JP2011245099A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner having a dust collecting portion washed with water and dried in a short time.SOLUTION: The vacuum cleaner 1 includes: a body 10; a hose 40 having one end connected to the body 10, and the other end connected to a suction port; the dust collecting portion 15 removably mounted to the body 10, and washed with water; and an electric fan 18 included in the body 10, and forming an air flow sucked from the hose 40 and passing through the dust collecting portion 15. The body 10 has a communication path D from a hose connection port 16 to which the hose 40 is connected, to the dust collecting portion 15, and a circulation path 35 for partially circulating exhaust air from the electric fan 18 to the communication path D. Outside air from the hose connecting port 16 and part of the exhaust air from the electric fan 18 through the circulation path 35 are sucked into the dust collecting portion 15 by the operation of the electric fan 18 to allow drying operation for drying the dust collecting portion 15.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

  The dust collecting part of the vacuum cleaner is roughly divided into two types, a disposable type and a repeatedly used type. A typical example of the disposable method is a paper pack filter. A cyclone type dust collecting mechanism and a pleated filter are used for the dust collecting section to be used repeatedly.

  Many dust collectors that are used repeatedly recommend washing with water as part of maintenance. An example of this can be seen in US Pat.

  The filter device described in Patent Literature 1 includes a filter body that is detachably attached to a filter frame body. The filter body is formed in a sponge shape with a synthetic resin such as urethane and can be removed from the filter frame and washed. The filter body is formed with an engagement hole that can be suspended by being engaged with a hook so that the filter body can be dried without being deformed.

JP 2004-135797 A (International Patent Classification: A47L9 / 10)

  Once the dust collector of the vacuum cleaner is washed with water, it takes a long time to dry and become usable for dust collection. Meanwhile, since the vacuum cleaner cannot be used, it is very inconvenient for the user.

  This invention is made | formed in view of said point, and it aims at providing the vacuum cleaner which can dry the dust collection part washed with water in a short time.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum cleaner has a main body, a hose having one end connected to the main body and a suction port connected to the other end, and a detachable attachment to the main body, which can be washed with water. A dust collecting part and an electric blower built in the main body and sucked from the hose to form an air flow passing through the dust collecting part, and the main body collects dust from a hose connection port to which the hose is connected. And a circulation path for circulating a part of the exhaust of the electric blower to the communication path, and the electric air from the hose connection port and the electric drive from the circulation path by the operation of the electric blower. A drying operation in which a part of the exhaust of the blower is sucked into the dust collecting unit and the dust collecting unit is dried is possible.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the vacuum cleaner configured as described above, the main body includes a wetting sensor that detects a wetness of the dust collecting unit, a hose sensor that detects a connection state of the hose, and the wetting sensor. And a control unit that receives a signal from the hose sensor, and when the hose sensor detects that the hose is not connected to the hose connection port, the dust collection unit is in a predetermined dry state. Until the wetting sensor detects that the electric blower has been reached, it is possible to perform a drying operation in which the electric blower is continuously driven at a predetermined rotational speed.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum cleaner having the above-described configuration is provided with a dedicated switch for drying operation.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the vacuum cleaner configured as described above, when the hose sensor detects that the hose is not connected, the control unit performs drying by a normal suction start switch operation. Start driving.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the vacuum cleaner having the above-described configuration, when the hose connection port of the main body is provided with a shutter and the shutter is closed, the hose sensor is not connected to the hose. Signal.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the vacuum cleaner configured as described above, a circulation path that connects the exhaust side of the electric blower and the hose connection port is formed, and the opening on the hose connection port side of the circulation path is formed. Is closed when the hose is connected to the hose connection port, and opened when the hose is removed.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the electric vacuum cleaner having the above-described configuration, the shutter is formed with a vent hole that allows air to flow in from the outside.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the electric vacuum cleaner having the above-described configuration, a suction pipe that connects the hose connection port of the main body and the dust collecting portion is provided, and the electric blower is adjacent to the suction pipe. An exhaust path through which the exhaust from the exhaust pipe flows is provided, a communication port communicating with the exhaust path is formed in the suction pipe, and a closing body for closing the communication port is provided in the communication port.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the vacuum cleaner configured as described above, an exhaust filter chamber is formed in the exhaust passage, and a filter cover of the exhaust filter chamber is also used as the closing body.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the electric vacuum cleaner having the above configuration, when the filter cover is removed, the exhaust gas passing through the exhaust filter in the exhaust filter chamber flows into the suction pipe.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a drying operation in which the outside air from the hose connection port and a part of the exhaust of the electric blower from the circulation path are sucked into the dust collecting unit and the dust collecting unit is dried. 15 can be forcibly dried in a short time, and compared with waiting for natural drying, the time until the vacuum cleaner 1 becomes usable can be significantly shortened.

It is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the dust collection part of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing at the time of the drying operation of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view at the time of drying operation of the vacuum cleaner concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a block block diagram of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and is cross sectioned in the direction orthogonal to FIG. It is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and shows the state which removed the dust collecting part. It is a side view of the dust collection part of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a side view of the dust collection part of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and made the viewpoint different from FIG. It is sectional drawing of the dust collection part of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing similar to FIG. 13 of the dust collection part of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and shows the state which does not put a filter in it. It is sectional drawing of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and shows the state which has not attached the dust collection part and the exhaust filter. It is sectional drawing at the time of the drying operation of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing at the time of drying operation of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and is cross-sectional in the direction at right angles to FIG. It is a block block diagram of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated based on FIGS. 1-6.

  The vacuum cleaner 1 includes a main body 10 and a hose 40 having one end connected to the main body 10. A suction port (not shown) is connected to the other end of the hose 40. The main body 10 is supported at three points on the floor by one front wheel caster 11 and two rear wheels 12. A handle 13 for transportation is provided at the center of the upper surface of the main body 10, and a dust collection portion storage chamber 14 into which a dust collection portion 15 is inserted from above is formed at a portion in front of the handle 13. The hose 40 is connected to the hose connection port 16 on the front surface of the main body 10, and the inside of the hose 40 communicates with the inside of the dust collecting unit 15 in this state.

  Inside the main body 10, an electric blower chamber 17 is formed after the dust collecting portion storage chamber 14. An electric blower 18 is housed in the electric blower chamber 17 with the electric motor shaft vertical and the suction side facing up.

  Next, the structure of the dust collecting unit 15 will be described with reference mainly to FIGS. The dust collecting part 15 has a cylindrical case 20 with an open bottom, into which a main filter 21 and a pre-filter 22 are inserted. The main filter 21 is a pleated non-woven fabric rolled into a cylindrical shape, and the prefilter 22 is a cylindrical frame surrounding the main filter 21 with a nylon net, both of which can be washed with water.

  A horizontal partition wall 23 is provided inside the case 20. A planar circular opening 24 is formed in the partition wall 23, and an annular rim 25 protrudes downward from the opening 24. The main filter 21 inserted from the bottom opening of the case 20 is fitted to the rim 25 from the outside, and the pre-filter 22 is placed outside the rim 25, and then the lid 27 connected to the case 20 by the hinge portion 26 is closed to the lid 27. If the lock is applied, the attachment of the main filter 21 and the pre-filter 22 is completed.

  When the dust collecting part 15 to which the main filter 21 and the pre-filter 22 are attached is fitted into the dust collecting part storage chamber 14 with the handle 28 on the top surface, the air inlet 29 on the front of the case 20 is in close contact with the hose connection port 16. To do. Thereby, the communication path D from the hose connection port 16 to the dust collecting part 15 is formed.

  An air outlet 30 protruding rearward is provided in the space above the partition wall 23, and the air outlet 30 is in close contact with the air inlet 31 communicating with the electric blower chamber 17. The dust collecting part 15 fitted in the dust collecting part storage chamber 14 in this way is maintained in the fitted state by the lock device provided at the front part of the main body 10, and the lock release button 32 is pressed to release the lock. Then you can take it out.

  The air passing through the electric blower 18 exits to an exhaust space 33 provided around the electric blower chamber 17. The exhaust space 33 is provided with an exhaust port 34 that communicates with the outside of the apparatus, and air is discharged outside the apparatus from there.

  Between the exhaust space 33 and the hose connection port 16, a circulation path 35 that bypasses the outside of the dust collecting portion 15 is formed. In the circulation path 35, an opening 36 on the inlet side is opened in the exhaust space 33, and an opening 37 on the outlet side is opened on the inner surface of the hose connection port 16. The opening 37 is closed when the hose 40 is connected to the hose connection port 16, and is opened when the hose 40 is removed from the hose connection port 16.

  A shutter 38 is provided at the hose connection port 16. The shutter 38 is housed in a door pocket portion 39 formed below the hose connection port 16. After removing the hose 40, the shutter 38 is lifted by placing a finger on the knob 38 a, as shown in FIGS. The hose connection port 16 can be closed at a position ahead of the position. The shutter 38 is formed with a vent hole 38b composed of a plurality of slits.

  The control system of the main body 10 has a configuration shown in FIG. The control unit 50 that controls the main body 10 is configured with a microcomputer as a core, receives output signals from the operation unit 51, the wetting sensor 52, the hose sensor 53, and the drying switch 54, and outputs a control signal to the electric blower 18. .

  The operation part 51 is provided at a handle part (not shown) at the tip of the hose 40 and includes keys for selecting ON / OFF of the electric blower 18 and the strength of the suction force.

  The wetness sensor 52 detects the wetness of the dust collecting unit 15, is configured by a humidity sensor, and is disposed in a space from the air inlet 31 toward the suction side of the electric blower 18. The wetness sensor 52 detects the humidity of the air flowing in from the air inlet 31 during the drying operation, and outputs the humidity value to the control unit 50.

  The hose sensor 53 is for detecting the connection status of the hose 40, and in this embodiment, the microswitch arranged in the door pocket portion 39 constitutes the hose sensor 53. The hose sensor 53 outputs a signal that the hose 40 is connected to the control unit 50 when the shutter 38 is opened, and a signal that the hose 40 is not connected when the shutter 38 is closed. Output to the controller 50.

  The drying switch 54 is a dedicated switch for instructing the controller 50 to perform a drying operation, and is provided in a part of the main body 10.

  Next, operation | movement of the vacuum cleaner 1 is demonstrated. When the hose 40 is connected to the main body 10 and the electric blower 18 is driven by operating the key in the operation unit 51, dust-containing air is sucked from the hose 40. The sucked air enters the case 20 of the dust collecting portion 15 through the communication path D, enters the annular space between the inner wall of the case 20 and the prefilter 22, and then sucks into the inside through the prefilter 22. Then, it is sucked into the inside through the main filter 21. In this process, dust contained in the air is collected by the pre-filter 22 and the main filter 21.

Air sucked into the inside of the main filter 21 exits from the opening 24 onto the partition wall 23 and is sucked into the electric blower 18 from the air outlet 30 through the air inlet 31. The electric blower 18 discharges the sucked air to the exhaust space 33, and the discharged air is discharged from the exhaust space 33 to the outside through the exhaust port 34. At this time, exhaust pressure is also applied to the circulation path 35, but since the opening 37 is closed by the hose 40, no air flow through the circulation path 35 is generated.

  When dust accumulates in the dust collecting unit 15, the lock release button 32 is pressed to take out the dust collecting unit 15, and the lid 27 is opened on an appropriate container to discard the dust.

  When the accumulated usage time becomes longer, dust is attracted to the filter, particularly the main filter 21, and the suction force of the vacuum cleaner 1 is reduced. In such a case, after the lid 27 is opened and the dust is thrown away, the main filter 21 and the pre-filter 22 can be extracted from the case 20 and washed with water to thoroughly remove the dust. Although the main filter 21 and the prefilter 22 after washing can be dried outside the main body 10 and then set in the case 20, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present invention has a wet main filter 21 and a prefilter 22. The filter can be dried in a short time by attaching the dust collecting part 15 in which the filter 22 is set to the main body 10 and performing the drying operation.

  In carrying out the drying operation, the hose 40 is removed from the hose connection port 16 and the shutter 38 is closed. Then, the hose sensor 53 outputs a signal that the hose 40 is not connected to the control unit 50. If the drying switch 54 is turned on in this state, the control unit 50 drives the electric blower 18 at a predetermined rotational speed. The rotation speed of the electric blower 18 at this time is set lower than the rotation speed when the vacuum cleaner 1 is used with “high suction power”.

  When the electric blower 18 is driven, a suction force acts on the circulation path 35 through the opening 37 because the hose 40 does not exist. Exhaust pressure in the exhaust space 33 acts on the opening 36. As a result, the exhaust from the electric blower 18 is sucked into the circulation path 35 from the opening 36, exits from the opening 37 to the hose connection port 16, and is sucked into the dust collecting portion 15 via the communication path D, and the prefilter 22 and the main filter A circulating airflow is generated that passes through 21 and is sucked into the electric blower 18 again. Since the exhaust from the electric blower 18 has heat, the pre-filter 22 and the main filter 21 are quickly dried.

  If the air sucked into the electric blower 18 is only the air returning through the circulation path 35, the heat generated by the electric blower 18 is not discharged outside the apparatus, and the main body 10 is overheated. Further, water evaporated from the pre-filter 22 and the main filter 21 is also stored in the main body 10.

  The vent 38b formed in the shutter 38 plays a role here. Since the outside air is sucked from the air vent 38 b, a larger amount of air than can be sucked into the circulation path 35 is discharged from the electric blower 18, and surplus air has to be discharged from the exhaust port 34. Since the exhaust discharged from the exhaust port 34 takes away heat, the body 10 is prevented from overheating. The water evaporated from the pre-filter 22 and the main filter 21 is also sequentially discharged from the main body 10.

  During the drying operation, the wetness sensor 52 detects the humidity of the air flowing from the air inlet 31 and outputs the humidity value to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 determines the wetness of the dust collecting unit 15 based on the humidity value detected by the wetness sensor 52. When the wetness sensor 52 detects that the humidity has decreased to a predetermined level or less, the control unit 50 determines that the dust collecting unit 15 has reached a predetermined dry state, and stops driving the electric blower 18. Thereby, the drying operation ends.

  The vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present invention sucks the outside air from the hose connection port 16 and a part of the exhaust of the electric blower 18 from the circulation path 35 to the dust collecting unit 15 and dries the dust collecting unit 15. Therefore, it is possible to forcibly dry the dust collecting portion 15 in a short time, and greatly reduce the time until the vacuum cleaner 1 can be used compared to waiting for natural drying. Can do. Further, the control unit 50, after washing at least the filter of the dust collecting unit 15, continues to operate the electric blower 18 at a predetermined number of revolutions until the wetness sensor 52 detects that it has reached a predetermined dry state. There is no need for the user to be aware of the progress of drying, and the end operation of the drying operation is not necessary. In addition, since the drying operation cannot be performed unless the hose sensor 53 detects that the hose 40 is not connected to the main body 10, it is possible to prevent mistakes such as cleaning during the drying operation.

  In this embodiment, the drying operation is performed by operating the dedicated drying switch 54. However, such a dedicated switch is not provided, and the hose sensor 53 detects that the hose 40 is not connected to the hose connection port 16. In this case, the control unit 50 can be configured to start the drying operation only by performing the normal suction start switch operation with the operation unit 51.

  7 to 17 show a second embodiment of the present invention. Components that are functionally common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

  The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the dust collecting unit 15 and how to attach it. In the dust collector 15 of the first embodiment, the axial directions of the main filter 21 and the pre-filter 22 coincide with the direction in which the dust collector 15 is put in and out of the dust collector storage chamber 14, but in the second embodiment, the main filter 21 The axial direction of the pre-filter 22 is perpendicular to the direction of taking in and out of the dust collecting portion storage chamber 14. The handle 13 of the main body 10 extends in the front-rear direction, and a lock release button 32 is provided at the front end thereof.

  A suction pipe 60 connected to the hose connection port 16 is attached to the side surface of the case 20 of the dust collecting unit 15. The suction pipe 60 connects the air inlet 29 of the case 20 and the hose connection portion 16. The suction pipe 60 connects the hose connection port 16 and the air inflow port 29, thereby forming a communication path D from the hose connection port 16 to the dust collecting portion 15.

  A space inside the main filter 21 is connected to an air inlet 31 of the main body 10 through an air outlet 30 formed in the lid 27. In the second embodiment, the air inlet 31 is disposed on the hose connection port 16.

  The air inlet 31 communicates with the suction side of the electric blower 18. The electric blower 18 is installed with the axis line horizontal. The air inlet 31 is provided with a protective filter 31a so that foreign matter does not enter from the dust collecting portion 15 when it is removed.

  Exhaust ports 34 are formed on both side surfaces of the main body 10, and an exhaust filter 61 in which an exhaust filter 61 made of a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter) is disposed at the end of the exhaust path from the electric blower 18 to the exhaust port 34. Chamber 62 is formed. The exhaust filter chamber 62 is formed under the dust collecting portion storage chamber 14. The exhaust filter chamber 62 is covered with a detachable filter cover 63, and the filter cover 63 serves as a partition plate that separates the dust collecting portion storage chamber 14 and the exhaust filter chamber 62.

  The filter cover 63 has a protrusion 64 formed at the front end engaged with a through hole formed in the front wall of the exhaust filter chamber 62, and an elastic hook 65 formed at the rear end is connected to the rear wall of the exhaust filter chamber 62. By engaging with the exhaust filter chamber 62, the exhaust filter chamber 62 is held at a position where the exhaust filter chamber 62 is covered. The filter cover 63 can be removed by hooking the elastic hook 65 with a finger.

  A slit 66 (see FIGS. 10 and 15) is formed in the filter cover 63. A projection 67 (see FIGS. 8 and 11) that reaches the exhaust filter 61 through the slit 66 is formed in the suction pipe 60. The protrusion 67 plays a role of pressing the exhaust filter 61 so that it does not float up.

  The following arrangement is applied to the exhaust filter chamber 62 so that the exhaust filter 61 is not cleaned without being inserted. That is, a stopper 70 (see FIG. 15) that swings like a seesaw is provided in the corner of the exhaust filter chamber 62 on the side close to the electric blower 18. The stopper 70 is urged clockwise in FIG. 15 by a compression coil spring.

In a state where the exhaust filter 61 is properly set as shown in FIG. 8, the exhaust filter 61 pushes the stopper 70, and the stopper 70 is rotated against the urging force. At this time, when the tip of the stopper 70 is separated from the wall behind the exhaust filter chamber 62, the stopper 70 does not interfere with the filter cover 63, and the filter cover 63 can be attached.

  If the exhaust filter 61 is not attached as shown in FIG. 15, the tip of the stopper 70 approaches the rear wall of the exhaust filter chamber 62. In this state, the stopper 70 is in the way and the filter cover 63 cannot be completely fitted. Since the slit 66 is also displaced from the correct position and the projection 67 cannot be inserted there, the dust collecting portion 15 cannot be attached. As a result, the user knows that the exhaust filter 61 is not attached and can take a recovery measure.

  The dust collector 15 is provided with a handle 71 for holding the dust collector 15 when the lid 27 is opened and the dust is thrown away, in addition to a handle 28 used when the dust collector 15 is taken in and out of the dust collector storage chamber 14. ing. The handle 71 is in a recess 72 (see FIGS. 12 and 13) formed on the end surface opposite to the end surface serving as the opening in the case 20. On the other hand, a pair of guide ribs 73 are formed on the rear wall of the dust collecting portion storage chamber 14 to guide the dust collecting portion 15 with the handle 71 therebetween (see FIGS. 13 and 15). Utilizing the presence of the guide rib 73, a mechanism is constructed in which the dust collecting part 15 cannot be fitted into the dust collecting part storage chamber 14 unless the main filter 21 is put in the case 20.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the main filter 21 is incorporated in the pre-filter 22, and when the pre-filter 22 is inserted into the case 20, the shaft 21 a at the center of the main filter 21 protrudes into the recess 72. A bell crank-shaped stopper 74 is mounted in the recess 72 so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 75. The stopper 74 is urged clockwise in FIG. 13 by a tension coil spring 76. Of the two arms of the L-shaped stopper 74, one corresponds to the shaft 21 a and the other corresponds to the guide rib 73.

  If the main filter 21 is incorporated in the case as shown in FIG. 13, the shaft 21 a hits one arm of the stopper 74 and pushes it. The stopper 74 is rotated in a direction against the urging force of the tension coil spring 76, and the other arm is retracted to a position where it does not interfere with the guide rib 73. Thereby, it becomes possible to push the dust collection part 15 to the innermost part of the dust collection part storage chamber 14.

  If the main filter 21 is not incorporated in the case 20, the stopper 74 comes to a position where it interferes with the guide rib 73 as shown in FIG. 14, and pushes the dust collection part 15 to the innermost part of the dust collection part storage chamber 14. I can't do that. As a result, the user knows that the main filter 21 is not attached and can take a recovery measure.

  The dust collecting unit 15 has a mechanism for removing dust from the main filter 21. When the shaft 21a of the main filter 21 passes through the wall of the recess 72, the rotation around the axis is stopped. On the other hand, the pre-filter 22 can rotate around the main filter 21, and an elastic claw 77 that repels the pleats of the main filter 21 from the inside is attached to the pre-filter 22.

  The shaft 22a of the pre-filter 22 that surrounds the shaft 21a of the main filter 21 is non-rotatably connected to a bevel gear 78 disposed in the space between the partition wall 20a and the recess 72 when inserted into the partition wall 20a inside the case 20. To do. A bevel gear 79 (see FIG. 8) that forms a pair with the bevel gear 78 is connected to a dust removal dial 80 disposed on the side surface of the dust collecting portion 15. When the dust removal dial 80 is rotated, rotation is transmitted from the bevel gear 79 to the prefilter 22 via the bevel gear 78. Dust falls from the outside of the main filter 21 due to the vibration generated when the elastic claws 77 repel the pleats of the main filter 21 whose rotation is stopped.

  In the suction pipe 60, a communication port 81 (see FIG. 16) that communicates with an exhaust path including the exhaust filter chamber 62 is formed on the side facing the exhaust filter chamber 62. The communication port 81 serves as a circulation path for circulating a part of the exhaust of the electric blower 18 to the communication path D.

  The communication port 81 is blocked by the filter cover 63. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the filter cover 63 is formed with a convex portion 82 that closes the communication port 81.

  Similar to the first embodiment, a hose sensor 53 is provided for the hose 40. The hose sensor 53 is a micro switch, and the actuator is pushed by the connecting pipe portion of the hose 40 inserted into the hose connection port 16. A wetting sensor 52 is disposed in the suction path between the air inlet 31 and the electric blower 18. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, a filter cover sensor 83 that detects that the filter cover 63 has been attached and outputs it to the control unit 50 is also provided. As with the hose sensor 53, the filter cover sensor 83 is also constituted by a micro switch.

  Next, operation | movement of the vacuum cleaner 1 is demonstrated. When the exhaust filter 61 and the filter cover 63 are attached and the dust collecting unit 15 is set, the hose 40 is connected to the main body 10, and the electric blower 18 is driven by operating the key in the operation unit 51. Air containing dust is inhaled. The sucked air enters the case 20 of the dust collecting portion 15 through the communication path D, enters the annular space between the inner wall of the case 20 and the prefilter 22, and then sucks into the inside through the prefilter 22. Then, it is sucked into the inside through the main filter 21. In this process, dust contained in the air is collected by the pre-filter 22 and the main filter 21.

  Air sucked into the inside of the main filter 21 is sucked into the electric blower 18 from the air outlet 30 of the lid 27 through the air inlet 31. The electric blower 18 discharges the sucked air to the exhaust space 33, and the discharged air passes from the exhaust space 33 through the exhaust filter 61 to the exhaust filter chamber 62. Since the exhaust filter 61 is a HEPA filter, the air is highly purified. The air that has entered the exhaust filter 62 is exhausted to the outside through the exhaust port 34. At this time, the communication port 81 of the suction pipe 60 is closed by the convex portion 82 of the filter cover 63, and air does not enter the suction pipe 60 from the exhaust filter chamber 62.

  When dust accumulates in the dust collecting unit 15, the lock release button 32 is pressed to take out the dust collecting unit 15, and the lid 27 is opened on an appropriate container to discard the dust.

  When the dust removal dial 80 is turned while the electric blower 18 is stopped, the pre-filter 22 is rotated and the main filter 21 is repelled by the elastic claws 77. Due to this vibration, dust falls from the main filter 21 and the clogged state is improved.

  If the accumulated usage time becomes longer, dust will stick to the main filter 21, and the dust cannot be completely removed by rotating the dust removal dial 80. In such a case, after the lid 27 is opened and the dust is thrown away, the main filter 21 and the pre-filter 22 can be extracted from the case 20 and washed with water to thoroughly remove the dust. The main filter 21 and the prefilter 22 that have been washed with water can be set outside the main body 10 and then dried in the case 20. However, the dust collecting unit 15 in which the main filter 21 and the prefilter 22 that have been wet are set is used. The filter can be dried in a short time by attaching to the main body 10 and performing a drying operation.

  In carrying out the drying operation, the dust collecting unit 15 is attached with the filter cover 63 removed. If it does in this way, as shown in Drawing 16 and Drawing 17, it will be in the form where suction pipe 60 adjoins an exhaust route. Here, the hose 40 is removed from the hose connection port 16. Then, the hose sensor 53 outputs a signal that the hose 40 is not connected to the control unit 50. If the drying switch 54 is turned on in this state, the control unit 50 drives the electric blower 18 at a predetermined rotational speed. The rotation speed of the electric blower 18 at this time is set lower than the rotation speed when the vacuum cleaner 1 is used with “high suction power”.

  The air discharged from the electric blower 18 to the exhaust space 33 passes through the exhaust filter 61 and escapes to the exhaust filter chamber 62. Since the filter cover 63 is removed, the communication port 81 functioning as a circulation path is opened, and a part of the air is sucked into the suction pipe 60 from here. Thereby, the exhaust air from the electric blower 18 is sucked into the dust collecting portion 15 from the circulation path via the communication path D, and is circulated through the prefilter 22 and the main filter 21 to be sucked into the electric blower 18 again. Since the exhaust from the electric blower 18 has heat, the pre-filter 22 and the main filter 21 are quickly dried.

  If the air sucked into the electric blower 18 is only the air returning through the suction pipe 60, the heat generated by the electric blower 18 is not discharged outside the apparatus, and the main body 10 is overheated. Further, water evaporated from the pre-filter 22 and the main filter 21 is also stored in the main body 10.

  However, in this case, since the outside air is sucked in from the hose connection port 16, a larger amount of air than can be sucked into the communication port 81 is discharged from the electric blower 18, and excess air must be discharged from the exhaust port 34. . Thus, since the exhaust discharged from the main body 10 takes away heat, the main body 10 is prevented from being overheated. The water evaporated from the pre-filter 22 and the main filter 21 is also sequentially discharged from the main body 10.

  During the drying operation, the wetness sensor 52 detects the humidity of the air flowing from the air inlet 31 and outputs the humidity value to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 determines the wetness of the dust collecting unit 15 based on the humidity value detected by the wetness sensor 52. When the wetness sensor 52 detects that the humidity has decreased to a predetermined level or less, the control unit 50 determines that the dust collecting unit 15 has reached a predetermined dry state, and stops driving the electric blower 18. Thereby, the drying operation ends.

  In the description of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the main filter 21 and the pre-filter 22 are washed with water in the dust collecting unit 15, but the drying operation can be applied even when the other parts are washed with water. Needless to say. In an electric vacuum cleaner provided with a cyclone dust collecting part, the cyclone dust collecting part washed with water can be a drying target.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  The present invention is widely applicable to electric blowers.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric vacuum cleaner 10 Main body 14 Dust collection part storage room 15 Dust collection part 16 Hose connection port 17 Electric blower room 18 Electric motor 33 Exhaust space 34 Exhaust port 35 Circulation path 36, 37 Opening part 38 Shutter 38b Ventilation hole 40 Hose 50 Control part 52 Wetting Sensor 53 Hose Sensor 54 Drying Switch 60 Suction Pipe 61 Exhaust Filter 62 Exhaust Filter Chamber 63 Filter Cover 81 Communication Port 82 Protrusion D Communication Path

Claims (10)

A main body, a hose having one end connected to the main body and a suction port connected to the other end, a dust collecting part detachably attached to the main body and capable of being washed with water, and built in the main body, from the hose An electric blower that is sucked to form an air flow through the dust collecting part,
The main body has a communication path from a hose connection port to which the hose is connected to a dust collecting part, and a circulation path for circulating a part of the exhaust of the electric blower to the communication path.
By the operation of the electric blower, it is possible to perform a drying operation in which the outside air from the hose connection port and a part of the exhaust of the electric blower from the circulation path are sucked into the dust collecting part and the dust collecting part is dried. A vacuum cleaner characterized by that. The main body has a wetting sensor that detects the wetness of the dust collecting unit, a hose sensor that detects a connection state of the hose, and a control unit that receives signals from the wetting sensor and the hose sensor,
When the hose sensor detects that the hose is not connected to the hose connection port, the control unit determines that the dust collection unit has reached a predetermined dry state until the wetness sensor detects The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the electric blower is allowed to perform a drying operation in which the electric blower is continuously driven at a predetermined number of rotations.   The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a dedicated switch for drying operation is provided.   3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein when the hose sensor detects that the hose is not connected, the controller starts a drying operation by a normal suction start switch operation. 4. .   The shutter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a shutter is provided at a hose connection port of the main body, and the hose sensor emits a signal that the hose is not connected when the shutter is closed. The vacuum cleaner as described in the item.   A circulation path communicating the exhaust side of the electric blower and the hose connection port is formed, and the opening on the hose connection port side of the circulation path is closed when the hose is connected to the hose connection port, 6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the vacuum cleaner is opened when the hose is removed.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the shutter is formed with a vent that allows air to flow in from outside.   A suction pipe that connects the hose connection port of the main body and the dust collecting part is provided, and an exhaust path for flowing exhaust from the electric blower is provided adjacent to the suction pipe, and the exhaust pipe includes the exhaust pipe. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a communication port communicating with the path is formed, and a closed body that closes the communication port is provided at the communication port.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein an exhaust filter chamber is formed in the exhaust passage, and a filter cover of the exhaust filter chamber is also used as the closing body.   10. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein when the filter cover is removed, the exhaust gas that has passed through the exhaust filter in the exhaust filter chamber flows into the suction pipe.

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