JP2010172627A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner in which a fuse can be certainly fused with an architecture simplified even when one of motor fans is locked. <P>SOLUTION: At the time of starting a strong mode which operates both motor fans 15A and 15B, a control means 16 gradually increases the input of one motor fan 15A to first electric power and gradually increases the input of the other motor fan 15B to a second electric power after the electric current peak of the one motor fan 15A and during a period up to reaching the first electric power. Since even the fuse 48 connected in series in common with each of the motor fans 15A and 15B can control a rated current by controlling an inrush current, the fuse 48 can be certainly fused with the architecture simplified even when one of the motor fans 15 is locked. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having an operation mode for operating a plurality of electric blowers.

  Conventionally, this type of vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum cleaner main body that accommodates a plurality of, for example, two electric blowers. Each electric blower has a suction side communicating with a dust collection chamber defined in a front portion of the cleaner body. Moreover, the control means which controls the drive of each electric blower is arrange | positioned in the cleaner body. And this control means controls the operation of each electric blower according to the operation mode set by the worker of cleaning. For example, the operation mode for operating each electric blower and both electric blowers (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2007-20765 (page 5-7, FIG. 1)

  However, in the above-described electric vacuum cleaner, in the operation mode in which both of the electric blowers are operated, the inputs of the two electric blowers are increased at the same time, so that the inrush current increases. Therefore, it is necessary to connect the fuse to each electric blower in order to ensure that the fuse is blown out when one of the electric blowers is locked without being blown by the inrush current. There is a problem that the configuration is complicated.

  This invention is made in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the vacuum cleaner which can make a fuse blow reliably, even when one of electric blowers locks, simplifying a structure. And

  The present invention provides a control means for controlling each operation of the electric blower by controlling power feeding from the power supply to each of the electric blowers, and a fuse connected in series between the power supply and each electric blower. And the control means has an operation mode in which any one of the electric blowers is operated, and at the start of this operation mode, the input of one electric blower is gradually increased to one predetermined power, The input of another electric blower is gradually increased to another predetermined power after the current peak of the electric blower and before reaching one predetermined power.

  According to the present invention, at the start of an operation mode for operating any one of the electric blowers, the control means gradually increases the input of one electric blower to one predetermined power, and the current peak of this one electric blower By gradually increasing the input of the other electric blower to other predetermined power later and until reaching the predetermined power, the inrush current is suppressed and connected in series to each electric blower. Even if it is a fuse, since the rated current of the fuse can be suppressed, the fuse can be surely blown even when, for example, any of the electric blowers is locked, while simplifying the configuration.

It is a block diagram which shows the vacuum cleaner of one embodiment of this invention. (a) is an explanatory top view which shows the operation state of one electric blower of an electric vacuum cleaner same as the above, (b) is an explanatory plan view which shows the operation state of all the electric blowers of an electric vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows a vacuum cleaner same as the above. (a) is a graph showing the time change of the input power of one electric blower at the time of the strong mode of the vacuum cleaner, (b) is a graph showing the time change of the input power of another electric blower at the time of the strong mode, c) is a graph showing the time change of the total input power of the electric blower in the strong mode. It is a graph which shows the time change of the input current at the time of the strong mode of a vacuum cleaner same as the above.

  Hereinafter, a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

  2 and 3, reference numeral 10 denotes a so-called canister-type vacuum cleaner, and the vacuum cleaner 10 has a cleaner body 11. This vacuum cleaner main body 11 includes a hollow main body case 12. Inside the main body case 12, a dust collection chamber 14 is located on the front side, and a dust collection bag 13 as a filter can be attached and detached. A plurality of, for example, two electric blowers 15A and 15B (hereinafter, at least one of these electric blowers 15A and 15B, or the whole may be simply referred to as an electric blower 15), an electric motor that accommodates a control means 16 and a cord reel (not shown). A partition wall 18 partitions the blower chamber 17. In addition, a main body suction port 21 communicating with the dust collecting chamber 14 is formed at the front of the main body case 12, and the main body suction port 21 has a hose as a bendable and substantially cylindrical connecting pipe. The body 22 is connected in communication. Further, a tubular hand operating part 23 is provided at the distal end of the hose body 22, and the hand operating part 23 is provided with a gripping part 24 that is gripped by an operator when cleaning, protruding from the proximal end. A plurality of setting buttons 25a, 25b, and 25c shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter, these setting buttons 25a, 25b, and 25c are shown in FIG. At least one of them, or the whole may be simply referred to as a setting button 25), and an on / off button 26 which is a switch for turning on / off the power. An extensible and elongated cylindrical extension tube 27 is detachably connected to the distal end of the hand operation unit 23 in a detachable manner. Furthermore, at the tip of the extension pipe 27, for example, a floor brush 28 as a suction port body that is installed on a floor carpet or the like, which is a surface to be cleaned, and sucks dust on the carpet is removable. Communication connection is established.

  The main body case 12 includes a lower case 31 provided with a partition wall 18 and opened on the upper side, a lid 32 for opening and closing the upper portion of the dust collection chamber 14 which is the front side of the lower case 31, and a rear side of the lower case 31. An upper case 33 that closes an upper portion of an electric blower chamber 17 is provided. A large number of exhaust holes 34 are formed in the main body case 12.

  On both sides of the electric blower chamber 17 on the rear side of the lower case 31, large-diameter running wheels 35 for allowing the cleaner body 11 to run on the floor are pivotally supported, and the front side A swirling wheel (not shown), which is a driven wheel, is turnably provided at the bottom of the dust collecting chamber 14 facing the floor.

  The dust collection bag 13 is, for example, a disposable paper pack, and includes a mouth frame (not shown) fixed to the dust collection chamber 14 and a bag-like bag body 38 attached to the mouth frame.

  The dust collection chamber 14 is formed in common with the electric blowers 15A and 15B.

  The electric blowers 15A and 15B have suction ports 41A and 41B that can be connected to the dust collection chamber 14 in an airtight manner at the front end, and a plurality of exhaust ports 42A and 42B on the outer peripheral surface on the rear end side. The fan chambers 17 are arranged side by side in the width direction. Hereinafter, at least one of the suction ports 41A and 41B or the whole may be simply referred to as the suction port 41, and at least one of the exhaust ports 42A and 42B or the whole may be simply referred to as the exhaust port 42.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the control means 16 corresponds to each of the electric blowers 15A and 15B by switching elements 45A and 45B such as a triac (hereinafter referred to as at least one of these switching elements 45A and 45B, or the whole). A circuit board having a switching element 45), voltage detection means capable of detecting the input voltage of the electric blowers 15A and 15B, and current detection capable of detecting the input current of the electric blowers 15A and 15B. Each of the electric blowers 15A and 15B can be independently driven by phase angle control or the like according to the operation mode input by the setting button 25. For example, the control means 16 is selected by the setting buttons 25b and 25c as an operation mode (an operation mode with a suction force less than half of full power) which is a first mode with a relatively small suction force such as a medium mode or a weak mode. In the case of driving, the remaining other than at least one of the electric blowers 15 is driven (one electric blower 15A is driven and the other electric blower 15B is stopped), and the setting button 25a is used to perform relative operations such as strong mode. When the operation mode (operation mode with suction force greater than half the full power), which is the second mode in which the suction force is large, is selected, all the electric blowers 15 (both the electric blowers 15A and 15B) are driven. Automatically switches to.

  For example, the control means 16 operates the electric blowers 15A and 15B with an input of 1000 W in the strong mode (full power), operates only one electric blower 15A with the input of 1000 W in the middle mode, Only the electric blower 15A is operated with an input of 400W. Note that these input values increase or decrease within a preset input range in each operation mode in accordance with the amount of dust collected in the dust bag 13 (FIG. 2).

  On the cord reel, a power cord (not shown) having a plug portion connected to the commercial AC power source e at the tip portion is wound so that it can be led out.

  Between the commercial AC power source e and the electric blowers 15A and 15B, a common fuse 48 is connected in series to the electric blowers 15A and 15B. This fuse 48 is a current fuse that protects the circuit by fusing and opening the circuit when an excessive current flows, and the rated current I is a current value that flows when at least one of the electric blowers 15 is locked. It is set so that fusing is possible.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the electric blower chamber 17 is formed in common with the electric blowers 15 </ b> A and 15 </ b> B, and communicates with the outside of the main body case 12 through the exhaust holes 34.

  The partition wall 18 is formed with circular hole-shaped large-diameter communication holes 51A and 51B that communicate the dust collection chamber 14 and the electric blower chamber 17 at positions facing the front sides of the electric blowers 15A and 15B, Filters 52A and 52B are attached to the front part upstream of these communication holes 51A and 51B, respectively, and between the suction ports 41A and 41B of the electric blowers 15A and 15B are connected to the rear parts of the communication holes 51A and 51B. The backflow prevention valve units 53A and 53B, which are opening / closing means as backflow prevention means, are attached.

  The communication holes 51A and 51B have their upstream front portions covered with filters 52A and 52B.

  The filters 52A and 52B collect dust that could not be collected by the dust bag 13.

  The backflow prevention valve units 53A and 53B are opened by the negative pressure when the corresponding electric blower 15 is driven, closed when the corresponding electric blower 15 is stopped, and when the other electric blower 15 is driven, It is comprised so that it may close with the negative pressure by a drive. That is, the check valve units 53A and 53B can be opened and closed by a pressure difference (wind force) between the upstream side and the downstream side.

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

  First, when a new dust bag 13 is used, the dust bag 13 is attached to the dust chamber 14 that is exposed by opening the lid 32, and the lid 32 is closed. Connect the plug to an outlet (commercial AC power source e) (plug-in). When the dust bag 13 is not renewed, the power cord is pulled out without opening and closing the lid 32 and the plug portion is connected to an outlet (commercial AC power source e).

  And by gripping the grip portion 24 of the hand operation portion 23 of the hose body 22 connected to the main body suction port 21, from the stop state of the electric blower 15, by operating any of the predetermined setting buttons 25a to 25c, The control means 16 in the cleaner body 11 controls the phase of the operation of the electric blower 15 by the switching element 45 to generate a negative pressure.

  For example, when the setting button 25b or the setting button 25c is operated, the control means 16 controls the phase conduction angle of one switching element 45A and, as shown in FIG. Operate 15A in medium mode (input about 1000W) or weak mode (input about 400W). Due to the negative pressure generated by the operation of the one electric blower 15A, the backflow prevention valve unit 53A is opened and the backflow prevention valve unit 53B is closed.

  Further, when the setting button 25a is operated, the control means 16 controls the phase conduction angle by the switching elements 45A and 45B, respectively, and as shown in FIG. 2 (b), both the electric blowers 15A and 15B are controlled. Operate (each input about 1000W). At this time, the control means 16 first increases the phase conduction angle of one switching element 45A shown in FIG. 1 (by gradually shortening the OFF time), as shown in FIG. In addition, the input of one of the electric blowers 15A is gradually increased to the first electric power which is one predetermined electric power (soft start). Further, the control means 16 detects the input current of one electric blower 15A, and after the input current peak P shown in the solid line in FIG. 5 and as shown in FIG. Before the input of the blower 15A reaches the first power (after time Δt from the start of input of one electric blower 15A in the strong mode), gradually increase the phase conduction angle of the other switching element 45B shown in FIG. (By gradually shortening the OFF time), the input of the other electric blower 15B is gradually increased to the second power which is another predetermined power (soft start). That is, the control means 16 shifts the operation timing of one electric blower 15A and the operation timing of the other electric blower 15B. In other words, the control means 16 soft-starts one electric blower 15A and soft-starts the other electric blower 15B at a timing later than the current peak P (FIG. 4 (c)). Inrush current is suppressed (solid line in FIG. 5). The backflow prevention valve units 53A and 53B are opened by the negative pressure generated by the operation of the electric blowers 15A and 15B, respectively.

  The first power and the second power are normally set to the same power value, but may be different from each other.

  Then, the operator holds the floor brush 28 (FIG. 3) connected to the distal end side of the hose body 22 (FIG. 3) via the extension pipe 27 (FIG. 3) by the gripping portion 24 (FIG. 3) gripped. When traveling forward and backward on the surface, the air sucked together with dust from the tip of the floor brush 28 (FIG. 3) due to the negative pressure of the electric blower 15 (FIG. 1) becomes suction air, and the extension pipe 27 (FIG. 3) together with dust. ), Sucked into the dust bag 13 shown in FIG. 2 through the hose body 22 (FIG. 3) and the main body suction port 21 (FIG. 3) and included when passing through the bag body 38 of the dust bag 13 Dust collected.

  After passing through the bag 38, the air passing through the bag body 38 is sucked into the suction port 41 of the electric blower 15 through the communication hole, passes through the electric blower 15, and is exhausted as exhaust air from the exhaust port 42. Then, the air is exhausted from the electric blower chamber 17 to the outside of the main body case 12 through the exhaust hole 34.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, at the start of the operation mode in which any one of the electric blowers 15 is operated, that is, the strong mode, the control means 16 receives the input of the one electric blower 15A as the first power. By gradually increasing the input of the other electric blower 15B to the second electric power after the current peak P of the one electric blower 15A and before reaching the first electric power, Even if the current is suppressed and the fuse 48 is connected in series in common to the electric blowers 15A and 15B, the rated current I of the fuse 48 can be suppressed. Specifically, the rated current I of the fuse 48 can be set so that it can be blown by the current value that flows when at least one of the electric blowers 15 is locked.

  As a result, it is not necessary to connect one fuse to each of the electric blowers 15A and 15B, the configuration can be simplified, and the fuse 48 can be surely blown even when one of the electric blowers 15 is locked. .

  That is, when a common fuse 48 is provided in the electric blowers 15A and 15B, if an inrush current as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 5 is generated, the rated current is equal to or higher than the sum of the inrush currents of the electric blowers 15A and 15B. Otherwise, each time the setting button 25a is turned on, the fuse blows.On the other hand, if the rated current is set high enough to withstand the inrush current, one of the electric blowers 15 is locked in a low input state. However, there is a risk that it will not melt. Therefore, by controlling the input and start timing of the electric blowers 15A and 15B so as not to generate an inrush current, the rated current I of the fuse 48 can be kept low as shown by the solid line in FIG. Even when any of the electric blowers 15 is locked, the fuse 48 can be blown.

  In addition, after the soft start of the one electric blower 15A is finished, when the other electric blower 15B is configured to soft start, the inrush current can be suppressed, but it takes time to start the strong mode, and the operation In the case of a configuration in which the other electric blower 15B is activated after the activation of one electric blower 15A without soft-starting each of the electric blowers 15, the strong mode rises earlier, An inrush current is generated. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the other electric blower 15B is soft-started during the soft start of one electric blower 15A, the strong mode can be quickly started up while suppressing the inrush current, Can be secured.

  In the above embodiment, the control means 16 is controlled to operate only one electric blower 15A in the weak mode and the medium mode. For example, only the other electric blower 15B is operated. Each time the electric blower 15 with the shorter cumulative operation time is selectively operated or the operation is switched to the weak mode or the medium mode, either of the electric blowers 15A and 15B is operated alternately. You may let them.

  Similarly, in the strong mode, the control unit 16 activates one of the electric blowers 15A first. However, for example, the other electric blower 15B may be activated first. Either the electric blower 15 may be selectively operated first, or one of the electric blowers 15A and 15B may be alternately operated first every time the operation is switched to the strong mode.

  In addition, although the electric blowers 15A and 15B are AC motors, respectively, for example, when the electric blowers 15A and 15B are DC motors, the control unit 16 performs, for example, PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control of each electric blower 15. During the soft start, the input may be controlled to gradually increase by gradually increasing the input pulse width (by gradually shortening the OFF time).

  Furthermore, although the electric vacuum cleaner 10 using the commercial AC power source e as a power source is used, for example, a vacuum cleaner using a built-in secondary battery as a power source may be used.

  The details of the vacuum cleaner 10 are not limited to the above configuration.

  The vacuum cleaner 10 is not limited to the canister type, for example, an upright type in which the floor brush 28 is connected to the lower portion of the vacuum cleaner body 11, or a handy device in which the floor brush 28 is connected to the front portion of the vacuum cleaner body 11. Even molds can be used correspondingly.

10 Vacuum cleaner
11 Vacuum cleaner body
15A, 15B electric blower
16 Control means
48 fuse

Claims (2)

A vacuum cleaner body containing a plurality of electric blowers,
Control means for controlling each operation of the electric blower by controlling power feeding from the power source to each of the electric blower;
A fuse commonly connected in series between the power source and the electric blowers,
The control means has an operation mode in which any one of the electric blowers is operated, and at the start of the operation mode, the input of one electric blower is gradually increased to one predetermined power, A vacuum cleaner characterized by gradually increasing the input of another electric blower to another predetermined power after the current peak of the blower and before reaching the one predetermined power. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the rated current of the fuse is set so that fusing is possible with a current value that flows when at least one of the electric blowers is locked.

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