JP2008246155A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner which can certainly detect the amount of dust absorbed in a dust bag. <P>SOLUTION: A dust amount sensor 45 which detects the amount of dust in a dust bag 8 with light receiving level in each light receiving part 43 against light emission from each light emission part 41 is formed. The light emission level from each light emission part 41 of the dust amount sensor 45 is set at the minimum light receiving level so that it can be received through each light receiving part 43. The sensitivity change of the light receiving part 41 in the dust amount sensor 45 is corrected and the amount of absorbed dust can be certainly detected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner provided with detection means for detecting dust in a dust collecting portion.

  Conventionally, this type of vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum cleaner body that houses an electric blower. Inside the vacuum cleaner main body, a dust collection portion communicating with the suction side of the electric blower is provided, and a dust collection bag is detachably provided in the dust collection portion. Further, as a detecting means for detecting the amount of dust accumulated in the dust bag, a flow sensor for detecting the flow rate of the suction air by driving the electric blower, a current sensor for detecting the input current of the electric blower, or the electric blower A pressure sensor for detecting the suction pressure is provided. And the clogged state of a dust collection part is detected by comparing each measured value detected by these sensors with the threshold value preset in the control part for the drive of an electric blower, etc.

  However, since there are various types of dust sucked in by the vacuum cleaner, if the clogged state of the dust collecting part is detected by the above sensors, for example, cotton dust that does not easily affect the flow rate of the suction air by driving the electric blower In the case of dust, it is not easy to detect even when the dust is collected in the dust collecting portion.

Therefore, as a detection means, an optical sensor composed of a light emitting part that emits light in the dust collecting part and a light receiving part that receives light emitted from the light emitting part is provided, and this optical sensor is, for example, near the suction port of the dust collecting part Accordingly, the amount of dust in the dust collecting portion can be detected based on the amount of light received by the light receiving portion through which the light emitted from the light emitting portion passes through the dust (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-283217 (page 6-7, FIG. 2)

  However, the above-described electric vacuum cleaner has a problem in that when the sensitivity of the light receiving portion changes with time, the same determination cannot be continued, and the amount of dust sucked into the dust collecting portion cannot be reliably detected.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the vacuum cleaner which can detect the dust amount suck | inhaled by the dust collection part reliably.

  The present invention includes a dust collecting part that can be attached to and detached from the vacuum cleaner body, a light emitting part, and a light receiving part that receives light emitted from the light emitting part. Detecting means for detecting the amount of dust, and the detecting means at least before driving the electric blower or in a state where the electric blower has not been driven for a predetermined time or more, In this state, the lowest light receiving level that can be received by the light receiving unit is set.

  According to the present invention, at least before the electric blower is driven or in a state where the electric blower has not been driven for a predetermined time or more, the light emission level from the light emitting unit is set to the lowest light receiving level that can be received by the light receiving unit. Thus, the sensitivity change of the light receiving part of the detection means is corrected, and the amount of the sucked dust can be reliably detected.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the vacuum cleaner of the 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated with reference to drawings.

  In FIG. 3, 1 is a vacuum cleaner main body, and this vacuum cleaner main body 1 is a so-called canister type electric vacuum cleaner capable of traveling on the floor surface. The vacuum cleaner main body 1 includes a lower case 2, a bumper 3 attached to the outer periphery of the lower case 2, and the bumper 3 sandwiched between the lower case 2 and the rear side pivoting to the lower case 2. A main body case 5 having a lid case 4 connected to the electric fan 6 is provided. In the main body case 5, an electric blower chamber (not shown) in which the electric blower 6 is accommodated is defined on the rear side. A dust collection chamber 9, in which a dust collection bag 8 as a dust collection unit is detachable and whose upper side is opened and closed by the rotation of the lid case 4, is defined on the front side.

  Further, a main body suction port 11 communicating with the dust collecting chamber 9 is formed at the front lower portion in the main body case 5, and the main body suction port 11 has a hose body 12 having a connecting pipe 12 a on the proximal end side, An extension pipe 14 that is detachably connected to a hand operating portion 13 provided at the upstream end of the hose body 12, and a floor brush 15 as a suction port body that is detachably connected to the tip of the extension pipe 14 are provided. Are sequentially connected. Further, the hand operating section 13 is provided with a gripping section 16 that is gripped by an operator during cleaning, and the gripping section 16 is provided with a plurality of setting buttons 17 for setting the operation mode of the electric blower 6. It has been.

  The dust collection bag 8 is a disposable one such as a paper pack filter or a cloth pack filter, for example, and as shown in FIG. And a bag body 22 that is a filter medium.

  When the dust collection bag 8 is attached to the dust collection chamber 9, the mouth frame 21 is fitted to the dust collection chamber 9 by a body clamp (not shown) provided at the front of the dust collection chamber 9 and above the main body suction port 11. For example, it is formed in a rectangular shape by cardboard or other thick paper, and a suction opening 26 is formed in the central portion and is integrally bonded to the bag body 22. Further, a valve body (not shown) into which the connecting pipe 12a of the hose body 12 inserted into the main body suction port 11 is hermetically inserted is provided at the peripheral edge portion on the downstream side of the suction opening 26. The valve body is formed in an annular shape having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the connection pipe 12a by a flexible member such as rubber or elastomer, and the connection pipe 12a is inserted into the valve body. The connecting pipe 12a and the bag body 22 are configured to be hermetically connected by being flexibly deformed inward of the bag body 22 with the inner peripheral side being in close contact with the outer periphery of the pipe 12a.

  The bag body 22 is formed in a bag shape having the opening 33 by, for example, a sheet in which a plurality of breathable materials are laminated. And this bag body 22 is folded in the state before use, and when the air blower 6 is driven, the air blows into the rear, and the bag 22 is included in the air intake when it passes. Dust adheres to it.

  The electric blower chamber accommodates a cord reel around which a power cord (not shown) is wound, and the power cord can be led out of the main body case 5.

  Inside the dust collection chamber 9, for example, light emitting units 41 that emit infrared light, for example, are provided on both side walls, respectively. In addition, a detection plate 42 that comes into contact with the front surface of the mouth frame 21 with the dust bag 8 attached to the dust collection chamber 9 is provided at the front of the dust collection chamber 9. Light receiving parts 43 and 43 for receiving light from the parts 41 and 41 are provided, and the light emitting parts 41 and 41 and the light receiving parts 43 and 43 serve as detection means for detecting the amount of dust collected in the dust bag 8. A dust amount sensor 45 which is an optical sensor is configured. Further, a partition wall (not shown) that partitions the dust collection chamber 9 and the electric blower chamber is provided at the rear part of the dust collection chamber 9, and a vent that communicates with the suction side of the electric blower 6 is formed in the partition. ing.

  Each light emitting portion 41 is provided at a position near the front of the dust collection chamber 9 and is arranged so as to emit light toward the center in the left-right direction of the cleaner body 1, for example, inward of the dust collection chamber 9. ing. Each light emitting unit 41 can change the light emission level (light emission output) by the control unit 55.

  The detection plate 42 is formed in a shape larger than the mouth frame 21 of the dust collection bag 8, and a communication opening 51 communicating with the suction opening 26 of the dust collection bag is formed in the center. Further, an annular packing 52 as a seal member into which the outer peripheral surface of the connection pipe 12a of the hose body 12 inserted from the front side into the communication opening 51 is hermetically inserted is provided at the front portion of the detection plate 42. .

  Each light receiving portion 43 is provided at the inner edge portion of the communication opening 51 of the detection plate 42 toward the central axis of the communication opening 51, and the dust collection bag 8 is attached to the dust collection chamber 9 in the state where the dust collection bag 9 is attached. It arrange | positions so that it may closely_contact | adhere to the mouth frame 21 of the bag 8. FIG. Each light receiving portion 43 is opposed to the transmitting portion 12b provided near the base end of the connecting pipe 12a of the hose body 12, and can receive light leaked from the dust bag 8 to the transmitting portion 12b. The amount of dust collected in the dust bag 8 can be detected by the amount of received light.

  Here, the transmission portion 12b is positioned so as to face the upstream side of the suction opening 26 of the dust bag 8, that is, the front edge portion in a state where the connecting pipe 12a of the hose body 12 is connected to the main body suction port 11. An opening is formed.

  The dust amount sensor 45 is for detecting accumulation of coarse dust having relatively good air permeability, such as cotton dust, among the dust sucked by driving the electric blower 6, for example.

  Next, the internal configuration of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the vacuum cleaner main body 1, a power control unit 54 serving as a power control unit that is electrically connected to a commercial power source via a power cord and controls power feeding to the electric blower 6, and a control for controlling the power control unit 54. A control unit 55 is provided as a means.

  The control unit 55 operates by supplying power from the commercial power supply unit 56, and is electrically connected to the setting button 17 and the dust amount sensor 45. In addition, the control unit 55 detects the input current of the electric blower 6 to detect the drive state of the electric blower 6, and the current sensor 57 is a current detection unit that detects the drive state of the electric blower 6. Is electrically connected to a flow rate sensor 58 as a flow rate detecting means for detecting the flow rate of the suction air, that is, the suction flow rate. The control unit 55 is electrically connected to an exchange detection sensor 59 as an exchange detection unit that detects whether the dust bag 8 has been exchanged.

  Then, the control unit 55 forms a virtual surface or a line connecting each light emitting unit 41 and each light receiving unit 43 of the dust amount sensor 45 so that this surface (line) is the maximum collection of the dust bag 8. Depending on whether or not the dust in the dust collection bag 8 crosses a virtual surface (line) connecting each light emitting part 41 and each light receiving part 43 as a surface (line) serving as a dust volume, It is possible to determine whether the amount of dust exceeds the maximum dust collection volume.

  The current sensor 57 and the flow rate sensor 58 are for detecting clogging of the bag body 22 of the dust bag 8 due to fine dust among the dust sucked together with the air by driving the electric blower 6. The flow rate sensor 58 is connected to at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side of the dust bag 8 in the flow path continuous with the floor brush 15, the extension pipe 14, the hose body 12, the dust bag 8 and the electric blower 6. It is arranged.

  The exchange detection sensor 59 is, for example, a contact sensor provided on the detection plate 42 or the like.

  Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  First, the connecting pipe 12a of the hose body 12 is connected to the main body suction port 11, and the base end of the extension pipe 14 with the floor brush 15 connected to the tip is connected to the distal end of the hand operating section 13 of the hose body 12. The power cord is led out from the main body case 5 and connected to an outlet (not shown).

  At this time, the control unit 55 determines whether or not the replacement of the dust bag 8 is detected by the replacement detection sensor 59 (step 1), and if it is determined that the dust bag 8 has not been replaced, the dust collector 8 It is determined whether the dust collected in the bag 8 has reached an exchange level exceeding the maximum dust collection capacity of the dust bag 8 (step 2).

  In Step 2, when the control unit 55 determines that the dust collected in the dust bag 8 exceeds the maximum dust collection volume of the dust bag 8, the control unit 55 sets the dust bag 8 via the display unit. The operator is notified of the replacement (step 3), and the process returns to step 1.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 55 determines in step 2 that the dust collected in the dust bag 8 does not exceed the maximum dust collection capacity of the dust bag 8, the dust bag 8 is replaced in step 1. Proceed to step 4 when the control unit 55 determines that it has been performed.

  In step 4, the control unit 55 causes each light emitting unit 41 to emit light, and determines whether or not this light emission can be received by each light receiving unit 43.

  In Step 4, when the control unit 55 determines that each light receiving unit 43 cannot receive light, it is assumed that an abnormality has occurred around each light emitting unit 41 or each light receiving unit 43, etc. Announce (step 5), return to step 1.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 55 determines in step 4 that each light receiving unit 43 can receive light, the control unit 55 reduces the light emission level of each light emitting unit 41 by a preset first set width ( Step 6).

  Then, the control unit 55 determines whether or not each light receiving unit 43 can receive light in this light emitting state (step 7), and returns to step 6 when determining that it can receive light.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 55 determines in step 7 that light cannot be received, the light emission level of each light emitting unit 41 is increased by a preset second set width that is smaller than the first set width (step 8). .

  Thereafter, the control unit 55 determines whether or not each light receiving unit 43 can receive light in this light emitting state (step 9). If it is determined that light can be received, dust detection by the dust amount sensor 45 is started.

  If the control unit 55 determines in step 9 that light cannot be received, the light emission level of each light emitting unit 41 is set to be smaller than the second set width and larger than the difference between the first set width and the second set width. Increase by a small preset third set width (step 10), and return to step 9.

  Thereafter, the operator grips the grip 16 of the hand operation unit 13 and turns on a predetermined setting button 17 of the grip 16 to drive the electric blower 6 in the main body case 5.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 55 determines whether or not the input current of the electric blower 6 detected by the current sensor 57 is within a preset range (step 21). If it is determined that the input current of the blower 6 is within a preset range, the flow rate sensor 58 determines whether the suction flow rate is within a preset range (step 22). If it is determined in step 22 that the suction flow rate is within the preset range, the control unit determines whether the amount of light received by each light receiving unit 43 of the dust amount sensor 45 is within the preset range. 55 (step 23), and if it is determined in step 23 that the amount of light received is within a preset range, data is acquired (sampled) for a preset time (predetermined number of times). (Step 24). That is, since the required data cannot be obtained when the electric blower 6 is not operating properly, these steps 21, 22, and 23 determine whether the operation of the electric blower 6 is within an appropriate range. Is to do. The sampling time and number of times are set as appropriate according to the function of the vacuum cleaner. Also, the order of steps 21, 22, and 23 can be set arbitrarily.

  Furthermore, when the control unit 55 determines that the values are not within the set ranges in steps 21, 22, and 23, the process returns to step 21, respectively.

  Then, after step 24, the control unit 55 determines whether or not the same data continues (step 25) .If it is determined that the same data does not continue, the control unit 55 returns to step 21 and Recheck 21, 22, and 23 and acquire data again.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 25 that the same data continues, the control of driving the electric blower 6 is changed, or a clogging is notified and a warning is given (step 26).

  That is, when the electric blower 6 is driven and dust accumulates in the dust collection bag 8, that is, when the dust collection bag 8 is clogged, the amount of light received by each light receiving unit 43 is attenuated sequentially, so that the same data does not continue. In this case, it is determined that dust is accumulated in the dust bag 8 and control is performed so as to return to step 21.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the light receiving unit of the dust amount sensor 45 is set by setting the light emitting level from each light emitting unit 41 to the lowest light receiving level that can be received by each light receiving unit 43. The sensitivity change of 41 can be corrected to reliably detect the amount of dust sucked in.

  That is, the sensitivity value of each light receiving unit 43 composed of a semiconductor or the like changes over time with respect to the initial reference, and each light receiving unit 43 is received due to variations in manufacturing of each light receiving unit 43, component errors, or dirt. Since the light emission level from each light emitting part 41 as well as the part 43 changes, the light emission level from each light emitting part 41 at the initial stage where the bag 22 just after the dust bag 8 has not been clogged is required. By performing self-correction accordingly, stable detection results can be maintained.

  At the same time, by optimizing the light emission level from each light emitting unit 41, the light emission level from each light emitting unit 41 is too high, causing sensor saturation during light reception by each light receiving unit 43, or other than dust that is to be detected It is possible to eliminate the influence on detection due to the occurrence of reflection and light leakage at the part.

  In addition, when dealing with sensitivity value fluctuations by increasing the light reception level of each light receiving unit 43, the noise on each light receiving unit 43 side increases and false detection increases. By correcting the light emission level from each light emitting unit 41 as in this embodiment, an increase in noise can be prevented and erroneous detection can be suppressed.

  Then, fine dust-based dust that easily clogs the bag body 22 is detected from the current value of the electric blower 6 detected by the current sensor 57 and the suction flow rate detected by the flow sensor 58, and the dust amount sensor 45 collects the dust. By detecting the coarse dust that increases the dust collection volume in the dust bag 8, it is possible to determine the clogged state and dust collection state of the dust bag 8 due to various sucked dusts by these different detection methods. .

  That is, in the case of fine dust that affects the suction flow rate of the electric blower 6, even if the amount of dust collected in the dust bag 8 is not large, that is, the dust amount is increased by the dust amount sensor 45. The bag 22 may become clogged even if it is not detected that it has been exceeded, and it may be preferable to replace it.On the other hand, with coarse dust with relatively large air permeability such as cotton dust that does not affect the suction flow rate. Even if the amount of dust exceeds the maximum dust collection volume of the dust bag 8, the driving of the electric blower 6 is hardly affected, and it is not easy to detect with the current sensor 57 or the flow sensor 58. By using 58 in combination, it is possible to appropriately respond to control and notification of the electric blower 6 corresponding to both dusts.

  In particular, the dust amount sensor 45 detects the internal accumulation of the dust bag 8 by the light receiving units 43 located inside the dust bag 8 because the light emission amount of each light emitting unit 41 from the outside of the dust bag 8 is detected. , Cotton dust components can be clearly detected.

  Further, by providing the dust amount sensor 45 at the front edge of the suction opening 26, it is possible to reliably detect the overflow of the dust bag 8 from the suction opening 26.

  Furthermore, since each of the sensors 45, 57, and 58 is a non-contact sensor, there is no wear portion, which is advantageous in terms of reliability.

  In addition, the dust bag 8 side can be used with the conventional configuration without providing a new configuration separately.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the structure and effect | action similar to the said 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the control shown in FIG. 6 is performed instead of the control shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment.

  That is, the connecting pipe 12a of the hose body 12 is connected to the main body suction port 11 and the base end of the extension pipe 14 having the floor brush 15 connected to the tip is connected to the distal end of the hand operating section 13 of the hose body 12. In a state where the power cord is drawn out from the main body case 5 and connected to an unillustrated outlet or the like, the control unit 55 restarts the vacuum cleaner with the same dust bag 8 via the power cord or the like. If it is determined that it is not re-driven, the process returns to step 31, and if it is determined that it is re-driven, the light reception level at each light receiving unit 43 is re-driven. The control unit 55 determines whether it is higher than the previous reference (step 32).

  In step 32, when the control unit 55 determines that the light reception level at each light receiving unit 43 is higher than the reference before re-driving, the same as step 6 to step 10 of the first embodiment. Steps 33 to 37 are controlled.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 55 determines in step 32 that the light reception level at each light receiving unit 43 is not higher than the reference before re-driving, the light reception level at each light receiving unit 43 is before re-driving. The control unit 55 determines whether or not the value falls within a preset range with respect to the standard (step 38).

  In this step 38, when the control unit 55 determines that the light reception level at each light receiving unit 43 has fallen within a preset range, the light emission level at each light emitting unit 41 is set in advance. When the control unit 55 determines that the light reception level at each light receiving unit 43 has fallen within a preset range after detection is started by the dust amount sensor 45 (step 39). In this case, the abnormality of the dust amount sensor 45 is notified (step 40).

  As a result, according to the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be achieved.

  In addition, when the light reception level at each light receiving unit 43 falls outside the allowable range, the light emission level at each light emitting unit 41 is not corrected, so that a reasonable correction is possible.

  In each of the embodiments described above, a pressure sensor that detects the suction pressure of the electric blower 6 may be used instead of the current sensor 57 as the drive state detection unit that detects the drive state of the electric blower 6.

  Further, for example, the main body case 5 that partitions the dust collection chamber 9 is made translucent so that light emitted from the light emitting portion 41 can be transmitted so that light can be observed from the outside of the main body case 5. It can also be configured to illuminate the vacuum cleaner.

  Furthermore, if the control unit 55 is equipped with, for example, a non-volatile memory as a storage means, the use elapsed time of the vacuum cleaner is monitored via the non-volatile memory, so that this use elapsed time and the above control are combined. Thus, it is possible to more reliably determine the state of the dust bag 8 and the like.

  It is also possible to combine the above embodiments.

  Moreover, the timing of correcting the light emission level of each light emitting unit 41 in each of the above embodiments is, for example, any timing before driving the electric blower 6 such as immediately before the electric blower 6 operates by operating the setting button 17, Alternatively, it may be when the electric blower 6 has not been driven for a predetermined time or more.

  Furthermore, the details of the vacuum cleaner are not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, in addition to the dust collection bag 8 as the dust collection unit, the same operation and effect can be achieved even if a dust collection cup is used. The vacuum cleaner is not limited to the canister type, and may be, for example, a self-propelled (running assist type) or autonomous running (robot type) vacuum cleaner. Even an upright type or a handy type directly formed on the substrate can be used correspondingly.

It is explanatory sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the vacuum cleaner of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a flowchart which shows control before the driving | operation of the electric blower of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a flowchart which shows the cleaning control of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a flowchart which shows the control before the driving | operation of the electric blower of the vacuum cleaner of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vacuum Cleaner Body 6 Electric Blower 8 Dust Collection Bag as Dust Collection Unit
41 Receiver
43 Light emitter
45 Dust quantity sensor as detection means

Claims (1)

A vacuum cleaner body containing an electric blower,
A dust collecting part that can be attached to and detached from the vacuum cleaner body;
A light-emitting unit; and a light-receiving unit that receives light emitted from the light-emitting unit, and a detection unit that detects the amount of dust sucked by driving the electric blower based on the light-receiving level of the light-receiving unit.
The detection means can receive the light emission level from the light emitting unit in the state before the driving of the electric blower or in a state where the electric blower has not been driven for a predetermined time or longer. A vacuum cleaner characterized by a minimum light reception level.

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