JP2007167381A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner which precisely detects a suction air volume, and can perform a proper cleaning work. <P>SOLUTION: The vacuum cleaner is equipped with an air rate detecting means 3 which detects the volume of air which is sucked in together with dust and dirt by an electric air blower 1, and a controlling means 4 which controls power to be fed to the electric blower 1 based on the detecting result by the air rate detecting means 3. The air rate detecting means 3 is equipped with a first dust/dirt detecting means 31 which detects dust and dirt passing through a suction air passage 2, and a second dust/dirt detecting means 32 which detects dust and dirt in the same manner on the downstream side of the first dust/dirt detecting means 31. The volume of air passing through the suction air passage 2 is calculated based on a first dust/dirt detecting signal which is detected by the first dust/dirt detecting means 31, and a second dust/dirt detecting signal which is detected by the second dust/dirt detecting means 32. The air volume can surely be detected even if whichever refuse from a fine dust such as a pollen to a large lump refuse such as a cotton refuse is sucked together, and a proper cleaning can efficiently be performed by performing an input control of the electric blower 1 depending on the air volume. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a general household or business use vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner that detects a suction air volume and controls an electric blower according to the detected suction air volume.

  In recent years, due to changes in living environments and lifestyles, an increasing number of consumers perform cleaning at night, and it is desired to reduce the noise of electric vacuum cleaners. There are a wide variety of types of garbage, such as house dust containing pollen and the Kanto loam layer, which are invisible and very small, and light but large litter such as pet hair and cotton. It is becoming. Naturally, the vacuum cleaner that detects the suction air volume and controls the electric power supplied to the electric blower is also desired to improve its accuracy.

  Conventionally, as a method for detecting the amount of air sucked by an electric blower, a power generation method, an electric blower current method, a dust sensor method, and the like are known.

  In the power generation method, a fan that rotates in response to the wind power in the suction path and a generator that rotates the rotor according to the rotation of the fan are provided, and the generated voltage of the generator is output as an air volume signal (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

  The electric blower current method simply sets a predetermined air volume from the current flowing through the electric blower (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Further, the dust sensor system is provided with a dust sensor for detecting passing dust, detecting the passing speed of the dust detected by the dust sensor, and calculating the air volume from the passing speed (for example, refer to Patent Document 3). .
JP-A-6-98846 JP 2001-224543 A JP 2001-8871 A

  However, in a conventional vacuum cleaner using a power generation system, the outside air is sucked and the fan is rotated using the wind, so the outside air suction sound for power generation is loud, and it can be used by users and neighbors. In addition to giving discomfort and sucking cotton dust from the air intake, the intake air volume was not stable and the air volume detection accuracy was poor.

  In addition, in vacuum cleaners that simply derive the air flow from the electric blower current, the correlation between the electric blower current and the air flow is large due to variations in the individual electric blowers and the supply voltage. It was bad and it was inconvenient.

  Furthermore, in the method of calculating the air volume from the pulse width detected by the dust sensor, the pulse width of fine dust such as pollen and the pulse width of a large lump such as cotton dust are greatly different even with the same air volume. There was a problem that the calculation results were different and the air volume could not be detected reliably.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electric vacuum cleaner that can detect air volume reliably and accurately, control an electric blower accurately, and perform efficient cleaning. And

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, an electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes an electric blower that sucks dust through an intake passage, an air volume detection unit that detects an amount of wind sucked by the electric blower, and the air volume Control means for controlling the electric power supplied to the electric blower based on the detection result of the detection means, wherein the air volume detection means includes first dust detection means for detecting dust passing through the intake passage, and the first dust detection means. A second dust detection means disposed on the leeward side of the dust detection means for detecting dust passing through the intake passage, and the first dust detection signal detected by the first dust detection means and the second dust detection means. The amount of wind passing through the intake passage is calculated based on the second dust detection signal detected by the dust detection means, from fine dust such as pollen to large lump dust such as cotton dust. , What trash together Also possible to reliably detect the air flow, by performing electric blower input control in accordance with the air volume, it is possible to perform appropriate cleaning efficiently.

  Further, the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention is based on the electric blower that sucks dust through the intake passage, the air volume detection means that detects the amount of wind sucked by the electric blower, and the detection result of the air volume detection means. Control means for controlling electric power supplied to the electric blower, wherein the air volume detection means detects first dust detection means for detecting dust of a predetermined size or less passing through the intake passage, and the first dust detection. The time from the rise to the fall of the detection signal detected by the means is counted, and the speed of the wind passing through the intake passage is calculated from the measured time, and the amount of wind is calculated from the calculation result. Therefore, since the width of the detection signal always has a correlation with the air volume, the air volume can be detected with only the first dust detection means, so that it can be configured at low cost.

  The vacuum cleaner of the present invention reliably detects the air volume regardless of what dust is sucked together, from fine dust such as pollen to large lump dust such as cotton dust, and the electric blower with high accuracy And appropriate cleaning according to the air volume can be efficiently performed.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric blower that sucks dust through an intake passage, an air volume detection unit that detects an amount of air sucked by the electric blower, and a supply result to the electric blower based on a detection result of the air volume detection unit. Control means for controlling the electric power to be supplied, the air volume detection means being arranged on the leeward side of the first dust detection means for detecting dust passing through the intake passage, and for the intake air A second dust detection means for detecting dust passing through the passage, and a first dust detection signal detected by the first dust detection means and a second dust detection detected by the second dust detection means. Based on the signal, the amount of wind passing through the intake passage is calculated, and it can be reliably sucked together with any dust from fine dust such as pollen to large lump such as cotton dust. The air volume can be detected at Flip and by performing the electric blower input control, it is possible to perform appropriate cleaning efficiently.

  In the second invention, in particular, the first and second dust detection means of the first invention detect dust having a predetermined size or less, and can detect the air volume more accurately.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric blower that sucks dust through an intake passage, an air volume detection unit that detects an amount of air sucked by the electric blower, and a supply result to the electric blower based on a detection result of the air volume detection unit. Control means for controlling electric power to be generated, and the air volume detection means detects first dust detection means for detecting dust of a predetermined size or less passing through the intake passage, and detected by the first dust detection means. It measures the time from the rise to the fall of the detection signal, calculates the speed of the wind passing through the intake passage from the measured time, and calculates the amount of wind from this calculation result, Since the width of the detection signal always correlates with the air volume, the air volume can be detected with only the first dust detection means, so that it can be constructed at low cost.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the first and / or second dust detection means of any one of the first to third aspects of the invention comprises a light emitting means and a light receiving means for receiving light from the light emitting means. As a result, the passage speed of dust can be detected accurately and reliably, and the air volume can be calculated accurately.

  In the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, the shape of the light receiving opening provided in the light receiving means of the fourth aspect of the invention is a substantially rectangular shape in which one piece is perpendicular to the direction in which the wind flows. Since all the detection signals have the same pulse width no matter where the garbage passes, the air volume can be detected with higher accuracy.

  The sixth invention counts the number of sucked dust from the detection signal of at least one of the first or second dust detection means of any one of the first to fifth inventions, and calculates the sucked air volume and dust calculated The electric power supplied to the electric blower is controlled according to the number of the electric blowers, and it is possible to provide a vacuum cleaner that can perform a cleaning operation that is more suitable for actual use.

  According to the seventh invention, according to the amount of wind sucked in any one of the first to sixth inventions, the magnitude of the air volume is notified by voice or / and display. In addition to the electric blower control, it is possible to provide a vacuum cleaner that can be recognized by perception such as sound and display.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control circuit for a vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an intake passage of the vacuum cleaner, and FIG. 3 is a dust detection signal of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 4 is a correlation diagram between the air volume and the pulse interval of the vacuum cleaner.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an electric blower built in a vacuum cleaner main body (not shown) of an electric vacuum cleaner, which sucks dust through an intake passage 2, and 3 is a wind sucked by the electric blower 1. The air volume detecting means 4 for detecting the amount is a control means for controlling the electric power supplied to the electric blower 1 based on the detection result of the air volume detecting means 3.

  The air volume detection means 3 is arranged on the leeward side of the first dust detection means 31 as well as the first dust detection means 31 for detecting dust passing through the intake passage 2 and the dust detection means 31 for detecting dust passing through the intake passage 2. Based on the second dust detection means 32, the first dust detection signal detected by the first dust detection means 31, and the second dust detection signal of the second dust detection means 32, The calculation means 33 is configured to calculate the speed of the collected dust passing air, and the air volume calculation means 34 is configured to calculate the air volume from the calculation result.

  The first dust detection means 31 includes a first light emitting unit 31a configured by an infrared light emitting diode and the like, and a first light receiving unit 31b configured by a phototransistor and the like that receives light from the first light emitting unit 31a. And a first amplifying means 31c for amplifying the signal detected by the light receiving section 31b, and a first comparing means 31d for comparing and outputting the amplified signal with a predetermined voltage.

  The second dust detection means 32 includes a second light emitting unit 32a configured by a light emitting diode, a second light receiving unit 32b that includes a phototransistor and the like, and receives light from the second light emitting unit 32a. A second amplifying unit 32c for amplifying the signal detected by the second light receiving unit 32b and a second comparing unit 32d for comparing the amplified signal with a predetermined voltage are included.

  The operation of the vacuum cleaner having the above configuration will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, when the sucked dust passes through the intake passage 2 and passes between the first light-emitting portion 31a and the first light-receiving portion 31b, it corresponds to the dust as shown in FIG. The signal V1a is output from the first light receiving unit 31b. The signal V1a is input to an amplifying unit 31c configured by an operational amplifier or the like, amplified with a predetermined amplification factor while cutting a signal in a band of a predetermined frequency or higher, and output as a signal V1b. This V1b is input to the first comparison means 31d, compared with a predetermined voltage value Vc, converted into a first pulse signal V1c, and output.

  Similarly, in the second dust detection means 32, when dust passes between the second light emitting unit 32a and the second light receiving unit 32b, a signal V2a corresponding to the dust is output from the second light receiving unit 32b. This signal V2a is input to the second amplifying means 32c constituted by an operational amplifier or the like, amplified with a predetermined amplification factor while cutting a signal in a band of a predetermined frequency or higher, and output as a signal V2b. This V2b is input to the second comparing means 32d, compared with a predetermined voltage value Vc, converted into a pulse signal V2c, and output.

  The first pulse signal V1c and the second pulse signal V2c are input to the calculation means 33. At this time, the calculation means 33 detects the rising edge or the falling edge of each of the pulse signals V1c and V2c, and determines the time from the detection of the first pulse signal V1c to the detection of the second pulse signal V2c. Keep time. The air volume calculating means 34 inputs this time-measured value, and calculates the air volume from a predetermined air volume-pulse interval correlation diagram as shown in FIG. And the control means 4 receives this air volume calculation result, and supplies electric power to the electric blower 1 so that it can drive | operate with the optimal value according to each air volume.

  The above-described embodiment will be described below with more specific numerical values.

  It is assumed that the second dust detection means 32 is disposed 10 mm leeward from the first dust detection means 31 provided on the intake passage 2. The size of the sucked dust is from several μm such as pollen to several hundred μ such as cotton dust. The openings (not shown) of the first light receiving part 31b and the second light receiving part 32b have a detection signal pulse width of 3 mm in the direction of the wind so that it is not affected by the size of the dust. Shall be used.

  Furthermore, the inner diameter of the intake passage 2 is set to φ40 mm.

  First, when dust passes through the first dust detection means 31, the amount of light received by the light receiving portion 31b decreases while the dust passes over the first light receiving portion 31b (while being blocked). This change is detected as the signal V1a, and the first pulse signal V1c is obtained through the first amplifying means 31c and the first comparing means 31d.

Here, if the dust passes through the second dust detection stage 32 with a delay of 500 μs, the second pulse signal V2c is output from the second dust detection means 32 with a delay of 500 μs. The calculation means 33 to which these two signals V1c and V2c are input measures the pulse interval from the rising (or falling) edge of the pulse, that is, between the first dust detection means 31 and the second dust detection means 32 ( 10 mm), the dust is passed in 500 μsec, and the wind speed is calculated to be 20 m / sec. Receiving 20 m / sec, the calculation means 34 calculates that the air flow is 1.5 m ³ / min because the intake passage is φ40 mm, and controls the electric blower 1 with the optimum power of 1.5 m ³ / min. To do. In addition, since the speed of the dust passing through the intake passage 2 is directly detected, it is possible to accurately detect the air volume even with respect to input fluctuations due to variations in the manufacturing of the electric blower 1 and power supply voltage, and the electric air that matches the suction air can be detected. Input control of the blower 1 can be performed with high accuracy.

  In practice, it is also effective to determine whether the detected dust pattern is the same dust because a plurality of dusts are sucked instead of a single one. As shown in FIG. 3, from a pulse input pattern detected by the first dust detection means 31 and a pulse input pattern detected by the second dust detection means during a predetermined time T1 that is sufficiently longer than the pulse width, It is determined that the same dust has been detected, and the passage through the intake flow path 2 is also based on the time difference until the second dust detection means 32 detects the same pulse as the pulse detected by the first dust detection means. The wind speed of the collected dust can be calculated. In this way, the signal can be detected more reliably by calculating the wind speed not only from a single pulse but also from the same pattern of pulse detection at a predetermined time.

  Furthermore, the first light-receiving unit 31b and the second light-receiving unit 32b are shaped so that the openings are rectangular so as to be perpendicular to the traveling direction of the dust, so that the detection signal pulse intervals are the same. When the speed is the same and the speed is always constant, the air volume can be detected more accurately.

  Although not shown in particular, by providing a notification means for notifying the magnitude of the air volume by voice or display according to the intake air volume, the user can be informed of the magnitude of the air volume, and usability can be improved. .

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, the vacuum cleaner in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the vacuum cleaner in the present embodiment, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the intake passage of the vacuum cleaner, FIG. 7 is a waveform of a dust detection signal of the vacuum cleaner, and FIG. 8 is a correlation diagram between the air volume and the pulse width of the electric vacuum cleaner. In addition, about the same component as the vacuum cleaner in the said 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  5 and 6, reference numeral 1 denotes an electric blower that is built in the vacuum cleaner and sucks dust through the intake passage 2, and 3 is an air volume detection means that detects the amount of wind sucked by the electric blower 1. Is a control means for controlling the electric power supplied to the electric blower 1 based on the detection result of the air volume detection means 3.

  The air volume detection means 3 of the present embodiment is configured to collect dust collecting air that passes through the intake passage 2 based on the first dust detection means 31 and the first dust detection signal detected by the first dust detection means 31. The calculation means 33 for calculating the wind speed of the air and the air volume calculation means 34 for calculating the air volume based on the calculation result, and the first dust detection means 31 is a first light emitting section composed of an infrared light emitting diode or the like. 31a, a first light receiving portion 31b made of a phototransistor or the like for receiving light from the first light emitting portion 31a, a first amplifying means 31c for amplifying a signal detected by the first light receiving portion 31b, The amplified signal is composed of a band-pass filter 31e that passes only a signal in a predetermined frequency band, and a first comparison unit 31d that compares and outputs the signal with a predetermined voltage.

  The operation of the vacuum cleaner having the above configuration will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6, when the sucked dust passes through the intake passage 2 and passes between the first light emitting unit 31a and the first light receiving unit 31b, the signal V1a corresponding to the dust is first. Are output from the light receiving unit 31b. As shown in FIG. 7, the signal V1a is input to an amplifying means 31c constituted by an operational amplifier or the like, and is amplified at a predetermined amplification factor. Then, a signal having a band below a predetermined frequency and above is output as a signal V1e having only a desired band through a band pass filter 31e.

  This V1e is input to the first comparison means 31d, compared with a predetermined voltage value Vc, converted into a first pulse signal V1c, and output. The first pulse signal V1c is input to the calculation means 33. At this time, the calculation means 33 detects the rising edge and the falling edge of the pulse signal Vc and measures the time between them. The air volume calculating means 34 inputs this time value and calculates the air volume from a predetermined air volume-pulse width correlation diagram as shown in FIG. And the control means 4 receives this air volume calculation result, and supplies electric power to the electric blower 1 so that it can drive | operate with the optimal value according to each air volume.

  The embodiment described above will be described below with more specific numerical values.

Detected want air volume, when 2.4 m ³ / min 0.5 m ³ / min is a common use air volume of the vacuum cleaner, the speed of the dust passing through the intake passage 2 with a diameter of 40mm is 32m / sec ~6m / Sec, and the pulse width detected by the first light receiving unit 31b having an opening of 3 mm is 93 μs to 500 μs. Therefore, the band pass filter 31e that can pass only the band of 10 kHz to 2 kHz that can detect the above-described pulse width signal is used. As a result, the air volume can be detected by one dust detection means 31 regardless of the size of the dust, and can be realized at low cost.

  Although not particularly illustrated, the number of sucked dust is counted from the detection signal of at least one of the first dust detection means 31 or the second dust detection means 32, and the calculated suction air volume and the number of dust counted. If the electric power supplied to the electric blower 1 is controlled according to the electric power, the electric power supplied to the electric blower 1 can be optimally controlled according to the air volume and the amount of sucked dust, and the electric vacuum cleaner more suitable for actual use. Can be provided.

  As described above, the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention reliably detects the air volume regardless of what kind of garbage is sucked, accurately controls the electric blower, and efficiently performs appropriate cleaning according to the air volume. It can be applied to a wide variety of household and commercial vacuum cleaners.

The block diagram of the control circuit of the vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional view of the intake passage of the vacuum cleaner Waveform diagram of dust detection signal of the vacuum cleaner Correlation diagram between air volume and pulse interval of the vacuum cleaner The block diagram of the control circuit of the vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 2 of this invention Sectional view of the intake passage of the vacuum cleaner Waveform diagram of dust detection signal of the vacuum cleaner Correlation diagram between air volume and pulse width of the vacuum cleaner

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric blower 2 Air intake passage 3 Air volume detection means 4 Control means 31 1st dust detection means 31a 1st light emission part 31b 1st light-receiving part 31c 1st amplification means 31d 1st comparison means 32 2nd dust detection Means 32a Second light emitting section 32b Second light receiving section 32c Second amplification means 32d Second comparison means 33 Calculation means 34 Air volume calculation means

Claims (7)

An electric blower that sucks dust through the intake passage, an air volume detection unit that detects the amount of wind sucked by the electric blower, and a control that controls electric power supplied to the electric blower based on a detection result of the air volume detection unit And the air volume detecting means is disposed on the leeward side of the first dust detecting means for detecting dust passing through the intake passage, and the dust passing through the intake passage is disposed on the leeward side of the first dust detecting means. Second dust detection means for detecting, based on the first dust detection signal detected by the first dust detection means and the second dust detection signal detected by the second dust detection means. A vacuum cleaner that calculates the amount of wind passing through the passage. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first and second dust detection means detect dust having a predetermined size or less. An electric blower that sucks dust through the intake passage, an air volume detection unit that detects the amount of wind sucked by the electric blower, and a control that controls electric power supplied to the electric blower based on a detection result of the air volume detection unit The air volume detecting means is configured to detect a first dust detecting means for detecting dust having a predetermined size or less passing through the intake passage, and a rising edge of a detection signal detected by the first dust detecting means. An electric vacuum cleaner that measures the time until the vehicle falls, calculates the speed of the wind passing through the intake passage from the measured time, and calculates the amount of wind from the calculation result. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and / or second dust detection means includes a light emitting means and a light receiving means for receiving light from the light emitting means. 5. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the shape of the light receiving opening provided in the light receiving means is a substantially rectangular shape in which one piece is perpendicular to the direction in which the wind flows. The number of sucked dust is counted from the detection signal of at least one of the first and second dust detection means, and the power supplied to the electric blower is controlled according to the calculated suction air volume and the number of dust. The vacuum cleaner of any one of Claims 1-5. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the magnitude of the sucked air is notified by voice or / and display.

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