JP2007185414A5 - - Google Patents

Description

Electric vacuum cleaner

  The present invention relates to control of a vacuum cleaner used for cleaning in a general home.

In recent years, vacuum cleaners with various functions have been proposed. The dust sensor installed in the air path through which dust passes determines the amount of dust and controls the electric blower. It is also proposed that the type of the floor surface is determined and the electric blower and the rotating brush of the floor suction tool are controlled (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Japanese Patent No. 2882010 Japanese Patent No. 2956204

  However, in the configuration of the conventional vacuum cleaner, there is one dust sensor for determining the floor surface, and the size is not considered, and the determination is made only by the number of detections. Even when the electric blower input control is performed from the floor index obtained from the floor judgment and the amount of dust, the size of the dust is not taken into account, so the judgment accuracy is not always good depending on the type of carpet, etc. It was. Moreover, it was not possible to cope with spot-like cleaning other than the floor well.

  In order to solve this problem, the present invention includes a detection unit that can output a plurality of detection signals having characteristics matched to various dust sizes, and adjusts each signal from a plurality of detection signals. To improve the accuracy of floor surface judgment by making multiple floor surface judgments and to provide a vacuum cleaner with improved usability by enabling control that matches the surface to be cleaned other than the floor surface Objective.

  In order to solve the conventional problems, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes an electric blower, a drive unit that drives the electric blower, and a power supply amount to the electric blower by sending a signal to the drive unit. Judgment control means for controlling, first dust detection means for reacting to dust of a predetermined size, second dust detection means capable of reacting to dust different from the predetermined size, and the first dust detection First floor surface determining means for determining the floor surface condition according to the number of detection means, and second floor surface determining means for determining the floor surface condition according to the detection number of the second dust detection means, The determination control means controls the amount of power supplied to the electric blower based on the determination results of the first floor surface determination means and the second floor surface determination means.

  As a result, a plurality of dust detection signals distinguished by the size of the dust and a floor surface determination based on the signals can be performed, so that the electric blower more suitable for the surface to be cleaned can be controlled.

  The electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention performs control of an electric blower more suitable for a surface to be cleaned from a plurality of dust detection signals distinguished with respect to the size of dust and a plurality of floor surface determination information determined based thereon. Thus, a vacuum cleaner with improved usability can be provided.

The first invention includes an electric blower, drive means for driving the electric blower, determination control means for controlling the amount of power supplied to the electric blower by sending a signal to the drive means, and a predetermined size The first dust detection means that reacts to dust, the second dust detection means that can react to dust different from the predetermined size, and the floor condition is determined according to the number of detections of the first dust detection means First floor surface determination means that performs the above operation, and second floor surface determination means that determines a floor surface condition according to the number of detections of the second dust detection means, wherein the determination control means includes the first floor surface determination means. And the second floor surface determination means, the amount of power supplied to the electric blower is controlled, and a plurality of dust detection signals distinguished according to the size of the dust and the floor surface determination based thereon Electric blower more suitable for the surface to be cleaned It is possible to provide an electric vacuum cleaner with improved usability for controlling.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotating brush, a floor suction tool having an electric motor for driving the brush, a nozzle driving means for driving the electric motor, and a power to the electric motor by sending a signal to the nozzle driving means. Nozzle control means for controlling the supply amount, first dust detection means for reacting to dust of a predetermined size, second dust detection means capable of reacting to dust different from the predetermined size, A first floor surface determination unit that determines a floor surface state according to the number of detections of one dust detection unit; and a second floor surface determination unit that determines a floor surface state according to the number of detections of the second dust detection unit. The nozzle control means controls the amount of electric power supplied to the electric motor based on the judgment results of the first floor surface judgment means and the second floor surface judgment means. Multiple distinct dust detection signals and their Since Ku perform a floor surface judgment, it is possible to provide an electric vacuum cleaner with improved usability to perform more control of the electric motor suitable for cleaning surface.

A third invention includes a dust sensing unit in addition to the first or second invention, and the amount of received light changes when dust passes between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the dust sensing unit, and the amount of change Is sent as a signal to the first dust detection means and the second dust detection means, the signal received by the first dust detection means is amplified by the first amplification unit, and the signal received by the second dust detection means is Amplifying by two amplifying units, and by making the amplification factors of the first amplifying unit and the second amplifying unit different, the size of the dust that the first dust detecting unit can react to and the second dust detecting unit reacting in which the size of the possible dust was different, it can be a first dust detection means and the second dust detection means the size of the reaction can be dust, to ensure different.

  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)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective external view of the vacuum cleaner, and FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view thereof. Reference numeral 1 denotes a vacuum cleaner main body (hereinafter referred to as a main body), and reference numeral 2 denotes an electric blower 2 that generates a suction force stored in the main body 1. A hose 3 is connected to the main body 1, and an operation unit 4 operated by a user is provided in a part of the hose 3. The main body 1 has a dust collection chamber 6 in which a dust collection bag 5 is accommodated. A hose 3 is provided with a dust detection unit 12 in which first dust detection means 15 and second dust detection means 16 described later are housed. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of this part. An extension pipe 8 and a floor suction tool 9 are connected to the other end of the hose 3, and a brush 10 for scrubbing dust and an electric motor 11 for rotating the brush 10 are housed in the floor suction tool 9.

Next, FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the electric vacuum cleaner, 12 is a first driving means composed of a bidirectional thyristor for driving the electric blower 2, and 13 is for driving the electric motor 11. This is a second driving means composed of a bidirectional thyristor. Reference numeral 14 denotes a judgment control means composed of a microcomputer or the like. The determination control unit 14 receives an operation signal from the operation unit 4 and makes a determination, and sends a drive signal to the first drive unit 12 and the second drive unit 13. Reference numeral 15 denotes first dust detection means, and reference numeral 16 denotes second dust detection means. As a configuration thereof, a dust detection unit 17 constituted by an infrared light emitting diode and a phototransistor, and an output signal of the dust detection unit 17 are provided. A first dust detection means 15 for determining and outputting a detection signal with a predetermined first amplification factor having an amplification function and a filter function composed of an operational amplifier and a comparator, and a second amplification unit having a larger second amplification factor And a second dust detection means 16 for determining and outputting a detection signal. As an example of means for transmitting the detection results of these detection means to the judgment control means 14, a method of converting dust detection into a pulse signal and counting the number of pulses will be described.

  Reference numeral 18 denotes first dust counting means for receiving and counting the detection signal of the first dust detection means, and 19 denotes second dust counting means for receiving and counting the detection signal of the second dust detection means. Reference numeral 20 denotes a dust amount detection means composed of the first dust counting means 18 and the second dust counting means 19, and sends a dust quantity that can be judged to the judgment control means 14 from the dust detection signal. At the same time, the output of the first dust counting means 18 is sent to the first floor surface judging means 21 every unit time (for example, 0.1 second), and it is judged each time whether the counting result exceeds the threshold value, The floor surface is judged based on how many times the threshold has been exceeded when a predetermined time has elapsed (for example, 2.0 seconds). At this time, the threshold value is set in two stages, and is digitized as the first floor surface information from the judgment table as shown in Table 1 and sent to the judgment control means 14. Similarly, the output of the second dust counting means 19 is sent to the second floor surface judging means 22, and the second floor surface information judged here is sent to the judgment control means 14. Although these are named floor surfaces, they mean information on the surface to be cleaned, and are intended to perform more suitable control for futons and shelves other than the floor.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a detection notification means constituted by an LED or the like, which notifies the user of a signal received by the determination control means 14 from the dust detection status and floor surface information.

  24 is a setting input means for the user to switch the setting of the power control law and the notification control law for the surface to be cleaned composed of switches and the like. With this setting, the surface to be cleaned will be cleaned. Thus, the control of the energization amount of the electric blower 2 and the notification level to the user can be changed. Reference numeral 25 denotes suction tool setting means for specifying the suction tool, and reference numeral 26 denotes suction tool determination means for determining which suction tool is connected from the suction tool setting means 25. This configuration will be described by taking as an example a system in which 25 is configured with a predetermined resistance, a predetermined current is passed, and the suction device to which the suction device determination means 26 is connected is identified from the potential difference caused by the resistance value. Since the purpose is to identify the sucked-in device, it is needless to say that it is only necessary to provide some transmission / reception means to perform individual recognition.

  Hereinafter, these operations will be described.

  First, the main body 1 is connected to a commercial power source (not shown), and the user instructs operation by the operation unit 4. An operation signal is sent from the operation unit 4 to the determination control unit 14, and the determination control unit 14 drives the drive signal to the drive unit 8 so that the operation is performed with a predetermined initial value (for example, 300 W) according to the operated content. Send. The drive means 8 energizes the electric blower 2 according to the sent signal, and the electric blower 2 starts to rotate and a suction force is generated.

Due to this suction force, the dust sucked from the floor suction tool 9 is collected in the dust collection bag 5 of the dust collection chamber 6 in the main body 1 through the extension tube 8 and the hose 3. During this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the amount of received light changes as the dust passes through the suction path of the dust collection detection unit 17, that is, the dust passes between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. Depends on the size of That is, a change in the amount of light received by the dust sensing unit 17 is sent to the first dust detection unit 15 and the second dust detection unit 16, and the signal received by the first dust detection unit 15 is first received by the first amplification unit. If this result exceeds a predetermined threshold value, it is output as a first dust detection signal. Further, regardless of the output result of the first dust detection means 15, the second dust detection means 16 amplifies the received signal at the second amplification unit, and if it exceeds a predetermined threshold, the second dust detection Output as a signal. At this time, the second amplification factor is first.
In the case of relatively large dust, it can be determined that the first amplification factor has reacted, and both the first dust detection signal and the second dust detection signal are output. . In the case of small dust, the first amplification factor does not reach the determination level, it can be determined that the reaction has occurred only at the second amplification factor, and only the second dust detection signal is detected and output. By classifying the size determination based on the difference in amplification factor, the passage speeds of the light emitting and receiving parts are equal, and a sufficient difference in pulse width cannot be obtained (for example, dust having a diameter of 0.1 mm and dust having a diameter of 0.03 mm). Even so, it can be distinguished as a signal.

  Next, in the dust amount detection means 20, the first dust counting means 18 counts the first dust detection signal for a predetermined unit time (for example, 0.1 second) and sends the count result to the judgment control means 14. At the same time, the count result is sent to the first floor surface determination means 21. The first floor surface determination means 21 determines whether or not the sent count result is equal to or greater than a first threshold value (for example, 2), and counts the number of times equal to or greater than that. Further, it is determined whether or not the second threshold (for example, 3) or more, and the number of times is counted. This is measured for a first predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds), converted into a numerical value as shown in Table 1 from the ratio exceeding the first and second threshold values, and determined as first floor surface information. Similarly, the second dust counting means 19 similarly counts the second dust detection signal for a unit time, and sends the count result to the judgment control means 14 and also to the second floor surface judgment means 22. The second floor surface determination means 22 determines whether or not the sent count result is equal to or greater than a first threshold value (for example, 3), and counts the number of times equal to or greater than that. Further, it is determined whether or not the second threshold (for example, 6) or more, and the number of times is counted. This is measured for a second predetermined time (for example, 1 second), converted into a numerical value as shown in Table 2 from the ratio exceeding the first and second threshold values, and determined as second floor surface information. Here, the threshold value when the second floor surface determination means determines the floor surface is set to be larger than the threshold value determined by the first floor surface determination means. This is because the second dust detection means outputs in response to smaller dust, so the number of detections increases, and even if it is determined by the same procedure as the first floor surface determination, the threshold value is set to be large, It is possible to make a judgment suitable for the cleaning surface.

The judgment control means 14 first judges individually as shown in FIG. 2, and temporarily sets power settings for each counted amount of dust and floor surface information at that time as shown in Tables 3 and 4. In this setting, the dust counted by the second dust counting means 19 is smaller than the dust counted by the first dust counting means 18, and the number thereof is increased. At the same time, since the power for suction is small, the power setting value is made small. Considering this, the settings individually adapted as shown in Table 3 can be actually made. On that basis, the larger power value is judged and controlled from the power setting based on the results of the first dust counting means 18, the first floor surface judging means 21, the second dust counting means 19, and the second floor surface judging means 22. The means 14 determines the power supply amount of the electric blower 2, sends a signal to the first drive means 12, determines the power supply amount of the electric motor 11, and sends a signal to the second drive means 13. The first driving means 12 drives the electric blower 2 according to the signal, and the operation of the electric blower 2 considering the floor information in addition to the amount and size of the dust, that is, the operation with the suction force suitable for the amount of dust and the floor surface condition. Then, it becomes possible to operate the electric motor 11 that performs an appropriate rotation of the brush 10 in the floor suction tool 9, and it is possible to perform highly usable control that balances energy efficiency, operation force, and suction force.

  Moreover, if the detection status is notified to the user by displaying using the detection notification means 23 according to the floor surface status and the degree of contamination thereof, cleaning according to the cleaning status is facilitated and efficient. Cleaning becomes possible. Further, if the small dust and the larger dust are displayed separately, the distribution of dust and the like can be understood, and the accumulation of dirt can be predicted, so that more efficient operation can be performed. Of course, the same effect can be obtained by notifying the display but using voice or the like.

  Incidentally, the dust that can be counted by the first dust counting means 18 is also counted by the second dust counting means 19 at the same time, and is usually set in consideration of this. However, depending on the circuit configuration, the first dust detection signal and the second dust are counted. There is also a method for reducing the cost by performing exclusive processing to output only one of the dust detection signals to reduce the cost by improving the efficiency of the communication circuit. In this case, the dust amount detection means 20 By providing a selection function for automatically adding the first dust count result to the second dust count result, it is possible to perform control without depending on the circuit configuration.

Also, a plurality of control laws are prepared, and the setting input means 24 is provided as a slide switch on the operation unit 4 or separately, for example, on the upper part of the cleaner body 1, and the operation that the user wants to use depends on the condition of the surface to be cleaned. May be selected. Usually, the optimum setting of the power control rule and the notification control rule for the size and amount of dust is different, for example, in an environment where the movement of people is active, an environment used only at bedtime, or when used only as a spot. For example, in the environment that is used only at bedtime, the generation frequency of large dust is low, and more cleanliness is required, whereas when used in an environment where people move actively or spot cleaning, it is somewhat Suction of dust with a large size is considered to be the main purpose. By providing an input means so that the user can change the setting according to such usage environment or application, the usability can be further improved. If the floor surface judgment setting at this time is set finely, it is possible to control the system more highly to achieve the purpose. For example, although it is related to the above-mentioned contents, small dust becomes extremely large in proportion when trying to clean the futon. On top of that, a condition arises that the user wants to clean up more time than a normal carpet. By having a setting means for that purpose, the user can improve the usability by adjusting the floor surface judgment so that it can be appropriately determined and setting the suction force higher. Also, depending on the type of futon and other settings,
Once the floor surface is judged for the output of each dust detection means, the input settings of the electric blower 2 and the electric motor 11 and the settings of the detection notification means 23 can be flexibly changed according to the purpose of use. .

  In addition, there is a means for automatically discriminating by wearing a dedicated suction tool instead of setting for cleaning the futon with a switch. That is, a specific resistance is provided as a suction tool setting means 25 to a specific suction tool such as a futon cleaner, a skimmer, and a clothes garment, and a predetermined current is supplied via the hose 3 or the like. It is also effective to switch the control side by distinguishing the potential difference generated at that time by the suction tool determining means 26 by flowing the flow. For example, the suction tool for clothes should be set so that the dust amount can be reported sensitively, and the power control amount should be kept small so as not to damage the clothes and to prevent excessive suction. Good. Of course, the suction tools for futon cleaning and clearance are designed to automatically switch between the power control law and the information control law by increasing the power control amount and providing sufficient suction capacity. It can also improve usability. As a further development, when a multipurpose suction tool is considered, the setting (for example, the combined resistance value) of the suction tool setting means 25 is switched so that the control law is switched in conjunction with a partial change in the shape of the suction tool. It is also possible to improve usability.

  In addition, when the object to be cleaned is not a floor surface and the floor suction tool 9 such as a furniture shelf or a desk is not used, the cleaning operation also changes, so that an appropriate time also changes as the predetermined time for the floor surface determination. There is. In general, when the operation is performed in small steps, it is easier to meet the actual feeling by shortening the floor determination time. For example, when the second predetermined time for performing the second floor determination is determined as a normal floor For 2 seconds, attach a skimmer suction tool without using the floor suction tool 9 or set it to 1 second when the setting means 24 is set for spot cleaning. You can also. In order to improve usability, it is also effective to have means for switching between a setting for interlocking the floor surface information with the suction tool and a fixed setting.

  Further, as another configuration example for detecting the dust amount by the dust amount detection means 20 from the outputs of the first dust detection means 15 and the second dust detection means 16, the pulse signal count processing is not performed and the signal voltage is not used. There is also a method in which a transistor and a Zener diode or a resistor are configured to be changed to a plurality of voltage levels and sent as a detection signal to the judgment control means 14, the first floor surface judgment means 21, and the second floor surface judgment 22.

  As the operation, an output voltage when the first dust detection means 15 detects dust and an output voltage when the second dust detection means 16 detects dust are determined in advance. As shown in FIG. The first voltage determination unit 27 and the second voltage determination unit 28 in the amount detection unit 20 make a determination individually and transmit the detection result to the determination control unit 14. At this time, the signal voltage may be sent simultaneously to the first floor surface judging means 21 and the second floor surface judging means 22 and the same processing as in the case of the counting means may be performed thereafter.

  In addition, the configuration of the suction tool setting means 25 and the suction tool determination means 26 is not limited as long as the connected suction tool can be identified, and therefore, when using communication such as wireless or infrared, dust is detected. It is also possible to provide an easy-to-use vacuum cleaner that performs efficient processing and includes detection notification by decoding and transmitting the received signal.

In the embodiments described so far, two types of dust detection means have been described. However, in consideration of the purpose of use and frequency characteristics, a larger number of dusts are used for the purpose of increasing the size distinction and improving detection accuracy. You may control by dividing into detection signals. Although the basic flow of operation does not change, power control laws and notification control laws are prepared according to the number to be distinguished as dust detection signals, and control rules for integrated judgment are prepared to control power of the electric blower 2 The notification control of the detection notification means 23 may be performed. For example, it is conceivable to use the control setting of the most reacted dust or the strongest control setting.

  As described above, it is possible to provide a vacuum cleaner with higher usability by determining a plurality of detection signals having characteristics corresponding to the size of the dust in accordance with the amount of dust and the floor surface condition. it can.

  As described above, the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention can perform power control more accurately by separately determining and controlling a detection signal suitable for small dust and a detection signal suitable for larger dust. It is particularly useful for a vacuum cleaner that performs dust detection control.

Control system block diagram of the vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The flowchart which shows an example of the dust detection signal processing of the same vacuum cleaner Schematic sectional view showing a dust detection part of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention External perspective view of the vacuum cleaner Schematic sectional view of the vacuum cleaner

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Electric blower 4 Operation part 5 Dust collection bag 9 Floor suction tool 11 Electric motor 12 1st drive means 13 2nd drive means 14 Judgment control means 15 1st dust detection means 16 2nd dust detection means 18 1st dust count Means 19 Second dust counting means 20 Dust amount detection means 21 First floor surface judgment means 22 Second floor surface judgment means 23 Detection notification means 24 Setting input means 25 Suction tool setting means 26 Suction tool judgment means

Claims (3)

An electric blower, drive means for driving the electric blower, determination control means for controlling the amount of power supplied to the electric blower by sending a signal to the drive means, and reacting to dust of a predetermined size A first dust detection means; a second dust detection means capable of reacting to dust different from the predetermined size; and a first floor judgment for judging a floor condition according to the number of detections of the first dust detection means. And a second floor surface judging means for judging a floor surface state according to the number of detections of the second dust detecting means, wherein the judgment control means comprises the first floor surface judging means and the second floor surface judgment. A vacuum cleaner that controls a power supply amount to the electric blower based on a determination result of the means. A rotating brush, a floor suction tool having an electric motor for driving the brush, a nozzle driving means for driving the electric motor, and a nozzle for controlling a power supply amount to the electric motor by sending a signal to the nozzle driving means Control means, first dust detection means that reacts to dust of a predetermined size, second dust detection means that can react to dust different from the predetermined size, and detection of the first dust detection means First nozzle surface determining means for determining the floor surface condition according to the number, and second floor surface determining means for determining the floor surface condition according to the number of detections of the second dust detecting means, the nozzle control means Is a vacuum cleaner that controls the amount of power supplied to the electric motor based on the determination results of the first floor surface determination means and the second floor surface determination means. A dust sensing unit, and the amount of received light changes as dust passes between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the dust sensing unit, and the amount of change is sent as a signal to the first dust detection unit and the second dust detection unit. The signal received by the first dust detection means is amplified by the first amplification section, and the signal received by the second dust detection means is amplified by the second amplification section, and the first amplification section and the second amplification section are amplified. The size of the dust that can be reacted by the first dust detection means and the size of the dust that can be reacted by the second dust detection means are made different by making the amplification factors different from each other. The vacuum cleaner described.