EP1642521B1 - Dust filter box for vacuum cleaner, especially for floor vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner with such dust filter box - Google Patents

Abstract

The filterbox housing (4) has an outlet opening (11), a filter unit (6) and an opening (10A) for the suction tube having a bellows seal (30) locked into the housing by holding plate (24) having a U- section opening which is withdrawable to release the seal and free the housing from the cleaner housing.

Description

The invention relates to a dust filter box for a vacuum cleaner, in particular vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner with such a dust filter box.

Under vacuum cleaner is generally understood a wet-dry vacuum cleaner, which is also able to absorb at least small amounts of liquid.

When used in the household area Bodenstaubsaugem be used to catch the sucked impurities as an alternative to disposable paper filter bags also reusable, usually made of plastic filter boxes, which are emptied regularly. Contaminants are understood to mean, in particular, dust and other solid particles. Usually, however, such filter boxes are also designed to hold at least small amounts of liquid so that, for example, spilled liquids can be absorbed by the vacuum cleaner in the household area. Impurities are therefore also understood here as liquids.

In the case of suckers, a sealed connection of a suction pipe or suction hose to a dust collecting container, in particular to the filter box, is generally required. The suction pipe or the suction hose are therefore usually sealed inserted into a suction opening of the filter box. To empty the filter box, it is removed from the nipple housing. Since the suction tube or the suction hose are plugged into the filter box, they must first be pulled out before removing the filter box, which is usually regarded as disturbing.

From the DE 103 16 668 A1 is to remove a vacuum cleaner with a dust receptacle having a front side suction port. At this suction opening, a sealing element is provided, which by means of a rotatable Anpressringes in the axial direction is adjustable. The pressure ring is seated on a cylinder piece defining the suction opening, on which guide rails extending obliquely on the circumference are arranged. During a rotational movement, a relative displacement of the contact pressure ring takes place in the axial direction, as a result of which the sealing element fastened to the contact pressure ring is entrained, so that a seal to a front suction opening in the housing of the vacuum cleaner is formed or canceled.

The invention has for its object to simplify the handling when emptying a filter box.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a filter box for a vacuum cleaner, in particular a vacuum cleaner, with a housing to which a connection unit is attached with a front suction opening for connection of a suction tube. When assembled, this suction tube is inserted in the front suction port. The connection unit is in this case designed to be flexible or movable, in such a way that the front suction opening can be transferred from a front position enclosing the suction pipe into a position which is retracted towards the housing and at least partially releases the suction pipe. For this purpose, an actuating mechanism is provided with an actuating element. This has a handle member, in such a way that brought by pulling the handle member in only one movement, the suction opening in the retracted position and at the same time the filter box is raised.

Due to the flexibly formed connection unit, which forms a kind filterbox-own connection piece, therefore, the possibility is created to make a change of the filter box without the suction tube must be pulled out, as is the case with the conventional suckers. An essential aspect is therefore to be seen to provide directly to the filter box a suitably trained connection unit, which is sufficiently flexible to at least partially lead away the connection unit with a fixed suction pipe, so that the filter box can be removed from the nipple housing. The fact that in only one movement by pulling the Gripping element at the same time brought the suction opening in the retracted position and the filter box is raised, a particularly comfortable removal of the filter box for emptying purposes from the sucker housing is possible with only one hand.

According to a preferred embodiment, provision is made here for the connection unit to comprise a retaining element, a connecting element and a frame element, fixedly connected to the housing of the filter box. The connecting element in this case connects the front suction opening with a further suction opening in the housing and is designed in particular as a sealing element. The frame element is movably arranged on the holding element. As a result of this embodiment, a relative movement of the front suction opening relative to the housing and with respect to the further suction opening and at the same time complete sealing is possible in a structurally advantageous manner.

Conveniently, in this case, the connecting element is flexible or compressible, so that a simple length compensation in the transfer of the front suction opening is made possible from the front to the retracted position. In this case, the connecting element is preferably designed as a bellows or sealing bellows. This consists of a suitable, permanently elastic material. As an alternative to the flexibly formed connecting element, it is in principle also possible to provide a rigid connecting element which is displaced through the further suction opening into the housing when the front suction opening is transferred from the front to the retracted position.

The actuating element is preferably mounted displaceably on the holding element and forms a sliding guide with the frame element. For this purpose, at least one elongated hole and on the actuating element at least one guide pin is preferably provided on the frame element, which engages in the slot and is displaceable there. The slot is in this case oriented such that in a relative displacement between the actuating element and the frame member and the consequent displacement of the guide pin in the slot, the frame member is pulled onto the housing or pushed away from it. By this measure, therefore, the front suction opening can be converted into the desired retracted position in a simple manner by, for example, pulling on the actuating element.

With regard to a structurally simple and robust design is preferably provided that the holding element comprises two holding parts, which are arranged laterally fixed adjacent to the other suction opening on the housing and between which guided the actuating element and the frame member is mounted. The forces exerted by the actuator forces are therefore transmitted to the support member and thus to the housing.

In order to keep the applied forces on the actuator as low as possible and to build the actuating mechanism as little as possible susceptible to interference and low friction, is provided according to a preferred development that the frame member is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis on the support member. This pivot axis in this case preferably extends above the front suction opening. By this measure, the front suction opening is subtracted from the suction tube by pivoting the frame member at least on the opposite side of the pivot axis. This partial removal from the suction pipe is sufficient insofar as the filter box is lifted out of the teat housing usually upwards and therefore only the lower part of the suction opening must be removed from the suction pipe. As an alternative to the pivotable arrangement, the frame element is arranged displaceably relative to the holding element. This is expediently again provided a sliding guide with a slot and a guide pin. Instead of the pivotable mounting on the holding element, the frame element is displaceably mounted on the holding element in this case, so that the desired transfer from the front to the retracted position takes place by the Relatiwerschiebung between the frame member and the actuating element.

The object is also achieved according to the invention by a vacuum cleaner, in particular a vacuum cleaner with such a filter box.

Conveniently, the sucker housing in this case has a suction nozzle and a housing flap arranged next to the suction nozzle, via which the dust filter box is removed from the sucker housing or into the sucker housing can be used. Because of the flexibly formed connection unit on the filter box, it is in fact easily possible to arrange the suction nozzle independently of the housing flap. A plugged into the suction hose suction hose can therefore remain plugged in when removing the filter box.

Preferably, it is further provided here that the suction nozzle extends into the interior of the housing and is plugged into the front suction opening when the filter box is inserted as the suction pipe. The suction is in this case in particular stiff, for example, designed as a plastic injection molded part. Due to the suction nozzle, which is guided into the interior, the particular advantage is achieved that a nozzle or insertion opening for the suction hose can be arranged almost arbitrarily on the vacuum cleaner housing and thus independently of the specific orientation of the front suction opening. Because on the inside extending suction nozzle, which forms a connection between the suction hose used in the nozzle opening and the filter box, a largely arbitrary flow guidance to the filter box is made possible. This allows a high variability with regard to the arrangement of the nozzle opening or the positioning of the filter box with the front suction opening in the sow housing. This high design freedom with regard to the structural design is made possible by the flexible connection unit in a particularly advantageous manner.

Conveniently, in this case the nozzle opening of the suction nozzle is arranged in a front end-facing housing portion of the nipple. So it is a connection of the suction hose from the front allows.

Fig. 1

eine Filterbox mit einer Anschlusseinheit mit einem eine vordere Saugöffnung aufweisenden Rahmenelement, welches sich in einer vorderen Position befindet,

Fig. 2

die Filterbox gemäß Fig. 1, bei der sich das Rahmenelement in der zurückgezogenen Position befindet,

Fig. 3

die Filterbox gemäß den Fig. 1 und 2, bei der die einzelnen Elemente der Anschlusseinheit in einer Explosionsdarstellung gezeigt sind und

Fig. 4

eine ausschnittsweise Schnittdarstellung eines Bodenstaubsaugers für den Haushaltsbereich mit der Filterbox gemäß den Fig. 1 bis 3.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a filter box having a connection unit with a frame element having a front suction opening, which is in a front position,

Fig. 2

the filter box according to Fig. 1 in which the frame member is in the retracted position,

Fig. 3

the filter box according to Fig. 1 and 2 in which the individual elements of the terminal unit are shown in an exploded view, and

Fig. 4

a partial sectional view of a vacuum cleaner for the household sector with the filter box according to the Fig. 1 to 3 ,

In the figures, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

The filter box 2 according to the figures has a stable, inherently rigid plastic housing 4, in the interior of which a filter unit 6 is arranged. On the housing 4 a formed in the manner of a connecting piece connecting unit 8 is provided. This has a front suction opening 10A and in the housing 4, a further suction port 10B is provided. Through the suction openings 10A, 10B impurities are sucked into the housing 4 during operation with the air. The sucked air is passed through the filter unit 6, filtered there and via an outlet opening 11, the purified air leaves the filter box 2 again. The retained impurities accumulate in the interior of the housing 4.

The housing 4 is formed in the embodiment in total in the manner of a drum or a cylinder extending in the longitudinal direction 13. It has a bottom 12 which comprises the outlet opening 11 and a closable lid 14. To empty the filter box 2, the lid 14 is removed.

The lateral surface of the housing 4 has a flattened front side 16, which forms the suction or connection side and to which the connection unit 8 is attached. Into the front suction opening 10A, a suction pipe 18 is inserted when the filter box 2 is arranged in a vacuum cleaner 20 ( Fig. 4 ).

How the particular Fig. 3 2, the connection unit 8 comprises a two-part holding element 22, an actuating element 24, a gripping element 26, a frame element 28, a connecting element designed as a folding or sealing bellows 30 and a securing ring 32.

The connection unit 8 is provided overall for the tight insertion of the suction tube 18 and, for this purpose, has the front suction opening 10A in the frame element 28. The two suction openings 10 A, B are connected via the sealing element 30 sealed to the environment.

The two parts of the holding element 22 are attached to the housing 4 and are for example molded plastic parts. They are arranged laterally to the further suction opening 10B and extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 13. They each have a guide groove 36 on their side oriented towards the further suction opening 10B, in which the actuating element 24 is displaceable perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 13 and parallel to the front side is.

The actuating element 24 is designed, for example, as a rigid plastic injection-molded part and comprises a half-frame 38 which is open towards the bottom and which comprises a downwardly open passage opening 40 for the sealing element 30. At the rear, the half frame 38 has on both sides in each case a guide spring 42, which is in the mounted position in engagement with the guide groove 36. On its upper side, two lateral fastening pins 44 are further arranged on the half frame 38, onto which the grip element 26 is plugged or snapped for attachment. The handle member 26 is pivotally mounted via the mounting pins 44. In its lower region, the half frame 38 has on its opposite sides in each case a guide pin 46, which engages in the assembled state in an associated slot 48 of the frame member 28 to form a sliding guide.

The frame member 28 itself comprises a front frame member which surrounds the front suction port 10A. Furthermore, the frame member 28 has side parts 50, in each of which the slot 48 is arranged. The slot 48 is oriented at an angle obliquely to the front side 16 and thus obliquely to the direction of displacement of the actuating element 24. At the upper edge of the respective side part 50, a bearing pin 52 is provided in each case, which engages in the mounted state in a corresponding bearing seat 54 on the holding element 22 for pivotally mounting the frame member 28 on the holding element 22.

Between the front suction opening 10A and the further suction opening 10B of the flexible and compressible sealing bellows 30 is arranged, which has on its rear end side an annular mounting flange with a mounting groove 56. In this engages the further suction opening 10 B enclosing wall of the housing 4, so that both a seal and a mechanical attachment is achieved. On the opposite side of the sealing bellows 30 has a mounting collar 58, with which he engages behind the frame member 28 and is supported on an annular bearing surface 60. The bearing surface 60 is set back slightly relative to the front frame part of the frame element 28. To secure the bellows a locking ring 32 is provided with securing pin 62 which is inserted into the depression formed by the support surface 60 and secured by rotation on the frame member 28.

In the mounted end state, the frame member 28 is connected to the actuating element 24 via the sliding guide formed by the elongated holes 48 and the guide pin 46. The frame member 28 is further mounted pivotably on the holding element 22. The defined by the bearing pin 52 bearing or pivot axis in this case runs parallel to the longitudinal direction 13 of the housing 4. It is arranged on the upper edge side of the frame member 28 and thus on the upper side or above the front suction port 10A. Furthermore, the actuating element 24 is guided displaceably perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 13 of the housing 4 in the holding element 22. By pulling on the handle member 26, the frame member 28 of the in Fig. 1 shown front position in the in Fig. 2 shown retracted position automatically transferred. Namely, by pulling the handle member 26, the operating member 24 is displaced upward, so that the guide pins 46 extend in the obliquely to the pulling direction of the handle member 26 arranged slots 48 upwards. Due to the oblique orientation of the elongated holes 48, a force component is exerted on the frame member 28 perpendicular to the pulling direction and pushed backwards. Due to the pivotable mounting in this case takes place a pivoting movement about the defined by the bearing pin 52 bearing or pivot axis. The front suction port 10A is therefore pivoted away to the rear. The path of this pivoting movement on the underside of the front suction opening 10A is in this case dimensioned such that the suction tube 18 is released at least on its underside.

As an alternative to the pivotable mounting, the connection unit 8 is designed in such a way that the frame element 28 is merely displaced laterally, that is to say the frame element 28 is drawn in parallel to the front side 16 of the housing 4. For this purpose, for example, instead of the pivotally movable mounting of the frame member 28 on the holding element 22, a sliding bearing is provided, so that due to the force exerted on the sliding guide force component, the frame member 28 is movably moved backwards.

To return the frame member 28 in the forward position, the handle member 26 only needs to be released again. Because due to the elasticity of the attached between the two suction ports 10A, 10B sealing bellows 30 this automatically exerts a restoring force in the direction of the in Fig. 1 shown front position.

The in the Fig. 1 to 3 shown filter box 2 is in the in Fig. 4 partial vacuum cleaner 20 shown used for normal vacuum cleaner operation. The canister vacuum cleaner 20 in this case comprises a sucker housing 64 with a housing flap 66 arranged on its upper side. At the end and somewhat below the housing flap 66, the vacuum cleaner housing 64 has a suction nozzle 68 with a nozzle opening 70. In the nozzle opening 70, a suction hose, not shown here, is inserted and thus connected to the end face of the suction cup 64. The suction nozzle 68 itself extends into the interior of the sucker housing 64 and is as a mechanically rigid plastic part. The suction nozzle 68 is formed, for example, in one piece with the sucker housing 64 or a separate insert part, as provided in the embodiment. The suction nozzle 68 has a kink in the embodiment. Almost any directional changes of the suction nozzle 68 can be achieved here. The rear portion of the suction nozzle 68 forms the suction tube 18, which is inserted with inserted filter box 2 in the front suction port 10A.

To replace the filter box 2, the pivotally mounted housing flap 66 is first opened. Subsequently, only the filter box 2 on the grip element 26 needs to be pulled upwards out of the sucker housing 64. By pulling on the grip element 26, the frame element 28 with the front suction opening 10A is withdrawn from the suction tube 18 of the suction nozzle 68 in the manner described above, so that the suction tube 18 does not block. After emptying the filter box 2, this is used in the same way again from above, in which case the handle member 26 is initially tightened and the frame member 28 is oriented in the retracted position to the connection unit 8 via the suction pipe 18 can lead. Subsequently, the handle member 26 is released and by the restoring force of the sealing bellows 30, the suction pipe 18 is fully enclosed and sealed by the sealing bellows 30 automatically.

By the connection unit 8 with the movable transfer of the front suction opening 10A from a front to the retracted position thereby a simple removal and insertion of the filter box 2 is made possible without, for example, a suction hose must be pulled out of the suction nozzle 68. By the preferred embodiment described in the figures the insertion and exposition of the filter box 2 is made possible in a particularly simple manner by only one handle.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

filterbox

4

casing

6

filter unit

8th

connection unit

10A

front suction opening

10B

further suction opening!

11

outlet opening

12

ground

14

cover

16

front

18

suction tube

20

Canister

22

retaining element

24

actuator

26

handle element

28

frame element

30

sealing bellows

32

circlip

36

guide

38

half frame

40

Through opening

42

guide spring

44

fastening pins

46

spigot

48

Long hole

50

side panel

52

pivot

54

bearing seat

56

mounting groove

58

fixing collar

60

bearing surface

62

Security bolt

64

vacuum cleaner housing

66

housing flap

68

suction

70

nozzle opening

Claims (11)

1. Filter box (2) for a vacuum cleaner (20), in particular a cylinder vacuum cleaner, having a housing (4) which has fixed to it a connection unit (8) with a front suction opening (10A) for connection to a suction pipe (18) which is inserted into the front suction opening (10A) in the assembled state, with the connection unit (8) having an operating mechanism with which the front suction opening (10A) can be moved from a front position, which surrounds the suction pipe (18), to a position which is drawn back towards the housing (4) and at least partially exposes the suction pipe (18), characterized in that an operating element (24) which has a handle element (26) is provided in such a way that the front suction opening (10A) is moved to the drawn-back position in only one movement sequence by pulling on the handle element (26), and the housing (4) is lifted at the same time.
2. Filter box (2) according to Claim 1, in which the connection unit (8) has a retaining element (22) which is firmly connected to the housing (4), a connecting element (30) which connects the front suction opening (10A) to a further suction opening (10B) in the housing (4), and a frame element (28) which surrounds the front suction opening (10A), with the frame element (28) being arranged on the retaining element (22) such that it can move.
3. Filter box (2) according to Claim 2, in which the connecting element (30) is flexible or compressible in order to permit length adjustment.
4. Filter box (2) according to Claim 3, in which the connecting element is in the form of a sealing bellows (30).
5. Filter box (2) according to one of Claims 2 to 4, in which the operating element (24) is displaceably mounted on the retaining element (22) and, together with the frame element (28), forms a sliding guide with an elongate hole (48) and a guide pin (46) which is displaceably arranged in said elongate hole.
6. Filter box (2) according to Claim 5, in which the retaining element (22) comprises two retaining parts which are arranged in a stationary manner laterally next to the further suction opening (10B) on the housing (4), and between which retaining parts the operating element (24) is routed and the frame element (28) is mounted.
7. Filter box (2) according to one of Claims 2 to 6, in which the frame element (28) is pivotably mounted on the retaining element (22), so that the front suction opening (10A) can be pivoted from the front position to the drawn-back position.
8. Vacuum cleaner (20), in particular cylinder vacuum cleaner, having a filter box (2) according to one of the preceding claims.
9. Vacuum cleaner (20) according to Claim 8, having a suction apparatus housing (64) which has a suction adapter (68) and a housing flap (66) which is arranged next to the suction adapter (68) and via which the filter box (2) can be removed from the suction apparatus housing (64) and inserted into the suction apparatus housing (64).
10. Vacuum cleaner (20) according to Claim 9, in which the suction adapter (68) extends into the interior of the housing and, when the filter box (2) is inserted, is inserted into the front suction opening (10A) as the suction pipe (18).
11. Vacuum cleaner (20) according to Claim 9 or 10, in which the suction adapter (68) is arranged in an endface housing region of the suction apparatus housing (64).

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