JP2012024214A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner able to remove static electricity generated in a cyclone portion, without degrading electricity removal performance or spoiling the appearance of the cyclone portion, that may result from, mainly, deterioration due to aging.SOLUTION: The vacuum cleaner includes a body portion 5 for the vacuum cleaner; the cyclone portion 7 attached to the body portion 5 so as to be freely detached, and configured to separate dust from air by turning air containing dust; and a member 17 provided on the body portion 5, made of a material able to diffuse static electricity or conductive, and pressed against the cyclone portion 7 attached to the body portion. The vacuum cleaner is configured to cause electrostatic charges in the cyclone portion 7 to escape from the member 17.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner provided with a cyclone type dust collector.

  The cyclonic vacuum cleaner separates dust from the air by centrifugal force by swirling the air containing the sucked dust at a high speed in the swirling part of the cyclone. Then, the separated dust is collected in the dust collecting unit. At this time, static electricity is generated by the friction between the dust in the swirling air and the swirling portion.

  Therefore, in a conventional cyclonic vacuum cleaner, there is known one that attempts to remove static electricity generated by a swirling flow for dust separation from a cyclone portion (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the electric vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1, all or a part of a portion of the dust collecting portion that comes into contact with the sucked dust is formed of a conductive material. And this electrically conductive material and commercial power supply are electrically connected through a power supply board. Here, as the conductive material, metal, conductive rubber, or the like is used.

JP 2010-012125 A

  As described above, the conventional vacuum cleaner disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured such that a portion of the dust collecting portion that contacts the dust is made of a conductive material, and the conductive material is electrically connected to a commercial power source. is there. By comprising in this way, the static electricity collected in the dust collecting part of the cyclone is discharged to the outside of the cleaner.

  However, in such a conventional vacuum cleaner, there are various problems caused by the deterioration of the conductive material of the dust collecting portion. First, when a metal is used as the conductive material, there is a problem that the metal surface is likely to be deteriorated due to oxidation or rust. In addition, there is also a problem of aging deterioration in the design that when the metal surface is deteriorated, discoloration or fading occurs and the appearance is remarkably deteriorated. Furthermore, when the cyclone section is washed with water, the work becomes complicated, for example, sufficient drying is required, and there is a problem that usability is reduced.

  Next, a case where a material provided with conductivity to an insulating material such as conductive rubber is used as the conductive material will be described. In general, methods for imparting conductivity to an insulating material can be broadly classified into two types: a method for making the surface of the material conductive and a method for making the interior of the material conductive. In the method of making the surface of a material conductive, an antistatic agent (surfactant) or a conductive paint is often applied to the surface. In this case, there is a problem that the antistatic agent or the conductive paint on the surface is removed due to the deterioration of the surface and the conductivity is lost.

  As a method of making the inside of the material conductive, there is a method of mixing a conductive material such as metal powder or carbon black inside the insulator. When metal powder is used as the substance to be mixed, problems due to the use of metal such as the generation of oxidation and rust as described above, and the labor involved in washing with water arise. When carbon black is used as a substance to be mixed, there is a problem in appearance and design that the color of the material becomes blackish and looks bad, and the material is expensive and expensive. .

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and eliminates static electricity generated in the cyclone section without causing deterioration of the static elimination performance and deterioration of the appearance of the cyclone section mainly due to deterioration over time. To get a vacuum cleaner that can.

  In the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, a main body portion of the vacuum cleaner, a cyclone portion that is detachably attached to the main body portion, turns the air containing dust and separates the dust from the air, and the main body portion. A member made of a material having electrostatic diffusibility or conductivity, and abutted against the cyclone portion mounted on the main body portion in a pressed state, and releases the electrostatic charge of the cyclone portion from the member The configuration.

  In the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, there is an effect that the static electricity generated in the cyclone part can be eliminated without causing deterioration of the static elimination performance mainly due to aging deterioration and deterioration of the appearance of the cyclone part.

It is a perspective view which shows the whole vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the main-body part of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the main-body part of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an enlarged view of the A section in FIG. 3 concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an enlarged view equivalent to FIG. 4 of Embodiment 1 which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts, and redundant description thereof will be simplified or omitted as appropriate.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 to 4 relate to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a cyclone vacuum cleaner. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a suction head serving as a dust suction port. One end of a hollow suction pipe 2 is connected to the suction head 1. On the other end side of the suction pipe 2, a hand portion 3 that is operated by a user of the vacuum cleaner is provided. One end of the hose 4 is connected to the other end of the suction pipe 2. And the other end of this hose 4 is connected to the hose connection part 6 of the main-body part 5 of a vacuum cleaner.

  FIG. 2 shows the main body 5 of the electric vacuum cleaner. Inside the main body 5, an electric blower, a control circuit board, a cord reel of a power cord, and the like are accommodated. A hose connection 6 is provided at the front end of the main body 5. As described above, the hose 4 is connected to the hose connection portion 6. The upper side of the main body 5 is formed in an inclined shape such that the front side is lower and the rear side is higher. A cyclone portion 7 is detachably mounted on the upper side of the main body portion 5.

  The cyclone portion 7 is disposed along the inclination on the upper side of the main body portion 5. The cyclone unit 7 has two swivel portions, a first swivel portion 8 and a second swivel portion 9. An intake pipe 10 communicating with the hose connection portion 6 is provided on one side surface of the main body portion 5. An outlet 10 a is provided at the rear end of the intake pipe 10. A suction port 11 is provided on one side of the cyclone unit 7 (first swivel unit 8 side) at a position facing the outflow port 10a in a state where the cyclone unit 7 is mounted on the main body unit 5. . When the cyclone unit 7 is attached to the main body unit 5, the outlet 10 a and the suction port 11 are joined, and the intake pipe 10 and the cyclone unit 7 are communicated with each other. Note that wheels 12 are rotatably attached to both sides of the main body 5.

  Air containing dust sucked by the suction head 1 reaches the main body 5 through the suction pipe 2 and the hose 4. The air containing dust that reaches the main body 5 passes through the intake pipe 10 of the main body 5 and reaches the suction port 11 of the cyclone section 7 from the outlet 10 a of the intake pipe 10. Then, the air flows from the suction port 11 of the cyclone unit 7 into the first turning unit 8 of the cyclone unit 7. The air containing dust is swirled in the first swivel unit 8 and coarse dust having a relatively large weight is separated from the air by the centrifugal force during swirling. The air after the coarse dust is separated flows from the first swivel unit 8 into the second swivel unit 9. This air is swirled in the second swivel unit 9, and fine dust having a relatively small weight is separated from the air by the centrifugal force during swirling.

  FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section including the second turning part 9 of the main body part 5 of the vacuum cleaner. The 2nd turning part 9 is comprised from the cone part 9a and the cylindrical part 9b. The conical portion 9a has a substantially inverted frusto-conical funnel shape in which the cross-sectional radius increases toward the upper side and the cross-sectional radius decreases toward the lower side. The cylindrical portion 9b is connected to the lower end of the conical portion 9a. The cross-sectional radius of the cylindrical portion 9b is the same as the cross-sectional radius at the lower end of the conical portion 9a.

  The airflow that enters the second swivel unit 9 from the first swivel unit 8 swirls along the inner wall of the conical part 9a from the upper side of the conical part 9a. At this time, the flow path of the air flow becomes a substantially spiral shape gradually descending downward along the inner wall of the conical portion 9a. In the turning process, dust in the air is separated by centrifugal force. The dust in the air is separated from the air flow while swirling along the inner wall of the conical portion 9a on the swirling flow drawing a spiral, and gradually descends downward. The dust separated from the air flow accumulates from the cylindrical portion 9b into the dust collecting portion 13 provided at the lower portion of the cyclone portion 7. On the other hand, the air does not enter the dust collecting portion 13, but reverses from the vicinity of the lowermost portion of the conical portion 9a and rises through the center of the conical portion 9a. And it goes out of the cyclone part 7 through the air discharge part 14 in the upper part of the 2nd turning part 9. FIG.

  Moreover, the 1st turning part 8 also has the cone part which exhibits the funnel-like shape of a substantially inverted truncated cone like the 2nd turning part 9 which was demonstrated above. The air flow that enters the first swivel unit 8 from the intake pipe 10 has a substantially spiral shape that gradually descends from the upper side along the inner wall of the conical part. Riding on the spiral flow drawing the spiral, dust in the air is separated from the air flow by centrifugal force while swirling along the inner wall of the conical portion, and collected in the dust collecting portion 13. On the other hand, the air does not enter the dust collecting portion 13 but reverses from the vicinity of the lowermost portion of the cone portion and rises through the center of the cone portion. Then, it flows from the upper part of the first turning part 8 to the upper part of the second turning part 9.

  An air suction part 15 is provided at a position near the rear of the upper surface of the main body part 5 and facing the air discharge part 14 of the cyclone part 7 attached to the main body part 5. When the cyclone unit 7 is attached to the main body unit 5, the air suction unit 15 and the air discharge unit 14 are joined, and the main body unit 5 and the cyclone unit 7 are communicated with each other. An electric blower 16 is disposed at the tip of the air suction part 15 in the main body part 5. The electric blower 16 drives the suction of air and dust into the cyclone unit 7. That is, when the electric blower 16 operates, the atmospheric pressure in the storage chamber in which the electric blower 16 is stored decreases. This decrease in atmospheric pressure propagates from the storage chamber to the air suction unit 15, the air discharge unit 14, the cyclone unit 7, and the intake pipe 10. Then, the decrease in the atmospheric pressure finally reaches the suction head 1 and becomes the air suction force in the suction head 1.

  In this way, driven by the electric blower 16, air containing dust is sucked into the cyclone unit 7 from the suction head 1. Then, dust is centrifuged from the air in the first swivel unit 8 and the second swivel unit 9 of the cyclone unit 7. The separated dust is collected in the dust collection unit 13 of the cyclone unit 7. The air from which the dust is removed in the cyclone unit 7 is sucked into the electric blower 16 through the air discharge unit 14 and the air suction unit 15.

  As described above, the cyclone unit 7 is detachably attached to the main body unit 5. At this time, in order to prevent the electric blower 16 from operating in a state where the cyclone unit 7 is removed from the main body unit 5, it is determined whether or not the cyclone unit 7 is attached to the main body unit 5. Is provided with a mechanism for detection. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion (A portion in FIG. 3) for detecting the mounting of the cyclone portion 7. In FIG.

  A detection unit 17 is attached to the main body unit 5. The detection unit 17 is for detecting whether or not the cyclone unit 7 is properly attached to the main body unit 5 by a mechanical mechanism. The detection unit 17 is urged by a pressing spring 18 toward the cyclone unit 7 side. With respect to the detection unit 17, a detected unit 19 is provided at the lower end of the cyclone unit 7. The detected part 19 is molded integrally with the cyclone part 7, and more specifically, molded integrally with the dust collecting part 13 of the cyclone part 7. The detected portion 19 is disposed at a position where the cyclone portion 7 is properly attached to the main body portion 5 and abuts on the detecting portion 17 to push the detecting portion 17 toward the main body portion 5.

  Therefore, when the cyclone unit 7 is properly attached to the main body unit 5, the detected unit 19 of the cyclone unit 7 pushes the detection unit 17 against the urging force of the push spring 18. Then, the detection unit 17 presses a micro switch (not shown). When the microswitch is turned on, it is detected that the cyclone unit 7 is properly attached to the main body unit 5. Instead of the micro switch, an optical sensor that optically detects the movement of the detection unit 17 may be used. In addition, a detection unit cover 20 is provided above the portion where the detection unit 17 contacts the detected unit 19. The detection unit cover 20 is for preventing the detection unit 17 from being pushed by an object other than the detected unit 19 and causing false detection even though the cyclone unit 7 is not mounted. It is. In addition, the detection unit cover 20 can prevent the user from touching the detection unit 17 easily.

The detector 17 is made of a resin material having electrostatic diffusibility or conductivity. More preferably, the detector 17 has a physical property with a volume resistivity on the order of 10 ⁸ to 10 ¹² (Ω · m). Specifically, for example, the volume resistivity is within a predetermined range using an ABS resin kneaded with a nylon-based anticonductive resin, or a resin provided with electrostatic diffusibility by applying aluminum powder or glass powder. Adjust to. In particular, when the detection unit cover 20 prevents the user from touching the detection unit 17, the detection unit 17 may be formed of a conductive material having conductivity. The push spring 18 is made of a conductive metal material. One end of the push spring 18 abuts on the detection unit 17 and biases the detection unit 17 toward the cyclone unit 7 side. On the other hand, the other end side of the pressing spring 18 is supported so as not to move in the main body 5. A metal piece 21 is inserted into the other end of the push spring 18 so as to come into contact therewith. The metal piece 21 is electrically connected to the metal outer portion of the electric blower 16 by an electric conducting wire 22. For example, the metal piece 21 is obtained by punching a sheet metal.

  In the cyclone type vacuum cleaner configured in this way, dust on the swirling flow is rubbed against the inner walls of the swirling portions in the first swirling unit 8 and the second swirling unit 9 of the cyclone unit 7. collide. Then, static electricity is generated by friction and collision between the dust and the swivel unit. The generated static electricity accumulates in the cyclone unit 7. The detected portion 19 of the cyclone portion 7 is in contact with the detecting portion 17 made of a material having electrostatic diffusibility or conductivity. And the detection part 17 is electrically connected with the metal outer part of the electric blower 16 via the press spring 18 which has electroconductivity, the metal piece 21, and the electrical conducting wire 22. FIG.

  Therefore, the static electricity of the cyclone unit 7 moves to the metal outer portion of the electric blower 16 through the detection unit 17 and the like. The metal outer portion of the electric blower 16 has a large capacitance. For this reason, the metal outer portion of the electric blower 16 can accumulate a large amount of electric charge. Therefore, the static electricity accumulated in the cyclone unit 7 quickly moves to the metal outer portion of the electric blower 16. Thus, static electricity accumulated in the cyclone unit 7 is removed. Note that the metal outer portion of the electric blower 16 is insulated from other electrical components such as a coil portion of the electric blower 16, for example. Therefore, the electric movement of the electric blower 16 does not affect the electric operation of the vacuum cleaner.

  In general, with metals, neutralization of charges at the point of contact with air or other objects is likely to occur, and the time required for charge relaxation is short. For this reason, the electric charge which moved to the metal outer part of the electric blower 16 is naturally discharged to the outside of the main body part 5 of the vacuum cleaner.

  Here, the detection unit 17 is biased toward the cyclone unit 7 by the pressing spring 18 and is pressed to the detected unit 19 of the cyclone unit 7. Accordingly, the state where the cyclone unit 7 and the detection unit 17 are in contact with each other is reliably maintained, and static electricity generated in the cyclone unit 7 can be reliably and quickly moved to the metal outer portion of the electric blower 16 through the detection unit 17. As a specific charge removal effect, when the present invention configured as described above is used, the potential of the cyclone unit 7 is generally lower than 3 kV which is a standard for generating electrostatic discharge with a person. On the other hand, when static electricity is not removed from the cyclone unit 7, a charging potential of 3 kV or more is generated in the cyclone unit 7.

  Here, the electrostatic charge of the cyclone unit 7 is moved to the metal outer portion of the electric blower 16 via the detection unit 17 for detecting whether or not the cyclone unit 7 is attached to the main body unit 5. Configured. However, the detection unit 17 is not necessarily used as a member that transmits static electricity from the cyclone unit 7 to the metal outer portion of the electric blower 16. A member which is made of a material having electrostatic diffusibility or conductivity and is in contact with the cyclone unit 7 attached to the main body unit 5 while being pressed may be provided separately from the detection unit 17. The detection part 17 will contact | abut in the state pressed with respect to the cyclone part 7 with which the main-body part 5 was mounted | worn for the original purpose. Therefore, the configuration of the apparatus is simplified by using the detection unit 17 as a member that transmits static electricity from the cyclone unit 7 to the metal outer portion of the electric blower 16.

  Further, the connection destination of the electric conducting wire 22 is not limited to the metal outer portion of the electric blower 16. Any structure made of metal incorporated in the main body 5 can be selected as a connection destination of the electrical conductor 22. Other examples of the metal structure incorporated in the main body 5 include a box surrounding the control circuit board and a casing of a power cord reel. When the electrical conductor 22 is connected to a commercial power supply via a power supply board, the influence of static electricity may affect the power supply board and electrostatic noise may enter the commercial power supply. On the other hand, when the connection destination of the electric conducting wire 22 is a structure made of metal incorporated in the main body portion 5, the commercial power supply is not affected by static noise due to static electricity generated in the cyclone portion 7. In this way, the electrostatic charge generated in the cyclone unit 7 that is detachable and that is highly likely to be touched by a human hand is moved to a metal structure that is built into the main body 5 and that is extremely unlikely to be touched by a human hand. Can do.

  In the vacuum cleaner configured as described above, static electricity generated in the cyclone unit can be eliminated without using a conductive material such as metal on the inner wall of the cyclone unit. For this reason, the static elimination performance decline resulting from aged deterioration and the appearance of the cyclone are not deteriorated. In addition, even if static electricity generated in the cyclone part accumulates due to some cause and discharge occurs between the dust in the cyclone part, compared with the case where a conductive material is used for the inner wall It is possible to suppress the discharge energy to a low level.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 5 relates to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. That is, FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion (A portion in FIG. 3) for detecting the mounting of the cyclone portion.
In the second embodiment described here, the configuration of the portion that electrically connects the detection unit 17 and the electric conductor 22 is different from that of the first embodiment.

That is, in the first embodiment, one end portion of the push spring 18 is brought into contact with the detecting portion 17 and is inserted so that the metal piece 21 is brought into contact with the other end portion of the push spring 18. And this metal piece 21 and the metal outer part of the electric blower 16 were electrically connected by the electric conducting wire 22. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a metal film body 23 is used instead of the metal piece 21. The metal film body 23 is provided so as to come into contact with the side portions of the detection unit 17 and the push spring 18 along the expansion / contraction direction of the push spring 18. In other words, the metal film body 23 is provided along the sliding direction of the detection unit 17. The electrical conductor 22 is connected to the metal film body 23. At this time, the electric conducting wire 22 is fixed to the metal film body 23 by tightening with a screw for attaching the metal film body 23 to the main body 5. For example, an aluminum tape is used as the metal film body 23.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The vacuum cleaner configured as described above can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Suction head 2 Suction pipe 3 Hand part 4 Hose 5 Main body part 6 Hose connection part 7 Cyclone part 8 1st turning part 9 2nd turning part 9a Conical part 9b Cylindrical part 10 Intake pipe 10a Outlet 11 Suction port 12 Wheel DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Dust collection part 14 Air discharge part 15 Air suction part 16 Electric blower 17 Detection part 18 Pushing spring 19 Detected part 20 Detection part cover 21 Metal piece 22 Electric conducting wire 23 Metal film body

Claims (10)

The main part of the vacuum cleaner,
A cyclone part, which is detachably attached to the main body part and separates dust from the air by swirling air containing dust;
A member provided on the main body, made of a material having electrostatic dispersibility or conductivity, and abutting in a state of being pressed against the cyclone mounted on the main body;
An electric vacuum cleaner that discharges electrostatic charges of the cyclone portion from the member.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the member is electrically connected to a metal structure housed in the main body.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the metal structure housed in the main body is a metal outer portion of an electric blower.   3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the metal structure housed in the main body is a box that surrounds the control circuit board.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the structure made of metal housed in the main body is a casing of a cord reel of a power source.   The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the member is made of a resin material.   7. The elastic body according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic body made of a conductor and biased in a direction in which the member is brought into contact with the cyclone portion mounted on the main body portion. 8. Electric vacuum cleaner. The elastic body is a push spring made of metal,
One end of the push spring abuts on the member,
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, further comprising a metal portion that is inserted so as to abut against the other end portion of the pressing spring and is electrically connected to the electric conductor. The elastic body is a push spring made of metal,
One end of the push spring abuts on the member,
The electric device according to claim 7, further comprising a metal portion that is provided in contact with a side portion of the push spring along an expansion / contraction direction of the push spring and is electrically connected to the electric conductor. Vacuum cleaner.   The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the member has a function of a detection unit that detects whether or not the cyclone unit is mounted on the main body unit. .

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