JP2005279506A - Filter unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filter unit capable of reducing maintenance such as washing cleaning or the like and capable of ensuring good dust separability and air permeability over a long period of time. <P>SOLUTION: A porous film 26 comprising PTFE is provided on the upstream side surface of a base material with respect to suction flow and a perforated protective film 5Bc having a strength higher than that of the porous film 26 is arranged to the upstream side of the porous film 26 in a freely detachable manner to expose the porous film 26 to the outside. By this constitution, by utilzing the good dust separability of the PTFE porous film 26, the dust adhering to the surface of the PTFE porous film 26 can be simply removed by vibration or the like and, when the dust impossible to remove even by vibration or the like begins to deposit, the perforated protective film 5Bc is detached from the PTFE porous membrane 26 to enable a user to perform the washing cleaning of the PTFE. The good dust separability of the filter unit can be held over a long period of time while solving the problem of brittleness possessed by the PTFE porous membrane 26 having good dust separability. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a filter unit suitable for a vacuum cleaner.

  Generally, a vacuum cleaner collects dust that has been absorbed by a dust collecting filter provided in the dust collecting part and deposits it on the dust collecting part. The dust attached to the dust collecting filter is manually removed. The device was configured to remove dust.

An example of a filter used in such a vacuum cleaner is a polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as PTFE) porous membrane sandwiched with a breathable support member made of a nonwoven fabric (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).
JP 2002-273126 A

  However, in the above-mentioned filter, the dust deposited on the breathable support member on the surface side of the PTFE porous membrane is poorly peeled, the ventilation pressure loss becomes high in a short time, and the user cleans using a brush or the like. Or it was necessary to clean by washing with water.

  Further, when the filter portion of the filter is formed in a pleat shape, it is necessary to clean each folded surface of the filter, and there is a problem that cleaning work, that is, maintenance is very troublesome. Furthermore, at the innermost part of the pleated valley, it is difficult to reach the cleaning brush, etc., and it is difficult to remove the adhering dust sufficiently, and dust accumulates on the surface of the dust collecting filter and becomes clogged. There was a problem that the airflow pressure loss increased at an early stage and the suction performance of the vacuum cleaner deteriorated.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a filter unit that solves the above-described problems and can ensure good dust separation and air permeability over a long period of time and at the same time reduce maintenance such as washing with water.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a porous film made of PTFE on the intake upstream side surface of a base material, and arranges a porous protective film having higher strength than the porous film on the upstream side of the porous film. In addition, the porous protective film is detachable so that the porous film can be exposed to the outside.

  With such a configuration, since the PTFE porous membrane is located on the surface, it is possible to easily remove the dust adhering to the surface by vibration or the like by taking advantage of the good dust separation property of the PTFE porous membrane. Since the porous protective membrane on the upstream side of the porous membrane protects the PTFE porous membrane, it is possible to prevent damage to the relatively fragile PTFE porous membrane and maintain stable and good dust separation over a long period of time. In addition, when dust that cannot be removed even by dust removal such as vibration starts to accumulate, the porous protective film can be removed from the PTFE porous film and the user can perform cleaning with water, etc. It is possible to maintain good dust separation properties over a long period of time while solving this problem.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a filter unit that can maintain a good dust separation property for a long period of time, maintain a good air permeability, and easily perform maintenance such as washing with water.

  1st invention provides the porous membrane which consists of PTFE in the inhalation | air_intake upstream side surface of a base material, arrange | positions the porous protective membrane stronger than the said porous membrane in the upstream of this porous membrane, The porous membrane can be exposed to the outside so as to be detachable. Since the PTFE porous membrane is located on the surface, the dust adhering to the surface of the PTFE porous membrane can be used to remove dust attached to the surface. It can be easily removed by vibration, etc., and the porous protective membrane on the upstream side of the PTFE porous membrane protects the porous PTFE membrane, so it is stable over a long period of time, preventing damage to the relatively fragile PTFE porous membrane. And good dust separation property can be maintained. That is, it is possible to maintain a good dust separation property over a long period of time while solving the problem of vulnerability of the PTFE porous membrane having a good dust separation property. Moreover, when dust that cannot be removed even by dust removal such as vibration starts to accumulate, the user can remove the porous protective film from the PTFE porous film and perform cleaning with water, etc., so that maintenance can be performed easily.

  In a second aspect of the present invention, a porous film made of PTFE is provided on the intake upstream side surface of the base material, a porous protective film having a higher strength than the porous film is disposed on the upstream side of the porous film, and the porous protective film is provided. The porous membrane can be exposed to the outside so that it can be opened and closed. Like the first invention, it can maintain good dust separation over a long period of time and can be easily maintained, and the porous protective membrane can be opened and closed. Since there is, there is an advantage that it is not lost as it is detachable.

  In a third aspect of the present invention, a porous film made of PTFE is provided on the intake upstream side of the base material, a porous protective film having a higher strength than the porous film is disposed on the upstream side of the porous film, and the porous protective film is slid The porous membrane can be exposed to the outside freely. Like the first invention, it can maintain good dust separation over a long period of time and can be easily maintained, and the porous protective membrane can be opened and closed. Since it is free, there is an advantage that it cannot be removed and lost like a removable one.

  And the 4th invention is comprised in the said 1st-3rd invention by the combination of the filter medium unit provided with the base material and the porous membrane, and the protection unit provided with the porous protective membrane.

  The fifth invention is the above-described first to fourth inventions, wherein the porous protective film is provided with a gap on the upstream side surface of the porous film, and the porous protective film is in close contact with the surface of the porous film. Therefore, the surface of the porous film is made only of PTFE as compared with the one that protects this, and therefore, there is an advantage that dust attached to the surface of the porous film can be removed very well.

  In a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the base material and the porous membrane are configured in a pleat shape, and the dust collecting performance can be improved by increasing the surface area of the filter unit.

  7th invention is set as the structure which made the opening dimension of the hole of the porous protective film 0.1-5 mm in the said 1st-6th invention, and does not increase the ventilation pressure loss by a porous protective film, and consists of PTFE. The porous membrane can be protected.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking a filter unit using the present invention for a vacuum cleaner as an example. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 1 of the vacuum cleaner has an electric blower 2 that emits suction air and a detachable dust collector 3, and the dust collector 3 collects the sucked dust. The filter unit 5 is a dust collecting unit, and the dust accumulating unit 4 that accumulates dust. Reference numeral 6 denotes dust removing means for removing dust collected and adhered by the filter unit 5, and 7 is a cord reel for storing a power cord. Reference numeral 8 denotes a suction tool for sucking dust, which is attached to the extension pipe 9, and the extension pipe 9 is connected to the main body 1 via a handle portion 10 and a hose 11.

  Dust and suction air sucked from the suction tool 8 are conveyed to the dust collecting part 3 of the main body 1 through the extension tube 9, the handle part 10, and the hose 11 and collected by the filter unit 5. The dust is gradually accumulated and the filter unit 5 is clogged, and the suction air volume is reduced. However, the dust removing means 6 is operated because the dust removal means 6 operates periodically or when the clogged dust is detected. The dust adhering to the unit 5 is efficiently removed and cleaned by vibration, impact, scraping or wiping, and the dust removed and cleaned is accumulated in the dust accumulation unit 4. As a result, the suction air volume is recovered and the initial suction force is secured.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the dust removing means 12 and the filter unit 5 are connected by a connecting body A15 connected to the dust removing means 12 and a connecting body B16 that vibrates the filter unit 5, and the dust collecting section 3 Is removed from the main body 1 and attached to the main body 1 again, the connecting body A15 and the connecting body B16 are connected. The air tightness of the dust collecting part 3 is performed on the outer peripheral surface of the connected body, and the tight surfaces of the vacuum cleaner main body 1 and the dust collecting part 3 are provided with a taper angle. Even if only the dust collection unit 3 is subjected to maintenance such as washing with water, the dust removing means 12 is not affected and a highly reliable configuration can be realized.

  The operation of the dust removing means 12 and the electric blower 2 is controlled by the control means 17. That is, the control means 17 operates / stops the dust removing means 12 and the electric blower 2 by operating the operation means 18, and the operation of the electric blower 2 is started or stopped or during operation by operating the operation means 18. The dust removing means 12 is configured to operate for a predetermined time.

  FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the dust removing means 12, and the dust removing means 12 has a certain space in the magnetic path of the iron core part 19, the coil part 20 as an electric drive source, and the iron core part 19. The magnet 21 is integrally formed with a coupling body A15 that is a vibration transmission body, and the coupling body A15 is supported by a spring body 22 that is an elastic body, and is supported so as to be operable. Has been. When a commercial power supply or a DC pulse power supply is energized to the coil part 20, a magnetic field is generated in the iron core part 19, whereby a magnetic force acts on the magnet 21, and the coupling body A15 vibrates in the vertical direction. The vibration component is transmitted to the filter unit 5 via the connecting body B16, and the filter unit 5 is vibrated in the vertical direction, so that the dust attached to the filter unit 5 is separated.

  FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the dust removing means 12. The dust removing means 12 is composed of a solenoid coil portion 23 as an electric drive source, a shaft 24 as a moving body, and a spring body 25 as an elastic body. The connecting body A15, which is a transmission body at the tip of the shaft 24, is connected via a spring body 25. When the solenoid coil unit 23 is energized with a commercial power source or a DC pulse power source, the shaft 24 moves in the front-rear direction. The vibration component is vibrated, and the vibration component is transmitted to the filter unit 5 through the spring body 25, the coupling body A15, and the coupling body B16 to vibrate the filter unit 5 in the front-rear direction, and the dust attached to the filter unit 5 is peeled off. It works to do.

  In any of the above embodiments, the vibration exciter 16a of the coupling body B16 that vibrates the filter unit 5 is provided on the intake air downstream side of the filter unit 5, and this exciter 16a strikes or vibrates the filter unit 5. It is configured so that.

  In the above description, the case where the dust removing means 12 is operated by an electric drive source has been described as an example. However, the dust removing means 12 is mechanically interlocked with the cord reel that houses the power cord 7 and is manually operated. Needless to say, the same effect can be obtained even when the power source 7 is operated using the force for pulling out the power cord 7 as a drive source.

  Now, FIG. 5 shows the structure of the filter unit 5 used for such a vacuum cleaner, and is composed of a combination of a filter medium unit 5A and a protection unit 5B. The filter medium unit 5A is a filter medium in which a porous film 26 made of PTFE is arranged on the front surface layer portion on the upstream side of the intake air of a base material 25 made of a single material such as polyester, rayon, polypropylene, or a non-woven fabric formed by mixing these materials. Is formed into a pleated shape and the outer periphery thereof is integrated with a synthetic resin frame member 5Aa. Further, the protection unit 5B is made of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, which is stronger than the PTFE porous film 26, on a frame body 5Bb formed of a soft material such as rubber that is detachably fitted to the frame member 5Aa of the filter medium unit 5A. A net or porous sheet-like porous protective film 5Bc formed of stainless steel or the like is integrally formed, and is located with a gap T on the intake upstream side of the PTFE porous film 26, so that relatively large coarse dust is present. The PTFE porous membrane 26 is protected from the outside.

  In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the vacuum cleaner separates and collects coarse dust out of the dust sucked into the dust collecting unit 3 by the porous protective film 5Bc of the protection unit 5B of the filter unit 5, The collected dust is accumulated in the dust accumulation unit 4. The fine dust that has passed through the porous protective film 5Bc is separated and collected by the PTFE porous film 26 and accumulated.

  When the clogged state of the filter unit 5 is detected periodically or when the dust removing means 12 vibrates the PTFE porous membrane 26 of the filter unit 5, the PTFE porous membrane 26 and the frame of the PTFE porous membrane 26 are detected. The porous protective film Bc of the protection unit 5B fitted to the member 5Aa is vibrated. As a result, the fine dust adhered and accumulated on the intake upstream side of the PTFE porous membrane 26 is removed by the vibration force, so that the coarse dust falls into the dust accumulation unit 4 and the fine dust falls into the fine dust chamber 13. .

  Here, in the filter medium unit 5A, the PTFE porous membrane 26 is located in the uppermost stream, and fine dust adheres to the surface thereof. Therefore, the PTFE is very good in dust separation, so that the filter unit 5 is vibrated. Adhering dust can be removed and cleaned simply by applying, and the suction force can be maintained by simple vibration dust removal.

  Further, since the porous PTFE membrane 26 is weak and fragile, the PTFE porous membrane 26 is susceptible to damage such as peeling off when it is exposed to coarse dust sucked on itself or pebbles having a large mass. Since the porous protective film Bc having higher strength than this is provided on the upstream side of the intake film 26, the damage caused by hitting such rough dust or large-sized pebbles is kept to a minimum, for a long time. It is possible to exhibit the good dust-removing property.

  The porous protective film 28 has an opening dimension a of 0.5 to 5 mm, preferably 1 to 2 mm, thereby protecting the PTFE porous film 26 without increasing the air pressure loss by the porous protective film 28. be able to.

  On the other hand, as described above, the dust attached to the PTFE porous membrane 26 of the filter medium unit 5A is subjected to vibration and dust removal, and while this is repeated several times, some dust adheres and accumulates without being completely removed. In such a case, the PTFE porous membrane 26 of the filter medium unit 5A is exposed to the outside by removing the protection unit 5B from the filter medium unit 5A, and the user can clean it with water or the like. That is, it is possible to easily clean and maintain dust even when the air permeability has deteriorated due to long-term use.

  In addition, in this embodiment, the vibrating portion 16a of the connector B16 strikes and vibrates the base material 25 on the downstream side of the intake air, that is, the side opposite to the PTFE porous membrane 26, so that the PTFE porous membrane 26 is vibrated. It is possible to exert its function over a long period of time without causing damage such as peeling off directly.

  Further, since the dust removing means 12 is provided on the downstream side of the intake side of the filter unit 5 and substantially above the dust unit, even if the dust removed is separated from the filter unit 5, it does not fall into the dust removing means 12. The influence of dust on the means 12 does not appear and the reliability is improved.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the filter unit. In this filter unit, a filter unit 5A is provided with a protection unit 5B that can be opened and closed via a rotation support shaft 29. The frame 5Bb of the protection unit 5B is formed in a taper shape so that the dimension on the side opposite to the rotation support shaft 29, that is, the fitting depth is large (deep).

  According to this embodiment, since the protection unit 5B is connected to the filter medium unit 5A by the rotation support shaft 29, the protection unit 5B can be removed for cleaning and lost, and the protection unit 5B can be removed from the filter medium unit 5A. There is an advantage that the fitting becomes easy.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment of the filter unit. This filter unit is provided with, for example, rail-shaped guides 30 on both sides of the filter medium unit 5A, and is slidably provided on the protection unit 5B by being guided by the guides 30. Is.

  This embodiment also has an advantage that the protection unit 5B can be prevented from being lost as in the second embodiment, and can be easily set on the filter medium unit 5A.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the collected dust can be easily peeled off, and the dust removal effect of the dust removing means is greatly enhanced, so that good air permeability can be ensured over a long period of time and maintenance of the filter cleaning can be performed. This is particularly useful when used in a vacuum cleaner, because its suction performance can be maintained over a long period of time.

The external view of the vacuum cleaner which employ | adopted the filter unit of 1st Embodiment of this invention Side sectional view of the dust collector Side sectional view of the dust removal means Side sectional view of other dust removal means (A) Front view of the filter unit in the first embodiment (b) Same sectional view (c) Same front enlarged view (d) Same enlarged sectional view (A) Partial decision side view of the filter unit in the second embodiment (b) Side view of partial decision when the protection unit is opened (A) Partial decision side view of the filter unit in the third embodiment (b) Side view of partial decision when the protection unit is opened

Explanation of symbols

5 filter unit 5A filter medium unit 5B protection unit 5Aa frame member 5Bb frame 5Bc porous protective film 25 base material 26 porous film

Claims (7)

A porous film made of polytetrafluoroethylene is provided on the intake upstream side of the base material, and a porous protective film having a higher strength than the porous film is disposed on the upstream side of the porous film so that the porous protective film is removable. A filter unit configured to expose the porous membrane to the outside. A porous film made of polytetrafluoroethylene is provided on the intake upstream side of the base material, and a porous protective film having a strength higher than that of the porous film is arranged on the upstream side of the porous film so that the porous protective film can be opened and closed freely. A filter unit configured to expose the porous membrane to the outside. A porous film made of polytetrafluoroethylene is provided on the intake upstream side of the base material, and a porous protective film having a strength higher than that of the porous film is arranged on the upstream side of the porous film so that the porous protective film is slidable. A filter unit configured to expose the porous membrane to the outside.   The filter unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a filter medium unit including a base material and a porous membrane, and a protection unit including a porous protective membrane. The filter unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the porous protective film is provided with a gap on the upstream side surface of the porous film. The filter unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the substrate and the porous membrane are pleated. The filter unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pore opening of the porous protective film is 0.1 to 5 mm.

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