JP2003190056A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cyclone-type vacuum cleaner that prevents the amount of dust suction versus a volume from decreasing caused by bulky dust such as fiber occupying a capacity of a dust housing chamber. <P>SOLUTION: Dust centrifuged from air sucked by a dust separation chamber 15 is accumulated in the dust housing chamber 16. An outer cylinder 17 is concentrically provided on a suction cylinder 25 for sucking air inside the dust housing chamber 16 and air inside the dust separation chamber 15 together, and a compression plate 18 is provided on a lower end of the suction cylinder 25. Lowering the outer cylinder 17 together with the compression plate 18 compresses the dust accumulated inside the dust housing chamber 16 by the compression plate 18 and allows brush bristles 22 provided on an inner circumference face of the outer cylinder 17 to scrape dust sticking onto a filter 21 formed on the suction cylinder 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner provided with a cyclone type dust collecting unit for separating dust from air containing dust by centrifugal separation by making intake air into a swirling flow.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electric vacuum cleaner equipped with a cyclone type dust collecting unit has a small decrease in intake capacity due to an increase in the amount of dust collected, and a consumable product such as a paper pack for collecting dust. It has features such as being unnecessary.

As a conventional technique of the electric vacuum cleaner having the cyclone type dust collecting portion, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-3
There are known those disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 42492 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-253011, and dust is separated from the air by centrifugal separation by forming inspiratory air containing dust into a swirling flow. The dust is deposited on the lower part of the dust collecting portion.

FIG. 12 shows a structure of a cleaner body of a conventional cyclone type vacuum cleaner. By rotating the electric blower 101 built in the cleaner body 100, the dust-containing air sucked from the intake port 102 to which the intake hose (not shown) having the suction tool connected to the tip is connected, Induction flow path 1 formed in swirling flow
From 03, it flows into the dust separation chamber 104. Dust separation chamber 1
As shown in FIG. 13, 04 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the flow direction of the air taken in by the guide flow passage 103 is the tangential direction of the cylinder, and the flow passage cross-sectional area is narrowed, so that the dust separation chamber The air that has flowed into 104 becomes a high-speed swirl flow, and dust is separated from the air by centrifugal separation by the swirl flow, and the separated dust flows into the dust storage chamber 106 together with some air from the inflow port 105, and dust Accommodation room 106
Deposit on the bottom of. The air in the dust storage chamber 106 passes through the first filter 107 from the substantially central portion and is sucked into the electric blower 101 through the second filter 108 together with the air in the dust separation chamber 104.

[0005]

In the conventional cyclone type vacuum cleaner, as described above, the dust storage chamber 10 is used.
Since it is simply deposited in the inside of 6, the dust becomes bulky for the mass of dust collected when there are many fibrous dusts. Therefore, the amount of dust collection is smaller than the volume of the dust collection case, and a large dust collection case is mounted, which runs counter to the trend toward smaller and lighter vacuum cleaners.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an electric vacuum cleaner which has a dust compression function while increasing the dust collection capacity while taking advantage of the features of the cyclone system.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the first invention of the present application is to introduce air containing dust sucked from a suction device into a dust collection case by suction air generated by an electric blower, and centrifuge it. In an electric vacuum cleaner that separates dust from the air and collects the dust, the dust collection case is a dust separation chamber that centrifuges dust in the air by using a suction wind to swirl the flow, and dust that accumulates the separated dust. An accommodating chamber, an air intake tube that forms an air flow path from the substantially central portion of the dust accommodating chamber through the approximately central portion of the dust separating chamber to the electric blower, and descends onto the dust accumulated in the dust accommodating chamber. It is characterized in that it is provided with a compression plate for compressing the accumulated dust, and since the dust accumulated in the dust storage chamber is compressed by lowering the compression plate, most of the dust is fibrous. Bulky included The amount of dust that may have reduced volume deposited dust accommodating chamber by compression even if made can be increased. Therefore, the amount of dust collection can be increased without increasing the size of the vacuum cleaner.

In the above structure, a ventilation hole having a filter is formed on the peripheral surface of the intake cylinder located in the dust separation chamber, and an outer cylinder having a dust removing member on the inner peripheral surface in contact with the filter is concentric with the intake cylinder. In addition, since the air in the dust separation chamber is removed by the filter of the intake cylinder, the air in the dust separation chamber is sucked into the electric blower. Dust adhering to the filter moves the outer cylinder in the axial direction, so that the dust remover provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder scrapes the dust out of the filter, and the removed dust is dropped and stored in the dust storage chamber. .

If a compression plate is provided at the lower end of the outer cylinder,
When the dust is compressed by the compression plate, the dust on the filter can be removed at the same time.

Further, the compression plate forms a part of a partition wall which partitions the dust separating chamber and the dust containing chamber, and when the operation for compressing the dust is performed, a part of the partition wall is formed. The compression plate can be configured to descend into the dust chamber.

Further, the dust accommodating chamber is formed so as to be below the dust separating chamber when the electric vacuum cleaner is in use, so that the compressed dust is retained at that position and a new dust is generated by the operation after the compression. You can comfortably secure a space to receive it.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the air containing dust sucked from the suction device by the suction air generated by the electric blower is guided to the dust collecting case, and the dust is separated from the air by centrifugal separation to collect the dust. In the electric vacuum cleaner, the dust collection case includes a dust separation chamber for centrifugally separating dust in the air by using suction air as a swirl flow, a dust storage chamber for depositing the separated dust, and a substantially central portion of the dust storage chamber. Section that forms an air flow path that connects to the electric blower through a substantially central portion of the dust separation chamber, and a ventilation port formed by providing a filter on the peripheral surface of the intake cylinder that is located in the dust separation chamber. It is characterized in that it is provided with a dust compression operating section for opening and closing the air intake.When the dust compression operating section closes the dust separation chamber of the intake cylinder and the ventilation port, the intake air is concentrated in the dust storage chamber. , Dust storage Lightly bulky dust such as fibrous located within is compressed drawn into the intake, the amount of compression is increased to fall to dust accommodating chamber. Therefore, the volume of dust that is bulky each time the dust compression operation unit is operated can be reduced, and the amount of dust accumulated in the dust storage chamber can be increased.

In the above structure, the dust compression operating portion is a cylinder in which a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of vent holes are formed in an intake cylinder in which a plurality of vent holes are formed in the circumferential direction of the cylinder. By inserting the outer cylinder of the shape into the circumferential direction of the intake cylinder so as to be rotatable, the ventilation port of the intake cylinder can be opened and closed by the rotation of the outer cylinder.

Further, the dust compression operating section includes a biasing means for biasing the outer cylinder in a direction in which the position of the opening of the outer cylinder coincides with the position of the ventilation port of the intake cylinder, and the outer cylinder rotating against the bias. By comprising the rotating operation means for moving, when the operation pressure on the rotating operation means is released, the ventilation port is opened by the biasing means, and after the dust compression operation, the dust recovery state is restored by itself. Can be made.

Further, the dust compression operating portion can be constructed by inserting an outer cylinder into an intake cylinder having a ventilation port formed on one side in the axial direction so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the intake cylinder. By sliding the outer cylinder in the axial direction of the intake cylinder, the ventilation port of the intake cylinder can be closed to perform dust compression. By providing a dust remover on the inner peripheral surface of this outer cylinder, which comes into contact with the filter provided in the ventilation port when the outer cylinder slides and scrapes off the dust adhering to the filter, it adheres to the filter at the start of dust compression. The dust is scraped off and the filter is cleaned.

Further, the dust compression operating section includes a biasing means for biasing the outer cylinder in the direction in which the vent of the intake cylinder is opened, and a sliding operation means for sliding the outer cylinder against the bias. With this configuration, after the sliding operation means is operated to compress the dust and the operation is released, the dust compression can be released by the urging means to return to the normal operation.

Further, by forming the suction cylinder so that the axial direction thereof is vertical when the electric vacuum cleaner is in use, compressed dust can be dropped and stored in the dust storage chamber.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the air containing the dust sucked from the suction device by the suction air generated by the electric blower is guided to the dust collecting case, and the dust is separated from the air by the centrifugal separation to collect the dust. In the electric vacuum cleaner, the dust collection case includes a dust separation chamber that centrifuges dust in the air by using a suction wind as a swirl flow, and a dust storage chamber that accumulates the separated dust. A circulation flow passage that forms an air flow passage that extends from the substantially central portion through the central portion of the dust separation chamber to the electric blower, and that connects from the bottom side of the dust storage chamber to the intake passage upstream of the dust separation chamber The air flow is formed by the circulation flow path from the lower side of the dust storage chamber to the upstream side of the dust separation chamber, so that the dust in the dust storage chamber flows to the circulation flow path. By the flow of It is reduced, thereby increasing the dust storage amount without increasing the volume of the dust storage chamber.

In the above structure, the dust collecting case is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the outlet to the circulation passage is formed on the bottom surface side of the dust containing chamber, whereby a part of the swirling flow along the peripheral surface of the dust containing chamber. Moves down and flows into the circulation path formed on the bottom surface side, so that the dust is attracted to the bottom surface side and the compression progresses with the accumulation of dust.

The circulation flow path can be formed as an internal space of a handle formed in the dust collecting case, and the dust collecting case throws away dust collected in the dust collecting case and holds the handle from the cleaner body. It can be taken out, but if you create a space in the handle and use the space as a circulation channel,
The circulation channel can be formed without increasing the size of the dust collection case.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention.
The embodiments described below are examples of embodying the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

Each of the following first to third embodiments is constructed as a floor-moving type electric vacuum cleaner 1 as shown in FIG. 1, and is an extension in which a suction tool 3 is detachably attached to the tip. The tube 2 is connected to the handle 4 and the hose 6 extending from the handle 4 is connected to the cleaner body 7 by the hose joint 5.
Are linked to. This electric vacuum cleaner 1 is configured as a cyclone type electric vacuum cleaner 1, and extends air containing dust sucked from the suction tool 3 by an intake air generated by an electric blower built in a cleaner main body 7 to an extension pipe 2, The dust collection case 11 (the dust collection case 12 in the configuration of the second embodiment, the dust collection case 13 in the configuration of the third embodiment) is guided through the hand handle 4, the hose 6, and the hose joint 5 to the dust collection case 11 ( (12, 13) to generate a swirling flow to centrifuge dust from the air to collect dust in the dust collecting case 11 (1
2, 13) Dust is collected. Dust collection case 11 (12, 1
3) can be taken out from the cleaner main body by holding the handle 9 provided on it, and is configured so that it is possible to easily dispose of collected dust and clean it.

The present invention is characterized in that it has a function of compressing the dust collected in the dust collection case 11. The first to third embodiments having different compression structures will be described below. To do. In the following description, the up-down direction or the horizontal direction indicates the direction when the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is placed on the floor surface in use as shown in FIG.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 2 shows a dust collecting case 11 and its structure according to the first embodiment, which is detachably mounted on the front side of a main body case 60. The dust collection case 11 has a dust separation chamber 15 for separating dust from the air by a centrifugal force generated by a swirling flow formed by passing the air containing the sucked dust through the guide passage 14, and the dust separation chamber 15 has flowed in from the dust separation chamber 15. A dust storage chamber 16 for storing dust,
An air intake cylinder 25 that inhales the air in the dust storage chamber 16 from above the central portion and flows into the intake flow path 26 together with the air in the dust separation chamber 15, and is movable in the axial direction on the concentric circle of the air intake cylinder 25. And an outer cylinder 17 having brush bristles (dust removing body) 22 attached to its inner peripheral surface so as to contact a filter 29 provided in an opening formed in the axial direction of the side peripheral surface of the intake cylinder 25. A compression formed integrally with the lower end of the outer cylinder 17 to partition the space between the dust separating chamber 15 and the dust accommodating chamber 16 and to move back and forth into the dust accommodating chamber 16 by the movement of the outer cylinder 17 in the axial direction. And a plate 18.

The hose joint 5 is connected to the intake port 20 formed in the main body case 60, and when the electric blower 61 disposed in the main body case 60 is driven, dust sucked from the suction tool 3 The air containing air flows into the dust separation chamber 15 from the intake port 20. FIG. 3 shows a horizontal cross section of the dust separation chamber 15. The air flowing in through the guide flow passage 14 is guided in the tangential direction of the substantially cylindrical dust separation chamber 15 and the flow passage cross-sectional area is narrowed. The flow velocity is increased, and a swirling flow of high speed flows along the inner peripheral surface of the dust separation chamber 15 in a downwardly inclined flow path, dust in the air is separated by centrifugal separation, and a part of the air is discharged from the inlet 27. It flows into the dust storage chamber 16. The air in the central portion of the swirling flow in the dust separation chamber 15 is in a state where there is almost no dust, but fine dust is filtered through the second filter 24 and sucked from the intake flow passage 26 to the electric blower 61. .

Of the dust that has flowed into the dust accommodating chamber 16 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape along the inner peripheral wall surface, dust such as sand dust having a large mass gathers around the bottom surface of the dust accommodating chamber 16 and is Small dust such as cotton dust swirls along with the swirling air flow and accumulates on the bottom of the dust chamber 16 when the operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is stopped. Since the suction force toward the intake cylinder 25 is exerted above the center of the dust storage chamber 16, the air in the dust storage chamber 16 is drawn toward the center from the bottom side where the swirling flow is weakened, and rises. Fine dust is filtered by the first filter 19 provided on the bottom surface of the air filter 25 and passes through the second filter 24 from the inside of the intake cylinder 25 together with the air that has passed through the filter 21 from the inside of the dust separation chamber 15 and entered into the intake cylinder 25. Is sucked from the intake flow path 26 to the electric blower 61.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the intake cylinder 25 has a plurality of openings formed on the side peripheral surface thereof and having a filter 21 provided in the axial direction of the cylinder. Since the intake cylinder 25 sucks the air in the dust separation chamber 15 through the opening portion provided with the filter 21, fine dust that has not been centrifugally separated adheres to the filter 21, but it is difficult to remove it. . Further, among the dust accumulated in the dust storage chamber 16, fibrous substances are accumulated in a fluffy and bulky state and occupy the dust storage volume of the dust storage chamber 16, so that the dust absorption amount is reduced. Increasing the volume of the dust storage chamber 16 can increase the amount of dust suction, but it makes the cleaner main body 7 large in size and does not meet the demand for downsizing and weight reduction.

In order to solve the above problems, an outer cylinder 17 is provided concentrically with the intake cylinder 25, and a compression plate 18 is provided integrally with the lower end of the outer cylinder 17. The outer cylinder 17 is the dust separation chamber 15
A plurality of openings 17a are formed so as not to block the ventilation from the inside to the intake cylinder 25, the compression plate 18 is integrally formed at the lower end, and a handle 28 is provided. FIG. 4 shows the dust collecting case 11 in a cross section different from the state shown in FIG. 2, and an operating lever extending outward in the diameter direction as shown in FIG. 28 is formed.
Since the operating lever 28 is biased upward by the spring spring 31, the outer cylinder 17 and the compression plate 18 are in the state shown in FIG. The opening part of the filter 2
It is formed at a position facing 1.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the operating lever 28 is pressed. When the outer cylinder 17 is lowered by the pressing operation of the operating lever 28, the upper inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 17 faces the filter 21. The brush bristles 22 provided on the rubbed the surface of the filter 21 as the outer cylinder 17 descends to scrape off the attached dust. Further, the compression plate 18 integrated with the lower end of the outer cylinder 17 is provided with the dust container 1 as the outer cylinder 17 descends.
The dust accumulated in 6 is compressed. The operation of pressing the operation lever 28 can be performed at any timing when the electric blower 61 is stopped. However, if the operation is performed before the electric vacuum cleaner 1 starts cleaning, the filter 21 is cleaned and the accumulated dust is accumulated. Especially, since the bulky fibrous dust is compressed and the surplus volume of the dust storage chamber 16 is expanded, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can be used in a state where the dust collection capability is not deteriorated.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment.
The configuration of the dust collection case 12 according to the embodiment of
It is detachably attached to the front side of the body case 60.
The same components as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify the description.

The dust collection case 12 contains a dust separation chamber 32 for centrifugally separating dust from the air by forming a suction swirling flow of air containing dust, and a dust separated by the dust separation chamber 32. Dust storage chamber 33, and this dust storage chamber 3
The air inside 3 is sucked in from approximately above the center, and the dust separation chamber 3
The intake cylinder 34 that is made to flow into the intake passage 26 (see FIG. 2) together with the air 2 and the filter 36 that is vertically concentrically arranged on the concentric circle of the intake cylinder 34 and is provided on the lower end side of the intake cylinder 34. The outer cylinder 38 is provided with a dust removing body 39 attached to the lower end peripheral portion so as to be in contact with the outer cylinder 38.

When the electric blower 61 is driven, the dust-containing air sucked from the suction tool 3 flows into the dust separation chamber 32. FIG. 7 shows a horizontal cross section of the dust separation chamber 32. The inflowing air is guided in the tangential direction of the substantially cylindrical dust separation chamber 32, and the flow passage is increased by narrowing the flow passage cross-sectional area, thereby increasing the high speed. Flow in a downwardly inclined flow path along the inner peripheral surface of the dust separation chamber 32, the dust in the air is separated by centrifugal separation, and the dust is partially discharged together with the air from the inflow port 42 through the dust storage chamber. It flows into 33.
The air in the central portion of the swirling flow is filtered by the filter 36 provided below the intake cylinder 34 to remove fine dust, and the intake passage 2
It is sucked by the electric blower 61 via 6.

The dust that has flown into the dust containing chamber 33 from the dust separating chamber 32 along the inner peripheral wall surface together with a part of the air is stored in the dust containing chamber 33. Since the suction force acting toward the intake cylinder 34 acts above the center of the dust storage chamber 33,
The air in the dust storage chamber 33 is drawn toward the center from the bottom side where the speed of the swirling flow weakens and rises, and the dust is filtered through the first filter 35 provided at the inlet to the intake cylinder 34 and the intake cylinder 34. The air blower 6 enters the inside and passes through the second filter 37 together with the air in the dust separation chamber 32 from the intake passage 26.
1 is sucked.

Since the intake cylinder 34 sucks the air in the dust separation chamber 32 from the opening portion provided with the filter 36 on the lower end side of its side peripheral surface, fine dust adheres to the filter 36, but a work for removing it. It is in a position where it is difficult to remove. Further, among the dust accumulated in the dust storage chamber 33, fibrous substances are accumulated in a fluffy and bulky state and occupy the dust storage volume of the dust storage chamber 33, so that the dust absorption amount is reduced.
Increasing the volume of the dust storage chamber 33 can increase the amount of dust that is absorbed, but this makes the cleaner main body 7 unnecessarily large and does not meet the demand for smaller and lighter weight.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an outer cylinder 38 is disposed above the intake cylinder 34 and concentrically with it so as to be vertically movable. The outer cylinder 38 is provided at its lower end with a dust remover 39 whose tip is in contact with the filter 36, and on one circumferential surface thereof is formed an operation lever 40 extending outward in the diametrical direction. Since the operating lever 40 is biased upward by the spring spring 41, the outer cylinder 38 is in the state shown in FIG. 6 when the operating lever 40 is not pressed.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the operating lever 40 is pressed. When the outer cylinder 38 is lowered by the pushing operation of the operating lever 40, the dust removing member 3 is lowered by the lowering operation.
9 removes dust adhering to the surface of the filter 36 by the dust remover 39 to clean the filter 36. When the outer cylinder 38 descends to the lower end of the intake cylinder 34, the filter 3 of the intake cylinder 34
Since the six surfaces are closed, the intake cylinder 3
The intake to 4 is stopped. Therefore, the intake air of the intake pipe 34 is concentrated in the dust storage chamber 33, and all the air in the dust separation chamber 32 also flows into the dust storage chamber 33, so that the suction force from the dust storage chamber 33 to the intake pipe 34 rapidly increases. Of the dust collected in the dust storage chamber 33, the fibrous dust is lightweight and fluffy, so when the suction force to the intake cylinder 34 suddenly increases, it is sucked under the first filter 35 as shown in the figure. , The fibrous dust is collected and compressed.

When the pressure applied to the operating lever 40 is released, the operating lever 40 is pushed up by the urging force of the spring spring 41 and the outer cylinder 38 rises, so that the surface of the filter 36 of the intake cylinder 34 is opened, as shown in FIG. Return to the state. In this state, intake air from the dust separation chamber 32 to the intake cylinder 34 is generated, so the amount of intake air from the dust storage chamber 33 to the intake cylinder 34 decreases, and the compressed dust is adsorbed under the first filter 35. Since the suction force decreases, the compressed dust drops and is combined with other dust on the bottom surface of the dust storage chamber 33, and the compression reduces the total dust volume.

The pressing operation of the operating lever 40 can be performed at any timing when the electric blower 61 is driven. However, if the operating lever 40 is operated before the cleaning is started by the electric vacuum cleaner 1, the filter 36 is cleaned and accumulated. Since the dust thus collected is compressed and the excess volume of the dust storage chamber 33 is expanded, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can be used in a state in which the dust collection capability is not reduced.

As described above, the state in which the air in the dust separation chamber 32 is sucked from the suction cylinder 34 is opened / closed to open / close the dust storage chamber 3
The structure shown in FIG. 9 can also be applied to the structure for compressing the dust inside 3.

In FIG. 9, a cylindrical air intake cylinder 44 has a plurality of vent holes 44a in which a filter (not shown) is arranged in the axial direction on the side peripheral surface thereof, which are arranged in a row in the circumferential direction. An outer cylinder 45 is arranged so as to be rotatable on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 44. A plurality of openings 45a are formed in the outer cylinder 45 so as to correspond to the ventilation holes 44a, and an operation lever 46 is formed on one side circumferential surface so as to extend in the diametrical direction. The operation lever 46 is formed by a spring spring 47. It is urged in the circumferential direction.

When the operating lever 46 is not operated, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), the ventilation port 44a of the intake cylinder 44 and the opening 45a of the outer cylinder 45 are in the same position, and dust is present. The air in the separation chamber 32 is sucked into the suction cylinder 44 through the opening 45a and the vent 44a. Figure 9
As shown in (b), when the operation lever 46 is pressed, the outer cylinder 45 rotates to close the ventilation port 44a of the intake cylinder 44 at a portion where the opening 45a is not formed. In this state, the air in the dust separation chamber 32 is not sucked into the intake cylinder 44, and only the dust storage chamber 33 is sucked into the intake cylinder 44. As shown in FIG. The light and bulky dust is sucked and compressed by the lower surface of the first filter 35. Therefore, when the operation lever 46 is pressed while the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is in operation, the bulky dust in the dust storage chamber 33 is compressed and the surplus volume of the dust storage chamber 33 is expanded, so that the dust collection capability is not reduced. The vacuum cleaner 1 can be used in the state.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 10 shows the structure of the dust collecting case 13 and its peripheral portion according to the third embodiment, which is detachably mounted on the front side of the main body case 60. . The same components as those of the first and second embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify the description.

The dust collecting case 13 forms a swirling flow of the air containing the sucked dust, and a dust separating chamber 50 for centrifugally separating the dust from the air, and a swirling flow from the dust separating chamber 50 flows in. Dust storage chamber 51 for storing centrifugally separated dust
And the circulation flow path 5 for returning the air sucked from the bottom surface side of the dust storage chamber 51 to the inlet of the dust separation chamber 50 and circulating the air.
2 and.

When the electric blower 61 is driven, the dust-containing air sucked from the suction tool 3 flows into the dust separation chamber 50 through the intake port 20. The inflowing air is the guide channel 1
4 is guided in the tangential direction of the substantially cylindrical dust separation chamber 50, and the flow velocity is increased by narrowing the cross-sectional area of the flow path, resulting in a high-speed swirling flow, which is directed downward along the inner peripheral surface of the dust separation chamber 50. The dust in the air flows through the inclined flow path and is separated by centrifugal force, and the separated dust flows into the dust storage chamber 51 together with a part of the air.

The dust that has flowed into the dust container 51 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape along the inner peripheral wall surface is accumulated from around the bottom surface of the dust container 51, and the air is dust from the bottom side where the swirling flow weakens. The fine particles are filtered by the first filter 53 to be lifted by the intake air that acts substantially above the center of the storage chamber 51, and are sucked from the intake flow path 26 to the electric blower 61 through the second filter 55 together with the air in the dust separation chamber 50. To be done.

Among the dust accumulated in the dust storage chamber 51, fibrous substances are accumulated in a fluffy and bulky state,
Since the dust storage volume of the dust storage chamber 51 is occupied, the amount of dust suction is reduced. Increasing the volume of the dust storage chamber 51 can increase the amount of dust that is absorbed, but the size of the cleaner body 7 is unnecessarily increased, which does not meet the demand for reduction in size and weight.

In order to solve this problem, the dust storage chamber 5
A circulation flow path 52 is provided which forms an air flow path between the bottom surface side of 1 and the inlet of the dust separation chamber 50. Dust storage chamber 5
A circulating air hole 54 provided with a filter (not shown) is formed on the bottom side of 1, and a part of the air in the dust containing chamber 51 flows from the circulating air hole 54 to the circulating flow path 52. Since the swirl flow of high speed is formed at the inlet of the dust separation chamber 50 by the guide flow passage 14 as described above, the air in the circulation passage 52 opening to the inlet is drawn into the dust separation chamber 50 by the negative pressure. Therefore, a part of the air will circulate.

When a part of the air flows out from the bottom side of the dust accommodating chamber 51, the dust accumulated on the bottom surface follows the flow of the outflowing air and is accumulated in a compressed state. The amount of dust accumulated in the area is reduced.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 11, the circulation flow path 56 is formed in the handle 9 of the dust collection case 13a. Handle 9
Is formed in a hollow structure, and the circulation air hole 57 provided in the bottom surface of the dust storage chamber 51 is a circulation flow path 5 utilizing the hollow portion of the handle 9.
6, the circulation flow path 56 communicates with the inlet of the dust separation chamber 50 to form an air flow path as illustrated.

In the dust storage chamber 51, the dust having a large mass is blown and accumulated around the bottom portion by the centrifugal force of the swirling flow, and the dust having a small mass and bulk, such as fiber, rotates with the swirling flow. At the bottom side where the flow velocity of the is weakened, it tends to gather near the central part, and if there is intake air from the circulating air hole 57 at that position, the concentration will be more concentrated and the deposition amount will increase.
The compression progresses with the intake.

[0051]

As described above, according to the first invention of the present application, it is possible to lower the compression plate to compress the dust accumulated in the dust accommodating chamber and reduce the accumulation of dust. It is possible to prevent the dust collecting capacity from being lowered due to the volume of the dust storage chamber being occupied by such bulky dust.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, light and bulky dust such as fiber can be compressed by the suction force by the suction by the switching operation in which the suction to the suction cylinder is limited to the dust storage chamber. It is possible to prevent the dust collection capacity of the dust containing chamber from being lowered by the bulky dust being occupied by the dust containing volume.

Further, according to the third invention of the present application, the circulation flow path for sucking a part of the air from the bottom side of the dust storage chamber is formed, and the dust is compressed by the air flow to the circulation flow path. Therefore, the amount of dust stored in the dust storage chamber can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the dust collection case according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a dust separation chamber and an air intake cylinder according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configurations of a compression plate and an outer cylinder according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which a compression plate and an outer cylinder of the same are lowered.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a dust collection case according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing configurations of an outer cylinder and an intake cylinder according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the outer cylinder is lowered.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the intake cylinder and the outer cylinder in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a dust collection case according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the circulation passage according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of a vacuum cleaner according to the related art.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a dust separation chamber according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 vacuum cleaner 9 handle 11, 12, 13 Dust collection case 15, 32, 50 Dust separation chamber 16, 33, 51 Dust storage chamber 17,38 Outer cylinder 18 compression plate 21, 36 filters 22 Brush hair (dust remover) 25, 34 intake cylinder 26 Intake channel 39 Dust remover 52,56 Circulation flow path 54, 57 Circulating air holes

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) A47L 9/20 521 A47L 9/20 521N 531 531A B04C 5/14 B04C 5/14 5/187 5/187 ( 72) Inventor Masakazu Onda 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Seiji Ishikawa Osaka, Kadoma 1006 Kadoma Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masafumi Okushima Osaka 1006, Kadoma, Kadoma, Fuchu-Matsushita, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Tetsuji Nomachi, 1006, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsuda Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Hirokazu Nagaoka, 1006, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka F term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (reference) 3B062 AE02 AE05 AH02 AH05 4D053 AA03 AB01 BA01 BB07 BC01 BD04 CB13 CC04 CD23

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An electric vacuum cleaner for guiding air containing dust sucked from a suction tool to a dust collection case by suction wind generated by an electric blower and separating the dust from the air by centrifugal separation to collect the dust. The dust collection case includes a dust separation chamber for centrifugally separating dust in the air by swirling the air containing the sucked dust, a dust storage chamber for accumulating the separated dust, and a substantially central portion of the dust storage chamber. An air intake cylinder that forms an air flow path that connects to the electric blower through a substantially central portion of the dust separation chamber, and a compression plate that lowers the dust accumulated in the dust storage chamber to compress the accumulated dust An electric vacuum cleaner characterized by becoming. 2. An air vent having a filter is formed on a peripheral surface of the intake cylinder, which is located in the dust separation chamber, and an outer cylinder having a dust removing member in contact with the filter is provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof concentrically with the intake cylinder. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner is arranged so as to be movable in the axial direction. 3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a compression plate is provided at a lower end of the outer cylinder. 4. The compression plate forms a part of a partition wall that partitions the dust separation chamber and the dust storage chamber.
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims. 5. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the dust storage chamber is formed below the dust separation chamber when the electric vacuum cleaner is in use. 6. An electric vacuum cleaner for guiding air containing dust sucked from a suction device to a dust collection case by suction wind generated by an electric blower, separating the dust from the air by centrifugal separation, and collecting the dust. The dust collection case includes a dust separation chamber that centrifuges dust in the air by using suction air as a swirl flow, a dust storage chamber that accumulates the separated dust, and the dust separation chamber from a substantially central portion of the dust storage chamber. An air intake cylinder that forms an air flow path that connects to the electric blower through a substantially central portion of the air blower, and a dust compressing device that opens and closes a ventilation hole formed by providing a filter on the peripheral surface of the air intake cylinder that is located in the dust separation chamber. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising: an operating section. 7. The dust compression operation section is a cylindrical shape in which a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of ventilation openings are formed in an intake cylinder in which a plurality of ventilation openings are formed in the circumferential direction on the circumferential surface of the cylinder. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the outer cylinder is fitted and inserted so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of the intake cylinder. 8. The dust compression operation section includes a biasing means for biasing the outer cylinder in a direction in which the position of the opening of the outer cylinder coincides with the position of the vent of the intake cylinder, and the outer cylinder rotating against the bias. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, further comprising: rotating operation means for moving the same. 9. The dust compressing operation portion is formed by inserting an outer cylinder so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the intake cylinder into an intake cylinder having a vent hole formed on one side in the axial direction. Vacuum cleaner as described in. 10. The dust remover for scraping off the dust adhering to the filter, which is in contact with the filter provided in the ventilation port when the outer cylinder slides, is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder.
Vacuum cleaner as described in. 11. The dust compression operating section includes a biasing means for biasing the outer cylinder in a direction in which a vent of the intake cylinder is opened, and a sliding operation means for sliding the outer cylinder against the bias. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising: 12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the axial direction of the intake cylinder is formed to be a vertical direction when the vacuum cleaner is in use. 13. An electric vacuum cleaner for guiding air containing dust sucked from an inhaler to a dust collection case by suction wind generated by an electric blower, separating the dust from the air by centrifugal separation, and collecting the dust. The dust collection case is provided with a dust separation chamber for centrifugally separating dust in the air by using a suction wind as a swirl flow, and a dust storage chamber for depositing the separated dust. An air flow path that connects to the electric blower is formed through substantially the center of the separation chamber, and a circulation flow path that connects from the bottom side of the dust storage chamber to the intake flow path upstream of the dust separation chamber is formed. An electric vacuum cleaner characterized in that. 14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the dust collection case is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and an outlet to the circulation flow path is formed on the bottom surface side of the dust storage chamber. 15. The circulation flow path is formed as an internal space of a handle formed in the dust collection case.
The electric vacuum cleaner according to 4.