JP2012029802A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner which can release an air cleaning substance to the outside the vacuum cleaner with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: An electric blower 9 and an electrolyzed water mist generation unit 20 are built in a vacuum cleaner body 2. The electrolyzed water mist generation unit 20 includes: a tank 28 for storing water; electrodes 30 which performs electrolysis process of the water in the tank 28 in order to turn it into electrolyzed water; and an ultrasonic transducer 39. The tank 28 is combined with the electric blower 9 via a connection pipe 26 to take a part of the exhaust of the electric blower 9 into the inside of the tank 28. The electrolyzed water in the tank 28 is supplied to the ultrasonic transducer 39 by pressure of the exhaust taken into the tank 28. The ultrasonic transducer 39 acts to generate electrolyzed water mist M from the supplied electrolyzed water and to spray the electrolyzed water mist by the pressure of the exhaust taken into the tank 28.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

2. Description of the Related Art A vacuum cleaner is known that incorporates a device that releases a substance that cleans air (see Patent Document 1).
The vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1 includes an air treatment device. The air treatment device generates negative ions and discharges them outside the room (inside the room). The negative ions adhere to the dust floating in the room and drop to remove the dust, thereby cleaning the room air.

  This air treatment device includes a gas supply device that supplies a gas to be negatively ionized with an air pump, and a negative ionization device that negatively ionizes and releases the gas supplied by the gas supply device to the outside of the apparatus.

JP 2006-288453 A

In the electric vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1, negative ions are discharged to the outside by the momentum that the air pump supplies gas. That is, in patent document 1, in order to discharge the substance (negative ion) which cleans air out of a machine, an air pump must be provided in a vacuum cleaner, and, thereby, the complexity of a structure of a vacuum cleaner is made. Concerned.
The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a vacuum cleaner capable of releasing a substance for purifying air to the outside with a simple configuration.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a vacuum cleaner main body in which an electric blower is incorporated and an exhaust port for discharging exhaust gas generated when the electric blower is driven, and one side surface of the vacuum cleaner main body. An electrolyzed water mist generating unit provided in the cleaner body, and an electrolyzed water mist generating unit that generates electrolyzed water mist in order to eject electrolyzed water mist from the jet port. The mist generating unit is capable of storing water therein, is coupled to the electric blower via a connection path, and a tank capable of taking a part of the exhaust of the electric blower into the interior through the connection path; An electrode for electrolyzing the water of the tank into electrolyzed water, and a plate shape in which a large number of through holes are formed, one side communicating with the tank and the other side being the jet outlet Through It is attached to the tank so as to be exposed from one side surface of the vacuum cleaner body, and generates electrolyzed water mist from the electrolyzed water supplied by the pressure of the exhaust gas taken into the tank and ejects it from the through hole. And an ultrasonic vibrator.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the vacuum cleaner main body in the housed state stands up so that the one side faces the floor surface from above, and the electrolyzed water mist generating unit is connected to the ultrasonic vibrator. One end of the tank that is immersed in the water of the tank when the vacuum cleaner main body is not housed and is separated from the water surface of the tank in the housed state. 2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a supply path for supplying water to the ultrasonic vibrator is provided.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the supply path is inclined and extended in a direction away from one side surface of the cleaner body from the one end to the other end. It is a vacuum cleaner of description.
The invention according to claim 4 is the electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the other end portion of the supply path is bent in a direction away from one side surface of the cleaner body.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shutter that opens and closes the outlet, a biasing member that biases the shutter in a closing direction, and a part of the exhaust of the electric blower when the electric blower is driven. 5. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, further comprising an opening member that opens the shutter against a biasing force of the biasing member by receiving the shutter.
The invention according to claim 6 is in contact with the floor surface when the shutter that opens and closes the spout, the urging member that urges the shutter in the opening direction, and the vacuum cleaner main body is stood and stowed. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, further comprising: a closing member that closes the shutter against an urging force of the urging member.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detecting means for detecting a shortage of water in the tank by being stored in the tank and not touching the water, and in response to the detection means detecting a shortage of water in the tank. Stop means for stopping the operation of the electrolyzed water mist generating unit, and the detecting means is disposed at a position higher than the water level of the water in the tank when the main body of the cleaner stands and is in the stowed state. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the vacuum cleaner is disposed at a position away from one side surface of the vacuum cleaner body.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that it has a guide path formed between the tank and the surface of the cleaner body, and takes in air outside the machine and leads it to the exhaust discharged from the exhaust port. It is a vacuum cleaner in any one of Claims 1-7.
In the invention according to claim 9, the tank is disposed inside the generation chamber in which the electrode is accommodated to generate electrolyzed water, and above the generation chamber, and sucks up and stores the electrolyzed water in the generation chamber. A side wall of the ultrasonic transducer faces the storage chamber, the top wall of the tank partitions the storage chamber from above, and the top wall 2. The electric cleaning according to claim 1, wherein a through hole communicating with the storage chamber is formed, and the through hole is closed by a member that allows air to pass but does not allow moisture to pass. Machine.

According to invention of Claim 1, the vacuum cleaner is equipped with the cleaner main body with which the electric blower was incorporated, and the electrolyzed water mist production | generation unit incorporated in the cleaner main body. The cleaner body is provided with an exhaust port for discharging exhaust gas generated when the electric blower is driven, and further, an electrolytic water mist outlet is provided on one side of the cleaner body.
The electrolyzed water mist generating unit generates electrolyzed water mist in order to eject the electrolyzed water mist from the ejection port. The electrolyzed water mist generating unit includes a tank capable of storing water therein, an electrode for electrolyzing the water in the tank into electrolyzed water, and an ultrasonic vibrator that generates electrolyzed water mist from the electrolyzed water. Contains. The ultrasonic transducer has a plate shape with a large number of through-holes, and one side surface communicates with the inside of the tank and the other side surface is exposed from one side surface of the cleaner body through the jet port. It is attached to the tank. The tank is coupled to the electric blower via a connection path, whereby a part of the exhaust of the electric blower is taken into the tank through the connection path. The electrolyzed water in the tank is supplied to the ultrasonic vibrator by the pressure of the exhaust gas taken into the tank. The ultrasonic vibrator generates electrolyzed water mist from the supplied electrolyzed water, and ejects the electrolyzed water mist from the through hole by the pressure of the exhaust gas taken into the tank. The ejected electrolyzed water mist is discharged from the jet outlet of the vacuum cleaner body to sterilize and deodorize the room.

That is, in this electric vacuum cleaner, the substance (electrolyzed water mist) which cleans air can be discharged | emitted with the simple structure using the pressure of the exhaust_gas | exhaustion of an electric blower.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the vacuum cleaner main body in the housed state stands up so that one side surface provided with the jet nozzle faces the floor surface from above.
The electrolyzed water mist generating unit is provided with a supply path for supplying water from the tank to the ultrasonic vibrator when the cleaner body is not housed. In the supply path, one end is connected to the ultrasonic vibrator, and the other end is immersed in the water of the tank in the non-contained state and is separated upward from the water surface of the tank in the accommodated state.

  In this case, in the non-contained state (normal use state of the vacuum cleaner main body), water is supplied to the ultrasonic vibrator at one end from the other end immersed in the water in the tank in the supply path. The electrolyzed water mist can be released by the vibrator. On the other hand, in the housed state, the other end of the supply path is not immersed in the tank water, so the tank water is not supplied to the ultrasonic vibrator. Can be prevented from leaking to the floor.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the supply path extends from one end portion to the other end portion so as to be inclined away from one side surface of the cleaner body. In the state, the tank is immersed in the water of the tank, and in the stored state, the tank moves away from the water surface of the tank.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the other end of the supply path is bent in a direction away from one side surface of the main body of the cleaner, so that it is immersed in the water of the tank in the non-storage state and the water surface of the tank in the storage state. From the top.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the shutter that opens and closes the spout is urged in the closing direction by the urging member. When the electric blower is driven, the opening member receives a part of the exhaust of the electric blower to open the shutter against the biasing force of the biasing member.
In this case, when the electric blower is driven (during the operation of the cleaner), the shutter is opened, so that the electrolyzed water mist can be discharged from the opened outlet. On the other hand, when the driving of the electric blower (operation of the vacuum cleaner) is stopped, the shutter closes and the jet outlet is closed, so that the water in the tank leaks from the jet outlet and external dust is cleaned from the jet outlet. It is possible to prevent problems such as entering the machine body and adhering to the ultrasonic vibrator.

According to invention of Claim 6, the shutter which opens and closes a jet nozzle is urged | biased in the opening direction by the urging | biasing member. When the vacuum cleaner main body stands up and is in the housed state, the shutter closes against the urging force of the urging member by the closing member coming into contact with the floor surface.
In this case, when the main body of the vacuum cleaner is not stored (during the operation of the vacuum cleaner), the shutter is opened by being urged by the urging member, so that the electrolyzed water mist is discharged from the opened outlet. Can do. On the other hand, when the main body of the vacuum cleaner is in the stowed state (when the operation of the vacuum cleaner is stopped), the shutter closes and the jet outlet is closed, so that the water in the tank leaks from the jet outlet and Can be prevented from entering the cleaner body from the nozzle and adhering to the ultrasonic vibrator.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the detection means housed in the tank detects water shortage in the tank by not touching the water, and in response to the detection, the stop means is the electrolysis water mist generating unit. Stop operation. Thereby, it can prevent that an electrolyzed water mist production | generation unit is drive | operated despite water shortage.
Here, the detection means is disposed at a position away from one side surface of the cleaner body, and is disposed at a position higher than the water level of the water in the tank when the cleaner body is stood up and in the housed state. In this case, since the detection means does not come into contact with water, the stop means stops the operation of the electrolyzed water mist generating unit accordingly. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the electrolyzed water mist generating unit from being operated even though the cleaner body is in the housed state.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the guide path is formed between the tank and the surface of the cleaner body, and the guide path takes in the air outside the machine and exhausts the air discharged from the exhaust port. Lead to. Thereby, the flow of the air which goes to the exhaust_gas | exhaustion from an exhaust port through the induction path from the outside of the machine is generated. Therefore, even if the water temperature in the tank rises due to electrolysis or the like by the electrode, the tank is cooled by this air flow, so that the water temperature in the tank can be prevented from rising.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the inside of the tank is a generation chamber in which electrodes are accommodated to generate electrolyzed water, and a storage that is disposed above the generation chamber and can suck and store the electrolyzed water in the generation chamber. It is divided into rooms.
Here, since one side surface of the ultrasonic vibrator faces the storage chamber, the ultrasonic vibrator generates electrolyzed water mist from the electrolyzed water stored in the storage chamber and ejects it from the through hole.

  The top wall of the tank partitions the storage chamber from above, and a through-hole communicating with the storage chamber is formed in the top wall. The through hole is closed by a member that allows air to pass but does not allow moisture to pass. Therefore, even if bubbles are generated in the storage chamber, the member allows the bubbles to escape to the outside of the storage chamber. Thereby, the malfunction that the through-hole of an ultrasonic transducer | vibrator is obstruct | occluded with the bubble which generate | occur | produced in the storage chamber, and electrolyzed water mist cannot be smoothly ejected from a through-hole can be prevented.

FIG. 1 is a right side view of a cleaner body 2 of a vacuum cleaner 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a right side sectional view of the cleaner body 2. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cleaner body 2. FIG. 4 shows a state where the cover 22 is removed in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part of the cleaner body 2. FIG. 6 shows a cross-section when the electrolyzed water mist generating unit 20 is cut along a flat surface extending vertically along the vertical and horizontal directions in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the electrolyzed water mist generating unit 20 cut along a flat surface extending vertically along the vertical and horizontal directions. FIG. 8A is a left side view of the rear portion of the cleaner body 2, showing a part including the electrolyzed water mist generating unit 20 in section, and FIG. It is the enlarged view which extracted the electrolyzed water mist production | generation unit 20 in a). FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the electric blower 9 and the electrolyzed water mist generating unit 20 as viewed from above. FIG. 10 is a right side view of the rear portion of the cleaner body 2 and shows a part including the electrolyzed water mist generating unit 20 in cross section. FIG. 11 corresponds to FIG. 8 and shows a state in which the cleaner body 2 is erected. FIG. 12 is a diagram in which a modification is applied to FIG. Fig.13 (a) has shown the cross section when the electrolyzed water mist production | generation unit 20 is cut | disconnected by the flat surface extended perpendicularly | vertically along the up-down and left-right direction, FIG.13 (b) shows A of FIG.13 (a). It is -A arrow sectional drawing. FIG. 14 is a left side view of the rear portion of the cleaner body 2 provided with the shutter mechanism 60, and shows a part including the electrolyzed water mist generating unit 20 in cross section. FIG. 15 is a plan view of the electrolyzed water mist generating unit 20, the electric blower 9, and the shutter mechanism 60, showing the main part in cross-section and showing the state where the shutter 61 is in the closed position. FIG. 16 shows a state where the shutter 61 is in the open position in FIG. FIG. 17A is a plan sectional view of the electrolyzed water mist generating unit 20 and the shutter mechanism 60 according to the modification, and shows a state where the shutter 61 is in the open position, and FIG. FIG. 17A shows a state where the shutter 61 is in the closed position. FIG. 18A is a rear view of the generation unit 20, and FIG. 18B is a right side view of the generation unit 20. FIG. 19A is a right side view of the rear portion of the cleaner body 2 in a normal state, and FIG. 19B shows a state in which the cleaner body 2 is erected in FIG. 19A. ing. Fig.20 (a) is a rear view of the electrolyzed water mist generating unit 20 and the electric blower 9, and a part thereof is shown in cross section, and Fig.20 (b) is an enlarged view of the main part of Fig.20 (a). FIG. 20 (c) shows a state where the ball valve 80 is lifted in FIG. 20 (b). Fig.21 (a) is a rear view of the electrolyzed water mist production | generation unit 20, Comprising: One part is shown with the cross section, FIG.21 (b)-(d) is BB arrow of Fig.21 (a). FIG. FIG. 22 is a right side view of the rear portion of the cleaner body 2 and shows a part including the electrolyzed water mist generating unit 20 in cross section. FIG. 23 shows a state in which the cover 22 in FIG. FIG. 24 shows a state in which the cover 22 is further rotated in the opening direction in FIG. FIG. 25 shows a state where the cover 22 is rotated in the closing direction in FIG. FIG. 26A is a plan view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 according to the first configuration, and FIG. 26B is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 of FIG. FIG. 27A is a plan view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 according to the second configuration, and FIG. 27B is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 of FIG. FIG. 28A is a plan view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 according to the third configuration, and FIG. 28B is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 of FIG. FIG. 29A is a plan view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 according to the fourth configuration, and FIG. 29B is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 of FIG. FIG. 30 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a broken-line circle in FIG. FIG. 31 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the vacuum cleaner 1. FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processes performed in the electric vacuum cleaner 1. FIG. 33 is a time chart showing the operation states of the electric blower 9 and the electrolyzed water mist generating unit 20.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a right side view of a cleaner body 2 of a vacuum cleaner 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, regarding the description of the vacuum cleaner 1 and its components, for the sake of convenience, the left side in FIG. 1 will be described as the front side, the right side as the rear side, the back side as the left side, and the near side as the right side, unless otherwise specified. The left-right direction and the width direction are the same.

With reference to FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner 1 is provided with the cleaner main body 2, the hose 3, the pipe (not shown), and the suction tool (not shown).
The vacuum cleaner main body 2 has a box shape that is slightly longitudinally rounded in the front-rear direction. In FIG. 1, a housing 4, which is a hollow body that forms an outline of the vacuum cleaner main body 2, wheels 5 attached to the rear end portions of the left and right side surfaces of the housing 4, and a front end portion of the bottom surface of the housing 4 An attached caster 6 and a handle 7 attached to the top surface of the housing 4 are shown.

When the wheel 5 and the caster 6 rotate on the floor surface X, the cleaner body 2 can smoothly move on the floor surface X. The state of the cleaner body 2 when the wheel 5 and the caster 6 are in contact with the floor surface X is referred to as a normal state (non-contained state).
The handle 7 has a U-shape that bulges out to the rear side in a plan view, and can be rotated with the front end as a fulcrum. The handle 7 rotates between a tilted position along the top surface of the housing 4 (see FIG. 1) and an upright position (not shown) that stands up substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the housing 4. Is possible.

Next, the internal configuration of the cleaner body 2 (housing 4) will be described.
FIG. 2 is a right side sectional view of the cleaner body 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, the cleaner body 2 mainly includes a first filter 8, an electric blower 9, and a second filter 10 in a housing 4.
Here, in the housing 4, an intake port 12 is formed on the front surface 11, an exhaust port 14 is formed on the rear surface 13 (one side surface), and the intake port 12 and the exhaust port 14 communicate with each other inside the housing 4. An air flow path 15 is defined. The first filter 8, the electric blower 9, and the second filter 10 described above are disposed in the air flow path 15. Specifically, the first filter 8, the electric blower 9, and the second filter 10 are seen from the air flow direction (see the thick black arrow) in the air flow path 15 from the first filter 8 → the electric blower 9 → the second from the upstream side. Two filters 10 are arranged in this order.

When the cleaner body 2 is in a normal state, the rear surface 13 of the housing 4 extends along a substantially vertical direction. A plurality (four in this case) of the exhaust ports 14 are provided at approximately the center of the rear surface 13 in the vertical direction. These exhaust ports 14 are slits that are elongated in the width direction (see also FIG. 3 to be described later), and are lined up and down at a predetermined interval.
Further, in relation to the lowermost exhaust port 14A, a recess 17 that is recessed forward is formed in a portion of the rear surface 13 where the exhaust port 14A is formed. The concave portion 17 has a substantially triangular shape that narrows toward the front side when viewed from the width direction, and is elongated in the width direction (see also FIG. 3). The exhaust port 14A forms a front lower side portion of the concave portion 17, is exposed from the concave portion 17 to the rear surface 13, and faces the rear upper side.

  The exhaust port 14A is provided with a shutter 18 having a plate shape elongated in the width direction. The shutter 18 can be opened and closed by rotating around a shaft (not shown) extending in the width direction at the front end portion thereof. The shutter 18 is closed so as to extend rearwardly and closes the exhaust port 14A from the inside of the housing 4 (not shown). On the other hand, when the shutter 18 is rotated by a predetermined amount counterclockwise in a right side view from the closed state, the shutter 18 opens so as to extend to the front upper side and opens the exhaust port 14A (see FIG. 2). The shutter 18 is closed except during cleaning.

The hose 3 is a flexible bellows-like hose, and one end of the hose 3 is connected to the air inlet 12 so that the inside of the hose 3 and the air flow path 15 communicate with each other.
In the vacuum cleaner 1, one end of a pipe (not shown) is connected to the other end of the hose 3, and a suction tool (not shown) is connected to the other end of the pipe. The suction tool (not shown) has a box shape that is long in the width direction and flat in the vertical direction, and a suction port (not shown) facing the floor surface X from above is formed on the bottom surface thereof.

  In such a vacuum cleaner 1, when cleaning the floor surface X, the electric blower 9 is driven by receiving electric power to generate a suction force. This suction force acts on a suction port (not shown) of a suction tool (not shown). Therefore, the dust on the floor surface X is sucked into the suction tool (not shown) from the suction port (not shown) by this suction force, and the suction tool, pipe (not shown), and hose 3 are moved in this order. Then, the air is sucked from the air inlet 12 to the air flow path 15 of the cleaner body 2. Further, the air around the suction tool (not shown) is sucked up to the air flow path 15 together with the dust on the floor surface X.

  The air and dust sucked up to the air flow path 15 are first received by the first filter 8 as indicated by a thick black arrow. At that time, dust is captured by the first filter 8, whereby air and dust are separated, and only air passes through the first filter 8 and continues to flow through the air flow path 15. The air that has passed through the first filter 8 is discharged by the electric blower 9 to the downstream side of the electric blower 9 in the air flow direction described above in the air flow path 15.

  The air (exhaust gas) discharged to the downstream side of the electric blower 9 passes through the second filter 10. The second filter 10 has a high dust capturing performance belonging to a so-called HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter) or ULPA filter (Ultra Low Penetration Air Filter), and captures finer dust than the first filter 8. can do. Therefore, when the exhaust from the electric blower 9 passes through the second filter 10, fine dust that cannot be captured by the first filter 8 in the exhaust is captured by the second filter 10. Thus, the exhaust gas is completely cleaned by passing through the second filter 10.

The exhaust gas that has passed through the second filter 10 continues to flow through the air flow path 15 toward the rear surface 13 of the housing 4.
Then, the exhaust gas that has reached the exhaust port 14 above the lowermost exhaust port 14A is discharged from the exhaust port 14 above the lowermost exhaust port 14A to the outside rearward along the substantially horizontal direction. (See thick dashed arrows).

  On the other hand, the exhaust (see the thick white arrow) toward the lowest exhaust port 14A reaches the shutter 18. As a result, the shutter 18 that has been closed so far is pushed open by the wind pressure of the exhaust gas that reaches the shutter 18 (see the thick white arrow), and rotates until it tilts rearwardly. As a result, the exhaust port 14A is opened rearward and the exhaust reaching the shutter 18 is discharged from the exhaust port 14A upward (specifically, the rear upper side) from the exhaust port 14A, as indicated by a thick white arrow. .

  Thus, the air discharged from the lowest exhaust port 14A toward the rear upper side (see the thick white arrow) is discharged from the exhaust port 14 above the exhaust port 14A to the outside of the vehicle substantially horizontally. Collision from below (see thick dashed arrow). As a result, the air discharged from the exhaust port 14 above the exhaust port 14A and flowing out backward is corrected so that the flow direction is upward, and as a result, the air flows to the rear upper side as indicated by a thick white arrow. .

The discharge of the exhaust gas from the exhaust port 14 so as to flow upward is referred to as upward exhaust. The exhaust discharged from the exhaust port 14A toward the rear upper side is called an air curtain.
Since the air discharged from the air flow path 15 to the outside of the machine is exhausted upward, it is possible to prevent the dust on the floor surface X from rising when the air is bathed on the floor surface X.

  When the driving of the electric blower 9 is stopped after the cleaning of the floor surface X, the electric blower 9 does not generate a suction force, so that air does not flow in the air flow path 15, so that the air that pushes the shutter 18 open. The shutter 18 closes due to its own weight and closes the exhaust port 14A again (not shown). Thereby, when there is no need to blow out air from the exhaust port 14A, it is possible to prevent external dust from entering the housing 4 from the exhaust port 14A.

Next, an electrolyzed water mist generating unit 20 that is built in the cleaner body 2 and generates electrolyzed water mist described later will be described.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cleaner body 2. FIG. 4 shows a state where the cover 22 is removed in FIG.
In relation to the electrolyzed water mist generating unit (hereinafter abbreviated as “generating unit”) 20, as shown in FIG. 3, the uppermost exhaust port at the center portion in the width direction of the rear surface 13 of the housing 4. In a portion above 14, a storage chamber 21 having a concave shape recessed toward the front side (the back side in FIG. 3) is formed. The storage chamber 21 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped space that is long in the width direction (see also FIG. 2). The generation unit 20 is accommodated in the accommodation chamber 21.

  Moreover, the cover 22 which covers the storage chamber 21 is attached to the housing | casing 4 so that attachment or detachment is possible. The cover 22 is a part of the cleaner body 2. The cover 22 is formed by bending a thin plate into an L shape. When attached to the housing 4, the cover 22 extends to the rear side (front side in FIG. 3) and then bends to extend downward ( (See also FIG. 2). The rear side surface of the portion extending downward in the cover 22 is substantially flush with the rear surface 13 and is a part of the rear surface 13.

In a portion extending downward in the cover 22, a jet port 23 penetrating back and forth through this portion is formed at a position near the top and in the center in the width direction. The spout 23 is round in the rear view. The part which divides the jet nozzle 23 in the cover 22 has comprised the substantially conical surface which becomes thick toward the back side, and is made into the guide surface 24 (refer also FIG. 2).
In a state where the cover 22 is attached to the housing 4, the jet port 23 is located at a position higher than the uppermost exhaust port 14 by a predetermined distance.

  The cover 22 is integrally provided with a rotating shaft 22A that protrudes outward in the width direction at the lower end thereof, and the cover 22 is rotated by being supported by the housing 4. It can be rotated around the shaft 22A. In the state of FIG. 3, when the upper side of the cover 22 is pulled forward, the cover 22 rotates to the front side (rear side). As a result, the cover 22 is opened, and the accommodation chamber 21 and the generation unit 20 are exposed to the rear side as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the illustration of the cover 22 is omitted for convenience of explanation.

When the cover 22 is rotated, if the cover 22 hits the handle 7 in the tilted position (see FIG. 2), the handle 7 may be rotated to the upright position in advance to move away from the cover 22. .
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part of the cleaner body 2.
As shown in FIG. 5, the cleaner body 2 is provided with a motor cover 25. The motor cover 25 covers the electric blower 9 to thermally isolate the electric blower 9 from surrounding components. The motor cover 25 has a box shape with the front side (upper side in FIG. 5) opened, and the electric blower 9 is housed in the motor cover 25 with the other part being exposed, with the front side part exposed. Yes. When the electric blower 9 is driven, a suction force is generated in the front portion exposed from the motor cover 25, and this suction force acts in the first filter 8 disposed on the front side of the electric blower 9 (FIG. 2). reference). Further, the air sucked by the electric blower 9 generating suction force is discharged outside the electric blower 9 in the motor cover 25. Most of this air flows out of the motor cover 25 through an opening 25A (see FIG. 2) formed in the lower side wall of the motor cover 25, passes through the second filter 10 described above, and then passes through the exhaust port 14 to the outside of the machine. (See FIG. 2).

  A front end portion of a tubular connection pipe 26 (connection path) extending rearward is connected to the rear wall of the motor cover 25. A rear end portion of the connection pipe 26 is connected to the generation unit 20. Thereby, the inside of the motor cover 25 and the inside of the production | generation unit 20 are connected via the connection pipe 26, and a part of the air discharged out of the electric blower 9 in the motor cover 25 passes through the connection pipe 26. It flows through the inside of the generation unit 20 (details will be described later).

  FIG. 6 shows a cross section when the generation unit 20 is cut along a flat surface extending vertically along the vertical and horizontal directions in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the generation unit 20 taken along a flat surface extending vertically along the vertical and horizontal directions. FIG. 8 (a) is a left side view of the rear portion of the cleaner body 2, and shows a part including the generation unit 20 in section, and FIG. 8 (b) is shown in FIG. 8 (a). FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the generation unit 20 extracted. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the electric blower 9 and the generation unit 20 as viewed from above.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the generation unit 20 has a substantially box shape that is long in the width direction. In the following, when the generation unit 20 is described, the horizontal direction of the generation unit 20 is defined with reference to the time when viewed from the back side (rear side) as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
The generation unit 20 includes a tank 28, a cap 29, two electrodes 30, a water level sensor 31 (detection means), an ultrasonic transducer unit 32, and a connection terminal 33 (see FIG. 22 described later). It is out. The water level sensor 31 will be described separately in detail (see FIG. 18B described later), and description thereof is omitted here.

  The tank 28 is a portion that forms an outline of the generation unit 20 and has a substantially box shape that is long and hollow in the width direction. A substantially central portion in the width direction of the tank 28 bulges upward and serves as a bulging portion 36 (see FIG. 9). The tank 28 can be divided into two in the vertical direction with the vicinity of the lower end of the bulging portion 36 as a boundary portion. This boundary portion is closed with a packing 16. Water can be stored inside the tank 28 as will be described later.

In the tank 28, two spaces, an electrolysis chamber 34 and a wiring chamber 35, are partitioned.
The electrolytic chamber 34 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped space that is long in the width direction, and occupies most of the internal space of the tank 28. Depending on the shape of the tank 28 having the bulging portion 36, the electrolysis chamber 34 has a convex shape when viewed from the back side. Further, the right end portion of the bottom wall of the tank 28 is inclined to the upper right side, and accordingly, the lower right end portion of the electrolysis chamber 34 is chamfered to be inclined to the upper right side. At the right end portion of the bottom wall of the tank 28, an inner wall surface that defines a chamfered portion on the lower right side of the electrolysis chamber 34 is an inclined surface 28A. Moreover, when viewed from the width direction, the substantially central portion in the width direction of the electrolysis chamber 34 has a stepped shape that becomes one step thinner toward the front side (see FIG. 8). An upper portion of the electrolytic chamber 34 in the substantially central portion in the width direction is an internal space of the bulging portion 36 of the tank 28.

On the top wall of the tank 28, a water supply port 37 communicating with the electrolysis chamber 34 from above is formed on the right side of the substantially central portion (bulged portion 36) in the width direction bulged upward as described above. Yes. The inclined surface 28 </ b> A described above is located at a position directly below the water supply port 37.
An introduction pipe 27 is connected to and integrated with the tank 28. The introduction pipe 27 is a tube bent in an L shape, and one end portion 27A is connected to the left side wall of the tank 28, and the other end portion 27B is a free end portion facing downward. The inside of the introduction pipe 27 communicates with the electrolysis chamber 34.

The wiring chamber 35 extends upward from the left side of the electrolysis chamber 34 and is bent to the right at the upper end. The upper end portion of the wiring chamber 35 is adjacent to the electrolysis chamber 34 from above. The tank 28 has an opening 28 </ b> B that exposes the inside of the wiring chamber 35 downward.
Referring to FIG. 8B, the rear side wall 36A of the bulging portion 36 of the tank 28 extends flatly along the substantially vertical direction. Specifically, the rear side wall 36A is inclined to the front upper side by, for example, about 15 ° with respect to the vertical direction.

A through hole 38 is formed in the rear side wall 36A so as to extend to the front lower side and penetrate the rear side wall 36A.
Referring to FIG. 7, the cap 29 has a cylindrical shape whose upper side is closed and can be attached to and detached from the tank 28. The cap 29 closes the water supply port 37 from above when attached to the tank 28.

The two electrodes 30 are accommodated in the left region of the electrolysis chamber 34. These electrodes 30 are L-shaped thin plates that are thin in the front and rear direction and vertically long, and extend in parallel while facing each other at the lower end in the front and rear directions (see FIG. 8). The lower end of each electrode 30 is separated from the bottom of the electrolysis chamber 34.
Referring to FIG. 7, the ultrasonic transducer unit 32 includes an ultrasonic transducer 39 and a support member 40 for attaching the ultrasonic transducer 39 to the tank 42.

  The ultrasonic transducer 39 is a metal thin disc-shaped piezoelectric body having a front side surface 39A (one side surface) and a rear side surface 39B (the other side surface) (see FIG. 8B). The diameter of the ultrasonic transducer | vibrator 39 here is about 14 mm, for example. A large number of through holes 41 are formed in the ultrasonic transducer 39. Each through-hole 41 is minute here to have a diameter of 10 μm or less. In FIG. 7, for convenience of explanation, the through holes 41 are shown larger and smaller than actual.

With reference to FIG. 8B, the support member 40 includes a first ring member 42, a second ring member 43, a third ring member 44, and a fourth ring member 45.
The first ring member 42 and the second ring member 43 have an annular shape having substantially the same size. A portion that divides the hollow portion in the first ring member 42 forms a substantially conical surface that becomes thicker toward the rear side, and serves as a guide surface 46. With reference to the posture of FIG. 8B, in the first ring member 42, the front side portion (the right side portion in FIG. 8B) protrudes radially outward from the rear side portion to form a flange portion 42A. The

  The first ring member 42 and the second ring member 43 are overlapped so that the hollow portions thereof are coincident with each other. In this state, the first ring member 42 is located on the rear side (left side in FIG. 8B) with respect to the second ring member 43. The ultrasonic transducer 39 is sandwiched between the first ring member 42 and the second ring member 43 that are in an overlapped state. In this state, in the ultrasonic transducer 39, the rear side surface 39B is exposed to the rear side from the hollow portion of the first ring member 42, and the front side surface 39A is exposed to the front side from the hollow portion of the second ring member 43. Has been.

  The third ring member 44 and the fourth ring member 45 are substantially the same size ring, and their maximum inner diameters are slightly larger than the outer diameters of the first ring member 42 and the second ring member 43. 8B, the rear end portion of the third ring member 44 is bent inward in the radial direction over the entire circumference to form an engaging portion 44A. The inner diameter of the fourth ring member 45 is the smallest on the rear side, and the inner diameter here is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the second ring member 43. A tubular suction pipe 47 (supply path) is connected to the fourth ring member 45 from the front side. The suction pipe 47 extends linearly to the front lower side with reference to the posture of FIG. One end (upper end) 47A of the suction pipe 47 is connected to the front hollow portion having the smallest inner diameter in the fourth ring member 45 as the base end of the suction pipe 47, and the other end (lower end). 47B is the free end of the suction pipe 47. The suction pipe 47 is a part of the fourth ring member 45.

  The third ring member 44 and the fourth ring member 45 are overlapped with each other so that the hollow portions thereof coincide with each other. In this state, the third ring member 44 is located on the rear side with respect to the fourth ring member 45, and the ultrasonic transducer 39 is in a state where the third ring member 44 and the fourth ring member 45 overlap each other. The 1st ring member 42 and the 2nd ring member 43 which are pinching are clamped. In this state, the engaging portion 44A of the third ring member 44 is engaged with the flange portion 42A of the first ring member 42 from the rear side, and the first ring member 42 and the second ring member 43 are moved to the fourth position. It is pressed against the ring member 45. The hollow portion of the second ring member 43 and the inside of the one end portion 47A of the suction pipe 47 of the fourth ring member 45 communicate with each other, and the one end portion 47A passes through the hollow portion of the second ring member 43. The ultrasonic transducer 39 is connected to the front side surface 39A.

  Such an ultrasonic transducer unit 32 is fixed to the tank 28 by the suction pipe 47 of the fourth ring member 45 being inserted from the rear upper side into the through hole 38 of the bulging portion 36 of the tank 28. ing. The ultrasonic transducer unit 32 is also fixed to the tank 28 by assembling the ultrasonic transducer unit 32 to the bulging portion 36 using the screw 103 (see FIG. 18A described later). Thereby, the ultrasonic transducer 39 is attached to the tank 28.

  In a state where the cleaner body 2 is in a normal state and the ultrasonic transducer unit 32 is fixed to the tank 28 (see FIG. 8A), the suction pipe 47 is disposed inside the electrolytic chamber 34 in the tank 28. The bulging portion 36 extends linearly from the through hole 38 to the front lower side. At this time, the other end 47 </ b> B of the suction pipe 47 is located in the vicinity of the front end of the bottom of the electrolysis chamber 34, but is not in contact with the inner wall surface of the tank 28. In this state, in the ultrasonic transducer unit 32, the fourth ring member 45 is in contact with the rear side wall 36A of the bulging portion 36 of the tank 28 from the rear side, and the ultrasonic transducer 39 is It extends to the front upper side along the rear side wall 36A. Therefore, the ultrasonic transducer 39 (the front side surface 39A and the rear side surface 39B) is inclined by about 15 ° as described above with respect to the vertical direction.

Further, in the ultrasonic transducer 39 in this state, the front side surface 39A communicates with the inside of the tank 28 (electrolytic chamber 34) through the hollow portion of the second ring member 43 and the suction pipe 47. On the other hand, the rear side surface 39B faces the outside on the rear upper side through the hollow portion of the first ring member 42.
The connection terminal 33 (see FIG. 22) is accommodated in the wiring chamber 35 (see FIG. 7), and is exposed downward from the opening 28B (see FIG. 7). The connection terminal 33 is electrically connected to the two electrodes 30, the water level sensor 31 (see FIG. 18B), and the ultrasonic transducer 39 via the lead wire 48 (see FIG. 22). .

  In the production unit 20 as described above, first, referring to FIG. 7, the cap 29 is removed, and water is poured from the water supply port 37 into the electrolytic chamber 34 of the tank 28. The water poured from the water supply port 37 is guided to the left side by hitting the inclined surface 28A of the tank 28 immediately below the water supply port 37, and quickly reaches the left side region in the electrolysis chamber 34. Further, the water circulates in the electrolysis chamber 34 by hitting the inclined surface 28 </ b> A and reaching the electrolysis chamber 34. This prevents foreign matter from adhering to the inner surface of the tank 28.

  When the water supply port 37 is closed with the cap 29 after pouring a predetermined amount of water, the water accumulates in the electrolysis chamber 34 to a predetermined water level. The surface of the water accumulated in the electrolysis chamber 34 is marked with a symbol T. When water has accumulated in the electrolysis chamber 34 to a predetermined water level, the lower portions of the two electrodes 30 are immersed in water in the electrolysis chamber 34 (the water level sensor 31 will be described later). The other end 47 </ b> B of the suction pipe 47 of the ultrasonic transducer unit 32 is also immersed in the water in the tank 42. On the other hand, one end portion 27 </ b> A of the introduction pipe 27 is connected to the tank 28 at a position above the water surface T, and the introduction pipe 27 communicates with a space above the water surface T in the electrolysis chamber 34.

Here, in the production | generation unit 20, the sealing performance is ensured by using packing etc. For this reason, water in the electrolysis chamber 34 leaks into the wiring chamber 35, or water leaks from the joint between the rear side wall 36 </ b> A of the tank 28 and the ultrasonic transducer unit 32, and the joint of each component in the ultrasonic transducer unit 32. There is nothing (see also FIG. 8 (b)).
Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the generation unit 20 is mounted on the housing 4 of the cleaner body 2 in the normal state from above and is stored in the storage chamber 21 from above. When the generation unit 20 is completely attached to the housing 4, the connection terminal 33 is connected to the body terminal 49 provided on the housing 4 (see FIG. 22). Further, the connecting pipe 26 extending from the motor cover 25 is connected from the lower side to the other end portion 27B of the introducing pipe 27 of the generating unit 20 (see FIG. 22), whereby the tank 28 connects the connecting pipe 26 to the other end portion 27B. To the electric blower 9 in the motor cover 25 (see FIG. 5).

  Then, when the cover 22 is closed and the storage chamber 21 is closed (see FIG. 3), the generation unit 20 is covered from the outside by the cover 22 and is built in the cleaner body 2 as shown in FIG. . In this state, as shown in FIG. 8A, the jet port 23 of the cover 22 faces the hollow portion of the first ring member 42 of the ultrasonic transducer unit 32 from the rear upper side. Thereby, the rear side surface 39B of the ultrasonic transducer 39 is exposed from the rear surface 13 of the housing 4 (the vacuum cleaner body 2) to the rear upper side through the jet port 23. Also at this time, the ultrasonic transducer 39 extends to the front upper side and is inclined by about 15 ° as described above with respect to the vertical direction.

In this state, the floor surface X is cleaned as described above. In that case, electric power is supplied to the production | generation unit 20 from the main body power supply (not shown) built in the cleaner body 2 via the main body terminal 49 and the connection terminal 33 (refer FIG. 22) mentioned above.
Here, with reference to FIG. 8B, in the generation unit 20, as described above, the pair of electrodes 30 in the electrolysis chamber 34 are immersed in water, and a voltage is applied to the pair of electrodes 30 via the lead wires 48. Is applied, the water in the electrolysis chamber 34 is electrolyzed to become electrolyzed water.

More specifically, a voltage is applied to the pair of electrodes 30 through the lead wires 48 so that a predetermined current flows intermittently so as to have opposite polarities to each other. The water inside is electrolyzed. As water, tap water is usually used, and tap water contains chlorine. Therefore, the following electrochemical reaction occurs by electrolysis.
(Anode side)
4H ₂ O-4e ⁻ → 4H ⁺ + O ₂ ↑ + 2H ₂ O
2Cl ⁻ → Cl ₂ + 2e ⁻
H ₂ O + Cl ₂ ⇔HClO + H ⁺ + Cl ⁻
(Cathode side)
4H ₂ O + 4e ⁻ → 2H ₂ ↑ + 4OH ⁻
(Between electrodes)
H ⁺ + OH ⁻ → H ₂ O
By the electrochemical reaction as described above, electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid (HClO) and active oxygen having a sterilizing effect and a deodorizing effect can be generated and stored in the electrolysis chamber 34. That is, tap water in the electrolysis chamber 34 becomes electrolyzed water having a predetermined concentration by an electrochemical reaction.

During the cleaning of the floor surface, when a dedicated switch (referred to as mist switch 50 (start operation unit), see FIG. 31 described later) provided in the cleaner body 2 is pressed, the electric blower 9 (see FIG. 2). In the state where is driven, a voltage pulse is applied to the ultrasonic transducer 39, and thereby the ultrasonic transducer 39 vibrates.
Thereby, referring to FIG. 5, a part of the air (exhaust gas) discharged into motor cover 25 by electric blower 9 passes through connecting pipe 26 and introducing pipe 27 in this order, as indicated by a thick arrow. To do. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, this exhaust gas flows into the inside of the electrolytic chamber 34 in the tank 28 from above. As described above, the tank 28 can take a part of the exhaust of the electric blower 9 into the internal electrolysis chamber 34 by the connection pipe 26 and the introduction pipe 27 (see FIG. 5).

  The exhaust gas that has flowed into (taken in) the electrolysis chamber 34 from above pushes the water surface T of the electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 34 from above. As a result, the electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 34 flows into the suction pipe 47 from the other end 47 </ b> B of the suction pipe 47 and rises in the suction pipe 47. Referring to FIG. 8B, the electrolyzed water that has risen in the suction pipe 47 passes through the hollow portion of the second ring member 43 from one end portion 47 </ b> A of the suction pipe 47 and in front of the ultrasonic transducer 39. The side 39A is reached (supplied). Thus, the suction pipe 47 supplies the water in the tank 28 (electrolytic chamber 34) to the ultrasonic vibrator 39 in the normal state (non-contained state) of the cleaner body 2.

  At this time, the electrolysis water near the through hole 41 (see FIG. 7) on the front side 39A side of the ultrasonic vibrator 39 is ultrasonically vibrated by the ultrasonic vibrator 39 that vibrates by application of the voltage pulse. Electrolytic water mist (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “mist”) M, which is fine water particles, is generated from the through hole 41 (see FIG. 8A). Since the electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 34 is constantly supplied to the ultrasonic vibrator 39 by the pressure of the exhaust gas flowing into the electrolysis chamber 34, the mist generated in the ultrasonic vibrator 39 is caused by the pressure of the exhaust gas. Then, it is ejected from the through hole 41, and ejected to the rear upper side (obliquely upward) through the hollow portion of the first ring member 42 (see FIG. 8A).

As shown in FIG. 2, the mist M ejected from the through hole 41 is ejected from the ejection port 23 of the cover 22 and is diffused to the rear upper side. The mist M that is about to be ejected in a direction different from the rear upper side is correctly ejected to the rear upper side (diagonally upward) by the guide surface 46 of the first ring member 42 and the guide surface 24 at the ejection port 23. In addition, the ejection direction is corrected.
The mist M diffused to the rear upper side rises to the upper limit, and then tries to descend to the lower rear side while drawing a parabola by its own weight. At that time, the mist M is scooped up from below by the air (see the thick white arrow in FIG. 2) exhausted upward from the exhaust port 14 of the cleaner body 2 as described above. And spread throughout the room. As a result, the virus or allele floating in the room is removed by the mist M so that the indoor space is sterilized and the room is deodorized by the mist M.

  Here, as described above, a part of the exhaust of the electric blower 9 is taken into the tank 28 by the connecting pipe 26 (see FIG. 5), and the electrolyzed water in the tank 28 is ultrasonically vibrated by the pressure of the exhaust. It is supplied to the child 39. Then, the ultrasonic transducer 39 generates mist M from the supplied electrolyzed water, and ejects the mist M from the through hole 41 (see FIG. 7) by the pressure of the exhaust gas taken into the tank 28. That is, in this electric vacuum cleaner 1, the substance (mist M) which cleans air can be discharged | emitted with the simple structure using the pressure of the exhaust_gas | exhaustion of the electric blower 9.

FIG. 10 is a right side view of the rear portion of the cleaner body 2 and shows a part including the generating unit 20 in cross section.
Referring to FIG. 10, a gap Y (guidance path) is ensured over the entire area between the generation unit 20 and the portion of the rear surface 13 of the housing 4 that defines the storage chamber 21. The gap Y is partitioned into an L shape by the generation unit 20 and a portion that partitions the storage chamber 21 on the rear surface 13 of the housing 4 when viewed from the width direction. In the state where the cover 22 is closed, an inlet 51 is formed at the front end portion of the upper end portion of the cover 22 so as to penetrate the cover 22 vertically and communicate with the gap Y from above. Further, an outlet 52 communicating with the gap Y later is formed between the lower end portion of the cover 22 and the rear surface 13 of the housing 4 or at the lower end portion of the cover 22 itself. The outlet 52 is adjacent to the exhaust port 14 of the rear surface 13 from above.

  In this case, when the air is exhausted upward from the exhaust port 14 (see the thick white arrow), the air in the gap Y flows out from the outlet 52 so as to be attracted to the air. Along with this, a flow of air flowing out from the outlet 52 through the gap Y from the inlet 51 is generated (see black arrow). That is, the gap Y takes in outside air at the inlet 51 and guides this air to the exhaust discharged from the exhaust port 14 (see the thick white arrow) at the outlet 52.

In the generation unit 20, the exhaust from the electric blower 9 flows in the electrolysis chamber 34 or electrolysis is performed by the electrode 30 (see FIG. 2), so that the electrolysis in the tank 28 (electrolysis chamber 34) is performed. Water temperature tends to rise. As a result, the generation amount and concentration of hypochlorous acid in the electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 34 may be reduced, and the sterilizing effect and deodorizing effect of the electrolyzed water may be reduced.
Therefore, the generation unit 20 is generated by the air flowing through the gap Y by generating the flow of air flowing out from the outlet 52 through the gap Y from the inlet 51 by using the attracting action of the air exhausted upward from the exhaust port 14. (Tank 28) can be cooled. Therefore, even if the water temperature in the tank 28 increases due to electrolysis by the electrode 30 or the like, the tank 28 is cooled by this air flow, so that the water temperature in the tank 28 can be prevented from rising.

FIG. 11 corresponds to FIG. 8 and shows a state in which the cleaner body 2 is erected.
And when storing the vacuum cleaner 1 after finishing the cleaning of the floor surface X, if the cleaner main body 2 is stood up, the cleaner main body 2 will be shown in FIG. 11 from the normal state (refer FIG. 8) mentioned above. The posture can be changed to the stored state. In the cleaner body 2 in the housed state, the rear surface 13 of the housing 4 faces the floor surface X from above (see FIG. 11A). Thereby, the vacuum cleaner 1 can be stored compactly.

As described above, in the normal state, in the suction pipe 47, water is supplied from the other end portion 47B side immersed in the water of the tank 28 to the ultrasonic transducer 39 of the one end portion 47A. The electrolyzed water mist M can be released (see FIG. 8).
On the other hand, in the housed state shown in FIG. 11A, the rear side surface 39B exposed from the rear surface 13 of the cleaner body 2 via the spout 23 in the ultrasonic transducer 39 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. However, it faces the floor surface X from above. Therefore, the electrolyzed water in the electrolytic chamber 34 of the tank 28 travels from the through hole 41 (see FIG. 7) of the ultrasonic transducer 39 to the rear side surface (lower side surface in FIG. 11) 39B (along the inclination of the rear side surface 39B). It is assumed that spills on the floor surface X.

  However, in this case, in the suction pipe 47 that guides the electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 34 to the ultrasonic transducer 39, the other end 47B is below the surface T of the electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 34 in a normal state (FIG. 8), in the stowed state, it is away from the water surface T and is not immersed in the electrolyzed water in the tank 28. Therefore, in the storage state, the electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 34 is not guided (supplied) to the ultrasonic vibrator 39 through the suction pipe 47, and the electrolyzed water in the tank 28 is not supplied to the ultrasonic vibrator 39. Leakage from the through hole 41 to the floor surface X can be prevented.

Thus, in the normal state, the other end 47B is below the water level T of the electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 34 and is immersed in the water in the tank 28, while the other end 47B is upward from the water surface T in the stored state. The reason is that the suction pipe 47 extends so as to incline in a direction away from the rear surface 13 of the housing 4 from the one end portion 47A to the other end portion 47B.
FIG. 12 is a diagram in which a modification is applied to FIG.

  In order to achieve the same effect, as shown in FIG. 12, the other end 47B is moved away from the rear surface 13 of the housing 4 so that the suction pipe 47 is L-shaped (in the normal state, on the front side). Yes, it should be folded upward) in the stored state. Then, in the normal state, the other end 47B is below the surface T of the electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 34 and is immersed in the water in the tank 28 (not shown), and the suction pipe 47 ultrasonically converts the electrolyzed water into ultrasonic waves. While the other end 47B is separated upward from the water surface T in the storage state shown in FIG. 12, the electrolyzed water passes from the ultrasonic vibrator 39 through the suction pipe 47 to the floor surface X. There is no spillage.

Fig.13 (a) has shown the cross section when the production | generation unit 20 is cut | disconnected by the flat surface extended perpendicularly | vertically along the up-down-left-right direction, FIG.13 (b) is AA arrow of Fig.13 (a). FIG. In FIG. 13A, the ultrasonic transducer 39 is illustrated by a virtual line.
In the generation unit 20 shown in FIG. 13B, unlike the embodiment described above, the fourth ring member 45 (see FIG. 8) is omitted. In this case, the first ring member 42 and the second ring member 43 holding the ultrasonic transducer 39 in a state where the third ring member 44 and the rear side wall 36A of the bulging portion 36 of the tank 28 overlap each other. It is pinched. The through hole 38 of the rear side wall 36A passes through the rear side wall 36A along the thickness direction of the rear side wall 36A and communicates with the hollow portion of the second ring member 43 from the front side. Further, the electrolytic chamber 34 inside the tank 28 is divided by a partition wall 53 extending substantially horizontally, with a portion (generation chamber 54) below the inner portion of the bulging portion 36 and an inner portion (storage chamber) of the bulging portion 36. 55). The storage chamber 55 is disposed above the generation chamber 54. The electrode 30 and the water level sensor 31 (see FIG. 7) described above are disposed in the generation chamber 54, and electrolyzed water is generated in the generation chamber 54. The through-hole 38 in the rear side wall 36A communicates with the storage chamber 55 from the rear side, and the front side surface 39A of the ultrasonic transducer 39 passes through the hollow portion of the second ring member 43 and the through-hole 38. It faces the storage chamber 55 from the rear side.

An upper end portion of a suction pipe 56 that extends linearly downward is connected to the partition wall 53, and the generation chamber 54 and the storage chamber 55 communicate with each other through the inside of the suction pipe 56. The lower end of the suction pipe 56 is immersed in the electrolyzed water in the generation chamber 54 at a position above the bottom of the generation chamber 54.
In this case, as described above, a part of the exhaust discharged from the electric blower 9 passes through the connection pipe 26 and the introduction pipe 27 in this order (see FIG. 5), and the inside of the generation chamber 54 of the electrolysis chamber 34. Then, the water level T of the electrolyzed water in the generation chamber 54 is pushed from above. As a result, the electrolyzed water in the generation chamber 54 rises in the suction pipe 56, reaches the storage chamber 55, and is stored in the storage chamber 55. That is, the electrolyzed water in the generation chamber 54 can be sucked and stored in the storage chamber 55.

When the electrolyzed water is accumulated in the storage chamber 55 until the electrolyzed water reaches the front side surface 39A of the ultrasonic vibrator 39, the ultrasonic vibrator 39 is ultrasonically vibrated to generate mist, and the through hole 41 (see FIG. 7) can be ejected out of the rear upper machine.
As described above, the inclination angle of the ultrasonic transducer 39 with respect to the vertical direction is about 15 °. As a result, even when the electrolyzed water in the storage chamber 55 passes through the through hole 41 (see FIG. 7) of the ultrasonic vibrator 39, external air enters the storage chamber 55 from the through hole 41 and becomes bubbles. The air bubbles quickly move to the upper space of the storage chamber 55 without adhering to the front side surface 39A of the ultrasonic transducer 39 and blocking the through hole 41. Thereby, it can prevent that the ejection of the mist M (refer FIG. 2) in the through-hole 41 of the ultrasonic transducer | vibrator 39 is prevented by the bubble.

  However, when the electrolytic water in the generation chamber 54 is sucked into the storage chamber 55 by the suction pipe 56, it is assumed that bubbles are generated in the storage chamber 55 and block the through hole 41 of the ultrasonic transducer 39. Therefore, a through hole 57 that communicates with the storage chamber 55 from above is provided in the top wall 36B of the tank 28 (the bulging portion 36) that partitions the storage chamber 55 from above, and air passes through the through hole 57 but moisture remains. It is blocked with a member that does not pass (referred to as filter member 58). An example of the filter member 58 is Temisch (registered trademark). Since the bubbles generated in the storage chamber 55 pass through the filter member 58 and are released to the outside, the bubbles 41 can be prevented from being blocked by the bubbles. On the other hand, the electrolyzed water in the storage chamber 55 does not leak outside through the filter member 58.

Thus, even if bubbles are generated in the storage chamber 55, the filter member 58 allows the bubbles to escape outside the storage chamber 55, so that the bubbles generated in the storage chamber 55 cause the through-holes of the ultrasonic transducer 39. It is possible to prevent such a problem that the electrolytic water mist M cannot be smoothly ejected from the through hole 41 due to the blockage of 41.
Moreover, since the air of the storage chamber 55 can be flowed out of the production | generation unit 20 from the filter member 58, electrolysis water can be stored in the storage chamber 55 to the water level which can start generation | occurrence | production of mist at that time. Thereby, mist can be generated at an early stage.

  FIG. 14 is a left side view of the rear portion of the cleaner body 2 provided with the shutter mechanism 60, and shows a part including the generation unit 20 in cross section. FIG. 15 is a plan view of the generation unit 20, the electric blower 9, and the shutter mechanism 60, showing the main part in cross-section and showing the state where the shutter 61 is in the closed position. FIG. 16 shows a state where the shutter 61 is in the open position in FIG.

Further, in order to prevent water leakage from the ultrasonic transducer 39 and adhesion of dust from the outside to the ultrasonic transducer 39, the shutter mechanism 60 has a shutter mechanism 60 for the generation units 20 having all the configurations described above. It may be provided.
The shutter mechanism 60 includes a shutter 61 that opens and closes the ejection port 23, and includes a biasing member 62, a pressing member 63 (opening member), and a take-out pipe 64 shown in FIG.

  The shutter 61 has a plate shape that is long in the width direction and thin in the front-rear direction. A communication hole 65 penetrating the shutter 61 in the front-rear direction is formed at a position on the right side of the shutter 61 (lower side in FIG. 15) with respect to the posture of the shutter 61 in the rear view. The left end of the shutter 61 is bent at a substantially right angle toward the front side (the right side in FIG. 15). A pressed portion 66 is integrally provided at the right end portion of the shutter 61. The right side portion of the front end surface of the pressed portion 66 forms an inclined surface 66A that inclines linearly toward the right rear side in rear view.

The shutter 61 is supported by the cover 22 and the housing 4 so as to be slidable in the width direction.
When viewed from the rear, the shutter 61 when the communication hole 65 is shifted to the right side from the jet port 23 of the cover 22 is in a closed position (closed position), and the jet port 23 is located on the front side at the portion on the left side of the communication hole 65. The hollow portion of the first ring member 42 of the generation unit 20 is closed from the rear side. In this state, the shutter 61 blocks between the ejection port 23 and the hollow portion of the first ring member 42. Therefore, the electrolyzed water in the tank 28 does not leak out of the machine from the through-hole 41 (see FIG. 7) of the ultrasonic transducer 39 through the hollow portion of the first ring member 42 and the jet port 23, and the outside. The dust does not enter the hollow portion of the first ring member 42 from the ejection port 23 and adhere to the ultrasonic transducer 39.

On the other hand, when the shutter 61 in the closed position is slid to the left in the rear view, and the communication hole 65 is disposed between the jet port 23 and the hollow portion of the first ring member 42 as shown in FIG. The shutter 61 is disposed at the open position (open position). At this time, the ejection port 23 and the hollow portion of the first ring member 42 communicate with each other through the communication hole 65.
Referring to FIG. 15, the urging member 62 is a compression spring that is long in the width direction, and is interposed between the left inner surface of the cover 22 and the left end portion of the shutter 61 in the rear view. The urging member 62 urges the shutter 61 toward the right closed position (closed direction) in a rear view by an urging force to be extended.

The pressing member 63 is integrally provided with a cylindrical shaft portion 67 extending in the front-rear direction and a pressing portion 68 provided at the rear end portion of the shaft portion 67. The rear end surface of the pressing portion 68 is inclined linearly to the right rear side in the rear view. A flange portion 67 </ b> A is integrally provided at the front end of the shaft portion 67 so as to project from the circumferential surface of the shaft portion 67 radially outward.
Further, the cleaner body 2 is provided with a storage portion 69 for storing the front end portion of the shaft portion 67. The storage portion 69 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction, and is open at the rear end and is closed at the front end. The rear end of the storage portion 69 forms a bent portion 69A that is bent inward in the radial direction. The pressing member 63 can slide back and forth in a state where the front end portion of the shaft portion 67 is stored in the storage portion 69. A longitudinal coil spring 70 is wound around the front end portion of the shaft portion 67 in the front-rear direction. The coil spring 70 is a compression spring, and is inserted between a flange portion 67A at the front end of the shaft portion 67 and a bent portion 69A at the rear end of the storage portion 69. The entire pressing member 63 is urged forward.

The take-out pipe 64 has a tubular shape bent in a crank shape, and has one end portion 64 </ b> A connected to the motor cover 25 and the other end portion 64 </ b> B connected to the storage portion 69. Thereby, the inside of the motor cover 25 and the inside of the storage portion 69 (specifically, the region on the front side of the flange portion 67A at the front end of the shaft portion 67 of the pressing member 63) communicate with each other.
In such a configuration, the shutter 61 is in the closed position when the electric blower 9 is not driven. When the electric blower 9 is driven, a part of the exhaust discharged from the electric blower 9 is taken out by the take-out pipe 64 and reaches the inside of the storage unit 69 through the take-out pipe 64. This exhaust pushes the front end surface of the shaft portion 67 where the flange portion 67A is formed in the pressing member 63 to the rear side. As a result, the pressing member 63 slides rearward against the biasing force of the coil spring 70 by receiving a part of the exhaust from the electric blower 9, and the pressing portion 68 of the pressing member 63 is inclined at that time. The rear end surface pushes the inclined surface 66A of the pressed portion 66 of the shutter 61 rearward. Accordingly, the force by which the pressing portion 68 pushes the pressed portion 66 rearward acts on the left side in the rear view, and the shutter 61 slides to the left against the urging force of the urging member 62, and is shown in FIG. It reaches the open position. That is, the pressing member 63 receives part of the exhaust air from the electric blower 9 and opens the shutter 61 against the urging force of the urging member 62.

On the other hand, if the driving of the electric blower 9 is stopped in this state, the exhaust discharged from the electric blower 9 does not push the front end surface of the shaft portion 67 to the rear side, so that the pressing member 63 is pressed by the biasing force of the coil spring 70. Returning to the original front position, the shutter 61 returns to the closed position by the urging force of the urging member 62 accordingly (see FIG. 15).
Thus, when the electric blower 9 is driven (during the operation of the cleaner), the shutter 61 opens, so that the electrolyzed water mist can be discharged from the opened outlet 23 (see FIG. 16). On the other hand, when the driving of the electric blower 9 (operation of the cleaner) is stopped, the shutter 61 is closed and the outlet 23 is closed, so that water in the tank 28 (see FIG. 2) leaks from the outlet 23. In addition, it is possible to prevent such a problem that external dust enters the cleaner body 2 from the jet nozzle 23 and adheres to the ultrasonic vibrator 39 (see FIG. 15).

FIG. 17A is a plan sectional view of the generation unit 20 and the shutter mechanism 60 according to the modification, and shows a state in which the shutter 61 is in the open position, and FIG. In (a), the shutter 61 is in the closed position.
As shown in FIG. 17, a shutter mechanism 60 having a configuration different from those in FIGS. 15 and 16 may be used.

In the shutter mechanism 60 shown in FIG. 17, the inclined surface 66 </ b> A described above is not provided on the front end surface of the pressed portion 66 of the shutter 61. An inclined surface 66B that is inclined toward the surface is formed.
Further, a pressing member 71 (closed member) having a configuration different from that of the pressing member 63 described above is provided. The pressing member 71 is integrally provided with a shaft portion 72 elongated in the front-rear direction and a pressing portion 73 connected to the front end of the shaft portion 72. The front end surface of the pressing portion 73 is inclined to the right front side in the rear view. The pressing portion 73 is integrally provided with a protruding portion 73A that protrudes to the right in the rear view. Further, in the housing 4 of the cleaner body 2, a support boss 74 that protrudes rearward is provided at a position facing the protrusion 73 </ b> A from the front side with a space therebetween. A longitudinal biasing member 75 is interposed between the protrusion 73A and the support boss 74 in the front-rear direction.

  The urging member 75 is a compression spring and urges the pressing member 71 to the rear side by an urging force that tends to extend. Here, a through hole 76 through which the shaft portion 72 passes is formed at a position facing the shaft portion 72 of the pressing member 71 in the cover 22. In FIG. 17A, in the pressing member 71 urged rearward when the cleaner body 2 is in a normal state (see FIG. 2), the shaft portion 72 extends from the through hole 76 to the rear outer side of the cover 22. Protruding to At this time, the shutter 61 is in the open position described above. The urging member 62 described above urges the shutter 61 in the opening direction so that the shutter 61 is located at the open position.

  In this state, when the cleaner body 2 is stood and stowed (see FIG. 11), the shaft portion 72 that protrudes outward from the through hole 76 of the cover 22 has a floor as shown in FIG. By abutting against the surface X, the pressing member 71 slides to the side away from the floor surface X (the upper side in the cleaner body 2 in the housed state) against the urging force of the urging member 75. Thereby, the inclined front end surface (upper end surface when the cleaner body 2 is in the retracted state) of the pressing portion 73 of the pressing member 71 presses the inclined surface 66B of the pressed portion 66 of the shutter 61 from below. Thereby, the force by which the pressing portion 73 presses the pressed portion 66 acts on the left side in the rear view, and the shutter 61 slides to the left against the urging force of the urging member 62 and reaches the closed position. At this time, in the shutter 61, the jet port 23 is blocked by a portion on the right side (the lower side in FIG. 17B) of the communication hole 65. That is, when the pressing member 71 having the shaft portion 72 is brought into contact with the floor surface X, the shutter 61 is closed against the urging force of the urging member 62.

On the other hand, in this state, when the cleaner body 2 is changed from the housed state to the normal state, or when the cleaner body 2 is lifted from the floor surface X, the shaft portion 72 of the pressing member 71 is not brought into contact with the floor surface X. The pressed portion 66 of the shutter 61 is not pressed by the pressing member 71. In response to this, the shutter 61 returns to the open position by the urging force of the urging member 62 (see FIG. 17A).
Thus, when the cleaner body 2 is not in the housed state (during the operation of the cleaner), the shutter 61 is opened by being urged by the urging member 62, so that the electrolyzed water is discharged from the opened outlet 23. Mist can be discharged (see FIG. 17A). On the other hand, when the cleaner body 2 is in the stowed state (when the operation of the cleaner is stopped), the shutter 61 is closed and the outlet 23 is closed, so that the water in the tank 28 (see FIG. 2) spouts. Problems such as leakage from the outlet 23 or external dust entering the cleaner body 2 from the jet outlet 23 and adhering to the ultrasonic vibrator 39 can be prevented (see FIG. 17B).

FIG. 18A is a rear view of the generation unit 20, and FIG. 18B is a right side view of the generation unit 20. FIG. 19A is a right side view of the rear portion of the cleaner body 2 in a normal state, and FIG. 19B shows a state in which the cleaner body 2 is erected in FIG. 19A. ing.
Next, the water level sensor 31 described above will be described.

Referring to FIG. 18B, the water level sensor 31 is housed in the electrolysis chamber 34 in the tank 28 and detects the water level in the electrolysis chamber 34. Specifically, the water level sensor 31 detects the lack of water in the electrolysis chamber 34 by the lower end portion thereof not touching water.
The water level sensor 31 has a plate shape that is long and thin in the vertical direction. The water level sensor 31 is disposed at a position on the front side (left side in FIG. 18B) spaced apart from the electrodes 30 so as to overlap with the pair of electrodes 30 in the rear view. That is, the water level sensor 31 is located farther from the rear surface 13 of the housing 4 of the cleaner body 2 than the pair of electrodes 30 (see FIG. 19). The lower end of the water level sensor 31 is located slightly below the center of the electrolysis chamber 34 in the vertical direction.

  Referring to FIG. 19A, when the cleaner body 2 is in a normal state and water is accumulated in the electrolysis chamber 34 to a predetermined water level, the lower end of the water level sensor 31 is accumulated in the electrolysis chamber 34 to the predetermined water level. The water is below the water surface T and is immersed in the water in the electrolysis chamber 34. The water level sensor 31 is energized when its lower end is immersed in the water in the electrolysis chamber 34, thereby detecting that water has accumulated in the electrolysis chamber 34 to a predetermined water level.

On the other hand, when the water level in the electrolysis chamber 34 becomes lower than the predetermined water level, the water level sensor 31 moves away from the water surface T in the electrolysis chamber 34. Thereby, since water does not touch the water level sensor 31, the water level sensor 31 is not energized. Therefore, the water level sensor 31 detects that water has not accumulated up to a predetermined water level in the electrolysis chamber 34 (water shortage in the electrolysis chamber 34).
In a state where water is not accumulated up to a predetermined water level in the electrolysis chamber 34, the electrode 30 and the ultrasonic vibrator 39 (see FIG. 2) are not in contact with water. If a voltage is applied to the electrode 30 or the ultrasonic vibrator 39 in this state, not only electrolyzed water and mist are generated, but the electrode 30 and the ultrasonic vibrator 39 may be heated and damaged. Therefore, in the vacuum cleaner main body 2, when the water level sensor 31 stops touching water, the application of voltage to the electrode 30 and the ultrasonic transducer 39 (that is, the operation of the generation unit 20) is stopped. Specifically, the control part 100 (refer FIG. 31 mentioned later) provided in the cleaner body 2 has stopped the water level sensor 31 from touching water (the water level sensor 31 has detected the water shortage of the electrolysis chamber 34). Accordingly, the operation of the generation unit 20 is stopped. With such a configuration, the generation unit 20 is prevented from operating despite water shortage, and the electrode 30 and the ultrasonic transducer 39 are protected.

  19B, when the cleaner body 2 is upright and in the stowed state, the water surface T of the electrolysis chamber 34 is parallel to the floor surface X and the water level sensor 31, and the entire water level sensor 31 is electrolyzed. It arrange | positions in the position higher than the water surface T of the water of the chamber 34, and does not touch water. Along with this, the operation of the generation unit 20 is stopped. In detail, since the water level sensor 31 does not touch water, according to this, the control part 100 (refer FIG. 31) stops the driving | operation of the production | generation unit 20. FIG. Therefore, it can prevent that the production | generation unit 20 is drive | operated although the cleaner body 2 is in the accommodation state.

Further, if the ultrasonic vibrator 39 is in contact with water, the ultrasonic vibrator 39 generates mist and sprays it on the floor surface X even when the cleaner body 2 is in the housed state. Problems such as wetting can be prevented.
Thus, in order to prevent the generation unit 20 from being operated when the cleaner body 2 is in the storage state, the water level sensor 31 is connected to the water surface T of the electrolysis chamber 34 when the cleaner body 2 is in the storage state. It is good to arrange | position so that it may leave | separate upwards.

20 (a) is a rear view of the generation unit 20 and the electric blower 9, and shows a part in a cross section, and FIG. 20 (b) is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 20 (a). FIG. 20 (c) shows a state where the ball valve 80 is lifted in FIG. 20 (b).
Referring to FIG. 20 (a), the joint between the introduction pipe 27 that guides the exhaust from the electric blower 9 described above into the electrolysis chamber 34 of the generation unit 20 and the electrolysis chamber 34 (tank 28) is described above. A second filter member 77 made of Temisch (registered trademark) is inserted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water in the electrolysis chamber 34 from leaking to the electric blower 9 through the introduction pipe 27. The second filter member 77 is not limited to the joint portion between the introduction pipe 27 and the electrolysis chamber 34 (tank 28), and may be disposed in the middle of the introduction pipe 27 or the connection pipe 26.

The connecting pipe 26 that connects the motor cover 25 that houses the electric blower 9 and the introduction pipe 27 branches to a main pipe 26 </ b> A and a sub pipe 26 </ b> B connected to the introduction pipe 27.
Referring to FIG. 20B, the sub-pipe 26B has a circular tube shape, and extends to the left side in a rear view and then bends substantially at a right angle and extends upward. A communication port 78 that communicates the inside with the outside is formed at the upper end of the sub pipe 26B.

  Further, a conical surface 79 whose diameter is increased upward is formed below the communication port 78 on the inner peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the sub pipe 26B. A spherical ball valve 80 is built in the upper end portion of the sub pipe 26B. The ball valve 80 can slide up and down inside the upper end portion of the sub-pipe 26B, and normally contacts the conical surface 79 from above by its own weight. Thereby, the inside of the sub pipe 26 </ b> B is blocked from above by the ball valve 80 at the contact point between the ball valve 80 and the conical surface 79. In this state, the ball valve 80 is not in contact with a portion other than the conical surface 79 on the inner peripheral surface of the sub pipe 26B.

  In the electric blower 9, the suction force can be adjusted, and the pressure of the exhaust discharged from the electric blower 9 varies according to the change in the suction force. As described above, a part of the exhaust gas pushes down the water in the electrolysis chamber 34 from the inside of the motor cover 25 through the connection pipe 26 (main pipe 26A) and the introduction pipe 27 (see FIG. 20A). As a result, the water in the electrolysis chamber 34 reaches the ultrasonic vibrator 39 through the suction pipe 47 and becomes mist, and is discharged to the outside by the exhaust pressure (see FIG. 2).

Here, even if the pressure of the exhaust discharged from the electric blower 9 fluctuates, it is desired to release the mist to the outside with a constant momentum. Therefore, the above-described ball valve 80 functions.
Specifically, a part of the exhaust discharged from the electric blower 9 passes through the connecting pipe 26, but this exhaust flows into the sub pipe 26B as well as the main pipe 26A in the connecting pipe 26 (FIG. 20 ( a)). The exhaust gas flowing into the sub-pipe 26B pushes the ball valve 80 that is in contact with the conical surface 79 from above (see the thick arrow in FIG. 20B). At this time, if the exhaust pressure is smaller than a predetermined magnitude, the ball valve 80 does not move even if the exhaust pushes the ball valve 80.

  On the other hand, if the pressure of the exhaust is equal to or greater than a predetermined magnitude, the exhaust pushes the ball valve 80, and the ball valve 80 has been in contact with the conical surface 79 until now as shown in FIG. Ascend from position. As a result, a gap Z is formed between the ball valve 80 and the conical surface 79, so that the exhaust gas passes through the gap Z to reach the upper end portion of the sub pipe 26B, and is connected from the communication port 78 to the outside (the outside of the connecting pipe 26). (See the thick arrow in FIG. 20C). Thereby, the pressure of the exhaust gas in the connection pipe 26 becomes smaller than the predetermined magnitude.

  Thus, since the ball valve 80 functions as a so-called relief valve or a pressure fluctuation valve, even if the pressure of the exhaust discharged from the electric blower 9 fluctuates, the exhaust of the exhaust flowing into the electrolysis chamber 34 from the main pipe 26A. The pressure is maintained to be smaller than the predetermined magnitude. Thereby, in the production | generation unit 20, a mist can always be discharge | released outside the apparatus with a fixed momentum (refer FIG. 2).

  Further, when the cleaner body 2 falls, the ball valve 80 is separated from the conical surface 79 by its own weight, and thus the above-described gap Z is formed. Therefore, the exhaust gas discharged from the electric blower 9 and flowing into the connection pipe 26 is discharged to the outside from the communication port 78 through the gap Z and does not flow into the electrolysis chamber 34. Therefore, it can prevent that mist is discharged | emitted from the production | generation unit 20 in the state in which the cleaner body 2 fell.

In addition, as long as the above-described relief valve can be configured, a known configuration other than the ball valve 80 can be used.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, a spherical ball valve 81 may be movably disposed inside the suction pipe 47 of the generation unit 20. Since the ball valve 81 blocks the inside of the suction pipe 47 when no exhaust gas flows into the electrolysis chamber 34, the water in the electrolysis chamber 34 reaches the ultrasonic transducer 39 from the suction pipe 47. Thus, no leakage occurs from the through hole 41 (see FIG. 7) of the ultrasonic transducer 39. On the other hand, when the exhaust gas flows into the electrolysis chamber 34, the ball valve 81 is pushed up by this exhaust gas, and a gap is formed between the ball valve 81 and the inner peripheral surface of the suction pipe 47. Thus, the water that is pushed by the exhaust and flows into the suction pipe 47 from the electrolysis chamber 34 passes through the gap between the ball valve 81 and the inner peripheral surface of the suction pipe 47, reaches the ultrasonic transducer 39, and becomes mist. And discharged outside the aircraft. That is, by providing the ball valve 81, the water in the electrolysis chamber 34 may be prevented from leaking out of the ultrasonic transducer 39 in a state where the exhaust does not flow into the electrolysis chamber 34.

Fig.21 (a) is a rear view of the production | generation unit 20, Comprising: One part is shown with the cross section, FIG.21 (b)-(d) is BB arrow sectional drawing of Fig.21 (a). It is.
In order to detect the water level in the electrolysis chamber 34, a water level detection unit 82 having a configuration different from that of the above-described water level sensor 31 (see FIGS. 18 and 19) can be used.
Referring to FIG. 21B, the water level detection unit 82 includes a float 83, a reflection member 84, and a pair of optical sensors 85A and 85B.

  The reflecting member 84 is in the form of a thread or a strip (film sheet) formed of a material that can reflect light, and extends in the vertical direction, with the lower end connected to the bottom of the electrolysis chamber 34 and the upper end floated. 83. The float 83 moves up and down in response to a change in the water level (water surface T) in the electrolysis chamber 34, and the reflecting member 84 expands and contracts in response to this to change the vertical length. Each of the optical sensors 85 </ b> A and 85 </ b> B hits the reflecting member 84 and reflects the light emitted from the light emitting element (not shown) composed of an infrared LED or the like and the light emitted in the horizontal direction by the light emitting element (not shown). And a light receiving element (not shown) for receiving light. Of the optical sensors 85A and 85B, the optical sensor 85A is disposed at a position higher than the optical sensor 85B.

  As shown in FIG. 21 (b), in a state where water is stored in the electrolysis chamber 34 at a predetermined level or higher (full water state), both of the optical sensors 85A and 85B coincide with the reflecting member 84 in the height direction. ing. In this case, in both of the optical sensors 85A and 85B, the light emitted from the light emitting element (not shown) is reflected by the reflecting member 84 and received by the light receiving element (not shown). In any of the optical sensors 85A and 85B, the water level detection unit 82 detects a full water state when the light reflected by the reflecting member 84 is received by the light receiving element.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 21 (c), when the water level drops by a predetermined amount from the full water state, the electrode 30 is not sufficiently immersed in the water in the electrolysis chamber 34, and a voltage is applied to the electrode 30 in this state. However, not only cannot the electrolyzed water be generated, but also the electrode 30 may generate heat and be damaged, so it is necessary to stop the application of voltage to the electrode 30 to protect the electrode 30. The water level at this time is called an electrode protection water level.

  At this time, the upper optical sensor 85A is positioned higher than the reflecting member 84, and the lower optical sensor 85B continues to coincide with the reflecting member 84 in the height direction. In this case, only in the optical sensor 85B, the light emitted from the light emitting element (not shown) is reflected by the reflecting member 84 and received by the light receiving element (not shown). The water level detection unit 82 detects that the current water level is at the electrode protection water level when only the optical sensor 85B receives the light reflected by the reflecting member 84 by the light receiving element. In response to this, the control unit 100 (see FIG. 31), which will be described later, stops applying the voltage to the electrode 30. However, when the water level is at the electrode protection water level, there is sufficient electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 34 to generate mist in the ultrasonic vibrator 39, so that the application of the voltage pulse to the ultrasonic vibrator 39 is stopped. Instead, the mist M is continuously released (see FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 21 (d), in the electrolysis chamber 34, when the water level is lower than the electrode protection water level and there is almost no water (in the drought state), both of the optical sensors 85A and 85B have a height. It does not coincide with the reflecting member 84 in the direction. In this case, in any of the optical sensors 85A and 85B, the light emitted from the light emitting element (not shown) is not reflected by the reflecting member 84, and therefore is not received by the light receiving element (not shown). In any of the optical sensors 85A and 85B, the water level detection unit 82 detects a drought state when the light emitted from the light emitting element is not received by the light receiving element. In this case, since there is almost no electrolyzed water for generating mist in the ultrasonic vibrator 39 in the electrolysis chamber 34, the application of the voltage pulse to the ultrasonic vibrator 39 is stopped to protect the ultrasonic vibrator 39. .

  As described above, according to the water level detection unit 82, not only a full water state or a drought state, but also a state in the middle thereof (electrode protection water level) can be detected. Therefore, appropriate processing according to each water level in the electrolysis chamber 34 is possible. It can be performed. Appropriate treatment is to apply a voltage to both the electrode 30 and the ultrasonic transducer 39 in the full water state, and to stop the application of the voltage to the electrode 30 only when the water level is at the electrode protection water level. Then, the application of voltage to both the electrode 30 and the ultrasonic transducer 39 is stopped.

  FIG. 22 is a right side view of the rear portion of the cleaner body 2 and shows a part including the generation unit 20 in cross section. FIG. 23 shows a state in which the cover 22 in FIG. FIG. 24 shows a state in which the cover 22 is further rotated in the opening direction in FIG. FIG. 25 shows a state where the cover 22 is rotated in the closing direction in FIG.

With reference to FIG. 22, in a state where the generation unit 20 is mounted on the housing 4 of the cleaner body 2, the main body terminal 49 of the housing 4 is connected to the connection terminal 33 of the generation unit 20 from below. Thus, the connection pipe 26 of the housing 4 is connected to the other end 27B of the introduction pipe 27 of the generation unit 20 from below.
Here, the rotation shaft 22A at the lower end of the cover 22 is adjacent to the rear lower end of the generation unit 20 from the rear side (right side in FIG. 22). An engaging portion 22B extending so as to protrude to the front side is integrally provided at the lower end portion of the cover 22. In a state where the cover 22 is closed, the engaging portion 22B is embedded in the lower side of the rear lower end portion of the generation unit 20. In addition, a rib 22C protruding downward is integrally provided on the lower surface of the upper portion of the L-shaped cover 22 that extends substantially in the horizontal direction. In the state where the cover 22 is closed, the rib 22C presses the generating unit 20 from above, thereby connecting the connection terminal 33 and the main body terminal 49 and connecting to the other end 27B of the introduction pipe 27. The connection state with the pipe 26 is firmly maintained.

  When the cover 22 in the closed state is pulled rearward, the cover 22 starts to rotate rearward (clockwise in FIG. 22) about the rotation shaft 22A. Then, as shown in FIG. 23, the engaging portion 22 </ b> B that rotates as a part of the cover 22 pushes up the rear lower end of the generation unit 20 from below. As a result, the entire generation unit 20 rises, the connection terminal 33 starts to be disengaged upward from the main body terminal 49, and the other end portion 27 </ b> B of the introduction pipe 27 begins to disengage from the connection pipe 26 upward.

  When the cover 22 is further rotated in the same direction, the engaging portion 22B further pushes up the generating unit 20. As a result, as shown in FIG. 24, the entire generation unit 20 further rises, the connection terminal 33 is completely removed upward from the main body terminal 49, and the other end 27 </ b> B of the introduction pipe 27 is completely upward from the connection pipe 26. Come off. As a result, the generation unit 20 is completely detached from the casing 4, so that maintenance of the detached generation unit 20 (replenishment of water to the tank 28, etc.) becomes possible.

  On the other hand, when the generation unit 20 after maintenance is set at the position shown in FIG. 24 and then the cover 22 is rotated in the direction opposite to that of the conventional case, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the upper rib 22 </ b> C of the cover 22 presses the generating unit 20 from above. As a result, the entire generation unit 20 is lowered. At this time, the connection terminal 33 approaches the main body terminal 49 from the upper side, and the other end portion 27B of the introduction pipe 27 approaches the connection pipe 26 from the upper side. When the cover 22 is further rotated in the same direction, as shown in FIG. 23, the generation unit 20 is further lowered, and the connection terminal 33 starts to be connected to the main body terminal 49 from the upper side, and the other end of the introduction pipe 27. The part 27B starts to be connected to the connecting pipe 26 from the upper side. Then, as shown in FIG. 22, when the cover 22 is further rotated in the same direction, the generation unit 20 stops descending, and at that time, the connection terminal 33 is completely connected to the main body terminal 49, and the introduction pipe The other end 27 </ b> B of 27 is completely connected to the connecting pipe 26.

FIG. 26A is a plan view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 according to the first configuration, and FIG. 26B is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 of FIG.
Next, the ultrasonic transducer 39 will be described in detail.
Referring to FIG. 26, strictly speaking, the ultrasonic transducer 39 is bonded to the disk-shaped metal plate 87 in which the above-described through hole 41 is formed, and to one side surface of the metal plate 87 with a conductive adhesive 88. And a pair of wirings 90A and 90B connected to the metal plate 87 and the piezoelectric body 89 by soldering. Stainless steel or the like can be used as the material of the metal plate 87. The conductive adhesive 88 is a conductive adhesive, and examples thereof include Dotite (registered trademark).

The piezoelectric body 89 is made of, for example, piezoelectric ceramic and vibrates when a voltage pulse is applied. The outer diameter of the piezoelectric body 89 is smaller than the outer diameter of the metal plate 87, and all the through holes 41 are exposed from the hollow portion of the piezoelectric body 89. An electrode 91 formed by sintering silver is formed on the side surface of the piezoelectric body 89 opposite to the side bonded to the metal plate 87.
The wirings 90A and 90B are covered with an insulating cover 92. In the wiring 90A, the tip portion exposed by peeling off the cover 92 is connected to the portion on the one side of the metal plate 87 radially outside the piezoelectric body 89 by solder (FIG. 26). (See (a)). In the wiring 90 </ b> B, the tip portion exposed by peeling off the cover 92 is connected to the electrode 91 of the piezoelectric body 89 by solder. In this state, in the wirings 90A and 90B, the portions covered with the cover 92 extend substantially in parallel (see FIG. 26A).

When a current flows between the wirings 90A and 90B, a voltage pulse is applied to the piezoelectric body 89 to vibrate. As a result, the entire ultrasonic transducer 39 vibrates as described above.
Here, since the electrode 91 that is a silver sintered body is relatively fragile, the wire 90B is pulled by vibration generated during operation or the wire 90B is pulled during maintenance, so that the tip 93 of the wire 90B becomes the electrode 91. There is a risk that it will come off.

Therefore, the tip portion of the wiring 90B (the portion not covered by the cover 92) is made relatively long, and the middle portion 94 of the tip portion of the wiring 90B is made of metal with an insulating adhesive 95 (silicon bond or the like). The one side surface of the plate 87 is adhered to a portion radially outward from the piezoelectric body 89.
In this way, even if the wiring 90B is pulled, the force pulling the wiring 90B is received by the middle portion 94 of the wiring 90B and does not reach the tip 93. Further, the load of the portion of the wiring 90 </ b> B covered by the cover 92 is also received by the intermediate portion 94 and does not reach the tip 93. Therefore, it can prevent that the front-end | tip 93 of the wiring 90B remove | deviates from the electrode 91. FIG. Thereby, the electrical connection state of the tip 93 of the wiring 90B and the electrode 91 can be maintained in a stable state.

  FIG. 27A is a plan view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 according to the second configuration, and FIG. 27B is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 of FIG. FIG. 28A is a plan view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 according to the third configuration, and FIG. 28B is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 of FIG. FIG. 29A is a plan view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 according to the fourth configuration, and FIG. 29B is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic transducer 39 of FIG. FIG. 30 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a broken-line circle in FIG.

Further, as a configuration different from FIG. 26, there are a second configuration shown in FIG. 27, a third configuration shown in FIG. 28, and a fourth configuration shown in FIG.
In the second configuration shown in FIG. 27, a metal plate 96 such as stainless steel is attached to the electrode 91 with a conductive adhesive 88, and the tip 93 of the wiring 90B is connected to the metal plate 96 with solder. In plan view, the metal plate 96 is larger than the tip 93 of the wiring 90B, and the tip 93 of the wiring 90B is connected to the substantially central portion of the metal plate 96. The tip 93 of the wiring 90 </ b> B is more firmly connected to the metal plate 96 than when connected to the electrode 91.

  In this way, even if the wiring 90B is pulled, the tip 93 of the wiring 90B does not come off from the metal plate 96. In addition, since the metal plate 96 is connected to the electrode 91 with a wider contact area than when the tip 93 is connected to the electrode 91, the force pulling the wiring 90B is dispersed and reduced in the metal plate 96. The metal plate 96 is not peeled off from the electrode 91. Therefore, it can prevent that the front-end | tip 93 of the wiring 90B remove | deviates from the electrode 91. FIG. Thereby, the electrical connection state of the tip 93 of the wiring 90B and the electrode 91 can be maintained in a stable state.

  In the third configuration shown in FIG. 28, the tip 93 of the wiring 90B is bonded to the electrode 91 with a conductive adhesive 88 instead of solder. Since the conductive adhesive 88 has elasticity in a hardened state, even if the wiring 90B is pulled, the conductive adhesive 88 is elastically deformed between the tip 93 of the wiring 90B and the electrode 91, so that a force for pulling the wiring 90B is obtained. ease. Therefore, it can prevent that the front-end | tip 93 of the wiring 90B remove | deviates from the electrode 91. FIG. Thereby, the electrical connection state of the tip 93 of the wiring 90B and the electrode 91 can be maintained in a stable state.

  In the fourth configuration shown in FIG. 29, a flexible cable 97 is used. The flexible cable 97 has a flexible sheet shape and is bent in a crank shape along a step between the metal plate 87 and the piezoelectric body 89. As shown in FIG. 30, the flexible cable 97 includes a conductive sheet-like conductor 98 and an insulating film 99 that covers the conductor 98. 30, the lower surface of the conductor 98 that is not covered with the insulating film 99 is bonded to the electrode 91 by the conductive adhesive 88, and the conductor 98 has the right end portion attached to the insulating film 99. A tip 93 of the wiring 90B is connected to the uncovered upper surface.

  Here, the wiring 90 </ b> B is a metal leaf spring having elasticity, and the tip 93 is elastically connected to the upper surface of the conductor 98 that is not covered with the insulating film 99. Therefore, even if the wiring 90B moves due to vibration or the like, the tip 93 of the wiring 90B only slides with respect to the upper surface not covered with the insulating film 99 at the right end of the conductor 98, and the flexible cable 97 is connected to the electrode 91. Will not peel off. Therefore, even if the wiring 90B moves, the electrical connection state between the tip 93 of the wiring 90B and the electrode 91 is maintained in a stable state. The other wiring 90A is also a leaf spring and may be elastically connected to the metal plate 87 (see FIG. 29B).

FIG. 31 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the vacuum cleaner 1.
Next, with reference to FIG. 31, the electrical configuration of the vacuum cleaner 1 will be described.
The vacuum cleaner 1 includes a control unit 100 (stop means, operation control means, application means, prohibition means). The control unit 100 includes a CPU and a memory (ROM, RAM, etc.) that stores the program and the like, and executes predetermined processing according to the program.

The control unit 100 is electrically connected to the electric blower 9, the generation unit 20, and the mist switch 50 described above, and is further electrically connected to the strength switch 101 (selection operation unit) and the timer unit 102.
The control unit 100 operates the generation unit 20 (application of a voltage to the electrode 30 and application of a voltage pulse to the ultrasonic transducer 39) in response to the user operating (turning on) the mist switch 50. ).

  The strength switch 101 is a portion (knob) that is selected and operated by the user when adjusting the suction force of the electric blower 9, and is provided on the top surface of the cleaner body 2 (see FIG. 2). The strength switch 101 can be switched between a strong notch 101A and a weak notch 101B. When the strength switch 101 is switched to the strong notch 101A, the control unit 100 causes the electric blower 9 to operate strongly so that a relatively large suction force is generated. When the strength switch 101 is switched to the weak notch 101B, the control unit 100 causes the electric blower 9 to operate weakly so that a relatively small suction force is generated. That is, the operation of the electric blower 9 can be switched between strong operation and weak operation, and the operation of the electric blower 9 can be selected by operating the strength switch 101.

  Here, when a relatively large suction force is generated in the strong operation, the pressure of the exhaust from the electric blower 9 is relatively large, and when a relatively small suction force is generated in the weak operation, the electric blower 9 The exhaust pressure is relatively small. As described above, since the electrolyzed water in the tank 28 is supplied to the ultrasonic vibrator 39 by the pressure of the exhaust of the electric blower 9 taken into the tank 28 (see FIGS. 2 and 5), the ultrasonic vibration In a state where water does not reach the child 39, the timing at which the electrolyzed water in the tank 28 is supplied to the ultrasonic vibrator 39 changes depending on whether the electric blower 9 is operating strongly or weakly. Come.

Moreover, since the production | generation unit 20 discharge | releases mist to the exterior by the pressure of the exhaust_gas | exhaustion of the electric blower 9, the control part 100 starts the driving | operation of the production | generation unit 20 according to the mist switch 50 being turned ON by the user. At the same time, the electric blower 9 is operated strongly or weakly.
The time measuring unit 102 measures time.
FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processes performed in the electric vacuum cleaner 1. FIG. 33 is a time chart showing the operation states of the electric blower 9 and the generation unit 20.

Next, processing performed by the control unit 100 (see FIG. 31) will be described with reference to FIG.
The control unit 100 monitors whether or not the mist switch 50 is turned on (step S1). When the mist switch 50 is turned on (YES in step S1), the control unit 100 determines whether the strength switch 101 (see FIG. 31) is strong or weak (that is, which of the strong notch 101A and the weak notch 101B is selected). Is confirmed (step S2).

  If the strong notch 101A is selected, the control unit 100 starts the strong operation of the electric blower 9 and stops (OFF) the operation of the generation unit 20 even though the mist switch 50 is turned on. (Step S3). Thereby, although the exhaust of the electric blower 9 flows into the electrolysis chamber 34 of the production | generation unit 20, mist is not discharge | released outside the apparatus (refer FIG. 2).

Then, based on the time measured by the time counting unit 102 (see FIG. 31), when a predetermined time (here, 3 seconds) has elapsed since the mist switch 50 was turned on (YES in step S4), the control unit 100 generates The operation of the unit 20 is started (ON) (step S5). As a result, the mist M is discharged to the outside by the pressure of the exhaust from the electric blower 9 (see FIG. 2).
When the user intends to end the discharge of the mist, the mist switch 50 is turned off. When the mist switch 50 is turned off (YES in step S6), the control unit 100 stops (OFF) the operation of the generation unit 20 (step S7). Thereby, discharge | release of mist is complete | finished. At this time, the control unit 100 may stop the operation of the electric blower 9.

  On the other hand, when the mist switch 50 is turned on (YES in step S1), if the weak notch 101B is selected, the control unit 100 starts operating the electric blower 9 not in weak operation but in strong operation. Even though the mist switch 50 is turned on, the operation of the generating unit 20 is stopped (OFF) (step S8). Thereby, although the exhaust of the electric blower 9 flows into the electrolysis chamber 34 of the production | generation unit 20, mist is not discharge | released outside the apparatus (refer FIG. 2).

  When 3 seconds have elapsed since the mist switch 50 was turned on based on the time measured by the time counting unit 102 (YES in step S9), the control unit 100 switches the operation of the electric blower 9 from the strong operation to the weak operation. Then, the operation of the generation unit 20 is started (ON) (step S10). As a result, the mist M is discharged to the outside by the pressure of the exhaust from the electric blower 9 (see FIG. 2).

Thereafter, when the mist switch 50 is turned off (YES in step S6), the control unit 100 stops (OFF) the operation of the generation unit 20 (step S7). Thereby, discharge | release of mist is complete | finished. At this time, the control unit 100 may stop the operation of the electric blower 9.
Thus, referring to the time chart of FIG. 33 by the processing of steps S8 to S10, if the mist switch 50 is turned on when the weak notch 101B is selected, the mist switch 50 is turned on 3 For a second, the electric blower 9 is forcibly operated and the generation unit 20 is turned off. Then, when 3 seconds elapse after the mist switch 50 is turned on, the operation of the electric blower 9 is switched to the weak operation, and the generation unit 20 is turned on.

  On the other hand, when the mist switch 50 is turned on when the strong notch 101A is selected, the electric blower 9 is strongly operated at any timing until the mist switch 50 is turned off. The generating unit 20 is turned off for 3 seconds after the mist switch 50 is turned on (step S3 in FIG. 32). Then, when 3 seconds elapse after the mist switch 50 is turned on, the generation unit 20 is turned on (step S5 in FIG. 32).

  That is, when the mist switch 50 is turned on, the control unit 100 turns on the electric blower 9 for 3 seconds after the mist switch 50 is turned on, regardless of whether the strong notch 101A or the weak notch 101B is selected. Since the operation is performed by the operation, the exhaust gas having a relatively large pressure flows into the electrolysis chamber 34. As a result, the air originally in the electrolytic chamber 34 and the suction pipe 47 is pushed out of the machine from the through-hole 41 (see FIG. 7) of the ultrasonic transducer 39, and instead, in the electrolytic chamber 34. The electrolyzed water quickly reaches the ultrasonic vibrator 39 (see FIG. 2).

  Further, in order to prevent the ultrasonic vibrator 39 from vibrating and failing due to heat generation in the absence of water, the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator 39 (operation of the generation unit 20) is stopped for 3 seconds. (Step S3 and Step S8 in FIG. 32). That is, the control unit 100 prohibits application of voltage pulses to the ultrasonic transducer 39 until a predetermined time of 3 seconds elapses after the mist switch 50 is operated. Then, after the elapse of 3 seconds, the ultrasonic vibrator 39 vibrates (step S5 and step S10 in FIG. 32), so that mist M is generated by the electrolyzed water that has reached the ultrasonic vibrator 39, and goes out of the machine. Is released (see FIG. 2). That is, until the electrolyzed water in the tank 28 is supplied to the ultrasonic vibrator 39, no voltage pulse is applied to the ultrasonic vibrator 39. Therefore, the voltage pulse is applied to the ultrasonic vibrator 39 in a state where no electrolyzed water is supplied. Problems such as failure of the ultrasonic transducer 39 due to application can be prevented.

In this way, when the mist switch 50 is turned on, the mist M can be released to the outside at the same timing regardless of which of the strong notch 101A and the weak notch 101B is selected. Yes (see FIG. 2).
This 3 seconds is a time required for the electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 34 to reach the ultrasonic vibrator 39 when the electric blower 9 is operated strongly. Instead, the electric blower 9 is operated weakly. In this case, it takes about 20 seconds for the electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 34 to reach the ultrasonic transducer 39. For this reason, when the mist switch 50 is turned on and the weak notch 101B is selected, if the electric blower 9 is operated weakly, a time lag may occur compared to a case where the electric blower 9 is operated strongly, and the user may feel uncomfortable. There is. The predetermined time of 3 seconds is appropriately set according to the performance of the electric blower 9.

  Therefore, when the mist switch 50 is turned on, regardless of which of the strong notch 101A and the weak notch 101B is selected, the electric blower 9 is operated strongly for 3 seconds after the mist switch 50 is turned on. The electrolyzed water in the tank 28 is always supplied to the ultrasonic vibrator 39 at the same timing (the timing when 3 seconds have passed). Then, by oscillating the ultrasonic transducer 39 immediately after the elapse of 3 seconds, the mist M can always be released at a constant timing (see FIG. 2). In this case, when the user operates the mist switch 50, even if the operation of the electric blower 9 is selected as one of the strong operation and the weak operation by operating the strength switch 101, there is almost no time lag as described above. Since the electrolyzed water mist M is released at the same timing, there is no need to feel uncomfortable. Therefore, usability can be improved.

Then, when the predetermined time of 3 seconds elapses, the control unit 100 causes the electric blower 9 to operate in either the strong operation or the weak operation previously selected by the strength switch 101 by the user (Step S5 and Step S10). ).
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric vacuum cleaner 2 Vacuum cleaner main body 9 Electric blower 13 Rear surface 14 Exhaust port 20 Electrolyzed water mist production | generation unit 23 Spout 26 Connection pipe 28 Tank 30 Electrode 31 Water level sensor 36B Top wall 39 Ultrasonic transducer 39A Front side 39B Rear side 41 Through hole 47 Suction pipe 47A One end 47B Other end 54 Generation chamber 55 Storage chamber 57 Through hole 58 Filter member 61 Shutter 62 Energizing member 63 Pressing member 71 Pressing member 100 Control unit M Electrolyzed water mist X Floor surface Y Gap T Water surface

Claims (9)

A vacuum cleaner body provided with an exhaust port for discharging exhaust generated when the electric blower is built-in and the electric blower is driven;
An electrolyzed water mist outlet provided on one side of the cleaner body;
An electrolyzed water mist generating unit that is built in the vacuum cleaner body and generates electrolyzed water mist to eject electrolyzed water mist from the ejection port;
The electrolyzed water mist generating unit is
A tank capable of storing water inside, coupled to the electric blower via a connection path, and capable of taking a part of the exhaust of the electric blower into the interior through the connection path;
An electrode for electrolyzing the water in the tank into electrolyzed water;
The tank has a plate shape in which a large number of through holes are formed, with one side surface communicating with the tank and the other side surface exposed from one side surface of the cleaner body through the jet port. An ultrasonic transducer for generating electrolyzed water mist from the electrolyzed water supplied by the pressure of the exhaust gas taken into the tank and ejecting it from the through-hole,
A vacuum cleaner characterized by including. The vacuum cleaner main body in the stowed state stands up so that the one side faces the floor surface from above,
In the electrolyzed water mist generating unit, one end connected to the ultrasonic vibrator, and when the vacuum cleaner main body is not housed, the tank is immersed in the water of the tank, and in the housed state, the water surface of the tank is upward. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a supply path for supplying water from the tank to the ultrasonic vibrator in the non-contained state.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the supply path is inclined and extended in a direction away from one side surface of the vacuum cleaner body from the one end to the other end.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the other end portion of the supply path is bent in a direction away from one side surface of the cleaner body. A shutter that opens and closes the spout;
A biasing member that biases the shutter in a closing direction;
When the electric blower is driven, by receiving a part of the exhaust of the electric blower, an opening member that opens the shutter against the biasing force of the biasing member;
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising: A shutter that opens and closes the spout;
An urging member for urging the shutter in the opening direction;
A closing member that closes the shutter against the urging force of the urging member by abutting against the floor surface when the vacuum cleaner main body stands and is in the housed state;
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising: Detecting means for detecting a shortage of water in the tank by being stored in the tank and not touching water;
In response to the detection means detecting a shortage of water in the tank, stop means for stopping the operation of the electrolyzed water mist generation unit,
The detection means is disposed at a position away from one side surface of the cleaner body so that the detector body is disposed at a position higher than the water level of the water in the tank when the cleaner body is stood and stored. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the vacuum cleaner is provided.   8. A guide path formed between the tank and the surface of the vacuum cleaner main body, taking in air outside the machine, and leading to the exhaust discharged from the exhaust port. The vacuum cleaner as described in any one of. The inside of the tank is partitioned into a generation chamber in which the electrode is accommodated and electrolyzed water is generated, and a storage chamber that is disposed above the generation chamber and can suck and store the electrolyzed water in the generation chamber. And
One side surface of the ultrasonic transducer faces the storage chamber,
The top wall of the tank partitions the storage chamber from above, and the top wall has a through hole communicating with the storage chamber,
The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the through hole is closed with a member that allows air to pass but does not allow moisture to pass.

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