JP2020146382A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vacuum cleaner facilitating adjustment of control and easily absorbing individual differences.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner 1 comprises: a suction air passage 35; an electric blower 8 causing the suction air passage 35 to generate suction negative pressure; a detection part 46 for detecting an electric current flowing the electric blower 8; and a control part 9 for controlling operation of the electric blower 8 by changing at least one controlled variable of a voltage, a current, a frequency and a duty ratio of electric power to be supplied to the electric blower 8. The control part 9 performs control of changing the controlled variable based on a consumed current or consumed power of the electric blower 8 based on the detection result of the detection part 46, and applies a corrected value to the control, the corrected value for correcting and decreasing an offset of an air volume when performing the control, caused by individual difference in the electric blower 8 and an individual difference in the suction air passage 35.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

Current detection means that detects the current flowing through the electrical load, control means that controls the amount of power supplied to the load according to the output of the current detection means, and current detection at two frequencies of the commercial power supply, for example, 50 Hz and 60 Hz. When adjusting means for making the outputs of the means substantially the same and controlling the amount of power supplied to the load according to the output of the current detection means, an electric device that controls power consumption with high accuracy without being affected by the power supply frequency It has been known.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-178391

The vacuum cleaner includes a suction air passage and an electric blower that applies a negative pressure to the suction air passage. The suction air passage includes a vacuum cleaner body that houses the electric blower and a pipe that is connected to the vacuum cleaner body. The electric blower includes a centrifugal fan and an electric motor.

By the way, the air passage resistance (pressure loss) of the suction air passage has individual differences due to the accuracy of parts and the assembled state. Further, the electric blower has individual differences mainly due to the winding resistance of the electric motor. Therefore, there are individual differences in the relationship between the suction air volume of the electric blower and the power consumption of the electric blower in the state of being incorporated in the electric vacuum cleaner.

The individual difference of this vacuum cleaner is that in the figure with the intake air volume on the horizontal axis and the power consumption on the vertical axis, the relationship between the intake air volume and the power consumption, which have a proportional relationship of rising to the right, is shown in the upward or downward direction. Or shift to the right or left.

Since there are such individual differences, when the stop control of the electric blower is executed based on the same setting, for example, the same power consumption threshold value, a vacuum cleaner having a large suction air volume when the control is executed, or a suction A vacuum cleaner with a small air volume appears. That is, under the same control conditions, the amount of intake air when the electric blower is stopped varies. Such variation may cause inconvenience that the electric blower is operated in a harsher operating state than expected until just before the stop.

Therefore, the conditions for operating control of the electric blower are carefully adjusted so as not to cause inconvenience due to individual differences in the vacuum cleaner.

However, such fine adjustment requires a great deal of time and cost. In addition, it may be necessary to select electric blowers in order to reduce individual differences.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner whose control can be easily adjusted and which can easily absorb individual differences.

In order to solve the above problems, the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a suction air passage, an electric blower that generates a suction negative pressure in the suction air passage, and a detection unit that detects a current flowing through the electric blower. A control unit that controls the operation of the electric blower by changing at least one control amount of the voltage, current, frequency, and duty ratio of the electric power supplied to the electric blower. The control unit is the first control that increases the control amount when the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower based on the detection result of the detection unit decreases from the predicted value in the control amount being set, and the detection of the detection unit. Second control that reduces the control amount when the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower based on the result increases from the predicted value in the control amount being set, the current consumption of the electric blower based on the detection result of the detection unit, or The third control that adjusts the control amount so as to keep the power consumption at a predetermined value, the fourth control that gradually increases the control amount when the control amount becomes larger than the predetermined value during the third control, and the above. Fifth control, in which the control amount is significantly reduced or the electric blower is stopped when the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower based on the detection result of the detection unit is significantly reduced from the predicted value in the control amount being set. At least one of the first control to the fifth control that can be executed is caused by the individual difference of the electric blower and the individual difference of the suction air passage. , The control is executed by applying the correction value for correcting and reducing the offset of the air volume at the time of executing the control to the control amount.

The perspective view which shows the appearance of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows typically an example of the relationship between the suction air volume of an electric blower, and the power consumption of an electric blower in the electric vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

An embodiment of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In the plurality of drawings, the same or corresponding configurations are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment is a so-called canister type. The vacuum cleaner 1 includes a vacuum cleaner main body 2 that can travel on the surface to be cleaned, and a pipe portion 3 that can be attached to and detached from the vacuum cleaner main body 2. The pipe portion 3 is fluidly connected to the vacuum cleaner main body 2.

The vacuum cleaner main body 2 includes a main body case 5 as an outer shell, a pair of wheels 6 provided on the left and right side portions of the main body case 5, and removable dust arranged on the front half of the main body case 5. A separate dust collecting unit 7, an electric blower 8 housed in the latter half of the main body case 5, a control unit 9 that mainly controls the electric blower 8, and a power cord 11 that guides electric power to the electric blower 8 are provided. There is.

The vacuum cleaner main body 2 drives the electric blower 8 with the electric power supplied through the power cord 11. The vacuum cleaner main body 2 exerts a negative pressure generated by the driven electric blower 8 on the pipe portion 3. The vacuum cleaner 1 sucks dust-containing air (hereinafter, referred to as “dust-containing air”) from the surface to be cleaned through the pipe portion 3. The vacuum cleaner main body 2 separates dust from the sucked dust-containing air. The vacuum cleaner main body 2 collects and accumulates dust after separation, and exhausts clean air after separating the dust.

A main body connection port 12 corresponding to a suction port of the vacuum cleaner main body 2 is provided on the front portion of the main body case 5. The main body connection port 12 has a joint structure to which the pipe portion 3 can be attached and detached. The main body connection port 12 fluidly connects the pipe portion 3 and the dust separation / dust collection portion 7.

The wheel 6 is a traveling wheel having a large diameter, and supports the vacuum cleaner main body 2 so as to travel.

The dust separation / dust collection unit 7 separates and accumulates dust from the dust-containing air flowing into the vacuum cleaner main body 2, and sends clean air from which the dust has been removed to the electric blower 8. The dust separation / dust collecting unit 7 may be of a centrifugal separation method or a filtration separation method.

The electric blower 8 sucks air from the dust separation / dust collecting unit 7 to generate a negative pressure (suction negative pressure).

The control unit 9 includes a microprocessor and a storage device that stores various arithmetic programs and parameters executed by the microprocessor. The storage device stores various settings (arguments) related to a plurality of preset operation modes. The plurality of operating modes are associated with the output of the electric blower 8. Different input values (input value of the electric blower 8 and current target value flowing through the electric blower 8) are set in each operation mode. Each operation mode is associated with an operation input received by the pipe unit 3. The control unit 9 selectively selects an arbitrary operation mode corresponding to the operation input to the pipe unit 3 from a plurality of preset operation modes, and reads and reads the selected operation mode setting from the storage unit. The electric blower 8 is operated according to the setting of the operation mode.

The power cord 11 supplies power to the vacuum cleaner main body 2 from a wiring plug connector (so-called outlet). A plug 14 is provided at the free end of the power cord 11.

The pipe portion 3 sucks dust-containing air from the surface to be cleaned by the negative pressure acting from the vacuum cleaner main body 2 and guides it to the vacuum cleaner main body 2. The pipe portion 3 is fluidly connected to a connecting pipe 19 as a joint that can be attached to and detached from the vacuum cleaner main body 2, a dust collecting hose 21 that is fluidly connected to the connecting pipe 19, and a dust collecting hose 21. The hand operation pipe 22, the grip portion 23 protruding from the hand operation pipe 22, the operation portion 24 provided on the grip portion 23, the extension pipe 25 that can be attached to and detached from the hand operation pipe 22, and the extension pipe 25. It includes a suction port body 26 that can be attached and detached.

The connection pipe 19 is fluidly connected to the dust separation / dust collection unit 7 through the main body connection port 12.

The dust collecting hose 21 is a long and flexible hose having a substantially cylindrical shape. One end (here, the rear end) of the dust collecting hose 21 is fluidly connected to the connecting pipe 19. The dust collection hose 21 is fluidly connected to the dust separation / dust collection unit 7 through the connection pipe 19.

The hand operation pipe 22 relays the dust collecting hose 21 and the extension pipe 25. One end of the hand control tube 22 (here, the rear end) is fluidly connected to the other end of the dust collection hose 21 (here, the front end). The hand operation pipe 22 is fluidly connected to the dust separation / dust collection unit 7 through the dust collection hose 21 and the connection pipe 19.

The grip portion 23 is a portion that the user grips by hand in order to operate the vacuum cleaner 1. The grip portion 23 projects from the hand operation tube 22 in an appropriate shape that can be easily gripped by the user.

The operation unit 24 includes a switch associated with each operation mode. Specifically, the operation unit 24 supplies power to the stop switch 24a associated with the operation stop operation of the electric blower 8, the start switch 24b associated with the operation start operation of the electric blower 8, and the suction port body 26. A brush switch 24c associated with the above is provided. The stop switch 24a and the start switch 24b are electrically connected to the control unit 9. The user of the vacuum cleaner 1 can selectively select the operation mode of the electric blower 8 by operating the operation unit 24. The start switch 24b also functions as an operation mode selection switch during the operation of the electric blower 8. In this case, the control unit 9 switches the operation mode in the order of strong → medium → weak → strong → medium → weak → ... each time the operation signal is received from the start switch 24b. The operation unit 24 may individually include a strong operation switch, a medium operation switch, and a weak operation switch instead of the start switch 24b.

The extension tube 25 having a telescopic structure in which a plurality of tubular bodies are superposed is expandable and contractible. One end of the extension pipe 25 (here, the rear end) is provided with a joint structure that can be attached to and detached from the other end (here, the front end) of the hand operating pipe 22. ing. The extension pipe 25 is fluidly connected to the dust separation / dust collection unit 7 through the hand operation pipe 22, the dust collection hose 21 and the connection pipe 19.

The suction port body 26 is capable of traveling or sliding on a surface to be cleaned such as a wooden floor or a carpet, and has a suction port 28 on the bottom surface facing the surface to be cleaned in the traveling state or the sliding state. Further, the suction port body 26 includes a rotatable rotary cleaning body 29 arranged at the suction port 28 and an electric motor 31 for driving the rotary cleaning body 29. One end of the suction port body 26 (here, the rear end) is provided with a joint structure that can be attached to and detached from the other end (here, the front end) of the extension pipe 25. ing. The suction port body 26 is fluidly connected to the dust separation / dust collection unit 7 through an extension pipe 25, a hand operation pipe 22, a dust collection hose 21 and a connection pipe 19. That is, the suction port body 26, the extension pipe 25, the hand operation pipe 22, the dust collection hose 21, the connection pipe 19, and the dust separation / dust collection unit 7 are suction air passages 35 from the electric blower 8 to the suction port 28. The electric motor 31 alternately repeats operation start and stop each time it receives an operation signal from the brush switch 24c.

The vacuum cleaner 1 starts the electric blower 8 when the start switch 24b is operated. For example, in the vacuum cleaner 1, when the start switch 24b is operated while the electric blower 8 is stopped, the electric blower 8 is first operated in the strong operation mode, and when the start switch 24b is operated again, the electric blower 1 is operated. The operation mode of 8 is changed to the medium operation mode, and when the start switch 24b is operated three times, the operation mode of the electric blower 8 is changed to the weak operation mode, and so on. The strong operation mode, the medium operation mode, and the weak operation mode are a plurality of preset operation modes. The input value for the electric blower 8 is highest in the strong operation mode and smallest in the weak operation mode. The started electric blower 8 exhausts air from the dust separation / dust collecting unit 7 to create a negative pressure inside the dust collecting unit 7.

The negative pressure in the dust separation / dust collecting unit 7 acts on the suction port 28 through the main body connection port 12, the connection pipe 19, the dust collection hose 21, the hand operation pipe 22, the extension pipe 25, and the suction port body 26 in order. To do. The vacuum cleaner 1 sucks dust on the surface to be cleaned together with air by the negative pressure acting on the suction port 28. The dust separation / dust collecting unit 7 separates dust from the dust-containing air sucked into the vacuum cleaner 1 and accumulates the dust, while sending the air separated from the dust-containing air to the electric blower 8. The electric blower 8 exhausts the air sucked from the dust separation / dust collection unit 7 to the outside of the vacuum cleaner main body 2.

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

As shown in FIG. 2, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control circuit 41 that is electrically connected to a commercial AC power source E via a plug 14.

The vacuum cleaner 1 may be of a so-called cordless type, which is driven by the electric power stored in the storage battery provided in the vacuum cleaner main body 2. The storage battery supplies drive power to the control circuit 41 in place of the commercial AC power source E.

The control circuit 41 controls the operation of the electric blower 8. The control circuit 41 converts the electric blower 8 connected in series with the commercial AC power source E, the switching element 43 for opening and closing the electric circuit 42 for supplying the driving power from the commercial AC power source E to the electric blower 8, and the commercial AC power source E. Controls the operation of the control power supply unit 45 that supplies drive power to the control unit 9, the detection unit 46 that detects the current value I flowing through the electric blower 8, that is, the current consumption of the electric blower 8, and the operation of the electric blower 8. It includes a control unit 9.

The electric blower 8 includes a centrifugal fan 48 that is fluidly connected to the pipe portion 3 via a dust separation / dust collecting portion 7, and an electric motor 49 that drives the centrifugal fan 48. The electric motor 49 rotates the centrifugal fan 48 with the driving power supplied from the commercial AC power source E or the storage battery. The rotating centrifugal fan 48 sucks air from the suction air passage 35 to generate a suction negative pressure. The electric motor 49 may be a commutator electric motor or a non-commutator electric motor.

The switching element 43 is an element such as a bidirectional thyristor (Triode AC Switch, TRIAC), a reverse blocking 3-terminal thyristor (Silicon Controlled Rectifier, SCR), or a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor). The switching element 43 includes a gate 43a connected to the control unit 9. The switching element 43 changes the input (driving current) of the electric blower 8 according to a change in the gate current or the gate voltage.

The control power supply unit 45 is a power supply circuit that generates a control power supply for the control unit 9. When the plug 14 of the power cord 11 is pulled out from the commercial AC power supply E, the control power supply unit 45 loses the power supply and stops the supply of the control power supply.

The detection unit 46 outputs the detection result, that is, the current consumption of the electric blower 8 to the control unit 9. The control unit 9 calculates the power consumption of the electric blower 8 from the voltage applied to the electric blower 8 and the current of the electric blower 8. The power consumption is calculated from the current value I detected by the detection unit 46 and the voltage of the commercial AC power supply E, for example, the nominal voltage. The detection unit 46 may detect the voltage value V applied to the electric blower 8, that is, the voltage consumed by the electric blower 8, in addition to the current value I flowing through the electric blower 8. In this case, the power consumption is calculated from the current value I detected by the detection unit 46 and the voltage value V detected by the detection unit 46. In other words, the power consumption may be calculated based on the actually measured current value I and the nominal voltage, or may be calculated based on the actually measured current value I and the actually measured voltage value V. The detection unit 46 can use, for example, various known measuring methods for measuring the current consumption and the voltage consumption of the electric blower 8.

When the suction air passage 35 leading to the electric blower 8, that is, the pipe portion 3 and the dust separation / dust collection portion 7 are blocked and the suction air volume of the electric blower 8 decreases, the suction negative pressure of the electric blower 8 increases (electricity). The positive pressure of the air sucked into the blower 8 decreases), the rotation speed of the electric blower 8 increases, and the current consumption of the electric blower 8 decreases.

The control unit 9 controls the input of the electric blower 8 according to a plurality of operation modes including, for example, a weak operation mode, a medium operation mode, and a strong operation mode. Each time the control unit 9 receives an operation signal from the start switch 24b, the control unit 9 sequentially switches the operation mode to perform switching control of the switching element 43.

The control unit 9 controls the operation of the electric blower 8 by changing the duty ratio of the electric power supplied to the electric blower 8. In other words, the control unit 9 controls the operation of the electric blower 8 by changing the duty ratio (ratio of ON and OFF of the switching element 43) in the switching control. For example, the control unit 9 of the vacuum cleaner 1 driven by the commercial AC power supply E periodically reads the operation signal output by the operation unit 24 and the zero-cross timing of the commercial AC power supply E detected by the zero-cross detector. The input of the electric blower 8 is controlled by performing switching control (phase control) of the switching element 43 according to the selected operation mode. Further, the control unit 9 of the vacuum cleaner 1 driven by the storage battery periodically reads the operation signal output by the operation unit 24, performs switching control of the switching element 43 according to the selected operation mode, and performs switching control of the switching element 43 of the electric blower 8. Control the input.

Further, the control unit 9 controls to change the duty ratio based on the current consumption or the power consumption of the electric blower 8 based on the detection result of the detection unit 46. The control unit 9 performs various controls illustrated below based on the detection result of the detection unit 46. The various controls illustrated are programs executed by the control unit 9. It suffices that the control unit 9 can execute at least one of the various controls illustrated. In other words, the control unit 9 may incorporate at least one of the various control programs illustrated.

In the first example of the operation control of the electric blower 8 executed by the control unit 9 (hereinafter, referred to as “first control”), the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower 8 is set based on the detection result of the detection unit 46. When it decreases from the predicted value in the medium duty ratio, the duty ratio is increased. In other words, in the first control, when the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower 8 based on the detection result of the detection unit 46 is smaller than the predicted value in the duty ratio when the current value I is detected by the detection unit 46, the duty ratio To increase.

From the detection result of the detection unit 46, the first control is expected at the duty ratio during setting due to an increase in the air passage resistance of the suction air passage 35, for example, an increase in the amount of dust accumulated in the dust separation / dust collection unit 7. It is estimated whether or not the air volume (the suction air volume of the electric blower 8) is obtained. Then, when the expected suction air volume is not obtained at the duty ratio being set, the first control increases the duty ratio in order to compensate for the decrease in the suction air volume. The first control can compensate for the decrease in the suction air volume due to the clogging of dust.

Further, the second example of the operation control of the electric blower 8 executed by the control unit 9 (hereinafter, referred to as “second control”) is the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower 8 based on the detection result of the detection unit 46. Decreases the duty ratio when is greater than the predicted value at the duty ratio being set. In other words, in the second control, when the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower 8 based on the detection result of the detection unit 46 increases from the predicted value in the duty ratio when the current value I is detected by the detection unit 46, the duty ratio To reduce.

The second control is expected from the detection result of the detection unit 46 at the duty ratio being set due to a decrease in the resistance of the suction air passage 35, for example, a state change such as compression of dust in the dust separation / dust collection unit 7. It is estimated whether or not the suction air volume (the suction air volume of the electric blower 8) is not exceeded. Then, when the duty ratio being set exceeds the expected suction air volume, the second control reduces the duty ratio in order to suppress an increase in the suction air volume. The second control can prevent an unexpected increase in power consumption and an unexpected increase in the rotation speed of the electric blower 8.

The threshold values in the first control and the second control are predicted values of current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower 8 at the duty ratio being set, or values that allow a margin in these predicted values.

Further, the third example of the operation control of the electric blower 8 (hereinafter, referred to as “third control”) executed by the control unit 9 is the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower 8 based on the detection result of the detection unit 46. Adjust the duty ratio so that the value is kept at the specified value. The third control keeps the power consumption constant. The threshold value in the third control is set as a target value of the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower 8 or an allowable fluctuation range with respect to the target value.

Further, in the fourth example of the operation control of the electric blower 8 (hereinafter, referred to as “fourth control”) executed by the control unit 9, when the duty ratio becomes larger than a predetermined value during the third control, the duty is increased. Gradually increase the ratio. In the fourth control, when the duty ratio becomes larger than the predetermined value in the duty ratio adjustment process (third control), it is estimated that the expected intake air volume at the duty ratio being set is insufficient. , The duty ratio is gradually increased away from the target value or the adjustment value of the duty ratio in the third control. The threshold value in the fourth control is a predetermined value for determining whether or not to gradually increase the duty ratio.

Further, the fifth example of the operation control of the electric blower 8 (hereinafter, referred to as “fifth control”) executed by the control unit 9 is the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower 8 based on the detection result of the detection unit 46. When is significantly less than the predicted value in the duty ratio being set, the duty ratio is significantly reduced or the electric blower 8 is stopped. In other words, the fifth control is the duty when the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower 8 based on the detection result of the detection unit 46 is significantly smaller than the predicted value in the duty ratio when the current value I is detected by the detection unit 46. The ratio is significantly reduced or the electric blower 8 is stopped.

In a situation where the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower 8 is significantly lower than the predicted value in the duty ratio being set, it is presumed that foreign matter is sucked into the suction air passage 35 and the suction air passage 35 is blocked. .. Continuing the operation of the electric blower 8 in a situation where the suction air passage 35 is blocked may cause a failure of the electric blower 8. Therefore, when it is presumed that the suction air passage 35 is blocked, the fifth control significantly reduces the duty ratio or stops the electric blower 8 in order to prevent the electric blower 8 from failing. That is, the fifth control can prevent the electric blower 8 from failing. Similar to the first control and the second control, the threshold value in the fifth control is the predicted value of the current consumption or the predicted value of the power consumption of the electric blower 8 at the duty ratio being set, or a value in which a margin is expected in these predicted values. Is. Further, it can be determined that the threshold value in the fifth control has a larger difference between the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower 8 and the predicted value in the duty ratio being set than the threshold value in the first control. Is set.

The control unit 9 controls the operation of the electric blower 8 by changing at least one control amount of voltage, current, frequency, and duty ratio instead of the duty ratio of the electric power supplied to the electric blower 8. Is also good. When controlling the operation of the electric blower 8 by changing the frequency, an inverter circuit is applied instead of the switching element 43. When controlling the operation of the electric blower 8 by changing the current, a resistance circuit that changes the resistance value steplessly or steplessly is applied instead of the switching element 43. The resistor circuit includes, for example, a plurality of resistors that can be connected in series and a switch that changes the combination of one or more resistors.

Further, the control unit 9 may perform control to change at least one control amount of current, voltage, frequency, and duty ratio based on the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower 8 based on the detection result of the detection unit 46. good. The control unit 9 performs the first control to the fifth control by changing at least one control amount of current, voltage, frequency, and duty ratio based on the detection result of the detection unit 46.

By the way, the characteristics of the electric blower 8 including the resistance of the winding in the electric motor 49 have individual differences. Further, the air passage resistance (pressure loss) of the air passage in the vacuum cleaner main body 2 connected to the electric blower 8 and the air passage resistance (pressure loss) of the suction air passage 35 including this air passage also have individual differences. There is. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 1 in which the electric blower 8 is incorporated or the vacuum cleaner main body 2 in which the electric blower 8 is incorporated does not actually accumulate dust in the dust separation / dust collecting unit 7 as in the case of factory shipment. Even under the same conditions, there are individual differences. Therefore, there are individual differences in the relationship between the suction air volume of the electric blower 8 and the power consumption of the electric blower 8.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the relationship between the suction air volume of the electric blower and the power consumption of the electric blower in the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Note that FIG. 3 shows a state in which the suction air passage 35 connected to the electric blower 8 is fully opened, or a state in which the air passage in the vacuum cleaner main body 2 connected to the electric blower 8, that is, a part of the suction air passage 35 is fully opened. is there.

As shown in FIG. 3, the relationship between the suction air volume Q of the electric blower 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1 and the power consumption P of the electric blower 8 according to the present embodiment is that the power consumption P is proportional to the increase in the suction air volume Q. It can be expressed as an increasing proportional relationship.

The relationship between the suction air volume Q of the electric blower 8 and the power consumption P of the electric blower 8 has individual differences. Here, assuming that a sufficient amount of data has been accumulated to handle individual differences statistically, electricity having a moderate relationship between the suction air volume Q of the electric blower 8 and the power consumption P of the electric blower 8 Vacuum cleaner 1 is indicated by a solid line N. Then, the case where the power consumption P is smaller than that of the moderate vacuum cleaner 1 with the same suction air volume Q is shown by the broken line L. The case where the power consumption P is larger than that of the moderate vacuum cleaner 1 with the same suction air volume Q is shown by the broken line H.

Here, assuming that there is no individual difference in the air passage resistance, the characteristic L is exhibited when the resistance of the winding in the electric motor 49 is larger than the resistance of the winding in the electric motor 49 of the moderate vacuum cleaner 1. .. In the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic L, the power consumption P is detected to be less than that of the moderate vacuum cleaner 1 at a certain suction air volume q (point pl in FIG. 3). Therefore, in the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic L, in the first control to the fifth control, the same settings as those of the moderate vacuum cleaner 1 are maintained, based on the current consumption of the electric blower 8 or the power consumption of the electric blower 8. If the duty ratio is changed, the input to the electric blower 8, that is, the duty ratio is set excessively. This increases the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic L and increases the noise.

Further, assuming that there is no individual difference in the air passage resistance, the characteristic H is exhibited when the resistance of the winding in the electric motor 49 is smaller than the resistance of the winding in the electric motor 49 of the moderate vacuum cleaner 1. In the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic H, the power consumption P is detected excessively in a certain suction air amount q as compared with the moderate vacuum cleaner 1 (point ph in FIG. 3). Therefore, in the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic H, in the first control to the fifth control, the current consumption of the electric blower 8 or the power consumption of the electric blower 8 is maintained while maintaining the same settings as the moderate vacuum cleaner 1. When the power-down process or the stop process (fifth control) is performed, the current consumption or the power consumption P of the electric blower 8 may not be lowered to the threshold value. This induces a delay in control in the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic H, a delay or non-execution of the power-down process or the stop process (fifth control) in the closed state of the air passage.

Therefore, the control unit 9 corrects and reduces the offset of the suction air volume Q at the time of executing the first control to the fifth control due to the individual difference of the electric blower 8 and the individual difference of the suction air passage 35. The value is applied from the first control to the fifth control and executed. This correction value is substantially the same as the suction air amount of the vacuum cleaner 1 having various characteristics including the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic L and the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic H, which is substantially the same as that of the vacuum cleaner 1 having moderate characteristics. The offset is corrected so that the first control to the fifth control are executed by Q. Further, the correction value is substantially the same as that of the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic H in the vacuum cleaner 1 having various characteristics including the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic L and the vacuum cleaner 1 having a moderate characteristic. The offset may be corrected so that the first control to the fifth control are executed by the air volume Q. Further, the correction value is substantially the same as that of the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic L into the vacuum cleaner 1 having various characteristics including the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic H and the vacuum cleaner 1 having a moderate characteristic. The offset may be corrected so that the first control to the fifth control are executed by the air volume Q. Further, the correction value is controlled by the vacuum cleaner 1 having various characteristics from the first control to the fifth control with substantially the same suction air volume Q as the vacuum cleaner 1 having an arbitrary characteristic sandwiched between the characteristics H and the characteristic L. The offset may be corrected so that it can be executed.

For the convenience of the following description, the correction value is a suction air volume Q that is substantially the same as that of the vacuum cleaner 1 having an arbitrary characteristic sandwiched between the characteristic H and the characteristic L and the vacuum cleaner 1 having a moderate characteristic. Will be described as correcting the offset so that the first control to the fifth control are executed.

This correction value may be applied to the threshold value for determining the execution and non-execution of the first control to the fifth control, or may be applied to the detection result of the detection unit 46. .. In other words, the control unit 9 may apply a correction value to the threshold value for determining the execution and non-execution of the first control to the fifth control to reduce the offset of the suction air volume, and the detection unit 46 may reduce the offset. A correction value may be applied to the detection result to reduce the offset of the intake air volume.

For example, in the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic L having the same suction air volume Q and a small power consumption P, when the correction value is applied to the control threshold value, the control is executed with the power consumption P smaller than the uncorrected state. As described above, a correction value for reducing the threshold value is set.

Further, in the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic L having a small power consumption P for the same suction air volume Q, when the correction value is applied to the detection result of the detection unit 46, the control is performed with the power consumption P smaller than the uncorrected state. A correction value that increases the detection result of the detection unit 46 is set so as to be executed.

In the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic H having a large power consumption P for the same suction air volume Q, when the correction value is applied to the control threshold value, the control is executed with the power consumption P larger than the uncorrected state. , A correction value that increases the threshold value is set.

Further, in the vacuum cleaner 1 having the characteristic H having a large power consumption P for the same suction air volume Q, when the correction value is applied to the detection result of the detection unit 46, the control is performed with the power consumption P larger than the uncorrected state. A correction value that reduces the detection result of the detection unit 46 is set so as to be executed.

That is, as the correction value, the electric blower 8 of each vacuum cleaner 1 is operated at the same duty ratio to measure the current consumption or the power consumption P of the electric blower 8, and the individual difference of the electric blower 8 and the suction air passage 35. The difference in current consumption or power consumption P of the electric blower 8 due to individual differences is set to be reduced or substantially the same.

Further, as for the correction value, the electric blower 8 of each vacuum cleaner 1 is operated while adjusting the duty ratio so as to have the same current consumption or power consumption P, and the individual difference of the electric blower 8 and the individual difference of the suction air passage 35 are obtained. It is set to reduce or make substantially the same difference in the adjustment value of the duty ratio due to.

Further, the correction value may be simply calculated by four arithmetic operations on the current consumption or power consumption P of the electric blower 8 or the control threshold value. Further, the sum of the reference value and the correction value of the control amount may be divided by the reference value, and this calculation result may be multiplied by the control threshold value to correct the threshold value. Further, the reference value may be divided by the sum of the reference value and the correction value, and this calculation result may be multiplied by the current consumption or power consumption P of the electric blower 8 to correct the current consumption or power consumption P of the electric blower 8.

Further, the characteristics of the vacuum cleaner 1, for example, the characteristics of the region sandwiched between the characteristics L and the characteristics H in FIG. 3 are discretely divided, and the correction value is predetermined for each divided region and stored in the control unit 9. , The correction value may be set by experimentally determining which region the individual vacuum cleaner 1 belongs to and specifying the region to which the characteristic belongs.

Further, the control unit 9 may store the cumulative value of the operating time of the electric blower 8 and change the correction value based on the cumulative value. It is preferable that the cumulative value of the operating time of the electric blower 8 is accumulated after the completion of the electric blower 8 alone. The characteristics of the electric blower 8 change with the accumulation of operating time. That is, there is a possibility that the correction value set at the shipping stage cannot gradually reduce the individual difference with the accumulation of the operating time of the electric blower 8. Therefore, the temporal change of the characteristics of the electric blower 8 is experimentally acquired, a correction value reflecting this temporal change is prepared in advance, and this is applied. It is preferable to acquire the temporal change in the characteristics of the electric blower 8 in a state where the electric blower 8 is connected to the suction air passage 35. The temporal change of the characteristics of the electric blower 8 is acquired for a plurality of vacuum cleaners 1 including, for example, the vacuum cleaner 1 having moderate characteristics. Differences in changes in these properties over time are pre-applied to the correction values. Further, the temporal change in the characteristics of the electric blower 8 may be acquired for, for example, the vacuum cleaner 1 having a moderate characteristic, and the change with time of this characteristic may be applied to the correction value.

The correction value changed based on the cumulative value in this way adjusts the change in the individual difference even when the individual difference expands or contracts with the accumulation of the operating time of the electric blower 8, for example. be able to.

As described above, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment corrects the offset of the suction air volume at the time of execution of the first control to the fifth control due to the individual difference of the electric blower 8 and the individual difference of the suction air passage 35. The correction value for reduction is applied to the first control to the fifth control and executed. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 1 reduces the need for finely adjusting the operation control conditions of the electric blower 8 capable of absorbing individual differences, and reduces the development cost. Further, although it is not possible to optimally control each electric blower 8 under the operating conditions adjusted so as to absorb individual differences, the vacuum cleaner 1 sets the operating control conditions of the electric blower 8 to the electric blower. Optimal operation control conditions can be applied based on the individual differences of 8 and the individual differences of the suction air passage 35.

Further, in the vacuum cleaner 1 having the centrifugal separation type dust separation / dust collection unit 7 as a part of the suction air passage 35, the structure of the suction air passage 35 becomes more complicated than other types. Therefore, in the centrifugal vacuum cleaner 1, there is not enough room for adjusting the operation control conditions of the electric blower 8. This decrease in the adjustment margin makes it necessary to shake off the unadjustable electric blower 8 and select the adjustable electric blower 8. However, the vacuum cleaner 1 can apply the optimum operation control conditions to the operation control conditions of the electric blower 8 based on the individual differences of the electric blower 8 and the individual differences of the suction air passage 35. In other words, the vacuum cleaner 1 does not need to shake off the non-adjustable electric blower 8 or select the adjustable electric blower 8.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 9 that reduces the offset of the suction air volume by applying a correction value to a threshold value for determining execution and non-execution of the first control to the fifth control. There is. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 1 can individually set a more suitable correction value for each control content while taking into consideration the influence of individual differences in each control.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 9 that applies a correction value to the detection result of the detection unit 46 to reduce the offset of the suction air amount. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 1 can easily perform the first control to the fifth control with the intended suction air volume.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 9 that stores the cumulative value of the operating time of the electric blower 8 and changes the correction value based on the cumulative value. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 1 can execute each control with the intended suction air amount regardless of the cumulative operation time of the electric blower 8.

Therefore, according to the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment, the control can be easily adjusted and individual differences can be easily absorbed.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

1 ... electric vacuum cleaner, 2 ... vacuum cleaner body, 3 ... pipe part, 5 ... body case, 6 ... wheels, 7 ... dust separation and dust collection part, 8 ... electric blower, 9 ... control unit, 11 ... power cord, 12 ... Main body connection port, 14 ... Plug, 19 ... Connection pipe, 21 ... Dust collection hose, 22 ... Hand operation pipe, 23 ... Grip part, 24 ... Operation part, 24a ... Stop switch, 24b ... Start switch, 24c ... Brush switch, 25 ... extension pipe, 26 ... suction port body, 28 ... suction port, 29 ... rotary cleaner, 31 ... electric motor, 35 ... suction air passage, 41 ... control circuit, 42 ... electric path, 43 ... switching element, 43a ... Switching element gate, 45 ... Control power supply unit, 46 ... Detection unit, 48 ... Centrifugal fan, 49 ... Electric motor.

Claims (4)

The suction air passage and
An electric blower that generates a suction negative pressure in the suction air passage,
A detector that detects the current flowing through the electric blower, and
A control unit for controlling the operation of the electric blower by changing at least one control amount of the voltage, current, frequency, and duty ratio of the electric power supplied to the electric blower is provided.
The control unit
The first control that increases the control amount when the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower based on the detection result of the detection unit decreases from the predicted value in the control amount being set.
A second control that reduces the control amount when the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower based on the detection result of the detection unit increases from the predicted value in the control amount being set.
A third control that adjusts the control amount so as to keep the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower at a predetermined value based on the detection result of the detection unit.
When the control amount becomes larger than a predetermined value during the third control, the fourth control that gradually increases the control amount, and the current consumption or power consumption of the electric blower based on the detection result of the detection unit are set. It is possible to execute at least one of the fifth control, which significantly reduces the control amount or stops the electric blower when the control amount is significantly reduced from the predicted value in the control amount.
Further, at least one of the feasible controls from the first control to the fifth control corrects the offset of the air volume at the time of control execution due to the individual difference of the electric blower and the individual difference of the suction air passage. A vacuum cleaner that executes control by applying a correction value for reducing the size to the control amount. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control unit applies the correction value to a threshold value for determining execution and non-execution of the fifth control from the first control to reduce the offset of the air volume. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control unit applies the correction value to the detection result of the detection unit to reduce the offset of the air volume. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit stores the cumulative value of the operating time of the electric blower and changes the correction value based on the cumulative value.

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