JP2012005575A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner constituted as to perform sufficient deodorization and disinfection even with ozone of a low concentration and giving a user no unpleasant feeling due to an ozone smell and excels in a sanitation property.SOLUTION: The vacuum cleaner has a constitution wherein a dust collecting unit 50 is disposed between an electric blower 54 and a suction opening 1, while a dust collecting filter part 53 is provided between the dust collecting unit 50 and the electric blower 54, and wherein an ozone generating device 63 is provided on the downstream side of the dust collecting unit 50 and on the upstream side of the dust collecting filter part 53, while the dust collecting filter part 53 contains metal ions.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a function of performing deodorization and sterilization in a vacuum cleaner and keeping the interior of the vacuum cleaner clean, and in particular, a vacuum cleaner having improved deodorization efficiency and sterilization efficiency by utilizing ozone. It is about.

  Generally, after using a vacuum cleaner a plurality of times, waste such as dust accumulated in the dust collecting part is often discarded. Accordingly, dust is accumulated in the dust collecting portion for a long period of time. Therefore, the odor component and various germs contained in the trash are propagated inside the vacuum cleaner, and the hygiene in the vacuum cleaner is impaired.

  In order to reduce this, a vacuum cleaner is proposed that is equipped with technologies such as deodorizing function and disinfecting function by providing ozone generating means in the vacuum cleaner and generating ozone by simple operation. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). Ozone (O3) is very unstable and has a characteristic of giving one of oxygen atoms to another substance to become a stable oxygen molecule (O2). That is, ozone has a strong oxidizing power, and the vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1 uses the oxidizing power of ozone to deodorize and disinfect the inside of the vacuum cleaner. It is.

JP-A-1-238815 (page 1-3, FIG. 1)

  In conventional vacuum cleaners, garbage is stored for a long time in the dust collection bag, which is the dust collection part, so it is necessary to generate a large amount of ozone in order to obtain deodorization and sterilization effects of the dust in the dust collection part. When deodorizing and sterilizing, there is a problem that a large amount of ozone leaks from the exhaust port due to the operation of the electric blower, giving the user an unpleasant feeling due to the ozone odor.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and is configured to sufficiently deodorize and disinfect even at a low concentration of ozone, and does not give discomfort due to ozone odor to the user. The object is to provide an excellent vacuum cleaner.

  In the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, a dust collecting part is arranged between the electric blower and the suction part, a dust collecting filter is provided between the dust collecting part and the electric blower, and the downstream side of the dust collecting part. In addition, an ozone generation device is provided on the upstream side of the dust collection filter, and the dust collection filter contains metal ions.

  According to the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention, the dust collecting part is disposed between the electric blower and the suction part, the dust collecting filter is provided between the dust collecting part and the electric blower, and on the downstream side of the dust collecting part. In addition, an ozone generating device is provided upstream of the dust collection filter, and the dust collection filter contains metal ions, so that a large amount of ozone leaks from the exhaust port due to the operation of the electric blower when deodorizing and sterilizing. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vacuum cleaner having sufficient hygienic properties, which has sufficient deodorizing and sterilizing performance.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the vacuum cleaner main body of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view of the cleaner body of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is aa sectional drawing of FIG. 2 of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is bb sectional drawing of FIG. 2 of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control circuit of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a graph which shows the bacteria elimination performance of the low concentration ozone and silver ion of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a graph which shows the disinfection performance by the amount of silver ion attachment of the dust collection filter of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the microbe elimination mechanism of the low concentration ozone and silver ion of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of the ozone generation device of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a graph of the ozone generation rate by the installation location of the ozone generation device of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a related figure of the dust adhesion amount of the discharge electrode and ozone concentration of the ozone generation device of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of the dust collection filter of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention.

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

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the external appearance of a vacuum cleaner 100 according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the vacuum cleaner body 5, and FIG. 3 is a top view of the vacuum cleaner body 5. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line aa of the cleaner body 5 in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line bb of the cleaner body 5 in FIG. With this, the configuration according to the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner 100 includes a suction port body 1, a suction pipe 2, a connection pipe 3, a suction hose 4, and a cyclone-type vacuum cleaner body 5. The suction inlet 1 sucks in dust and air containing dust on the floor. One end of a straight cylindrical suction pipe 2 is connected to the outlet side of the suction port body 1. The other end of the suction pipe 2 is provided with a handle provided with an operation switch 2a for controlling the operation of the vacuum cleaner 100, and one end of the connection pipe 3 bent slightly in the middle is connected. One end of a flexible bellows-shaped suction hose 4 is connected to the other end of the connection pipe 3. Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner body 5 is detachably connected to the other end of the suction hose 4. A power cord is connected to the cleaner body 5. When the power cord is connected to an external power source, electricity is supplied, and an electric blower (not shown) is driven to perform a suction operation. The suction port body 1, the suction pipe 2, the connection pipe 3, and the suction hose 4 constitute a part of a suction path for allowing dust-containing air to flow from the outside to the inside of the cleaner body 5.

The vacuum cleaner body 5 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the vacuum cleaner main body 5 includes a suction air passage 49, a dust collection unit 50, an exhaust air passage 51, an ozone generator 52, a dust collection filter portion 53, and an electric blower. 54, an exhaust filter portion 55, and an exhaust port 56. In addition, the vacuum cleaner body 5 includes a wheel 57, a control circuit 58, a display unit 59, a dust collection unit connection confirmation sensor 60, a hose connection confirmation sensor 61, a dust collection filter unit connection confirmation sensor 75, and a cord reel unit at the rear part. Etc.
The dust collection unit 50 includes a primary cyclone separator 10 and a secondary cyclone separator 20 that is provided in parallel with the primary cyclone separator 10 and connected to the downstream side of the primary cyclone separator 10. The main body 5 is detachable.
The primary cyclone separator 10 includes a primary inlet 11, a primary swirl chamber 12, a zero-order opening 113, a primary opening 13, a zero-order dust collection chamber 114, a primary dust collection chamber 14, and a primary discharge port. 15 and a primary discharge pipe 16. Further, the secondary cyclone separator 20 includes a secondary inlet 21, a secondary swirl chamber 22, a secondary opening 23, a secondary dust collection chamber 24, a secondary discharge port 25, and a secondary discharge pipe 26. And. The zero-order dust collection chamber 114, the primary dust collection chamber 14, and the secondary dust collection chamber 24 are formed by one case part, and the zero-order dust collection chamber 114 is a secondary dust collection chamber 24. It is arranged to surround.
The ozone generation unit 52 includes an ozone generation port 62 and an ozone generation device 63.
In the dust collection filter unit 53, metal ions such as silver ions are attached to at least an upstream surface 53 a that comes into contact with ozone generated from the ozone generation device 52.

The path | route which discharges the air which flowed in the inside of the cleaner body 5 out of the cleaner body 5 is demonstrated.
The air flowing into the cleaner body 5 reaches the primary cyclone separator 10 via the intake air passage 49. In the primary cyclone separator 10, the primary inlet 11, the primary swirl chamber 12, and the primary outlet 15 flow in this order, and the air discharged from the primary outlet 15 passes through the primary outlet 16 and the secondary cyclone separator. Reach 20 In the secondary cyclone separator 20, the secondary inlet 21, the secondary swirl chamber 22, and the secondary outlet 25 flow in this order, and the air discharged from the secondary outlet 25 passes through the secondary outlet 26. Then, it flows to the exhaust air passage 51 side. Thereafter, the air is discharged to the outside of the cleaner body 5 through an exhaust path including the exhaust air passage 51, the ozone generation unit 52, the dust collection filter unit 53, the electric blower 54, the exhaust filter unit 55, and the exhaust port 56. It has a configuration.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the control circuit 58 mounted on the cleaner body 5. Operation | movement of the vacuum cleaner 100 is demonstrated using this.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control circuit 58 processes the input received from the operation switch 2 a, the dust collection filter connection confirmation sensor 75, the dust collection unit connection confirmation sensor 60, and the hose connection confirmation sensor 61. Unit 64, receives an instruction from the signal processing unit 64, receives an instruction from the external display unit 59 and the ozone generation device 63, and receives an instruction from the signal processing unit 64 and inputs the electric blower 54. It is comprised by the electric blower control part 66 to perform.
In response to the ON signal of the operation switch 2a, the dust collection filter section connection confirmation sensor 75, the dust collection unit connection confirmation sensor 60, and the hose connection confirmation sensor 61, the signal processing section 64, the display section 59, A predetermined command is sent to the ozone generation device control unit 65 and the electric blower control unit 66 to control the operations of the ozone generation device 63 and the electric blower 54.
The ozone generation device control unit 65 can detect the current applied to the electric blower 54 and the electric blower control unit 66 of the ozone generation device 63, and can set respective current threshold values. It has a function of judging whether the generating device 63 and the electric blower 54 are normal or abnormal, and sending an abnormality detection signal to the signal processing unit 64 when an abnormality occurs.

Next, operation | movement of the ozone generation part 52 of the vacuum cleaner main body 5 is demonstrated.
First, the input from the operation switch 2a is received, and the operation of the ozone generator 52 starts. The input from the operation switch 2a is transmitted when an ozone generation button (not shown) which is a component of the operation switch 2a is pressed or when a cleaning operation start button (not shown) is pressed. . When the input from the operation switch 2a is received, the dust collection filter unit 53 is connected to the cleaner body 5, the suction hose 4 is connected to the cleaner body 5, or the dust collection unit 50 is connected to the cleaner body 5. Check if it is connected. If it is determined that at least one of them is not connected, an error is displayed on the display unit 59, and the operation of the ozone generating device 63 is stopped. By performing this confirmation operation, it is confirmed whether or not the vacuum cleaner 100 can perform the dust collection operation. The operation of confirming the connection of the dust collection filter unit 53, the connection of the suction hose 4 and the connection of the dust collection unit 50 is continuously performed even during the dust collection operation of the vacuum cleaner 100.

  The ozone generation device 63 has received an operation signal of the ozone generation device 63 by the operation switch 2a, a stop signal of the electric blower control unit 66, and an abnormality detection signal from the ozone generation device control unit 56 and the electric blower control unit 66. In such a case, the output of the display unit 59 during the generation of ozone is stopped, and the operation of the ozone generation device 63 is stopped.

  Next, sterilization by ozone generated from the ozone generation device 63 and silver ions attached to the dust collection filter 53 will be described.

In the vacuum cleaner 100 according to the first embodiment, the ozone generation device 63 is installed in the space A between the electric blower 54 and the dust collection filter unit 53. And since the ozone generation part 52 is arrange | positioned upstream from the said dust collection filter part 53, the ozone produced | generated when the ozone generation device 63 in the ozone generation part 52 operate | moves is with air blowing operation | movement of the electric blower 54 Then, it is guided to the dust collection filter unit 53.
At this time, the generated ozone is diluted with air sucked from the outside. Generally, the ozone concentration in a general environment is assumed to increase up to 0.05 ppm. Under this concentration environment, most people do not feel uncomfortable. However, when the concentration is higher than 0.05 ppm, the number of people who feel uncomfortable gradually increases, and when the ozone concentration is 0.1 ppm or more, most people become uncomfortable.
For this reason, the ozone concentration discharged from the exhaust is desirably 0.05 ppm or less, and the discharged ozone concentration needs to be maintained at 0.05 ppm or less.
Therefore, when ozone is generated together with the blowing operation of the electric blower 54, the amount of ozone generated from the ozone generating device 63 is diluted with the sucked air and discharged from the cleaner body 100, so that the sterilization effect is obtained. In order to ensure the concentration that can be obtained in the space A and to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable, the amount of ozone generated from the ozone generating device 63 is the amount of ozone limited to the following equation (1). desirable.
{Ozone generation amount per unit time (mg / min) / Suction air volume (m ³ / min)}
* Α * 10 ⁶ ≦ 0.05 (ppm) (1)
α = volume per unit substance (L) / molecular weight of ozone (g)
From the above, by operating the vacuum cleaner 100 so as to satisfy the condition of the above formula, a sterilization effect by ozone can be obtained, and an increase in the number of bacteria in the vacuum cleaner 100 can be suppressed.

The ozone generated in this way reaches the dust collecting filter part 53 together with the air sucked from the outside by the blowing operation of the electric blower 54. Metal ions such as silver ions are attached to the upstream surface 53a of the dust collection filter portion 53, and bacteria are captured together with dust contained in the sucked air. Ozone comes into contact with the bacteria captured on the dust collection filter unit 53, weakens the bacteria by the effects described later, and enhances the sterilization action of silver ions.
FIG. 7 shows the bacteria that propagate in the dust collection filter unit 53 in the vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment, depending on whether ozone is generated from the ozone generation device 63 and whether silver ions are attached to the dust collection filter unit 53. It is the graph which compared the time-dependent change of attenuation | damping. In addition, the ozone generated here is a low concentration and a generation amount that satisfies the above-described formula (1). From the results shown in FIG. 7, the decay time of bacteria when ozone is released to the untreated filter is one digit at 48 h compared to the decay time of bacteria on the untreated filter, and the sterilization performance falls within the error range. Is. On the other hand, the decay of the number of bacteria when ozone is released to the dust collection filter unit 53 to which silver ions are attached is 6 hours or more at 48 h with respect to the time decay of the number of bacteria on the untreated filter. The difference is obtained. From the above results, it can be seen that the sterilization performance is clearly improved. In addition, when the decay of the number of bacteria only on the filter to which silver ions were attached without confirming the release of ozone, the time decay of the number of bacteria on the untreated filter was reduced by 3 digits in 48h, Again, it can be seen that there is a difference in sterilization performance. That is, from this result, it is possible to obtain sterilization performance by using together with the dust collection filter unit 53 to which silver ions are attached even at a low concentration where ozone sterilization performance is hardly obtained with ozone alone. I understand that there is.
Next, the sterilization performance depending on the amount of silver ions attached to the dust collection filter 53 will be described. FIG. 8 is a graph showing the sterilization performance with respect to the silver ion deposition amount according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, the amount of silver ions adhering to the dust collection filter unit 53 was tested under two conditions of a predetermined amount and a maximum amount. As a result, with respect to natural decay of bacteria, The sterilization performance was about 3 digits, and the maximum attachment amount was 5 digits. In contrast, when the low concentration ozone was brought into contact with the dust collection filter portion 53 having a predetermined amount of silver ions attached, a sterilization performance of 6 digits or more was obtained.
FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of the sterilization mechanism by the combined use of ozone and silver ions. As shown in FIG. 9, when ozone comes into contact with bacteria, it immediately acts on the cell wall. Here, if ozone is at a low concentration, the effect of reaching the inside of the bacterium cannot be obtained, so that sterilization cannot be performed. However, it can damage the cell wall by gathering on the cell wall. By doing this for a long time, some bacteria can break the cell wall with ozone even at low concentrations. Here, when silver ions are present in the vicinity of the bacteria, the silver ions permeate into the inside of the bacteria from the broken part of the cell wall, and the silver ions act on the protein or enzyme inside the cell, so that the bacteria can be killed.
In this way, by using ozone and silver ions in combination, ozone damages the cell wall, and silver ions enter the cell from the damaged cell wall to perform sterilization. improves.

  Next, the relationship between dust collection performance and ozone deodorization performance will be described.

  The vacuum cleaner main body 5 of the electric vacuum cleaner 100 according to Embodiment 1 has a dust collection filter portion 53 on the upstream side of the electric blower 54 in order to prevent fine dust from entering the electric blower 54. The generation unit 52 is installed upstream of the dust collection filter unit 53. Therefore, most of the sucked dust and bacteria that become the source of odor are collected by the dust collection filter unit 53. Therefore, the ozone generated from the ozone generating part 52 is generated by the dust collecting filter part 53, so that the most deodorizing performance for the exhaust gas can be obtained.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the ozone generation device 63 is installed at a place to be avoided from the wind tunnel in the space A so that the wind from the dust collection unit 50 does not directly hit. This is because the ozone generating device 63 is configured to generate ozone when the discharge electrode 42 applies a constant voltage to the counter electrode 41 as shown in FIG. When the wind always hits, the dust contained in the airflow flowing from the dust collection unit 50 adheres to the discharge electrode 42, which affects the discharge and gradually reduces the ozone generation rate. FIG. 11 is a graph showing the ozone generation rate when the ozone generating device 63 is installed at a location where the wind hits and where it is not hit. When the ozone generating device 63 directly hits the wind, the discharge electrode 42 becomes dirty and the ozone It can be seen that the generation amount of is attenuated from the initial performance. If it is installed in a place not exposed to wind, the discharge electrode 42 is not easily contaminated, and the ozone generation amount tends to be lower than the initial value or the tendency to decrease. FIG. 12 is a graph showing the amount of dust adhering to the discharge electrode 42 and the ozone generation rate of the ozone generating device 63. When the ozone generating device 63 is operated for a certain time, it adheres to the tip of the discharge electrode 42 when it hits the wind. It has been found that the amount of garbage is about four times higher than when not hit by the wind.
Therefore, by installing the ozone generation device 63 in a place where it does not hit the wind, the ozone generation rate of the ozone generation device 63 can be increased, ozone can be continuously generated for a longer time, and a stable supply of ozone can be maintained. it can. Further, the ozone concentration can be accurately controlled by maintaining the ozone generation rate at 50% or more.

  FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a main part showing the shape of the dust collection filter portion 53 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and the dust collection filter portion 53 is configured by pleating. Thus, by making the dust collection filter part 53 into a pleated shape, the surface area is increased and ozone generated from the ozone generation device 63 and silver ions attached to the upstream surface 53a of the dust collection filter part 53 are increased. As a result, bacteria can be efficiently sterilized on the upstream surface 53a of the dust collection filter portion 53.

In addition, the vacuum cleaner 100 according to the first embodiment includes a cyclone structure dust collection unit 50 on the upstream side of the ozone generation unit 52. The dust collection unit 50 separates large garbage in advance and distributes air that has been purified to some extent to the ozone generation unit 52, thereby suppressing adhesion of dust to the ozone generation unit 52. Failure can be avoided.
Further, since large dust is separated in advance by the above-described cyclone structure dust collection unit 50 and air that has been cleaned to some extent is circulated to the dust collection filter portion 53, the amount of dust attached to the dust collection filter portion 53 is suppressed. Since the odor and the adhesion of bacteria are suppressed, the amount of ozone necessary for deodorization and sterilization can be reduced.

Further, the dust collection unit 50 can be removed from the cleaner body 5 and has a structure that allows the dust collected by the dust collection unit 50 to be easily discarded. Thus, it is possible to suppress exhaust odor and increase in bacteria. In particular, since it has a cyclone structure, compared to the paper pack type, the maintenance period for discarding dust is short, and there is a tendency that an effect of suppressing exhaust odor and increase in bacteria tends to be obtained.
However, unlike the paper pack type, in the case of a cyclone type vacuum cleaner that has a high load due to pressure, a portion where the load due to the pressure of the dust collecting unit 50 is large is likely to crack due to oxidative degradation of the material due to ozone, and air leakage In some cases, the suction performance may be deteriorated due to. Therefore, when the dust collection unit 50 has a cyclone structure, it is necessary to have the cyclone structure dust collection unit 50 on the upstream side of the ozone generator 52.

  In the vacuum cleaner 100 according to the first embodiment, the ozone generator 52 is controlled to operate in conjunction with the air blower 54 and the ozone generator 52 in conjunction with the electric fan 54. By performing the operation as described above, the generated ozone is diluted by the air flowing by the air blowing operation, so that the ozone concentration leaked from the exhaust from the cleaner body 5 is reduced, and the user is not uncomfortable. ing.

  Moreover, it is desirable to provide the dust collection filter part 53 below the ozone generation part 52 in the gravity direction. Since the specific gravity of ozone is heavier than that of air, the contact by the dead weight of ozone can be promoted by placing the dust collecting filter portion 53 below the ozone generating portion 52.

  1 suction port, 2 suction pipe, 3 connection pipe, 4 suction hose, 5 vacuum cleaner body, 10 primary cyclone separator, 11 primary inlet, 12 primary swirl chamber, 13 primary opening, 14 primary dust collection chamber, 15 primary Discharge port, 16 Primary discharge pipe, 20 Secondary cyclone separator, 21 Secondary inlet, 22 Secondary swirl chamber, 23 Secondary opening, 24 Secondary dust collection chamber, 25 Secondary discharge port, 26 Secondary discharge Pipe, 49 Suction air passage, 50 Dust collection unit, 51 Exhaust air passage, 52 Ozone generation part, 53 Dust collection filter part, 53a Upstream surface, 54 Electric blower, 55 Exhaust filter part, 56 Exhaust port, 57 wheels, 58 Control Circuit, 59 display unit, 60 cyclone unit connection confirmation sensor, 61 hose connection confirmation sensor, 62 ozone generation port, 63 ozone generation device, 64 signal processing Part, 65 ozone generation device control part, 66 electric blower control part, 67 frame, 68 bearing, 69 rotating shaft, 70 commutator, 71 brush part, 72 armature, 73 stator, 74 fan, 75 dust collecting filter part connection Confirmation sensor, 100 vacuum cleaner, 1400th dust collection chamber.

Claims (7)

  A dust collecting part is arranged between the electric blower and the suction part, a dust collecting filter is provided between the dust collecting part and the electric blower, and ozone is provided downstream of the dust collecting part and upstream of the dust collecting filter. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a generation device and wherein the dust collection filter contains metal ions. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein metal ions of the dust collecting filter are ions of silver, copper, zinc and a compound thereof.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the ozone generating device is installed in a place where it does not directly hit the wind.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the dust collecting filter is formed in a pleat shape. The ozone generating device is configured to generate ozone in conjunction with the operation of the electric blower, and to make the ozone come into contact with the dust collecting filter together with a suction airflow by the electric blower. 4. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of the above.   The dust collection unit is configured to be detachable from a vacuum cleaner body, and the ozone generating device generates ozone when the attachment of the dust collection unit to the vacuum cleaner body is detected, and the ozone blows the ozone The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vacuum cleaner is configured to come into contact with the dust collecting filter together with the suction airflow.   The dust collection filter is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a vacuum cleaner body, and the ozone generating device generates ozone when the attachment of the dust collection filter to the cleaner body is detected, and the ozone is supplied to the electric blower. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vacuum cleaner is configured to come into contact with the dust collecting filter together with the suction airflow.

Images