JP2010136975A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner which detects a constant electric current flown to an operation means by a control means to maintain the reliability of contacts and has a reliable detecting function even at a power transient condition. <P>SOLUTION: By supplying a constant electric current to an operation means 12 by a constant current means 3 that can be operated with a low voltage, a control means 6 can reliably detect an operation condition of an operation means 13 even if a voltage fluctuation occurs in a power activation or power transient condition. In addition, current and voltage for a display means 13 are applied to contacts to secure the reliability of the contacts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration of an electric vacuum cleaner having an operation unit capable of arbitrarily selecting and setting an input of an electric blower.

  As a form of the electric vacuum cleaner, generally, a floor moving type (canister type) vacuum cleaner as shown in FIG. 3 is widely used, and the input of the electric blower 22 arranged in the vacuum cleaner body 21 is cleaned. By operating the operating means 26 provided in the hand portion 25 of the hose 24 that is detachably connected to the connecting portion 29 of the machine main body 21, the electric power is supplied via the control means (not shown) in the cleaner main body 21. The input of the blower 22 can be arbitrarily set. The operation means 26 and the cleaner body 21 are electrically connected by a connection terminal (not shown) provided at the intake port 29 and a connection terminal (not shown) provided at the hose 24. An extension tube 27 is connected to the hand portion 25, and a floor nozzle 28 for sucking dust is provided at the tip of the extension tube 27.

A dust collection chamber 30 is provided upstream of the electric blower 22 in the vacuum cleaner main body 21, and when a large amount of dust is accumulated in the dust collection chamber 30, display means provided in the hand portion 25. 31 indicates that a large amount of dust is accumulated. And the circuit for controlling the input of such an electric blower or performing a display is proposed (for example, refer to patent documents 1).
Japanese Patent No. 2930116

  However, in the case of the circuit shown in FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1, a voltage between the connection terminals (between terminals C and D) is applied to the hose handle, which is the rated voltage of the control IC 131. (Generally 5V for microprocessors and 12V or less for ICs) must not be exceeded, so a high voltage setting cannot be made.

  In addition, in order to reliably detect the signal of the operating means 26, high accuracy is required for the output voltage of each fixed resistor or IC regulator that constitutes the operating means 26, resulting in high cost. Furthermore, since the operable voltages of ICs such as the IC 131 and the comparator 141 having a storage function generally do not match, the voltage at the time of transition until the voltage reaches a predetermined voltage when the power source 42 is turned on or when the power source voltage fluctuates such as an instantaneous power failure Misdetection when the supply voltage to the IC changes due to a sudden change is also a major issue.

  In addition, the connection terminal is a portion corresponding to the air inlet 29 of the cleaner body 21 and is a place where vibration is constantly applied by pulling the hose 24 when the cleaner is used. There is a problem that contact failure is caused at a low voltage of about 5V or 12V.

  The present invention solves the above problems, and provides a vacuum cleaner having a reliable detection function even in a power supply transient state by passing a constant current through the operation means and detecting it with the control means.

  In order to solve the conventional problems, the present invention provides an electric blower for sucking dust, an electric blower control means for controlling the electric blower, an operation means for setting an input of the electric blower, Constant current means for supplying a constant current to the operation means, control means for judging which switch is operated based on an output from the operation means, and outputting an input signal of the electric blower to the electric blower control means, Voltage generating means for separately providing operating voltages of the constant current means and the control means is provided, and the constant current means can flow a constant current to the operation means when the voltage of the control means is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage. Therefore, a reliable detection function can be obtained while a constant current can be supplied even in a power supply transient state.

  In the present invention, since the power source of the constant current means can be separated from the power source of the control means, the voltage can be increased, the reliability of the contact can be improved, and the constant current means is predetermined before reaching the operable voltage of the control means. Since it can be set to a value, a reliable detection function can be obtained even in a power supply transient state.

  The first invention is an electric blower for sucking dust, an electric blower control means for controlling the electric blower, an operation means for setting an input of the electric blower, and a constant current to the operation means. Constant current means for flowing, control means for determining which switch is operated based on an output from the operation means, and outputting an input signal of the electric blower to the electric blower control means, the constant current means and the control Voltage generating means for separately providing the operating voltage of the means, and the constant current means is configured to allow a constant current to flow to the operating means when the voltage of the control means is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage, A reliable detection function can be obtained even in a power transient state.

  In the second invention, in particular, in the first invention, since the operating voltage of the constant current means and the operating voltage of the control means are set to different voltages, high reliability of the contacts can be ensured.

  In the third invention, particularly in the invention of 1 or 2, the operating voltage of the constant current means is set higher than the operating voltage of the control means, so that a high voltage can be applied to the contact. High reliability can be ensured.

  In a fourth aspect of the invention, particularly in the first aspect of the invention, state detection means for detecting the intake air volume, pressure, etc., display means for displaying the state of intake air volume, pressure, etc., and display control means for controlling the display means, Since the operation voltage of the display control means and the voltage of the control means are set to be different from each other and the operation voltage of the display means is applied to the operation means, high reliability of the contact is ensured. be able to.

  In the fifth aspect of the invention, particularly in the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the operating voltage of the constant current means and the operating voltage of the display control means have the same system voltage / common wiring configuration, and the control signal for the operation means signal capture and status display control Since it is configured to perform the same signal system, the operation means is arranged at the hand portion, and the user can perform the operation / confirmation only at hand.

  In the sixth aspect of the invention, since the current flowing through the display means when the display means is driven is set to be larger than the current supplied from the constant current means, it is not necessary to perform hardware switching when driving the switch operation means or the display means. In addition, it is possible to obtain a low-cost configuration and to ensure high reliability of the contact.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is an electric blower for sucking dust, and 2 is an electric blower control means for controlling the electric blower 1, both of which are built in the cleaner body 10.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a hose that has one end attached to the air inlet 10a of the vacuum cleaner main body 10. The input of the electric blower 1 is arbitrarily set at the hand by a plurality of normally open switches SW1, SW2, SW3. An operating means 12 and a display means 13 (in the present invention, a visible light emitting diode) for displaying states such as the intake air volume and pressure are provided at the hand portion 11a of the hose.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a voltage generating means which receives supply of the AC power supply VAC and supplies DC voltages of Va (−24V) and Vb (−5V).

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the operating means 12 includes a plurality of normally open type switches SW1, SW2, SW3 and two or more fixed resistors between the two wires 11b arranged in the hose 11. A ladder-type connection configuration is made using loads such as R1, R2, R3, and R4. For this reason, one constant current part is sufficient, and a low-cost and highly accurate configuration is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the switches SW11 to SW12 and the resistors R11 to R13 are configured in parallel, the combination of switches increases and the detection accuracy decreases, but this is one method.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes constant current means for supplying a constant current to the operation means 12, and uses an element 3a for generating a constant voltage (Vc).

  In the present embodiment, NEC PC1093 manufactured by NEC is used as the element 3a, and the output voltage is guaranteed to have an accuracy of 2.495V ± 2%, and the operation voltage is the operation lower limit voltage 3. Since it is lower than 3V, a constant current can be supplied to the operating means 12 before the control means starts its operation.

  Here, since the collector current Ic of the transistor 3b is substantially equal to the emitter current Ie, the collector current Ic of the transistor 3b can be set to 1 mA by setting the emitter resistance 3c of the transistor 3b to 2.495 kΩ.

  In the present embodiment, the constant current circuit is configured by the circuit shown in the figure. However, it is only necessary that the current flowing through the operation unit 12 can be made constant below the operable voltage of the control unit 6, and is limited to this circuit configuration. Is not to be done.

  4 is a state detection means for detecting the intake air volume, pressure, etc. In the present invention, the pressure at the rear of the dust collection chamber is detected using a pressure switch, and the pressure is higher than a predetermined pressure, that is, the dust collection chamber is caused by a large amount of dust. When it becomes almost full, the contact is closed.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes display control means for controlling the display means 13, and displays information of the state detection means 4, that is, the amount of dust.

  As described above, since the visible light emitting diode is provided as the display means 13 in the present invention, the display control means 5 is set to supply a current of about 10 mA.

  6 determines which switch is operated based on the output from the operation means 12 and outputs an input signal of the electric blower 1 to the electric blower control means 2 and outputs the output from the state detection means 4. Originally, the control means for outputting a signal to the display control means 5, and a microprocessor is used in the present invention.

  When the control means 6 takes in a signal from the operation means 12, a program setting is made to stop the drive signal to the display control means 5, so that the operation means 12 and the display means 13 arranged in the same system are turned on. Output control is possible.

  The operating voltage of this microprocessor is guaranteed between 4.5V and 5.5V, but in most cases it can operate from a voltage lower than 4.5V.

  The microprocessor starts to operate based on the program stored in the internal ROM after the internal reset is released. However, the internal reset voltage must naturally be lower than the minimum operating voltage of the microprocessor, 4.5V. In particular, it is about 3.3V to 3.8V.

  That is, when the control means 6 starts operation, the constant current means 3 is already in a steady state.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes voltage generating means for separately providing operating voltages of these means. In the present invention, the operating voltage of the constant current means 3, the state detecting means 4 and the display control means 5 is 24V, and the operating voltage of the control means 6 is 5V. It is said. (Because the present invention is a negative power supply configuration, in reality, the former is -24V and the latter is -5V, but the absolute value is shown here).

  Further, since the output signal from the control means 6 to the electric blower control means 2 is set to have a substantially constant pulse width regardless of the input (drive phase angle) of the electric blower 1, it is consumed by the control means. The current becomes substantially constant. There is almost no difference in the load current of the control means, and a small operating power source can be obtained for driving the control means.

  In the above configuration, the operation will be described below.

  As described above, the constant current means 3 is supplied with the steady current 1 mA to the operation means 12 when the control means 6 starts up. This current always flows through the operation means 12.

  Here, when the supply voltage to the voltage generating means 7 fluctuates (voltage drop) due to the influence of AC power supply voltage fluctuation (including power failure and significant voltage drop), the voltage of 24 V (Va) supplied by the voltage generating means 7 is reached. ) Will be greatly reduced. On the other hand, the voltage drop of 5 V (Vb), which is a voltage lower than 24 V (Vb), greatly varies due to the influence of the voltage drop, 24 V (Va), which is higher than the steady voltage 5 V (Vb) of the control means 6. It will be.

  However, even in such a state, 1 mA (steady current) is continuously supplied from the constant current means 3 in the voltage range in which the control means 6 can operate, so that the control means 6 becomes inoperable (reset state). Until that time, the operation means 12 can be correctly determined.

  When the dust collecting chamber is clogged with dust, the state detection means 4 operates, the control means 6 outputs a signal to the display control means 5, and the display means 13 is driven.

  In this state, since a current of 10 mA and a voltage of 24 V are applied to the contact portion of the intake port portion 10a, a higher voltage and a higher current than that when only the operation means 12 is detected are contacted. Therefore, the reliability of the contact can be greatly improved.

  That is, according to the present invention, even when the power supply voltage is unstable or in a transient state when the power is turned on, the control means 6 can continue to correctly detect the state of the operation means 12, and at the same time, the contact point is high. Since voltage and high current are applied, the reliability of the contact can be greatly improved.

  Further, the operation means may be one variable resistor, and even if it is composed of a plurality of open / close switches, it is possible to perform a stable operation without instantaneous false detection, and similar effects. Can be obtained.

  As described above, the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention allows the control means to continue to correctly detect the state of the operation means even when the power supply voltage is unstable or in a transient state when the power is turned on. Therefore, it can be similarly applied to a vertical (upright type) vacuum cleaner popular in the UK and the United States.

The circuit diagram of the vacuum cleaner which shows embodiment of this invention Other circuit diagrams used for operating means of the vacuum cleaner Overview of conventional vacuum cleaner

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric blower 2 Electric blower control means 3 Constant current means 4 State detection means 5 Display control means 6 Control means 7 Voltage generation means 10 Vacuum cleaner main body 10a Intake port part 11 Hose 11a Hand part 12 Operation means 13 Display means

Claims (6)

An electric blower for sucking dust, an electric blower control means for controlling the electric blower, an operation means for setting an input of the electric blower, a constant current means for supplying a constant current to the operation means, Control means for determining which switch is operated based on an output from the operation means and outputting an input signal of the electric blower to the electric blower control means; and operating voltages of the constant current means and the control means are separately set. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising: a voltage generating means for applying to the operating means, wherein the constant current means is configured to allow a constant current to flow through the operating means when the voltage of the control means is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage. 2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the operating voltage of the constant current means and the operating voltage of the control means are set to different voltages. 3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the operating voltage of the constant current means is set to a voltage higher than the operating voltage of the control means. A state detecting means for detecting the intake air volume and pressure, a display means for displaying the state of the intake air volume and pressure, and a display control means for controlling the display means. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the electric vacuum cleaner is configured to be set to a voltage different from the voltage, and the operating voltage of the display means is applied to the operation means. 5. The operation voltage of the constant current means and the operation voltage of the display control means are configured to be the same system voltage / shared wiring configuration, and the signal capturing of the operation means and the state display control signal are performed by the same signal system. The vacuum cleaner of any one of Claims. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a current flowing through the display means when the display means is driven is set to be larger than a supply current from the constant current means.

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