JP2002369778A - Dust detecting device and vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dust detecting device which is convenient for moving a nozzle toward a place where there exists much dust. SOLUTION: A suction route for a nozzle is divided into two right and left ones, dust sensors 13 and 14 are arranged in each of them, the dust detecting output of both dust sensors 13 and 14 is compared by a comparison circuit 15, a display element L1 for showing presence of much dust on the right is lighted if the output of the dust sensors 13 on the right is great, a display element L3 for showing presence of much dust on the left is lighted if the output of the dust sensors 14 on the left is great, and a display element L2 is lighted if the output of both dust sensors 13 and 14 is equal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dust detector for detecting dust in an air flow sucked from a nozzle, and a vacuum cleaner having the dust detector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, in a household vacuum cleaner, a light emitting element is provided on a nozzle portion of an intake path for sucking outside air containing dust and a hand operation portion provided at an intermediate position between a hose portion connecting the nozzle and the main body portion. In many cases, a set of optical dust sensors including a light receiving element and a light receiving element is arranged so that the user can visually check how much dust is absorbed during cleaning.

[0003]

In the above-described dust sensor of the conventional vacuum cleaner, although the amount of dust that has been absorbed can be known, a large amount of dust adheres to and exists on any part of the floor surface to be cleaned. Was not detectable.

Therefore, when cleaning a wide floor, there is no need to repeat the useless operation of sliding the nozzles back and forth and left and right, and continuing cleaning until dust particles in the suction air flow are no longer detected. There was a problem that it could not be obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a dust detection device which is convenient for moving a nozzle to a portion having a large amount of dust.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A dust detection device according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of dust sensors disposed in the vicinity of an intake port of a nozzle in a direction perpendicular to an intake path, and a notification in accordance with detection outputs of the dust sensors. Notification means for performing the notification.

In this dust detection device, when air is taken in from a nozzle to collect dust, each dust sensor detects the amount of dust in an intake path in which each dust sensor is arranged. Then, the display means performs a display according to each dust sensor output.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a nozzle of a dust detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the nozzle. The nozzle 1 of this embodiment is attached to the tip of a hose of a vacuum cleaner, shows a T-shape in a side view, and is composed of a tube portion 2 for attachment to a hose and a floor contact portion 3. Have been. Further, a separator 4 is provided from the mounting cylinder portion 2 to the floor surface contact portion 3 to divide the intake path into two right and left parts.
Therefore, the hollow mounting portion 2 having an intake path of the right intake path 2 _A and the left intake path 2 _B.

Dust sensors 5 and 6 are provided corresponding to these intake paths 2 _A and 2 _B , respectively. Dust sensor 5 (6), the light emitting element 5 _A and (6 _A) the light-receiving element 5
Using optical dust sensor constructed from a _B (6 _B). FIG. 3 shows a side view of the nozzle 1.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of the dust detection apparatus according to this embodiment. Referring to FIG.
Is rectified and smoothed by the diode D and the capacitor C, is made constant by the three-terminal type constant voltage power supply circuit 12, and the power supply voltage is supplied to the _VCC line and the GND line.

The dust sensor 13 is for the right and corresponds to the dust sensor 5 in FIG. The dust sensor 14 is for the left and corresponds to the dust sensor 6 in FIG. These dust sensors 13,
The power of 14 is of course supplied from the V _CC line and the GND line. Further, the dust sensors 13 and 14 input their respective detection outputs to the comparison circuit 15.

The comparison circuit 15 compares the outputs of the dust sensor 13 on the right and the dust sensor 14 on the left and determines whether the relationship between the two detection outputs is right> left, right = left, or right <left. When right> left, output from the “right” output terminal, when right = left, output from the “middle” output terminal, and when right <left, output from the “left” output terminal. put out.

A series circuit of a current limiting resistor R ₁ , a light emitting element L ₁ and a switching transistor Q _1, a series circuit of a current limiting resistor R ₈ , a light emitting element L ₂ and a switching transistor Q ₂ are provided between the V _CC line and the GND line. , A current limiting resistor R ₉ , a light emitting element L ₃ , and a switching transistor Q ₃ are connected in series.

The "right" output terminal of the comparison circuit 15 is connected to a resistor R
₁Through the switching transistor Q₁To the base of
The "middle" output terminal of the comparison circuit 15 is connected to a resistor R_TwoThrough
Switching transistor Q_TwoTo the base of the comparison circuit 15
The "left" output terminal of the _ThreeSwitching through
Transistor Q_ThreeConnected to the base.

[0015] In the circuit of the dust detection device, the light-emitting element L ₁ is turned on, the pattern P ₁ shown in FIG. 5 is selected and displayed, the light-emitting element L ₂ is turned on, the pattern P ₂ is selected and displayed, the light emitting element L _{When 3} lights up, the pattern P ₃
Is set to be selected and displayed. The pattern P ₁ ,
The display section 7 including P ₂ and P ₃ is provided on the upper surface 3a of the floor contact section 3 as shown in FIGS. The display unit 7 indicates the moving direction of the nozzle in accordance with the dust detection state, and is very easy to see by being provided on the upper surface of the nozzle floor contact portion 3. Because it is easy to see, the display unit 7 may be provided on the side surface 2a of the mounting cylinder unit 2 that is visible from above.

When a vacuum cleaner equipped with the dust detection device of this embodiment starts cleaning, dust on the surface to be cleaned is sucked from the nozzle 1. The sucked dust, a dust sensor 13 in the right intake path 2 _A, respectively, in the dust sensor 14 in the left intake path 2 _B, is detected as garbage amount passing through each. The detected dust outputs of the dust sensors 13 and 14 are compared by a comparison circuit 15. Now, for example, the dust sensor 1 on the right
When 3/5 of the output is large, the output signal from the "right" output terminal of the comparator circuit 15, whereby the switching transistors Q ₁ ON, and the light-emitting element L ₁ is turned on. When the light-emitting element L ₁ is turned on, only the pattern P ₁ is displayed.

[0017] People who viewed this display is able to pattern P ₁ is a arrow on the right for knows then that may be moving the nozzle 1 to the right. On the other hand, if the output of the dust sensor 14 is larger, the "left"
Signal from the output terminal is output, thereby to ON the switching transistor Q _3, the light-emitting element L ₃ is turned. When the light-emitting element L ₃ is turned on, only the pattern P ₃ is displayed. People who viewed this display, since the pattern P ₃ is an arrow for the left may then know that may be moving the nozzle 1 to the left.

Further, the dust sensor 13 and the dust sensor 1
When the output of 4 are equal, the output signal from the "medium" output terminal of the comparator circuit 15, whereby the switching transistor Q ₂ turned ON, the light emitting element L ₂ is turned on. When the light-emitting element L ₂ is turned on, only the pattern P ₂ is displayed. People who viewed this display, since the pattern P ₃ is the arrow forward for, can then know that may be moving the nozzle 1 to the front-rear direction.

In the description of the above embodiment, the nozzle 1
Although the separator 4 is provided up to the lower end of the floor contact portion 3, the separator 4 may be formed only in the mounting tubular portion 2 and the dust sensors 5 and 6 may be provided in this portion.

FIG. 6 shows a structure without a separator.
As shown in the left and right positions on the side of the floor contact part 3,
Light emitting element 5 of dust sensors 5 and 6_A, 6_AAnd light receiving element
5_B, 5 _BMay be provided.

In the above embodiment, two dust sensors are positioned on the left and right. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more dust sensors may be positioned on the left and right (in a direction perpendicular to the intake direction). May be arranged.

In the circuit of FIG. 4 of the above embodiment, the detection outputs of the left and right dust sensors are compared by the comparison circuit 15 and the result is displayed ON / OFF. The corresponding change in brightness may be displayed continuously.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, in order to prevent the rightward and leftward instructions from changing rapidly and alternately, a time constant circuit may be built in and the instruction display may be held for a predetermined time.

In the above embodiment, the direction of movement of the nozzle is indicated by the arrows of the patterns P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₃ shown in FIG. 5. Is also good.

Further, in the above embodiment, the moving direction of the nozzle is simply displayed by the patterns P ₁ , P ₂ , P _3. It is also possible to control the rotation of the nozzle and automatically change the moving direction of the nozzle.

The power supply voltage used in the above embodiment is generated by an AC / DC power supply supplied from the main body, a secondary battery built in the nozzle, and a generator driven by a suction air flow. Any voltage may be used.

[0027]

According to the present invention, a plurality of dust sensors are provided in the suction path of the nozzle in a direction orthogonal to the suction path, and notification is performed in accordance with the detection output of these dust sensors. It is possible to know whether there is dust on the left side or evenly on the left and right, it is possible to know the direction in which the nozzle is to be moved next, and it is possible to perform cleaning efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a nozzle unit of a dust detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic bottom view of the nozzle unit.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the nozzle unit.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of the dust detection device of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a dust detection display pattern of the dust detection device of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic floor view of a nozzle portion of a dust detection device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of a nozzle of a dust detection device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 nozzle 2 hollow mounting portion 2 _A first intake path 2 _B second intake passage 3 floor surface contact portion 5 and 13 first dust sensor 6 and 14 second dust sensor 15 comparison circuit Q _1, Q _2, Q ₃ a switching transistor L _1, L _2, L ₃ display elements

Claims (5)

[Claims] A plurality of dust sensors disposed in the vicinity of the air inlet of the nozzle in a direction orthogonal to the air intake path; and a notifying means for notifying according to the detection output of the dust sensors. Trash detector. 2. The dust detection device according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle has a plurality of intake paths divided in a direction orthogonal to the intake direction, and a dust sensor is provided in each of the intake paths. 3. The notification means according to claim 1, wherein the notification means indicates a direction of movement of the nozzle in accordance with a dust detection state.
Alternatively, the dust detection device according to claim 2. 4. The dust detection device according to claim 1, wherein the notification means is provided in the nozzle. 5. A vacuum cleaner comprising the dust detection device according to claim 1, 2, or 3.