EP1998657A1

EP1998657A1 - Dust cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP1998657A1
Application number: EP07727335A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernhard Dettling
Original assignee: Convertec Papierveredelung GmbH
Current assignee: Convertec Papierveredelung GmbH
Priority date: 2006-03-30
Filing date: 2007-03-26
Publication date: 2008-12-10
Also published as: FI20060308A; WO2007113158A1; FI20060308A0

Abstract

The present invention concerns a cleaning head (4) of a vacuum cleaner consisting of a hood(l) with an opening with edges that may be placed in contact with a surface to be cleaned, further comprising heating means (2) located on the inner surface of the hood which may be used to heat up the surface to be cleaned as well as the dust or dirt particles on the surface, and one or more first ionization electrodes (3) located on the inner surface of the hood, in a close vicinity of the edges of the opening and at a distance from the heating means, which first ionization electrodes are capable of generating ions.

Description

Dust cleaning apparatus

The present invention concerns a cleaning head of a vacuum cleaner consisting of a hood with an opening with edges that may be placed in contact with a surface to be cleaned, further comprising heating means located on the inner surface of the hood, which heating means may be used to heat up the surface to be cleaned as well as the dust or dirt particles on the surface, and one or more first ionization electrodes located on the inner surface of the hood in a close vicinity of the edges of the opening and at a distance from the heating means, which first ionization electrodes are capable of generating ions.

The present invention further concerns a vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising the above mentioned cleaning head.

Dust cleaning is usually done in three different ways, one being vacuum cleaning, another one being brushing ahead and collecting in neither dry nor wet conditions and the third one being collecting the dust using a micro-fiber cloth that exploits its big surface and, at the same time, generates an electrical charge if the cleaned surface is nonconductive enough. From conductive surfaces the particles are easy to clean nonetheless or the surfaces are not soiled at all. This is the case for instance at outer walls made of concrete polished slaps, which are electrically conductive to a certain degree.

Vacuum cleaners are dominantly used for household floor cleaning, mainly in dry state. The use of electrical charges to loose tribo-electrically charged particles from the wand of the vacuum cleaner is presented in many publications, as in US 4,715,085. Very similar is also US 4,715,086, in which a resistance is added to prevent the person operating the vacuum cleaner from receiving an electrical high voltage shock.

US 6,836,292 B2 teaches how dust is prevented from clinging to a camera lens by coating the lens with a conductive layer, whereby the electrical charge will be grounded to the photographer when the picture is taken and the lens will be kept free from dust.

One advanced cleaning device for floors is presented in US 6,966,098, in which a brush first cleans up coarse particles like sand etc. and subsequently a rotating disposable cleaning sheet collects hairs and fine dust.

One modern floor cleaner is presented in US 6,792,648 B2, in which two counter rotating soft rotors located in a cleaning head clean the surface, after which a vacuum removes the dust from the cleaning head. Devices that use rotating cleaning discs have the disadvantage that they wear very rapidly.

Another modern vacuum cleaner is "Cleanmate 356 QQ-I", which is a tiny robot cleaner with a secondary battery drive, utilizing UV-light for sterilizing the surface that has been cleaned. This device consumes only 24 watts of electricity, while conventional vacuum cleaners utilize at least 1000 W of electricity. The suction power of course depends to some degree on the fan effect.

It is known from flow physics that there, at the very vicinity of the surface, always is a laminar region where almost no flow occurs. This "boundary layer" in gas flow can be defined as:

δ = 0,376 Re^1/5 L ,

wherein L = mass velocity kg/m s and Re is the well known Reynolds number, Re = xovop/μ, wherein xo, V₀, p and μ correspond to the channel velocity, density and viscosity of the material, respectively. We see that increasing the velocity does not have a very large effect on the δ, which is the boundary layer thickness.

The boundary layer thickness is the dimension that the airflow effectively reaches, whereby the little robot is only about half as effective for cleaning dust as a conventional vacuum cleaner.

24W/1000W = 0.024 --> 0.024° ²⁰ = 0.47

In other words, increasing the suction velocity and the power does not significantly improve the cleaning power of the vacuum cleaner. One problem with vacuum cleaners is the dust collection, i.e. how to keep the finest dust particles in the bag or the filter without causing too much pressure loss.

A further problem is how to separate the dust from the surface. The Xerox Corporation's publication US 6,980,765 B2 presents a way to remove charged particles from a surface using a conductive brush. This brush is divided into several different polarity regions powered by DC-voltages (Direct Current voltages), i.e. voltages that should not change over a period of time. This kind of brush effectively cleans the toning drum of a Xerox-like copy machine.

A surface cleaning method is also disclosed in US 6,849,192, in which H₂O₂ + nH₂0 clusters are formed in gas phase and are then broken at the surface using an electromagnetic field or ultrasound. Liberated oxygen will remove dirt, a method mainly used to clean semiconductor wafers.

It is known generally that charged particles will attach to a surface using van der Waals forces, which are stronger if the particle is very near the surface. The charged particles attached to the surface will lose their charges in about 30 min. Charged particles that eventually lose their charges will be bound more strongly to the surface than originally uncharged particles. It is also known that any movement at the surface will immediately generate a tribo-electrical charge at the surface, whereby dirt particles immediately become more strongly bound than before. It is also known that the tribo-electrical charge depends on the nature of the charge (+/-) on the surface and on the nature of the charge on the dirt particles. Hair or fur has a high positive charge and rubber has a high negative charge, whereas normal sand has a slightly positive charge and normal paper dust has a slightly negative charge.

Static eliminators are used in the electrical and electronics industries, as in US 6,654,225 and US 6,574,086. In both of these publications electrified fields are produced as such or using airflow. Negative and positive ions are produced separately and subsequently joined together, resulting in a neutral target object. In US 5,898,559 airflow in a non-conductive pipe is neutralized by dispersing to the air tiny amounts of a cationic material, like quaternary ammonium salts. The company Chip Hua (http://www.chiphua.com/staticeliminator.html) presents a tiny static eliminator which functions by pumping a gas flow trough a ceramic emitting system, wherein either an AC current (Alternating Current) or two DC currents produce + and - charges into the air. These can be used to neutralize surfaces and/or particles on the surfaces and subsequently even agglomerate the particles to each other.

US 6,373,680 presents a method of producing ions without the release of ozone, wherein a negative pressure gradient deflects the ozone which is generated by the corona discharge that generates the ion stream, to the opposite direction from that of the flow of ions. The air stream with the ozone is then passed through a filter containing activated carbon for ozone removal.

Surface cleaning, by applying negative charges, can be performed as in US 4,835,808 in which a paper web is dusted off using a negative charge, while a counter positive electrode is located under the web. A similar device is described in US 4,198,061 in which record plates are cleaned by charging the dust on the plates and subsequently vacuum blowing the dust off the plates. US 4,751,759 describes how a surface may be cleaned using an ionization device producing both negatively and positively charged ions which neutralize the particles on the surface and release them to a high velocity gas flow. The process of the publication is assisted by a non-rotating brush that is situated prior to the charging and blowing parts of the device.

US 5,531,857 presents a way to remove surface contaminants from a microchip manufacturing process using a high energy laser or a pulsed laser or only a high-energy light lamp. These contaminants are mainly tiny particles, such as gases.

It becomes obvious from the prior art that, in some form, radiation and electrical forces have been used to clean surfaces. In vacuum cleaners electrostatic filtration has been used, as in US 6,740,144, wherein electrostatic cleaning happens in the cyclone filter of the vacuum cleaner and tribo-electricity is generated by airflow trough the equipment.

The problem with normal brushing is that it will immediately generate a tribo-electric charge on the surface and/or on the particles. This will lead to the agglomeration of differently charged particles to each other, thereby attaching dust or dirt particles more strongly to the surface to be cleaned. The problem is similar using micro-fiber cloths. Only particles with the right type of charge (+ or -) will attach to the cloth.

Conventional vacuum cleaners, on the other hand, utilize only suction, without modifying or increasing the charges of the dust particles. Therefore, conventional vacuum cleaners are effective only when cleaning particles that have a weak binding strength to the surface to be cleaned, e.g. due to a lack of electrical charges. These cleaning methods are therefore not very effective.

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the problems of the prior art and to provide a new surface cleaning apparatus which functions by electrifying the particles on the surface to be cleaned at the moment when the particles get sucked with an airflow into the apparatus, and subsequently neutralizing the particles inside the apparatus.

The present invention is based on a vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning head, which may be placed in contact with a surface to be cleaned and which contains a hole for a suction tube which is located at a distance from the first ionization electrodes and from the heating means, through which hole dust or dirt particles may be sucked, a suction tube with a first and a second end, the first one being attached to the hole in the cleaning head, through which tube the dust or dirt particles from the surface to be cleaned may be sucked with an airflow, - a dust collector, which is attached to the second end of the suction tube and which may be used to collect the dust or dirt particles sucked through the suction tube, means for causing suction capable of detaching dust or dirt particles from the surface to be cleaned, means for operating the various parts of the vacuum cleaning apparatus, and - a countercharged ion field located on the inner surface of the suction tube.

The cleaning head of the above mentioned vacuum cleaning apparatus consists of a hood with an opening with edges that may be placed in contact with a surface to be cleaned, the cleaning head comprising heating means located on the inner surface of the hood, which heating means may be used to heat up the surface to be cleaned as well as the dust or dirt particles on the surface, and - one or more first ionization electrodes located on the inner surface of the hood, in a close vicinity of the edges of the opening and at a distance from the heating means, which first ionization electrodes are capable of generating ions.

More specifically, the cleaning head according to the present invention is mainly characterized by what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the present invention is mainly characterized by what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 5.

Figure 1 shows the basic structure of the cleaning head of the vacuum cleaning apparatus, containing the heat source, the first ionization electrodes and the suction tube, Figure Ia as a cross-section, Figure Ib as a close-up on the side-view of an electrode (protected by electrode protectors) and Figure Ic as a view from below.

Figure 2 shows the cross-section of the vacuum cleaning apparatus of the invention, containing a cleaning head, a suction tube with positive counter electrodes and a collector for the dust.

Significant advantages are achieved with the present invention and thus the disadvantages of the prior art may be reduced.

The advantages reached using the present invention include achieving a more effective surface cleaning apparatus, particularly a more effective cleaning head, compared to prior art, since the cleaning apparatus of the present invention combines the use of vacuum suction, tribo-electricity and the subsequent partial neutralization of charges.

The cleaning method according to the invention makes the dust collection easier, minimizes electrical power consumption and noise as well as wear of the parts of the device.

Other details and advantages of the invention will be explained further in the following detailed description that comprises several working examples.

A "cleaning head" is the part of a dust cleaning apparatus which preferably is placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned and through which the dust or dirt particles are first sucked, before reaching the suction tube and the dust collector.

The dust or dirt particles are sucked off the surface to be cleaned using a vacuum caused by the "means for causing suction" which accomplish an airflow towards the inside of the apparatus carrying the dust or dirt particles with it.

The "hood" of the cleaning head may have any shape, such as a hemisphere, a cylinder, a rectangular prism, a hexagonal prism, a square pyramid, a triangular pyramid or a cone or any truncated version of these shapes, and it may have any amount of angles or any amount of faces, as long as it has a hollow three-dimensional shape, thereby giving it, e.g., an inner surface.

The term "vacuum cleaning apparatus" defines an apparatus that preferably is used for dust cleaning purposes.

"Tribo-electricity" is electricity created by friction (i.e. rubbing) and is also called static electricity.

"First ionization electrodes", according to the present invention, are electrodes that give the air and the dust or dirt particles flowing into the cleaning system a partial charge, preferably a negative charge.

The term "counter charged ion field" defines a group of electrodes that provide an opposite charge to that provided by the first ionization electrodes.

The "dust or dirt particles" may be any types of solids found on the surface to be cleaned and having any size or shape.

The "surface to be cleaned" is preferably an indoor surface, such as a floor, a ceiling or a wall or the surface of a piece of furniture or the surface of an apparatus, such as a copy machine or a scanner.

The "suction tube" is the tube along which the airflow carries the dust particles after passing the cleaning head. The tube is preferably at least partly flexible.

"At least partly flexible" means that the suction tube may have one or more flexible portions and one or more rigid portions. Preferably, about 20 - 90 % of the tube is flexible, more preferably 40 - 70 %, most preferably about 50 %. Dividing the tube into at least one flexible portion and at least one rigid portion makes the use of the vacuum cleaning apparatus easier and more comfortable for the user.

The rigid portion of the suction tube needs to be long enough to reach the hand of the person operating the apparatus when the cleaning head fitted to the first end of this rigid portion touches the surface to be cleaned and when the person operating the apparatus is standing upright while holding the second end of this rigid portion. The rigid portion of the suction tube is therefore at least 0.5m long, preferably at least 1.0m long, more preferably at least 1.5m long.

Optionally, the rigid portion of the suction tube may consist of a telescopic tube that can be extended to a desired length. Preferably, the maximum length of the extended rigid telescopic tube is at least 1.5m, more preferably at least 2.0m.

The term "close vicinity of the edges of the opening", as used to explain the location of the first ionization electrodes, means that the electrodes are placed substantially in connection with the edges of the opening of the hood of the cleaning head. Preferably, the distance between the edges and the electrodes is shorter than 10.0mm, more preferably shorter than 5.0mm and most preferably shorter than 3.0mm.

The terms "at a distance from the heating means" and "at a distance from the first ionization electrodes", as used to explain the locations of the hole for the suction tube or the location of the heating means or the location of the first ionization electrodes, mean that these parts are placed at a sufficient distance from each other in order not to significantly impair each others functions. The distance is at least 10.0mm, preferably at least 15.0mm, more preferably at least 20.0mm and most preferably about 30.0-100.0mm.

Generally, the air indoors (as has been known since 1950 to a person skilled in the art) is mainly charged with positive ions due to cleaning, as are indoor surfaces. Outdoors, e.g. where UV radiation occurs or in pine forests or at waterfalls etc., the air is negatively charged. The surrounding feels pleasant when the air contains about 1000 negatively charged ions/cm³.

In astrophysical studies it has been found that dust may float above a solid surface (e.g. on the moon and on some planets), at a distance from the surface of about 13-30cm, thereby forming a levitating layer. This is due to photoemission from particles by FUV radiation (Far-Ultra Violet radiation) with a wavelength of 120-150nm. A typical surface potential for a particle is about 15-20V. These types of particles are, of course, very small, i.e. about 0.1-3μm (A dust grain Photoemission Experiment / CC. Venturini et al. / Center for Space Plasma & Aeronomic Research University of Alabama in Huntsville / USA). These specific types of particles are difficult to clean from the surface, but > 20μm particles can quite easily be cleaned with a normal vacuum cleaner.

In a separate theoretical study, it has been found that humidity will greatly increase adhesion between particles and a solid surface. This is caused by the tiny gap between the particle and the surface generating a liquid micro phase due to the surface tension of water. This is the reason to surfactants often being used during wet cleaning.

As indicated above, a high vacuum effect with a high blower effect will not make a great difference in the cleaning result. Further, it has been found that a high suction effect will sweep the air out from the vacuum cleaner, whereby some particles will not be stopped by the filter or the cyclone in the dust collector, but will instead be accelerated to a higher speed and partially spread around into the surrounding area outside the cleaning device. Therefore, the surface cleaning apparatus of the present invention, wherein the vacuum effect can be maintained moderate, the humidity can be brought to a lower level and the size as well as the charge of the dust or dirt particles can be modified, because of a combination of suction, heat and electrical charging, is preferable and more effective than a cleaning system that uses only suction or charge, even if the suction is strong.

The cleaning head of the present invention comprises the following parts (Figure 1):

1 hood

2 heating means 3 first ionization electrodes

Further, the vacuum cleaning apparatus of the invention preferably comprises the following parts (Figure 2):

4 cleaning head 5 suction tube

6 counter charged ion field

7 dust collector

The above mentioned parts of the apparatus are controlled by the following means: 8 means for causing suction

9 means for operating the parts of the apparatus

10 control device

The cleaning head 4 consisting of a hood 1 is capable of functioning in the following way: - heating the surface to be cleaned by means of heating means 2, preferably consisting of a high intensity lamp, and giving the dust or dirt particles a charge by means of first ionization electrodes 3.

The vacuum cleaning apparatus is further capable of: - sucking the dust or dirt particles off the surface to be cleaned, first past a cleaning head 4, then through a suction tube 5 and finally into a dust collector 7, whereby the air is lead through a filter or a cyclone preventing the particles from leaving the collector 7 with the air, and giving the dust or dirt particles a countercharge or neutralizing them when they pass through the countercharged ion field 6 in the suction tube 5.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the above cleaning head is connected to the above mentioned parts of an apparatus, thereby forming the vacuum cleaning apparatus of the present invention.

The first ionization electrodes are positioned so that the dust or dirt particles sucked off the surface to be cleaned may pass the ionization electrodes before entering the hood of the cleaning head. In other words, the electrodes are located on the inner surface of the hood of the cleaning head along the edges of the opening of the hood. They are preferably protected by electrode protectors, as in Figure Ib.

The electrodes function through DC voltage generated by the means for operating the apparatus using adjustable voltage, which DC voltage is then led to the sharp-edged needle-electrodes (Figure 1). The DC voltage in the electrodes then charges the gas or the air as well as the dust particles sucked off the surface to be cleaned flowing into the cleaning head, thereby giving these particles an at least partial negative charge. This charge enhances or inverts the charge formed by the tribo-electricity when the particles have already detached from the surface, which tribo-electricity is produced by, for example, moving the cleaning head along the surface to be cleaned. This will reduce the risk of the particles attaching more strongly to the surface. The charge, together with the radiation heat effect accomplished by the heating means, will separate the tiny particles from the floor or from a similar surface, whereby the particles will be transported with the airflow. The negatively charged ions are, for example, produced on the surface of the dust or dirt particles sucked off the surface to be cleaned by the means for causing suction.

The charged dust or dirt particles are subsequently led through the at least partly flexible suction tube to the dust collector or, optionally, the particles are substantially countercharged in the countercharged ion field located in the suction tube. In other words, some of the negatively charged particles are optionally neutralized or given a positive charge, so that negatively and positively charged particles substantially neutralize each other, and subsequently they agglomerate before or on the surface of the filter positioned in connection with the dust collector. Preferably, at least 20%, more preferably 20-60%, most preferably 40-50%, of the particles charged at the ionization electrodes are neutralized or given a positive charge. The number of counter electrodes in the countercharged ion field is preferably 1-20 more preferably 1-15, most preferably 4-12.

It is well known to a person skilled in the art that ionization may be generated without the generation of almost any ozone when the voltage is maintained at a certain level. Typically only 250-350 volts are needed, while a regular corona discharge needs about 5-30 kV. The voltage depends on the sharpness of the electrodes. Sharp needles need less voltage than flat or round electrodes.

The vacuum cleaning apparatus of the present invention is capable of distributing about 250-350V to the first ionization electrodes. The apparatus is also capable of temporarily bringing the relative humidity down to 20% and the temperature up to 40⁰C or above in the area closest to the heat source, both accomplished by means of the heat source. Further, the apparatus is capable of allotting at least 40 % of the total energy consumption to the heating means. The operable parts of the apparatus, i.e. the heating means, the first ionization electrodes, the counter charged ion field and the means for causing suction may be controlled by the means for operating the apparatus.

The vacuum cleaning apparatus further comprises a control device that is capable of measuring the temperature of the surface to be cleaned and of turning the heating means off when the surface to be cleaned reaches a temperature of about 50 ⁰C or above. The control device preferably consists of a temperature sensor, more preferably an infrared sensor or a reference point sensor. The control device also causes the heating means to be turned off when the person operating the vacuum cleaning apparatus releases the hold of the apparatus.

The control device may be operated by the means for operating the apparatus in the same way as these means control the heating means, the first ionization electrodes, the countercharged ion field and the means for causing suction.

The best combination of functions according to the present invention is to use moderate suction and simultaneous heating of the surface, for example using light, to achieve an optimal surface cleaning result. Electrically charging both the particles and the solid surface will also help the particles float away from the surface and be transported to the filtering device with the airflow. At the cleaning head a negative charge is applied to the particles. This charge is supplied by the first ionization electrodes located on the edges of the cleaning head. When the negatively charged particles flow towards the filter, a positive charge is partially applied to them in a counter charged ion field, neutralizing them and making them agglomerate, whereby they are more efficiently stopped by the filter.

The means for causing suction preferably also function as the means for blowing out the cleaned air. The vacuum caused by the means for causing suction, first sucks air and dust or dirt particles through the cleaning head and the suction tube. When the air has been sucked as far as into the dust collector and through the filter, the thus cleaned air is then blown out into the outer air through an outlet port.

Preferably, the cleaned air travels via a blower and either past the sides of an electric motor or directly through an outlet port into the outer air. If the said discharge air travels past the sides of the electric motor preferably used as the means for operating the apparatus, it at the same time cools the motor.

The method of operating the vacuum cleaning apparatus of the invention, preferably for cleaning indoor surfaces, consists of the following phases: placing a cleaning head 4 consisting of a hood 1 in contact with the surface to be cleaned, - heating up the surface to be cleaned by means of heating means 2 located inside the cleaning head 4, charging the dust or dirt particles on the surface to be cleaned by means of the one or more first ionization electrodes 3 located on the edges of the cleaning head 4, sucking the charged dust or dirt particles off the heated surface to be cleaned and subsequently away from the cleaning head 4 through a suction tube 5 with two ends, which tube 5 is attached from the first end to the cleaning head 4 at a distance from the electrodes 3 and from the heat source 2, substantially neutralizing the dust or dirt particles sucked into the suction tube 5 by means of a counter charged ion field 6 located inside the suction tube 5, and collecting the substantially neutralized dust or dirt particles in a dust collector 7 attached to the second end of the suction tube 5.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning head is attached to another surface cleaning system, such as a central vacuum cleaner, in other words an apparatus for removing solids from an air stream containing dust or dirt particles.

In order for the cleaning head to fit the suction tubes of the conventional vacuum cleaners, the diameter and the shape of the hole on the cleaning head for the suction tube are chosen to be the same as on conventional cleaning heads. Either the suction tube of the conventional vacuum cleaner is attached to the hole for the suction tube on the cleaning head of the invention or a part of the suction tube of the vacuum cleaning apparatus of the invention is attached by its first end to the hole for the suction tube of the cleaning head of the invention and by its second end to the conventional vacuum cleaner or a part of the suction tube thereof.

Preferably, the vacuum cleaning apparatus, or more specifically the dust collector of the vacuum cleaning apparatus, contains a filter that collects the solids and prevents them from leaving the collector with the air that is sucked and blown through the cleaning apparatus. The filter is preferably a conventional paper filter. Optionally, the filter is replaced by a cyclone or the filter is used alongside a cyclone.

A central vacuum cleaner has a dust collector that contains a separable vessel for the purpose of emptying the collected dust.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the separation of solids takes place in two stages, in which the air stream is first fed into a cyclone or through a filter in order to separate the coarse solids, after which the preliminarily cleaned air stream is fed into a second separator, where the finely divided solids are removed. Preferably, the second separator used is a filter or another cyclone. More preferably the second separator is, instead of or alongside a filter, a multi-inlet cyclone. The finely divided solids can then be separated effectively without a loss of suction efficiency due to clogging of the filter. Furthermore, the pressure difference of the cyclone is in general smaller than the pressure difference across a clean filter, and thus there is even initially more suction efficiency available.

A "multi-inlet cyclone" is a cyclone with at least two inlets for leading the stream of air or gas into the separation chamber of the cyclone. The multi-inlet cyclone can easily be installed in the solids removal of a central vacuum cleaner without it being necessary to alter the structure of the separator device. The multi-inlet cyclone forms a continuously regenerating filtering surface which can remove even small solids considerably more effectively than a conventional single-inlet cyclone.

The embodiments of the present invention all have the same basic idea. According to a preferred embodiment the cleaning system of the invention operates by using vacuum, heat, and simultaneous ionization.

According to a preferred embodiment, the heat is directed to the surface to be cleaned in the form of light, whereby the dust release can be controlled at all times using a photocell.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, all operable mechanisms of the apparatus may be operated simultaneously in order to minimize electrical power consumption, noise and wear of the parts of the device.

Claims

1. A cleaning head (4) of a vacuum cleaner consisting of a hood (1) with an opening with edges that may be placed in contact with a surface to be cleaned, characterized in that it comprises heating means (2) located on the inner surface of the hood (1) which may be used to heat up the surface to be cleaned as well as the dust or dirt particles on the surface, and one or more first ionization electrodes (3) located on the inner surface of the hood (1), in a close vicinity of the edges of the opening and at a distance from the heating means (2), which first ionization electrodes (3) are capable of generating ions.

2. The cleaning head (4) of claim 1, characterized in that the one or more first ionization electrodes (3) are positioned so that the dust or dirt particles sucked off the surface to be cleaned may pass the ionization electrodes (3) before entering the hood (1) of the cleaning head (4).

3. The cleaning head (4) of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the one or more first ionization electrodes (3) are capable of producing negatively charged ions.

4. The cleaning head (4) of claim 1, characterized in that the heating means (2) consist of a high intensity lamp.

5. A vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising - the cleaning head (4) of claims 1-4, which may be placed in contact with a surface to be cleaned and which contains a hole for a suction tube (5) which is located at a distance from the first ionization electrodes (3) and from the heating means (2), through which hole dust or dirt particles may be sucked, a suction tube (5) with a first and a second end, the first end being attached to the hole in the cleaning head (4), through which tube (5) the dust or dirt particles from the surface to be cleaned may be sucked with an airflow, a dust collector (7), which is attached to the second end of the suction tube (5) and which may be used to collect the dust or dirt particles sucked through the suction tube (5), means for causing suction (8) capable of detaching dust or dirt particles from the surface to be cleaned, and means for operating the various parts of the vacuum cleaning apparatus (9), characterized in that it further comprises a countercharged ion field (6) located on the inner surface of the suction tube (5).

6. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 5, characterized in that the negatively charged ions produced by the first ionization electrodes (3) may be produced on the surface of the dust or dirt particles sucked off the surface to be cleaned by the means for causing suction

(8).

7. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the countercharged ion field (6) is capable of at least partly neutralizing the dust or dirt particles sucked through the suction tube (5) and given a negative charge by the first ionization electrodes (3).

8. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claims 5-7, characterized in that the at least 20% of the negatively charged dust particles are neutralized or given a positive charge in the countercharged ion field (6).

9. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 5, characterized in that the suction tube (5) is at least partly flexible.

10. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claims 5-9, characterized in that the means for operating the apparatus (9) may be used to control the heating means (2), the first ionization electrodes (3), the counter charged ion field (6) and the means for causing suction (8).

11. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claims 5-10, characterized in that the operable parts of the apparatus (2, 3, 6, 8) may be operated simultaneously.

12. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claims 5-11, characterized in that it further comprises a control device (10) that is capable of measuring the temperature of the surface to be cleaned and of turning the heating means (2) off when the surface to be cleaned reaches a temperature of about 60 ⁰C or above.

13. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claims 5-12, characterized by being capable of distributing about 250-350V to the first ionization electrodes (3).

14. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claims 5-13, characterized by being capable of temporarily bringing the relative humidity down to 20% and the temperature to 40⁰C or above in the area closest to the heating means (2).

15. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claims 5-14, characterized by being capable of allotting at least 40 % of the total energy consumption to the heating means (2).