JP2015000210A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner that can restrain deterioration in traveling performance while improving dust collection efficiency.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner 11 comprises a body case 12. The vacuum cleaner 11 comprises a suction port 26 provided in a body case 12 so as to be opposed to a floor surface F. The vacuum cleaner 11 comprises a pair of driving wheels rotatably provided in the case body 12 to allow the body case 12 to autonomously travel at least in a forward direction and a backward direction. The vacuum cleaner 11 comprises a dust introduction body 33 provided on the rear side of the suction port 26 so as to protrude on the side of the floor surface F to introduce dust to the suction port 26. The vacuum cleaner 11 comprises a driving part 31 that retracts the dust introduction body 33 from the side of the floor surface F when at least one of the driving wheels rotates in the backward direction.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a vacuum cleaner including a dust introduction body that introduces dust into a dust collection port.

  Conventionally, a so-called autonomous traveling type vacuum cleaner (cleaning robot) that cleans the floor surface while autonomously traveling on the floor surface as a surface to be cleaned while detecting an obstacle using a sensor or the like is known. ing. In such a vacuum cleaner, a suction port communicating with the dust collector is formed at the lower part of the main body case of the cleaner body having a dust collector and the like, and driving wheels for running the cleaner body are attached. ing.

  Some of these vacuum cleaners are provided with a dust introduction body for efficient dust collection behind the suction port. The dust introduction body is formed of, for example, a soft member, and the tip end side is in sliding contact with the floor surface so that the dust on the floor surface is smoothly guided to the suction port. However, in the case of this configuration, for example, when the vacuum cleaner moves backward or turns to change the direction of travel (super turning), there is a risk of being caught especially on a floor surface such as a carpet and hindering traveling.

JP2012-90984A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner that can improve the dust collection efficiency and suppress the decrease in running performance.

  The vacuum cleaner of the embodiment has a main body case. Moreover, this vacuum cleaner has a dust collection port provided in the main body case so as to face the surface to be cleaned. Further, the vacuum cleaner has a pair of drive wheels that are rotatably provided in the main body case and that make the main body case autonomously travelable at least in the forward and backward directions. In addition, the vacuum cleaner has a dust introduction body that is provided on the rear side of the dust collection port so as to protrude toward the surface to be cleaned and introduces dust into the dust collection port. Furthermore, this vacuum cleaner has a retracting means for retracting the dust introduction body from the surface to be cleaned when at least one of the drive wheels rotates in the backward direction.

It is sectional drawing which shows a part of vacuum cleaner of 1st Embodiment, (a) shows the state which has not evacuated the dust introduction body from the to-be-cleaned surface side, (b) is to clean the dust introduction body The state where it is retracted from the surface side is shown. It is a top view which shows a vacuum cleaner same as the above from the downward direction. It is a side view of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a plan view schematically showing the running control of the electric vacuum cleaner from above, (a1) and (b1) shows the control at the start of cleaning, (a2) and (b2) show the control during cleaning, (a3) and (b3) show the control at the end of cleaning. It is sectional drawing which shows a part of vacuum cleaner of 2nd Embodiment, (a1) shows the distance measurement means vicinity in case the clearance of the lower part of the main body case of a vacuum cleaner same as the above is comparatively large, (b1 ) Shows the lower part of the main body case with the dust introduction body retracted from the surface to be cleaned in (a1), and (a2) shows the measurement when the clearance of the lower part of the main body case of the vacuum cleaner is relatively small. (B2) shows the lower part of the main body case in a state where the dust introduction body is retracted from the surface to be cleaned in (a2). It is a top view which shows a vacuum cleaner same as the above from the downward direction. It is sectional drawing which shows a part of vacuum cleaner of 3rd Embodiment, (a) shows the state which has not evacuated the dust introduction body from the to-be-cleaned surface side, (b) is to clean the dust introduction body The state where it is retracted from the surface side is shown. It is a plan view schematically showing the running control of the electric vacuum cleaner from above, (a) shows a state in which one drive wheel is rotated in the forward direction, the other drive wheel is rotated in the reverse direction, (b) Shows a state in which the other driving wheel is rotated in the forward direction and one driving wheel is rotated in the backward direction, and (c) shows a state in which each driving wheel is rotated in the backward direction.

  The configuration of the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 1 thru | or 5, 11 shows a vacuum cleaner, and this vacuum cleaner 11 is autonomous running (self-propelled) on the floor surface F as a to-be-cleaned surface as this vacuum cleaner 11 in this embodiment. A description will be given below by taking as an example a so-called self-propelled robot cleaner that cleans the floor surface F.

  The vacuum cleaner 11 includes a hollow main body case 12, an electric blower 13 accommodated in the main body case 12, a dust collecting portion 14 communicating with the suction side of the electric blower 13, for example, a plurality ( A pair of drive wheels 15 as drive units, a motor 16 as drive means for driving these drive wheels 15, a turning wheel 17 for turning, a distance measuring sensor 20 as a plurality of distance detecting means, and a circuit board And a secondary battery 23 that is a battery constituting a power supply unit. In addition, hereinafter, the direction along the traveling direction of the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) is the front-rear direction (arrow FR, RR direction shown in FIG. 1 and the like), and the left-right direction intersecting (orthogonal) with the front-rear direction. (Both sides direction) is described as the width direction.

  The main body case 12 is formed in, for example, a flat columnar shape (disk shape) with synthetic resin or the like, and a suction mechanism portion 24 is attached to a circular lower surface 12a. Although not shown, various operation panels and a display unit are arranged on the upper part of the main body case 12. In addition, on the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12, a swivel cleaning part (side brush) for collecting dust is disposed so as to be rotatable substantially parallel to the floor surface F at positions such as both sides of the swivel wheel 17. Also good.

  The suction mechanism portion 24 is movably attached to the main body case 12, and includes a nozzle portion 27 that partitions the suction port 26 as a dust collection port, and a partition wall portion 28 that is continuous with the upper portion of the nozzle portion 27. The air passage portion 29 that allows the suction port 26 and the dust collection portion 14 to communicate with each other and the support portion 30 that supports the dust collection portion 14 are integrated into a unit shape. The suction mechanism portion 24 is driven by a drive portion 31 as a retraction means attached inside the main body case 12.

  The suction port 26 is formed in a longitudinal shape in the left-right direction, that is, horizontally long, and is located at a position behind the center portion of the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12 and at a center portion in the left-right direction.

  The nozzle portion 27 surrounds the outer edge portion of the suction port 26 in a frame shape, and protrudes downward from the mounting opening 12b opened in the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12 on the floor surface F side. Further, in the nozzle portion 27, the front portion 27a and the rear portion 27b are gradually inclined from the proximal end side to the distal end side, the front portion 27a is gradually inclined backward, and the rear portion 27b is gradually moved forward. It is inclined to. Therefore, the nozzle portion 27 is formed so that the opening area gradually becomes narrower toward the lower side (front end side), and the lower end (front end) defines the suction port 26. That is, the suction port 26 surrounded by the nozzle portion 27 is positioned below the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12 and spaced upward from the floor surface F. Further, a dust introduction body 33 for introducing dust into the suction port 26 is attached inside the nozzle portion 27.

  The dust introduction body 33 scoops up the dust and guides it to the suction port 26, closes the rear part of the suction port 26 to improve the vacuum, and prevents the dust from escaping behind the suction port 26, etc. This is a cleaning aid for assisting cleaning, and is formed of, for example, a soft synthetic resin having elasticity. Further, the dust introduction body 33 has a blade shape extending in the left-right direction along the rear edge portion of the suction port 26, and includes a scraping piece portion 33a as a dust scraping portion at a lower end portion. The scraping piece portion 33a is an inclined introduction surface 33b whose front portion is inclined toward the front lower side, and is formed so that the thickness in the front-rear direction gradually increases toward the lower end portion which is the tip portion. The vacuum cleaner 11 is in contact with the floor surface F in a state where the vacuum cleaner 11 is placed on the floor surface F, and the lower end portion is brought into sliding contact with the floor surface F by traveling on the floor surface F of the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12). It is like that. Therefore, in the dust introduction body 33, the scraping piece portion 33a protrudes below the nozzle portion 27 (suction port 26), and is at a position substantially equal to the lower end portions of the drive wheel 15, the swivel wheel 17, and the like. .

  The partition wall 28 protrudes upward from the front part 27a of the nozzle part 27 and is curved backward, and partitions the suction chamber 35 having the suction port 26 at the lower end together with the nozzle part 27 inside. In the suction chamber 35, a rotary brush 36 as a rotary cleaning body is rotatably arranged.

  The rotating brush 36 has a long shaft portion 36a pivotally supported on both sides of the nozzle portion 27 at the front upper side of the dust introduction body 33, and a wall-like shape on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 36a. And a plurality of protruding cleaning body portions 36b. The rotary brush 36 protrudes from the suction port 26 to the lower side of the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12 with the cleaning body portion 36b positioned on the lower side, and the vacuum cleaner 11 is placed on the floor surface F. In this state, the tip of the cleaning body portion 36b located on the lower side is configured to come into contact with the floor surface F and scrape off dust. Further, the tip of the rotary brush 36 in a state of being located on the rear side of the cleaning body portion 36b extends rearward from the front end of the introduction surface 33b of the dust introduction body 33. Further, the rotation locus of the tip of the cleaning body portion 36b is along the introduction surface 33b. The rotating brush 36 is rotationally driven by a driving motor 37 as a rotational cleaning body driving means.

  The drive motor 37 is accommodated in the main body case 12, and is connected to the rotating brush 36 via a gear mechanism (not shown) as a mechanism portion. This gear mechanism is integrated into the suction mechanism portion 24 and is covered with a gear mechanism cover 39 as a protective member at a position on one side of the nozzle portion 27. The drive motor 37 rotates the rotating brush 36 along the forward direction of the main body case 12 (forward rotation). In other words, the drive brush 37 causes the cleaning brush 36 b to come into contact with the floor surface F from the front side relatively by the drive motor 37, scrape dust to the rear side relatively to the suction chamber 35. Driven to carry.

  The air passage portion 29 communicates the suction port 26 (the suction chamber 35) and the dust collecting portion 14, and extends in an inclined manner from the upper side of the partition wall portion 28 to the upper rear side. Further, the rear end portion, which is the downstream end portion of the air passage portion 29, communicates with the dust collecting portion 14 via the seal member 41.

  The support portion 30 is bent and extends from the upper end of the rear portion of the rear portion 27b of the nozzle portion 27 upward to the rear side, and is located in the main body case 12, and supports the dust collecting portion 14 from below. Further, the support portion 30 includes a rotation shaft 30 a on both sides, and the rotation shaft 30 a is pivotally supported inside the main body case 12. Therefore, the suction mechanism portion 24 can be rotated in the vertical direction with respect to the main body case 12 integrally with the dust collection portion 14.

  The drive unit 31 is housed inside the main body case 12 at a position above the front side of the suction mechanism unit 24. The drive unit 31 is wound, for example, with a retraction motor 44 as a retraction drive means, a pulley 45 rotated by the retraction motor 44, and a base end fixed around the pulley 45. Wire 46. Then, the retracting motor 44 rotates the pulley 45 by the timing belt 47, for example, so that the suction mechanism portion 24 can be moved in the vertical direction via the wire 46, and moved upward. Thus, the dust introduction body 33 is retracted upward with respect to the floor surface F.

  The electric blower 13 is accommodated in the body case 12 with the suction side facing rearward and the axial direction along the front-rear direction (horizontal direction), for example. Further, a duct portion 51 is airtightly connected to the suction side of the electric blower 13. The duct portion 51 extends toward the upper rear side, and the rear end portion, which is the upstream end portion, can communicate with the dust collecting portion 14 via the flexible bellows-shaped connection air passage portion 52. Yes. Further, a filter (not shown) is arranged inside the duct portion 51.

  The dust collecting part 14 collects dust sucked from the suction port 26 by driving the electric blower 13, and is located at the rear part of the main body case 12, for example, and can be attached to and detached from the main body case 12. ing. The dust collecting portion 14 is integrally provided with a box-shaped dust collecting portion main body 54 that accumulates dust therein and a cylindrical connection portion 55 that protrudes forward from the dust collecting portion main body 54.

  The dust collector main body 54 has a suction opening 54a that is airtightly connected to the air passage portion 29 via the seal member 41 and is opened to the lower front side, and an exhaust opening that is airtightly connected to the connection portion 55 via the seal member 57. 54b is opened on the upper front side. In addition, a filter unit 58 that filters and collects dust, for example, is attached to the inside of the dust collecting unit main body 54 and is positioned between the suction opening 54a and the exhaust opening 54b.

  The connection portion 55 has a rear end portion that is an upstream end portion connected to the exhaust opening 54b via a seal member 57, and a front end portion that is a downstream end portion is airtightly connected to the connection air passage portion 52. Therefore, from the suction port 26 (suction chamber 35) to the air passage portion 29, the suction opening 54a, the filter portion 58, the exhaust opening 54b, the connection portion 55, the connection air passage portion 52 and the duct portion 51, the electric blower 13 An air passage that is airtightly connected to the suction side is configured. Further, the tip of the wire 46 of the drive unit 31 is connected to the upper part of the connection part 55 (upper part of the connection air passage part 52).

  Each drive wheel 15 is for driving the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) in the forward and backward directions (autonomous traveling) on the floor surface F, that is, for traveling, and is not shown along the left-right width direction. It is formed in a disk shape having a rotation axis. Further, these drive wheels 15 are disposed in the width direction on both sides of the suction port 26 at positions near the center in the front-rear direction of the lower portion of the main body case 12, and are symmetrical with respect to the width direction. It has become.

  Each motor 16 is disposed, for example, corresponding to each drive wheel 15, and can drive each drive wheel 15 independently. These motors 16 may be directly connected to the respective drive wheels 15, or may be connected to the respective drive wheels 15 via transmission means (not shown) such as gears or belts.

  Further, the drive wheel 15 and the motor 16 are integrally suspended by suspension means (suspension) (not shown) and are elastically biased downward.

  The swivel wheel 17 is a driven wheel that is located at the front and substantially at the center in the width direction of the main body case 12 and that can swivel along the floor surface F. That is, the swivel wheel 17 is located near the front end of the main body case 12.

  The distance measuring sensor 20 is a non-contact sensor such as an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, or an image sensor, for example, and is disposed over the front or both sides of the outer periphery of the main body case 12, for example. The presence / absence of an obstacle (wall) W and the distance between them and the main body case 12 can be detected.

  The control means 22 includes, for example, a timing means such as a timer, a storage means such as a memory, and a control unit such as a microcomputer. The electric blower 13, each motor 16, a distance measuring sensor 20, a drive motor 37, and a drive unit 31 are provided. Based on the detection result of the distance measuring sensor 20, the driving of the electric blower 13 and each motor 16 can be controlled.

  The secondary battery 23 supplies power to the control means 22, the electric blower 13, each motor 16, the distance measuring sensor 20, the drive motor 37, the retracting motor 44, and the like. The secondary battery 23 is electrically connected to, for example, the charging terminals 61 located on both sides of the swivel wheel 17 on the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12, that is, on the front, for example, at a predetermined position in the room (room). Charging is possible by connecting a charging terminal 61 to a charging terminal 64 of a predetermined charging stand 63 installed.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  The vacuum cleaner 11 drives the electric blower 13, the drive wheels 15 and 15 (motors 16 and 16), the rotating brush 36 (drive motor 37) and the like, for example, when a predetermined time preset in the control means 22 is reached, For example, cleaning is started from the charging stand 63 while autonomously running on the floor F by the drive wheels 15 and 15. The cleaning start position can be set at an arbitrary place such as the travel start position of the electric vacuum cleaner 11 or the entrance / exit of the room.

  During traveling, the control means 22 detects, for example, the distance from the wall portion surrounding the cleaning area or the obstacle W in the cleaning area via the distance measuring sensor 20, and the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12). The vehicle travels on the floor F while avoiding the obstacle W in response to the detection from the distance measuring sensor 20.

  In this vacuum cleaner 11, the negative pressure generated by driving the electric blower 13 passes through the duct portion 51, the connection air passage portion 52, the connection portion 55, the dust collection portion 14, the air passage portion 29, and the suction chamber 35. The dust on the floor surface F is sucked together with air by the suction port 26 that has acted. Further, the rotational brush 36 that is rotationally driven scrapes off dust on the floor surface F to the dust collecting portion 14 by the cleaning body portion 36b. At this time, in the dust introduction body 33, the scraping piece portion 33a comes into contact with the floor surface F, closes the rear portion of the suction port 26 and improves the degree of vacuum, and also advances the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12). Accordingly, the scraping piece 33a is brought into sliding contact with the floor surface F, the dust on the floor surface F is scooped up along the front introduction surface 33b of the scraping piece 33a, and the cleaning body portion 36b of the rotary brush 36 is used. The scraped dust is guided to the suction port 26.

  Dust sucked together with air from the suction port 26 is separated and collected by the filter part 58 in the dust collecting part main body 54 of the dust collecting part 14, and the air from which the dust has been separated is connected to the connecting part 55 and the connecting wind. The air is sucked into the electric blower 13 through the path portion 52 and the duct portion 51, and after cooling the electric blower 13, it is exhausted to the outside through an exhaust port (not shown) provided in the main body case 12 as exhaust air.

  When it is determined that the cleaning of the cleaning area has been completed, the control means 22 causes the electric vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) to autonomously travel to the position of the charging base 63 and charges the charging terminal 64 of the charging base 63. The terminal 61 is connected (mechanically and electrically), each part is stopped, the operation is terminated, and the secondary battery 23 is charged.

  Here, the traveling control of the electric vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) in the above-described cleaning operation will be described.

  First, when cleaning is started from the charging stand 63, the control means 22 rotates the drive wheels 15 and 15 (motors 16 and 16) in the backward direction, respectively, so that the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12). Is rotated a predetermined distance with respect to the charging base 63, and one drive wheel 15 (motor 16) is rotated in the forward direction, and the other drive wheel 15 (motor 16) is rotated in the reverse direction. After turning to the front and turning the front side in a predetermined direction, the vehicle starts moving forward (Fig. 5 (a1) and Fig. 5 (b1)).

  Further, during the cleaning work, the control means 22 usually advances the electric vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) by rotating the drive wheels 15 and 15 (motors 16 and 16) in the forward direction. During this forward movement, an obstacle W is detected in front of the main body case 12 by the distance measuring sensor 20 (the obstacle W is within a predetermined distance in front of the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12), or in front. If it is determined that the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12 has approached a predetermined distance) with respect to the obstacle W located, one drive wheel 15 (motor 16) is moved forward, and the other drive wheel 15 ( By rotating the motor 16) in the backward direction, the vehicle turns at that position (super-spinning), changes the forward direction until the obstacle sensor W no longer detects the obstacle W, and then resumes forward ( FIG. 5 (a2) and FIG. 5 (b2)).

  Further, when the cleaning is finished, the control means 22 detects that the distance sensor 20 or the like has moved to the front position of the charging base 63, and then the one driving wheel 15 ( Turn until the front part of the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) faces the charging base 63 by turning the motor 16) in the forward direction and the other driving wheel 15 (motor 16) in the backward direction (super turning) ), The vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) moves forward toward the charging base 63, and when the charging terminal 61 is connected to the charging terminal 64, the driving wheels 15, 15 (motors 16, 16) are moved. Stop (FIG. 5 (a3) and FIG. 5 (b3)).

  As described above, the electric vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) performs turning (super turning) and backward movement in addition to the forward movement in the traveling control during the cleaning operation. During such turning and retreating operations, that is, when at least one of the drive wheels 15 is driven in the retreating direction, the dust collection efficiency at the time of advancing by protruding below the main body case 12 and contacting the floor F The dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36) for increasing the resistance is caught by the floor F and becomes a resistance, or moves relatively from the rear side of the main body case 12 to the lower portion of the main body case 12. There is concern that the dust on the coming floor surface F will be dammed up or the dust will be blown off to the rear side of the main body case 12 relatively. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control means 22 stops the rotating brush 36 (drive motor 37) during the turning or retreat operation in which at least one of the drive wheels 15 is driven in the reverse direction, and the drive unit The pulley 45 is driven in the direction in which the wire 46 is wound up by the retracting motor 44 of 31, and the suction mechanism 24 is pulled up and rotated by the wire 46 to rotate the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36) to the floor. It is assumed that the surface is retracted from the surface F side.

  As a result, the dust introduction efficiency is improved by the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36), and the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotation brush 36) is not caught on the floor surface F during the turning and retreating operations. In addition to being able to suppress a decrease in running performance, the dust moving from the rear side relative to the main body case 12 is blocked by the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36), or by rotating the rotating brush 36. I don't play it back.

  The suction mechanism portion 24 pulled up by the wire 46 as described above is configured to drive the pulley 45 in a direction in which the wire 46 is unwound by the retracting motor 44 when the turning or retreating of the main body case 12 is completed. It rotates downward due to its own weight, and becomes a position where the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36) is in contact with the floor surface F.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the structure and effect | action similar to the said 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the second embodiment, a line sensor (PSD) 66 as a distance measuring means is provided on the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12 of the first embodiment.

  The line sensor 66 has a clearance in the lower part of the main body case 12, that is, a lower surface 12a of the main body case 12 and a floor surface F (or an object such as an obstacle positioned on the floor surface F) facing the lower surface of the lower surface 12a. A light emitting unit 66a that is attached to an opening 12c that is opened on the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12, and emits light (laser light, infrared light, etc.) downward, and this A light receiving unit 66b that detects reflected light from the floor surface F (opposite object) of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 66a. Further, the line sensor 66 is arranged so as not to protrude with respect to the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12, that is, to be flush with the lower surface 12a or above the lower surface 12a. Located on the front outside. The line sensor 66 can detect the distance to the floor surface F (opposite object) based on the displacement of the position at which the light emitted from the light emitting unit 66a is received by the light receiving unit 66b (FIG. 6 (a1) and FIG. 6). (a2)), and this detection result can be output to the control means 22.

  The drive unit 31 corresponds to the clearance of the lower part of the main body case 12 detected by the line sensor 66 during the turning or reverse operation in which at least one of the drive wheels 15 is driven in the reverse direction. 33 (and the rotating brush 36) are moved up and down, in other words, when the lower clearance is relatively large, the upward movement amount is reduced, and when the lower clearance is relatively small, the upward movement is performed. Increase the amount of movement to.

  Specifically, in the case of the floor surface F such as flooring, for example, the distance between the floor surface F (opposite object) and the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12 is relatively wide (FIG. 6 (a1)), so that the drive unit 31 Relatively reduces the amount of movement when the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36) is retracted upward (FIG. 6 (b1)). For example, in the case of a floor surface F such as a carpet, the driving wheel 15 sinks into the floor surface F due to the weight of the vacuum cleaner 11, so that the floor surface F (opposite object) and the lower surface 12 a of the main body case 12. Is relatively narrow (FIG. 6 (a2)), the drive unit 31 relatively increases the amount of movement when the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36) is retracted upward (FIG. 6). 6 (b2)). That is, the amount of movement when the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36) is retreated upward is changed in accordance with the distance between the floor surface F (opposite object) and the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12. Regardless of the type of the surface F, the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36) can be retracted to the same distance (position) with respect to any floor surface F.

  For this reason, it is possible to minimize the amount of movement when the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36) is retracted by the drive unit 31, in other words, the rotational speed (input) of the retracting motor 44, which is necessary for power saving. Can be achieved. In particular, in the case of the vacuum cleaner 11 driven by the secondary battery 23, it becomes possible to save power, and thus the travel distance (cleaning range) of the vacuum cleaner 11 and the duration of cleaning can be made longer. it can.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36) is retracted from the floor surface F side by using the drive unit 31, and therefore the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush) 36) can be retracted to a position separated upward from the floor surface F. Accordingly, when turning or retreating operation in which at least one of the driving wheels 15 is driven in the retreating direction, the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36) is caught on the floor surface F, and traveling performance is reduced. It is possible to more reliably suppress damming up the dust.

  Moreover, since the drive unit 31 has a simple configuration using the retracting motor 44, the pulley 45, the wire 46, and the like, it can be manufactured at low cost.

  In each of the above embodiments, the drive unit 31 and the suction mechanism unit 24 can be arbitrarily configured as long as the dust introduction body 33 (and the rotating brush 36) can be retracted from the floor surface F.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the structure and effect | action similar to said each embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The third embodiment includes a dust introduction body 71 that can be rotated in the front-rear direction instead of the drive unit 31 and the dust introduction body 33 of the above-described embodiments.

  The dust introduction body 71 scoops up the dust and guides it to the suction port 26, closes the rear portion of the suction port 26 to improve the degree of vacuum, and prevents the dust from escaping behind the suction port 26. A cleaning assisting tool for assisting cleaning, which is formed of, for example, a soft synthetic resin having elasticity. The dust introduction body 71 is a blade-like flap that extends in the left-right direction along the rear edge of the suction port 26, and includes a rotation shaft 72 at the upper end portion. Inside the suction chamber 35 that is the inside of the portion 27, it is pivotally supported by a pivotal support 73 that protrudes downward from the main body case 12 toward the front side. Further, an inclined introduction surface 74 that is inclined downward toward the front side is formed at the front lower portion of the dust introduction body 71. Further, a contact portion 75 as a retracting means is integrally formed on the rear portion of the dust introduction body 71 on the back side of the introduction surface 74. The contact portion 75 rotates the dust introduction body 71 in the front-rear direction by contact resistance with the floor surface F by contacting the floor surface F, and continues from the lower end portion of the introduction surface 74 to the rear. A flat contact surface 75a is formed extending in the front-rear direction. Further, the rear part of the contact part 75 faces the front end part of the rear part 27b of the nozzle part 27, and the rear part 27b of the nozzle part 27 rotates the dust introduction body 71 (and the contact part 75) to the rear. It is a stopper part to regulate. In addition, the dust introduction body 71 is divided into left and right parts together with the contact part 75 at, for example, a substantially central part in the left-right direction of the main body case 12 (the electric vacuum cleaner 11). That is, the dust introduction body 71 is divided into a pair of left and right dust introduction bodies 71a and 71b.

  During the movement of the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12), the control means 22 rotates the drive wheels 15a and 15b (motors 16a and 16b) in the forward direction, respectively, so that the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) moves forward. In this case, although the dust introduction body 71 (dust introduction bodies 71a and 71b) has a contact surface 75a of the contact portion 75 in contact with the floor surface F and tries to rotate backward by the contact resistance, the nozzle portion 27 The rear part of the rear part 27b comes into contact with the rear part of the contact part 75 so that rearward rotation is restricted, and the dust introduction body 71 (dust introduction bodies 71a and 71b) is positioned at a position where the introduction surface 74 is inclined downward on the front side. Is maintained. Therefore, the dust introduction body 71 (dust introduction bodies 71a and 71b) closes the rear portion of the suction port 26 to improve the degree of vacuum, and along the introduction surface 74 as the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) advances. The dust on the floor surface F is scooped up, and the dust scraped off by the cleaning body 36b of the rotary brush 36 is guided to the suction port 26 (FIG. 8 (a)).

  Further, for example, the control means 22 rotates one drive wheel 15a (one motor 16a) in the forward direction and the other drive wheel 15b (the other motor 16b) in the backward direction, thereby the electric vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12). Is swung (FIG. 9A), the dust introduction body 71a corresponding to one drive wheel 15a is moved backward by the rear part of the contact part 75 coming into contact with the front end part of the rear part 27b of the nozzle part 27. The rotation is restricted, and the introduction surface 74 is maintained at a position inclined forward and downward (FIG. 8 (a)), and the dust introduction body 71b corresponding to the other drive wheel 15b is formed as an integral contact portion. It rotates forward by the contact resistance between the contact surface 75a of 75 and the floor surface F, and retreats with respect to the floor surface F (FIG. 8 (b)).

  Further, for example, the control means 22 rotates the other driving wheel 15b (the other motor 16b) in the forward direction and one driving wheel 15a (the one motor 16a) in the backward direction to thereby rotate the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12). Is swung (FIG. 9B), the dust introduction body 71b corresponding to the other drive wheel 15b is moved backward by the rear part of the contact part 75 coming into contact with the front end part of the rear part 27b of the nozzle part 27. And the introduction surface 74 is maintained at a position inclined downward in the front side (FIG. 8 (a)), and the dust introduction body 71a corresponding to the one drive wheel 15a is formed as an integral contact portion. It rotates forward by the contact resistance between the contact surface 75a of 75 and the floor surface F, and retreats with respect to the floor surface F (FIG. 8 (b)).

  Further, for example, when the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) moves backward by the control means 22 rotating the drive wheels 15a, 15b (motors 16a, 16b) in the backward direction (FIG. 9 (c)), dust The introduction bodies 71a and 71b are rotated forward by the contact resistance between the contact surface 75a of the contact portion 75 and the floor surface F, which are integrally formed, and retract with respect to the floor surface F (FIG. 8 (b)). ).

  As a result, at the time of turning or retreating operation in which at least one of the driving wheels 15 is driven in the retreating direction, the dust introduction body 71 is caused to contact the floor F with the contact portion 75 without using electric power. Can be evacuated from the floor surface F, thereby saving power, eliminating the need for a complicated configuration, and reducing the weight of the vacuum cleaner 11, thereby reducing the driving load of the drive wheels 15 by the motor 16 relatively. Therefore, the travel distance (cleaning range) of the electric vacuum cleaner 11 driven by the secondary battery 23 and the cleaning duration can be increased.

  Further, since the dust introduction body 71 is divided into left and right parts, for example, in the turning operation in which only the drive wheel 15a (only the drive wheel 15b) is driven in the backward direction, the dust introduction body 71a (dust introduction body 71b) ) Only retreats from the floor surface F, and the dust introduction body 71b (dust introduction body 71a) does not retreat from the floor surface F. Therefore, only the dust introduction body 71 on the side that is caught by the floor surface F during the turning operation and becomes resistance is retracted from the floor surface F to suppress the decrease in traveling performance, and the dust introduction body 71 on the side that does not become resistance is The contact with the floor surface F can be maintained and the dust collection efficiency from the floor surface F can be increased.

  In each of the above embodiments, the charging terminal 61 is provided on the front portion of the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12, but may be provided on both sides of the rear portion of the lower surface 12a of the main body case 12, for example. In this case, the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) moves forward with respect to the charging base 63 when starting cleaning from the charging base 63, and the vacuum cleaner 11 (main body case 12) moves forward when finishing cleaning. The charging base 63 will be retracted. That is, the operations of starting and ending cleaning are opposite to those in the above embodiments. Therefore, this case can be dealt with in the same manner by switching the controls at the start and end of the cleaning in each of the above embodiments (the controls are switched).

  Further, the electric blower 13 may not be provided, and the rotating brush 36 may be used to scrape up dust on the floor surface F and collect the dust onto the dust collecting unit 14.

  Furthermore, the main body case 12 does not have to be circular in plan view.

  The dust collecting unit 14 is configured to filter and collect dust using, for example, a dust collection bag instead of the configuration using the filter unit 58, or to collect dust by inertia separation such as centrifugal separation (cyclonic separation) or straight separation. Arbitrary structures, such as a structure which isolate | separates and collects, can be used.

  In at least one embodiment described above, the dust introduction body 33 or the dust introduction body 71 for introducing dust into the suction opening 26 is provided on the rear side of the suction opening 26, and at least one of the drive wheels 15 is moved backward. The dust introduction body 33 or the dust introduction body 71 is in a state of being retracted from the floor surface F side during the turning or retreating operation driven by the vehicle. As a result, the dust introduction body 33 or the dust introduction body 71 increases the dust collection efficiency, and the dust introduction body 33 or the dust introduction body 71 does not get caught on the floor surface F during the turning or retreating operation. And the dust introduced from the rear side relative to the main body case 12 is not blocked by the dust introduction body 33 or the dust introduction body 71.

  In addition, the rotating brush 36 that can rotate in the forward direction of the main body case 12 is stopped at the time of turning or retreating operation in which at least one of the drive wheels 15 is rotating in the backward direction, so that the rotating brush 36 rotates. The contact load with the floor surface F does not become a resistance, and a decrease in running performance can be more reliably suppressed, and the rotary brush 36 is not driven back by the rotational drive.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

11 Vacuum cleaner
12 Body case
15 Drive wheels
26 Suction port as dust collector
31 Drive unit as retracting means
33, 71 Dust introduction body
36 Rotating brush as rotating cleaning body
66 Line sensors as ranging means
72 Rotating axis
75 Contact part as retraction means F Floor as surface to be cleaned

Claims (5)

A body case,
A dust collection port provided on the main body case opposite the surface to be cleaned;
A pair of drive wheels provided in the main body case so as to be rotatable, and making the main body case travel at least in the forward and backward directions,
A dust introduction body that protrudes toward the surface to be cleaned on the rear side of the dust collection port and introduces dust into the dust collection port;
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a retracting means for retracting the dust introduction body from the surface to be cleaned when at least one of the drive wheels is rotating in the backward direction. Has a distance measuring means for measuring the clearance of the lower part of the main body case,
The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the retracting means moves the dust introduction body in the vertical direction corresponding to the clearance measured by the distance measuring means. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the dust introduction body is a flap having a rotating shaft on an upper side. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the dust introduction body is divided into at least left and right. Provided with a rotary cleaning body that is provided in the dust collection port so as to be rotatable in the forward direction of the main body case and scrapes dust on the surface to be cleaned;
The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotary cleaning body stops rotating when at least one of the drive wheels is rotating in a backward direction.

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