EP2306878B1

EP2306878B1 - Vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP2306878B1
Application number: EP08793362.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Myung-Sig Yoo
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2008-07-08
Filing date: 2008-08-20
Publication date: 2016-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-20
Also published as: ES2610424T3; AU2008359307A1; AU2008359307B2; RU2447825C1; EP2306878A4; WO2010005139A1; PL2306878T3; EP2306878A1

Description

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner.

Background Art

EP 1825797 A2 describes a method of controlling a vacuum cleaner having a dust collection unit in which dusts are stored, a movable first pressing member and a stationary second pressing member being provided in the dust collection unit. In an example, the dusts stored in the dust collection unit are compressed by moving the movable pressing member to a first surface of a stationary member, and moving the movable pressing member in an opposite direction to a second surface of the stationary member. EP 1897479 A2 and EP 1839758 A1 relate to similar vacuum cleaner control methods using a pair of pressing members or press members.
Generally, a vacuum cleaner is an electrically powered cleaning device that sucks air containing dusts in a main body using suction generated by a suction motor and filters off the dusts in the main body.
The vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle for sucking air containing the dusts, a main body connected to the suction nozzle, and a dust collection unit for separating dusts from the air sucked through the suction nozzle and storing the dusts.
In more detail, the dust collection unit includes a dust separating unit for separating the dusts from the air, and a dust collection container defining a dust storing portion in which the dusts separated in the dust separating unit are stored.
When the vacuum cleaner stops operating during the dust separation process in the dust collection unit, the separated dusts are stored in the dust collection unit under a relatively low density state.
According to the related art dust collection unit, a space occupied by the dusts stored in the dust collection unit is too big as compared with a weight of the dusts. Therefore, the dust collection unit must be frequently emptied in order to maintain a proper dust collection performance. This is troublesome for the user.
Therefore, in order to improve the use convenience of the vacuum cleaner, a vacuum cleaner that can maximize the dust collection volume and improve the dust collection performance has been recently developed.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention is indicated in the independent claim. Further embodiments are indicated in the dependent claims.

Technical Problem

Embodiments provide a vacuum cleaner that is designed to increase a dust collection volume of a dust collection container by compressing dusts stored in a dust collection unit.
Embodiments also provide a vacuum cleaner that can minimize fly of dusts during an empty process of a dust collection container storing the dusts.

Technical Solution

This technical problem is solved according to the present invention by the provision of a vacuum cleaner as defined in claim 1.

Advantageous Effects

According to the embodiments, since the dusts stored in the dust collection container are compressed by the compression member, an amount of the dusts that can be stored in the dust collection unit can be maximized.
In addition, since the compression member automatically changes its rotational direction upon contacting the dust collection container, the dusts stored in the dust collection container can be fully compressed.
In addition, as the dust collection volume of the dust collection container can be maximized by the compression of the compression member, there is no need to frequently empty the dust collection container.
Further, since the dusts remain a compressed state, the fly of the dusts can be prevented in an empty process of the dust collection container.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 1, when a dust collection unit is separated.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a dust collection unit depicted in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a cleaner main body on which a dust collection unit is mounted on the cleaner main body according to a second embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a vertical-sectional view of a dust collection unit according to a third embodiment.
Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a horizontal-sectional view of a dust collection container according to a fourth embodiment.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 1, when a dust collection unit is separated, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a dust collection unit depicted in Fig. 1.
Referring to Figs. 1 through 3, a vacuum cleaner 10 of this embodiment includes a main body 100 in which a suction motor (not shown) for generating suction is provided and a dust separating unit for separating dusts from the air.
The vacuum cleaner 10 further includes a suction nozzle (not shown) for sucking air containing the dusts and an extension pipe (not shown) connecting the suction nozzle to the main body 100.
Since a basic structure of the suction nozzle and the connection pipe are well known in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted in this embodiment.
A main body inlet 110 through which air containing the dusts sucked through the suction nozzle 20 is introduced is formed on a front-lower end of the main body 100. A main body outlet (not shown) through which the air from which the dusts are separated is discharged to an external side is formed on a side of the main body 100. A main body handle unit 140 is formed on a top of the main body 100.
The dust separation unit includes a dust collection unit 200 having a first cyclone unit (which will be described later) for primarily separating the dusts from the air and a second cyclone unit 300 for further separating the dusts from the air from which the dusts are primarily separated by the first cyclone unit. The second cyclone unit 300 is provided in the main body 100.
The dust collection unit 200 is detachably mounted on a dust collection unit mounting portion 170 formed on a front portion of the main body 100. A mounting/ dismounting lever 142 is provided on the handle unit 140 of the main body 100 and the dust collection unit 200 is provided with a hook step 256 that is selectively engaged with the mounting/dismounting lever 142.
That is, the dust storing portion formed in the dust collection container 210 includes a first dust storing section in which the dusts separated by the first cyclone unit are stored and a second dust storing section in which the dusts separated by the second cyclone unit 300 are stored.
The dust collection unit 200 is designed to maximize a dust collection volume thereof. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner of this embodiment includes a compression structure for minimizing an amount of the dusts stored in the dust collection unit 200.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 3.
Referring to Figs. 2 to 4, the dust collection unit 200 of this embodiment includes a dust collection container 210 defining an exterior thereof, a first cyclone unit 230 that is selectively received in the dust collection container 210 to separate the dusts from the air, and a cover member 250 for selectively opening and closing the top of the dust collection container 210.
In more detail, the dust collection container 210 has a lower portion that is formed in an approximately cylindrical shape and defines a dust storing portion for storing the dusts separated by the first and second cyclone units 230 and 300.
The dust storing portion includes a first dust storing section 214 in which the dusts separated in the first cyclone unit 230 are stored and a second dust storing section 216 in which the dusts separated in the second cyclone unit 300 are stored.
The dust collection container 210 includes a first wall 211 defining the first dust storing section 214 and a second wall 212 defining the second dust storing section 216 by associating with the first wall 211. That is, the second wall 212 is designed to enclose a portion of the outer side of the first wall 211.
The dust collection container 210 includes a first wall 211 defining the first dust storing section 214 and a second wall 212 defining the second dust storing section 216 by associating with the first wall 211. That is, the second wall 212 is designed to enclose a portion of the outer side of the first wall 211. Therefore, the second dust storing section 216 is formed at an outer side of the first dust storing section 214.
The dust collection container 210 has an opened top through which the dusts are discharged to empty the dust collection container 210 and the cover member 250 is detachably coupled to the top of the dust collection container 210.
The dust collection container 210 is coupled to a lower portion of the cover member 250 so that it can be separated together with the first cyclone unit 230 when the dusts stored in the dust collection container 210 is discharged.
The first cyclone unit 230 is provided with a dust guide passage 232 along which the dusts separated from the air can be effectively discharged to the first dust storing unit 214. The dust guide passage 232 guides the dusts in a tangential direction and directs the dusts downward.
Therefore, an inlet 233 of the dust guide passage 232 is formed on a side surface of the first cyclone unit 230 and an outlet 234 is formed on a bottom of the first cyclone unit 230.
As described above, the cover member 250 is detachably coupled to the upper side of the dust collection container 210. The cover member 250 simultaneously opens and closes the first and second dust storing sections 214 and 216.
An air outlet 251 through which the air from which the dusts are separated in the first cyclone unit 230 is discharged is formed on a bottom of the cover member 250. A filter member 260 provided at an outer circumference with a plurality of through holes 262 each having a predetermined size is coupled to an undersurface of the cover member 250. Therefore, the air in the first cyclone unit 230 is discharged through the air outlet 251 via the filter member 260.
A passage 253 for directing the air of the first cyclone unit 230 toward the first air outlet 252 is formed in the cover member 250. That is, the passage 253 functions to connect the air outlet 251 to the first air outlet 252.
Meanwhile, a compression member 270 for compressing the dusts stored in the first dust storing section 214 is provided in the dust collection container 210, and a driving unit 400 for rotating the compression member 270 is coupled to an outer wall of the dust collection container 210.
The compression member 270 is coupled to the sidewall of the dust collection container 210. A seating rib 281 on which a rotational shaft 274 defining a rotational axis of the compression member 270 is disposed is formed on an inner surface of the dust collection container 210. The seating rib 281 extends from the sidewall of the dust collection container 210 toward a center of the dust collection container 210. The seating rib 281 is formed in a roughly semicircular shape. The rotational shaft 274 is provided with a seating groove 276 in which the seating rib 281 is inserted.
An axis of the rotational shaft 274 of the compression member 270 is inclined relative to the sidewall of the dust collection container 210. In more detail, the axis is perpendicular to the sidewall of the dust collection container 210.
That is, the rotational shaft 274 of the compression member 270 is provided in the dust collection container 210 and disposed in a horizontal direction. Therefore, the compression member 270 vertically rotates. In addition, the rotational shaft 274 penetrates the sidewall of the dust collection container 210 in a state where it seats on the seating rib 281.
A motor shaft 412 of a driving motor 410 is coupled to the rotational shaft 274 penetrating the sidewall of the dust collection container 210.
The compression member 270 includes a compression plate 272 formed in a semicircular shape. That is, since the dust collection container 210 is formed in an approximately cylindrical shape, the compression of the dusts by the compression plate 272 can be effectively realized by forming the compression plate 272 in the semicircular shape.
At this point, the shape of the compression plate 272 may vary in accordance with a horizontal section of the dust collection container 210. For example, when the horizontal section of the dust collection container 210 is rectangular, the compression plate 272 may be also formed in the rectangular shape.
A dividing portion 282 for dividing the inner space of the first dust storing section 214 into two sections protrudes from a bottom surface of the dust collection container 210. The dividing portion is located under the rotational shaft 274. Therefore, the bottom surface of the dust collection container 210 may be divided into first and second bottom surfaces 218 and 219 based on the dividing portion 282. That is, the first dust storing section 214 is divided into two sections by the dividing portion 282.
Meanwhile, the driving unit 400 includes a motor housing 420 coupled to the sidewall of the dust collection container 210 and a driving motor 410 received in the motor housing 420.
In addition, the driving motor 410 is coupled to the rotational shaft 274 when the driving unit 400 is coupled to the dust collection container 210. Further, the motor housing 420 is provided with a terminal portion 424 for supplying power to the driving motor 410.
The dust collection unit mounting portion 170 is provided with a receiving portion 172 for receiving the driving unit 400 in a state where the dust collection unit 200 is mounted on the dust collection unit mounting portion 170. Further, the receiving portion 172 is provided with a power supply terminal 174 that selectively contacts the terminal portion 424.
Therefore, when the dust collection unit 200 is mounted on the dust collection unit mounting portion 170, the terminal portion 424 contacts the power supply terminal 174 so that the power can be supplied from the main body 100 to the driving motor 410.
The motor housing 420 is coupled to a coupling rib 290 formed on the sidewall of the dust collection container 210 while receiving the driving motor 410.
A coupling protrusion 422 is formed on an outer side of the motor housing 420. The coupling rib 290 is provided with an insertion hole 292 in which the coupling protrusion 422 is selectively inserted.
Here, the driving motor 410 may be a reversible motor. That is, the driving motor 410 may be a bidirectional motor.
Accordingly, the compression member 270 can rotate in forward and reverse directions. As the compression member rotates in the forward and reverse directions, the dusts are compressed and accumulated on the first and second bottom surfaces 218 and 219.
As described above, since the driving motor 410 can rotate in the forward and reverse directions, a synchronous motor may be used as the driving motor 410.
The synchronous motor can rotate in the forward and reverse directions. When the load applied to the motor is greater than a predetermined value as the motor rotates in a first direction, the motor is designed to rotate in a second direction.
The load applied to the motor is torque that is generated as the compression member 270 compresses the dusts accumulated in the dust collection container 210 (on the first and second bottom surfaces 218 and 219 when no dust in the dust collection container). Therefore, when the torque reaches a predetermined value, the rotational direction of the motor changes.
Since the synchronous motor is well known in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein. However, the technique for rotating the compression member 270 using the synchronous is one of the technical concepts of this embodiment.
In order to effectively compress the dusts, the driving motor 410 may be designed to continuously rotate the compression member 270 in the forward and reverse directions at an identical angle speed.
The following will describe a dust compression process in the dust collection unit 200 structured as described above.
Referring to Fig. 5, when the power is applied to the driving motor 410 in a state where the dust collection unit 200 is mounted on the main body 100, the driving motor 410 rotates in a first direction. Then, the compression member 270 connected to the driving motor 410 also rotates in the first direction. Therefore, a gap between a first surface of the compression member and the first bottom surface 218 is reduced and thus the dusts accumulated on the first bottom surface 218 are compressed.
Further, when the torque applied to the compression member 270 is greater than a predetermined value (e.g., when the compression member contacts the first bottom surface 218), the driving motor 410 rotates in a second direction and thus the compression member rotates in the second direction. Therefore, the gap between a second surface of the compression member 270 and the second bottom surface 219 is reduced and thus the dusts accumulated on the second bottom surface 219 are compressed.
In addition, when the torque applied to the compression member 270 is higher than a predetermined value (e.g., when the compression member 270 contacts the second bottom surface 219), the driving motor 410 rotates in the first direction and thus the compression member 270 also rotates in the first direction.
A portion of the first bottom surface 218 contacting the compression member 270 may be referred to as a first contacting portion 218a and a portion of the second bottom surface 218 contacting the compression member 270 may be referred to as a second contacting portion 219a.
Then, the compression member 270 rotates about the rotational axis (rotational shaft) within an angle range θ1 between the first contacting portion 218a and the second contacting portion 219a. At this point, a space corresponding to the angle range θ1 in the first dust storing section 214 may be referred to as a first space S1. On the other hand, the dusts can be at least partly stored in a second space S2 corresponding to an angle range (360- θ1).
Here, it can be understood that, since the second space S2 of the first dust storing section 214 is defined by the dividing portion 282, the mixing of the dusts accumulated (compressed) on the first bottom surface 218 and the dusts accumulated (compressed) on the second bottom surface 219 during the compression of the dusts by the compression member 270 can be prevented.
According to the embodiment, since the dusts stored in the dust collection container can be compressed by the compression member, the dust collection volume of the dust collection container increases.
In addition, since the rotational direction of the compression member changes as the compression member contacts the dust collection container, the dusts stored in the dust collection container can be fully compressed.
Further, since the dusts in the dust collection container remains a compressed state, the fly of the dusts can be minimized in a container empty process.
In addition, since the driving unit is detachably coupled to the dust collection container, the driving unit of the dust collection container can be separated from the dust collection unit and thus the inflow of the water into the driving unit can be prevented.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a cleaner main body on which a dust collection unit is mounted on the cleaner main body according to a second embodiment.
The second embodiment is substantially same as the first embodiment except for a structure of a driving unit. Therefore, only a feature of the second embodiment will be described hereinafter.
Referring to Fig. 6, a driving unit 600 of this embodiment includes a driving motor 610 provided in a main body 100 and a power transmission unit for transferring torque of the driving motor 610 to a compression member 270.
In more detail, the driving motor is located inside a dust collection unit mounting portion 170. The power transmission unit includes a driving gear 620 coupled to a shaft of the driving motor 610 and a driven gear 630 coupled to a rotational shaft of the compression member 270.
The driving gear 620 is exposed out of the dust collection unit mounting portion 170. A shaft of the driven gear 630 penetrates a sidewall of a dust collection container 210 and is coupled to the rotational shaft 274 of the compression member 270.
Therefore, when a dust collection unit 200 is mounted on the dust collection unit mounting portion 170, the driven gear 630 is engaged with the driving gear 620 to enable a compression member 270 to rotate.
On the other hand, when the dust collection unit 200 is separated from the dust collection unit mounting portion 170, the driven gear 630 is disengaged from the driving gear 620.
According to this embodiment, since the driving motor is provided in the main body of the cleaner, a weight of the dust collection unit can be reduced.
Fig. 7 is a vertical-sectional view of a dust collection unit according to a third embodiment, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of Fig. 7.
The third embodiment is substantially same as the first embodiment except for a coupling location of the compression member and a coupling location of the driving unit. Therefore, only a feature of the second embodiment will be described hereinafter.
Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, a compression member 720 is oriented in a direction intersecting a bottom surface 732. That is, a rotational shaft 724 of the compression member 720 intersects the bottom surface 732 of the dust collection container 710. In this embodiment, a driving unit 800 is disposed under the dust collection container 710 and coupled to an undersurface 732 of the dust collection container 710.
In more detail, a horizontal section of a lower portion of the dust collection container 710 is substantially formed in a circular shape. In addition, a rotational axis of the compression member 720 is spaced apart from a center of the undersurface 732 of the dust collection container 710.
In addition, as shown in Fig. 8, a horizontal length of a compression plate 722 of a compression member 720 is greater than a distance between a bottom center C of the dust collection container 710 and a sidewall of the dust collection container 710.
A fixing shaft 734 for fixing the rotational shaft 724 is formed on a bottom surface 732 of the dust collection container 710. The fixing shaft 734 protrudes from the bottom surface 732 of the dust collection container 710 and is provided with a hollow portion 735 that is formed in an axial direction to fix the rotational shaft 724. A portion of the rotational shaft 724 is inserted into the hollow portion 735 from an upper side of the fixing shaft 734.
The driving unit 800 is separately coupled to the bottom surface 732 of the dust collection container 710. When the driving unit 800 is coupled to the dust collection container 710 and connected to the compression member 720.
The driving unit 800 includes a driving motor 810 for generating torque, a driving gear 830 for effectively transferring the torque of the driving motor 810 to the compression member 720, and a motor housing 820 for receiving the driving motor 810.
In more detail, the motor housing 820 is coupled to a coupling rib 740 formed on an undersurface of the dust collection container 710 in a state where the driving motor 810 is received in the motor housing 820.
A coupling protrusion 822 is formed on an outer surface of the motor housing 820 and a protrusion insertion hole 722 in which the coupling protrusion 822 is selectively inserted is formed on the coupling rib 740.
The driving gear 830 is coupled to a lower portion of the rotational shaft 724 and is selectively coupled to a shaft 812 of the driving motor 810. At this point, a gear coupling portion 725 formed in a shape corresponding to the driving gear 830 is formed on the bottom of the rotational shaft 724.
The coupling member 726 is coupled to the rotational shaft 724 and the driving gear 830 in a state where the rotational shaft 724 is coupled to the driving gear 830.
The motor housing 820 includes a terminal portion 824 electrically connected to the driving motor 810. When the dust collection unit 200 is mounted on the dust collection unit mounting portion, the terminal portion 824 is connected to a power supply terminal (not shown) formed on the dust collection unit mounting portion.
The following will describe a dust compression process.
Referring to Fig. 8, when the power is applied to the driving motor 810, the driving motor 810 rotates in a first direction. Then, the compression member 720 connected to the driving motor 810 also rotates in the first direction.
At this point, since the horizontal length of the compression plate 722 is greater than the distance between the bottom center C of the dust collection container 710 and the sidewall of the dust collection container 710, the compression member 270 contacts the first contacting portion 712 of the dust collection container 710 while rotating in the first direction. Then, the torque applied to the compression member 720 increases above a preset value, the driving motor 810 rotates in a second direction. Therefore, the compression member 720 also rotates in the second direction.
When the compression member 720 rotates by a predetermined angle in the second direction, the compression member 720 contacts a second contacting portion 713 of the dust collection container 710. Then, when the torque applied to the compression member 720 increases above a preset value, the driving motor 810 rotates in the first direction and thus the compression member 720 also rotates in the first direction.
That is, in this embodiment, the compression member 720 rotates about its central axis within an angle range θ1 defined between the first contacting portion 712 and the second contacting portion 713. At this point, a space corresponding to the angle range θ1 in the first dust collection container 710 may be referred to as a first space S1. Therefore, the compression member 720 rotates in the first space S1. On the other hand, the dusts can be at least partly stored in a second space S2 corresponding to an angle range (360- θ1).
Here, since the horizontal length of the compression plate 722 is greater than a distance between the bottom center C of the dust collection container 710 and the sidewall of the dust collection container 710, a distance between the rotational axis of the compression member 720 and a point of an outer wall of the dust collection container 710 defining the first space S1 is designed to be greater than a distance between the rotational axis of the compression member 720 and a point of an outer wall 714 of the dust collection container 710 defining the second space S2.
Fig. 9 is a horizontal-sectional view of a dust collection container according to a fourth embodiment.
The fourth embodiment is substantially same as the third embodiment except for a shape of a dust collection container. Therefore, only a feature of the fourth embodiment will be described hereinafter.
Referring to Fig. 9, a horizontal section of a dust collection container 910 is not a circular shape. A sidewall of the dust collection container 910 may be divided into first and second sidewalls 911 and 913. The first sidewall 911 has a different curvature from the second sidewall 913. In more detail, a curvature radius of the first sidewall 911 is greater than that of the second sidewall 913.
Therefore, a boundary portion between the first and second sidewalls 911 and 913 functions as contacting portions 912 and 914 where the compression member 720 contacts while rotating.
Further, the compression member 720 rotates about its rotational axis within an angle range θ1 defined between the contacting portions 912 and 914. At this point, a space corresponding to the angle range θ1 in the first dust collection container 710 may be referred to as a first space S1. the dusts can be at least partly stored in a second space S2 corresponding to an angle range (360- θ1).
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a dust collection container (210; 710; 910) for storing dust;

a compression member (270; 720) that is provided in the dust collection container to be capable of rotating in first and second directions; and

a driving unit (400; 800) for rotating the compression member,
wherein the compression member (270; 720) is configured for rotating in a first space (S1) corresponding to a first angle range (θ1), and a second space (S2) corresponding to a second angle range (360-θ1) is configured for storing at least a portion of the dust therein,
characterized in that
the dust collection container (210; 710; 910) comprises a plurality of contacting portions (218a, 219a; 712, 714; 912, 914) configured for contacting the compression member (270; 720) as the compression member rotates, the plurality of the contacting portions forming an angle corresponding to the first angle range (θ1) with respect to a rotational axis of the compression member,
wherein the compression member (270; 720) is configured to change its rotational direction when the compression member contacts one of the contacting portions (218a, 219a; 712, 714; 912, 914).
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a rotational axis of the compression member (720) intersects a bottom surface (732) of the dust collection container (710).
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein a curvature of an outer wall (911) of the dust collection container (910), which defines the first space (S1), is different from that of an outer wall (913) of the dust collection container, which defines the second space (S2).
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein a distance between the rotational axis of the compression member (720) and a point on an outer wall of the dust collection container (710), which defines the first space (S1), is different from that between the rotational axis of the compression member and a point on an outer wall (714) of the dust collection container, which defines the second space (S2).