JP2014014617A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner without requiring special components such as a shielding member and dust turning means and with no limitation of a period to detect a dust collection amount in a dust collection container.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner comprises: a cyclone separator including a swirl chamber 29 for separating dust from dust-containing air by swirling sucked dust-containing air along a side wall, and a dust collection container 26 for collecting dust that has been separated in the swirl chamber; an air blower 10 for generating a predetermined air flow in the cyclone separator; and dust collection amount detection means for detecting a collected amount of dust that has been collected in the dust collection container. The dust collection container is provided with a plurality of dust collection chambers 30 and 38 with different volumes to accommodate collected dust and, out of the plurality of dust collection chambers, the first dust collection chamber 30 for collecting a relatively large volume of dust has a transparent groove-like swelling part 75. The dust collection amount detection means has a light emitting part 71 and a light receiving part 72 that are arranged on both sides to hold the groove-like swelling part therebetween. According to an amount of light emitted from the light emitting part and received by the light receiving part, a dust collection amount is detected.

Description

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

  Conventionally, a cyclonic vacuum cleaner that centrifuges dust by swirling sucked air in a dust collecting container is known. Dust collected after centrifugation is collected in the dust collection container, but when used in a state where more than a predetermined amount of dust is accumulated, the suction force decreases and the temperature rises abnormally in the electric blower that performs intake. There is a risk of causing. For this reason, in the cyclonic vacuum cleaner, a means for detecting the amount of dust collected in the dust collecting container using, for example, an optical sensor having a light emitting part and a light receiving part has been proposed.

  In such a case, the optical sensor is disposed at the upper limit position for detecting that the dust collecting container is full, and detects whether or not the light emitted from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit. Thus, it is determined whether or not the dust in the dust collecting container has reached the upper limit position. In order to accurately detect whether or not the dust in the dust collecting container has reached the upper limit position, a shielding member that prevents the dust in the dust collecting container from turning is provided (for example, see Patent Document 1). On the contrary, there is one provided with dust rotating means for rotating the dust (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 3729726 (FIGS. 1 to 3) Japanese Patent No. 4767928 (FIGS. 2 to 4)

  However, in order to be able to accurately detect whether the dust in the dust collecting container has reached the upper limit position, a shielding member is provided (Patent Document 1) or a dust rotating means is provided (Patent Document 2). ) Requires separate parts. For this reason, the cost of the product has been increased. Moreover, when cleaning the inside of a dust collecting container, it was necessary to remove and clean another components, such as a shielding member and a dust rotation means.

  Moreover, in the electric vacuum cleaner of patent document 2, since rotation of air arises in a dust collecting container during execution of dust collection operation | movement, the rotational resistance of a dust rotation means will increase. For this reason, the detection time is limited before or after the start of the dust collection operation.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and does not require special parts such as a shielding member and a dust rotating means, and the timing for detecting the amount of dust collected in the dust collecting container is limited. The purpose is to provide a vacuum cleaner that never gets stuck.

  The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention swirls the sucked dust-containing air along the side wall to separate the dust from the dust-containing air, and the dust collected in the swirl chamber is collected. A cyclone separator having a dust container, a blower for generating a predetermined air flow inside the cyclone separator, and a dust collection amount detecting means for detecting the amount of dust collected in the dust container. In the vacuum cleaner, the dust collection container is provided with a plurality of dust collection chambers having different volumes of dust to be collected, and a first collection for collecting relatively bulky dust among the plurality of dust collection chambers. The dust chamber is provided with a transparent groove-like bulging portion, and the dust collection amount detecting means has a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion arranged on both sides of the groove-like bulging portion, and the light emitting portion The amount of collected dust is detected based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit that receives the light emitted by.

In the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, a plurality of dust collecting chambers having different bulks of dust to be collected are provided as a dust collecting container, and among the plurality of dust collecting chambers, relatively bulky dust is collected. The first dust collecting chamber is provided with a transparent groove-shaped bulging portion, and the dust collection amount detecting means has a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion arranged on both sides sandwiching the groove-shaped bulging portion, Since the amount of collected dust is detected by the amount of light received by the light receiving unit that receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit, it is not necessary to provide a shielding member or dust rotating means, and it is possible to detect the presence or absence of dust stably. It becomes.
Further, the timing for detecting the dust collection amount is not limited to before and after the start of the dust collection operation, and can be detected even during the dust collection operation.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the cleaner body of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the accommodating unit of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is AA arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is a BB arrow sectional view of Drawing 3. It is a perspective view which shows the dust collection unit of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the dust collection unit of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the dust collection unit of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is DD sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is EE arrow sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG. 9. It is GG arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the dust collection unit of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the bypass part case of the dust collection unit of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the inflow part case of the dust collection unit of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a HH arrow sectional view of Drawing 2. It is JJ arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the dust collection unit of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is AA arrow sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 4 which shows the accommodating unit of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted as appropriate.

Embodiment 1. FIG.
It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the main part of the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the first embodiment includes a suction port body 2, a suction pipe 3, a connection pipe 4, a suction hose 5, and a cleaner body 6.

  The suction port body 2 is for sucking dust (dust) on the floor surface together with air from an opening formed downward. The suction port body 2 includes a connection portion for exhaust at the center in the longitudinal direction.

  The suction pipe 3 is made of a straight member having a cylindrical shape. One end (suction side) of the suction pipe 3 is connected to the connection portion of the suction port body 2.

  The connection pipe 4 is made of a cylindrical member that is bent halfway. One end (intake side) of the connection pipe 4 is connected to the other end of the suction pipe 3. The connection pipe 4 is provided with a handle 7. The handle 7 is for a person who performs cleaning to operate. The handle 7 is provided with an operation switch 8 for controlling the operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

  The suction hose 5 is made of a member having a bellows shape with flexibility. One end (intake side) of the suction hose 5 is connected to the other end of the connection pipe 4.

  The vacuum cleaner main body 6 is for separating dust from air containing dust (dust-containing air) and discharging air (clean air) from which the dust has been removed (for example, returning to the room). The vacuum cleaner main body 6 has a hose connection port 9 formed at the front end. The other end of the suction hose 5 is connected to the hose connection port 9 of the cleaner body 6.

  The cleaner body 6 includes an electric blower 10 (see FIG. 3) and a power cord 11. The power cord 11 is wound around a cord reel portion (not shown) inside the cleaner body 6. When the power cord 11 is connected to an external power source, internal devices such as the electric blower 10 are energized. The electric blower 10 is driven by energization and performs a predetermined suction operation according to an operation on the operation switch 8.

  The suction port body 2, the suction pipe 3, the connection pipe 4, and the suction hose 5 are continuously formed inside. When the electric blower 10 performs a suction operation, dust on the floor surface is sucked into the suction port body 2 together with air. The dust-containing air sucked into the suction port body 2 is sent to the cleaner body 6 through each of the suction port body 2, the suction pipe 3, the connection pipe 4 and the suction hose 5. Thus, the suction inlet body 2, the suction pipe 3, the connection pipe 4, and the suction hose 5 form an air passage for allowing dust-containing air to flow into the cleaner body 6 from the outside.

  The vacuum cleaner body 6 includes an accommodation unit 12 and a dust collection unit 13 that is a cyclone separator. Various devices other than the dust collection unit 13 are accommodated in the accommodation unit 12. The dust collection unit 13 is detachably provided on the storage unit 12.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the vacuum cleaner body of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the housing unit of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and shows a state where the dust collection unit is removed. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the storage unit 12 includes a storage body 14, a storage body 15, an intake air passage formation portion 16, an exhaust air passage formation portion 17, and wheels 18 in addition to those described above.

  The container 14 is made of a box-like member (for example, a molded product) that opens forward and upward. The electric blower 10 and the cord reel portion are accommodated in the accommodating body 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface of the container 14 is formed obliquely so that the portion from the rear end to the predetermined position closer to the front side is higher at the rear and lower at the front. The upper surface of the container 14 is formed obliquely so that the front side of the predetermined position is lower at the rear and higher at the front.

  The container 15 is provided in the container 14 so as to close the opening formed in the container 14. In the container 14, the upper surface in the vicinity of the front end portion faces obliquely rearward, and the upper surface of the other portion faces obliquely forward. For this reason, the accommodating body 15 is formed so that a part thereof exhibits an L shape when viewed from the side, in accordance with the shape of the upper surface of the accommodating body 14. The L-shaped portion of the housing 15 forms a housing portion 15a above it. The accommodating portion 15 a is a space for accommodating the dust collection unit 13. When the dust collection unit 13 is appropriately attached to the storage unit 12, the main part of the dust collection unit 13 is disposed in the storage unit 15a, that is, above the storage body 15 (storage unit 12).

  The container 15 is formed with a recess 70 in which a groove-like bulge 75 (FIG. 9), which will be described later, made of a transparent member of the dust collection unit 13 is accommodated. A light emitting unit 71 and a light receiving unit 72 of the sensor are arranged. The light emitting unit 71 and the light receiving unit 72 are arranged at a position corresponding to the upper limit position for detecting that the dust collection in the dust collection unit 13 is full.

  The intake air passage forming unit 16 forms an intake air passage 19 for guiding dust-containing air to the dust collecting unit 13 in the cleaner body 6. One end of the intake air passage forming portion 16 opens at the front surface of the cleaner body 6. The intake air passage forming portion 16 passes through the internal space of the housing 14, and the other end opens at the upper surface (the housing 15) of the housing unit 12. The one end of the intake air passage forming portion 16 forms a hose connection port 9. The other end of the intake air passage forming portion 16 forms a connection port 20 with the dust collection unit 13. The connection port 20 is arranged on the upper surface of the housing unit 12 near the rear end and one side.

  The dust collection unit 13 is for separating dust from dust-containing air and temporarily storing the separated dust. The dust collection unit 13 rotates dust-containing air inside to separate dust from air by centrifugal force. That is, the dust collection unit 13 has a cyclone separation function. The specific configuration and function of the dust collection unit 13 will be described later.

  The exhaust air passage forming unit 17 is for guiding the air discharged from the dust collection unit 13 (clean air from which dust has been removed in the dust collection unit 13) in the cleaner body 6 to an exhaust port (not shown). An exhaust air passage 21 is formed. One end of the exhaust air passage forming portion 17 opens at the upper surface (the housing body 15) of the housing unit 12. The exhaust air passage forming portion 17 passes through the internal space of the container 14, and the other end opens toward the outside of the storage unit 12. The one end of the exhaust air passage forming part 17 forms a connection port 22 with the dust collecting unit 13. The other end of the exhaust air passage forming unit 17 forms an exhaust port. The connection port 22 is disposed at the center near the rear end on the upper surface of the housing unit 12.

  The electric blower 10 includes an air passage formed in the vacuum cleaner 1 (an air passage for allowing dust-containing air to flow into the cleaner body 6, that is, an intake air passage 19, an air passage in a dust collecting unit 13 described later). , For generating an air flow in the exhaust air passage 21). The electric blower 10 is disposed in the exhaust air passage 21 at a predetermined position near the rear end of the housing unit 12.

  When the electric blower 10 starts the suction operation, an air flow (suction air) is generated in each air passage formed in the electric vacuum cleaner 1. The dust-containing air sucked into the suction port body 2 is taken into the cleaner body 6 from the hose connection port 9. The dust-containing air that has flowed into the cleaner body 6 is sent to the dust collection unit 13 from the connection port 20 via the intake air passage 19. The airflow generated inside the dust collection unit 13 will be described later. Air (clean air) discharged from the dust collection unit 13 flows into the exhaust air passage 21 and passes through the electric blower 10 in the exhaust air passage 21. The air that has passed through the electric blower 10 further travels through the exhaust air passage 21 and is discharged from the exhaust port to the outside of the cleaner body 6 (the electric vacuum cleaner 1).

Next, the dust collection unit 13 will be described in detail.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the dust collection unit of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the dust collection unit of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the dust collection unit of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow D-D in FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow GG in FIG. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the dust collection unit of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 16, the dust collection unit 13 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole. The dust collection unit 13 includes a discharge portion case 23, a bypass portion case 24, an inflow portion case 25, and a dust collection portion case 26.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a bypass case of the dust collection unit of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 16: is a top view which shows the inflow part case of the dust collection unit of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention.
With respect to the dust collection unit 13 described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 16 below, the upper and lower sides are specified based on the orientation shown in FIG.

  The discharge part case 23, the bypass part case 24, the inflow part case 25, and the dust collecting part case 26 are formed of a molded product, for example. The discharge part case 23, the bypass part case 24, the inflow part case 25, and the dust collecting part case 26 are disassembled into a state shown in FIG. 14 or shown in FIG. 6 by a predetermined operation (for example, an operation on the lock mechanism). It is configured so that it can be assembled into a state. Moreover, only the dust collection part case 26 can also be removed from the state shown in FIG.

  Any one or a plurality of cases indicated by reference numerals 23 to 26 is appropriately arranged, so that the dust collection unit 13 has an inflow air passage 27, a bypass inflow air passage 28, a swivel as shown in FIGS. A chamber 29, a zero-order dust collection chamber 30, a primary dust collection chamber 31, and an outflow air passage 32 are formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 16, the inflow portion case 25 includes a cylindrical portion 33, a conical portion 34, an inflow pipe 35, a bypass air passage forming portion 36, and a connection portion 37.

  The cylindrical portion 33 has a hollow cylindrical shape. The cylindrical portion 33 is arranged so that the central axis is directed in the vertical direction. The conical portion 34 has a hollow conical shape with a tip portion cut off. The conical part 34 is arranged in the vertical direction so that the central axis coincides with the central axis of the cylindrical part 33. The conical part 34 is provided so that the upper end part is connected to the lower end part of the cylindrical part 33 and extends downward from the lower end part of the cylindrical part 33 so that the diameter decreases as it goes downward. For this reason, the lower end part of the conical part 34 opens downward (center axis direction). This opening formed at the lower end of the conical part 34 is a primary opening 38.

  A continuous space composed of the internal space of the cylindrical portion 33 and the internal space of the conical portion 34 constitutes a swirl chamber 29. The swirl chamber 29 is a space for swirling dust-containing air.

  The inflow pipe 35 is for guiding the dust-containing air that has passed through the intake air passage 19 to the inside of the cylindrical portion 33 (the swirl chamber 29). The internal space of the inflow pipe 35 forms an inflow air path 27. The inflow air path 27 is one of air paths for allowing dust-containing air to flow into the swirl chamber 29 from the intake air path 19.

  The inflow pipe 35 has, for example, a rectangular cylindrical shape and is connected to the cylindrical portion 33. One end of the inflow pipe 35 opens to the outside, and the other end opens to the inside of the cylindrical portion 33. The one end of the inflow pipe 35 forms a unit inlet 39 for taking dust-containing air into the dust collection unit 13. The other end of the inflow pipe 35 forms a main inlet 40 for taking the dust-containing air that has passed through the inflow air passage 27 into the inside of the cylindrical portion 33 (the swirl chamber 29).

  The inflow pipe 35 is connected to the upper part of the cylindrical portion 33. For this reason, the main inlet 40 is formed in the upper part of the cylindrical part 33 (the uppermost part of the side wall forming the swirl chamber 29). The inflow pipe 35 is made of a straight member. The inflow pipe 35 has an axis perpendicular to the central axis of the cylindrical portion 33 and is disposed in the tangential direction of the cylindrical portion 33 as shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 16.

  The inflow pipe 35 is formed with a rectangular opening on the upper surface thereof, leading to the internal space (inflow air passage 27). This opening provided in the upper wall forming the inflow air passage 27 is a bypass inlet 41. The bypass inlet 41 is an opening for taking a part of the dust-containing air in the inflow air passage 27 into the bypass inflow air passage 28. The dust collection unit 13 is provided with a bypass inflow air passage 28 in addition to the inflow air passage 27 as an air passage for allowing dust-containing air to flow from the intake air passage 19 into the swirl chamber 29.

  The bypass inflow air passage 28 is formed by a part of each of the discharge portion case 23, the bypass portion case 24, and the inflow portion case 25 shown in FIG. The dust-containing air exhausted from the intake air passage 19 through the bypass inlet 41 (that is, flowing into the bypass inflow air passage 28) passes through the bypass inflow air passage 28 and then passes through the sub-inlet 42 to the cylindrical portion. It is taken in the inside of 33 (the swirl chamber 29).

  As shown in FIG. 10, the bypass air path forming part 36 is provided on the upper part of the cylindrical part 33 so as to surround the periphery of the cylindrical part 33. The bypass air passage forming portion 36 is placed on the upper surface thereof so that the bypass portion case 24 is in close contact therewith. For this reason, the upper surface of the bypass air path formation part 36 is formed flat. A rising portion 43 for determining the mounting direction of the bypass portion case 24 is provided at the edge of the upper surface of the bypass air passage forming portion 36.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the bypass air passage forming portion 36 is provided with three grooves 44 that open upward. The groove 44 is formed outside the cylindrical portion 33 so as to be along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 33. The groove 44 is formed so that one end side thereof approaches the cylindrical portion 33 as it goes in the direction in which the dust-containing air in the swirl chamber 29 swirls (the swirl direction). One end of the groove 44 opens to the inside of the cylindrical portion 33.

  The bypass air passage formation portion 36 forms a part (second half portion) of the bypass inflow air passage 28 by placing the bypass portion case 24 and closing the upper portion of the groove 44. In addition, the opening at one end of the groove 44 forms a secondary inlet 42 when the bypass portion case 24 is placed on the bypass air passage forming portion 36 and the upper portion thereof is closed. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, since three grooves 44 are formed, three side inlets 42 are provided on the side wall forming the swirl chamber 29.

  Similar to the main inlet 40, the auxiliary inlet 42 is formed at the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 33 (the uppermost portion of the side wall forming the swirl chamber 29). For example, the secondary inlet 42 is disposed at the same height as the main inlet 40 as shown in FIG. The secondary inlet 42 is formed such that the total opening area thereof is smaller than the opening area of the main inlet 40. Further, one end side of the groove 44 is obliquely connected to the cylindrical portion 33 so that the dust-containing air from the bypass inflow air passage 28 flows into the cylindrical portion 33 from the tangential direction.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the connecting portion 37 is provided so as to protrude outward from the cylindrical portion 33. The connecting portion 37 has a ring shape as a whole. The connecting portion 37 is disposed at a substantially middle height of the cylindrical portion 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the dust collector case 26 includes a bottom 45, an outer wall 46, and a partition wall 47. The bottom 45 has a circular shape as a whole. The outer wall portion 46 has a cylindrical shape with a diameter larger than that of the cylindrical portion 33. The outer wall portion 46 is provided so as to stand upright from the edge portion of the bottom portion 45. That is, the outer wall portion 46 and the bottom portion 45 form a cylindrical member that is closed on one side (lower side). The partition wall portion 47 has a cylindrical shape with a smaller diameter than the cylindrical portion 33. The partition wall portion 47 is disposed inside the outer wall portion 46 and is provided so as to stand upright from the upper surface of the bottom portion 45. For this reason, in the dust collecting part case 26, two spaces separated by the partition part 47 are formed.

  When the dust collecting unit case 26 is arranged so that the conical portion 34 is inserted into the space inside the partition wall portion 47 from above, the upper end portion of the partition wall portion 47 is connected to the outer peripheral surface (or the outer peripheral surface) of the conical portion 34. The member provided is contacted from below. Of the space formed inside the partition wall portion 47, the portion excluding the conical portion 34 forms the primary dust collection chamber 31. The primary dust collection chamber 31 communicates with the swirl chamber 29 through the primary opening 38. Part of the dust separated from the dust-containing air in the swirl chamber 29 falls into the primary dust collection chamber 31 through the primary opening 38 and is collected. The primary dust collection chamber 31 covers the lower part of the conical part 34 (lower part of the swirl | vortex chamber 29), and is arrange | positioned so that the circumference | surroundings may be surrounded.

  When the dust collector case 26 is arranged so that the conical part 34 is inserted into the space inside the partition wall part 47 from above, the upper end part of the outer wall part 46 comes into contact with the edge part of the connection part 37 from below. A continuous space having a cylindrical shape formed between the outer wall portion 46 and the partition wall portion 47 and between the outer wall portion 46 and each part of the cylindrical portion 33 and the conical portion 34 is zero-order dust collection. A chamber 30 is formed. This continuous space is closed by the connecting portion 37 on the upper side and the bottom portion 45 on the lower side. The zero-order dust collection chamber 30 surrounds the lower portion of the cylindrical portion 33 and the conical portion 34 (that is, most of the swirl chamber 29), and further surrounds the periphery of the primary dust collection chamber 31.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 13, the zero-order opening 48 is provided on the side wall forming the swirl chamber 29. The swirl chamber 29 communicates with the zero-order dust collection chamber 30 through the zero-order opening 48. The zero-order opening 48 is formed at a position (downstream side) lower than the main inlet 40 (FIG. 10) and the sub-inlet 42 (upstream side) than the primary opening 38. For example, the zero-order opening 48 is provided from the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 33 to the upper end portion of the conical portion 34, and is disposed at a position lower than the connection portion 37. The zero-order opening 48 is disposed in the vicinity of the uppermost portion of the zero-order dust collection chamber 30. For this reason, the zero-order dust collection chamber 30 is provided so as to extend downward from the zero-order opening 48.

  As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 14, and 15, the bypass case 24 includes a bottom 49, a side wall 50, and a discharge part 51. As described above, the bypass part case 24 is placed on the upper part of the bypass air passage forming part 36 so as to be in close contact with the upper part. The bottom portion 49 has a plate shape, and its outer shape has a shape along the inner surface of the rising portion 43.

  When the bypass portion case 24 is appropriately disposed with respect to the inflow portion case 25, the bottom portion 49 is disposed so as to close the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 33 as shown in FIG. That is, the upper wall of the swirl chamber 29 is formed by the bottom 49. Further, the bottom portion 49 is disposed so as to close the upper portion of the groove 44 when the bypass portion case 24 is appropriately disposed with respect to the inflow portion case 25. That is, the upper wall of the rear half portion of the bypass inflow air passage 28 and the upper edge of the auxiliary inlet 42 are formed by the bottom portion 49.

  The side wall 50 is provided so as to stand upright from the bottom 49. As shown in FIG. 15, the side wall portion 50 is formed continuously so as to surround a C-shaped space on the bottom portion 49 (as viewed from the central axis direction of the swirl chamber 29). In addition, as shown in FIG.9 and FIG.10, the discharge part case 23 covers the bypass part case 24 from upper direction. The C-shaped space surrounded by the bottom 49 at the bottom and the side wall 50 at the side is formed by placing the discharge case 23 on the bypass case 24 and closing the top so that the bypass inflow air passage 28 is closed. A part (first half) is formed.

  A first bypass opening 52 and a second bypass opening 53 are formed in the bottom portion 49. The first bypass opening 52 and the second bypass opening 53 are provided in a portion of the bottom portion 49 surrounded by the side wall portion 50.

  The first bypass opening 52 takes in the dust-containing air in the inflow air passage 27 (that is, the dust-containing air that has passed through the bypass inlet 41) into the C-shaped space (the first half of the bypass inflow air passage 28). It is an opening for. The first bypass opening 52 is formed in the same shape as the bypass inlet 41 (FIG. 16), for example. The first bypass opening 52 is disposed at the same position as the bypass inlet 41 when viewed from the central axis direction of the swirl chamber 29 when the bypass portion case 24 is appropriately attached to the inflow portion case 25. That is, the first bypass opening 52 is disposed immediately above the bypass inlet 41.

  The second bypass opening 53 is an opening for taking the dust-containing air in the C-shaped space into the latter half of the bypass inflow air passage 28. For example, the same number of second bypass openings 53 as the auxiliary inlets 42 (FIG. 16) are provided. In the present embodiment, three auxiliary inlets 42 (three grooves 44) are provided. For this reason, three second bypass openings 53 are formed in the bottom portion 49 corresponding to the sub-inflow ports 42 (each groove 44). The second bypass opening 53 is located directly above the other end of the groove 44 (the end opposite to the side where the sub-inlet 42 is formed) when the bypass case 24 is properly attached to the inflow case 25. Placed in.

  The discharge unit 51 is for discharging the air in the swirl chamber 29 to the outside of the swirl chamber 29. As shown in FIG. 9, the internal space of the discharge part 51 forms a part (first half part) of the outflow air passage 32 through which the air in the swirl chamber 29 flows out of the dust collection unit 13.

  The discharge part 51 is provided in the central part of the bottom part 49. The discharge part 51 penetrates the bottom part 49 (opens on the upper surface side of the bottom part 49), and projects downward from the bottom part 49. When the bypass part case 24 is appropriately attached to the inflow part case 25, the discharge part 51 is disposed so as to protrude from the upper wall of the swirl chamber 29 into the swirl chamber 29.

  The discharge part 51 has a cylindrical shape above the predetermined intermediate position. The portion below the intermediate position of the discharge portion 51 has a hollow conical shape whose diameter decreases as it goes downward. The discharge part 51 is arranged in the vertical direction so that the central axis coincides with the central axis of the cylindrical part 33. For this reason, the internal space of the swirl chamber 29, the zero-order dust collection chamber 30, the primary dust collection chamber 31, and the discharge portion 51 (the first half of the outflow air passage 32) is disposed substantially concentrically within the dust collection unit 13. . The lower end of the discharge part 51 is arrange | positioned at the same height as a part (upper part) of the 0th-order opening 48, for example.

  The discharge unit 51 is provided with a large number of fine holes. The fine holes form a discharge port 54 for discharging the air in the swirl chamber 29 to the outside of the swirl chamber 29 (taken into the outflow air passage 32). The discharge port 54 is provided at a position above the zero-order opening 48. The discharge port 54 is also arranged at the same height as the main inlet 40 and the sub inlet 42. However, as shown in FIG. 10, the discharge port 54 is not formed in a portion of the discharge portion 51 that directly faces the main inflow port 40. A discharge port 54 is formed in a portion of the discharge portion 51 that directly faces the sub-inlet 42.

  The discharge unit case 23 is formed of a case body disposed at the uppermost part of the dust collection unit 13. As shown in FIG. 9, the discharge unit case 23 includes a lid 55 and a discharge unit 56.

  When the discharge part case 23 is appropriately arranged with respect to the bypass part case 24, the lid part 55 is arranged so as to close the C-shaped space surrounded by the side wall part 50 from above. In other words, the upper wall of the front half of the bypass inflow air passage 28 is formed by the lid portion 55.

  As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 16, the lid portion 55 has the same edge shape as the rising portion 43. For this reason, the direction which attaches discharge part case 23 to bypass part case 24 (inflow part case 25) is defined as one direction.

  The discharge part 56 is for switching the traveling direction of the air that has passed through the inside of the discharge part 51 and discharging it outside the dust collection unit 13. The internal space of the discharge part 56 forms a part (second half part) of the outflow air passage 32. The discharge pipe 57 includes a discharge portion 51 of the bypass portion case 24 and a discharge portion 56 of the discharge portion case 23.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the discharge unit 56 has a cylindrical shape bent into an L shape. One end of the discharge unit 56 opens downward, and the other end opens sideways. When the discharge unit case 23 is appropriately disposed with respect to the bypass unit case 24, one end of the discharge unit 56 is connected to the upper end of the discharge unit 51. The other end side of the discharge portion 56 is arranged such that the axial direction is orthogonal to the central axis of the swirl chamber 29 and parallel to the axial direction of the inflow pipe 35. The other end of the discharge part 56 forms a unit outlet 58 for allowing air to flow out of the dust collection unit 13. The unit outlet 58 opens in the same direction as the unit inlet 39. The unit outlet 58 is arranged at a position higher than the unit inlet 39 as shown in FIGS.

  When the dust collection unit 13 having the above-described configuration is appropriately attached to the storage unit 12, the central axis of the swirl chamber 29 and the like is disposed obliquely according to the slope (upper surface) of the storage body 15. The unit inlet 39 and the unit outlet 58 are disposed so as to face the slope, and the unit inlet 39 is connected to the connection port 20. The unit outlet 58 is connected to the connection port 22.

17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH in FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line JJ in FIG.
17 and 18 show a state in which the dust collection unit 13 is appropriately attached to the storage unit 12.

Next, the function of the dust collecting unit 13 having the above-described configuration will be specifically described based on FIGS. 17 and 18 with reference to FIGS.
When the dust collection unit 13 is appropriately attached to the housing unit 12 as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 and the suction operation of the electric blower 10 is started, the dust-containing air passes through the intake air passage 19 as described above. The connection port 20 is reached. The dust-containing air sequentially passes through the connection port 20 and the unit inlet 39 and flows into the inflow pipe 35, that is, into the inflow air passage 27. Part of the dust-containing air that has flowed into the inflow air passage 27 advances in the axial direction of the inflow pipe 35 (goes straight) and reaches the end (the other end) of the inflow pipe 35. The dust-containing air that has reached the end of the inflow pipe 35 passes through the main inlet 40 and flows into the inside of the cylindrical portion 33 (the swirl chamber 29). Such a route is indicated by a solid arrow as a route a in FIGS.

  On the other hand, the other part of the dust-containing air that has flowed into the inflow air passage 27 enters another route (route b indicated by a broken-line arrow in FIGS. 10 and 11) from the middle of the route a. .

  Specifically, a part of the dust-containing air flowing through the inflow air passage 27 reaches the bypass inlet 41 by changing the traveling direction from the axial direction of the inflow pipe 35 upward. The dust-containing air sequentially passes through the bypass inlet 41 and the first bypass opening 52 and is located above the inflow portion case 25 and between the bypass portion case 24 and the discharge portion case 23 (that is, bypass inflow). It flows into the first half of the air passage 28.

  The dust-containing air that has flowed into the bypass inflow air passage 28 moves through the C-shaped space surrounded by the side wall 50 and reaches the second bypass opening 53. In the C-shaped space, the dust-containing air moves along the swirling direction of the air in the swirl chamber 29 so as to cross over the swirl chamber 29. The dust-containing air passes through the second bypass opening 53 and moves downward, and is formed on the outside of the swirl chamber 29 and is sandwiched between the bypass air passage formation portion 36 and the bottom portion 49, that is, the groove 44. It flows into the inside (the second half of the bypass inflow air passage 28) (FIGS. 10 and 11).

  The dust-containing air that has flowed into the latter half of the bypass inflow air passage 28 moves in the groove 44 (FIG. 12). In the groove 44, the dust-containing air moves along the swirling direction of the air in the swirl chamber 29. When the dust-containing air reaches one end of the groove 44, it passes through the auxiliary inlet 42 and flows into the cylindrical portion 33 (swirl chamber 29).

  The dust-containing air that has passed through the main inlet 40 flows into the swirl chamber 29 from the tangential direction along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 33 (the inner wall surface of the swirl chamber 29). Similarly, the dust-containing air that has passed through the auxiliary inlet 42 flows into the swirl chamber 29 from the tangential direction along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 33 (FIG. 12).

  The dust-containing air taken into the swirl chamber 29 from the main inlet 40 and the sub-inlet 42 forms a swirl airflow that rotates in a predetermined direction along the side wall in the swirl chamber 29. The whirling airflow flows downward due to the path structure and gravity while forming a forced vortex region near the central axis and a free vortex region outside the central vortex region.

  Centrifugal force acts on the dust contained in the swirling airflow (air in the swirling chamber 29). For example, relatively bulky dust such as fiber dust or hair (hereinafter, such dust is referred to as “dust α”) is caused by the centrifugal force of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 33 (the inner wall surface of the swirl chamber 29). ) And the inside of the swirl chamber 29 falls. When the dust α reaches the height of the zeroth order opening 48, the dust α is separated from the swirling airflow, passes through the zeroth order opening 48, and sent to the zeroth order dust collection chamber 30. The dust α that has entered the zero-order dust collection chamber 30 from the zero-order opening 48 falls in the zero-order dust collection chamber 30 while moving in the same direction as the direction of the airflow swirling in the swirl chamber 29 (the swirl direction). . The dust α reaches the lowermost part of the zero-order dust collection chamber 30 and is collected.

  Dust that has not entered the zero-order dust collection chamber 30 through the zero-order opening 48 rides on the airflow in the swirl chamber 29 and proceeds downward while swirling in the swirl chamber 29. Dust having a relatively small volume such as sand dust and fine fiber dust (hereinafter, such dust is referred to as “dust β”) passes through the primary opening 38. Then, the dust β is dropped and captured in the primary dust collection chamber 31.

  When the airflow swirling in the swirl chamber 29 reaches the lowermost portion of the swirl chamber 29, the traveling direction is changed upward, and the airflow rises along the central axis of the swirl chamber 29. Dust α and dust β are removed from the air forming the updraft. The airflow (clean air) from which the dust α and the dust β are removed passes through the discharge port 54 and is discharged out of the swirl chamber 29. The air discharged from the swirl chamber 29 passes through the inside of the discharge pipe 57 (outflow air passage 32) and reaches the unit outlet 58. Then, the clean air sequentially passes through the unit outlet 58 and the connection port 22 and is sent to the exhaust air passage 21.

  When the electric blower 10 performs the suction operation, the dust α is accumulated in the zero-order dust collecting chamber 30 and the dust β is accumulated in the primary dust collecting chamber 31 as described above. The dust α and dust β can be easily discarded by removing the dust collecting unit case 26 from the dust collecting unit 13.

Next, a method for detecting the amount of dust accumulated in the dust collection unit 13 will be described.
The infrared sensor described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 detects that the dust collection amount in the dust collection unit 13 is full and transmits it to the control unit. The infrared sensor is a light emitting unit that is configured by a transparent member of the dust collection unit 13 and irradiates infrared light to the upper limit position of the dust accumulation amount of the groove-like bulging portion 75 that forms a part of the outer wall of the zero-order dust collection chamber 30. 71 and a light receiving portion 72 that receives light emitted from the light emitting portion 71 and transmitted through the groove-like bulging portion 75 of the dust collecting unit 13.

  The light emitting unit 71 emits light in pulses at regular intervals based on a command from a control unit (not shown), and the light receiving unit 72 transmits light transmitted through the groove-like bulging portion 75 of the dust collection unit 13. In response, a light reception signal is sent to the control unit.

  When the amount of accumulated dust in the dust collection unit 13 increases and reaches the optical axis level of the infrared sensor, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 71 is blocked by dust, and the light receiving unit 72 has only weak light. There are many cases of not reaching or not reaching at all.

  The control unit determines that a predetermined amount of dust is accumulated in the dust collection unit 13 when the output signal from the light receiving unit 72 cannot be detected a predetermined number of times or more (for example, when it cannot be detected three times in succession).

  When it is determined that a predetermined amount of dust is accumulated in the dust collection unit 13, the control unit notifies the user by a display device such as an LED, a buzzer, a voice guide or the like so as to prompt the user to throw away the dust. In addition, when it is determined that a predetermined amount of dust has accumulated in the dust collection unit 13 during the cleaning operation, the operation sound of the electric blower 10 may cause a sound such as a buzzer or a voice guide to not reach the user. Sound such as a buzzer and a voice guide is surely delivered to the user by operating the blower 10 with the power down temporarily.

  Thus, the user knows that a predetermined amount of dust has accumulated in the dust collection unit 13. For example, during the cleaning operation, the user stops the electric blower, removes the dust collection unit 13 from the storage unit 12, and removes the dust collection unit 13. The dust inside is discarded, and the dust collection unit 13 is set in the storage unit 12 again to prepare for the next use.

  As described above, according to the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, a plurality of dust collection chambers (the zero-order dust collection chamber 30 and the primary dust collection chamber) having different dust volumes collected as a dust collection container. Chamber 31), and a transparent groove-like bulge 75 is provided in the first dust collection chamber (zero-order dust collection chamber 30) for collecting relatively bulky fiber dust and hair dust. Since the light emitting portion 71 and the light receiving portion 72 of the infrared sensor are arranged so as to sandwich the bulging portion 75, the conventional shielding member and dust rotating means are not required, the cost can be reduced, and the dust The presence or absence can be detected.

  Further, the timing for detecting the dust collection amount is not limited to before and after the start of the dust collection operation, and can be detected even during the dust collection operation.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a dust collection unit of a vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals are given to the same functional parts as those of Embodiment 1 described above. In the description, FIG. 7 will be referred to.
In the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 19, the groove-like bulging portion 75 is configured by a separate transparent member that is detachable from the dust collecting container, that is, the dust collecting portion case 26. The other points are different from those of the first embodiment, and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the vacuum cleaner of the second embodiment, the groove-like bulging portion 75 is composed of a separate transparent member that is detachable from the dust collecting case 26, so that the light transmitting portion of the dust collecting unit 13 When applying a coating to prevent the adhesion of dust, such as an antistatic agent, it is only necessary to apply the coating only to the groove-like bulging portion 75, and it is not necessary to apply the coating to the entire dust collecting unit 13, thereby reducing the cost. .

  Further, since only the groove-shaped bulging portion 75 of the dust collection unit 13 needs to be a transparent member, it is not necessary to use the dust collection unit 13 as a transparent member, and there are no restrictions on the appearance design.

Embodiment 3. FIG.
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A corresponding to FIG. 4 and showing the housing unit of the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In FIG. It is. In the description, FIG. 7 will be referred to.
In the vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 3, the optical sensors 76, 77, and 78 are arranged in correspondence with a plurality of positions (three places) according to the amount of dust collected in the groove-like bulge. The configuration is different from that of the first embodiment, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  In the vacuum cleaner of this Embodiment 3, different alerting | reporting and control are attained by the amount of dust collection. For example, the control unit performs notification by a display device, a buzzer, or a voice guide when it is detected by the optical sensor 76 at the lowest line position where the dust collection amount is the lowest. In addition, when the amount of collected dust is detected by the optical sensor 77 at the next intermediate line position, the control unit detects the detection by the optical sensor 76 at the lowest line position, in addition to the notification of the electric blower 10. Control to power down the operation. Further, when the control unit detects the optical sensor 78 at the highest line position where the dust collection amount is the highest, the control unit notifies the notification when the optical sensor 76 is detected at the lowest line position and the intermediate line position. In addition to the notification when it is detected by a certain optical sensor 77, control is performed to stop the operation of the electric blower 10 after powering down. In this way, fine control is possible.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vacuum cleaner, 2 suction inlet body, 3 suction pipe, 4 connection pipe, 5 suction hose, 6 vacuum cleaner main body, 7 handle, 8 operation switch, 9 hose connection port, 10 electric blower, 11 power cord, 12 accommodation unit , 13 Dust collection unit (cyclone separator), 14, 15 container, 15a container, 16 intake air passage formation unit, 17 exhaust air passage formation unit, 18 wheels, 19 intake air passage, 20, 22 connection port, 21 Exhaust air passage, 23 Discharge portion case, 24 Bypass portion case, 25 Inflow portion case, 26 Dust collection portion case, 27 Inflow air passage, 28 Bypass inflow air passage, 29 Swirl chamber, 300 Zero dust collection chamber, 31 Primary collection Dust chamber, 32 Outflow air passage, 33 Cylindrical portion, 34 Conical portion, 35 Inflow pipe, 36 Bypass air passage formation portion, 37 Connection portion, 38 Primary opening, 39 unit Inlet, 40 Main inlet, 41 Bypass inlet, 42 Secondary inlet, 43 Rising part, 44 Groove, 45, 49 Bottom part, 46 Outer wall part, 47 Bulkhead part, 480th order opening, 50 Side wall part, 51,56 Discharge Part, 52 first bypass opening, 53 second bypass opening, 54 discharge port, 55 lid part, 56 discharge part, 57 discharge pipe, 58 unit outlet, 70 recess, 71 light emitting part of light sensor (dust collection amount detecting means ), 72 Light sensor receiving part (dust collection amount detecting means), 75 groove-shaped bulging part, 76 light sensor (dust collecting amount detecting means) at the lowest line position, 77 light sensor (dust collecting amount) at the intermediate line position Detection means), 78 Optical sensor highest line position at the highest line position (dust collection amount detection means).

Claims (4)

Cyclone separation device including a swirling chamber that separates dust from dust-containing air by swirling the sucked dust-containing air along the side wall, and a dust collecting container that collects the dust separated in the swirling chamber When,
A blower for generating a predetermined air flow inside the cyclone separator;
Dust collection amount detection means for detecting the amount of dust collected in the dust collection container;
In the vacuum cleaner with
The dust collection container is provided with a plurality of dust collection chambers having different volume of dust to be collected,
Among the plurality of dust collection chambers, the first dust collection chamber that collects relatively bulky dust is provided with a transparent groove-like bulging portion,
The dust collection amount detecting means includes a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion disposed on both sides of the groove-shaped bulging portion, and the dust collection amount detecting means receives the light emitted from the light emitting portion according to the amount of light received by the light receiving portion. A vacuum cleaner characterized by detecting the amount of dust.   2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the groove-like bulging portion is formed of a separate transparent member that is detachable from the dust collecting container.   The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the dust collection amount detecting means are arranged in correspondence with a plurality of positions corresponding to the dust collection amount of the groove-like bulge portion. An informing means for informing the dust accumulation state;
Based on the detection result of the dust collection amount detection means, further comprising: the notification means and a control means for controlling the blower,
The control means is based on detection results of the plurality of dust collection amount detection means,
When the amount of collected dust is small, let the notification means perform notification by a display device, a buzzer, or a voice guide,
If the amount of dust collection is medium, in addition to the notification by the notification means, power down the operation of the blower,
4. When the dust collection amount is full, in addition to the notification by the notification means, the notification means and the blower are controlled so as to stop the operation of the blower after powering down. Electric vacuum cleaner.

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