JP2011131014A - Vacuum cleaner and dust collection tank for vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dust collection tank for a vacuum cleaner, which is capable of securing the sealing property in an outlet closed by a lid while suppressing the impairment of the operability in closing the lid in a structure of opening/closing the outlet for discharging dust by the lid, and to provide the vacuum cleaner including the dust collection tank. <P>SOLUTION: Dust can be stored within a tank body 60 of the dust collection tank 5, and dust can be discharged from an outlet 66 formed in the tank body 60. The lid 61 is turnable around one end relative to the tank body 60 as the one end (shaft 79) is connected to the tank body 60, and the outlet 66 is opened/closed by the turning. The gap between the lid 61 closing the outlet 66 and the edge of the outlet 66 in the tank body 60 is closed by a first seal member 78. The one end of the lid 61 is movable along the direction opposed to the lid 61 closing the outlet 66 and the outlet 66 while connected to the tank body 60. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner and a dust collection tank equipped in the vacuum cleaner.

There is known an electric vacuum cleaner including a vacuum cleaner body incorporating an electric blower and a dust collection tank that is detachably attached to the vacuum cleaner body (see Patent Document 1).
The dust collection tank of Patent Document 1 includes a substantially cylindrical dust collection case extending vertically, a cylindrical prefilter attached to the inside of the dust collection case, and a main filter attached to the inside of the prefilter. It is out.

  Air and dust sucked into the cleaner main body by the suction force generated by the electric blower flows downward while rotating in the dust collecting case, and the dust accumulates in a pressed state on the bottom surface of the dust collecting case. Part of the dust tries to pass through the prefilter, and at that time, it is captured by the prefilter and collected in the dust collecting case. Fine dust that has passed through the pre-filter is captured by the main filter.

On the other hand, after the air flowing in the dust collection case passes through the pre-filter and the main filter in order, it flows out of the dust collector and is completely cleaned by passing through the exhaust filter in the cleaner body. The air is discharged to the outside through an exhaust port formed in the lower front portion of the cleaner body.
The bottom of the dust collection case serves as a bottom cover, and one end of the bottom cover is connected to the dust collection case (part other than the bottom cover) via a hinge. Therefore, when the bottom lid is rotated and opened around the hinge, a dust outlet is formed in the dust collecting case. Conversely, when the bottom lid is closed, the discharge port is blocked by the bottom lid.

  Here, packing is attached to the outer peripheral edge of the bottom lid, and when the bottom lid is closed, the packing closes a gap between the bottom lid and the opening edge of the dust collecting case at the discharge port.

Japanese Patent No. 3530436

  In the dust collection tank of Patent Document 1, the position of the rotation axis (that is, the hinge) of the bottom cover is fixed because the bottom cover is opened and closed by rotating about the hinge. Here, if the packing of the dust collection tank of Patent Document 1 is of a type that closes the gap by being compressed, when the bottom cover is closed, the packing is reliably on the side away from the rotation axis of the bottom cover. Although it is compressed to close the gap between the bottom lid and the opening edge of the dust collecting case, it is not compressed much on the rotating shaft side of the bottom lid, and the gap between the bottom lid and the opening edge of the dust collecting case is surely secured. It is difficult to block. Therefore, even if the bottom cover is closed, air may leak with dust from between the cover and the opening edge of the dust collecting case on the pivot axis side of the bottom cover.

However, if the thickness of the packing is increased so that it can be reliably compressed even on the rotating shaft side of the bottom lid, this time, if the packing is not compressed more than necessary on the side away from the rotating shaft of the bottom lid, It cannot be closed, and it takes time to close the lid bottom.
Further, if the packing is always in a compressed state, the packing is deformed into a shape when compressed, and even if the compression is released, there is a possibility that the packing does not return to the shape before compression. In this case, the life of the packing is shortened.

The present invention has been made under such background, and in a configuration in which a discharge port for discharging dust is opened and closed with a lid, the lid is closed with a lid while suppressing a decrease in operability when the lid is closed. It is a main object to provide a dust collecting tank for a vacuum cleaner that can ensure a sealing property at a discharge port, and a vacuum cleaner including the dust collecting tank.
The present invention also provides a dust collecting tank for a vacuum cleaner capable of extending the life of a sealing member that closes a gap between a lid with a closed outlet and the edge of the outlet in the tank body, and the dust collecting tank. Another object is to provide a vacuum cleaner comprising:

  The invention according to claim 1 is a dust collection tank that is disposed in a flow path through which air and dust sucked by an electric blower flows in the vacuum cleaner body, and is detachable from the vacuum cleaner body. A tank main body for storing dust, a discharge port for discharging dust from the tank main body, and one end connected to the tank main body so that one end of the tank main body is connected to the tank main body. A lid for opening and closing the discharge port by rotating, an elastically closed lid with the discharge port closed, and an edge of the discharge port in the tank body A first seal member that closes the gap, and one end of the lid is moved along a facing direction of the lid and the discharge port with the discharge port closed in a state of being connected to the tank body. It is possible And wherein, a dust tank collection for the vacuum cleaner.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the tank body is provided with a receiving hole which is long in the facing direction and into which the rotation shaft of the lid is loosely fitted. 1. A dust collection tank for an electric vacuum cleaner according to 1.
The invention according to claim 3 is a cylindrical body housed in the tank body, and a first filter for capturing dust contained in the air flowing into the tank body on a circumferential surface, and the first filter A cylindrical body coaxially accommodated therein, supported by the tank body so as to be slidable along the central axis direction, and rotating the first filter about the central axis A second filter for capturing the dust that has passed through the first filter on a circumferential surface, and an outer surface of the tank body, and is operated to rotate the first filter. An operating portion that is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the first filter, and is a spiral projection centered on a central axis of the first filter, and the tank body and the First A compression projection that compresses dust accumulated between the filter and the filter, a second seal member that closes a gap between the first filter and the tank body in the center axis direction, and the second seal member in the center axis direction. A third seal member that closes a gap between the first filter and the second filter, and the lid closes the first filter along the central axis direction when the discharge port is closed. And pressing the second filter toward the first filter and releasing the discharge port in a state where the discharge port is opened, the pressing of the first filter and the second filter is released. It is a dust collection tank for electric vacuum cleaners of Claim 1 or 2.

  The invention according to claim 4 is provided on the outer surface of the tank body, communicates with the flow path and the tank body, a first engagement portion provided on the lid, and the tank body. A second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion in a state in which the lid closes the discharge port, and is disposed adjacent to the communication path in the tank body, along the communication path 4. The electricity according to claim 1, further comprising a release lever for releasing the engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion by sliding. 5. This is a dust collection tank for vacuum cleaners.

  Invention of Claim 5 has the dust collector tank for vacuum cleaners in any one of Claims 1-4, and the vacuum cleaner main body by which the dust collector tank for vacuum cleaners is attached or detached, In the dust collection tank, the lid is provided with a convex portion protruding in a direction away from the discharge port in a state where the cover closes the discharge port, and the electric vacuum cleaner main body is connected to the electric vacuum cleaner main body. On the other hand, a pressing portion that presses the convex portion of the dust collection tank that is in the middle of attachment toward the discharge port, and a concave portion that receives the convex portion of the dust collection tank when the attachment to the main body of the vacuum cleaner is completed. And a vacuum cleaner.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the vacuum cleaner dust collection tank (hereinafter simply referred to as “dust collection tank”) is the air and dust sucked by the electric blower in the vacuum cleaner body. It is arrange | positioned in the flow path which flows. The dust collection tank can be attached to and detached from the main body of the vacuum cleaner.
In the dust collection tank, dust can be accumulated inside the tank body, and dust can be discharged from the discharge port formed in the tank body. This outlet is opened and closed by a lid. Specifically, the lid can be rotated around the one end with respect to the tank main body by connecting one end to the tank main body, and opens and closes the discharge port by rotating.

  And the 1st sealing member which has elasticity block | closes the clearance gap between the lid | cover which closed the discharge port, and the edge of the discharge port in a tank main body. Specifically, since the dust collection tank is disposed in the flow path as described above, when the electric blower generates a suction force, the inside of the tank body is in a vacuum state. In this state, the lid with the discharge port closed is drawn toward the tank body, and the first seal member is compressed by the drawn lid and the edge of the discharge port in the tank body, thereby closing the gap described above. Therefore, in the state where the electric blower does not generate suction force, the first seal member is not unnecessarily compressed, so the life of the first seal member can be extended.

  Here, the one end portion of the lid is movable along the facing direction of the lid and the discharge port with the discharge port closed in a state where the one end portion is connected to the tank body. Therefore, when the electric blower generates a suction force with the lid closed, the end of the lid is also drawn toward the tank main body, so the first seal is locally weakly compressed on the end of the lid. Rather, it is equally well compressed throughout the entire area from one end side to the other end side of the lid. Thereby, the sealing property in the discharge port closed with the lid | cover is securable. In addition, since it is not necessary to make the first seal member thicker than necessary so that the first seal member is sufficiently compressed on the one end portion side of the lid, it is possible to suppress a decrease in operability when the lid is closed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the tank body has a simple configuration in which a receiving hole that is long in the opposing direction and in which the pivot shaft of the lid is loosely fitted is provided in the tank body, It can be moved along the facing direction.
According to the invention described in claim 3, the tank main body accommodates the first filter which is a cylindrical body, and the first filter removes dust contained in the air flowing into the tank main body on the circumferential surface. To capture.

  The first filter is a cylindrical body that houses a second filter for capturing dust that has passed through the first filter on the circumferential surface. The second filter is coaxially accommodated in the first filter, is supported by the tank body so as to be slidable along the central axis direction, and the first filter is centered on the central axis. It is rotatably supported. Therefore, the first filter can be rotated relative to the tank body and the second filter, and the first filter and the second filter can slide together.

And a 1st filter can be rotated by operating the operation part provided in the outer surface of the tank main body.
Here, a compression protrusion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first filter. The compression protrusion is a spiral protrusion centered on the central axis of the first filter, and compresses dust accumulated between the tank body and the first filter to the lid side as the first filter rotates. . Thereby, since the dust already accumulated between the tank main body and the 1st filter becomes small, the space which accumulates dust can be newly ensured. Further, when the lid is opened and the discharge port is opened, the compression protrusion brings the dust toward the lid (discharge port), so that the dust in the tank body can be reliably discharged from the discharge port.

  Further, the second seal member closes the gap between the first filter and the tank body in the central axis direction, and the third seal member closes the gap between the first filter and the second filter in the central axis direction. Specifically, the lid presses the first filter toward the tank body and the second filter toward the first filter along the central axis direction when the discharge port is closed. As a result, the second seal member is compressed by the first filter and the tank body, thereby closing the gap between the first filter and the tank body, and the third seal member is formed between the first filter and the second filter. The gap between the first filter and the second filter is closed by being compressed. In this state, the compressed second seal member sticks to the first filter and the tank body, and the compressed third seal member sticks to the first filter and the second filter. Although the sealing performance in the gap between the main body and the gap between the first filter and the second filter can be secured, the second seal member and the third seal member provide resistance to rotation of the first filter. Thereby, it becomes difficult to operate an operation part.

However, since the lid releases the pressing of the first filter and the second filter when the discharge port is opened, the second seal member and the third seal member are not compressed and do not become a resistance. The first filter can be rotated smoothly (lightly) and the dust in the tank body can be reliably discharged from the discharge port by the compression protrusion.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the outer surface of the tank body is provided with a communication path that communicates the flow path and the inside of the tank.

And since the 2nd engaging part of the tank main body engages with the 1st engaging part of a lid in the state where the lid closed the discharge port, the state where the lid was closed can be maintained.
Here, in the tank body, a release lever for releasing the engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion is disposed adjacent to the communication path. Therefore, if the release lever is slid along the communication path with a hand holding the communication path, the first engagement section and the second engagement section are not directly touched with the first engagement section (lid) and the second engagement section. The engagement with the engaging portion can be released. Therefore, when the lid is opened and the discharge port is opened, it is not necessary to get the hands dirty with dust spilled from the discharge port to the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion.

Also, when the release lever is slid, the posture of the tank body can be stabilized by grasping the communication passage, so there is no need to provide a dedicated part for stabilizing the posture of the tank body. Reduction can be achieved.
According to invention of Claim 5, this vacuum cleaner has the dust collection tank in any one of Claims 1-4, and the vacuum cleaner main body to which a dust collection tank is attached or detached.

The lid of the dust collection tank is provided with a convex portion that protrudes in a direction away from the discharge port when the cover closes the discharge port. The main body of the vacuum cleaner has a pressing portion and a recess.
When the dust collecting tank is attached to the main body of the vacuum cleaner, the pressing portion presses the convex portion of the dust collecting tank in the middle of the attachment toward the discharge port, so that the lid compresses the first seal member to collect the dust. The tank shrinks slightly.

  And when the mounting | wearing with respect to a vacuum cleaner main body is completed, the convex part of a dust collection tank will be received by the recessed part of a vacuum cleaner main body. At that time, the dust collection tank that has been slightly shrunk in the middle of mounting is vigorously returned to its original size by the repulsive force of the first seal member, so that the convex portion snaps into the concave portion. Thereby, what is called a click feeling can be given with respect to the user who equip | installed the vacuum cleaner main body with the dust collection tank. Thereby, if a click feeling is known, it can be grasped surely that the installation of the dust collecting tank to the main body of the vacuum cleaner has been completed, so that it is easy to use.

It is the perspective view which looked at the vacuum cleaner main body 2 of the vacuum cleaner 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention from the front side. 3 is a front view of the cleaner body 2. FIG. It is right side sectional drawing of the cleaner body 2. FIG. FIG. 3 shows a state where the vacuum cleaner dust collecting tank 5 is detached from the housing 4 of the cleaner body 2. FIG. 1 shows a state where the vacuum cleaner dust collecting tank 5 is detached from the housing 4 of the cleaner body 2. It is the figure which looked at the cleaner body 2 from the right side, Comprising: A part is shown with the cross section. It is the figure which looked at the dust collection tank 5 for vacuum cleaners from the left side in the state made vertically long. It is right side sectional drawing of the dust collection tank 5 for vacuum cleaners in the state made vertically long. It is the figure which looked at the dust-collecting tank 5 for vacuum cleaners from the right side in the vertically long state, Comprising: One part is shown with the cross section. It is a bottom view of the vacuum cleaner dust collecting tank 5 in a vertically long state, and the lid 61 is omitted. It is a top view of the vacuum cleaner dust collection tank 5 in a vertically long state. It is AA arrow sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 12 shows a state where the lid 61 is opened. It is the figure which looked at the dust-collecting tank 5 for vacuum cleaners from the right side in the vertically long state, Comprising: One part is shown with the cross section. FIG. 14 shows a state where the electric blower 14 is operated.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
<Outline of vacuum cleaner>
Drawing 1 is a perspective view which looked at vacuum cleaner main part 2 of vacuum cleaner 1 concerning one embodiment of this invention from the front side. FIG. 2 is a front view of the cleaner body 2. FIG. 3 is a right sectional view of the cleaner body 2. Here, in FIG. 1, the lower left side is the front side of the vacuum cleaner 1, the upper right side is the rear side of the vacuum cleaner 1, the upper left side is the left side of the vacuum cleaner 1, and the lower right side is the right side of the vacuum cleaner 1. In the following description, when specifying the direction, the front and rear, the left and right, and the top and bottom of the vacuum cleaner 1 are specified according to this direction. The left-right direction and the width direction are the same.

With reference to FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner 1 contains the cleaner main body 2 (electric cleaner main body), the hose 3, the pipe (not shown), and the suction tool (not shown).
The vacuum cleaner main body 2 is abbreviated as “dust collection tank” (hereinafter simply referred to as “dust collection tank”). .) 5.

  The housing 4 is a rounded hollow body, and has a substantially triangular shape that narrows toward the front side when viewed from the width direction. Wheels 6 are attached to the rear sides of the left and right sides of the housing 4. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a roller 7 is attached to the front side of the bottom surface of the housing 4 (see FIG. 3). By rolling the wheel 6 and the roller 7 on the floor surface, the housing 4 (the vacuum cleaner body 2) can move on the floor surface.

The top surface of the housing 4 is inclined to the front lower side, and an upper end (rear end) thereof is integrally provided with a handle U having a substantially U shape that is upside down when viewed from the width direction. Is provided. By grasping the handle 8, the cleaner body 2 can be lifted and moved from the floor surface.
On the top surface of the housing 4, a housing portion 9 that is recessed downward is formed in a portion on the front (lower) side of the handle 8. The outline of the accommodating portion 9 when viewed from the front lower side forms a substantially semicircular arc that bulges downward (see FIG. 5 described later). The dust collection tank 5 attached to the housing 4 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 9 while being exposed to the front upper side while being inclined to the front lower side.

  An intake port 10 is formed on the front surface of the housing 4 (a portion on the front side of the housing portion 9), and an exhaust port 11 is formed on the left and right side surfaces on the front side of the wheel 6 (see also FIG. 2). . In a state where the dust collection tank 5 is mounted on the housing 4, the vacuum cleaner body 2 is connected to the intake port 10 and the exhaust port 11, and a part of the middle is constituted by the internal space of the dust collection tank 5. A flow path 12 (see FIG. 3) is partitioned.

Here, a connecting cylinder 13 is fitted on one end of the hose 3 described above, and the connecting cylinder 13 is fitted into the air inlet 10 from the front side. Thereby, with reference to FIG. 3, the inside of the hose 3 and the flow path 12 mentioned above are connected.
An electric blower 14 is built in the rear portion of the housing 4. In the flow path 12, the dust collection tank 5 and the electric blower 14 are arranged so as to line up with the intake port 10 → the dust collection tank 5 → the electric blower 14 → the exhaust port 11.

  When the operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is started, the electric blower 14 is driven by receiving electric power to generate a suction force. Dust on the floor surface is sucked into the aforementioned suction tool (not shown) by this suction force, and after passing through the suction tool, pipe (not shown), and hose 3 (see FIG. 1) in this order. The air is sucked from the air inlet 10 to the flow path 12 of the cleaner body 2. Further, the air around the suction tool (not shown) is sucked up to the flow path 12 together with the dust on the floor surface.

  Then, the air and dust sucked up to the flow path 12 are first separated in the dust collection tank 5. Thereby, while dust is collected in the dust collection tank 5, the air is discharged by the electric blower 14 to the downstream side of the electric blower 14 in the air flow direction in the flow path 12. The discharged air is discharged out of the machine from the left and right exhaust ports 11 (see FIG. 2). That is, in the vacuum cleaner 1, air can be exhausted from the left and right exhaust ports 11, so that air can be gently discharged from each exhaust port 11. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the dust on the floor surface from being rolled up by the discharged air.

In this way, the electric blower 14 sucks dust together with air from the air inlet 10 and flows it into the flow path 12, stores the sucked dust in the dust collection tank 5, and exhausts the sucked air from the air outlet 11.
<Case>
Next, the case 4 will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 shows a state where the dust collection tank 5 is detached from the housing 4 of the cleaner body 2 in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a state where the dust collection tank 5 is detached from the housing 4 of the cleaner body 2 in FIG. FIG. 6 is a view of the cleaner body 2 as viewed from the right side, and a part thereof is shown in cross section.
With reference to FIG. 4, a pair of section screens 15 are formed in the housing 4 to partition the accommodating portion 9 from the front and rear. Of the pair of ward screens 15, the front ward screen 15 (referred to as “front ward screen 15 </ b> A (pressing part)”) divides the front end of the accommodating portion 9, and the rear ward screen 15 (“back ward screen” 15B ”) defines the rear end of the accommodating portion 9. The front section screen 15A and the rear section screen 15B are both substantially circular (see FIG. 5), and extend in parallel to the front upper side in a state of facing each other.

  Here, on the top surface of the housing 4, a front bulging portion 16 </ b> A bulging in a semicircular shape toward the front upper side is integrally provided at a position adjacent to the housing portion 9 from the front side. A rear bulge portion 16B bulging in a semicircular shape toward the front upper side is integrally provided at a position adjacent to the portion 9 from the rear side (see also FIG. 5). The rear end surface of the front bulge portion 16A forms a substantially upper half of the front section screen 15A, and the front end surface of the rear bulge section 16B forms a substantially upper half of the rear section screen 15B. Further, the handle 8 described above is erected on the upper end portion of the rear bulge portion 16B and the rear (upper) end portion of the top surface of the housing 4, and is an arc that bulges upward in the rear direction when viewed from the width direction. I am doing.

  A connection port 17 is formed on the previous section screen 15A. The connection port 17 is a round hole. A receiving groove 18 (concave portion) is formed in the front section screen 15A. The receiving groove 18 has an annular shape that is concentric with the connection port 17, and is recessed toward the front lower side while surrounding the connection port 17. Further, the housing 4 is provided with a deodorizing filter 54 having a disk shape substantially the same size as the connection port 17, and the deodorization filter 54 covers the connection port 17.

  Two pressing ribs 19 are integrally provided on the rear section screen 15B (see also FIG. 5). Each pressing rib 19 has an elongated block shape extending in parallel with the rear section screen 15B when viewed from the width direction, and the two pressing ribs 19 are arranged such that the center in the width direction of the rear section screen 15B is disposed therebetween. Are arranged side by side in the width direction (see FIG. 5). The corners of the upper ends of the pressing ribs 19 are rounded (see also FIG. 5).

  Further, the tip (front end) of the clamp lever 40 is exposed at the upper end portion in the center in the width direction of the rear section screen 15B. In FIG. 4, the clamp lever 40 has a stick shape that is long in the front-lower direction, and its tip is rounded. Specifically, the tip of the clamp lever 40 bulges in an arc shape to the front side in a plan view, and its top surface is inclined to the front lower side when viewed from the width direction. On the upper surface of the clamp lever 40, a release button 41 that projects forward and upward is provided integrally. A receiving groove 42 is formed on the rear end surface of the clamp lever 40 so as to extend to the front lower side toward a position in front of the front end of the clamp lever 40.

The clamp lever 40 is accommodated in the upper end portion of the rear bulge portion 16B and the front end portion of the handle 8. In this state, the release button 41 is exposed to the outside from the upper surfaces of the rear bulge portion 16B and the handle 8. It is slidable back and forth.
In conjunction with the sland of the release button 41, the clamp lever 40 is retracted to a position where the tip protrudes forward and lower than the rear section screen 15B (see FIG. 4) and to the rear side of the rear section screen 15B. It is possible to move forward and backward with a retreat position (not shown). A spring 43 intended to extend to the front lower side is fitted into the receiving groove 42 of the clamp lever 40 from the rear upper side, and the biasing force of the spring 43 causes the clamp lever 40 to bias toward the advanced position. Has been. When the release button 41 is slid rearward while the clamp lever 40 is in the advanced position, the clamp lever 40 can be moved to the retracted position against the urging force of the spring 43.

  A longitudinal receiving hole 44 is formed in the front and rear at a position adjacent to the clamp lever 40 from the rear side on the upper surface of the front end portion of the handle 8, and an adjustment switch 45 is disposed in the receiving hole 44. Has been. The adjustment switch 45 is slidable back and forth while being disposed in the receiving hole 44. By sliding the adjustment switch 45, the strength of the suction force of the electric blower 14 can be adjusted.

  Here, an ornament 46 is accommodated in the handle 8. The ornament 46 is a decorative plate that is long in the front-rear direction. The ornament 46 supports the adjustment switch 45 so as to be slidable, and covers a portion of the receiving hole 44 that is removed from the adjustment switch 45 from below. Thereby, since the inside of the handle 8 is not exposed from the receiving hole 44, the appearance is improved, and it is possible to prevent water or the like from the outside from entering the adjustment switch 45 from the receiving hole 44.

  The front end of the ornament 46 receives (retains and supports) the rear end of the spring 43 that biases the clamp lever 40 from the rear side. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated component for receiving the spring 43, and the number of components can be reduced. The handle 8 is completed by assembling the upper and lower parts, but the spring 43 is unexpectedly popped out because the spring 43 is held in a stable posture by the ornament 46 during the assembly and disassembly. Can be prevented.

  And in the housing | casing 4, the elongate fitting groove | channel 21 is formed in the front-and-back front peripheral surface 20 which divides the bottom of the accommodating part 9 (refer also FIG. 5). The fitting groove 21 extends to the front lower side along the bottom peripheral surface 20 while being recessed from the bottom peripheral surface 20 to the rear lower side. In the housing 4, a communication port 22 is formed in a portion that divides the front (lower) end of the fitting groove 21. The communication port 22 faces the inside of the fitting groove 21 from the front lower side.

The casing 4 includes a first flow path 23 (housing side flow path), a second flow path 24, and a third flow path 25 that constitute the flow path 12 (see FIG. 3). They are provided in this order from the upstream side in the air flow direction (see the thick broken arrow in FIG. 3).
The first flow path 23 extends while being slightly lowered from the intake port 10 to the front side, and is bent in the middle and extended to the front upper side, and then connected to the communication port 22. That is, the first flow path 23 connects the intake port 10 and the communication port 22 while directly communicating with the intake port 10.

  The second flow path 24 is configured by bending a pipe (see FIG. 6). The second flow path 24 extends slightly from the connection port 17 of the front section screen 15 </ b> A to the front lower side, then bends substantially at a right angle, extends to the rear lower side and the lower right side, and is inside the right side wall of the housing 4. After extending from the left side to the rear side, the electric blower 14 (specifically, the suction side of the electric blower 14) is connected (see also FIG. 6).

  The third flow path 25 is connected to the electric blower 14 (specifically, the discharge side of the electric blower 14), extends from the electric blower 14 to the front side, then bends slightly and extends to the front upper side, and before the fitting groove 21. Branches left and right. The portion branched to the left side in the third flow path 25 is connected to the exhaust port 11 on the left side (left side surface of the casing 4), and the portion branched to the right side in the third flow path 25 is connected to the right side (of the casing 4). It is connected to the exhaust port 11 on the right side (see FIG. 2).

  In the middle of the third flow path 25, specifically, a step 25B is formed between the electric blower 14 and the branch position 25A of the third flow path 25, and the third flow path 25 is in the air flow direction. Is thicker on the downstream side than the stepped 25B. An exhaust filter 26 is disposed at a position where the step 25 </ b> B is provided in the third flow path 25. The exhaust filter 26 has a high dust trapping performance belonging to a so-called HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter) or ULPA filter (Ultra Low Penetration Air Filter). The exhaust filter 26 covers the entire cross section in the middle portion of the third flow path 25 in a state of being hooked from the front upper side with respect to the stepped portion 25B. Therefore, what flows through the third flow path 25 always passes through the exhaust filter 26.

  Here, the casing 4 is provided with a cover 27 that partitions (has) a part of the bottom peripheral surface 20 described above (specifically, a portion of the bottom peripheral surface 20 on the rear side of the communication port 22). ing. In FIG. 4, the cross section of the cover 27 is a hatched portion extending to the upper left. The cover 27 has a plate shape that is curved in an arc shape downward when viewed from the front, and the fitting groove 21 described above is formed in the cover 27. The cover 27 is recessed downward at a portion corresponding to the fitting groove 21.

A positioning rib 28 that protrudes rearward and downward is integrally provided on the lower surface of the cover 27. In addition, a finger hooking rib 52 that extends to the front upper side is integrally provided at the rear end portion of the cover 27, and an engaging claw 29 (engagement portion) that protrudes to the rear upper side in the vertical direction of the finger hooking rib 52. ) Are provided integrally.
The cover 27 is detachable from the housing 4. In the state where the cover 27 is attached to the housing 4 as shown in FIG. 4, in the cover 27, the positioning rib 28 contacts the exhaust filter 26 from the front upper side to press the exhaust filter 26 against the stepped 25 </ b> B. The claw 29 engages with the engagement groove 30 provided at the lower end portion of the rear section screen 15B in the housing 4 from the front side. Thus, the cover 27 is positioned with respect to the housing 4 by the engaging claws 29 while positioning the exhaust filter 26 by the positioning rib 28.

  In this state, the cover 27 is detached from the housing 4 by pinching the finger-hooking rib 52 with a finger to remove the engaging claw 29 from the engaging groove 30 and then moving the cover 27 upward to raise the inside of the housing 9. As a result, the bottom peripheral surface 20 is formed with an outlet 31 communicating with the third flow path 25 from the front upper side. The exhaust filter 26 can be removed from the outlet 31 for maintenance. When the exhaust filter 26 that has been maintained (or replaced with a new one) is returned from the outlet 31 into the third flow path 25 and the cover 27 is attached to the housing 4, the cover 27 moves the outlet 31 forward. The exhaust filter 26 is positioned from the upper side without any gap and as described above. Here, since the outlet 31 communicates with the third channel 25 as described above, the cover 27 that closes the outlet 31 defines the third channel 25. Specifically, the cover 27 defines the third flow path 25 at the branch position 25A.

  As described above, the exhaust filter 26 is disposed in front of the branch position 25A in the third flow path 25 (upstream side in the air flow direction), and the third flow path 25 is a branch position in front of the fitting groove 21. Branches left and right at 25A. Therefore, the cover 27 having the fitting groove 21 is disposed on the downstream side of the exhaust filter 26 in the third flow path 25 (flow path 12) when viewed in the flow direction of the exhausted air.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the left and right exhaust ports 11 described above each have a substantially triangular shape that narrows toward the front side when viewed from the width direction. In the third flow path 25, the cross section of each branch flow path 25C from the branch position 25A toward the corresponding exhaust port 11 has a substantially triangular shape similar to the exhaust port 11, and becomes larger toward the corresponding exhaust port 11. Yes. Therefore, the speed of the air from the branch position 25A toward each exhaust port 11 in the third flow path 25 decreases as the air travels toward the exhaust port 11, and the air is gently discharged from the exhaust port 11. .

  Referring to FIG. 1, lattice covers 32 are attached from the outside to the left and right side surfaces of the housing 4 and cover the corresponding exhaust ports 11. The lattice cover 32 is configured by combining elongated resin ribs 33 in a lattice shape, and the overall shape thereof is a substantially triangular shape similar to the exhaust port 11. The exhaust port 11 covered with the lattice cover 32 communicates with the outside through a gap between adjacent ribs 33 in the lattice cover 32. The lattice cover 32 protrudes outward in the width direction at the lower portion thereof (see FIG. 2), and the bumper 34 made of a resin that extends in the front-rear direction and is thicker than the rib 33 is formed at the most protruding portion of the lattice cover 32. Are provided integrally.

  The bumper 34 is provided in a lower portion of each rib 33 extending vertically. Here, each rib 33 has elasticity, and the bumper 34 is elastically supported by each rib 33. Therefore, the furniture is received by the bumper 34 when the left and right side surfaces of the housing 4 collide with the furniture or the like while the vacuum cleaner 1 is being moved. At that time, the rib 33 supporting the bumper 34 is bent, so that the impact caused by the bumper 34 hitting the furniture is alleviated.

Here, since the bumper 34 and the rib 33 for reducing the impact received by the bumper 34 are integrally formed as the same component as the lattice cover 32, the number of components can be reduced as compared with the case where each is a separate component. Can be planned.
Further, a buffer material (not shown) is attached to each of the left and right exhaust ports 11. This cushioning material reduces the wind speed of this air by allowing the air discharged from the exhaust port 11 to pass therethrough. The cushioning material (not shown) is formed by sandwiching breathable urethane between two nonwoven fabrics, and joining the end portions of these nonwoven fabrics by bonding or the like (which may be welded or sewn). That is, in the cushioning material (not shown), urethane is accommodated in a nonwoven fabric bag formed by joining the ends of two nonwoven fabrics. In this state, since the nonwoven fabric is moderately pulled by the urethane becoming the core material, the nonwoven fabric has no wrinkles.

Here, the lattice cover 32 described above has a double structure, and the buffer material (not shown) is positioned by sandwiching the buffer material (not shown) inside the double structure.
With this configuration, the cushioning material (not shown) is positioned cleanly and easily so that wrinkles do not occur on the nonwoven fabric on the surface of the exhaust port 11 that is generally formed on the curved surface of the housing 4. it can. And the air which flowed through the flow path 12 and reached | attained the exhaust port 11 passes through the two nonwoven fabrics of a buffer material (not shown) in order, and the wind speed of the air is about 2 m / sec in this Example. As it decreases, there is no variation in wind speed. Thereby, since the air discharged from the exhaust port 11 becomes extremely gentle, it is possible to prevent a problem that dust on the floor is rolled up by the air discharged from the exhaust port 11. Further, as described above, distributed exhaust is performed from the left and right exhaust ports 11 (see FIG. 2), and the cross section of each branch passage 25C (see FIG. 6) toward the exhaust port 11 becomes larger toward the exhaust port 11. As a result, the air can be discharged more gently from each exhaust port 11.

  Referring to FIG. 6, a valve 35 is provided in the housing 4. The valve 35 is connected to the electric blower 14 (specifically, the suction side of the electric blower 14). For example, if the flow path 12 (see FIG. 3) is clogged on the upstream side of the electric blower 14 due to the accumulation of dust in the dust collection tank 5, even if the electric blower 14 generates suction force, Since air does not flow through the path 12, the electric blower 14 may be loaded. Therefore, in this case, the valve 35 operates (opens). Thereby, when the electric blower 14 generates suction force, external air is sucked from the valve 35 instead of the air upstream of the electric blower 14 in the flow path 12, thereby reducing the load on the electric blower 14. be able to.

  A leakage hole 36 is formed on the suction side of the electric blower 14. When the electric blower 14 generates a suction force, the external air is sucked from the leak hole 36. Therefore, even if the valve 35 malfunctions and the valve 35 does not operate, the load applied to the electric blower 14 Can be reduced. However, if the amount of air sucked from the leak hole 36 is large, the suction force in the suction tool (not shown) described above is reduced accordingly, so the leak hole 36 reduces the burden on the electric blower 14. However, the magnitude | size is set so that the attraction | suction force in a suction tool (not shown) may not be reduced.

  A cooling fin 37 is provided at a position facing the leakage hole 36 from the outside of the electric blower 14 (near the leakage hole 36). Here, in relation to the cooling fins 37, the control board 38 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is provided on the upper part of the electric blower 14. The cooling fins 37 are metal plates having good thermal conductivity. In FIG. 6, the cooling fins 37 extend rightward from the control board 38 and then bend and extend downward. The cooling fins 37 are spaced apart from the leakage holes 36 by a predetermined distance in the width direction. Are facing each other. Further, a heat generating component such as a triac is mounted on the control board 38, and the cooling fin 37 is directly connected to the heat generating component of the control board 38.

  As described above, when the electric blower 14 generates suction force, external air is sucked from the leakage hole 36, so that the air contacts the cooling fin 37 when flowing into the leakage hole 36. Thereby, since the whole cooling fin 37 is cooled, the heat-emitting component of the control board 38 connected to the cooling fin 37 can be cooled. Here, if there is a sufficient amount of air flowing into the leakage hole 36, even if the cooling fins 37 are small, the heat generating components of the control board 38 can be sufficiently cooled (effectively).

  Here, the cooling fins 37 can be arranged in the flow path 12 (FIG. 3), and the cooling fins 37 can be cooled by the air flowing through the flow path 12, but in that case, the air flowing through the flow path 12 is leaked. The flowing momentum is stronger than the air flowing into the hole 36. As a result, the cooling fins 37 may vibrate to generate abnormal noise, or the vibrations of the cooling fins 37 may be transmitted to the control board 38, causing damage to the control board 38. In addition, measures must be taken so that foreign matters around the flow path 12 do not enter the flow path 12 from the periphery of the cooling fins 37.

  However, in this embodiment, the cooling fins 37 are disposed in the flow path 12 because the cooling fins 37 are provided in the vicinity of the leak hole 36 where the air flow is relatively gentle, that is, outside the flow path 12. This makes it possible to avoid the problems described above. Further, as described above, the cooling fins 37 are disposed to face the leakage holes 36 with a predetermined interval in the width direction, and the cooling fins 37 are not inserted into the leakage holes 36. Therefore, the leakage hole 36 is not reduced by the cooling fin 37 (the amount of air flowing into the leakage hole 36 is not reduced).

Here, referring to FIG. 4, electric blower 14 includes a motor 48 that actually generates a suction force, and a motor cover 49 that supports motor 48. The motor cover 49 has a box shape and houses the motor 48 inside thereof. The aforementioned leakage hole 36 (see FIG. 6) is formed in the right side wall of the motor cover 49.
Since the motor 48 generates heat when driven, the motor cover 49 is generally formed of a flame-retardant material (polypropylene or the like), and ignition occurs from the heat generated by the motor 48 or the sparks emitted from the motor 48. At the same time, the motor 48 is thermally isolated from other components.

  The cleaner body 2 has a built-in fuse 50, but the fuse 50 may generate heat. Moreover, since the control board 38 also has a heat generating component (triac or the like) as described above, there is a risk of heat generation. However, it is expensive to provide a dedicated flame retardant member that thermally shields the control board 38 and the fuse 50 from other components. In particular, materials having flame retardancy are relatively expensive.

  Therefore, the control board 38 and the fuse 50 are fixed to a motor cover 49 having flame resistance. Specifically, a substrate housing chamber 55 that is recessed downward is provided on the upper surface of the motor cover 49, and the side of the motor cover 49 below the substrate housing chamber 55 is one of the left side and the right side in this embodiment. An open fuse housing chamber 51 is provided. Then, the fuse 50 is accommodated in the fuse accommodating chamber 51. The fuse 50 can be easily accommodated in the fuse accommodating chamber 51 by inserting the fuse 50 into the opened portion in the fuse accommodating chamber 51. Further, the control board 38 described above is accommodated from above in the board accommodation chamber 55 on the upper surface of the motor cover 49 so as to be positioned directly above the fuse accommodation chamber 51.

As a result, even without providing the dedicated member described above, in the motor cover 49, the control board can be obtained by an inexpensive configuration in which the fuse 50 is housed in the fuse housing chamber 51 and the control board 38 is housed in the board housing chamber 55. 38 and fuse 50 can be thermally isolated from other components. That is, components that tend to generate heat (the control board 38 and the fuse 50) are gathered in one place (upper part of the motor cover 49) and are thermally shielded from other components by a small number of flame retardant components (motor cover 49). Yes.
<Dust collection tank>
Next, the dust collection tank 5 (see FIG. 1) will be described in detail. When describing the dust collection tank 5 alone, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the dust collection tank 5 is detached from the housing 4 and takes a vertically long posture, and the dust collection tank is based on this posture. 5 is specified.

FIG. 7 is a view of the dust collection tank 5 as viewed from the left side in a vertically long state.
Referring to FIG. 7, the dust collection tank 5 is a vertically long hollow body.
FIG. 8 is a right side sectional view of the dust collection tank 5 in a vertically long state. FIG. 9 is a view of the dust collection tank 5 in a vertically long state as viewed from the right side, and a part thereof is shown in cross section. FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the dust collection tank 5 in a vertically long state, and the lid 61 is omitted. FIG. 11 is a top view of the dust collection tank 5 in a vertically long state. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow AA in FIG. FIG. 13 shows a state where the lid 61 is opened in FIG. FIG. 14 is a view of the dust collection tank 5 viewed from the right side in a vertically long state, and a part thereof is shown in cross section. FIG. 15 shows a state where the electric blower 14 is operated in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 8, the dust collection tank 5 includes a tank body 60, a lid 61, a communication path 62 (dust collection tank side flow path), a first filter 63, a second filter 64, and an operation unit 65. Including.
The tank body 60 is formed of a transparent resin, and in FIG. 8, has a vertically long and substantially cylindrical shape with a central axis extending vertically. A discharge port 66 communicating with the tank body 60 is formed at the lower end surface of the tank body 60. The discharge port 66 is a round hole defined by the lower end edge of the tank body 60. The inner peripheral surface of the tank main body 60 is a circumferential surface, but at one place on the inner peripheral surface (the right inner peripheral surface in FIG. 8), over the entire region in the central axis direction of the tank main body 60, A flat surface 113 is formed (see FIG. 10). Further, the portion of the peripheral wall of the tank body 60 that coincides with the flat surface 113 is also flat. In this embodiment, the flat surface 113 is formed at one location on the inner peripheral surface of the tank body 60, but may be formed at a plurality of locations on the periphery.

  The upper end of the tank body 60 is closed by a circular ceiling wall 67 as viewed from above. The top wall 67 is a part of the tank body 60. Since the ceiling wall 67 has a double structure, the ceiling wall 67 is partitioned with an internal space 67A. The internal space 67A is enlarged vertically on the left side in FIG. Accordingly, the upper portion (referred to as the upper wall 67B) of the double-structure ceiling wall 67 also protrudes upward on the left side. A recess 109 that is recessed downward is formed on the top surface of the left portion of the upper wall 67B. Here, the lower portion of the double-structure ceiling wall 67 is referred to as a lower wall 67C. An insertion hole 68 that penetrates both the upper wall 67 </ b> B and the lower wall 67 </ b> C vertically is formed at the circular center position of the top wall 67. The insertion hole 68 in the upper wall 67B is a long hole elongated in a predetermined direction, and both end edges in the longitudinal direction bulge in an arc shape in directions away from each other (see FIG. 11).

An annular gear 104 having gear teeth formed on the outer peripheral edge is accommodated in the right portion of the internal space 67A in a state along the horizontal direction. In this state, the inner portion of the annular gear 104 is located between the insertion hole 68 of the upper wall 67B and the insertion hole 68 of the lower wall 67C.
A main handle 69 is integrally provided on the upper wall 67B. In FIG. 8, the main handle 69 extends to the right from the left portion of the upper wall 67B protruding upward as described above, bends above the right end portion of the upper wall 67B and extends downward, and extends to the right end portion of the upper wall 67B. Connected from above. Therefore, a predetermined gap 71 is secured in the vertical direction between the main handle 69 and the right side portion of the upper wall 67B.

  In the tank body 60, a handle 72 is integrally provided on the left outer peripheral surface in FIG. The handle 72 is long in the vertical direction and protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the tank body 60 to the radially outer side (left side in FIG. 8) of the tank body 60. The handle 72 is formed with a longitudinal groove 72A in the vertical direction (see FIG. 7). A receiving hole 73 that penetrates the handle 72 is formed at the lower end of the handle 72 below the groove 72A (see FIG. 7). The receiving hole 73 is long in the direction of the central axis of the tank body 60 (in the vertical direction in FIG. 7), and both end edges in the longitudinal direction bulge in an arc shape in directions away from each other (see FIG. 7).

In the tank main body 60, a connection port 74 that communicates with the tank main body 60 is formed in an upper portion of the right outer peripheral surface in FIG. 8 (a flat portion that coincides with the flat surface 113 described above on the peripheral wall of the tank main body 60). .
The lid 61 has a disk shape that is substantially the same size as the discharge port 66. An exhaust hole 75 penetrating the lid 61 is formed at a circular center position of the lid 61. A fin-like annular packing 76 is fitted in the exhaust hole 75 of the lid 61. In the lid 61, an annular convex portion 61 </ b> A (convex portion) surrounding the exhaust hole 75 is integrally formed at a position shifted slightly outward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral edge that borders the exhaust hole 75 in FIG. 8. Provided.

On the upper side surface of the lid 61 in FIG. 8, a receiving groove 77 that is concentric with the lid 61 and is recessed downward is formed in a portion adjacent to the outer peripheral edge of the lid 61. An annular first seal member 78 formed of an elastic material such as sponge is fitted in the receiving groove 77.
A shaft 79 (rotating shaft) extending in a horizontal direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 8) is integrally provided at one end portion (left end portion in FIG. 8) of the lid 61. The shaft 79 is loosely fitted into the receiving hole 73 of the tank body 60 (see FIG. 7). Specifically, the shaft 79 can slide along the longitudinal direction (the vertical direction here) of the receiving hole 73 in a state where the shaft 79 is fitted in the receiving hole 73 (see FIG. 7). The shaft 79 can be slid with a simple configuration in which the shaft 79 is loosely fitted into the receiving hole 73 which is a long hole.

  As described above, the lid 61 is rotatable with respect to the tank body 60 about the shaft 79 while being connected to the tank body 60 at the shaft 79 at one end. In this state, one end of the lid 61 (the end on the shaft 79 side) is connected to the tank body 60 in the longitudinal direction of the receiving hole 73 (see FIG. 7) (the direction of the central axis of the tank body 60). Here, it is movable along the vertical direction).

  The lid 61 can open and close the discharge port 66 of the tank body 60 by rotating. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the lid 61 closes the discharge port 66, and FIG. 13 shows a state in which the lid 61 opens the discharge port 66. When the lid 61 is closed as shown in FIG. 8, the lower end edge of the tank main body 60 contacts the first seal member 78 over the entire area in the circumferential direction of the tank main body 60. As a result, the first seal member 78 closes the gap between the lid 61 with the discharge port 66 closed and the edge (lower end edge) of the discharge port 66 in the tank body 60.

A lid side engaging portion 112 (first engaging portion) is integrally provided at the other end portion (right end portion in FIG. 8) of the lid 61.
Here, with the lid 61 closed, the lid 61 faces the discharge port 66 along the central axis direction of the tank body 60 and closes the discharge port 66. That is, the facing direction of the lid 61 and the discharge port 66 is the central axis direction of the tank body 60. Further, the convex portion 61 </ b> A provided on the lid 61 protrudes in a direction away from the discharge port 66 (lower side in FIG. 8) when the cover 61 closes the discharge port 66, and forms the lower end of the dust collection tank 5. ing.

  The communication path 62 is a pipe provided on the outer surface of the tank body 60 and is connected to the connection port 74 of the tank body 60. Thereby, the inside of the communication path 62 communicates with the inside of the tank body 60. Here, since the connection port 74 is formed in a flat portion that coincides with the above-described flat surface 113 (see also FIG. 10) in the peripheral wall of the tank body 60, the communication passage 62 is stabilized with respect to the flat portion. Can be attached.

In FIG. 8, the communication path 62 is bent after protruding from the connection port 74 (the above-described flat portion on the peripheral wall of the tank body 60) to the outside in the radial direction of the tank body 60 (right side in FIG. 8). Along the surface (the right outer peripheral surface in FIG. 8), the tank body 60 extends downward to the front of the lower end. The lower end of the communication path 62 is open.
A plate-like first rib 80 extending toward the outer peripheral surface of the tank main body 60 is integrally provided at a portion facing the outer peripheral surface of the tank main body 60 at the lower end of the communication passage 62. The first rib 80 extends to the lower left in FIG. 8 so as to intersect the communication path 62 extending downward. A claw 81 is integrally provided at the tip of the first rib 80 (the lower left end in FIG. 8). The communication passage 62 is integrated with the tank body 60 by the hook 81 being hooked on the tank body 60.

  Further, at the lower end portion of the communication passage 62, a second rib 82 protruding integrally to the upper right side is integrally provided on the right outer surface in FIG. In FIG. 8, the 1st rib 80 and the 2nd rib 82 are arrange | positioned on the same plane (refer code | symbol 83) extended to an upper right side. The first rib 80 and the second rib 82 are integrally formed in an annular shape and surround the opening at the lower end of the communication path 62. In the communication path 62 in the posture of FIG. 8, a portion below the flat surface 83 (the first rib 80 and the second rib 82) is a tongue-shaped portion 62A (projecting portion).

  Here, a release lever 110 is provided at a position adjacent to the communication path 62 on the outer peripheral surface of the tank body 60 (see FIGS. 10 and 11). The release lever 110 has a plate shape that is long along the central axis direction of the tank main body 60, and the outer peripheral surface of the tank main body 60 extends along the communication path 62 (the central axial direction of the tank main body 60 (the vertical direction in FIG. 8). )) Is slidably supported. Specifically, the release lever 110 is slidable between a normal position (not shown) close to the main handle 69 side and a release position (not shown) close to the discharge port 66 side. The release lever 110 is normally in the normal position.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the tank main body 60, a main body side engaging portion 111 (second engaging portion) is integrally provided in the vicinity of the front end (end on the discharge port 66 side) of the release lever 110 at the release position. Yes. When the lid 61 is closed as described above, the lid side engaging portion 112 and the main body side engaging portion 111 are engaged as shown in FIG. Thereby, the state which the lid | cover 61 closed can be maintained. In this state, when the release lever 110 in the normal position is slid to the release position, the tip of the release lever 110 presses the lid 61 in the vicinity of the lid side engaging portion 112 in the direction in which the lid 61 opens. Thereby, the engagement state of the lid side engaging portion 112 and the main body side engaging portion 111 is released, and the lid 61 is opened. That is, the release lever 110 releases the engagement between the lid side engaging portion 112 and the main body side engaging portion 111 by sliding to the release position.

In FIG. 8, the first filter 63 has a vertically long substantially cylindrical shape with a central axis extending vertically. An opening 84 communicating with the first filter 63 is formed on the lower end surface of the first filter 63. The opening 84 is a round hole defined by the lower edge of the first filter 63.
The upper end of the first filter 63 is closed by a disk-shaped top wall 85. The top wall 85 is a part of the first filter 63. An insertion hole 86 penetrating the top wall 85 in the vertical direction is formed at a circular center position of the top wall 85.

  The top wall 85 is integrally provided with a cylindrical tubular member 87 that extends forward and backward along the central axis of the first filter 63 while bordering the insertion hole 86. An inner portion of the cylindrical member 87 is an insertion hole 86. A plurality of dust removal springs 88 are attached to the lower edge of the cylindrical member 87 in FIG. The plurality of dust removal springs 88 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction at the lower end edge (lower peripheral edge portion) of the cylindrical member 87. The dust removal spring 88 is formed by bending a wire. Each dust removal spring 88 is provided with a dust removal portion 90 that bulges out in an arc shape outward in the radial direction around the central axis of the first filter 63.

  A compression protrusion 91 is integrally provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first filter 63. The compression protrusion 91 has a spiral shape centering on the central axis of the first filter 63 while protruding outward in the radial direction of the first filter 63. Specifically, the compression protrusion 91 extends so as to draw a spiral along the central axis direction (vertical direction in FIG. 8) of the first filter 63. The lower end edge (end edge on the opening 84 side) of the compression protrusion 91 is located at a position separated from the lower end edge of the outer peripheral surface of the first filter 63 by a predetermined distance X upward (in the direction away from the opening 84). The first filter 63 stops before the lower end of the outer peripheral surface.

In the lower two-third region on the outer peripheral surface of the first filter 63, almost all of the portion other than the compression protrusion 91 is cut out, and a breathable mesh 92 is stretched around this portion. (See also FIG. 9).
The first filter 63 is attached with a fin-shaped and ring-shaped second seal member 93 so that the upper end edge (the outer peripheral edge of the top wall 85) and the lower end edge are bordered over the entire circumference. ing.

In FIG. 8, the second filter 64 has a vertically long substantially cylindrical shape with the central axis extending vertically. The second filter 64 includes a support frame 94 and a pleat member 95.
In FIG. 8, the support frame 94 is installed between an annular upper ring 96 and a lower ring 97 which are opposed to each other with an interval in the vertical direction, and an inner periphery of each of the upper ring 96 and the lower ring 97 extending vertically. The plurality of beam members 98 and the disk-shaped connecting member 99 having the center axis of the second filter 64 as a circle center are integrally included.

A fin-shaped and ring-shaped third seal member 107 is attached to the upper ring 96 so that the outer periphery of the upper ring 96 is bordered over the entire circumference.
A substantially central portion in the vertical direction of each beam member 98 is connected to the outer peripheral edge of the connecting member 99. A cylindrical shaft member 100 that extends upward along the central axis of the second filter 64 is integrally provided at the circular center position of the connecting member 99. A cylindrical shaft member 101 that is coaxial with the shaft member 100 is attached to the shaft member 100 from above in FIG. The shaft member 101 is also a part of the support frame 94 (second filter 64), and the shaft members 100 and 101 form the central axis of the second filter 64. A tip portion 101A (engagement portion, upper end portion in FIG. 8) of the shaft member 101 is divided into two forks, and a recess 103 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of each tip portion 101A (see FIG. 12).

  The pleated member 95 is formed by folding a fabric of very fine fibers so that peaks and valleys are alternately formed into a vertically long cylindrical shape (see FIG. 10). The pleat member 95 is held by the support frame 94 by being sandwiched from above and below by the upper ring 96 and the lower ring 97. The inner space of the cylindrical pleat member 95 is opened downward in FIG. 8 through the inner portion of the lower ring 97. The beam member 98, the connecting member 99, and the shaft member 100 described above are accommodated in the inner space of the pleat member 95, and the shaft member 101 protrudes upward from the inner space in FIG. Here, each beam member 98 is integrated with the inner peripheral surface of the pleat member 95 (the mountain side portion protruding toward the central axis of the second filter 64 in the inner portion of the pleat member 95).

The operation unit 65 has a disk shape along the vertical direction in FIG. A columnar shaft 105 extending in the horizontal direction is attached to the circular center position of the operation unit 65. At one end of the shaft 105 (right end in FIG. 8), a circular center portion of the gear 106 having a disk shape along the vertical direction in FIG. 8 and having gear teeth formed on the outer peripheral edge portion is attached.
While the operation unit 65 is provided on the outer surface of the tank body 60, the shaft 105 and the gear 106 are accommodated in the aforementioned left side portion in the internal space 67 </ b> A of the ceiling wall 67 of the tank body 60. In this state, the operation unit 65 and the gear 106 are supported by the tank body 60 (the top wall 67) so as to be rotatable about the shaft 105. The gear 106 meshes with one end portion (left end portion in FIG. 8) of the gear 104 described above from above.

Here, the assembly of the first filter 63 and the second filter 64 to the tank body 60 will be described.
With reference to the posture of FIG. 8, first, the shaft members 100 and 101 of the second filter 64 are inserted from below into the insertion hole 86 of the first filter 63 (the inner portion of the cylindrical member 87). When the insertion is completed, the first filter 63 and the second filter 64 are assembled and unitized.

In this state, the second filter 64 is coaxially accommodated in the first filter 63, and the dust removal spring 88 on the first filter 63 side is located inside the cylindrical pleat member 95 (specifically, each beam member 98. And the shaft member 100).
Further, the third seal member 107 of the second filter 64 faces the top wall 85 of the first filter 63 from below in a state of surrounding the cylindrical member 87 (insertion hole 86). Further, a predetermined distance in the radial direction about the central axis of the first filter 63 (second filter 64) is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the first filter 63 and the outer peripheral surface of the second filter 64 (pleat member 95). The gap is secured. A space between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 87 and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft member 101 is closed by the packing 108. Further, the tip end portion 101 </ b> A of the shaft member 101 protrudes upward from the cylindrical member 87.

In this state, when the second filter 64 is used as a reference, the first filter 63 is supported by the second filter 64 so as to be rotatable about its central axis.
Then, the lid 61 is opened to open the discharge port 66 (see FIG. 13), and the first filter 63 and the second filter 64 assembled in this way (unitized) are discharged from the bottom in FIG. And is accommodated in the tank body 60. When the housing is completed, the assembly of the first filter 63 and the second filter 64 to the tank body 60 is completed. At this time, the first filter 63, the second filter 64, and the tank body 60 are arranged coaxially.

In this state, the opening 84 of the first filter 63 and the inner portion of the lower ring 97 of the second filter 64 are on the discharge port 66 side of the tank body 60 and are exposed downward from the discharge port 66.
Further, in this state, the tip portion 101 </ b> A (the upper end portion described above in FIG. 8) of the shaft member 101 of the second filter 64 is inserted from below into the insertion hole 68 of the top wall 67 of the tank body 60. At this time, both end edges in the longitudinal direction of the insertion hole 68 of the upper wall 67B of the top wall 67 are hooked to the concave portion 103 of the tip portion 101A divided into two forks in the shaft member 101 (see FIG. 12). In other words, the tip portion 101A is engaged with the top wall 67 (tank body 60) in each recess 103.

  Thus, the shaft member 101 (second filter 64) is supported by the upper wall 67B so as not to be rotatable relative to the upper wall 67B (tank body 60). In addition, the shaft member 101 (second filter 64) extends in the vertical direction (the central axis direction of the second filter 64) within a range in which both ends in the longitudinal direction of the insertion hole 68 of the upper wall 67B can relatively move within the recess 103. Are supported by the upper wall 67B (tank body 60) so as to be slidable (see FIG. 12). In this state, the first filter 63 can rotate relative to the tank body 60 and the second filter 64, and the first filter 63 and the second filter 64 can slide together.

In this state, the tip portion 101A of the shaft member 101 protrudes upward from the outer surface (upper side surface) of the upper wall 67B, and is positioned in the vicinity of the main handle 69 in the gap 71 described above. That is, the tip portion 101A engages with the tank body 60 in a state where it is exposed to the outside from a portion (upper wall 67B) adjacent to the main handle 69 in the tank body 60.
At this time, the cylindrical member 87 of the first filter 63 is inserted from below into the insertion hole 68 of the lower wall 67C of the top wall 67 and the inner portion of the gear 104. Thereby, the cylindrical member 87 is connected (fixed) to the gear 104. Further, the second seal member 93 on the top wall 85 of the first filter 63 faces the bottom wall 67C of the top wall 67 from below in a state of surrounding the insertion hole 68 of the bottom wall 67C.

Finally, the lid 61 is closed and the discharge port 66 is closed. Then, the exhaust hole 75 of the lid 61 communicates with the inner portion of the lower ring 97 of the second filter 64 from below, and the packing 76 in the exhaust hole 75 of the lid 61 is connected to the inner peripheral edge of the lower ring 97. It contacts from the bottom over the whole area. The lid 61 contacts the second seal member 93 on the lower side of the first filter 63.
When the lid 61 is closed, each of the first filter 63 and the second filter 64 is pressed upward by the lid 61 and slides upward. In other words, when the discharge port 66 is closed, the lid 61 tanks the first filter 63 along the central axis direction of the tank body 60 (same as the central axis direction of the first filter 63 and the second filter 64). While pressing toward the main body 60 (the lower wall 67C of the top wall 67), the second filter 64 is pressed toward the first filter 63 (the top wall 85).

  Thereby, each of packing 76, the 2nd seal member 93, and the 3rd seal member 107 is compressed in the up-and-down direction (the central axis direction of tank body 60). Therefore, the compressed packing 76 closes the gap between the inner peripheral edge of the lower ring 97 of the second filter 64 and the inner peripheral edge of the exhaust hole 75 of the lid 61. The compressed second seal member 93 closes the gap between the first filter 63 and the tank body 60 (the lower wall 67C of the top wall 67) in the central axis direction of the tank body 60, and is compressed. The lower second seal member 93 closes the gap between the tank body 60 and the lid 61 in the central axis direction of the tank body 60. The compressed third seal member 107 closes the gap between the first filter 63 (top wall 85) and the second filter 64 in the central axis direction.

  When the operation unit 65 is pinched and rotated in a predetermined direction with the lid 61 closed as described above, the force for rotating the operation unit 65 is transmitted to the cylindrical member 87 of the first filter 63 via the gear 106 and the gear 104. Thus, in the dust collection tank 5, only the first filter 63 rotates about its central axis. The first filter 63 rotates along the inner peripheral surface of the tank body 60. Therefore, the rotation direction of the first filter 63 and the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the tank body 60 are the same.

  When the first filter 63 rotates, the compression protrusion 91 on the outer peripheral surface of the first filter 63 rotates so as to appear to move toward the opening 84 (discharge port 66) (lower side in FIG. 8). In addition, the dust removal spring 88 integrated with the first filter 63 rotates together with the first filter 63, and at this time, the dust removal portion 90 of the dust removal spring 88 is connected to the cylindrical pleat member 95 of the second filter 64. The crest portions (or the beam members 98 integrated with the crest portions) protruding toward the central axis side of the second filter 64 in the inner portion are flipped in order.

  However, in this state, the compressed upper second seal member 93 sticks to the first filter 63 and the tank body 60, and the compressed lower second seal member 93 adheres to the first filter 63 and the lid 61. A third seal member 107 that is stuck and compressed is stuck to the first filter 63 and the second filter 64. Therefore, although the sealing performance can be secured in the gap between the first filter 63 and the tank body 60, the gap between the first filter 63 and the lid 61, and the gap between the first filter 63 and the second filter 64, the second seal The member 93 and the third seal member 107 serve as resistance against the rotation of the first filter 63. Thereby, since the rotation of the operation unit 65 becomes heavy, the operation unit 65 is difficult to operate.

  On the other hand, in order to remove the first filter 63 and the second filter 64 from the tank body 60, first, the lid 61 is opened and the discharge port 66 is opened (see FIG. 13). Accordingly, each of the first filter 63 and the second filter 64 is not pressed by the lid 61 and thus slides downward. Accordingly, the compression of the packing 76, the second seal member 93, and the third seal member 107 is released.

  Then, the main handle 69 is gripped, and the fingertip of the hand gripping the main handle 69 pinches both of the tip portions 101A (see FIG. 12) divided into two portions in the shaft member 101 of the second filter 64, and approaches them. Bend like so. Then, both longitudinal edges of the insertion hole 68 of the upper wall 67B of the top wall 67 are removed from the recesses 103 at the tip portions 101A of the shaft member 101 of the second filter 64 that are bifurcated (see FIG. 12). In other words, the tip portion 101A is detached from the tank body 60. Thereby, the unit of the 1st filter 63 and the 2nd filter 64 can be moved below, and can be easily removed from the tank main body 60 via the discharge port 66, and it is convenient.

Then, when the second filter 64 is moved downward in FIG. 8 with respect to the first filter 63 so that the shaft members 100 and 101 are disengaged from the inner part (insertion hole 86) of the cylindrical member 87, the second filter 64 and the second filter 64 1 filter 63 can be separated. Thereby, each of the 1st filter 63 and the 2nd filter 64 can be maintained.
<Removing and removing the dust collection tank from the housing>
Next, attachment / detachment of the dust collection tank 5 with respect to the housing | casing 4 is demonstrated.

Installation will be described.
First, the handle 72 in the dust collection tank 5 in a state where the lid 61 is closed is gripped. At that time, if the fingertip is inserted into the groove 72A (see FIG. 9) of the handle 72, the handle 72 can be gripped well.
Thereby, the dust collection tank 5 is suspended in the air, and the entire dust collection tank 5 is inclined obliquely so that the operation unit 65 is disposed at the highest position. In this state, the communication passage 62 is disposed on the lower peripheral surface of the tank body 60.

Then, the handle 72 is continuously gripped, and the dust collection tank 5 tilted in this way is moved to a position directly above the housing portion 9 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) of the cleaner body 2 (housing 4).
In this state, with reference to FIG. 4, the inclined dust collection tank 5 is parallel to a pair of section screens 15 (the front section screen 15A and the rear section screen 15B) that divide the front and rear of the accommodating portion 9. , Move it back and down.

  Then, in the dust collection tank 5, first, the main handle 69 (see FIG. 8) is against the top surface of the tip of the clamp lever 40 (the front end exposed from the rear section screen 15B) at the advanced position in the housing 4. Contact from the front upper side. As described above, since the top surface of the tip of the clamp lever 40 is inclined forward and downward, when the main handle 69 comes into contact with this top surface, the clamp lever 40 resists the biasing force of the spring 43. To the rear retracted position (not shown). Here, as described above, the tip of the clamp lever 40 bulges out in an arc shape to the front side in plan view (see FIG. 5). Therefore, even if the dust collection tank 5 is moved in the width direction (horizontal direction) and the main handle 69 is brought into contact with the tip of the clamp lever 40 at the advanced position from the width direction, the clamp lever 40 is retracted. It can be retracted to a position (not shown).

  After the clamp lever 40 is retracted to the retracted position by coming into contact with the main handle 69, the main handle 69 is moved in front of the space between the two pressing ribs 19 (see FIG. 5) on the rear section screen 15B. Fit from above. Accordingly, the two pressing ribs 19 press the upper wall 67B (the right side portion not projecting upward in FIG. 8) of the top wall 67 of the dust collecting tank 5 from the rear upper side, and receive the pressure to collect the dust. The convex portion 61A (see FIG. 8) of the lid 61 of the tank 5 is pressed against the front section screen 15A from the upper rear side. If the front section screen 15A is used as a reference, the front section screen 15A presses the convex portion 61A of the lid 61 of the dust collection tank 5 being attached to the housing 4 toward the rear upper side (discharge port 66). (See also FIG. 8).

  Here, in the dust collection tank 5 before being attached to the housing 4, the distance between the outer surface of the upper wall 67 </ b> B (the right side portion that does not protrude upward in FIG. 8) and the outer surface of the convex portion 61 </ b> A of the lid 61 (FIG. 8) is slightly larger than the distance between the front surface of the pressing rib 19 of the rear section screen 15B and the front section screen 15A. Therefore, when the pressing rib 19 presses the upper wall 67B (see FIG. 8) in this way and the lid 61 is pressed against the front section screen 15A, it is fitted in the receiving groove 77 of the lid 61 accordingly. The first seal member 78 (see FIG. 8) is slightly compressed by the lid 61 and the lower end edge of the tank body 60. In the dust collection tank 5, the outer surface of the upper wall 67B and the outer surface of the convex portion 61A of the lid 61 Is slightly narrowed (see FIG. 8). That is, the dust collection tank 5 is slightly contracted.

  In this state, the handle 72 (see FIG. 8) is continuously gripped, and the dust collection tank 5 is moved to the rear lower side to be accommodated in the accommodating portion 9. At this time, the main handle 69 (see FIG. 8) is disposed between the two pressing ribs 19 (see FIG. 5) and is guided by these pressing ribs 19, so that the dust collection tank 5 has a stable posture. To move back and down. Since the main handle 69 is guided in this way, it is not necessary to separately provide components guided by the housing 4 in the dust collection tank 5. That is, the number of parts can be reduced.

  Then, when the dust collection tank 5 reaches the deepest part of the housing portion 9, referring to FIG. 3, the dust collection tank 5 is formed on the top wall 67 B of the top wall 67 of the dust collection tank 5 in front of the clamp lever 40 of the housing 4. The recessed dent 109 is located. Therefore, the clamp lever 40 advances to the advance position by the urging force of the spring 43 and fits into the recess 109. Thereby, the dust collection tank 5 is positioned with respect to the housing 4.

  At this time, the receiving groove 18 formed in the front section screen 15A is positioned in front of the convex portion 61A of the lid 61. Therefore, the distance between the outer surface of the upper wall 67B and the outer surface of the convex portion 61A of the lid 61 is reduced by the repulsive force (restoring force) of the first seal member 78 that has been compressed in the middle of the mounting. Move at once to the direction that extends to the original interval (that is, the front side). In other words, the dust collection tank 5 that has been slightly shrunk in the middle of attachment is vigorously returned to its original size by the repulsive force of the first seal member 78. Thereby, the convex portion 61 </ b> A of the lid 61 snaps into the receiving groove 18. This also positions the dust collection tank 5 with respect to the housing 4. Further, in this state, the exhaust hole 75 of the lid 61 communicates with the connection port 17 from the rear upper side, so that the inner part of the lower ring 97 of the second filter 64 (the inner part of the pleat member 95) and the second flow The inside of the path 24 communicates.

  At this time, in the dust collection tank 5, the communication passage 62 is fitted from above into the fitting groove 21 of the housing 4 (cover 27), and the tongue-shaped portion 62 A of the communication passage 62 is connected to the communication port 22. Then, it is inserted from the rear upper side and accommodated in the first flow path 23. In other words, the tongue-shaped portion 62 </ b> A fits inside the joint portion with the communication path 62 in the first flow path 23. Thereby, the inside of the communication path 62 communicates with the inside of the first flow path 23. In addition, the communication path 62 communicates the inside of the first flow path 23 and the inside of the tank body 60.

Here, a fin-like packing 53 is provided in the first flow path 23 so as to border the communication port 22. In a state where the tongue-shaped portion 62A is accommodated in the first flow path 23, the packing 53 extends over the entire circumference with respect to the first rib 80 and the second rib 82 which are integrally formed in the communication path 62 and have an annular shape. Touch from the front lower side.
Further, at this time, the dust collection tank 5 comes into contact with the finger hooking rib 52 at the rear end portion of the cover 27 from the front upper side, thereby pressing the cover 27 toward the exhaust filter 26 to the lower rear side.

  Thus, the mounting of the dust collection tank 5 to the housing 4 is completed. Here, even if the cover 27 is not properly attached to the housing 4 and is slightly lifted, if the dust collection tank 5 is attached to the housing 4, the cover 27 is moved back by the dust collection tank 5 in the attached state. By being pressed to the lower side (exhaust filter 26 side), the casing 4 is automatically and correctly mounted. Further, when the installation of the dust collection tank 5 to the housing 4 is completed, the convex portion 61A of the lid 61 snaps into (is received in) the receiving groove 18 as described above. Therefore, a so-called click feeling can be given to a user who has attached the dust collection tank 5 to the housing 4. Thereby, if a click feeling is known, it can be grasped surely that the installation of the dust collection tank 5 to the housing 4 is completed, so that it is easy to use.

  In this state, the dust collection tank 5 is inclined toward the front lower side so that the operation part 65 is located at the upper end. At this time, the central axis of the tank body 60 is inclined to the front lower side. The substantially upper half of the outer circumferential surface of the tank main body 60 in the dust collection tank 5 (the portion above the central axis in the tank main body 60) is exposed to the front upper side in the housing 4 and is semicircular to the front upper side. 16A is substantially flush with the outer peripheral surfaces (surfaces curved in an arc shape) of the front bulge portion 16A and the rear bulge portion 16B (see FIG. 1). At this time, in the dust collection tank 5, the handle 72 and the operation unit 65 are also exposed to the front upper side in the housing 4. Here, as described above, since the tank body 60 is formed of a transparent resin, the inside of the tank body 60 can be grasped from the outside of the housing 4.

In this state, as described above, the communication path 62 communicating with the inside of the first flow path 23 is located on the lower surface of the dust collection tank 5 and is not visible from the outside of the housing 4. Therefore, the portion exposed upward in the dust collection tank 5 is clean and looks good.
Further, the main handle 69 continues to be between the two pressing ribs 19 (see FIG. 5) and is housed in the housing 4 (the vacuum cleaner body 2). I can't see it. Therefore, the design of the front upper portion exposed in the dust collection tank 5 attached to the housing 4 is not restricted by the main handle 69. In other words, the width of the design can be expanded.

  On the other hand, in order to detach the attached dust collection tank 5 from the housing 4, referring to FIG. 3, first, the release button 41 is slid rearward, and the clamp lever 40 that has been in the advanced position until now is moved. Move to the retracted position. Then, the clamp lever 40 is released from the recess 109 of the top wall 67 of the dust collection tank 5, so that the positioning of the rear portion of the dust collection tank 5 with respect to the housing 4 is released.

Thereafter, the handle 72 is gripped to move the dust collection tank 5 to the front upper side. Accordingly, first, the convex portion 61A of the lid 61 is detached from the receiving groove 18 of the front section screen 15A, so that the positioning of the front portion of the dust collection tank 5 with respect to the housing 4 is released. Then, when the dust collection tank 5 is continuously moved to the front upper side, the main handle 69 is disposed between the two pressing ribs 19 (see FIG. 5) and is pressed by these pressing ribs 19 as in the case of mounting. Since it is guided, the dust collection tank 5 moves to the front upper side in a stable posture. When the main handle 69 is disengaged from the space between the two pressing ribs 19 on the housing 4 side (see FIG. 5) to the front upper side and the entire dust collection tank 5 is separated from the housing portion 9 of the housing 4, the housing 4 Removal of the dust collection tank 5 is completed.
<Operation of vacuum cleaner>
Next, the operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 will be described.

As described above, in a state where the dust collection tank 5 is mounted on the housing 4 of the cleaner body 2, the inside of the first flow path 23, the inside of the communication path 62 (in other words, the inside of the dust collection tank 5), The second flow path 24 and the third flow path 25 are in communication with each other, and the above-described flow path 12 is completed (see thick broken line arrows).
Here, the portion of the flow path 12 that connects the air inlet 10 and the dust collection tank 5 can be divided into a first flow path 23 formed in the housing 4 and a communication path 62 formed in the dust collection tank 5. It turns out that it is. Therefore, if each of the first flow path 23 and the communication path 62 is shortened, the distance between the inlet 10 and the dust collection tank 5 in the flow path 12 can be set short, so that the resistance to the air flowing through this part is reduced. Can be kept small.

  When the vacuum cleaner 1 is operated with the channel 12 completed, the electric blower 14 (strictly, the motor 48 described above) generates a suction force as described above. As a result, the dust and air on the floor are sucked into the aforementioned suction tool (not shown), and after passing through the suction tool, the pipe (not shown), and the hose 3 (see FIG. 1) in this order. The air is sucked from the air inlet 10 to the flow path 12 of the cleaner body 2.

Here, when the electric blower 14 generates a suction force, the inside of the flow path 12 and the inside of the dust collection tank 5 (tank body 60) are in a vacuum state.
As a result, the packing 53 of the first flow path 23 is in close contact with the first rib 80 and the second rib 82 of the communication path 62 of the dust collecting tank 5, so that a gap is present at the joint between the first flow path 23 and the communication path 62. Is completely blocked.

Further, the packing 76 in the lid 61 of the dust collection tank 5 is in close contact with the edge of the connection port 17 of the front section screen 15A and the inner peripheral edge of the lower ring 97 of the second filter 64. Thereby, the gap between the lid 61 and the front section screen 15 </ b> A and the gap between the lid 61 and the second filter 64 are completely closed.
The second seal member 93 on the top wall 67 side (upper side) of the first filter 63 is in close contact with the lower wall 67C, and the second seal member 93 on the lid 61 side (lower side) is in close contact with the lid 61. Accordingly, in the central axis direction of the tank body 60 (the direction extending to the front lower side and the rear upper side), the gap between the lid 61 and the first filter 63 and the first filter 63 and the tank body 60 (lower wall 67C) The gap is completely closed.

In addition, since the second seal member 107 of the second filter 64 is in close contact with the top wall 85 of the first filter 63, the gap between the first filter 63 and the second filter 64 is completely in the central axis direction of the tank body 60. Blocked.
In addition, when the inside of the dust collection tank 5 is in a vacuum state, the entire lid 61 with the discharge port 66 closed is drawn toward the tank body 60 side (rear upper side), whereby the first seal member 78 is drawn. The lid 61 and the edge (lower end edge) of the discharge port 66 in the tank body 60 are compressed. Then, the compressed first seal member 78 expands to return to the original state, and at that time, the gap between the lid 61 and the lower end edge of the tank body 60 is completely closed.

  Here, since one end (end on the shaft 79 side) of the lid 61 is also drawn toward the tank body 60 (see FIG. 15), the first seal member 78 is locally weak on the one end side of the lid 61. The lid 61 is not compressed, and the lid 61 is compressed sufficiently equally over the entire region from one end side to the other end side. Thereby, the sealing property in the discharge port 66 closed with the lid | cover 61 is securable. In addition, since it is not necessary to make the first seal member 78 thicker than necessary so that the first seal member 78 is sufficiently compressed on one end portion side of the lid 61, it is possible to suppress a decrease in operability when the lid 61 is closed. it can.

On the other hand, in a state where the electric blower 14 does not generate a suction force (a state where the inside of the dust collection tank 5 is not in a vacuum state), the first seal member 78 is not unnecessarily compressed (FIG. 14). The life of the first seal member 78 can be increased.
In the state where the electric blower 14 generates suction force and the gaps are closed as described above, the dust and air sucked into the flow path 12 are contained in the first flow path 23 in the flow path 12. And it passes through the inside of the communication path 62 in this order, and flows into the tank main body 60. The dust and air flowing into the tank body 60 are centered around the central axis of the tank body 60 in the cylindrical dust collection space Y defined by the inner circumferential surface of the tank body 60 and the outer circumferential surface of the first filter 63. The dust moves toward the front lower side while turning, and the dust collides with the lid 61 and is compressed, and accumulates on the lid 61 side in the dust collection space Y. At this time, the compression protrusion 91 guides the air and dust so as to turn.

The air swirling in the dust collection space Y does not stay in the dust collection space Y, passes through the air permeable mesh 92 of the first filter 63 and moves toward the tank body 60 toward the central axis.
Here, some of the dust tends to pass through the breathable mesh 92 of the first filter 63 before or after hitting the lid 61. At this time, most of the dust cannot pass through the breathable mesh 92 and eventually accumulates in the dust collection space Y. That is, the first filter 63 captures dust contained in the air flowing into the tank body 60 with the air-permeable mesh 92 on the circumferential surface thereof. Here, the fine dust passes through the breathable mesh 92 together with the air and flows into the first filter 63.

  The air and fine dust that have flowed into the first filter 63 pass through the pleat member 95 of the second filter 64 and try to move toward the inside of the cylindrical pleat member 95 (the central axis side of the tank body 60). . At this time, air passes through the pleat member 95 and flows into the inside of the pleat member 95, but fine dust is captured by the pleat member 95 and cannot pass through the pleat member 95. That is, the second filter 64 captures the dust that has passed through the first filter 63 with the pleat member 95 on the circumferential surface thereof. Thereby, almost all of the dust sucked into the flow path 12 is captured by the first filter 63 and the second filter 64 of the dust collection tank 5.

The air flowing into the inside of the pleat member 95 flows to the front lower side, and then flows through the inside of the lower ring 97 of the second filter 64, the exhaust hole 75 of the lid 61, and the connection port 17 in this order. It flows into the second flow path 24. The air is deodorized by the deodorizing filter 54 when passing through the connection port 17.
The air flowing into the second flow path 24 flows through the second flow path 24 (see FIG. 6) and then passes through the electric blower 14 (motor 48). At that time, the third flow is generated by the electric blower 14 (motor 48). It is discharged to the side of the path 25 and flows into the third flow path 25.

  The air that has flowed into the third flow path 25 passes through the exhaust filter 26, and at that time, fine dust mixed with the air (fine dust that has not been captured by the second filter 64 of the dust collection tank 5) is exhausted. Captured by filter 26. That is, the exhaust filter 26 prevents passage of dust mixed in the air exhausted by the electric blower 14. The air that has passed through the exhaust filter 26 continues to flow through the third flow path 25, hits the cover 27 from the lower rear side at the branch position 25A, and flows through the left and right branch flow paths 25C (see FIG. 6). The gas is discharged from either the left or right exhaust port 11 (see FIG. 2).

  Here, the cover 27 is pressed against the exhaust filter 26 side by the dust collection tank 5 attached to the housing 4. Therefore, even if the exhaust filter 26 tends to shift downstream due to the wind pressure of the air exhausted in the third flow path 25 or the cover 27 itself receives the wind pressure, the cover 27 does not shift without causing the exhaust filter 26 to move. Can be positioned. That is, the exhaust filter 26 can be positioned with a simple configuration in which the cover 27 is pressed by the dust collection tank 5. Further, since the cover 27 is engaged with the housing 4 at the engagement claw 29, the exhaust filter 26 can be reliably positioned without being displaced.

As the vacuum cleaner 1 is operated, dust gradually accumulates in the above-described dust collection space Y in the tank body 60 of the dust collection tank 5. Since the tank body 60 is transparent, it can be seen from the outside that dust is accumulated in the dust collection space Y.
When dust collects over the entire dust collection space Y, the user pinches the operation unit 65 and rotates it in a predetermined direction while the dust collection tank 5 remains attached to the housing 4. Then, as described above, only the first filter 63 rotates, and the compression protrusion 91 on the outer peripheral surface of the first filter 63 rotates so as to appear to move toward the opening 84 (lid 61). As a result, the dust in the dust collection space Y is compressed toward the lid 61 by the rotating compression projection 91, and the size of the dust already accumulated in the dust collection space Y is reduced. Thereby, since a space for storing dust is newly secured in the dust collection space Y, the vacuum cleaner 1 can be operated in this state and dust can be stored again in the dust collection space Y.

  Here, the inner peripheral surface of the tank body 60 defining the dust collection space Y, and the flat surface 113 is formed (see FIG. 10). Therefore, when the compression protrusion 91 is rotating, dust is reliably pushed out to the lid 61 (discharge port 66) side by being sandwiched between the rotation compression protrusion 91 and the flat surface 113. For this reason, it is possible to prevent such a problem that the dust does not move to the lid 61 side at all even though the compression protrusion 91 is rotating.

  In addition, as described above, the end edge of the compression protrusion 91 on the lid 61 (opening 84 and discharge port 66) side is closer to the lid 61 (opening 84) side edge on the outer peripheral surface of the first filter 63. It is at a position separated by a predetermined distance X in a direction away from the opening 84) (see FIG. 8). For this reason, at the relatively early stage where the dust does not collect much in the tank body 60 (the density of dust in the dust collection space Y is low), the dust on the lid 61 side of the compression projection 91 on the dust already compressed to the lid 61 side. Since it is possible to prevent a problem such that the end edge is caught and the compression protrusion 91 cannot be rotated (the compression protrusion 91 cannot further compress dust), it is easy to use.

  When the first filter 63 rotates, as described above, the dust removal spring 88 integrated with the first filter 63 rotates together with the first filter 63. At this time, the dust removal portion 90 of the dust removal spring 88 is rotated. Then, the inner portion of the cylindrical pleat member 95 of the second filter 64 (the portion protruding inwardly, and strictly speaking, each beam member 98) is sequentially flipped (see FIG. 10). As a result, dust can be removed from the pleat member 95 that has captured fine dust, so that clogging of the pleat member 95 can be prevented.

  When the operation unit 65 is rotated each time dust collects over the entire dust collection space Y and the dust is compressed by the compression protrusion 91, the dust that is finally compressed and brought to the lid 61 side is compressed. It reaches the protrusion 91 (specifically, the end of the compression protrusion 91 on the lid 61 side). In this case, since the compression protrusion 91 is pushed in reverse by the dust, it cannot be rotated any more, and accordingly, the operation unit 65 is hard and cannot be rotated. As a result, the user has grasped that it is time to throw away the dust in the tank body 60 because the dust has been fully accumulated in the tank body 60.

Then, the user grips the handle 72 exposed to the outside in the dust collection tank 5 and removes the dust collection tank 5 from the housing 4 by the above-described procedure. At this time, since the first flow path 23 and the communication path 62 are separated from each other, the tongue-like portion 62A of the communication path 62 that has been accommodated in the first flow path 23 of the housing 4 until now is connected to the communication port 22 and the first passage. The first flow passage 23 moves upward.
Here, dust may be spilled from the communication passage 62, but the dust is guided to the communication port 22 side by the tongue-shaped portion 62A, and thus is scattered and adheres to the packing 53 around the communication port 22. Without being received in the first flow path 23 (inside the joint portion of the first flow path 23). For this reason, the dust adheres to the packing 53 so that the sealing property of the packing 53 (in other words, the confidentiality at the joint between the first flow path 23 and the communication path 62 when the dust collection tank 5 is attached to the housing 4). Gender) does not deteriorate. The dust received in the first flow path 23 from the communication path 62 is collected again from the communication path 62 when the vacuum cleaner 1 is operated with the dust collection tank 5 attached to the housing 4 again. Captured in the tank 5. Here, if the dust collection tank 5 is detached from the housing 4 and each of the first flow path 23 and the communication path 62 is cleaned, the flow passage 12 is clogged with a portion connecting the intake port 10 and the dust collection tank 5. Garbage can be easily removed.

  Then, after the dust collection tank 5 is detached from the housing 4, the dust collection tank 5 is changed from the handle 72 to the main handle 69, and the dust collection tank 5 is as shown in FIG. In the vertical position, the lid 61 is opened and the discharge port 66 is opened. At this time, if the communication path 62 (see FIG. 8) is gripped by a hand different from the hand that grips the main handle 69, and the release lever 110 (see FIG. 11) described above is slid to the release position with that hand, Without directly touching the lid side engaging portion 112 (lid 61) and the main body side engaging portion 111, the lid side engaging portion 112 and the main body side engaging portion 111 are disengaged (see FIG. 8) to open the lid. 61 can be opened automatically. Therefore, when the lid 61 is opened and the discharge port 66 is opened, it is not necessary to get the hands dirty with dust spilled from the discharge port 66 into the lid side engaging portion 112 and the main body side engaging portion 111 (see FIG. 8).

Further, when the release lever 110 (see FIG. 11) is slid in this manner, the posture of the tank body 60 (the entire dust collection tank 5) can be stabilized by gripping the communication passage 62 (see FIG. 8). Further, it is not necessary to separately provide a dedicated part for stabilizing the posture of the tank body 60, and the number of parts can be reduced.
When the discharge port 66 is opened, the dust accumulated in the dust collection space Y in the tank body 60 falls from the discharge port 66 (is discharged from the tank body 60) and is thrown into the trash box. At this time, if the dust does not fall well, the compression projection 91 of the first filter 63 is rotated by rotating the operation portion 65 (see FIG. 8). As a result, the compression protrusion 91 draws the dust remaining in the dust collection space Y downward (discharge port 66), so that the dust in the tank body 60 can be reliably discharged from the discharge port 66 and thrown into the trash box. it can.

  In addition, the inner part of the pleat member 95 of the second filter 64 also faces the trash box from above. Therefore, if the inner portion (each beam member 98) of the pleat member 95 is bounced by the dust removal spring 88 (dust removal portion 90) by rotating the operation portion 65, the dust attached to the pleat member 95 is removed by the dust removal spring 88. The vibration generated by flipping the member 95 is peeled off from the pleated member 95 and dropped into the trash box.

  Here, as described above, when the lid 61 is opened, each of the first filter 63 and the second filter 64 is not pressed by the lid 61, and therefore slides downward. Each compression of the seal member 93 and the third seal member 107 is released. Therefore, in the direction of the central axis of the tank body 60 (here, the vertical direction), between the first filter 63 (the top wall 85) and the second filter 64, and the tank body 60 (specifically, the lower wall 67C of the top wall 67). ) And the first filter 63, the first filter 63 rotates smoothly without the packing 76, the second seal member 93, and the third seal member 107 becoming resistance. Can do. Accordingly, the operating portion 65 (see FIG. 8) is smoothly (lightly) operated to rotate the first filter 63, and the dust in the tank body 60 can be reliably discharged from the discharge port 66 by the compression protrusion 91. it can. Here, as long as the packing 76, the second seal member 93, and the third seal member 107 are not resistant to the rotation of the first filter 63, the above-described gap may not be formed.

As described above, after the dust in the dust collection space Y is discarded and removed from the pleat member 95 of the second filter 64, the lid 61 is closed again (see FIG. 12), and the dust is collected as shown in FIG. If the dust tank 5 is attached to the housing 4, the dust can be captured by the dust collection tank 5 by operating the vacuum cleaner 1.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric vacuum cleaner 2 Vacuum cleaner main body 4 Case 5 Vacuum cleaner dust collection tank 12 Flow path 14 Electric blower 15A Front section screen 18 Receiving groove 60 Tank main body 61 Lid 61A Protrusion 62 Communication path 63 1st filter 64 2nd Filter 65 Operation portion 66 Discharge port 73 Receiving hole 78 First seal member 79 Shaft 91 Compression protrusion 93 Second seal member 107 Third seal member 110 Release lever 111 Main body side engaging portion 112 Lid side engaging portion

Claims (5)

A dust collection tank disposed in a flow path through which air and dust sucked by an electric blower in the vacuum cleaner body flows, and is attachable to and detachable from the vacuum cleaner body,
A tank body for collecting dust inside,
A discharge port formed in the tank body for discharging dust from the tank body;
One end is connected to the tank body so that the tank body can be rotated around the one end, and a lid for opening and closing the discharge port by rotating;
A first seal member having elasticity and closing a gap between the lid closing the discharge port and an edge of the discharge port in the tank body;
Have
One end portion of the lid is movable along a facing direction of the lid and the discharge port closed with the discharge port in a state of being connected to the tank main body. Dust collection tank.   The vacuum cleaner collector according to claim 1, wherein the tank body is provided with a receiving hole that is long along the facing direction and into which the rotation shaft of the lid is loosely fitted. Dust tank. A cylindrical body housed in the tank body, a first filter for capturing dust contained in the air flowing into the tank body on the circumferential surface;
A cylindrical body coaxially accommodated in the first filter, supported by the tank body so as to be slidable along the direction of the central axis thereof, and the first filter being connected to the central axis And a second filter for capturing the dust that has passed through the first filter on the circumferential surface,
An operation unit provided on an outer surface of the tank body and operated to rotate the first filter;
A spiral protrusion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the first filter and centering on a central axis of the first filter, wherein the tank main body and the first filter are moved along with the rotation of the first filter; A compression protrusion for compressing dust accumulated therebetween to the lid side;
A second seal member that closes a gap between the first filter and the tank body in the central axis direction;
A third seal member that closes a gap between the first filter and the second filter in the central axis direction;
Have
In the state where the discharge port is closed, the lid presses the first filter toward the tank body along the central axis direction and presses the second filter toward the first filter, 3. The dust collecting tank for an electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the pressure of the first filter and the second filter is released when the discharge port is opened. 4. A communication path that is provided on the outer surface of the tank body and communicates the flow path with the tank body;
A first engagement portion provided on the lid;
A second engagement portion provided on the tank body, the lid engaging with the first engagement portion in a state where the lid closes the discharge port;
A release lever disposed adjacent to the communication path in the tank body, and for releasing the engagement between the first engagement part and the second engagement part by sliding along the communication path;
The dust collection tank for an electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein A vacuum cleaner dust collection tank according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a vacuum cleaner body to which the vacuum cleaner dust collection tank is attached and detached,
In the dust collection tank, the lid is provided with a convex portion that protrudes in a direction away from the discharge port when the cover closes the discharge port.
The main body of the vacuum cleaner is
A pressing portion that presses the convex portion of the dust collection tank that is in the process of being attached to the electric vacuum cleaner body toward the discharge port;
A concave portion for receiving the convex portion of the dust collecting tank when the attachment to the main body of the vacuum cleaner is completed;
A vacuum cleaner characterized by comprising:

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