JP2010119785A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner which repeats expansion and contraction by an electric motor, has an extension pipe which reciprocates a suction port body in an anteroposterior direction, and can reduce drastically a tired feeling of the user of the vacuum cleaner. <P>SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner 1 includes a telescopic extension pipe 7, an electric motor 16 which is prepared in the extension pipe 7, a reciprocating mechanical section 17 which elongates and contracts the extension pipe 7 according to the rotational direction of the electric motor 16, and a control part 12 which inverts the rotational direction of the electric motor 16 accordingly and elongates and contracts the extension pipe 7 continuously. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner provided with an extension pipe that expands and contracts by an electric motor.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an electric vacuum cleaner including a suction port body provided with at least one of a rotary cleaning body rotated by an electric motor and a drive wheel rotated by an electric motor. (For example, patent document 1).

Generally, in a conventional electric vacuum cleaner, for example, a canister type vacuum cleaner, the suction port body is provided at the lower end of an extension pipe set to a desired length.
JP-A-4-288108

  The conventional vacuum cleaner is required for the reciprocating movement of the suction port body in the front-rear direction by the suction port body provided with at least one of the rotary cleaning body rotated by the electric motor and the drive wheel rotated by the electric motor. Reduce operating force. Here, the operating force of the vacuum cleaner is a force required for the user of the vacuum cleaner to reciprocate the suction port body in the front-rear direction.

  However, the user of the vacuum cleaner needs to swing the arm part back and forth while gripping the extension pipe, although the operating force is reduced by the suction port body. The same applies to, for example, an upright type vacuum cleaner. If such an operation is continuously performed during use of the vacuum cleaner, the user of the vacuum cleaner becomes tired.

  The present invention proposes a vacuum cleaner that includes an extension pipe that repeatedly expands and contracts by an electric motor and reciprocates a suction port body in the front-rear direction, and that can greatly reduce fatigue of a user of the vacuum cleaner.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a suction port body, an extension tube having the suction port body at one end thereof, a telescopic extension tube, a motor provided in the extension tube, and a rotation direction of the motor. The reciprocating mechanism for extending and contracting the extension pipe, and the control section for continuously extending and contracting the extension pipe by appropriately reversing the rotation direction of the electric motor.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to propose a vacuum cleaner that includes an extension pipe that repeatedly expands and contracts by an electric motor and reciprocates the suction port body in the front-rear direction, and that can greatly reduce fatigue of the user of the vacuum cleaner.

  An embodiment of an electric blower according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment includes a vacuum cleaner body 2, a dust collecting hose 3, a hand operating tube 4, a gripping unit 5, an operating unit 6, and an extension tube 7. The suction port body 8 is provided.

  The vacuum cleaner body 2 has a connection port 2a. One end of the dust collecting hose 3 is detachably connected to the connection port 2a. The vacuum cleaner main body 2 accommodates a dust separating and collecting part (not shown) and the electric blower 11. Further, the cleaner body 2 is formed with a body exhaust port (not shown) through which the exhaust from the electric blower 11 is discharged. The cleaner body 2 includes a control unit 12 that controls the electric blower 11 and a power cord 13 that guides electric power to the electric blower 11. A power plug 14 is formed at the free end of the power cord 13.

  The dust collection hose 3 is flexible and is formed in a bendable elongated substantially cylindrical shape. One end of the dust collection hose 3 is detachably connected to the connection port 2a. The dust collection hose 3 communicates with the inside of the cleaner body 2.

  One end of the hand operation tube 4 is provided at the other end of the dust collecting hose 3. The hand control tube 4 communicates with the inside of the cleaner body 2 through the dust collecting hose 3.

  The grip part 5 is operated by the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 to operate the vacuum cleaner 1. The grip portion 5 is formed to protrude from the other end portion of the hand operation tube 4 and is curved toward one end portion of the hand operation tube 4 provided with the dust collecting hose 3.

  The operation unit 6 is provided in the grip unit 5. The user of the vacuum cleaner 1 can set the vacuum cleaner 1 to a plurality of drive modes by operating the operation unit 6. The operation unit 6 includes a turn-off switch 6 a that stops the operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 and an activation switch 6 b that starts the operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 1. The operation unit 6 also has an extension tube operation switch 6c for performing input operation to start and stop the extension operation of the extension tube 7 and change the extension cycle.

  The extension tube 7 is formed in an elongated and substantially cylindrical shape that can be expanded and contracted. The extension tube 7 has a telescopic structure by overlapping a plurality of cylindrical bodies. The extension pipe 7 is provided with an electric motor 16 and a reciprocating mechanism 17 that is driven by the rotational movement of the electric motor 16 to expand and contract the extension pipe 7. One end of the extension tube 7 is detachably connected to the other end of the hand operation tube 4. The extension pipe 7 communicates with the inside of the cleaner body 2 through the hand operation pipe 4 and the dust collection hose 3.

  The suction port body 8 is detachably connected to one end of the extension pipe 7. The suction port body 8 communicates with the inside of the cleaner body 2 through the extension pipe 7, the hand operation pipe 4, and the dust collection hose 3. The suction port body 8 has a suction port (not shown). The suction port is opposed to the surface to be cleaned when the suction port body 8 is disposed on the surface to be cleaned such as a floor surface.

  When the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is operated, the electric blower 11 is activated, and a negative pressure is applied to the inside of the cleaner main body 2. This negative pressure acts on the suction port body 8 from the connection port 2a through the dust collecting hose 3, the hand control tube 4, and the extension tube 7. If it does so, the vacuum cleaner 1 will inhale the dust collected on the to-be-cleaned surface with the air from the suction inlet of the suction inlet body 8, and will clean a to-be-cleaned surface. The dust-containing air sucked into the suction port body 8 is separated into air and dust by the dust separating and collecting part accommodated in the cleaner body 2. The separated dust is collected in a dust separation and collection unit. On the other hand, the separated air is sucked into the electric blower 11 and discharged from the main body exhaust port of the cleaner body 2.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an extension tube of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the extension tube 7 of the vacuum cleaner 1 includes an inner cylinder 18, an outer cylinder 19, an electric motor 16, and a reciprocating mechanism 17. Note that the extension tube 7 may be formed by overlapping three or more cylinders.

  The inner cylinder 18 is slidably provided inside the outer cylinder 19. The inner cylinder 18 and the outer cylinder 19 constitute a telescopic structure. On the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 18 and the inner periphery of the outer cylinder 19, flanges 18a, 19a, and 19b are provided, respectively. When the inner cylinder 18 slides inside the outer cylinder 19 and the collar portion 18a of the inner cylinder 18 is brought into contact with the collar portion 19a of the outer cylinder body 19, the inner cylinder body 18 is prevented from being pulled out. The On the other hand, when the inner cylinder 18 slides inside the outer cylinder 19 and the collar portion 18a of the inner cylinder 18 is brought into contact with the collar portion 19b of the outer cylinder body 19, insertion of the inner cylinder body 18 is prevented. Is done.

  The electric motor 16 is provided in the outer cylinder 19 and generates a driving force for the reciprocating mechanism 17.

  The reciprocating mechanism 17 is, for example, a rack and pinion, and includes a rack 21 formed on the inner cylinder 18 and a pinion 22 provided on the outer cylinder 19. The pinion 22 is provided on the output shaft of the electric motor 16 and is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the electric motor. In addition, the reciprocating mechanism 17 can be configured by a mechanism capable of converting the rotational motion of the electric motor 16 into linear reciprocating motion, such as a ball screw transmission structure or a link mechanism.

  Here, the expansion and contraction operation of the extension pipe 7 will be described.

  The expansion and contraction of the extension pipe 7 is performed by causing the pinion 22 provided on the outer cylinder 19 to reciprocate the rack 21 provided on the inner cylinder 18 by rotating the electric motor 16.

  Specifically, when the electric motor 16 rotates in one direction (solid arrow CW in FIG. 2), the inner cylinder 18 protrudes from the outer cylinder 19 and the entire length of the extension pipe 7 extends. The extension tube 7 has the longest overall length when the flange portion 18a of the inner cylinder 18 is brought into contact with the flange portion 19a of the outer cylinder body 19. When the total length of the extension pipe 7 is the longest, the electric motor 16 is prevented from rotating and a lock current flows.

  On the other hand, when the electric motor 16 rotates in the other direction (solid arrow CCW in FIG. 2), the inner cylinder 18 enters the outer cylinder 19 and the total length of the extension pipe 7 is shortened. The extension tube 7 has the shortest overall length when the flange portion 18a of the inner cylinder 18 is brought into contact with the flange portion 19b of the outer cylinder body 19. When the total length of the extension pipe 7 becomes the shortest, the electric motor 16 is prevented from rotating and a lock current flows.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the vacuum cleaner 1 includes an operation unit 6, an electric blower 11, a switching element 25, a DC power supply circuit 26, a polarity positive / inversion circuit unit 27, an electric motor 16, and a current detection unit 28. And a control power supply circuit 30 and a control unit 12.

  The operation unit 6 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation content input by the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 to the control unit 12. Specifically, the operation unit 6 outputs a stop signal Soff of the vacuum cleaner 1 to the control unit 12 when the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 operates the off switch 6a. The operation unit 6 outputs a start signal Son of the vacuum cleaner 1 to the control unit 12 when the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 operates the start switch 6b. Further, when the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 operates the extension pipe operation switch 6c, the operation unit 6 sequentially outputs the weak start signal Sml, the strong start signal Smh, and the stop signal Smov of the electric motor 16 to the control unit 12.

  The electric blower 11 is connected to a commercial AC power source E through the switching element 25.

  The switching element 25 supplies electric power to the electric blower 11 according to the control of the control unit 12. As the switching element 25, an element such as a bidirectional thyristor or a reverse blocking three-terminal thyristor is used for power control. A gate terminal of the switching element 25 is connected to the control unit 12.

  The DC power supply circuit 26 supplies a DC voltage obtained by reducing the voltage of the commercial AC power supply E to about 15 V to the control power supply circuit 30 and the electric motor 16.

  The polarity forward / reverse circuit unit 27 appropriately forwards or reverses the polarity of the power supplied from the DC power supply circuit 26 according to the control of the control unit 12 and supplies it to the electric motor 16. Specifically, the polarity forward / reverse circuit unit 27 supplies the electric motor 16 with the polarity of electric power supplied to the electric motor 16 when the extension pipe 7 is expanded and the extension pipe 7 when the extension pipe 7 is shortened. The polarity of the supplied power is reversed.

  The current detection unit 28 detects a current supplied to the electric motor 16 and outputs it to the control unit 12.

  The control power supply circuit 30 steps down the DC current supplied from the DC power supply circuit 26 to about 5 V and supplies it to the control unit 12.

  The control unit 12 starts or stops the operation of the electric blower 11 via the switching element 25 according to the operation signal output from the operation unit 6. Specifically, the control unit 12 starts the operation of the electric blower 11 when the activation signal Son is output from the operation unit 6. On the other hand, when the stop signal Soff is output from the operation unit 6, the operation of the electric blower 11 is stopped.

  Moreover, the control part 12 controls the driving | running output of the electric blower 11 by phase control. Specifically, the control unit 12 controls the operation output of the electric blower 11 by controlling the timing at which the switching element 25 is turned on, that is, the phase angle, every half cycle of the commercial AC power supply E. The control unit 12 outputs to the switching element 25 a trigger signal St whose trigger angle value is the phase angle at which the switching element 25 is turned on.

  Furthermore, the control unit 12 controls the operation of the electric motor 16 by modulating the duty ratio of the current supplied to the electric motor 16 by, for example, PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control. Specifically, when the weak start signal Sml is output from the operation unit 6, the control unit 12 modulates the duty ratio Dl of the current supplied to the electric motor 16 to about 50%, for example, and operates the electric motor 16. Let it begin. When the operation of the electric motor 16 is started, the expansion and contraction movement of the extension pipe 7 is started. Further, when the strong start signal Smh is output from the operation unit 6, the control unit 12 modulates the duty ratio Dh of the current supplied to the electric motor 16 to be higher than the duty ratio Dl, for example, about 100%. 16 operation is started. When the operation of the electric motor 16 is started, the expansion and contraction movement of the extension pipe 7 is started. That is, the control unit 12 can control the rotational speed of the electric motor 16 to two different rotational speeds. In addition, you may comprise so that a duty ratio can be modulated to three or more.

  On the other hand, when the stop signal Smov is output from the operation unit 6, the control unit 12 modulates the duty ratio D0 of the current supplied to the electric motor 16 to about 0%, for example, and stops the operation of the electric motor 16. That is, the control unit 12 can cut off the electric power supplied to the electric motor 16. When the power supplied to the electric motor 16 is cut off, the extension pipe 7 is adjusted to an arbitrary length within a range in which the extension pipe 7 can reciprocate.

  Furthermore, the control part 12 reverses the rotation direction of the electric motor 16 as appropriate, and causes the extension pipe 7 to continuously expand and contract. When the current value i detected by the current detection unit 28 becomes equal to or greater than the lock current determination threshold value Irt (lock current value) of the electric motor 16, the control unit 12 changes the rotation direction of the electric motor 16 via the polarity positive / inversion circuit unit 27. Control. Specifically, when the current value i detected by the current detection unit 28 is equal to or greater than the inversion determination threshold value Irt, that is, when the motor 16 is locked, the control unit 12 controls the polarity positive / inversion circuit unit 27 to control the motor 16. Invert the polarity of the current supplied to. When the polarity of the supplied current is reversed, the rotation direction of the electric motor 16 is reversed.

  The control unit 12 includes a central processing unit (not shown), a memory (not shown), and the like. The memory stores control programs executed by the central processing unit and data such as necessary constants. The memory is used as a data storage area and a work area for temporarily storing calculation data of the central processing unit.

  The longest state and the shortest state of the extension tube 7 in the extension and contraction movement of the extension tube 7 are detected by an infrared sensor that detects the proximity of the flanges 18a, 19a, and 19b of the extension tube 7 instead of the current detection unit 28. Alternatively, a proximity detection unit including a micro switch or the like may be used. In this case, the control unit 12 reverses the rotation direction of the electric motor 16 according to the longest state or the shortest state of the extension tube 7 detected by the proximity detection unit, and continuously extends and contracts the extension tube 7. Specifically, when the proximity detector detects the proximity of the collar 18a and the collar 19a, or the proximity of the collar 18a and the collar 19b, the polarity positive / inverting circuit unit 27 is detected. To reverse the polarity of the current supplied to the motor 16.

  In addition, the longest state and the shortest state of the extension tube 7 in the expansion and contraction movement of the extension tube 7 are detected from a magnetic tape that detects the reciprocating position of the reciprocating mechanism 17 and a magnetic sensor instead of the current detector 28. You may use the comprised position detection part. In this case, the control unit 12 reverses the rotation direction of the electric motor 16 according to the longest state or the shortest state of the extension pipe 7 detected by the position detection unit, and continuously extends and contracts the extension pipe 7. Specifically, when the position detection unit detects the longest state or the shortest state of the extension pipe 7, the control unit 12 controls the polarity forward / reverse circuit unit 27 to change the polarity of the current supplied to the motor 16. Invert.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the expansion / contraction motion control of the extension pipe of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the vacuum cleaner 1, when the extension tube operation switch 6 c of the operation unit 6 is operated, the weak start signal Sml or the strong start signal Smh is input to the control unit 12, and the extension tube 7 Starts the expansion and contraction motion control.

  First, in step S <b> 1, the control unit 12 starts supplying power from the DC power supply circuit 26 to the electric motor 16. At this time, if the control part 12 has received the input of the weak starting signal Sml from the extension pipe operation switch 6c, it will supply electric power to the electric motor 16 as the duty ratio Dl. Moreover, if the control part 12 is receiving the strong starting signal Smh from the extension pipe operation switch 6c, it will supply electric power to the electric motor 16 as the duty ratio Dh.

  Next, in step S <b> 2, the control unit 12 acquires the measurement signal output from the current detection unit 28 and measures the current i supplied to the electric motor 16.

  Next, in step S3, the control unit 12 compares the current i measured in step S2 with the lock current determination threshold value Irt. When the current i is larger than the lock current determination threshold value Irt, the control unit 12 proceeds to step S4. In other cases, the process returns to step S2.

  Next, in step S4, the control unit 12 controls the polarity forward / reverse circuit unit 27 to reverse the rotation direction of the electric motor 16, and returns to step S2.

  That is, the control unit 12 detects the current when the motor 16 rotates in one direction, the collar portion 18a of the inner cylinder 18 contacts the collar portion 19a of the outer cylinder body 19, and the total length of the extension tube 7 becomes the longest. Based on the lock current detected by the unit 28, the polarity positive / inversion circuit unit 27 is controlled to reverse the rotation direction of the electric motor 16.

  On the other hand, when the motor 16 rotates in the other direction and the flange 18a of the inner cylinder 18 contacts the flange 19b of the outer cylinder 19 and the total length of the extension tube 7 becomes the shortest, the control unit 12 detects the current. Based on the lock current detected by the unit 28, the polarity positive / inversion circuit unit 27 is controlled to reverse the rotation direction of the electric motor 16. As described above, the control unit 12 reverses the rotation direction of the electric motor 16 based on the lock current detected by the current detection unit 28 and continuously extends and contracts the extension pipe 7.

  In the vacuum cleaner 1, when the extension pipe operation switch 6 c of the operation unit 6 is operated and the stop signal Smov is input to the control unit 12, the extension / contraction motion control of the extension pipe 7 is stopped. The user of the vacuum cleaner 1 can arbitrarily adjust the length of the extension pipe 7 by operating the extension pipe operation switch 6c when the extension pipe 7 expands and contracts to a desired length.

  Next, the cleaning operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  A user of the vacuum cleaner 1 first connects the dust collecting hose 3 to the connection port 2 a of the cleaner body 2. Next, the extension pipe 7 is connected to the local operation pipe 4. Next, the suction port body 8 is connected to the extension pipe 7.

  Next, the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 pulls the power cord 13 from the vacuum cleaner body 2 and connects the power plug 14 to an outlet (not shown) that supplies the commercial AC power E.

  Next, the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 arranges the suction port body 8 on the surface to be cleaned such as a floor surface, and grips the grip portion 5 and operates the start switch 6b. If it does so, the electric blower 11 will act | operate according to the operation mode set with the starting switch 6b.

  Next, the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 operates the extension pipe operation switch 6c. Then, the weak activation signal Sml is input to the control unit 12, and the expansion / contraction motion control of the extension pipe 7 is started. When the extension pipe 7 starts to expand and contract, the suction port body 8 reciprocates by repeating forward and backward alternately on the surface to be cleaned. Moreover, if the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 repeatedly operates the extension pipe operation switch 6c, the speed of the reciprocating motion of the suction port body 8 can be increased. Furthermore, if the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 repeatedly operates the extension tube operation switch 6c, the extension tube 7 can be stopped and extended, and the length of the extension tube 7 can be arbitrarily adjusted.

  At this time, dust on the surface to be cleaned is sucked into the suction port of the suction port body 8 together with air. The dust-containing air sucked into the suction port body 8 sequentially passes through the extension tube 7, the hand control tube 4, and the dust collecting hose 3, and then passes through the connection port 2 a of the cleaner body 2 and flows into the cleaner body 2. Sucked inside.

  The dust-containing air sucked into the vacuum cleaner main body 2 is guided to the dust separating and collecting part. Dust contained in the dust-containing air is collected by a dust separation and collection unit accommodated in the cleaner body 2. The air from which the dust has been separated is sucked into the electric blower 11 to become exhaust air, and is exhausted from the main body exhaust port to the outside of the cleaner main body 2.

  Therefore, according to the vacuum cleaner 1 which concerns on this embodiment, it becomes possible to reciprocate the suction inlet body 8 back and forth by the expansion-contraction movement of the extension pipe 7, and the operation force which concerns on the reciprocation of the suction inlet body 8 is obtained. It can be made unnecessary. Then, since the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 can clean the surface to be cleaned only by appropriately moving the vacuum cleaner 1 while holding the grip portion 5, the suction port body reciprocates in the front-rear direction. The feeling of fatigue associated with movement can be dramatically eliminated.

  Moreover, according to the vacuum cleaner 1 which concerns on this embodiment, even if the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 cleans for a long time, the fatigue feeling accompanying the back-and-forth reciprocation of a suction inlet body can be eliminated.

The perspective view which showed the external appearance of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on this invention. Sectional drawing which showed the extension pipe | tube of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on this invention. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention. The flowchart of the expansion-contraction movement control of the extension pipe | tube of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric vacuum cleaner 2 Vacuum cleaner main body 2a Connection port 3 Dust collection hose 4 Hand operation pipe 5 Grasping part 6 Operation part 6a Off switch 6b Start switch 6c Extension pipe operation switch 7 Extension pipe 8 Suction port body 11 Electric blower 12 Control part 13 Power cord 14 Power plug 16 Electric motor 17 Reciprocating mechanism 18 Inner cylinder 18a Hook 19 Outer cylinder 19a, 19b Hook 21 Rack 22 Pinion 25 Switching element 26 DC power supply circuit 27 Polarity inversion circuit 28 Current detector 30 Control power circuit

Claims (4)

A suction port,
Having the suction port at one end, and an extendable tube that can be stretched;
An electric motor provided in the extension pipe;
A reciprocating mechanism that expands and contracts the extension tube according to the rotation direction of the electric motor;
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a control unit that appropriately reverses the rotation direction of the electric motor to continuously extend and contract the extension pipe. The controller is
The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein when the current supplied to the electric motor is equal to or greater than the lock current of the electric motor, the rotating direction of the electric motor is reversed. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to be able to control the rotational speed of the electric motor to at least two different rotational speeds. The control unit has a function of interrupting power supplied to the electric motor,
3. The electricity according to claim 1, wherein the reciprocating mechanism is configured such that the length of the extension pipe can be arbitrarily adjusted within a range in which the motor can be reciprocated when the electric motor is stopped. Vacuum cleaner.

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