JP2018187036A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner capable of suppressing a collision between a suction port body and an obstacle by detecting the obstacle in a periphery of the suction port body.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner includes: a cleaner body 10 having an electric blower 11aand a dust collection part 12; a suction port body 20 to be indirectly or directly connected to the cleaner body 10 so as to be able to travel on a cleaned surface F; an obstacle detection section 20S for detecting an obstacle in a periphery of the suction port body 20 on the cleaned surface F by non-contact; and a control section 11afor outputting an obstacle notification signal on the basis of an obstacle detection signal from the obstacle detection section 20S.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

  As conventional vacuum cleaners, Patent Documents 1 and 2 and the like are provided with a wall surface detection switch for detecting contact with an obstacle on the floor suction tool, and main control is performed when the wall surface detection switch detects contact with the obstacle. A vacuum cleaner configured to increase the power of the electric blower via the unit is disclosed.

  According to this conventional vacuum cleaner, the power of the electric blower automatically increases when the floor suction tool comes into contact with obstacles when cleaning around obstacles where dust is likely to accumulate, such as near the walls or table legs. It is said that it is possible to suppress unabsorbed dust.

JP-A-8-299235 JP2015-154850A

In general, when cleaning a room with a vacuum cleaner, the suction port collides with obstacles such as walls and furniture (tables, chairs, legs of sofas, chiffons, etc.), thereby damaging the walls and furniture. There are problems such as damage and damage to the suction port itself.
This is especially true for people with visual impairments, people with low vision, or children who are vacuuming or vacuuming in the dark. Since it is difficult to grasp, it is thought that this is caused by vigorously colliding the suction port with an obstacle. However, the vacuum cleaners described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 cannot solve this problem.

  This invention is made in view of such a subject, and provides the vacuum cleaner which can detect the obstruction around a suction inlet body and can suppress the collision with a suction inlet body and an obstacle. With the goal.

  Thus, according to the present invention, a vacuum cleaner body having an electric blower and a dust collector, a suction port body that is indirectly or directly connected to the cleaner body so as to be able to run on the surface to be cleaned, and a target to be cleaned An obstacle detection unit that detects an obstacle around the suction port on the surface in a non-contact manner, and a control unit that outputs an obstacle notification signal based on an obstacle detection signal from the obstacle detection unit A vacuum cleaner is provided.

  According to the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, when the vacuum cleaner is applied, the control unit outputs an obstacle notification signal based on the obstacle detection signal from the obstacle detection unit before the suction port collides with the obstacle. To do. As a result, for example, it is possible to notify the user that the suction port is approaching an obstacle, or to mechanically suppress the approach of the suction port to the obstacle. It becomes possible to avoid collisions with objects.

  As a result, it is possible to suppress damage and damage to walls and furniture, etc., and also to prevent damage to the suction port body due to collision, especially for visually impaired people, people with low vision or children. Even when it is difficult to grasp the distance between the suction port and the obstacle, such as when vacuuming or vacuuming in the dark, the suction port is made to collide with the obstacle. Can solve the problem.

It is a perspective view which shows Embodiment 1 of the vacuum cleaner of this invention. It is a figure explaining the internal structure and ventilation path | route of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of the suction port body in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure explaining the internal structure and ventilation path | route of the suction inlet body of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical connection relationship of the obstruction detection part provided in the vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 1, a control part, and an obstruction alerting | reporting part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which cleans the wall side using the electric vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which cleans the wall near using the vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which cleans the wall near using the electric vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 3. It is a perspective view which shows Embodiment 4 of the vacuum cleaner of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical connection relation of the obstacle detection part provided in the vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 5, a control part, and the motor for self-propelled rollers.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing Embodiment 1 of the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an internal configuration and a ventilation path of the electric vacuum cleaner of FIG.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the first embodiment includes a cleaner body 10, a suction port body 20, and an extension pipe 30 that connects the cleaner body 10 to the suction port body 20. Stick-type vacuum cleaner.

<About the vacuum cleaner body>
The vacuum cleaner body 10 includes a drive device 11 and a dust cup unit 12 as a dust collecting unit that is detachably attached to the drive device 11.

[Dust cup unit]
The dust cup unit 12 includes a dust cup 12a constituting a dust collection chamber and a filter portion 12b that is detachably attached to the opening of the dust cup 12a. For example, a known cyclone type is suitable. Used for.

[Driver]
The drive device 11 includes an electric blower 11a ₁ , a battery 11a ₂ , a circuit board 11a _3, etc., a main body 11a, a handle 11b provided at the rear of the main body 11a, and a start / stop switch provided on the handle 11b. The operation part 11c which has, and the suction cylinder part 11d which receives and connects the 1st connection part 31 of the base end of the extension pipe 30 so that separation | detachment is possible.

A portion on the handle 11b side of the main body 11a is a battery mounting portion 11ab that can be opened and closed, and the battery 11a ₂ is detachably mounted on the battery mounting portion 11ab.
Moreover, the part along the main-body part 11a and the suction cylinder part 11d becomes the dust cup unit attachment part 11ad, and the dust cup unit 12 is attached to the dust cup unit attachment part 11ad so that attachment or detachment is possible.

The portion of the body portion 11a side of the dust cup unit mounting portion 11ad are openings 11ax is formed to be connected detachably with the filter portion 12b of the dust cup unit 12, ventilation is the opening 11ax and the electric blower 11a ₁ An exhaust passage 11az is provided downstream of the electric blower 13 while being connected to the passage 11ay.
Further, the inside of the suction cylinder portion 11 d is a flow path 11 d ₁ that connects between the extension pipe 30 and the dust cup 12 a of the dust cup unit 12.

An obstacle notifying unit 11S including a vibrator 11S _{1 to be} described later and a vibrator driver circuit for driving the vibrator 11S ₁ is provided inside the handle 11b.
The circuit board 11a ₃ is a control unit 11a ₃₁ that outputs an obstacle notification signal based on a detection signal from a distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ as an obstacle detection unit 20S (described later) provided in the suction port body 20 (see FIG. 5). This will be described in detail later.

<About suction port>
FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of the suction port body according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration and the air blowing path of the suction port body of FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the suction port body 20 swings the suction port body 21, the connection pipe part 22, and the connection pipe part 22 in an angle range of about 90 degrees with respect to the suction port body 21. And a joint portion 23 capable of supporting.

Suction port body 21 includes a top plate 21a, a bottom plate 21b having a suction port 21b ₁ and the hole portion 21b ₂ on the front and central portion, the housing including a side plate 21c which is provided along the outer periphery between them Is provided.
In addition, a distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ as the obstacle detecting unit 20S is provided at the center position of the front end portion of the side plate 21c, and a bumper 21c ₁ having a window portion at the center position for exposing the distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ forward. In FIG. 1, the front end face of the side plate 21c is covered. 2 to 4, the bumper 21c ₁ is not shown.

The distance measuring sensor 20S _1, may be used light, sound, those TOF (Time-of-Flight) method using radio waves or the like for measuring a distance to an object without contact.
As the distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ , a laser displacement sensor is used as a sensor using light, an ultrasonic sensor is used as a sensor using sound, and a microwave sensor is used as a sensor using radio waves.

In the first embodiment, is used as the laser displacement sensor is a distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ having a light receiving portion which laser light receiving the reflected light reflected by the object from light projecting portion and projecting portion for projecting a laser beam Yes. Laser displacement sensors can measure the distance to an object (obstacle) with high accuracy using laser light with high straightness, and the TOF method significantly reduces errors due to the color and shape of the object. It becomes possible to do.

In addition, the suction port body 21 includes a rotary brush 25 provided at the suction port 21b ₁ of the bottom plate 21b and rotatably supported by bearings 24 at both ends of a rotary shaft, and a rotary brush rotation drive unit 26 that rotationally drives the rotary brush 25. And a self-propelled roller 27 rotatably provided in the hole 21b ₂ of the bottom plate 21b, and a self-propelled roller rotation drive unit 28 that rotationally drives the self-propelled roller 27.

  The rotary brush rotation drive unit 26 is installed on the bottom plate 21b and drives a rotary brush 25. The rotary brush motor (first motor) 26a, a first motor driver circuit (not shown), and one end (left end) of the rotary shaft of the rotary brush 25 are provided. ), A pulley 26c provided on the output shaft of the rotary brush motor 26a, and a timing belt 26d for connecting the pulleys 26b and 26c.

The self-propelled roller rotation drive unit 28 is installed on the bottom plate 25 and drives a self-propelled roller motor (second motor) 28 a that drives the self-propelled roller 27, a second motor driver circuit (not shown), and the rotation shaft of the self-propelled roller 27 A pulley 28b provided at one end (the left end), a pulley 28c provided on the output shaft of the self-running roller motor 28a, and a timing belt 28d connecting the pulleys 28b and 28c.
In addition, a pair of rear wheels 29 that movably support the rear portion of the suction port body 20 are provided behind the bottom plate 25.

  Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 2-3, in the inside of the suction inlet body 20, the suction inlet 21b1 and the connection pipe part 22 are connected by the suction flow path 20a, and the suction flow path 20a includes the self-running roller 27 and The self-propelled roller motor 28a and the top plate 21a are provided so as to pass linearly as viewed from above.

<About extension pipes>
The extension pipe 30 includes a pipe body 31, a first connection part 32 provided at one end of the pipe body 31 and removably inserted into the suction cylinder part 11 d of the cleaner body 10, And a second connecting portion 33 provided at the end portion for removably receiving and connecting the connecting pipe portion 22 of the suction port body 20.

<Other configuration>
A first motor driver circuit, a second motor driver circuit and a distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ (FIGS. 2 and 3) (not shown) in the suction port body 20 pass through the suction port body 20 from the drive device 11 via the extension pipe 20. The circuit board 11a ₃ in the driving device 11 is electrically connected by an electric wiring (not shown).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection relationship among the obstacle detection unit, the control unit, and the obstacle notification unit provided in the vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 5, as the obstacle detection signal from the obstacle detection unit 20S (the distance measuring sensor 20S ₁₎ capable inputted to the control unit 11a _13, electricity and obstacle detection unit 20S and the control unit 11a ₁₃ Connected.
Further, the control unit 11a ₃₁ and the obstacle notification unit 11S are electrically connected so that an obstacle notification signal from the control unit 11a ₃₁ can be input to the obstacle notification unit 11S.

In the case of the first embodiment, the distance measurement sensor 20S ₁ is a laser displacement sensor, and the measurable distance to the object is, for example, in the range of about 5 to 200 mm.
The control unit 11a ₃₁ includes a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and includes a measurement distance that is an obstacle detection signal and a reference value set and input in advance to the control unit 11a ₃₁ (for example, set in a range of 0 to 100 mm). For example, when the measurement distance is equal to or less than the reference value, an obstacle notification signal as a control signal is output to the vibrator driver circuit of the obstacle notification unit 11S. The vibrator 11S ₁ vibrates while the obstacle notification signal continues to be input to the vibrator driver circuit.

It is also possible to vary the vibration intensity of vibrator 11S ₁ stepwise or continuously according to the measured distance. For example, when the reference value is 200 mm, the vibration intensity of the vibrator 11S ₁ when the measurement distance is 200 to 100 mm is set to “weak”, and the vibration intensity of the vibrator 11S ₁ when the measurement distance is less than 100 mm is “strong”. May be set.

<About the operation of the vacuum cleaner>
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the wall is cleaned using the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.
The operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
When the user presses the power switch of the operation unit 11c of the cleaner body 10 to turn it ON and presses the start / stop switch to “start”, the electric blower 11a ₁ , the rotary brush motor 26a, and the self-propelled roller motor 28a are turned on. Start driving. As a result, the rotary brush 25 and the self-running roller 27 rotate, and the suction port body 20 automatically starts moving forward, and the cleaning operation is started.

The dust on the floor surface F is collected by the rotation of the rotating brush 25 and sucked into the dust cup unit 12 from the suction port 21b ₁ together with air through the suction channel 20a, the extension pipe 30 and the channel 11d ₁ .

  On the other hand, the dust collected by the dust cup unit 12 falls by gravity and is collected at the bottom of the dust cup 12a. When the accumulated amount reaches an allowable limit, the operator removes the dust cup unit 12 from the driving device 11 and discards the accumulated dust.

Air containing sucked dust into the dust cup 12a is filtered by the filter unit 12b, only clean air is discharged to the outside through the exhaust port 11az the ventilation passage 11ay from the street electric blower 11a _1.

During cleaning on the floor surface F, the laser beam L ₁ is irradiated forward from the light projecting portion of the distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ (laser displacement sensor) provided at the front end of the suction port body 20. Yes. Then, the suction port 20 approaches an obstacle such as the wall surface W, the laser light L ₁ irradiated from the light projecting portion of the distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ reflects the wall surface W, and the reflected light L ₂ is the distance measuring sensor 20S _1. Is received by the light receiving unit.

Then, from the distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ obstacle detection signal is transmitted to the control unit 11a _31, the control unit 11a ₃₁ as described above to compare the measured distance with a reference value. When the measurement distance becomes equal to or less than the reference value, an obstacle notification signal is transmitted from the control unit 11a ₃₁ to the vibrator driver circuit, and thereby the vibrator 11S ₁ vibrates. At this time, the vibration intensity of the vibrator 11S ₁ may be changed according to the measurement distance.

When the vibrator 11S ₁ vibrates, the vibration V is transmitted to the user's hand H holding the handle 11b, so that the user can recognize that the suction port 20 is approaching the wall surface W. Can sensibly recognize the distance to the wall surface W of the suction port body 20 by the strength of the vibration V.

  Thereby, before making the suction inlet 20 collide with the wall surface W, the user can hold the handle 11b strongly and can make the moving speed to the front of the suction inlet 20 slow. As a result, it is possible to avoid a collision of the suction port body 20 with an obstacle such as the wall surface W or furniture, and to prevent damage or damage to the wall surface W or furniture, etc. Damage can also be suppressed.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the wall is cleaned using the electric vacuum cleaner according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 7, the same elements as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
The vacuum cleaner 101 of the second embodiment is different from the vacuum cleaner 1 of the first embodiment in that a light 11S ₂ is used instead of the vibrator 11S ₁ as the obstacle notification unit 11S.
In the second embodiment, since the other configuration is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the following mainly describes differences.

In the second embodiment, the write 11S _2, for example, can be used LED lights. The LED light is electrically connected to the write driver circuit.
Light 11S ₂ is preferably a user is provided at a location easily visible light L ₃ of the lights 11S ₂ lit, in Embodiment 2, is provided on the upper surface of the suction tube portion 11d of the cleaner body 10 .

It is also possible to vary the blinking speed of light 11S ₂ in accordance with the measured distance. For example, if the reference value is 200 mm, the blinking speed of the light 11S ₂ when the measurement distance is 200 to 100 mm may be set slower, and the blinking speed of the light 11S ₂ when the measurement distance is less than 100 mm may be set faster. .

As shown in FIG. 5 and 7, when the electric vacuum cleaner 101 according to the second embodiment, the distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ are obstacle detecting sensor 20S obstacle detection signal is transmitted to the control unit 11a _31, the control unit 11a ₃₁ There comparing the measured distance with a reference value, when the measured distance is equal to or less than the reference value, the obstacle notification signal from the controller 11a ₃₁ is transmitted to the write driver circuit, whereby the light 11S ₂ is on or flashing.

According to the vacuum cleaner 101 of the second embodiment, when the light 11S ₂ is turned on or blinks, the user visually observes the light L ₃ of the light 11S ₂ and the suction port body 20 approaches the wall surface W. Furthermore, the distance to the wall surface W of the suction inlet 20 can be sensibly recognized by the blinking speed of the light L ₃ .
Thereby, before colliding the suction inlet body 20 with the wall surface W, a user grasps the handle | steering-wheel 11b firmly, slows the moving speed to the front of the suction inlet body 20, and it is to the obstacles, such as the wall surface W and furniture. The collision of the suction port body 20 can be avoided in advance.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the wall is cleaned using the electric vacuum cleaner according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 8, the same elements as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
The difference between the vacuum cleaner 201 of the third embodiment and the vacuum cleaner 1 of the first embodiment is that a speaker 11S ₃ is used instead of the vibrator 11S ₁ as the obstacle notification unit 11S.
In the third embodiment, since the other configuration is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the differences will be mainly described below.

In the third embodiment, the speaker 11S ₃ is electrically connected to the speaker driver circuit and configured to emit a predetermined notification sound S.
The speaker 11S ₃ is preferably provided at a location where the user can easily hear the notification sound S from the speaker 11S _{3. In the third} embodiment, the speaker 11S ₃ is provided on the rear surface of the cleaner body 10 (the surface facing the handle 11b). Yes. It should be noted that a small hole may be formed in the housing of the cleaner body 10 where the speaker 11S ₃ is provided.

The notification sound S is preferably a tone color and volume that can be easily heard by the user even with noise generated while the vacuum cleaner 201 is driven, and the tone color may be, for example, an electronic sound that sounds “beep”.
In addition, it may be continuously sounded the alarm sound S from the speaker 11S _3, but may also be sounded intermittently repeated. When the notification sound S is intermittently sounded, the timing at which the notification sound S is sounded may be changed according to the measurement distance. For example, if the reference value is 200 mm, the timing at which the notification sound S is sounded when the measurement distance is 200 to 100 mm may be set late, and the timing at which the notification sound S is sounded when the measurement distance is less than 100 mm may be set fast. .

As shown in FIG. 5 and 8, when the vacuum cleaner 201 of the embodiment 3, the distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ are obstacle detecting sensor 20S obstacle detection signal is transmitted to the control unit 11a _31, the control unit 11a ₃₁ Compares the measured distance with the reference value, and when the measured distance is less than or equal to the reference value, an obstacle notification signal is transmitted from the control unit 11a ₃₁ to the speaker driver circuit, and thereby the notification sound S sounds continuously or intermittently. .

According to the vacuum cleaner 201 of the third embodiment, when the notification sound S sounds continuously or intermittently, the user hears the notification sound S and recognizes that the suction port body 20 is approaching the wall surface W. Furthermore, the distance to the wall surface W of the suction inlet 20 can be sensibly recognized by the speed of the timing at which the notification sound S is repeatedly generated.
Thereby, before colliding the suction inlet body 20 with the wall surface W, a user grasps the handle | steering-wheel 11b firmly, slows the moving speed to the front of the suction inlet body 20, and it is to the obstacles, such as the wall surface W and furniture. The collision of the suction port body 20 can be avoided in advance.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing Embodiment 4 of the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention.
The vacuum cleaner 301 of Embodiment 4 connects the cleaner main body 310, the suction port body 320, the flexible hose 340 connected to the cleaner body 310, the flexible hose 340 and the suction port body 320. It is a canister type electric vacuum cleaner provided with the extension pipe 330 which performs.

  The vacuum cleaner main body 310 includes an electric blower, a circuit board including a control unit, a drive device 311 incorporating an electric cord, and the like, and a dust cup unit 312 that is detachably attached to the drive device 311.

  The drive device 311 has a pair of left and right wheels 311a and a front wheel 311b, and a connection portion 311c that is detachably connected to one end portion of the flexible hose 340. The driving device 310 may be battery type.

  The flexible hose 340 includes a handle 340a provided on the other end connected to the extension pipe 330, and an operation unit 340b having a start / stop switch provided on the front end of the handle 340a.

Further, an obstacle notification unit 11S is provided in the vicinity of the handle 340a. Specifically, the vibrator 11S ₁ used in the first embodiment is provided inside the handle 340. Note that the light in the second embodiment or the speaker in the third embodiment may be used instead of the vibrator 11S ₁ . For example, the light or the speaker is provided in the vicinity of the operation unit 340b.

In the case of the fourth embodiment, the extension pipe 330 is a type that can be expanded and contracted, but may be a type that does not expand and contract as in the first to third embodiments.
Suction port body 320 is the same as the suction port body and the basic structure of the first to third embodiments, the front end distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ of the obstacle detection unit 20S is provided.

Vacuum cleaner 301 of the embodiment 4 also, similarly to Embodiment 1-3, when multiplied on the floor surface cleaner, the suction port body 320 to self approaches the obstacle from the distance measuring sensor 20S ₁ An obstacle detection signal is input to the control unit, and the control unit compares the measurement distance with a reference value. When the measurement distance is equal to or less than the reference value, an obstacle notification signal is transmitted from the control unit to the obstacle notification unit 11S. .

  Then, the user recognizes that the suction port 320 is approaching the obstacle by vibration, light, or sound. Thereby, before the suction port body 320 collides with the obstacle, the user can hold the handle 340a firmly to slow down the traveling speed of the suction port body 320. It is possible to avoid a collision with the battery.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection relationship among an obstacle detection unit, a control unit, and a self-propelled roller motor provided in the vacuum cleaner according to the fifth embodiment. In FIG. 10, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements as those in FIG.
The difference between the vacuum cleaner of the fifth embodiment and the vacuum cleaners of the first to fourth embodiments is that the obstacle notifying unit is not provided, and the self-running roller motor 28a of the self-running roller rotation driving unit 28 is the obstacle. It is the point comprised so that drive control might be based on an object alerting | reporting signal.
In the fifth embodiment, since the other configurations are generally the same as those in the first to fourth embodiments, the differences will be mainly described below.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the embodiment 4, an obstacle detection signal from the obstacle detection sensor 20S (distance measuring sensor 20S ₁₎ is transmitted to the control unit 11a _31, the control unit 11a ₃₁ and the measured distance with a reference value When the measured distance becomes equal to or smaller than the reference value, an obstacle notification signal is transmitted from the control unit 11a ₃₁ to the second motor driver circuit, and thereby the rotational speed of the self-propelled roller motor 28a moving forward is reduced.

  At this time, the rotational speed of the self-propelled roller motor 28a may be changed according to the measurement distance. For example, when the reference value is 200 mm, the rotation speed of the self-propelled roller motor 28a when the measurement distance is 200 to 100 mm is reduced by half, and the rotation speed of the self-propelled roller motor 28a when the measurement distance is less than 100 mm. May be set to 0 to stop the self-propelled roller motor 28a.

According to the vacuum cleaner of the fifth embodiment, when the rotational speed of the self-propelled roller motor 28a is reduced, the user reduces the traveling speed at which the suction port body 20 moves forward, so that the suction port body 20 becomes the wall surface W. The self-propelled roller motor 28a is stopped, and the distance to the wall surface W of the suction port body 20 can be known sensuously.
Thereby, after the suction inlet body 20 stops automatically, the user can move the suction inlet body 20 to the wall surface W slowly, pushing the handle 11b, and can clean the wall side. Therefore, the collision of the suction port body 20 with an obstacle such as the wall surface W or furniture can be avoided in advance.

(Other embodiments)
1. In the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the suction port body 20 is configured to be capable of self-running by the self-running roller rotation driving unit 28 is illustrated, but the self-running roller rotation driving unit 28 may be omitted.

2. Embodiments 1 to 3 may be combined. That is, two or more different types of obstacle notification units may be used in combination, such as vibration and light, vibration and sound, light and sound, or a combination of vibration and light and sound.

3. Embodiments 1 to 4 and Embodiment 5 may be combined. That is, you may comprise a vacuum cleaner so that the rotational speed of a self-propelled roller may be decelerated, notifying a user that the suction inlet body is approaching the obstacle in an obstacle alerting | reporting part.

(Summary)
The vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes a vacuum cleaner body having an electric blower and a dust collecting portion, a suction port body that is indirectly or directly connected to the cleaner body so as to be able to run on a surface to be cleaned, and a target to be cleaned. An obstacle detection unit that detects an obstacle around the suction port on the surface in a non-contact manner, and a control unit that outputs an obstacle notification signal based on an obstacle detection signal from the obstacle detection unit .

The vacuum cleaner of this invention may be comprised as follows, and may be combined suitably.
(1) It further comprises a flexible hose connected to the cleaner body, and an extension pipe connecting the flexible hose and the suction port,
The flexible hose has a handle and an obstacle notification unit provided in the vicinity of the handle,
The obstacle notification unit may be configured to notify the user that the suction port has approached within a predetermined distance from the obstacle based on the obstacle notification signal.
According to this configuration, when the canister type vacuum cleaner is used to vacuum the floor surface, if the suction port approaches the obstacle, this is notified from the obstacle notification unit provided in the handle portion. The user is notified by the operation. Thereby, since the user can relax the running operation of the suction port body on the floor surface, it is possible to avoid the collision of the suction port body with the obstacle vigorously.

(2) further comprising an extension pipe connecting the vacuum cleaner body and the suction port body,
The cleaner body has a handle and an obstacle notification unit,
The obstacle notification unit may be configured to notify the user that the suction port has approached within a predetermined distance from the obstacle based on the obstacle notification signal.
According to this configuration, when vacuuming the floor using a stick type vacuum cleaner, when the suction port approaches the obstacle, this is notified from the obstacle notification unit provided in the handle portion. The user is notified by the operation. Thereby, since the user can relax the running operation of the suction port body on the floor surface, it is possible to avoid the collision of the suction port body with the obstacle vigorously.

(3) The suction port body includes a suction port main body having a suction port, a self-running roller that runs the suction port main body, and a self-running roller motor that rotationally drives the self-running roller,
The self-propelled roller motor may be configured to be driven and controlled based on the obstacle notification signal.
According to this configuration, when the vacuum cleaner is used to vacuum the floor, when the suction port approaches the obstacle, an obstacle notification signal is transmitted from the control unit to the self-propelled roller motor. Thereby, since the motor for self-propelled rollers is controlled so that the rotation of the self-propelled roller is decelerated or stopped, it is possible to prevent the suction port body from colliding with the obstacle vigorously.

(4) The obstacle notification unit may include at least one of a vibrator that vibrates, a light that lights a warning light, and a speaker that emits a warning sound based on the obstacle notification signal.
According to this configuration, the user holds the handle firmly so that the suction port does not collide with the obstacle by at least one of vibration, light, and warning sound of the obstacle notification unit provided in the vicinity of the handle. This can slow down the running of the suction port body.

(5) The obstacle detection unit may be a distance measurement sensor that measures a distance to the obstacle.
In this case, a sensor that measures distance using light, sound, radio waves, or the like can be used as the distance measuring sensor. Preferably, it is a ToF (Time of Flight) type distance measurement sensor using laser light with high straightness, which can measure the distance to the obstacle with high accuracy, and errors due to the color and shape of the object. Can be significantly reduced.

  The disclosed embodiments should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

_1, 101, 201, 301 Vacuum cleaner 10, 310 Vacuum cleaner body 11a ₁ Electric blower 11a ₃₁ Control unit 11b, 340a Handle 11S Obstacle notification unit 11S ₁ Vibrator 11S ₂ Light 11S ₃ Speaker 12, 312 Dust cup unit (collection) Dust part)
20, 320 Suction port 20S Obstacle detection unit 20S ₁ Distance measurement sensor 27 Self-propelled roller 28a Motor for self-propelled roller 30, 330 Extension pipe 340 Flexible hose F Floor surface (surface to be cleaned)
W Wall (obstacle)

Claims (6)

  A vacuum cleaner body having an electric blower and a dust collecting part; a suction port body connected indirectly or directly to the cleaner body so as to be able to run on the surface to be cleaned; and the suction port body on the surface to be cleaned An electric cleaning comprising: an obstacle detection unit that detects surrounding obstacles in a non-contact manner; and a control unit that outputs an obstacle notification signal based on an obstacle detection signal from the obstacle detection unit. Machine. A flexible hose connected to the vacuum cleaner body, and an extension pipe connecting the flexible hose and the suction port body,
The flexible hose has a handle and an obstacle notification unit provided in the vicinity of the handle,
2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the obstacle notification unit is configured to notify a user that the suction port has approached within a predetermined distance from the obstacle based on the obstacle notification signal. . An extension pipe connecting the vacuum cleaner body and the suction port body;
The cleaner body has a handle and an obstacle notification unit,
2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the obstacle notification unit is configured to notify a user that the suction port has approached within a predetermined distance from the obstacle based on the obstacle notification signal. . The suction port body has a suction port main body having a suction port, a self-running roller that runs the suction port main body, and a motor for a self-running roller that rotationally drives the self-running roller,
The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the self-propelled roller motor is configured to be driven and controlled based on the obstacle notification signal.   The electricity according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the obstacle notification unit includes at least one of a vibrator that vibrates, a light that lights a warning light, and a speaker that emits a warning sound based on the obstacle notification signal. Vacuum cleaner.   The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the obstacle detection unit is a distance measurement sensor that measures a distance to the obstacle.

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