JP2020096685A - Suction opening body of vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a suction opening body of a vacuum cleaner capable of improving usability and provide the vacuum cleaner with the suction opening body.SOLUTION: A suction opening body of a vacuum cleaner includes an enclosure having a suction opening on a bottom, a rotating brush rotatably provided in the vicinity of the suction opening at an inside of the enclosure, an electric motor for rotationally driving the rotating brush, a gear part for transmitting torque from an output shaft of the electric motor to the rotating brush, and a moving mechanism part. The suction opening body is characterized as follows: the gear part has a high torque gear provided at one end in a rotary shaft center direction of the rotating brush on the same axis center and a high-speed rotational gear with a diameter smaller than that of the high torque gear, and a transmission gear selectively engaged with one of the high torque gear and the high-speed rotational gear and transmitting the torque from the output shaft; and the movement mechanism is configured to move the transmission gear so as to be selectively engaged with one of the high torque gear and the high-speed rotational gear.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a suction port body of an electric vacuum cleaner and an electric vacuum cleaner including the suction port body.

As a suction port of a conventional vacuum cleaner, a turbine type that rotates a rotating brush by using a rotating force of a turbine that is rotated by a suction airflow, a rotating brush that uses a rotating force of an output shaft that rotates an electric motor There are known an electric motor type for rotating a rotary brush and a combined turbine/motor generator type for rotating a rotating brush by using a turbine and a motor generator together.

As a suction port body of a combined turbine/motor generator type, in Patent Document 1, a turbine, a generator/motor, a rotating brush, a rotational force transmission mechanism including a plurality of gears, a storage battery, a charging circuit, A floor suction device including a changeover switch has been proposed. This floor suction device can be used as follows.
When the usage mode of the floor suction tool is switched to the power nozzle (power brush) with the changeover switch, the output shaft of the generator/motor is rotated by the power of the storage battery, and the torque of the output shaft is transferred to the torque transmission mechanism. To the rotating brush to rotate the rotating brush. In this case, it is suitable for cleaning carpets with long hair.

When the use mode of the floor suction tool is switched to the turbine nozzle with the changeover switch, the turbine is rotated by the suctioned air flow, the rotational force of the turbine is transmitted to the rotating brush via the rotational force transmission mechanism, and the rotating brush is Rotate. In this case, it is suitable for cleaning carpets or floors with short naps.
When the use mode of the floor suction device is switched to the folding mode with the changeover switch, the turbine is rotated by the suctioned air flow, and the rotational force of the turbine is transmitted to the output shaft of the generator/motor via the rotational force transmission mechanism. Then, the output shaft is rotated to charge the storage battery with electricity generated by the generator/motor via the charging circuit. In this case, the rotating brush does not rotate.

Further, as another suction port body of a combined turbine/motor/generator type, Patent Document 2 discloses a turbine, a motor/generator unit, a rotating brush, a rotational force transmission mechanism including a pulley and a belt, and an accumulator unit. A hybrid vacuum cleaner nozzle has been proposed.

This hybrid vacuum cleaner nozzle rotates the output shaft and rotating brush of the motor generator unit by the rotating force of the turbine, and the generator mode in which the motor generator unit generates power to charge the accumulator unit and the accumulator unit It is configured such that it can be switched to either a motor mode (power brush) in which the output shaft of the motor generator unit is rotated by electric power to rotate the rotating brush. In the motor mode, the motor generator unit that rotates the rotating brush is assisted by the rotational force of the turbine.
Patent Document 2 also discloses a hybrid vacuum cleaner nozzle having a configuration in which a motor and a generator are separately provided.

JP-A-64-49526 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-543394

Since the suction port bodies of Patent Documents 1 and 2 are provided with the storage battery, the weight of the suction port body becomes heavy and the usability is reduced, and in the suction port body of Patent Document 2 in which the motor and the generator are separately provided, Further, since the weight is increased and the size is increased, usability is further reduced.
Further, these conventional suction ports rotate the rotary brush with the rotational force of only the turbine when the discharge from the storage battery disappears, so the rotational torque is reduced and the scraping performance of the rotary brush during carpet cleaning is reduced. The rotation of the rotating brush may stop when cleaning a carpet with long hair.

Further, the power brush is usually configured to have a higher brush density when it is desired to improve self-propelling property, but on the other hand, the dust scratching property is impaired. In addition, if you want to improve the dust scratching property of the carpet, it is configured to use hard brush bristles, but using it on a carpet with a long bristle will cause a high load, and the torque of the motor will not be enough to rotate the rotating brush. May stop.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a suction port body of an electric vacuum cleaner that can improve usability and an electric vacuum cleaner including the suction port body.

According to the present invention, a housing having a suction port at the bottom, a rotary brush rotatably provided in the housing in the vicinity of the suction port, an electric motor for rotationally driving the rotary brush, and the electric motor. A gear unit for transmitting a rotational force from the output shaft of the rotary brush to the rotary brush, and a moving mechanism unit,
The gear portion includes a high torque gear provided on one end of the rotary brush in the direction of the rotary shaft center, a high speed rotary gear having a diameter smaller than that of the high torque gear, and one of the high torque gear and the high speed rotary gear. And a transmission gear that selectively meshes to transmit the rotational force from the output shaft,
The suction mechanism of the vacuum cleaner is provided, wherein the moving mechanism is configured to move the transmission gear so as to selectively mesh with one of the high torque gear and the high speed rotation gear.

According to the present invention, since the rotary brush can be rotationally driven with high torque or high speed according to the state of the surface to be cleaned, usability is improved.

It is a left side view showing Embodiment 1 of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention. It is a 1st cleaning mode of the suction inlet of Embodiment 1, (A) is a top view, (B) is a front view, (C) is a sectional view taken along the line I-I of (A). It is a 2nd cleaning mode of the suction inlet of Embodiment 1, (A) is a top view, (B) is a front view, (C) is a sectional view taken on the line I-I of (A). FIG. 3A is a front view and FIG. 3B is a left side view of the transmission gear and the slide support portion in the suction port body of the first embodiment. It is a rotary system in the suction inlet of Embodiment 1, (A) is a top view of a 1st cleaning mode, (B) is a top view of a 2nd cleaning mode. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating control of a rotary system in the suction port body according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7A is a state of a first cleaning mode, and FIG. It is a figure explaining control of a rotation system in a suction mouth object of Embodiment 3, (A) is a state of the 1st cleaning mode, (B) is a state of the 3rd cleaning mode, (C) is the state of the 2nd cleaning mode. It is in a state.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a left side view showing a first embodiment of an electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention.
The suction port body 30 of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention can be used as a suction port body of various vacuum cleaners of stick type, canister type, upright type, and the like, and in the first embodiment, the suction port body 30 and the suction port body 30 are provided. The stick-type vacuum cleaner 1 will be described.

<Overall structure of vacuum cleaner>
As shown in FIG. 1, the stick-type vacuum cleaner 1 includes a cleaner body 10 having a drive device 11, a dust collector 12, and a battery 13, and an extension tube detachably connected to the cleaner body 10. 20 and the suction port body 30 which is detachably connected to the cleaner body 10 directly or via the extension tube 20.

The drive device 11 is provided in the main body 11a, the battery mounting portion 11b, the handle 11c and the suction tube portion 11d, a housing 11x, a hand switch 11e provided in a part of the handle 11c, and the main body 11a. The electric blower 11f and the control unit 11g provided in the internal space between the handle 11c and the suction pipe portion 11d are provided. An exhaust port (not shown) is provided on the right side surface of the housing 11x.

The dust collecting device 12 is configured to be detachably mounted in a space between the main body portion 11a of the drive device 11 and the suction pipe portion 11d, and includes a dust collecting container 12a mounted on the suction pipe portion 11d side. , And a dust separating part 12b mounted on the main body part 11a side, and the dust collecting container 12a and the dust separating part 12 are detachably joined to each other.

According to the cleaner body 10, when the hand switch 11e is operated to drive the electric blower 11f, the dust-containing air flows into the dust container 12a through the suction pipe portion 11d, and the dust is generally collected. The air captured in 12a and substantially free of dust passes through the dust separating section 12b, flows into the main body section 11a, passes through the electric blower 11f, and is exhausted to the outside from the exhaust port.

During this time, the rotating brush 31b is rotated by the electric motor provided in the suction port body 30 to scrape dust on the surface to be cleaned into the suction port body 30 (see FIG. 5). Therefore, an electric wiring system (not shown) for supplying electric power from the battery 13 to the electric motor is provided inside the drive device 11 of the cleaner body 10, the extension tube 20, and the suction port body 30.

<Suction port body>
FIG. 2 is a first cleaning mode of the suction port body of the first embodiment, (A) is a plan view, (B) is a front view, and (C) is a sectional view taken along the line I-I of (A). .. Further, FIG. 3 is a second cleaning mode of the suction port body of the first embodiment, (A) is a plan view, (B) is a front view, and (C) is a sectional view taken along the line I-I of (A). Is. Further, FIG. 4 is a transmission gear and a slide support portion in the suction port body of the first embodiment, (A) is a front view and (B) is a left side view. Further, FIG. 5 is a rotary system in the suction port body of the first embodiment, (A) is a plan view of a first cleaning mode, and (B) is a plan view of a second cleaning mode. 2A and 3A, the front, rear, left, and right directions of the suction port body 30 are indicated by arrows.

As shown in FIGS. 2A to 5B, the suction port body 30 includes a drive unit 31, and a joint unit 32 rotatably connected to the drive unit 31 about an axial center in the front-rear direction. The joint portion 32 has a connecting pipe portion 33 that is connected to the joint portion 32 so as to be rotatable about an axis in the left-right direction.
The drive unit 31 includes a casing 31a having a suction port 31aa at the bottom, a rotating brush 31b provided in the casing 31a, a geared motor 31c having a reduction gear as an electric motor, a gear unit 31d, and a moving mechanism unit 31e. And so on.

In the drive unit 31, the inside of the housing 31a has a front space for accommodating the rotating brush 31b above the suction port 31aa and a left rear space for accommodating and fixing the geared motor 31c at the left rear of the front space.
Further, at the left and right positions of the suction port 31aa in the front space inside the housing 31a, there are provided a pair of support portions (not shown) for supporting both ends of the shaft portion 31ba extending in the longitudinal direction of the rotating brush 31b.

Further, a motor drive circuit (not shown) that controls the drive of the geared motor 31c is provided in the left rear space in the housing 31a.
Further, an air passage 31ab is provided in the rear portion of the housing 31a so that the front space and the joint portion 32 are communicated with each other to allow the dust-containing air to flow therethrough. Note that a motor cover may be provided in the housing 31a in order to prevent dust from adhering to the geared motor 31c.

The rotating brush 31b has the shaft portion 31ba and a brush portion 31bb provided on an outer peripheral portion of a body portion 31baa (a portion excluding both end portions 31bab) of the shaft portion 31ba.
Both ends 31bab of the shaft portion 31ba are slidably rotated with respect to the pair of support portions (not shown) in the housing 31a, or both end portions 31bab are fixed to the pair of support portions, and the body portion 31baa is a bearing. It is configured to rotate with respect to both ends 31bab via. A high-torque gear 31da and a high-speed rotation gear 31db of a gear portion 31d, which will be described later, are integrally rotatably provided near the left end portion 31bab of the body portion 31baa of the shaft portion 31ba.

In the case of the first embodiment, for example, the brush portion 31bb has a plurality of belt-shaped brushes inserted into a plurality of spiral grooves provided in the outer peripheral portion of the body portion 31baa of the shaft portion 31ba, and each belt-shaped brush has a belt-shaped base portion. It has hard bristles planted on it. Note that, in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the brush portion 31bb is illustrated in a simplified manner.

As shown in FIGS. 4(A) to 5(B), the gear portion 31d is a mechanism portion that transmits the rotational force from the output shaft 31ca of the geared motor 31c to the rotating brush 31b, and rotates the rotating brush 31b. A high torque gear 31da provided on one end in the axial direction and a high speed rotation gear 31db having a diameter smaller than that of the high torque gear 31da, and an output shaft selectively meshed with one of the high torque gear 31da and the high speed rotation gear 31db. It has a transmission gear 31dc for transmitting the rotational force from 31ca, and a moving mechanism portion 31e for moving the transmission gear 31dc so as to selectively mesh with one of the high torque gear 31da and the high speed rotation gear 31db.

The high-torque gear 31da is composed of a large-diameter face gear, and the high-speed rotation gear 31db is composed of a small-diameter face gear, which face each other and are arranged at a predetermined interval. In addition, in the case of the first embodiment, the rotating brush 31b has a structure in which the left end 31bab, the high torque gear 31da, the high-speed rotating gear 31db, the body 31baa, and the right end 31bab are arranged in this order from the left side. The torque gear 31da is arranged, and the high speed rotation gear 31db is arranged inside. The high torque gear 31da may be arranged on the inner side and the high speed rotation gear 31db may be arranged on the outer side.

The transmission gear 31dc is composed of a face gear having tooth portions on both sides, a first tooth portion 31dca capable of meshing with a high torque gear is provided on an outer surface, and an inner surface is capable of meshing with the high speed rotation gear 31db. The second tooth portion 31dcb is provided, and the number of teeth of the second tooth portion 31dcb is larger than the number of teeth of the first tooth portion 31dca.
Further, in the case of the first embodiment, the first relay gear 31de and the second relay gear 31df are provided between the output shaft 31ca of the geared motor 31c and the transmission gear 31dc.

The first relay gear (driving gear) 31de is a spur gear fixed to the output shaft 31ca of the geared motor 31c, and the second relay gear 31df is a spur gear that meshes with the first relay gear 31de. .. The second relay gear 31df is formed to have a smaller diameter and a wider width than the first relay gear 31de, and is integrally rotatable with the shaft portion 31dcc protruding from the inner surface of the transmission gear 31dc.

In the case of the first embodiment, the moving mechanism portion 31e has a slide support portion 31ea that supports the transmission gear 31dc so as to be rotatable about its rotation axis (shaft portion 31dcc) and slidable in the rotation axis direction. Become.
As shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B), the slide support portion 31ea includes a protrusion 31eaa provided on an upper portion and a pair of shaft support portions 31eab protruding from the lower portion of the protrusion 31eaa in a bifurcated manner. ..

The pair of shaft support portions 31eab of the slide support portion 31ea each have an insertion hole.
By inserting the shaft portion 31dcc of the transmission gear 31dc into the insertion hole of each shaft support portion 31eab so that the second relay gear 31df is arranged between the pair of shaft support portions 31eab, the slide support portion 31ea is rotated. It is attached to the part 31dcc.
The slide support portion 31ea is slidably held in the left-right direction by a rib (not shown) provided in the housing 31a of the suction port body 30 and at the same time, a hole portion 31ac provided on the upper surface of the housing 31a (see FIG. 2 (A) to (C)), the protrusion 31eaa is projected (exposed) to the outside.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 3C, the user can slide the transmission gear 31dc by sliding the protrusion 31eaa of the slide support portion 31ea in the left-right direction with the finger. This will be described in detail later.

<Cleaning mode of suction port>
In the suction port body 30 of the first embodiment, a first cleaning mode (FIGS. 2A to 2C) and FIG. 5(A) for cleaning a surface to be cleaned such as a flooring or a tatami mat having a relatively small rotational resistance of the rotating brush 31b. )) and a second cleaning mode (see FIGS. 3(A) to (C) and FIG. 5(B)) for cleaning a surface to be cleaned such as a carpet having a relatively large rotation resistance of the rotating brush 31b. Can be used.

For example, as a pre-stage of cleaning a surface to be cleaned such as a flooring or tatami mat, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C and FIG. The protrusion 31eaa of the slide support portion 31ea is slid to the right with a finger. As a result, the second relay gear 31df slides to the right while slidingly contacting the first relay gear 31de, the transmission gear 31dc slides to the right, and the second tooth portion 31dcb of the transmission gear 31dc becomes the high-speed rotation gear 31db. Mesh.

Thereafter, by operating the hand switch 11e (see FIG. 1) to drive the cleaner body 10, dust-containing air flows into the suction port body 30 through the suction port 31aa and the rotary brush 31b rotates. At this time, electric power is supplied from the battery 13 to the geared motor 31c to rotate the output shaft 31ca, and the rotational force of the output shaft 31ca is transmitted to the transmission gear 31dc via the first relay gear 31de and the second relay gear 31df, The rotating transmission gear 31dc rotates the high-speed rotating gear 31db, which causes the rotating brush 31b to rotate at high speed (low torque rotation). The number of teeth of the second tooth portion 31dcb of the transmission gear 31dc may be, for example, about 2 to 3 times the number of teeth of the high speed rotation gear 31db.

When the carpet is cleaned in the first cleaning mode, the rotational resistance of the rotary brush 31b with respect to the carpet becomes larger than that in the case of flooring, tatami mat, etc., and the load on the geared motor 31c becomes large. Therefore, as a pre-stage of cleaning a surface to be cleaned such as a carpet, as shown in FIGS. 3(A) to (C) and FIG. 5(B), the user moves the protrusion 31eaa of the slide support portion 31ea to the left with a finger. Slide in the direction. As a result, the second relay gear 31df slides leftward while slidingly contacting the first relay gear 31de, the transmission gear 31dc slides leftward, and the first tooth portion 31dca of the transmission gear 31dc meshes with the high torque gear 31da. To do.

Thereafter, by operating the hand switch 11e (see FIG. 1) to drive the cleaner body 10, dust-containing air flows into the suction port body 30 through the suction port 31aa and the rotary brush 31b rotates. At this time, electric power is supplied from the battery 13 to the geared motor 31c to rotate the output shaft 31ca, and the rotational force of the output shaft 31ca is transmitted to the transmission gear 31dc via the first relay gear 31de and the second relay gear 31df, The high torque gear 31da rotates by the rotating transmission gear 31dc, which causes the rotating brush 31b to rotate at high torque (low speed rotation). The number of teeth of the first tooth portion 31dca of the transmission gear 31dc can be, for example, about 2 to 3 times the number of teeth of the high torque gear 31da.

(Embodiment 2)
6A and 6B are views for explaining control of the rotary system in the suction port body of the second embodiment, in which FIG. 6A is the state of the first cleaning mode and FIG. 6B is the state of the second cleaning mode. Note that in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the same elements as those in FIGS. 5A and 5B are denoted by the same reference numerals.
The suction port body according to the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, except that the suction port body according to the second embodiment includes a movement mechanism portion 31f having a configuration different from that of the movement mechanism portion 31e of the suction port body according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment in the second embodiment will be mainly described.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the rear portion 31f of the moving machine of the second embodiment is an actuator that supports the transmission gear so as to be rotatable about its rotation axis and slidable in the direction of the rotation axis. To have.
In the case of the second embodiment, the actuator is preferably a small one that can be installed in a narrow space inside the suction port and can be operated by electric power, and for example, the solenoid 31fa can be preferably used.

Further, in the case of the second embodiment, a bearing 31g that rotatably connects the shaft portion 31dcc of the transmission gear 31dc to the shaft portion of the solenoid 31fa is provided.
The solenoid 31fa and the shaft portion 31dcc of the transmission gear 31dc are supported by ribs provided inside the housing of the suction port body.

In the electric vacuum cleaner having the suction port body according to the second embodiment, electric power is supplied to the solenoid 31fa by an electric wiring system that electrically connects the cleaner body and the suction port body via the extension pipe, and the control is performed. The portion 11g (see FIG. 1) is configured to control the operation of the solenoid 31fa through an electric wiring system.
In the case of the second embodiment, the control unit 11g determines whether or not the current value of the geared motor 31c during driving is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and operates the solenoid 31fa when the current value of the geared motor 31c exceeds the predetermined value. ..

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, in the first cleaning mode for cleaning the surface to be cleaned such as flooring and tatami, the solenoid 31fa is in the shortened state, and the second tooth portion 31dcb of the transmission gear 31dc is It is pulled to the right side so as to mesh with the high speed rotation gear 31db. When the cleaner body is driven in the first cleaning mode, the rotating brush 31b rotates, and the rotating resistance of the rotating brush 31b to the surface to be cleaned such as the floor surface and tatami at this time is relatively small, so that the geared motor 31c is not affected. The load is relatively small, and the current value of the geared motor 31c is below a predetermined value. Therefore, the control unit 11g does not control the solenoid 31fa to extend.

When the carpet is cleaned in the first cleaning mode, the rotational resistance of the rotary brush 31b with respect to the carpet becomes larger than that in the case of flooring, tatami mat, etc., the load on the geared motor 31c increases, and the current value of the geared motor 31c increases. To do. Then, when the current value of the geared motor 31c exceeds a predetermined value, the control unit 11g controls the solenoid 31fa to extend. As a result, the transmission gear 31dc is pushed to the left, the first tooth portion 31dca of the transmission gear 31dc meshes with the high torque gear 31da, and the mode is switched to the second cleaning mode (see FIG. 6B).

Further, when the flooring, tatami mat, or the like is cleaned in the second cleaning mode, the current value of the geared motor 31c falls below a predetermined value, so the control unit 11g controls the solenoid 31fa so as to perform a shortening operation. As a result, the transmission gear 31dc is pulled to the right side, the second tooth portion 31dcb of the transmission gear 31dc meshes with the high-speed rotation gear 31db, and the mode is switched to the first cleaning mode (see FIG. 6A).
As described above, according to the second embodiment, the change in the current value of the geared motor 31c, which fluctuates due to the rotation resistance of the rotary brush 31b with respect to the surface to be cleaned, is detected and one of the first cleaning mode and the second cleaning mode is set. It can be switched automatically.
It should be noted that the configuration may be such that by pressing a predetermined button of the hand switch 11e, one of the first cleaning mode and the second cleaning mode is automatically switched. With this configuration, compared to the first embodiment, when switching between the first cleaning mode and the second cleaning mode, it is not necessary to slide the protrusion 31eaa of the suction port body with the finger in the left-right direction, and the usability is improved. improves.

(Embodiment 3)
7A and 7B are views for explaining the control of the rotary system in the suction port body of the third embodiment. FIG. 7A is the state of the first cleaning mode, FIG. 7B is the state of the third cleaning mode, and FIG. It is in the cleaning mode. Note that in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the same elements as those in FIGS. 6A and 6B are denoted by the same reference numerals.
The suction port body of the third embodiment has the following configuration in addition to the configuration of the suction port body of the second embodiment. Hereinafter, differences between the third embodiment and the second embodiment will be mainly described.

As shown in FIGS. 7(A) to 7(C), the suction port body of the third embodiment has a turbine 31h that is rotated by an air flow in a housing 31a (see FIG. 2C) of the suction port body, and a turbine 31h. Force transmission mechanism portion 31i for transmitting the rotation force of the turbine 31b to the rotating brush 31b, a fan 31j for rotating by the rotation force of the turbine 31h to blow to the geared motor 31c, a turbine 31h, a rotation force transmission mechanism portion 31i, and a rotating brush 31b. And a rotation speed sensor 31k provided in the rotation system including and detecting the rotation speed of the rotation system.

The turbine 31h is rotatably provided, for example, in the ventilation passage 31ab of the suction port body.
The rotational force transmission mechanism portion 31i connects the pair of pulleys 31ib and the pair of pulleys 31ib provided on the right end portion of the rotating shaft 31ia that rotatably supports the turbine 31h and the right end portion of the shaft portion 31ba of the rotating brush 31b. Belt 31ic for The rotational force transmission mechanism portion 31i may be composed of a plurality of gears.
For example, an encoder is used as the rotation speed sensor 31k, and the rotation speed sensor 31k is provided on the rotation shaft ia of the turbine 31h. The rotation speed sensor 31k may be provided on the shaft portion 31ba of the rotating brush 31b.

Further, in the case of the third embodiment, the solenoid 131fa as the moving mechanism is configured to be movable to the neutral position where the transmission gear 31dc is not meshed with either the high torque gear 31da or the high speed rotation gear 31db (FIG. 7(B)). reference).
In the electric vacuum cleaner having the suction port body according to the third embodiment, electric power is supplied to the rotation speed sensor 31k by an electric wiring system that electrically connects the cleaner body and the suction port body directly or via an extension pipe. In addition, a detection signal is output from the rotation speed sensor 31k toward the control unit 11gx through the electric wiring system, and the control unit 11gx is configured to control the operation of the solenoid 131fa based on the detection signal.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, in the first cleaning mode for cleaning a surface to be cleaned such as a flooring or tatami mat, the solenoid 131fa is in a shortened state, and the transmission gear 31dc meshes with the high-speed rotation gear 31db. Is drawn to the right. When the cleaner body is driven in the first cleaning mode, the turbine 31h is rotated by the air flow passing through the ventilation passage 31ab and the rotating brush 31b is rotated.

At this time, the rotating brush 31b is rotated by the rotating force from the geared motor 31c and the rotating force from the turbine 31h. Therefore, the load on the geared motor 31c is reduced. Since the fan 31j also rotates, the geared motor 31c is cooled by the cooling air generated by the rotating fan 31j.
In the first cleaning mode, the rotational resistance of the rotating brush 31b with respect to the surface to be cleaned such as the floor surface or the tatami mat is relatively small, so the rotational speeds of the turbine 31h and the shaft portion 31ia are relatively fast, and the rotational speed of the shaft portion 31ia at this time is relatively high. Is detected by the rotation speed sensor 31k, and the detection signal is output from the rotation speed sensor 31k to the control unit 11gx through an electric wiring system.

When the rotation speed of the shaft portion 31ia is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the control unit 11g does not control the solenoid 131fa to extend.
When the carpet is cleaned in the first cleaning mode, the rotational resistance of the rotary brush 31b with respect to the carpet becomes larger than that in the case of flooring, tatami mat, etc., and the rotational speeds of the turbine 31h and the shaft portion 31ia decrease. Then, when the rotation speed of the shaft portion 31ia falls below a predetermined value, the control portion 11g controls the solenoid 131fa so as to extend. As a result, the transmission gear 31dc is pushed to the left, meshes with the high torque gear 31da, and switches to the second cleaning mode (see FIG. 7C).

Further, when the flooring, tatami mat, or the like is cleaned in the second cleaning mode, the rotation speeds of the turbine 31h and the shaft portion 31ia increase, so the control unit 11g controls the solenoid 131fa to perform a shortening operation. As a result, the transmission gear 31dc is pulled to the right side, the second tooth portion 31dcb of the transmission gear 31dc meshes with the high-speed rotation gear 31db, and the mode is switched to the first cleaning mode (see FIG. 7A).

Furthermore, the suction port body of the third embodiment can be switched to the third cleaning mode shown in FIG. 7(B).
In the third cleaning mode, for example, when the user presses a predetermined button (for example, “turbine priority button”) of the hand switch 11e (see FIG. 1), the control unit 11gx causes the transmission gear 31dc to move to the neutral position. Operate the solenoid 131fa. As a result, during cleaning in the third cleaning mode, the geared motor 31c is stopped and the rotary brush 31b is rotated only by the rotational force of the turbine 31h. Therefore, when mainly cleaning the surface to be cleaned such as flooring and tatami mat, the user can save the power of the battery 13 by switching to the third cleaning mode.

In addition, when cleaning a surface to be cleaned such as a flooring or tatami mat in the third cleaning mode, especially when cleaning a dirty portion, the user again presses a predetermined button (for example, “turbine priority button”) of the hand switch 11e. By pushing, the third cleaning mode may be switched to the first cleaning mode (see FIG. 7A). At this time, based on the detection signal from the rotation speed sensor 31k, the control unit 11gx moves the transmission gear 31dc from the neutral position to the high speed rotation gear 31db side and drives the geared motor 31c, whereby the turbine 31h and the geared motor 31c are driven. Rotates the rotating brush 31b. In addition, when cleaning a carpet or the like in the middle of cleaning in the third cleaning mode, by pressing a predetermined button (for example, a “turbine priority button”), the third cleaning mode is changed to the second cleaning mode (FIG. 7C). You may make it switch to (refer).

Further, in the third embodiment, in the first cleaning mode shown in FIG. 7(A) or the second cleaning mode shown in FIG. 7(C), for example, the user operates the “battery” of the hand switch 11e (see FIG. 1). By pressing the "charge button", the control unit 11gx may control so that the geared motor 31c is stopped and the rotating brush 31b is rotated only by the turbine 31h. At this time, since the transmission gear 31dc meshes with the high speed rotation gear 31db or the high torque gear 31da, the geared motor 31c rotates by the rotational force of the rotating brush 31b to generate electricity. That is, when the geared motor 31c is stopped and cleaning is performed in the first cleaning mode or the second cleaning mode, the geared motor 31c serves as a generator to generate power and charge the battery 13. By doing so, the usable time of the battery 13 when the geared motor 31c is driven for cleaning can be extended.

(Other embodiments)
1. In the third embodiment, the case where the transmission gear 31dc is configured to be movable to the neutral position is illustrated, but in the first embodiment, the transmission gear 31dc may be manually switchable to the neutral position. Further, in this case, for example, when the sensor detects that the transmission gear 31dc is in the neutral position and the detection signal from this sensor is input to the control unit 11g, the control unit 11g controls the geared motor 31c to the stopped state. You may do so.
Further, also in the second embodiment, the transmission gear 31dc may be configured to be switchable to the neutral position. In this case, for example, when the user presses a predetermined button of the hand switch 11e, the solenoid 31fa is operated so that the transmission gear 31dc moves to the neutral position, and at the same time, the control unit 11gx is controlled to stop the geared motor 31c. Control.

2. In the first to third embodiments, the case where the rotational force from the geared motor 31c is configured to be transmitted to the transmission gear 31dc via the first relay gear 31de and the second relay gear 31df is illustrated. However, the transmission gear 31dc is geared. It is also possible to fix to the output shaft 31ca of the motor 31c. Further, in this case, the transmission gear 31dc, the high torque gear 31da, and the high-speed rotation gear 31db are constituted by spur gears, the geared motor 31c and the transmission gear 31dc are housed in a case, and the case is moved by a moving mechanism to move the transmission gear. It is also possible to mesh 31dc with the high torque gear 31da or the high speed rotation gear 31db. The configuration of the first to third embodiments in which the geared motor 31c is fixed can simplify the moving mechanism and makes the geared motor 31c less likely to malfunction than the configuration in which the geared motor 31c is moved. It is preferable above.

3. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The suction port body of the present invention is not limited to use in a stick type vacuum cleaner, but can be used as a suction port body in various types of vacuum cleaners such as canister type and upright type vacuum cleaners.
Furthermore, the suction port body of the present invention is not limited to use in an electric vacuum cleaner that uses a rechargeable battery as a power source, and an electric vacuum cleaner in which power is supplied by connecting a cord reel plug to a commercial power source (outlet). It can also be used as a suction inlet. Further, in this case, for example, a battery may be built in the suction port body, electric power generated by the geared motor may be charged in the battery, and electric power charged in the battery may be supplied to the geared motor to rotate the rotary brush.

(Summary)
The suction port body of the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes a casing having a suction port at the bottom, a rotating brush rotatably provided in the casing in the vicinity of the suction port, and an electric motor for rotating the rotating brush. A motor, a gear portion that transmits the rotational force from the output shaft of the electric motor to the rotating brush, and a moving mechanism portion,
The gear portion includes a high torque gear provided on one end of the rotary brush in the direction of the rotary shaft center, a high speed rotary gear having a diameter smaller than that of the high torque gear, and one of the high torque gear and the high speed rotary gear. And a transmission gear that selectively meshes to transmit the rotational force from the output shaft,
The moving mechanism is configured to move the transmission gear so as to selectively mesh with one of the high torque gear and the high speed rotation gear.
According to this structure, the transmission gear can be moved by the moving mechanism so as to be selectively meshed with one of the high torque gear and the high speed rotation gear according to the state of the surface to be cleaned. For example, when cleaning a carpet with a relatively large rotation resistance of the rotating brush, the rotating brush can be rotated at a high torque without overloading the electric motor by engaging the transmission gear with the high torque gear. Therefore, the rotating brush can be efficiently cleaned without stopping during cleaning. Also, for example, when cleaning a flooring or tatami mat with a relatively low rotational resistance, the transmission gear meshes with the high-speed rotary gear to rotate the rotary brush at high speed without overloading the electric motor. Therefore, the dust scraping performance can be improved.
Further, according to the suction port body of the present invention, since the rotary brush can be rotationally driven in an appropriate state according to the state of the surface to be cleaned, only by providing the gear portion having a relatively simple structure, the weight increase and Upsizing is suppressed and usability is improved.
The moving mechanism may move the transmission gear manually or automatically.

The suction port body of the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention may be configured as follows and may be appropriately combined.
(1) A turbine that is rotated by an air flow in the housing, and a torque transmission mechanism that transmits the torque of the turbine to the rotating brush are further provided.
The moving mechanism may be configured to be movable to a neutral position in which the transmission gear is not meshed with either the high torque gear or the high speed rotation gear.
With this configuration, the rotational force of the turbine can be used to rotate the rotary brush.
Therefore, when the electric motor and the turbine are used together, the load on the electric motor can be reduced and the power consumption of the battery can be reduced.
Further, when the electric motor is turned off while the transmission gear is meshed with the high torque gear or the high speed rotation gear and the rotary brush is rotated only by the turbine, the output shaft of the electric motor is transmitted through the transmission gear by the rotational force of the turbine. Since the electric motor rotates, the electric motor serves as a generator to charge the battery with electricity generated. That is, the battery can be charged while cleaning and the usable time of the battery can be extended.
Further, when the transmission gear is moved to the neutral position and the turbine is used alone, the electric motor can be turned off to eliminate the power consumption of the battery, thus saving the power of the battery.

(2) A fan that rotates by the rotational force of the turbine and blows air to the electric motor may be further provided.
According to this configuration, the electric motor during driving can be cooled by the cooling air, which leads to a longer life of the electric motor. Moreover, since the fan is rotated by utilizing the rotational force of the turbine, the power consumption of the battery can be saved.

(3) The moving mechanism has a slide support portion that supports the transmission gear so as to be rotatable about its rotation axis and slidable in the direction of the rotation axis.
The slide support may have a protrusion exposed from the inside of the housing to the outside.
According to this configuration, the user can manually move the transmission gear and mesh with the high torque gear or the high speed rotation gear by gripping the knob and moving the slide support.

(4) The moving mechanism may include an actuator that supports the transmission gear so as to be rotatable about its rotation axis and slidable in the direction of the rotation axis.
According to this configuration, the user operates the hand switch of the cleaner main body connected to the suction port body to operate the actuator, whereby the transmission gear is automatically moved to mesh with the high torque gear or the high speed rotation gear. It becomes possible.

(5) A rotation speed sensor, which is provided in a rotation system including the turbine, the torque transmission mechanism portion, and the rotary brush, and detects a rotation speed of the rotation system,
The moving mechanism may include an actuator that supports the transmission gear so as to be rotatable about its rotation axis and slidable in the direction of the rotation axis.
According to this configuration, it becomes possible to automatically move the transmission gear in accordance with the rotation speed of the rotating system to mesh with the high torque gear or the high speed rotation gear.

The vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes the suction port body of (4), and a cleaner body connected to the suction port body directly or via an extension pipe,
The cleaner body is a dust collector, an electric blower that drives air to flow dust-containing air into the dust collector, and a battery that supplies electric power to the electric blower and the electric motor of the suction port. And a control unit,
The control unit is configured to control the operation of the actuator based on a current value when the electric motor is driven.
According to this configuration, for example, when the electric motor is turned on and the rotary brush is rotated to clean the carpet, the load and current value to the electric motor increase, and the control unit can determine the situation. Therefore, in this case, the actuator can be operated by the control unit so that the transmission gear meshes with the high torque gear. Further, when cleaning the flooring or tatami mat, the load and current value to the electric motor become small, and the situation can be discriminated by the control unit. In that case, the transmission gear meshes with the high-speed rotation gear. The actuator can be operated by the control unit.

Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes the suction port body of (5) and a cleaner body connected to the suction port body directly or via an extension pipe,
The cleaner body is a dust collector, an electric blower that drives air to flow dust-containing air into the dust collector, and a battery that supplies electric power to the electric blower and the electric motor of the suction port. And a control unit,
The control unit is configured to control the operation of the actuator based on a detection signal of the rotation speed sensor.
According to this configuration, for example, when the electric brush is turned off and the rotating brush is rotated only by the turbine to clean the floor surface or the tatami mat and then the carpet is continuously cleaned, the load on the rotating brush increases. The rotational speed of the rotary system from the turbine to the rotary brush via the rotational force transmission mechanism is lower than a predetermined rotational speed, and the situation can be discriminated by the rotational speed sensor and the controller. Therefore, in this case, it becomes possible for the control unit to automatically operate the actuator so that the transmission gear meshes with the high-torque gear, and to automatically turn on the electric motor. Further, when the cleaning on the carpet as described above is moved to the cleaning on the flooring or tatami mat, the load on the rotating brush is reduced and the rotation speed of the rotating system is increased. Since it can be determined, in that case, the actuator can be automatically operated by the control unit so that the transmission gear meshes with the high-speed rotation gear, and the electric motor can be automatically turned off.

It should be considered that the disclosed embodiments are illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the scope of the claims and all modifications within the scope.
For example, although the actuators in Embodiments 2 and 3 are illustrated as being controlled by the control unit provided in the cleaner body, a suction port body control unit different from the cleaner body is provided in the suction port body. Alternatively, the suction port control unit may control the operation of the actuator.

1 Electric Vacuum Cleaner 10 Vacuum Cleaner Main Body 11 Drive Device 11f Electric Blower 11g, 11gx Control Part 12 Dust Collection Device (Dust Collection Part)
13 Battery 20 Extension Tube 30 Suction Port Body 31a Housing 31aa Suction Port 31b Rotating Brush 31c Geared Motor (Electric Motor)
31ca Output shaft 31d Gear part 31da High torque gear 31db High speed rotation gear 31dc Transmission gear 31dca First tooth part 31dcb Second tooth part 31e, 31f Moving mechanism part 31ea Slide support part 31eaa Projection part 31f Actuator 31fa, 131fa Solenoid 31h Turbine Transmission mechanism 31j Fan 31k Rotation speed sensor

Claims (9)

A housing having a suction port at the bottom, a rotating brush rotatably provided in the housing in the vicinity of the suction port, an electric motor for rotationally driving the rotating brush, and rotation from an output shaft of the electric motor. A gear unit for transmitting force to the rotary brush, and a moving mechanism unit,
The gear portion includes a high torque gear provided on one end of the rotary brush in the direction of the rotary shaft center, a high speed rotary gear having a diameter smaller than that of the high torque gear, and one of the high torque gear and the high speed rotary gear. And a transmission gear that selectively meshes to transmit the rotational force from the output shaft,
The suction mechanism of the vacuum cleaner, wherein the moving mechanism is configured to move the transmission gear so as to selectively mesh with one of the high torque gear and the high speed rotation gear. Further comprising a turbine rotated by the air flow in the housing, and a torque transmission mechanism section for transmitting the torque of the turbine to the rotary brush,
The suction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism is configured to be movable to a neutral position in which the transmission gear is not meshed with any of the high torque gear and the high speed rotation gear. The suction port body according to claim 2, further comprising a fan that is rotated by the rotational force of the turbine to blow air to the electric motor. The moving mechanism has a slide support portion that supports the transmission gear so as to be rotatable about its rotation axis and slidable in the direction of the rotation axis.
The said slide support part is a suction opening body as described in any one of Claims 1-3 which has the protrusion part exposed to the exterior from the inside of the said housing. The suction mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the moving mechanism includes an actuator that supports the transmission gear so as to be rotatable about its rotation axis and slidable in the direction of the rotation axis. .. Further comprising a rotation speed sensor provided in a rotation system including the turbine, the rotational force transmission mechanism section, and the rotary brush to detect a rotation speed of the rotation system,
The suction mechanism according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the moving mechanism includes an actuator that supports the transmission gear so as to be rotatable about its rotation axis and slidable in the direction of the rotation axis. The suction port body according to claim 5, and a cleaner body connected to the suction port body directly or through an extension pipe,
The cleaner body is a dust collector, an electric blower that drives air to flow dust-containing air into the dust collector, and a battery that supplies electric power to the electric blower and the electric motor of the suction port. And a control unit,
The electric vacuum cleaner configured to control the operation of the actuator based on a current value when the electric motor is driven. The suction port body according to claim 6, and a cleaner body connected to the suction port body directly or via an extension pipe,
The cleaner body is a dust collector, an electric blower that drives air to flow dust-containing air into the dust collector, and a battery that supplies electric power to the electric blower and the electric motor of the suction port. And a control unit,
The controller is configured to control the operation of the actuator based on a detection signal of the rotation speed sensor. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising the suction port body according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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