JP2010063573A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate a user's feeling of incongruity at the time of releasing a forced stop in a vacuum cleaner which forcedly comes to a stop for power saving and silencing when the machine is not in an actual cleaning condition. <P>SOLUTION: The vacuum cleaner includes a hose 3 having an operating section 4 and detachable from a body 1, an extension tube 5 detachable from the hose 3, a sucker 6 detachable from the extension tube 5 and the hose 3 and having a contact detection means capable of detecting its contact with a surface to be cleaned, and a control means 16 to drive and control an electric blower 2 in an operation mode set in the operating section 4. The control means 16 forcedly stops the electric blower 2 when sensing the sucker 6 not in contact with the surface to be cleaned from output information of the contact detection means. In addition, the control means 16 operates the electric blower 2 so as to exhibit a suction force set before the forced stop or previously set when conditions for releasing the forced stop set during the forced stop materialize. Thus the vacuum cleaner eliminates the user's feeling of incongruity at the time of releasing the forcedly stop and is ensures the ease of use. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner that can reduce power consumption.

  Conventionally, as this type of vacuum cleaner, an electric blower is provided in the main body of the vacuum cleaner, and a suction tool for sucking dust by the intake air generated by the electric blower is connected to the main body of the vacuum cleaner through a hose, etc. The suction tool is provided with a rotary brush and an electric motor for rotating the rotary brush, and a power supply line is provided from the main body of the vacuum cleaner to the motor of the suction tool. The power supply line has a switch, and the suction tool Grounding detecting means for detecting whether or not the tool is grounded to the surface to be cleaned, which is the surface to be cleaned. When the switch is closed and the suction detector is grounded to the surface to be cleaned by the ground detection means, the motor is driven, and the switch is opened and the suction tool is grounded to the surface to be cleaned by the ground detection means. If not, the suction tool motor stops.

In addition, when the ground detection means detects that the suction tool is not grounded on the surface to be cleaned, not only the motor stops, but also there is the one that reduces or stops the output of the electric blower for power saving and noise reduction. (For example, see Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).
JP-A-1-198519 JP 2002-369777 A JP 2007-54146 A

  However, in the conventional vacuum cleaner, for the purpose of power saving and noise reduction, research on the forced stop release condition after the electric blower is once stopped (forced stop) has been insufficient. For example, after the control means detects that the suction tool is not grounded on the surface to be cleaned by detecting output from the ground detection means of the suction tool (leaving the floor) and forcibly stops the electric motor or electric blower, some time has passed. For example, if the switch is closed when the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner is touched only for the purpose of moving by the user, the operation is unintentionally started (forced stop release).

  For example, when the forced stop state continues for a predetermined time (when the user thinks that the vacuum cleaner is in a normal operation cut-off state), for example, the control means is forced first. It has been found that there are cases where it is more convenient to not release the forced stop even if the opening of the switch for which the stop condition is satisfied is released (switch reclosed).

  In order to solve the conventional problems, an electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes an electric blower that generates a suction force housed in a main body, and an operation unit that can set an operation mode. The hose, an extension pipe detachably attached to the hose, a suction tool provided with a grounding detection means that can be attached to and detached from the extension pipe and the hose and can detect the presence or absence of grounding with the surface to be cleaned, and set in the operation unit Control means for driving and controlling the electric blower in the operation mode to be performed, the control means forcing the electric blower when detecting that the suction tool is not grounded to the surface to be cleaned from the output information of the ground detection means The electric blower is controlled so as to stop and when the preset forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied during the forced stop, the electric blower is configured to have a suction force before or before the forced stop. It was configured to operate.

  First, if the user is left driving (with the suction tool not touching the floor), he / she must suddenly do other things while cleaning the floor with a vacuum cleaner. Control is performed to forcibly stop the electric blower by detecting that the suction tool is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned from the output information of the ground detection means. The control means monitors that the forced stop release condition is satisfied during the forced stop. For example, when the forced stop period is extremely short, the suction tool from the ground detection means that is a condition for shifting to the forced stop control is used. If the output information indicating that the motor is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned is released, it is determined that the forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied, and the electric blower is restarted before the forced blower is forcibly stopped or at a predetermined suction force. In addition, when the period of forced stop is longer than the predetermined time, the output information that the suction tool is not grounded on the surface to be cleaned is released from the ground detection means that is the condition for shifting to the forced stop control. However, it is not determined that the forced stop release condition is satisfied, and for example, the forced stop release condition can be set to include other conditions such as some operation on the operation unit. One Force eliminate the stop at Release of the user discomfort can be a user-friendly vacuum cleaner.

  According to the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, when the suction tool is floating from the surface to be cleaned, such as when left in the vacuum cleaner operation, the operation of the electric blower is automatically stopped to save power and reduce noise. At the same time, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use vacuum cleaner that can prevent the uncomfortable feeling that the vacuum cleaner suddenly operates against the user's intention when the automatic stop is released.

  A first aspect of the present invention is an electric blower that generates a suction force housed in a main body, a suction hose that includes an operation unit that can set an operation mode, and that can be attached to and detached from the main body, and an extension pipe that is detachable from the hose. A suction tool provided with a grounding detection means that can be attached to and detached from the extension pipe and the hose in the previous period and can detect the presence or absence of grounding with the surface to be cleaned, and drive control of the electric blower in an operation mode set by the operation unit And control means for forcibly stopping the electric blower when detecting that the suction tool is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned from the output information of the ground detection means. When the preset forced stop release condition is satisfied during the forced stop, the electric blower is operated so that the suction force is set before the forced stop or set in advance.

  First, if the user is left driving (with the suction tool not touching the floor), he / she must suddenly do other things while cleaning the floor with a vacuum cleaner. Control is performed to forcibly stop the electric blower by detecting that the suction tool is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned from the output information of the ground detection means. The control means monitors that the forced stop release condition is satisfied during the forced stop. For example, when the forced stop period is extremely short, the suction tool from the ground detection means that is a condition for shifting to the forced stop control is used. If the output information indicating that the motor is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned is released, it is determined that the forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied, and the electric blower is restarted before the forced blower is forcibly stopped or at a predetermined suction force. In addition, when the period of forced stop is longer than the predetermined time, the output information that the suction tool is not grounded on the surface to be cleaned is released from the ground detection means that is the condition for shifting to the forced stop control. However, it is not determined that the forced stop release condition is satisfied, and for example, the forced stop release condition can be set to include other conditions such as some operation on the operation unit. One Force eliminate the stop at Release of the user discomfort can be a user-friendly vacuum cleaner.

  The second invention includes, in addition to the first invention, first connection detection means capable of detecting whether or not the suction tool is connected, and the control means uses the output information of the first connection detection means to detect the suction tool. When it is detected that is not connected, it is determined that the forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied.

  For example, when the user lifts the suction tool to clean a gap in furniture, etc., the control means detects that the suction tool is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned from the output information of the ground detection means, and forces the electric blower. Stop. Thereafter, when the user removes the removable suction tool, the control means detects from the output information of the first connection detecting means that the suction tool has been removed, that is, determines that the forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied, and the electric blower Is restarted so that the optimum suction force is obtained before forcibly stopping or at the tip of a predetermined extension pipe.

  The third invention includes, in addition to the first invention, second connection detection means capable of detecting whether or not the extension pipe is connected, and the control means uses the output information of the second connection detection means to extend the extension pipe. When it is detected that is not connected, it is determined that the forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied.

  For example, when the user lifts the suction tool to clean the furniture, the control means detects from the output information of the ground detection means that the suction tool is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned and forcibly stops the electric blower. To do. After that, when the user removes the detachable suction tool and the extension pipe, the control means detects from the output information of the second connection detection means that the suction tool and the extension pipe (or only the extension pipe) are removed. It is determined that the stop cancellation condition is satisfied, and the electric blower is restarted so as to have a suction force suitable for cleaning on the shelf before the forced stop or on a predetermined shelf.

  According to a fourth aspect, the control means of the first aspect determines that the forced stop cancellation condition is established by detecting that the operation unit has been operated.

  First, if the user is left driving (with the suction tool not touching the floor), he / she must suddenly do other things while cleaning the floor with a vacuum cleaner. Control is performed to forcibly stop the electric blower by detecting that the suction tool is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned from the output information of the ground detection means. The control means monitors whether the forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied during the forced stop. The forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied when some operation is performed on the operation unit, so that it is possible to eliminate a sense of incongruity as the user's action of the forced stop cancellation.

  In a fifth aspect of the invention, the control means of the first aspect of the invention detects from the output information of the ground detection means that the suction tool is in contact with the surface to be cleaned and detects that the operation unit has been operated. It is determined that the forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied.

  First, if the user is left driving (with the suction tool not touching the floor), he / she must suddenly do other things while cleaning the floor with a vacuum cleaner. Control is performed to forcibly stop the electric blower by detecting that the suction tool is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned from the output information of the ground detection means. The control means monitors that the forced stop release condition is satisfied during the forced stop. For example, when the forced stop period is extremely short, the suction tool from the ground detection means that is a condition for shifting to the forced stop control is used. If the output information indicating that the motor is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned is released, it is determined that the forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied, and the electric blower is restarted before the forced blower is forcibly stopped or at a predetermined suction force. In addition, when the period of forced stop is longer than the predetermined time, the output information that the suction tool is not grounded on the surface to be cleaned is released from the ground detection means that is the condition for shifting to the forced stop control. In addition, it is not determined that the forced stop release condition is satisfied, and it can be set as a forced stop release condition by including some operation on the operation unit. It can be prevented from being re-operated in the operation without FIG.

  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)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a general view of a vacuum cleaner according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a circuit configuration of the vacuum cleaner according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is an electric vacuum cleaner main body incorporating an electric blower 2 that generates a suction force, and a user can set the operation mode of the vacuum cleaner (for example, suction force such as strong, medium, weak, and off). A hose 3 provided with an operation portion 4 at its distal end is detachably connected, and an extension tube 5 is attached to the distal end portion of the hose 3, and further, the tip of the extension tube 5 is brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned to collect dust. A suckable suction tool (floor suction tool) 6 is also detachably connected. The suction tool 6 of this embodiment incorporates an electric motor 14 and a rotating brush that is driven to rotate the rotational force of the electric motor 14 via a belt or the like and scrapes off dust on the surface to be cleaned. The control means 16 is built in the main body 1, detects the operation mode signal Vt from the operation unit 4 operated by the user, and outputs a drive signal to the drive means A 10 and the drive means B 11 to output the electric blower 2 and the electric motor 14. The commercial power supply 13 is supplied with the phase-controlled power for driving. Reference numeral 12 denotes power supply means that can supply power to control-related circuits such as the control means 16. Vinn of the control means 16 is configured such that a voltage signal divided by the parallel connection resistance values of R4, R5 and R6 and R2 can be inputted when the drive means B11 is not supplying power to the motor 14. 15 is a grounding detection switch means that closes when the floor suction tool 6 is grounded (landing) so that dust on the floor surface can be sucked onto the floor to be cleaned, and opens when the floor suction tool 6 leaves the floor. The grounding detection means is configured by combining with the above. R5 is a first connection detecting means capable of detecting the presence / absence of the connection of the floor suction tool 6 by the partial pressure with R2, and R4 is a second connection detecting means capable of detecting the presence / absence of the connection of the extension pipe 5 by the partial pressure with R2. is there.

  About the vacuum cleaner comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below using FIG.

  First, when the control means 16 detects from the output information of the ground detection means (combination of the ground detection switch means 15 and the resistor R6) that the suction tool 6 is not grounded to the surface to be cleaned, the electric blower 2 is forcibly stopped. The operation to be performed will be briefly described.

  In the vacuum cleaner to which all the components are connected as shown in FIG. 1, when the user operates the operation unit 4, the control means 16 detects from the operation information signal Vt that, for example, the strong operation mode is operated, A control signal is output to the drive means A10 so that the power supplied to the electric blower 2 is maximized, and a predetermined drive signal is output to the drive means B11 in order to drive the motor 14 (motor drive shown in FIG. 3A). Signal reference). The motor drive signal is output so as to phase-control the power supplied to the motor 14 for a predetermined time (T1) from the zero cross timing of the commercial power supply waveform (see FIG. 3A). By this drive signal output, the control means 16 can detect a voltage signal Vin in which Vss (power supply voltage of the control means 16) is divided by the parallel connection resistance values of R4, R5 and R6 and the resistance value of R2 during the period T1. It is. Vin in the period of T1 is the closed circuit state of the ground detection switch means 15, whether the floor suction tool 6 is connected to the extension pipe 5, and whether the extension pipe 5 is connected to the hose 3, that is, R4. It changes as shown in FIG. 3B depending on each condition of whether or not R5 and R6 are connected.

  Incidentally, the details of the voltage signal Vin under each condition (A to D below) can be roughly calculated as follows.

A: When the ground detection switch means 15 is closed,
Vin = Vss * [1 ÷ (1 / R4 + 1 / R5 + 1 / R6) + R2] * R2 = V1
B: When the ground detection switch means 15 is open,
Vin = Vss * [1 ÷ (1 / R4 + 1 / R5) + R2] * R2 = V2
C: When the floor suction tool 6 is not connected (the extension pipe 5 is connected),
Vin = Vss * [1 ÷ (1 / R4) + R2] * R2 = Vss * [R4 + R2] * R2 = V3
D: When the extension pipe 5 is not connected (the floor suction tool 6 is also not connected)
Vin = Vss
As described above, the control means 16 can determine each connection condition from the value of Vin. For example, in the case of condition II, the vacuum cleaner determines that the dust on the floor to be cleaned cannot be sucked. Thus, control (forced stop control) is performed to stop power supply to the electric blower 2 (including the electric motor 14) to prevent wasteful power consumption and noise generation. Further, the determination is made by including the time element in the value of Vin (for example, it is determined that the forced stop condition is satisfied when the condition II continues to be satisfied for a predetermined time), so that the forced stop control with higher reliability can be achieved. Needless to say (Vin in the period other than T1 becomes a voltage signal obtained by clipping the voltage close to the commercial power supply 13 with the voltage D1, so that the control means 16 is detected as Vdd or Vss equivalent voltage. Needless to say).

  Next, after the forced stop condition (for example, B to D) described above is established, the control means 16 establishes the forced stop release condition, and the electric blower 2 (and the motor 14 is included) before the forced stop or a preset suction force. The operation for starting operation will be described.

  By continuously observing Vin and Vt during the forced stop, the control means 16 can freely set the forced stop release condition according to the change in Vin and the operation mode signal of Vt, for example, as follows.

(1) When Vin changes from V2 to V1 (2) When Vin changes from V2 to V3 (3) When Vin changes from V2 to V4 (4) Although Vin remains V2, Vt is detected (5) When Vin changes from V2 to V1 and a change in Vt is detected Furthermore, the operation mode when operation is started after the forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied can be set freely. It is as follows.

(A) In the case of (1), the operation mode (operation state) before the forced stop is restored. (B) In the case of (2), the operation mode (operation state) before the forced stop.
Or, change to a suction force convenient for cleaning at the end of the extension pipe 5 (C) In the case of (3) above, return to the operation mode (operating state) before forced stop or clean at the end of the hose 3 (D) In the case of (4), return to the operation mode (operation state) before the forced stop or operate in the operation mode according to the operation mode signal Vt (F) In the case of (5), the operation mode (operation state) before the forced stop is returned or the operation mode is operated according to the operation mode signal Vt. As described above, according to the present invention, the operation return after the forced stop is performed by the user. It is possible to provide an excellent vacuum cleaner that will be the most convenient operating condition for the user.

  As described above, the present invention is a technique useful for a vacuum cleaner that is energy-saving, low-noise, and easy to use.

Overview of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the vacuum cleaner (A) The same explanatory drawing of the information signal of the earthing | grounding detection means of a vacuum cleaner and a forced stop cancellation | release condition (b) Same as the above, The principal part enlarged view of an information signal

Explanation of symbols

1 body (electric vacuum cleaner body)
2 Electric blower 3 Hose (including operation unit)
4 Operation part 5 Extension pipe 6 Suction tool (floor suction tool)
10 Drive means A
11 Driving means B
12 Power supply means 13 Commercial power supply 14 Electric motor (motor for suction tool)
15 Ground detection switch means 16 Control means

Claims (5)

An electric blower that generates a suction force housed in the main body, an operation hose for setting the operation mode, and a suction hose that can be attached to and detached from the main body; an extension pipe that is detachable from the hose; A suction tool provided with a grounding detection means that can be attached to and detached from the hose and can detect the presence or absence of grounding with the surface to be cleaned, and a control means for drivingly controlling the electric blower in an operation mode set by the operation unit. The control means controls the electric blower to forcibly stop when it detects from the output information of the ground detection means that the suction tool is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned, and the control means preliminarily stops during the forced stop. An electric vacuum cleaner that operates the electric blower so that a suction force set in advance or before a forced stop is satisfied when a set forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied. A first connection detecting means capable of detecting whether or not the suction tool is connected, and when the control means detects that the suction tool is not connected from the output information of the first connection detection means, the forced stop release condition The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that is established. A second connection detecting means capable of detecting whether or not the extension pipe is connected, and when the control means detects that the extension pipe is not connected from the output information of the second connection detecting means, the forced stop cancellation condition The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a feature that determines that is established. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control means determines that the forced stop cancellation condition is satisfied by detecting that the operation unit is operated. The control means detects from the output information of the ground detection means that the suction tool is in contact with the surface to be cleaned and detects that the forced stop release condition is satisfied by detecting that the operation unit has been operated. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

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