JP2008278947A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner capable of facilitating the storage thereof when stored. <P>SOLUTION: Under prescribed conditions in a regular cleaning state, a support part 22 projects from a cleaner body 1, comes into contact with a floor face F and makes the cleaner body 1 stand into a storage stage. The projecting support part 22 supports a floor brush 13 at the end side of a pipe part connected to a body suction port 7 of the cleaner body 1. This constitution does not require an operator to stand a relatively heavy cleaner body 1 to facilitate the storage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner including a vacuum cleaner body that can be installed on a surface to be cleaned in a normal cleaning state and a storage state.

Conventionally, this type of vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum cleaner body that houses an electric blower. This vacuum cleaner main body has a main body suction port formed in the front portion so as to communicate with the suction side of the electric blower. A base end side of a pipe part constituted by a hose body, an extension pipe and a floor brush is connected to the main body suction port. In such a vacuum cleaner, when cleaning is completed, the vacuum cleaner main body is the floor to be cleaned from the normal cleaning state along the floor surface so that the main body suction port faces upward. Each of the extension pipe and the floor brush is locked to the cleaner body (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and a part of the extension pipe is held on the cleaner body, The vacuum cleaner is stored in a so-called stand storage state in which the tip is supported by a holder protruding from the vacuum cleaner body (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-108807 (page 4, FIG. 1) Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-177465 (pages 4-9, FIGS. 2 and 7)

  In the above-mentioned electric vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner main body must be in a standing state in order to be in the stand storage state. However, since this cleaner body is in a state along the floor surface in a normal cleaning state, an operator must hold the front part of the cleaner body by bending his knees and waists, and an electric blower, etc. Therefore, there is a problem in that the work of bringing the main body of the cleaner into the stand storage state is complicated.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the vacuum cleaner which can be accommodated easily.

  The present invention provides a vacuum cleaner main body that can be installed on the installation surface in a normal cleaning state and a storage state in which the main body suction port side is set up, and a pipe connected to the main body suction port, including a suction port body on the tip side And a support part that protrudes from the cleaner main body at a predetermined condition in the normal cleaning state and contacts the installation surface to raise the cleaner main body to the storage state, and supports the suction port body in the storage state. Is.

  According to the present invention, at a predetermined condition in the normal cleaning state, the support portion protrudes from the cleaner body and contacts the installation surface to bring the cleaner body into the storage state, and the protruding support portion is the tip of the pipe portion. By supporting the suction port on the side, it is not necessary for the operator to stand the cleaner body having a relatively large weight, and can be easily stored.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the vacuum cleaner of the 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated with reference to FIG. 1 thru | or FIG.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a vacuum cleaner body which is a so-called canister-type electric vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner body 1 includes a lower case 2 whose upper side is opened, and an upper case 3 which covers the rear upper side of the lower case 2. A main body case 5 having a lid 4 that can be opened and closed on the front upper side of the lower case 2 is provided. In the main body case 5, an electric blower 6 is accommodated, and a dust collection bag (not shown) serving as a dust collecting portion is detachably connected to the suction side of the electric blower 6. A main body suction port 7 communicating with the upstream side of the dust bag is formed in the lower case 2 at the front portion of the main body case 5. And the vacuum cleaner main body 1 faces the floor surface F which is a to-be-cleaned surface as an installation surface with the main body inlet 7 located in the front part as shown in FIG. 2 in a normal cleaning state. In the so-called stand storage state, which is a storage state, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the main body suction port 7 is set up on the floor F so as to stand up.

  Further, a hose body 8 is detachably provided at the main body suction port 7, and a hand operating portion 9 is provided at the tip of the hose body 8. In addition, the hand operating unit 9 is provided with a gripping part 10 that is gripped by an operator, and the operator controls the operation mode of the electric blower 6 and the like in the body case 5 by the operator. A plurality of setting buttons 11 for setting the means C1 are provided. Further, an extension pipe 12 and a floor brush 13 as a suction port body are sequentially connected to the distal end portion of the hand operation unit 9. The hose body 8, the extension pipe 12, and the floor brush 13 constitute a pipe portion 14.

  Here, the main body control means C1 has, for example, a triac and a predetermined IC and controls the operation of the electric blower 6 to the operation mode set by the setting button 11, and is a control circuit formed on the control board. is there.

  Further, on both side portions of the lower case 2 of the main body case 5, traveling wheels 16 and 16 that are grounded on the floor surface F in the normal cleaning state and enable the cleaner body 1 to travel on the floor surface F are rotatable. It is attached. Further, at the bottom of the lower case 2, a swivel wheel 17 that contacts the floor F in the normal cleaning state and controls the traveling direction of the main body case 5 is provided at the center near the front side. On the side of the wheel 17, a concave locking portion 21 that can lock the tube portion 14 is provided. Further, a support portion 22 that protrudes in a stand-mounted state is provided between the traveling wheels 16 and 16 at a position closer to the rear side of the bottom portion of the lower case 2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the locking portion 21 includes an opening 21a that opens forward in the normal cleaning state and upward in the stand storage state, and is provided on the distal end side of the extension pipe 12 in the stand storage state. By fitting a stand stopper 25 as a tube portion locking portion, the tube portion 14 can be locked to the main body case 5 (the vacuum cleaner main body 1). And LED27 which is a light-emitting body as a latching | locking part alerting | reporting means is attached to the bottom part 21b which faces the exterior from the opening part 21a of the latching | locking part 21. FIG. Furthermore, the front end side of the switch arm portion 28a of the switch 28 as a tube portion detecting means provided in the lower case 2 protrudes in the locking portion 21.

  The stand stopper 25 has a fixed portion 25a fixed around the extension tube 12, and a protruding portion 25b extending along the axial direction of the extension tube 12 from the fixed portion 25a at a position on the back side of the extension tube 12. The protruding portion 25b can be inserted into the opening 21a of the locking portion 21.

  The LED 27 notifies the operator of the position of the locking portion 21 in the stand retracted state, and for example, lighting is controlled by the main body control means C1.

  The switch 28 is a stand in which the tube portion 14 is locked to the cleaner body 1 in a state where the tube portion 14 is attached to and detached from the locking portion 21, that is, in a state where the cleaner body 1 is raised with the main body suction port 7 as an upper side. The switch arm portion 28a is turned on / off by inserting / removing the protrusion 25b of the stand stopper 25 into / from the opening 21a of the locking portion 21 to detect whether the storage portion is in the stored state. LED 27 is extinguished in a state where it is locked to the vacuum cleaner main body 1, and a signal is sent to the main body control means C1 so that the LED 27 is turned on in an off state, that is, with the tube portion 14 removed from the vacuum cleaner main body 1. It is configured to be able to send.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the support portion 22 is pivotally supported on the base end side in the vicinity of the rear end portion of the lower case 2 of the main body case 5, and the front end side is in the front-rear direction of the lower case 2. It is a flat plate-like member extending to a substantially central region and having a free end shape. In the normal cleaning state shown in FIG. The front end side which is a free end side is rotated by the main body motor 32 as a rotating means provided in the main body case 5 and protrudes from the main body case 5 at a predetermined condition from the normal cleaning state at a position where the interference does not occur. The front part of the vacuum cleaner main body 1 is rotated upward by a reaction force caused by further rotating in a state in which the tip side is in contact with the floor surface F, so that the stand is stowed as shown in FIGS. It is.

  Here, the drive of the main body motor 32 is controlled by, for example, the main body control means C1, and rotates the gear 36 as a rotation transmission means that meshes with the gear 35 provided coaxially with the rotation shaft of the support portion 22. By moving, the support part 22 is rotated.

  The predetermined condition for rotating the support portion 22 is, for example, a state in which the setting button 11 for stopping the electric blower 6 is pressed for a predetermined time, for example, 2 seconds or more, or when the operator finishes the cleaning at the end of the cleaning. A predetermined setting button 11 such as is pressed.

  The floor brush 13 includes a horizontally long case body 41 and a connection pipe 42 that protrudes rearward from the case body 41 and is connected to the distal end portion of the extension pipe 12.

  The case body 41 is formed with a suction port (not shown) and an opening (not shown) opened behind the suction port on the bottom surface facing the floor surface F. A rotary brush 45 as a rotary cleaning body is rotatably provided in the suction port, and the rotary brush 45 is rotationally driven by a motor 46 that is an electric motor provided in the case body 41. The drive is controlled by the control means C2 provided in the body 41. Further, a roller 48 for turning on and off a drive switch 47 (FIG. 5), which is a safety device for turning on and off the drive of the motor 46, is rotatably provided in the opening. The roller 48 is grounded to the floor surface F to be pushed inward of the case body 41 to turn on the drive switch 47, and is separated from the floor surface F to be driven to protrude from the case body 41 by its own weight. The switch 47 is turned off.

  The rotating brush 45 has a plurality of cleaning members such as bristle brushes protruding on the outer peripheral surface of a substantially cylindrical rotating shaft (not shown), and the cleaning member enters the floor surface F such as a carpet by rotation. It is configured to scrape.

  The current value of the motor 46 is detected by, for example, a detection means 49 that is a current sensor provided in the case body 41, and the state of the motor 46 can be detected by the detection means 49 via this current value. Yes. The detecting means 49 can notify the operator of the detected state of the motor 46 by means of a notifying means 50 (FIG. 5) such as a buzzer as a sound means, for example.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  When cleaning, first, the lid 4 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1 in the normal cleaning state in which the traveling wheel 16 and the turning wheel 17 are grounded to the floor surface F is opened, the dust bag is attached, and then the lid 4 Close.

  Next, the main body control means C1 drives the electric blower 6 in the set operation mode by holding the hand grip 10 and pressing a predetermined setting button 11.

  Then, the operator grounds the floor brush 13 to the floor surface, runs forward and backward on the floor surface, and sucks dust on the floor surface together with air from the suction port of the floor brush 13.

  At this time, the roller 48 of the floor brush 13 contacts the floor F and is pushed into the case body 41, the drive switch 47 is turned on, and the drive of the motor 46 is permitted.

  Therefore, for example, when cleaning a carpet or the like, the operator operates the predetermined setting button 11 to rotate the motor 46 via the control means C2, and the rotating brush 45 is rotated by the rotation of the motor 46. By doing so, the dust on the floor surface F is scraped off by the cleaning member.

  The sucked air is sucked into the dust bag through the floor brush 13, the extension pipe 12, the hose body 8 and the main body suction port 7, and the dust is collected and sucked into the electric blower 2. Then, it passes through the electric blower 2 to become exhaust air, and is exhausted from the exhaust port (not shown) to the outside of the cleaner body 1.

  When the cleaning is completed, when the operator presses the setting button 11 for stopping the electric blower 2, for example, for a predetermined time, for example, 2 seconds or more, or operates the predetermined cleaning end button, the main body control means C1 The rotation of 16 and 16 is fixed, ie, locked, the main body motor 32 is driven, and the gear 35 meshed with the gear 36 rotated by the main body motor 32 is used to fix the front end side which is the free end of the support portion 22 to the floor. By rotating to the surface F side, the front end side of the cleaner body 1 is rotated relatively rearward about the rotation axis of the traveling wheels 16 and 16 by the reaction force due to the rotation, and cleaning is performed. The machine main body 1 stands up in a stand storage state with the main body suction port 7 as an upper side.

  At this time, the vacuum cleaner main body 1 stops rotating with the front end side slightly inclined forward, in other words, with the center of gravity remaining on the front side, so that it does not completely stand upright on the floor surface F. In other words, the load of the cleaner body 1 is controlled to be applied to the support portion 22.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the operator opens the projection 25b of the stand stopper 25 of the tube portion 14 in the opening of the locking portion 21 where the LED 27 is lit and brightened. As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom portion of the case body 41 of the floor brush 13 is placed on the exposed support portion 22 while being fitted to the portion 21a.

  At this time, the switch arm portion 28a of the switch 28 is pushed in by the protruding portion 25b, so that the switch 28 is turned on. When the main body control means C1 detects that the switch 28 is turned on, the LED 27 is turned off.

  Further, by placing the floor brush 13 on the support portion 22, the roller 48 is pushed into the case body 41 by the support portion 22, and the control means C2 is pushed through the drive switch 47. By detecting this, the motor 46 rotates the rotating brush 45 for a predetermined time.

  During this rotation, the detection means 49 detects the current value of the rotating brush 45 to determine the state of the rotating brush 45. If the current value is equal to or greater than a predetermined current value, for example, the rotating brush 45 It is determined that the hair is entangled with the hair, and the operator is informed through the notification means 50 that the dust is entangled with the rotating brush 45 to prompt the cleaning of the rotating brush 45.

  In this stand storage state, the operator stores the electric vacuum cleaner.

  On the other hand, when cleaning from the stand storage state, when the switch 28 detects the predetermined condition, for example, when the switch 28 detects the removal of the protruding portion 25b of the stand stopper 25 from the locking portion 21, the main body control means C1 performs the main body motor 32. Is rotated in the opposite direction to the normal cleaning state to the stand storage state, the cleaner body 1 falls to the normal cleaning state shown in FIG. Note that the support portion 22 is a position that does not protrude downward from the main body case 5 by fitting into the storage recess 31 (a position that does not interfere with the floor surface F).

  At the same time, the main body control means C1 unlocks the traveling wheels 16 and 16 so that the cleaner body 1 can travel on the floor surface F.

  And it becomes possible to clean again in this normal cleaning state.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, during the predetermined condition in the normal cleaning state, the support portion 22 protrudes from the cleaner body 1 by rotation and contacts the floor surface F, and the cleaner body 1 The stowed support part 22 supports the floor brush 13 so that the vacuum cleaner body 1 having a relatively heavy weight does not need to be stood up by an operator and is easily stored as a stand storage state. It becomes possible.

  That is, the vacuum cleaner body 1 that is horizontal along the floor surface F in a normal cleaning state and that houses the electric blower 6 and the like is relatively heavy without the operator bending the waist and knees. The stand can be brought into the stowed state, and the work for putting the vacuum cleaner in the stowed state is not complicated.

  Moreover, since the vacuum cleaner main body 1 is held in a state where the center of gravity is left forward at a position where the vacuum cleaner main body 1 is not completely upright in the stand storage state, the vacuum cleaner is supported by the support portion 22 when returning from the stand storage state to the normal cleaning state. It becomes easy to return the main body 1.

  Further, when the switch 28 detects that the protruding portion 25b of the stand stopper 25 of the pipe portion 14 has been removed from the locking portion 21, the vacuum cleaner body 1 in the stand storage state automatically enters the normal cleaning state, so that the pipe The vacuum cleaner main body 1 can be brought into the normal cleaning state simply by removing the portion 14 from the locking portion 21, so that it does not take time to put the vacuum cleaner main body 1 into the normal cleaning state, and usability is improved.

  And in the stand storage state, since the state of the rotating brush 45 can be detected by detecting the current value of the rotating brush 45 by the detecting means 49, for example, even when the operator does not grasp the dirt state of the rotating brush 45, In response to this detection, when the cleaning is necessary, the notifying means 50 operates to prompt the operator to clean, so that the operator only needs to care (maintenance) the rotating brush 45 in accordance with the instruction, so that the usability is improved. In addition to being good, rotation failure due to insufficient maintenance of the rotating brush 45 or damage to the motor 46 due to overload can be prevented.

  Further, by illuminating the locking portion 21 with the LED 27, it becomes possible to notify the user of the configuration in which the tube portion 14 is locked to the cleaner body 1, and the floor surface F can be obtained without locking the tube portion to the cleaner body. It is possible to prevent the vacuum cleaner main body 1 and the pipe portion 14 from being compactly combined, and to save space in the housed state.

  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 rotating brush 45 is automatically cleaned in the stand storage state in the first embodiment.

  That is, the support portion 22 removes dust and other dust entangled with the cleaning member of the rotary brush 45 on the upper surface side in the stand storage state protruding from the cleaner body 1, that is, the main surface supporting the floor brush 13. Removal means 55 is provided.

  The removing means 55 is formed, for example, in a comb-like shape, and is configured such that the tip portion enters between the cleaning members of the rotating brush 45 in a state where the floor brush 13 is placed on the support portion 22.

  Then, when the cleaning is finished and the support portion 22 protrudes and the stand is in the stowed state, the tube portion 14 is locked to the locking portion 21 of the cleaner body 1 by the stand stopper 25, and the floor brush 13 is supported by the support portion. When supported on 22, the roller 48 is pushed into the case body 41, so that the control means C2 rotates the rotating brush 45 for a predetermined time.

  Then, during the rotation of the rotating brush 45, the comb-like removal means 55 that has entered the cleaning member scoops up the dust entangled with the cleaning member.

  With this configuration, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the rotary brush 45 can be automatically maintained in the stand storage state, so that the usability is further improved.

  In the second embodiment, when the cleaning member of the rotating brush 45 is a sponge-like member soaked with a cleaning liquid for cleaning the floor surface F such as flooring, the removing means 55 is used instead. By providing the support 22 with a member such as a sponge for replenishing the cleaning liquid to the cleaning member of the rotating brush 45, the rotating brush 45 can be automatically maintained in the stand storage state as in the second embodiment, Usability is improved.

  In each of the above embodiments, for example, when the cleaner body 1 is tilted from the stand storage state to the normal cleaning state, a separately provided leg member or the like protrudes from the cleaner body 1 so that the cleaner body 1 is moved forward. If it is configured to be tilted, it is not necessary to hold the vacuum cleaner body 1 with the center of gravity left on the front side when the stand is stored.

  Further, the notification means may be not only an audio means such as a buzzer but also an arbitrary configuration such as a light emission means such as a lamp or a display means such as an LCD panel, and may be provided on the cleaner body 1 side, for example.

  And the predetermined condition which makes the vacuum cleaner main body 1 stand from a normal cleaning state to a stand accommodation state, or the predetermined condition which falls from a stand accommodation state to a normal cleaning state can be set arbitrarily, respectively.

  In addition to the switch 28, for example, an arbitrary configuration such as an infrared sensor (photosensor) including a transmission unit and a reception unit can be used as the tube unit detection unit.

  Furthermore, the details of the vacuum cleaner are not limited to the above configuration as long as it is a canister type, and instead of the dust bag, for example, a dust collector that uses a dust collecting cup can be used. Can be used.

It is a side view which shows the accommodation state of the vacuum cleaner of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the normal cleaning state of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows the accommodation state of the vacuum cleaner main body of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. (a) is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the vicinity of the engaging part of the electric vacuum cleaner, and (b) is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a state where the pipe part is engaged with the engaging part. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a side view which shows the accommodation state of the vacuum cleaner of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vacuum cleaner body 6 Electric blower 7 Body inlet
13 Floor brush as suction port
14 Pipe
21 Locking part
22 Support part
28 Switch as means for detecting pipes
45 Rotating brush as rotating cleaning body
46 A motor that is an electric motor
49 Detection means
50 Notification means
55 Removal means F Floor as installation surface

Claims (4)

A vacuum cleaner main body comprising an electric blower and a main body suction port communicating with the suction side of the electric blower, and can be installed on the installation surface in a normal cleaning state and a storage state standing with the main body suction port side as an upper side,
A suction port body on the distal end side, and a pipe portion connected to the main body suction port;
The vacuum cleaner main body is provided in the normal cleaning state, protrudes from the vacuum cleaner main body at a predetermined condition, contacts the installation surface and raises the vacuum cleaner main body to the storage state, and the suction port in the storage state A vacuum cleaner comprising: a support portion for supporting the body. A locking portion provided in the vacuum cleaner body, and detachably locking the tube portion in the housed state;
A tube portion detecting means for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the tube portion to the locking portion;
The electric cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner main body is in a normal cleaning state when the pipe part detecting means detects that the pipe part has been removed from the locking part in the housed state. Machine. An electric motor,
A rotary cleaning body that is provided in the suction port body and that can be rotated by the electric motor to clean the dust on the surface to be cleaned, and that contacts the support portion in the housed state;
Detecting means for rotating the electric motor in the housed state, detecting a current value of the electric motor, and determining a state of the rotary cleaning body based on the detected current value;
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit that operates in accordance with determination of the state of the rotary cleaning body by the detecting unit. An electric motor,
A rotary cleaning body that is provided in the suction port body and is rotated by the electric motor and can clean dust on the surface to be cleaned;
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising: a removing unit that is provided in the support portion and removes dust attached to the rotary cleaning body in the housed state.

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