JP2017055800A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner capable of easily disposing of collected dust after quickly performing local cleaning using means other than an autonomous cleaning unit equipped with a charging function, such as a mop, a broom and a cleaning tool for a floor.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner 1 includes an autonomous cleaning unit 2 that autonomously moves on a floor to be cleaned and collects dust, and a station unit 5 having a charging electrode 3 for the autonomous cleaning unit 2. The autonomous cleaning unit 2 includes a first body case 11 having a first suction port 6, a secondary battery 12 that stores electric power supplied from the charging electrode 3, a dust collection container 13 that accumulates dust sucked through the first suction port 6, and a motor-driven blower 15 driven by the electric power supplied from the secondary battery 12 and applies negative pressure to the dust collection container 13. The station unit 5 includes a second body case 22 having a second suction port 21 for sucking dust different from the dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  Embodiments according to the present invention relate to a vacuum cleaner.

  2. Description of the Related Art A cleaning device that includes a dust control product such as a dust mop and a dust collector that sucks dust collected by the dust control product into a dust container is known.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-210361

  By the way, in recent years, an autonomous vacuum cleaner that autonomously moves the surface to be cleaned and collects dust, that is, a so-called robot cleaner is known.

  Robot cleaners require several tens of minutes to hours of operation time to clean the entire room. For this reason, the robot cleaner has a high convenience in autonomously cleaning the living room when it is away, while it is used for cleaning confectionery scraps spilled by a child, for example, the living room. In applications where a part of the screen is immediately cleaned, momentum and convenience are reduced.

  For applications that clean up confectionery scraps that children have spilled, means other than autonomous vacuum cleaners, such as mops, brooms, and floor sweepers, can be used more quickly. it can.

  However, even if a means other than the autonomous cleaning unit, such as a mop, broom, or floor sweeper, can quickly handle dust, it can be used to dispose of dust after sweeping. However, there is also an aspect that it takes extra effort that requires dust removal.

  Therefore, the present invention has an autonomous cleaning unit charging function and utilizes a station unit that is installed in a living room, so that autonomous cleaning by the autonomous cleaning unit and means other than the autonomous cleaning unit, such as mop In addition, the present invention proposes an electric vacuum cleaner that can easily dispose of dust collected after a local cleaning is quickly performed using a broom or a floor cleaning tool.

  In order to solve the above problems, an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an autonomous cleaning unit that autonomously moves a surface to be cleaned and collects dust, and a charging electrode of the autonomous cleaning unit. The autonomous cleaning unit includes a first body case having a first suction port, a secondary battery that stores power supplied from the charging electrode, and the first suction port. A dust collection container that accumulates dust, and an electric blower that is driven by electric power supplied from the secondary battery to apply a negative pressure to the dust collection container, and the station unit includes the autonomous cleaning unit. A second main body case having a second suction port for sucking in other dust different from the dust to be collected is provided.

The block diagram of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

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

[First Embodiment]
1st Embodiment of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on this invention is described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment includes an autonomous cleaning unit 2 that autonomously moves a surface to be cleaned and collects dust, and a charging electrode 3 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. A station unit 5.

  The electric vacuum cleaner 1 autonomously moves the autonomous cleaning unit 2 across the entire surface to be cleaned in the living room to collect dust, and thereafter returns the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5. The autonomous cleaning unit 2 is put on standby until the next cleaning.

  The station unit 5 is arranged at an arbitrary place in the living room. The autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the station unit 5 and shifts to a standby state or a charged state when charging is necessary or cleaning of the living room is completed. The position where the station unit 5 and the autonomous cleaning unit 2 are electrically connected and the autonomous cleaning unit 2 can be charged is referred to as the home position of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. In addition, the return of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5 and the return of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5 and shifting to the standby state or the charging state are referred to as homing.

  First, the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is a so-called robot cleaner. The autonomous cleaning unit 2 includes a first main body case 11 having a first suction port 6, a secondary battery 12 provided in the first main body case 11, and a dust collecting container that accumulates dust sucked from the first suction port 6. 13, an electric blower 15 that is driven by electric power supplied from the secondary battery 12 to apply a negative pressure to the dust collecting container 13, a moving unit 16 that supports the first main body case 11 movably on the surface to be cleaned, A drive unit 17 that is driven by the power supplied from the secondary battery 12 to operate the moving unit 16, and a robot control unit 18 that controls the drive unit 17 to autonomously move the first main body case 11 on the surface to be cleaned. And.

  The first main body case 11 is a disk-shaped box made of, for example, synthetic resin, and can easily turn the surface to be cleaned. A horizontally long first suction port 6 is opened on the bottom surface of the first main body case 11.

  The first suction port 6 has a width dimension of the first main body case 11, that is, a width dimension of about two-thirds of the diameter dimension. The first suction port 6 is fluidly connected to the electric blower 15 through the dust collecting container 13.

  The dust collecting container 13 is provided in the first main body case 11. The dust collecting container 13 accumulates dust sucked from the first suction port 6 by the suction negative pressure generated by the electric blower 15. The dust collecting container 13 includes a filter that filters and collects dust, a separation device that separates air and dust by inertia separation such as centrifugal separation (cyclonic separation) and linear separation, and accumulates dust while allowing air to pass through. Applies.

  The moving unit 16 supports the first main body case 11 with at least three wheels. The moving unit 16 includes a pair of left and right drive wheels (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the first main body case 11 and a driven wheel (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the first main body case 11.

  The autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves forward or backward by rotating a pair of drive wheels in the same direction, and turns clockwise or counterclockwise by rotating the pair of drive wheels in opposite directions. The driven wheel is, for example, a turnable caster.

  The drive unit 17 includes a pair of electric motors that drive each of the pair of drive wheels. The drive unit 17 drives the pair of drive wheels independently.

  The robot control unit 18 includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a storage device (not shown) that stores various calculation programs, parameters, and the like executed by the microprocessor. The robot control unit 18 is electrically connected to the electric blower 15 and the drive unit 17. The robot control unit 18 controls the electric blower 15 to apply a negative pressure to the first suction port 6, and the robot control unit 18 controls the driving unit 17 to autonomously travel the autonomous cleaning unit 2. Let

  The secondary battery 12 is a power source for the electric blower 15, the drive unit 17, and the robot control unit 18. The secondary battery 12 is electrically connected to a charging terminal 19 provided on the bottom surface of the first main body case 11. The secondary battery 12 is charged by connecting the charging terminal 19 to the charging electrode 3 of the station unit 5.

  The station unit 5 is installed at an arbitrary place on the surface to be cleaned of the living room. The station unit 5 includes a second body case 22 having a second suction port 21 for sucking in dust other than the dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2, the charging electrode 3, and the charging electrode 3 from the commercial AC power source E. And a suction air passage 25 that connects the second suction port 21 and the first suction port 6 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the station unit 5.

  The second body case 22 is a box having an appropriate shape that can be placed on the surface to be cleaned of the living room. The second body case 22 has an appropriate shape that does not interfere even when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns.

  The second suction port 21 sucks in dust other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, for example, dust collected by a mop, broom, or floor cleaning tool, or dust attached to the mop, broom, or floor cleaning tool itself. Applicable for use. For this reason, the 2nd suction inlet 21 is arrange | positioned in the lower part of the 2nd main body case 22, for example, has an appropriate width along a to-be-cleaned surface, and an appropriate height in alignment with the perpendicular of a to-be-cleaned surface.

  The suction air passage 25 has a mode (suction air passage 25 a) in which the second suction port 21 and the dust collecting container 13 are directly connected without going through the first suction port 6, and the first suction port 6 through the first suction port 6. Any of the aspects (suction air path 25b) which connects the two suction inlets 21 and the dust collecting container 13 may be sufficient.

  The suction air passage 25 (25a, 25b) is provided in the second main body case 22. One end of the suction air passage 25 (25a, 25b) is connected to the second suction port 21.

  The other end of the suction air passage 25a is disposed at an appropriate location that is connected to the dust collecting container 13 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns. The dust collection container 13 is preferably provided with a lid (not shown) that opens upon returning of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and connects the dust collection container 13 and the suction air passage 25a.

  The other end of the suction air passage 25a is disposed at an appropriate location connected to the first suction port 6 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns.

  The charging electrode 3 is provided on the second main body case 22. The charging electrode 3 is disposed at an appropriate location where the electrical connection can be established by contacting the charging terminal 19 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns.

  When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the homing position, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 makes contact with the charging terminal 19 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and the charging electrode 3 of the station unit 5, and establishes an electrical connection to establish the secondary. The battery 12 is charged. At this time, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 passes through the dust collection container 13 through the first suction port 6 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 or without passing through the second suction port 21 of the station unit 5 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. It is fluidly connected to the electric blower 15.

  And the vacuum cleaner 1 is a direct sensor to the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and a sensor (not shown) that senses that the mop, broom, or floor cleaning tool itself is brought close to the second suction port 21. The electric blower 15 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is operated by the function of. The negative pressure generated by the operation of the electric blower 15 acts on the second suction port 21 of the station unit 5 via the dust collection container 13, the first suction port 6, and the suction air passage 25, and dust is generated from the second suction port 21. Inhale. Dust sucked from the second suction port 21 adheres to means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, for example, dust collected by a mop, broom, or floor cleaning tool, or mop, broom, or floor cleaning tool itself. Dust.

  The vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above has a second suction port 21 of the station unit 5, and thus means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as a mop, broom, and floor cleaning. Dust collected by tools, or dust attached to mops, brooms, and floor cleaning tools themselves can be sucked in. Such a dust sucking function of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is suitable for cleaning dust such as confectionery scraps spilled by a child when it is desired to locally clean a part of the living room. In other words, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 requires several tens of minutes to a time unit when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is operated autonomously to clean the entire room, while means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2 such as mop In addition, when the room is locally cleaned with a broom or a floor cleaning tool, dust that can be swept up in units of several tens of seconds to several minutes is immediately sucked from the second suction port 21 and accumulated. be able to.

  Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment connects the suction system (the electric blower 15, the dust collecting container 13, and the first suction port 6) of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the second suction port 21 of the station unit 5. By sucking up dust, an immediate dust sucking function can be provided without increasing the number of parts.

[Second Embodiment]
2nd Embodiment of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on this invention is described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

  In addition, in this embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure which is common in the vacuum cleaner 1 of 1st Embodiment, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an electric vacuum cleaner 1 </ b> A according to this embodiment includes an autonomous cleaning unit 2 that autonomously moves a surface to be cleaned and collects dust, and a charging electrode 3 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. Station unit 5A.

  The electric vacuum cleaner 1A moves the autonomous cleaning unit 2 autonomously across the entire surface to be cleaned in the living room to collect dust, and then returns the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5A. The autonomous cleaning unit 2 is put on standby until the next cleaning.

  The station unit 5A is arranged at an arbitrary place in the living room. The autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the station unit 5A and shifts to a standby state or a charged state when charging is necessary or cleaning of the living room is completed. The position where the station unit 5A and the autonomous cleaning unit 2 are electrically connected and the autonomous cleaning unit 2 can be charged is referred to as the home position of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. In addition, the return of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5A and the return of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5A to shift to the standby state or the charging state are referred to as homing.

  The station unit 5A is installed at an arbitrary location on the surface to be cleaned of the living room. The station unit 5A includes a second main body case 22 having a second inlet 21 for sucking in dust other than the dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2, a charging electrode 3, and a charging electrode 3 from a commercial AC power source E. A power cord 23 that guides power to the second dust collecting container 31, a second dust collecting container 31 that accumulates dust sucked from the second suction port 21, a second electric blower 32 that applies a negative pressure to the second dust collecting container 31, and a second A station control unit 33 that controls the electric blower 32 to apply a negative pressure to the second suction port 21.

  The second dust collecting container 31 is provided in the second main body case 22. The second dust collecting container 31 accumulates dust sucked from the second suction port 21 by the suction negative pressure generated by the second electric blower 32. The second dust collecting container 31 is a filter for collecting and collecting dust, separating air and dust by inertia separation such as centrifugal separation (cyclonic separation) and straight traveling separation, and separating the air while allowing the dust to pass therethrough. Equipment etc. are applied. The second dust collecting container 31 does not move together with the autonomous cleaning unit 2 like the dust collecting container 13, and is stored in the stationary station unit 5 </ b> A. Therefore, the second dust collecting container 31 secures a larger capacity than the dust collecting container 13. Is easy.

  Since the second electric blower 32 can directly obtain power from the commercial AC power supply E, the second electric blower 32 may have a higher output than the electric blower 15 driven by the secondary battery 12.

  The station control unit 33 includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a storage device (not shown) that stores various arithmetic programs executed by the microprocessor, parameters, and the like. The station control unit 33 is electrically connected to the second electric blower 32. The station control unit 33 controls the second electric blower 32 to apply a negative pressure to the second suction port 21.

  The electric vacuum cleaner 1A can be used for direct commands to the station unit 5A regardless of whether or not the autonomous cleaning unit 2 has returned to the home position, and for the mop, broom, and floor for the second suction port 21. The second electric blower 32 is operated by the action of a sensor (not shown) that senses that the cleaner itself has been brought closer. The negative pressure generated by the operation of the second electric blower 32 acts on the second suction port 21 through the second dust collecting container 31 and sucks dust from the second suction port 21. Dust sucked from the second suction port 21 adheres to means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, for example, dust collected by a mop, broom, or floor cleaning tool, or mop, broom, or floor cleaning tool itself. Dust.

  Further, the station unit 5A includes a relay air passage 35 that connects the dust collecting container 13 and the second dust collecting container 31 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the station unit 5A.

  The relay air passage 35 is connected directly to the dust collecting container 13 and the second dust collecting container 31 without going through the first suction port 6 (relay air passage 35 a), and via the first suction port 6. Any of the aspects (relay wind path 35b) which connects the dust collecting container 13 and the 2nd dust collecting container 31 may be sufficient.

  The relay air passage 35 (35a, 35b) is provided in the second main body case 22. One end of the relay air passage 35 (35a, 35b) is connected to the second dust collecting container 31.

  The other end of the relay air passage 35a is disposed at an appropriate location that is connected to the dust collecting container 13 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns. The dust collection container 13 is preferably provided with a lid (not shown) that opens upon returning of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and connects the dust collection container 13 and the relay air passage 35a.

  The other end of the relay air passage 35b is disposed at an appropriate location that is connected to the first suction port 6 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns.

  When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the homing position, the electric cleaning device 1A makes contact with the charging terminal 19 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and the charging electrode 3 of the station unit 5A, and establishes an electrical connection to establish the secondary. The battery 12 is charged. At this time, the vacuum cleaner 1 </ b> A passes through the second dust collection container 31 of the station unit 5 </ b> A via the first suction port 6 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 or without the dust collection container 13 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. Is fluidly connected to the second electric blower 32 of the station unit 5A, and then the second electric blower 32 is operated. The negative pressure generated by the operation of the second electric blower 32 acts on the dust collection container 13 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 via the second dust collection container 31 and the relay air path 35 (relay air path 35a or relay air path 35b). Then, the dust is transferred from the dust collecting container 13 to the second dust collecting container 31.

  When adding a function of transferring dust from the dust collection container 13 to the second dust collection container 31 to the electric vacuum cleaner 1A, the negative pressure acting on the second dust collection container 31 is applied to the second suction port 21 side. It is preferable to provide a switching mechanism 36 that acts or acts on the dust collecting container 13 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2.

  The vacuum cleaner 1A according to the present embodiment configured as described above has a second suction port 21 of the station unit 5A, and thus means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as a mop, broom, and floor cleaning. Dust collected by tools, or dust attached to mops, brooms, and floor cleaning tools themselves can be sucked in. Such a dust sucking function of the electric vacuum cleaner 1A is suitable for cleaning dust such as confectionery spilled by a child when a part of the room is to be cleaned locally. In other words, the electric vacuum cleaner 1A requires several tens of minutes to a time unit when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is operated autonomously to clean the entire room, while means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as mop In addition, when the room is locally cleaned with a broom or a floor cleaning tool, dust that can be swept up in units of several tens of seconds to several minutes is immediately sucked from the second suction port 21 and accumulated. be able to.

  Moreover, the electric vacuum cleaner 1A according to the present embodiment can provide an immediate dust sucking function by the station unit 5A alone.

  Furthermore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1A according to the present embodiment continues to accumulate a large amount of dust for a longer period by transferring and accumulating dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5A. It is possible and the maintenance interval can be extended.

  Therefore, according to the vacuum cleaners 1 and 1A according to the present embodiment, the autonomous cleaning unit 2 has the charging function of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and uses the station units 5 and 5A installed in the living room. After autonomous cleaning and local cleaning using means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as mops, brooms, and floor cleaning tools, quickly dispose of the collected dust. Can do.

  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.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A Vacuum cleaner 2 Autonomous cleaning unit 3 Charging electrode 5, 5A Station unit 6 1st suction port 11 1st main body case 12 Secondary battery 13 Dust collection container 15 Electric blower 16 Moving part 17 Drive part 18 Robot control part 19 Charging terminal 21 Second suction port 22 Second body case 23 Power cords 25a, 25b Suction air passage 31 Second dust collecting container 32 Second electric blower 33 Station control units 35a, 35b Relay air passage 36 Switching mechanism

Claims (4)

An autonomous cleaning unit that autonomously moves the surface to be cleaned and collects dust;
A station unit having a charging electrode of the autonomous cleaning unit,
The autonomous cleaning unit is:
A first body case having a first inlet,
A secondary battery for accumulating electric power supplied from the charging electrode;
A dust collecting container for storing dust sucked from the first suction port;
An electric blower that is driven by electric power supplied from the secondary battery and applies a negative pressure to the dust collecting container,
The said station unit is an electric cleaning apparatus provided with the 2nd main body case which has a 2nd inlet port which sucks in the dust different from the dust which the said autonomous cleaning unit collects. The said station unit is provided with the suction air path which connects the said 2nd suction inlet and said 1st suction inlet or the said dust container when the said autonomous cleaning unit returns to the said station unit. Electric vacuum cleaner. The station unit is
A second dust collecting container for accumulating dust sucked from the second suction port;
The electric cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second electric blower that applies a negative pressure to the second dust collecting container. The electric cleaning according to claim 3, wherein the station unit includes a relay air passage that connects the first dust collecting container and the second dust collecting container when the autonomous cleaning unit returns to the station unit. apparatus.

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