concavely provided toward the rear below the upper front wall,

an opening portion for allowing the opening/closing piece to move in and out is formed in the concave front wall,

the switch piece is displaced from the off position to the on position by entering the opening portion,

the leading edge surface of the switch blade is located rearward relative to the upper front wall when the switch blade is in the off position.

8. The dust collecting apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a first scraping part and a second scraping part, each having a lower edge formed to scrape the dust,

the first scraping portion protrudes downward in a concave space formed by the concave front wall such that the lower edge of the first scraping portion is disposed at a position spaced upward from a floor surface,

the lower edge of the second scraping portion is disposed at a position higher than and forward of the lower edge of the first scraping portion.

9. The dust collecting device according to claim 7,

the case includes a bottom wall forming a discharge port and a leg portion projecting downward from the bottom wall, wherein the discharge port is located below an operation region of the switch piece in the case.

10. The dust collecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the housing includes a front surface forming the inlet and an opening allowing the opening/closing piece to enter and exit,

the operation request part comprises a dust collection command part with a signal generation part, if the switch piece is shifted from the off position to the on position, the signal generation part outputs a dust collection request signal requesting the dust collection mechanism to collect dust,

the housing forms an isolation space isolated from other spaces in the housing at a position corresponding to an entrance portion of the switch piece from the opening portion,

the signal generating unit is disposed in the other space.

11. The dust collecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by further comprising:

a power cord supplying power to the dust collecting mechanism, wherein,

the housing includes a bottom wall and a rear wall that is provided upright between a front end and a rear end of the bottom wall in such a manner that the bottom wall protrudes rearward,

the power cord extends from the rear wall to outside the housing.

12. The dust collecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by further comprising:

a power cord supplying power to the dust collecting mechanism, wherein,

a receiving recess for receiving the power supply line is formed in an outer surface of the housing.

13. The dust collecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by further comprising:

a buffer portion protruding forward from a front surface of the housing,

the buffer portion is softer than the case.

14. The dust collecting device according to claim 13,

the buffer portion is detachable from the housing.

Images