JP2005198689A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner for substantially raising the clean level of exhaust at the time of operating the vacuum cleaner, maintaining the appropriate ability of a deodorization function and reducing the frequency of adding a deodorant further. <P>SOLUTION: By mixing the deodorant 7 in sucked dust and directly absorbing an odor generated from the dust, the odor discharged from a dust collecting chamber is reduced. Also, since the retained amount of the odor inside the dust collecting chamber 2 at the time of stopping an operation is reduced, the odor of an increased concentration is not discharged from the dust collecting chamber 2 at once at the time of the next operation, and cleaning work is performed while maintaining a comfortable air quality environment. Further, by executing the feed of the deodorant 7 when the dust is sucked in a dust detection means 11, an optimum deodorization performance is maintained and the frequency of adding the deodorant 7 in a storage chamber 6 is reduced compatibly. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner that removes the odor of dust sucked using a deodorizing material and reduces the odor of exhaust.

  In recent years, as the comfort of the living environment has been demanded, the need for improving the clean function has been increasing year by year for vacuum cleaners, and in particular, the need for reduction and removal of dust, odors, bacteria, etc. contained in the exhaust is the most. Needs are high.

With respect to exhaust deodorization of conventional vacuum cleaners, a configuration in which a deodorization filter is mounted on an exhaust path has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-4-231019

  However, in the method of installing a deodorizing filter in the exhaust path, since the air volume of the electric blower is large, the contact time between the deodorant and the odor in the deodorizing filter is shortened, the deodorizing efficiency is small, and the odor reduction is also small. Had.

  Moreover, when the capacity | capacitance of the deodorizing filter was increased in order to improve the deodorizing performance, there existed a subject that exhaust_gas | exhaustion resistance also increased and the attraction | suction force of an electric blower fell.

  This invention solves the said conventional subject, and it aims at providing the vacuum cleaner which reduces significantly the odor contained in the exhaust_gas | exhaustion at the time of vacuum cleaner use.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes a deodorizing material storage chamber upstream of the dust collection chamber, and the storage chamber further includes a deodorizing material charging means, The introduction of the deodorizing material is executed via a predetermined control means.

  As a result, the deodorizing material can be mixed with the sucked dust, and the dust directly contacting the deodorizing material will efficiently remove the odor, reducing the odor in the dust collection chamber and reducing the exhaust during operation. Not only can odors be greatly reduced, but odors do not stay in the dust collection chamber even when operation is stopped, so air containing high-concentration odors will not be discharged during the next operation, and cleaning work The indoor environment will always be maintained in a comfortable state.

  In addition, the deodorizing material is controlled by a predetermined means, and an optimal amount of deodorizing material is added to the dust to ensure proper deodorizing performance and to prevent excessive input of the deodorizing material. Reduction of the frequency of adding is realized.

  The electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention, by introducing a deodorizing material into the dust collection chamber and controlling the input operation, greatly increases the clean level of exhaust during operation of the vacuum cleaner, and further maintains the proper capacity of the deodorizing function. The frequency of adding a deodorizing material can be reduced.

  A first aspect of the present invention is a vacuum cleaner provided with a dust collection chamber for collecting dust and an electric blower, further comprising a storage chamber for deodorizing material upstream of the dust collection chamber, and the storage chamber further includes a deodorizing material charging means. In addition, the deodorizing material is charged by mixing the deodorized material with the sucked dust and directly adsorbing the odor generated from the dust by executing it through a predetermined control means. The odor discharged from the dust chamber is reduced, and the amount of odor retention in the dust collection chamber when the operation is stopped is reduced, so that the odor with increased concentration will not be discharged from the dust collection chamber at the next operation. While maintaining a comfortable air quality environment, cleaning work can be performed, and by controlling the amount of deodorant input, insufficient and excessive input of deodorant material can be prevented, maintaining optimal deodorization performance, Add deodorizing material to the storage room Reduction of the frequency is possible.

  In the second invention, in particular, the control means for introducing the deodorizing material of the first invention is executed in conjunction with the operation of the electric blower, so that the operation of the operation is performed in conjunction with the operation of the electric vacuum cleaner. Thus, during the operation of the electric blower by operating the deodorizing material charging means, the deodorizing material is continuously charged and the deodorized material can be reliably mixed with the sucked dust.

  In particular, the third aspect of the present invention executes the charging operation in conjunction with the dust detection means that faces the air passage on the upstream side of the dust collection chamber with the control means for charging the deodorizing material of the first invention. As a result, when the dust detection means detects the suction of dust during operation of the vacuum cleaner, the deodorizing material input means operates for a predetermined time in conjunction with the detection of the dust, and the deodorizing material is input. In addition to mixing the deodorizing material properly with respect to the sucked dust, it is possible to save the input amount of the deodorizing material.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the control means for introducing the deodorizing material of the first aspect of the invention executes the input operation in conjunction with the odor detection means installed in the air passage downstream of the dust collection chamber. When the odor concentration in the air passing through the dust collection chamber exceeds a predetermined concentration due to an increase in the amount of dust accumulated in the dust collection chamber, the odor detection means detects the increase in odor concentration, and the deodorizing material input means By operating for a predetermined time and supplying the deodorizing material, the deodorizing material is mixed with the accumulated dust in the dust collection chamber, and the deodorizing material covers the dust surface. The amount used can be further saved.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, the control means for putting in the deodorizing material of the first invention executes the charging operation through the deodorizing material charging switch installed in the main body of the vacuum cleaner. When using a vacuum cleaner, the deodorizing material charging means can be operated for a predetermined time by the deodorizing material charging switch at any timing, such as before, during and after operation of the electric blower, and the deodorized material can be mixed with dust. In addition, when the amount of dust odor generated is extremely increased, it is possible not only to respond flexibly by increasing the input amount, but also to minimize the input amount of the deodorizing material.

  In the sixth invention, in particular, the deodorizing material according to any one of the first to fifth inventions is obtained by solidifying a deodorizing material in a powder state having a particle size of less than 100 microns through a binder. The deodorizing material in powder form has a large surface area per weight, so it has a large odor adsorption capacity and is easily charged with static electricity, so it easily adheres when mixed with dust, and can remove odors directly. By the force of the suction air flow generated by the blower, it can easily diffuse inside the accumulated dust, and the odor inside the accumulated dust can also be removed.In addition, by solidifying this deodorized material in the powder state via a binder, Since it can be easily installed in the storage room and contact with the outside air can be minimized by solidification, the performance of the deodorizing material can be maintained for a long time.

  In the seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, the deodorizing material input means of any one of the first to sixth aspects inputs the powdered deodorizing material into the dust collecting chamber, so that the deodorizing material in the powder state is dust. Since the contact rate with is high, it is possible to efficiently deodorize and improve the deodorizing performance.

  In the eighth invention, in particular, the deodorizing material charging means according to any one of the first to sixth inventions forcibly cuts and re-pulverizes the solidified deodorizing material and inputs the deodorized material into the dust collecting chamber. Thus, the deodorizing material can be introduced quantitatively, and by cutting the solidified deodorizing material, a powdery deodorizing material having a high contact rate with dust can be easily produced. In addition, since the inside of the solidified deodorizing material is difficult to adsorb moisture and the like, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the solidified deodorizing material itself, increase durability, and improve performance.

  In the ninth aspect of the invention, in particular, the storage chamber and the deodorizing material charging means according to any one of the first to eighth aspects of the present invention are incorporated in the middle of the suction pipe, whereby the deodorizing material is sucked into the suction air passage. The deodorizing material can be fed into the dust collection chamber together with dust, and the deodorizing material input section is configured separately from the dust collection chamber, so that it is not affected by the type and configuration of the dust collection chamber, and the deodorizing material. Can be constructed.

  In the tenth aspect of the invention, in particular, the deodorizing material according to any one of the first to ninth aspects of the present invention includes either activated carbon or zeolite, thereby efficiently removing a composite odor such as dust of an electric vacuum cleaner. can do.

  In the eleventh aspect of the invention, in particular, the deodorizing material according to any one of the first to tenth aspects of the present invention includes an antibacterial material. Proliferation of bacteria can be suppressed, and it can be effective in terms of hygiene in addition to odor.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a dust collection chamber 2 and an electric blower 3 are disposed in a main body 1 of the vacuum cleaner, and a suction port 4 communicates with the dust collection chamber 2 at the front of the main body 1. Is connected to a suction pipe 5 for sucking and introducing dust from the floor or the like. The cleaning work is performed by operating the electric blower 3 to generate suction air and sucking dust, so that the dust is stored in the dust collecting chamber 2 through the suction pipe 5, and only the suction airflow passes through the dust removing means. The fine dust is removed and discharged outside the main body 1.

  Next, a description will be given with reference to an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the deodorizing material input part in FIGS. 1 and 2. A storage chamber 6 is installed in the communication upper part of the suction pipe 5 before the dust collection chamber 2, and a deodorizing material 7 is loaded in the storage chamber 6. The deodorizing material 7 is obtained by forming activated carbon powder having an average particle size of 20 microns into a prismatic shape using colloidal silica as a binder and solidifying it.

  A deodorizing material charging means 8 is incorporated at the bottom of the storage chamber 6 facing the suction pipe 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the deodorizing material charging means 8 has a plurality of thin metal plates fixed at equal intervals by a frame-shaped jig, and the end surfaces of the thin plates support the deodorizing material 7. . In the deodorizing material charging means 8, when the amplitude operation occurs in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the thin plate, the contact surface of the deodorizing material 7 is cut from the surface layer by a certain width, and the deodorizing material 7 is The bond between the binder and the activated carbon powder is broken, and it falls into the suction pipe 5 while returning to the powder state again.

  The amplitude operation of the deodorizing material charging means 8 can generate a stable amplitude by using a vibration means 9 such as an electromagnetic vibrator. Further, if an elastic means 10 such as a spring is installed on the opposite side of the vibration means 9 with the deodorizing material charging means 8 interposed therebetween, the amplitude becomes more stable.

  Further, since the amount of cutting can be stabilized by pressing the deodorizing material 7 with a constant force against the deodorizing material charging means 8, the elastic means 10 is provided between the deodorizing material 7 and the lid of the storage chamber 6.

  Further, an infrared sensor is installed as a dust detection means 11 toward the inside of the suction pipe 5 on the upstream side of the deodorizing material input means 8. The electric blower 3, the deodorizing material charging means 8, the dust detection means 11, the power supply circuit 12 for controlling the power supplied to the vacuum cleaner, and the operation stop switch 13 are configured as shown in the electric circuit block diagram of FIG. The electric blower 3 and the dust detection means 11 are activated by the operation stop switch 13, and the dust detection means 11 continuously irradiates infrared rays into the suction pipe 5, and the dust is sucked to irradiate infrared rays. The change in the amount is detected as a signal, the deodorizing material charging means 8 is operated for a certain time, the deodorizing material 7 is cut, and activated carbon powder is charged into the suction pipe 5. The charged activated carbon powder moves in an air stream into the dust collection chamber 2 while being mixed with dust.

  The effect of the present invention was examined using the vacuum cleaner configured as described above.

(Experimental example 1)
Using the above vacuum cleaner, the actual room was cleaned for 15 minutes. As a control experiment, the deodorizing input means 8 continues during the operation of the electric blower 3 as shown in the electric circuit block diagram of FIG. 5 without the deodorizing material 7 and without the dust detection means 11 in the above vacuum cleaner. The actual room was also cleaned for 15 minutes using a total of two conditions of vacuum cleaner. This actual room cleaning was continued for 30 days. As a result of continuing cleaning while sensuously conscious of exhaust odor, the vacuum cleaner of the target experiment without deodorizing material was worried about the odor of exhaust immediately after the start of operation from about the seventh day In both the electric vacuum cleaner of this embodiment and the control experiment for introducing the deodorizing material without the dust detection means 11, both the exhaust odor was noticed both at the start of the operation and during the operation even at the end of the test on the 30th day of the experiment. Never happened.

Next, these vacuum cleaners were set in a 1 m ³ sealed chamber, allowed to stand for one day, and then operated for 30 seconds. The air in the chamber was subjected to odor sniffing sensory evaluation by six sensory evaluation panelists. As a result, in the present embodiment, the average odor intensity was 0.8, whereas the condition without the deodorizing material 7 in the control experiment had an average odor intensity of 2.8, and the dust detection means. The condition without 11 was that the average odor intensity was 0.5, and it was confirmed that all the conditions for introducing the deodorizing material 7 were significantly reduced in odor intensity quantitatively.

  Taking into account that the odor intensity 1 is the odor detection threshold, both the present embodiment and the condition without the dust detection means 11 in the control experiment realize exhaust without odor.

  Further, in both the present embodiment and the target experiment, the dust in the dust collection chamber 2 is sucked by about 70 g. On the other hand, when the weight of the deodorizing material 7 is measured, the present embodiment is 0.72 g, The control experiment was 2.05 g, each with a reduced weight. That is, about 1 wt% and 3 wt% of the dust in the dust collection chamber 2 are respectively added. Considering together with the sensory evaluation result of the exhaust odor, it is understood that it is sufficient that the deodorizing material 7 is introduced in an amount of 1 wt% with respect to the amount of dust.

  From the above results, as in the present embodiment, the deodorizing material 7 is introduced into the suction airflow and mixed with the dust to remove the odor of the dust. Since no odor is generated in the dust collection chamber 2, the odor contained in the exhaust at the start of operation, in which usually a high concentration of odor is likely to be discharged, is greatly reduced, and cleaning work can be performed in a comfortable air quality environment. Furthermore, since the amount of input can be saved without sacrificing the deodorizing effect by detecting the time when dust is sucked in when the deodorizing material 7 is input, the deodorizing material 7 is regularly added frequently. Less.

  In the present embodiment, the dust detecting means 11 is used as a control means for operating the deodorizing material input means 8 to cut and input the deodorizing material 7, but the electric circuit block of FIG. As shown in the figure, an odor detecting means 14 is installed in the exhaust air passage after the dust collection chamber 2 to detect an increase in the odor level contained in the exhaust, and the deodorizing material charging means 8 is operated. As shown in the electric circuit block diagram, a deodorizing material charging switch 15 is provided so that the user can arbitrarily stop the operation of the deodorizing material charging means 8, and the user periodically inserts the deodorizing material 7 during cleaning work. Even if it does, the same deodorizing effect and the saving effect of the input amount of the deodorizing material 7 can be obtained. If an oxide semiconductor type gas sensor is used as the odor detection means 14, it is possible to detect even a composite odor derived from dust at a low concentration, and the odor concentration for starting the operation of the deodorizing material input means 8. A wide range of levels can be set.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although activated carbon was used as the deodorizing material 7, the composite odor from dust can be reduced and the same effect can be acquired also with zeolite etc. besides activated carbon.

  Further, when the storage chamber 6 having a deodorizing material is used, the odor level contained in the exhaust can be further reduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the dust collection chamber 2 has been described using a paper pack method, but a centrifugal separation type dust collection chamber 2 that separates dust and air by generating a centrifugal airflow may be used. Since the input mechanism of the deodorizing material 7 is a separate body, the same deodorizing effect can be obtained without being affected by the form of the dust collecting chamber 2. In the case of the centrifugal separation method, since the ratio of the airflow passing through the dust is reduced, the odor contained in the exhaust gas is further reduced.

(Experimental example 2)
Instead of the deodorizing material 7, granular activated carbon having a particle diameter of about 1 to 2 mm, which is hardened with a binder, is loaded into the storage chamber 6 of the present embodiment, and an actual room cleaning experiment is conducted in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1. went. When the chamber test was performed in the same manner after the completion, the average of the odor intensity of the exhaust gas was 2.5, and a remarkable deodorizing effect was not obtained. The amount of deodorizing material obtained by hardening granular activated carbon was 5 g.

  From this result and the result of Experimental Example 1, the deodorizing effect is not obtained regardless of the shape and particle size of the deodorizing material, and the introduction of the powdered deodorizing material 7 gives the most odor. It was confirmed that it could be reduced. It was also confirmed that when the deodorizing material 7 having a large particle size was used, the amount of unit input was increased, the frequency of adding the deodorizing material was greatly increased, and the deodorizing method was inconvenient to use.

(Embodiment 2)
In this embodiment, 2 parts of zeolite powder containing 5% of silver as antibacterial material 16 is added to 10 parts of activated carbon powder of deodorizing material 7 and shaped into a prismatic shape using colloidal silica as a binder. Turned into.

  This molded product was loaded into the storage chamber 6 of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment, and an actual room cleaning experiment was carried out for 30 days in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1. Collect 1g from the dust in the dust collection chamber after the experiment, disperse it in sterilized water containing surfactant, apply 0.2ml of the dispersed aqueous solution on a standard agar medium, and in an incubator at 35 ° C for 40 hours. Cultured. As a control experiment, dust without the deodorizing material 7 of Embodiment 1 was also cultured in the same manner.

  As a result, it was confirmed that the number of bacteria was reduced by 90% or more in this embodiment compared with the control experiment.

  As described above, by adding the antibacterial material 16 to the deodorizing material 7, the antibacterial material 16 directly acts on the dust to suppress the growth of bacteria in the dust collecting chamber 2, and the sanitary level of exhaust is also improved.

  As described above, the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention significantly increases the clean level of exhaust during operation of the vacuum cleaner by introducing the deodorizing material into the dust collecting chamber and controlling the charging operation. Maintaining the proper capability of functions and reducing the frequency of adding deodorizing materials, it can be applied to deodorizing applications for household vacuum cleaners, commercial vacuum cleaners, and garbage processing machines.

Cross-sectional view of the structure of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Same as above, enlarged sectional view of the main part of the deodorizing material input part of the vacuum cleaner The schematic perspective view which shows the operation state of the deodorizing material injection | throwing-in means of a vacuum cleaner Same as above, electric circuit block diagram when using dust detection means as control means Same as above, electric circuit block diagram when interlocking with the operation of the electric blower as the control means Same as above, electric circuit block diagram in case of using odor detection means as control means The electric circuit block diagram in the case of using the input means operation switch as the control means

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Dust collection chamber 3 Electric blower 5 Suction pipe 6 Storage chamber 7 Deodorizing material 8 Deodorizing material input means 11 Dust detection means 14 Odor detection means 15 Deodorizing material input switch 16 Antibacterial material

Claims (11)

A dust collection chamber for collecting dust, an electric blower, and a storage chamber for storing a deodorizing material provided upstream of the dust collection chamber; and a deodorizing material charging means is incorporated in the storage chamber; An electric vacuum cleaner that feeds the deodorizing material through a material charging means. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control means inputs the deodorizing material in conjunction with the operation of the electric blower. 2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control means inputs the deodorizing material in conjunction with the dust detection means installed facing the air path upstream from the dust collection chamber. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control means inputs a deodorizing material in conjunction with an odor detection means installed in an air passage downstream of the dust collection chamber. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control means inputs the deodorizing material through a deodorizing material input switch installed in the main body of the electric vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the deodorizing material is obtained by solidifying a powdered deodorizing material having a particle size of less than 100 microns through a binder. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the deodorizing material charging means inputs the powdered deodorizing material into the dust collection chamber. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the deodorizing material charging means forcibly cuts and re-pulverizes the solidified deodorizing material and charges the deodorized material into the dust collection chamber. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the storage chamber and the deodorizing material charging means are incorporated in the middle of the suction pipe. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the deodorizing material includes activated carbon or zeolite. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein an antibacterial material is included in the deodorizing material.

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