EP1464264A2 - Staubsauger - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP1464264A2
EP1464264A2 EP04251832A EP04251832A EP1464264A2 EP 1464264 A2 EP1464264 A2 EP 1464264A2 EP 04251832 A EP04251832 A EP 04251832A EP 04251832 A EP04251832 A EP 04251832A EP 1464264 A2 EP1464264 A2 EP 1464264A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
dirt
flap
receptacle
closure
outlet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04251832A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1464264A3 (de
Inventor
Euan Skinner Macleod
Christopher Richard Henderson
Ross Richardson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hoover Ltd
Original Assignee
Hoover Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hoover Ltd filed Critical Hoover Ltd
Publication of EP1464264A2 publication Critical patent/EP1464264A2/de
Publication of EP1464264A3 publication Critical patent/EP1464264A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A47L9/1683—Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
    • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
    • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
    • A47L5/28—Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.
  • Vacuum cleaners conventionally comprise a permeable dust bag, which filters and retains the dirt and dust drawn into the vacuum cleaner by the induced air flow.
  • vacuum cleaners in which the separated dirt and dust is collected in a rigid dirt receptacle that can be emptied and re-used.
  • bagless cleaners alleviate the need to purchase and replace the dust bags.
  • a disadvantage of re-usable dirt receptacles is that the receptacles are often dirty to handle and clouds of dirt and dust can be emitted into the atmosphere when the receptacles are emptied, with the obvious health risks and resultant contamination of the vacuum cleaner and the user's environment with a layer of dust.
  • bagless vacuum cleaners nowadays comprise a cyclonic separator, which deposits the separated dirt and dust in a rigid dirt receptacle.
  • Cyclonic vacuum cleaners offer the advantage over bag-type cleaners of maintaining a more constant level of suction performance regardless of the quantity of dirt present in their dirt receptacle.
  • cyclonic vacuum cleaners One of the main disadvantages of known cyclonic vacuum cleaners is that the procedure for emptying their dirt receptacles is a potentially dirty and unhygienic process. Instead of simply removing a closed paper bag full of dirt from the vacuum cleaner, and dropping it into a dustbin, emptying a cyclonic cleaner usually involves tipping a mass of loose dust and dirt out of its dirt receptacle, following removal of the receptacle from the cleaner. This emptying process can involve knocking and/or shaking the dirt receptacle to dislodge agglomerated dust and any masses of fibrous material, such as fluff and hairs that may be present.
  • This flap-type emptying system exacerbates the problem of contamination, since the fine dust falls out of the bottom of the receptacle closely followed by the coarse and fibrous dirt, which falls through and/or lands on top of the fine dust causing clouds of fine dust to become airborne and contaminate the environment during the emptying process.
  • EP 1 199 023 attempts to solve the above-mentioned problems by providing a cyclonic separator for a vacuum cleaner in which the lower region of the cylindrical dirt receptacle is separated from the upper region by a perforated disc-shaped partition.
  • the fine dust and dirt particles fall through the perforations in the disc and are retained in the region below the disc.
  • the coarser particulate and fibrous material are retained above the disc.
  • the lower region of the dirt receptacle can be opened and carefully emptied into a suitable waste receptacle for disposal. Having emptied the fine dust, the entire dirt receptacle containing the coarse and fibrous material, may then be inverted over the waste receptacle to complete the emptying process.
  • a dirt receptacle for a vacuum cleaner comprising a rigid container having an outlet for the emptying of collected dirt, a closure for closing the outlet, and actuator means for moving the closure between a closed position and an open position, said actuator means being operable to control the position of the closure between said open and closed positions.
  • the receptacle is emptied by initially moving the closure to a partially opened position, in which fine dirt and dust can be emptied through the restricted outlet in a controlled manner.
  • the restricted size of the outlet retains any coarser and fibrous dirt inside the receptacle.
  • the closure can be moved to its fully open position to allow the coarse dirt and fibrous matter to be emptied from the receptacle.
  • the present invention thus provides a clean and hygienic way of empting the receptacle by allowing the fine and coarse dirt to be emptied in two distinct operating stages, thereby avoiding the problem of dust contamination when all of the dirt is released in an uncontrolled single stage.
  • the restricted size of the opening also allows a more controlled release of the fine dirt and avoids the problem of dust contamination caused by a sudden release of the dirt.
  • the receptacle is simple and inexpensive in construction and is straightforward to use.
  • the closure locates at said partially opened position, in order to provide a tactile indication to the user that the closure is in the correct position for the emptying of fine dust.
  • the outlet is provided at a position on the container which is located at the bottom thereof when the container is in use, such that the outlet is positioned directly adjacent the fine dirt which collects at the bottom of the container.
  • closure is biassed into said fully open position.
  • the container comprises an open bottom forming the outlet.
  • the closure comprises a flap pivoted to the container.
  • the actuator comprises a handle mounted directly to said flap, preferably adjacent the point where the flap is pivoted to the container.
  • the flap is also mounted to the container for translatory movement towards and away from said outlet thereof.
  • Preferably means are provided to guide the translatory movement of said flap towards and away from said outlet.
  • said guide means is arranged to only permit pivotal movement of the flap, when the latter is in a partially opened position between said open and closed positions.
  • the guide means is arranged to hold said flap in its fully opened position.
  • a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt receptacle as hereinbefore described.
  • the vacuum cleaner comprises a cyclonic separator having a cylindrical-walled separation chamber.
  • a method of emptying a dirt receptacle of a vacuum cleaner comprising a rigid container having an outlet for the emptying of collected dirt, a closure for closing the outlet, the closure being moveable between a normally closed position and an open position, the method comprising removing the dirt receptacle from the vacuum cleaner, partially opening the closure and empting fine dirt from the receptacle through the restricted outlet prior to fully opening the closure and empting the remaining dirt from the receptacle.
  • an upright vacuum cleaner comprising a wheeled suction head 10, to which a body portion 11 is pivoted for movement between an upright position and an inclined operative position.
  • a motor and fan are mounted in a bottom portion 12 of the body 11 of the cleaner.
  • a separation unit 13 mounted in the body 11 of the cleaner comprises a cyclone separator and a filter.
  • the fan induces an airflow through the cleaner from the suction head 10 through the separation unit 13, where dirt and dust separated from the airflow by the cyclone is collected in a removable dirt collection bin 14 mounted directly below the separation unit 13.
  • the cyclone separator comprises a cylindrical wall and for practical purposes, the side wall of the collection bin 14 is a downward extension of the wall of the cyclone.
  • the cyclonic separation action causes the finer dirt particles F to collect at the bottom of the collection bin 14 below the coarser dirt particles and fibrous matter C.
  • the collection bin 14 comprises a cylindrical side wall 15 having an open top which communicates with the cyclone separator.
  • the bottom of the bin 14 is closed by a flap 16 which is pivoted by a shaft to the side wall 15 of the bin 14 for rotation about an axis which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bin.
  • a torsion spring 17 biases the flap 16 downwardly into a position where the bottom of the bin 14 is fully open.
  • the flap 16 comprises a pair of spaced-apart formations 18, between which the above-mentioned shaft extends.
  • Each formation 18 comprises an outwardly facing abutment surface which lies in a plane that extends parallel to both the longitudinal axis of the bin and rotational axis of the flap 16, when the later is in its fully closed position.
  • An actuator 19 is slidably mounted to the outer surface of the side wall 15 of the bin 14 for movement in a direction which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bin.
  • the actuator 19 comprises a pair of arms having lower ends which abut the respective flap formations 18.
  • a foldable handle 20 is attached to the arms of the actuator 19 for sliding the actuator 19 in the upward and downward directions shown in the drawings. In its fully downward position, the bottom ends of the arms of the actuator 19 bear against the abutment surface of the flap formations 18, thereby holding the flap in its closed position and preventing the collected dirt and dust from falling out of the bottom of the bin 14 whilst the cleaner is in use and whilst the bin 14 is being carried to a waste receptacle for emptying.
  • the handle 20 also serves as a handle for supporting the bin 14 whilst it is being carried.
  • the actuator 19 is returned to its lower position using the handle 20, thereby closing the flap 16 against the spring bias.
  • the body 11 of the cleaner is preferably adapted such that the bin 14 cannot be mounted to the cleaner until the actuator 19 has been returned to the lower position, thereby avoiding the risk of the flap 16 opening whilst the bin 14 is removed from the cleaner.
  • the upper surface of the flap 16 is contaminated with dirt and dust.
  • actuator 19 enables the user to open and close the flap 16 without having to touch the flap itself.
  • FIG. 8 and 9 of the drawings there is shown an alternative embodiment of a bin 14, which is similar to the above-mentioned bin and like parts are given like reference numerals.
  • a pair of pinions 42 are mounted to the flap 16 for rotation about the rotational axis of the flap 16.
  • a handle 40 is pivotally mounted to the external surface of the wall 15 of the bin 14 for rotation about an axis which extends parallel to the axis of flap rotation.
  • a second pair of pinions 41 are mounted to the handle 40 and are engaged with respective ones of the flap pinions 42.
  • the handle 40 In order to open the flap 16, the handle 40 is rotated about its rotational axis, causing the pinions 41 to correspondingly turn the flap pinions 42.
  • a detent (not shown) is provided to retain the flap 16 in its partially opened position and to provide a tactile indication to the user that the flap 16 is in the correct position for the emptying of fine dirt.
  • FIG. 10 to 13 of the drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment of a bin 14, which is similar to the above-mentioned bins and like parts are given like reference numerals.
  • the flap 16 is pivotally mounted between a pair of parallel spaced apart flanges 52 provided on the lower end of the rear of the side wall 15 of the bin 14.
  • the flanges 52 extend parallel to each other and axially of the bin.
  • Each flange 52 comprises an upper slot 53 which extends axially of the bin and a lower u-shaped slot 54 having long and short arms 54a, 54b extending axially of the bin.
  • the flap 16 comprises a portion 56 which extends between the flanges 52.
  • a pair of upper projections 55 extend outwardly from opposite sides of the flap extension 56 into the respective upper slots 53 of the flanges 52.
  • a pair of lower projections 57 also extend outwardly from opposite sides of the flap extension 56 into the respective lower slots 54 of the flanges 52.
  • a handle 58 extends over the outer surface of the flap extension 56.
  • the lower edge of the handle 58 is spaced away from the outer surface of the flap extension 56, so that a user can grasp the handle 58 in the palm of their hand, with their fingers extending around the lower edge of the handle.
  • a concealed spring 59 connected between the flap extension 56 and the exterior of the wall 15 of the bin 14, biasses the flap 16 upwardly.
  • a seal 59 extends around the flap 16 to seal against the bottom edge of the wall 15 of the bin 14.
  • the flap 16 In use, when the bin 14 is stowed on the body 11 of the vacuum cleaner, the flap 16 is in the closed position of Figure 10.
  • the spring 59 serves to retain the flap 16 in the closed position, so that no dirt and dust can escape.
  • the handle 58 is preferably concealed behind the bin 14 when the latter is stowed on the body 11 of the vacuum cleaner.
  • the user In order to empty the bin 14, the user removes the bin 14 from the body 11 of the cleaner. The user then pushes the handle 58 downwardly, thereby allowing the flap 16 to open under the spring bias, until the projections 55,57 on the flap extension 56 reach the lowermost point of their respective slots 53,54. It will be appreciated that the attitude of the flap 16 remains constant as the handle is pushed downwardly as hereinbefore described.
  • the flap 16 can be retained in the partially open position by maintaining a downward bias on the handle 58. Fine dirt and dust at the bottom of the bin 14 can be emptied through the small opening at the bottom of the bin 14. Any course dirt and fibrous matter cannot pass through the opening and is retained inside the bin 14.
  • the user In order to fully empty the bin 14, the user has to pull the lower edge of the handle 58 away from the bin 14, causing the lower projections 57 to slide along the bottom of their respective u-shaped slots 54, allowing the flap 16 to pivot further open about an axis extending through the upper projections 55. The downwards force on the handle 58 is then released, thereby causing the lower projections 57 to move a short distance up the short arms 54b of the lower slots 54.
  • the spring 59 serves to retain the flap 16 in this fully open position, as shown in Figure 11, in which all of the remaining dirt and dust inside the bin 14 is free to fall through the open bottom of the bin 14.
  • the body 11 of the cleaner is preferably adapted such that the bin 14 cannot be mounted to the cleaner until the flap 16 has been closed, thereby avoiding the risk of dirt and dust escaping from the bin when in use.
  • a bin in accordance with the present invention is simple and inexpensive in construction, yet allows a staged discharge of fine and course dirt, thereby minimising the risks of dust contamination during emptying.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
EP04251832A 2003-04-05 2004-03-29 Staubsauger Withdrawn EP1464264A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0307928 2003-04-05
GBGB0307928.2A GB0307928D0 (en) 2003-04-05 2003-04-05 Vacuum cleaner

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1464264A2 true EP1464264A2 (de) 2004-10-06
EP1464264A3 EP1464264A3 (de) 2005-03-30

Family

ID=9956280

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04251832A Withdrawn EP1464264A3 (de) 2003-04-05 2004-03-29 Staubsauger

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20050132530A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1464264A3 (de)
CN (1) CN100344253C (de)
GB (1) GB0307928D0 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2442211A (en) * 2006-09-29 2008-04-02 Vax Ltd Cyclonic separator with dual dust receptacle arrangement
WO2010112891A1 (en) * 2009-03-31 2010-10-07 Dyson Technology Limited Cyclonic separating apparatus
EP3323335A1 (de) * 2016-11-17 2018-05-23 Black & Decker, Inc. Reinigungsvorrichtung

Families Citing this family (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060156508A1 (en) * 2005-01-14 2006-07-20 Royal Appliance Mfg. Co. Vacuum cleaner with cyclonic separating dirt cup and dirt cup door
JP4567621B2 (ja) * 2006-03-14 2010-10-20 日立アプライアンス株式会社 電気掃除機
US8191203B2 (en) * 2008-01-16 2012-06-05 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Dust receptacle and vacuum cleaner having the same
FR2940902B1 (fr) * 2009-01-15 2011-02-18 Seb Sa Dispositif de separation cyclonique avec rampe d'acceleration
US20110056045A1 (en) * 2009-09-10 2011-03-10 Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. Dirt Cup Latch Mechanism
WO2012113414A1 (en) * 2011-02-22 2012-08-30 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Vacuum cleaner
GB2508035B (en) 2012-11-20 2015-03-11 Dyson Technology Ltd Cleaning appliance
GB2510359B (en) * 2013-01-31 2015-04-08 Dyson Technology Ltd Dirt Separator for a Vacuum Cleaner
FR3007269B1 (fr) * 2013-06-21 2015-07-03 Seb Sa Dispositif de recuperation de poussiere d'un aspirateur
KR102117003B1 (ko) * 2014-08-07 2020-06-09 삼성전자주식회사 청소기 및 이에 적용되는 집진 장치
US10214349B2 (en) 2016-12-28 2019-02-26 Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. Dust and allergen control for surface cleaning apparatus
US10244909B2 (en) 2016-12-28 2019-04-02 Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. Dust and allergen control for surface cleaning apparatus
US10464746B2 (en) 2016-12-28 2019-11-05 Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. Dust and allergen control for surface cleaning apparatus
US10244910B2 (en) 2016-12-28 2019-04-02 Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. Dust and allergen control for surface cleaning apparatus
US10322873B2 (en) 2016-12-28 2019-06-18 Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. Dust and allergen control for surface cleaning apparatus
US11458485B2 (en) * 2019-07-03 2022-10-04 Oneida Air Systems, Inc. Dust collector with negative pressure bagging

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1444384A (en) 1917-04-20 1923-02-06 Allischalmers Mfg Company Air purifier
JPS5786318A (en) 1980-11-20 1982-05-29 Tokyo Electric Co Ltd Dust collector of electric cleaner
EP1199023A1 (de) 1999-07-19 2002-04-24 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Staubsauger

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1440033A (en) * 1918-09-28 1922-12-26 Babcock & Wilcox Co Dust removing and collecting means
US2121516A (en) * 1937-10-18 1938-06-21 Woo Jack Condiment receptacle
US4023719A (en) * 1973-09-12 1977-05-17 Societe Internationale D'investissements Et De Participations (Interpar) Hopper closing and emptying device
US4699641A (en) * 1986-09-29 1987-10-13 The Singer Company Support tray for disposable filter bag
JP3530436B2 (ja) * 1999-01-29 2004-05-24 三洋電機株式会社 掃除機用集塵装置及びアップライト型掃除機
GB2372433A (en) * 2001-02-24 2002-08-28 Dyson Ltd Collecting chamber for bagless vacuum cleaner, with dust agitator

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1444384A (en) 1917-04-20 1923-02-06 Allischalmers Mfg Company Air purifier
JPS5786318A (en) 1980-11-20 1982-05-29 Tokyo Electric Co Ltd Dust collector of electric cleaner
EP1199023A1 (de) 1999-07-19 2002-04-24 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Staubsauger

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2442211A (en) * 2006-09-29 2008-04-02 Vax Ltd Cyclonic separator with dual dust receptacle arrangement
US7740676B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2010-06-22 Vax Limited Dust collection in vacuum cleaners
WO2010112891A1 (en) * 2009-03-31 2010-10-07 Dyson Technology Limited Cyclonic separating apparatus
EP3323335A1 (de) * 2016-11-17 2018-05-23 Black & Decker, Inc. Reinigungsvorrichtung
US10485393B2 (en) 2016-11-17 2019-11-26 Black & Decker, Inc. Cleaning device
US11464378B2 (en) 2016-11-17 2022-10-11 Black & Decker, Inc. Cleaning device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1541606A (zh) 2004-11-03
GB0307928D0 (en) 2003-05-14
EP1464264A3 (de) 2005-03-30
US20050132530A1 (en) 2005-06-23
CN100344253C (zh) 2007-10-24

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