JP2021069644A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vacuum cleaner that can successfully and continuously perform a water electrolysis function by preventing a connection portion between an electrode and a lead wire from being corroded by water or electrolyzed water.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a storage tank 16A for storing water, an electrolyzed water generation device 17 for generating electrolyzed water by electrolyzing the water, and a power supply part for supplying DC power to the electrolyzed water generation device 17. The electrolyzed water generation device 17 comprises a plurality of electrodes 61 provided in the storage tank 16A and for applying DC current supplied from the power supply part to the water. Each of the electrodes 61 comprises a non-submerged part 94 located above a water surface even if the storage tank 16A is fully filled with the water. The non-submerged part 94 is connected to a lead wire 95 extending from the power supply part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

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

A water supply means for storing water, an electrolyzed water generator that electrolyzes water supplied from the water supply means into alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water, alkaline ionized water generated by the electrolytic water generator, and acidic ions. An electrolyzer equipped with an injection device for injecting water onto a floor surface in the form of a mist is known.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-057282

The electrolyzed water generator has a plurality of electrodes for applying a direct current to water. These plurality of electrodes are connected to a DC power supply circuit via a conducting wire, a so-called lead wire.

If the connecting portion between the electrode and the conducting wire is exposed to water or electrolyzed water, this connecting portion may be corroded. If this part is corroded, the electrolyzed water generator causes electrical inconvenience such as disconnection and electric leakage.

Therefore, the present invention proposes an electric vacuum cleaner capable of suppressing corrosion of the connection portion between the electrode and the conducting wire by water or electrolyzed water, and capable of continuously exerting the electrolysis function of water in a good manner. To do.

In order to solve the above problems, the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a storage tank for storing water and an electrolyzed water generator for electrolyzing the water to generate electrolyzed water. The generator has a power supply unit that supplies direct current power, and a plurality of electrodes that are provided in the storage tank and apply a direct current supplied from the power supply unit to the water. Even if the storage tank is full, it has a non-submerged portion located above the water surface, and the non-submerged portion is connected to a lead wire extending from the power supply portion.

The perspective view of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The right side view of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Bottom view of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. The plan view of the storage tank of the 1st example of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The side view of the storage tank of the 1st example of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The plan view of the storage tank of the 2nd example of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The side view of the storage tank of the 2nd example of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The plan view of the storage tank of the 3rd example of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The side view of the storage tank of the 3rd example of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the 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 10. In the plurality of drawings, the same or corresponding configurations are designated by the same reference numerals.

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

As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner 1, a so-called autonomous vacuum cleaner, and a robot cleaner according to the present embodiment. The vacuum cleaner 1 consumes the electric power of the secondary battery 6 mounted on the main body 5 and moves autonomously. As the vacuum cleaner 1 travels, it moves on the surface to be cleaned f, the so-called floor surface, of the area A to be cleaned as a cleaning place in the living room. The vacuum cleaner 1 moves around the surface to be cleaned f in the area A to be cleaned to perform cleaning. The vacuum cleaner 1 comprehensively moves the area to be cleaned A to perform cleaning. When the vacuum cleaner 1 finishes cleaning the surface to be cleaned f, it autonomously returns to the station 7 (also referred to as "homecoming") and waits for the next cleaning operation.

The vacuum cleaner 1 may be a non-autonomous type that can be connected to the station 7 and stored, for example, a canister type, an upright type, a stick type, or a handy type.

The station 7 can be installed on the surface to be cleaned f in the area A to be cleaned. The station 7 can smoothly connect or disconnect the vacuum cleaner 1. The station 7 has a so-called charging stand function. The station 7 includes a power cord 8 that guides electric power from a commercial AC power source, and a charging circuit 9 that converts an AC voltage supplied via the power cord 8 into a DC voltage to charge a secondary battery 6. ..

The vacuum cleaner 1 returned to the station 7 charges the secondary battery 6 while waiting for the next cleaning operation, for example. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 1 can save the trouble of charging by the user and can cope with the sudden cleaning operation requested by the user.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The solid arrow F in FIGS. 2 and 3 indicates the forward direction of the vacuum cleaner 1.

In addition to FIG. 1, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes a main body 5, a moving portion 11 for moving the main body 5, and a surface to be cleaned below the main body 5. A cleaning unit 12 for cleaning, a detection unit 13 for detecting an object to be detected around the main body 5, a control unit 15 for controlling the operation of the vacuum cleaner 1, and two units for supplying electric power to each part of the vacuum cleaner 1. It is equipped with a next battery 6.

Further, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is provided in a storage tank 16 provided in the main body 5 to store water, an electrolyzed water generator 17 that electrolyzes the water stored in the storage tank 16 to generate electrolyzed water, and a storage tank 16. A first supply unit 18 for supplying the stored electrolyzed water to the outside of the main body 5 and a second supply unit 19 for supplying the electrolyzed water stored in the storage tank 16 to the inside of the main body 5 are provided.

The main body 5 includes, for example, a main body case 21 made of synthetic resin and bumpers 22 provided on the side surfaces of the main body case 21. The main body case 21 is the outer shell of the main body 5. The bumper 22 is provided on the side surface of the main body case 21.

The main body 5 has a flat cylindrical shape, in other words, a disk shape. The main body 5, which is substantially circular in a plan view, can suppress the turning radius at the time of turning to be smaller than other shapes. In a plan view, the main body 5 may be shaped like a square, or may be a curve of constant width having a constant width, for example, a shape like a Reuleaux Triangle. good.

The main body case 21 and the storage tank 16 cooperate with each other to define the outline of the main body 5 in a plan view. In the present embodiment, the main body case 21 and the storage tank 16 have an arc-shaped outline cut by a string in a plan view. The arc-shaped outer line of the main body case 21 and the arc-shaped outer line of the storage tank 16 are combined at each string to draw a circular outer line of the main body 5. Similarly, even if the main body 5 has a shape other than a circle, the outer line of the main body case 21 and the outer line of the storage tank 16 are combined to draw the outer line of the main body 5. It is preferable that the storage tank 16 is housed inside the locus drawn by the outer line of the main body case 21 when the main body 5 is made to make a super-credit turn (spin turn, neutral turn, counter-rotation turn).

The height of the main body case 21 and the height of the storage tank 16 are substantially the same. The height of the main body case 21 and the height of the storage tank 16 may be different. For example, the height of the storage tank 16 may be higher than the height of the main body case 21, and the storage tank 16 may protrude upward. Further, the height of the storage tank 16 may be lower than the height of the main body case 21, and the storage tank 16 may be recessed. Further, the height of the storage tank 16 may be lower than the height of the main body case 21, and the storage tank 16 may be mounted on the upper surface of the main body case 21. In such a case, the upper surface of the main body case 21 may have a step between a portion on which the storage tank 16 is mounted and another portion. Then, it is preferable that the heights of the upper surface of the storage tank 16 and the upper surface of the main body case 21 are substantially the same with the storage tank 16 mounted on the main body case 21.

The moving unit 11 includes a plurality of drive wheels 26, a plurality of electric motors 27 for individually driving the drive wheels 26, and a driven wheel 28 that supports the main body 5 on the surface to be cleaned f together with the drive wheels 26. There is.

Each drive wheel 26 transmits a force for moving the main body 5 to the surface to be cleaned f. Each drive wheel 26 rotates about an axis extending in the width direction (left-right width direction) of the main body 5 as a rotation center. The plurality of drive wheels 26 include at least a pair of drive wheels 26. The axles of the pair of drive wheels 26 are arranged substantially on the same line. The vacuum cleaner 1 can go straight and turn by a pair of drive wheels 26. The drive wheel 26 is pressed against the surface to be cleaned f by a suspension device (so-called suspension). The vacuum cleaner 1 may have an endless track instead of the drive wheel 26.

Each electric motor 27 independently drives each drive wheel 26. The vacuum cleaner 1 advances straight (forward or backward) by rotating the left and right drive wheels 26 in the same direction, and turns (turns right or left) by rotating the left and right drive wheels 26 in different directions. ). Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 adjusts the forward or backward speed by raising and lowering the outputs of the left and right drive wheels 26, and adjusts the magnitude of the turning radius by making the outputs of the left and right drive wheels 26 different. be able to.

The driven wheel 28 is arranged at a substantially central portion and a front portion of the lower portion of the main body 5 in the width direction. The driving wheel 28 is, for example, a caster. The driven wheel 28 turns in accordance with the forward movement, backward movement, and turning of the vacuum cleaner 1 to stabilize the movement of the vacuum cleaner 1. The center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner 1 supported by the drive wheels 26 and the driven wheels 28 is preferably arranged inside the triangle formed by the pair of drive wheels 26 and the driven wheels 28. As a result, the vacuum cleaner 1 can move stably.

The cleaning unit 12 cleans dust directly below the main body 5 and on the surface to be cleaned f around the main body 5. The cleaning unit 12 includes a suction cleaning unit 31 that generates a negative pressure to suck dust on the surface to be cleaned f, and a wiping cleaning unit 32 that wipes or polishes the surface to be cleaned f below the main body 5. ..

The suction cleaning unit 31 includes a suction port 34 provided on the bottom surface of the main body 5, a rotary brush 35 arranged at the suction port 34, a brush electric motor 36 for rotationally driving the rotary brush 35, and a dust collector provided on the main body 5. A dust container 37 as a unit and an electric blower 38 housed in the main body 5 and fluidly connected to the dust container 37 are provided.

The air passage that reaches the suction side of the electric blower 38 from the suction port 34 through the dust container 37 is a suction air passage 39 that is fluidly connected to the suction side of the electric blower 38. The suction air passage 39 includes an upstream air passage 39u from the suction port 34 to the dust container 37, and a downstream air passage 39d from the dust container 37 to the electric blower 38.

Further, the air passage from the exhaust side of the electric blower 38 to the exhaust port of the main body 5 is an exhaust air passage 41 fluidly connected to the discharge side of the electric blower 38. The exhaust air from the electric blower 38 is exhausted to the outside of the main body 5 through the exhaust air passage 41.

The suction port 34 sucks dust together with air by the negative pressure generated by the electric blower 38. The suction port 34 is arranged on the front side in the forward direction F with respect to the wiping unit 32. The suction port 34 extends in the width direction of the main body 5. In other words, the opening width of the suction port 34 in the left-right direction is larger than the opening width of the suction port 34 in the front-rear direction. Since the bottom surface of the main body 5 faces and faces the surface to be cleaned f during autonomous movement, the suction port 34 collects dust on the surface to be cleaned f or dust scooped up from the surface to be cleaned f by the rotating brush 35. Can be easily inhaled.

The rotation center line of the rotary brush 35 is directed in the width direction of the vacuum cleaner 1. The rotary brush 35 comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned f when the vacuum cleaner 1 is placed on the surface to be cleaned f in a movable state. Therefore, the rotary brush 35 that is rotationally driven scrapes up the dust on the surface to be cleaned f. The scraped up dust is efficiently sucked into the suction port 34.

The brush electric motor 36 rotates the rotating brush 35 in the forward or reverse direction. The forward rotation direction of the rotary brush 35 is a rotation direction that assists the propulsive force of the vacuum cleaner 1 when moving forward. The reversing direction of the rotating brush 35 is a rotating direction that assists the propulsive force of the vacuum cleaner 1 when reversing.

The dust container 37 is a part of the suction air passage 39. The dust container 37 accumulates dust sucked from the suction port 34 by the suction negative pressure generated by the electric blower 38. The dust container 37 is an inertial separation such as a filter for filtering and collecting dust, and an inertial separation (a separation method for separating dust and air by the difference in inertial force between the straight air and the dust) such as centrifugal separation (cyclone separation) and straight separation (separation method for separating the dust and air by the difference in inertial force between the straight air and the dust). It is a separation device that accumulates dust. The dust container 37 can be attached to and detached from the main body 5. The dust container 37 has a lid that can be opened and closed. The user can remove the dust container 37 from the main body 5, open the lid of the dust container 37 to easily dispose of the dust accumulated in the dust container 37, and clean or clean the dust container 37. it can.

The electric blower 38 consumes the electric power of the secondary battery 6 to drive the electric blower 38. The electric blower 38 sucks air from the dust container 37 to generate a suction negative pressure. The negative pressure generated in the dust container 37 acts on the suction port 34. The main body 5 has an exhaust port that allows the exhaust of the electric blower 38 to flow out to the outside of the main body 5.

The wiping portion 32 is the bottom portion of the main body 5 and is arranged behind the suction port 34.

In the forward direction of the vacuum cleaner 1 (solid line arrow F in FIG. 2), the suction port 34 and the wiping cleaning member 43 are arranged in the front-rear direction, and the suction port 34 is arranged in front of the wiping cleaning member 43. That is, the wiping cleaning member 43 is arranged behind the suction port 34. Therefore, when the vacuum cleaner 1 advances, the suction port 34 moves ahead of the wiping cleaning member 43. Therefore, the wiping cleaning unit 32 wipes and cleans the surface to be cleaned after the dust is removed by the suction cleaning unit 31.

The wiping cleaning unit 32 wipes or polishes, for example, the surface to be cleaned f below the main body 5. The wiping cleaning unit 32 includes a wiping cleaning member mounting portion 45 to which the wiping cleaning member 43 can be attached and detached, and a wiping cleaning member 43.

The wiping cleaning member mounting portion 45 is fixed by attaching a sheet-shaped wiping cleaning member 43 using a hook-and-loop fastener, winding a sheet-shaped wiping cleaning member 43, or inserting a part of the wiping cleaning member 43 into an insertion port. It is a base to be used. The wiping cleaning member mounting portion 45 brings the wiping cleaning member 43 into contact with the surface to be cleaned f while the vacuum cleaner 1 is placed on the surface to be cleaned f. The wiping cleaning member mounting portion 45 itself may also be detachable from the vacuum cleaner 1.

The wiping cleaning member 43 is a wiping cleaning sheet made of a fibrous material such as a woven cloth or a non-woven fabric. The wiping cleaning member 43 is a variety of hygroscopic cleaning tools such as a wiper sheet, a duster cloth, a rag, and a mop (a mass of fibers at the tip excluding the handle portion). The material of the wiping member 43 is natural fiber such as cotton, regenerated fiber such as cellulose, polyester fiber, polyamide fiber such as nylon 6, nylon 66 and nylon 46, and synthetic fiber such as polyolefin fiber such as polyethylene and polypropylene. is there. The wiping member 43 may be a sponge. Further, the wiping cleaning member 43 may integrally have a member made of a superabsorbent polymer (SAP). The super absorbent polymer is a so-called absorbent polymer, a superabsorbent resin, or a polymer absorber. The wiping cleaning member 43 integrally having a member made of a super absorbent polymer can retain a larger amount of electrolyzed water.

The wiping cleaning member 43 can be attached to and detached from the bottom surface of the wiping cleaning member mounting portion 45. When the vacuum cleaner 1 is placed on the surface to be cleaned f in a movable state, the wiping cleaning unit 32 comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned f. It is preferable that the wiping cleaning unit 32 is pressed against the surface to be cleaned f with a pressure such that the drive wheels 26 do not slip on the surface to be cleaned f. An elastic member such as foamed resin is provided between the wiping unit 32 and the bottom surface of the main body 5. This elastic member presses the wiping portion 32 against the surface to be cleaned f with a uniform pressure.

The wiping cleaning member 43 is also an aspect of the first supply unit 18 that supplies electrolyzed water to the outside of the main body 5. The wiping cleaning member 43 wipes the surface to be cleaned f with water in a state of being moistened with the electrolyzed water supplied from the electrolyzed water generator 17.

Further, when the electrolyzed water is supplied to the surface to be cleaned f without passing through the cleaning member 43, the cleaning member 43 can also wipe off the electrolyzed water sprinkled on the surface to be cleaned f.

That is, the wiping cleaning member 43 can be used for so-called water wiping, in which the electrolyzed water is moistened and the electrolyzed water is applied to the surface to be cleaned f, and the electrolyzed water sprinkled on the surface f to be cleaned is wiped off. It can also be used for so-called dry wiping. In other words, the vacuum cleaner 1 sprinkles or applies electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid to the surface to be cleaned f as it moves, and sterilizes the surface to be cleaned f.

Whether the wiping with the wiping cleaning member 43 is a dry wiping or a water wiping is determined by the amount of electrolyzed water sprinkled from the electrolyzed water generator 17 onto the surface to be cleaned f and the amount of electrolyzed water supplied from the electrolyzed water generator 17 to the wiping cleaning member 43. It depends on the amount of electrolyzed water. For example, if the amount of electrolyzed water supplied to the floor surface is very small, the electrolyzed water evaporates before the wiping member 43 is moistened. In such a case, the dry wiping by the wiping cleaning member 43 continues. If the amount of electrolyzed water supplied to the floor surface is large, the electrolyzed water does not evaporate completely and moistens the wiping cleaning member 43. In such a case, the dry wiping by the wiping cleaning member 43 will eventually shift from the dry wiping to the water wiping.

The detection unit 13 detects an object to be detected that approaches the main body 5 as the main body 5 moves, or an object to be detected that comes into contact with the main body 5. The detection unit 13 is provided in the main body 5 and has a camera unit 51 that captures an image of the surroundings of the vacuum cleaner 1, and the main body 5 is provided in the main body 5 and the main body 5 approaches an object other than the vacuum cleaner 1, that is, an object to be detected. It includes a proximity detection unit 52 for detecting that the image has been made, and a contact detection unit 53 provided on the main body 5 for detecting that the main body 5 has come into contact with an object other than the vacuum cleaner 1, that is, an object to be detected.

The camera unit 51 is provided in front of the main body 5 and photographs the traveling direction in front of the vacuum cleaner 1, that is, when moving forward.

The vacuum cleaner 1 may include, in addition to or in addition to the camera unit 51, a distance measuring device 55 that obtains depth information in the photographing range by a principle different from that of the stereo camera.

The proximity detection unit 52 is, for example, an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor. The proximity detection unit 52 using an infrared sensor includes a light emitting element that emits infrared rays and a light receiving element that receives light and converts it into an electric signal. The proximity detection unit 52 emits infrared rays from the light emitting element, receives the infrared rays reflected by the object to be detected by the light receiving element and converts them into electric power, and when the converted electric power exceeds a certain level, the object to be detected is within a certain distance. Is detected before the main body 5 comes into contact with the object to be detected. The proximity detection unit 52 that uses an ultrasonic sensor detects an object to be detected by using ultrasonic waves instead of infrared rays.

The contact detection unit 53 is a so-called bumper sensor. The contact detection unit 53 is interlocked with the bumper 22 that cushions the impact on the main body 5 when the moving main body 5 comes into contact with the object to be detected. When the bumper 22 comes into contact with the object to be detected, the bumper 22 is displaced or moved so as to be pushed inward of the main body 5. The contact detection unit 53 detects the displacement or movement of the bumper 22 and detects that the main body 5 has come into contact with the object to be detected. The contact detection unit 53 includes, for example, a microswitch that is turned on and off by the displacement or movement of the bumper 22, an infrared sensor that measures the displacement or movement amount of the bumper 22 in a non-contact manner, and an ultrasonic sensor.

The secondary battery 6 stores the electric power consumed by each part of the vacuum cleaner 1 including the moving unit 11, the cleaning unit 12, the detection unit 13, the control unit 15, and the power supply unit 57 of the electrolyzed water generator 17. The secondary battery 6 supplies electric power to each part of the vacuum cleaner 1 including the moving part 11, the cleaning part 12, the detecting part 13, and the control part 15. The secondary battery 6 is, for example, a lithium ion battery and has a control circuit for controlling charging / discharging. This control circuit outputs information regarding charging / discharging of the secondary battery 6 to the control unit 15.

The storage tank 16 is a container for storing an aqueous solution such as water or salt water. The water stored in the storage tank 16 may be tap water. The storage tank 16 is preferably removable from the main body 5 in order to enhance the convenience of water supply. The storage tank 16 is provided with a lid that can be opened and closed. The lid of the storage tank 16 can be opened to easily supply water or salt water.

The electrolyzed water generator 17 electrolyzes water to generate electrolyzed water in which ozone is dissolved, or electrolyzes salt water to generate electrolyzed water in which hypochlorous acid (HClO, Hypochlorous Acid) is dissolved. Or generate. In Japan, according to the Water Supply Law, tap water that is easily available at home contains chlorine. The Japanese Waterworks Law stipulates that the chlorine concentration in tap water should be 1/10 ppm (mass millions, milligram per liter) or more (Waterworks Law Enforcement Regulations based on Article 22 of the Waterworks Law (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare). Ordinance) Article 17, item 3). The electrolyzed water generator 17 can easily generate electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid by electrolyzing water containing chlorine such as tap water in Japan or an aqueous solution obtained by dissolving chloride. The chloride may be, for example, a salt that is easily available at home. That is, the aqueous solution obtained by dissolving chloride may be salt water. The electrolyzed water generator 17 includes a plurality of electrodes 61 including a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and a power supply unit 57 that supplies DC power to the plurality of electrodes 61 with the electric power supplied from the secondary battery 6.

For the electrode 61 of the electrolyzed water generator 17, a material that is difficult to dissolve in water, for example, titanium or platinum, is used. In order to promote electrolysis, the electrode 61 may be supported by a platinum group metal such as iridium, platinum, ruthenium, or an oxide thereof. Chemical species such as hydrogen peroxide, active oxygen, and OH radicals are generated in electrolyzed water. The electrode 61 is provided in the storage tank 16. The electrode 61 applies a direct current supplied from the power supply unit 57 to the water.

The power supply unit 57 appropriately adjusts the voltage of the DC power supplied from the secondary battery 6 and applies it to the electrode 61.

The electrolyzed water generator 17 may be a one-chamber type having no partition between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, or a multi-chamber type including a two-chamber type and a three-chamber type having a partition between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. It may be. The one-chamber type electrolyzed water generator 17 neutralizes the acidic ionized water generated on the positive electrode side and the alkaline ionized water generated on the negative electrode side to provide electrolyzed water containing an appropriate concentration of hypochlorous acid. Generate. On the other hand, the multi-chamber type electrolyzed water generator 17 generates acidic ionized water in a room containing a positive electrode and alkaline ionized water in a room containing a negative electrode.

In the multi-chamber type electrolyzed water generator 17, the amounts of acidic ionized water and alkaline ionized water used may become non-uniform, and there may be a burden of disposing of the remaining ionized water. Unlike the multi-chamber type, the one-chamber type electrolyzed water generator 17 does not have a burden of disposing of the remaining ionized water, and may be more convenient for the user than the multi-chamber type.

By the way, the inventors have diffused or sprinkled electrolyzed water having a hypochlorous acid concentration of 5 ppm or more on the surface to be cleaned with a supply amount of 1/10 microliter per square centimeter or more to the surface to be cleaned. It was found that f can be sterilized. Therefore, the electrolyzed water generator 17 electrolyzes water having a chlorine concentration of 1/10 ppm or more, that is, water compatible with tap water under the Japanese Waterworks Law, and electrolyzed water having a hypochlorous acid concentration of 5 ppm or more. Has the ability to generate. If it is difficult to generate electrolyzed water with a hypochlorous acid concentration of 5 ppm or more even if tap water is electrolyzed due to the low chlorine concentration of tap water, chloride, for example, salt should be added to tap water. Just melt it.

The vacuum cleaner 1 does not have to be provided with the electrolyzed water generator 17. That is, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 may store the generated electrolyzed water in the storage tank 16 and use it for sterilizing the area A to be cleaned.

The first supply unit 18 supplies the electrolyzed water to the surface to be cleaned f at a supply amount of 1/10 microliter per square centimeter or more so that the electrolyzed water can be diffused or sprinkled. The first supply unit 18 supplies electrolyzed water to at least one of the wiping cleaning member 43 and the surface to be cleaned f. The first supply unit 18 supplies the electrolyzed water from the storage tank 16 to the surface f to be cleaned, the pipe 62 that guides the electrolyzed water from the storage tank 16, the first supply mechanism unit 65 that supplies the electrolyzed water from the storage tank 16 to the wiping cleaning member 43, and the storage tank 16. The second supply mechanism unit 66 is provided. The first supply unit 18 may have either the first supply mechanism unit 65 or the second supply mechanism unit 66.

The first supply mechanism unit 65 is provided in the middle of the first supply port 71 for supplying the electrolyzed water to the back surface of the wiping cleaning member 43 and the pipe 62 to cut off the supply and supply of the electrolyzed water to the first supply port 71. It is provided with a first on-off valve 72 for performing the above.

There may be a plurality of first supply ports 71. For example, it is preferable that the first supply ports 71 are arranged in a row in the width direction of the main body 5, that is, in the width direction of the wiping cleaning member 43. The first supply ports 71 arranged in this way can moisten a wide range of the wiping cleaning member 43 with electrolyzed water. Further, the first supply port 71 may be an elongated flat opening having a long side extending in the width direction of the main body 5.

The first on-off valve 72 is a so-called solenoid valve. By opening the first on-off valve 72, the first supply mechanism unit 65 supplies the electrolyzed water by the height difference between the water level of the electrolyzed water in the storage tank 16 and the first supply port 71, that is, the head difference. The first supply mechanism unit 65 may include a pump for pumping the electrolyzed water in the storage tank 16 instead of the first on-off valve 72. Further, the first supply mechanism unit 65 may be simply a flow path through which the electrolyzed water in the storage tank 16 flows out, for example, a thin tube or an orifice. In such a case, the inner diameter of the thin tube or the orifice diameter is appropriately and preferably set in order to obtain the required supply amount (supply amount per unit time) of the electrolyzed water.

The second supply mechanism unit 66 has a second supply port 73 for spraying the electrolyzed water on the surface to be cleaned f, and a second supply port 73 provided in the middle of the pipe 62 to cut off the supply and supply of the electrolyzed water to the second supply port 73. It is provided with a second on-off valve 74 to perform.

The second supply port 73 is, for example, a nozzle capable of spraying electrolyzed water. Electrolyzed water is supplied to the surface to be cleaned f sandwiched between the suction port 34 and the wiping cleaning member 43. In other words, the first supply unit 18 supplies electrolyzed water from the second supply port 73 to the surface to be cleaned f sandwiched between the suction port 34 and the wiping cleaning member 43.

There may be a plurality of second supply ports 73. For example, the second supply port 73 is preferably arranged in a row in the width direction of the main body 5, that is, in the width direction of the wiping cleaning member 43. The second supply ports 73 arranged in this way sprinkle electrolyzed water over a wider range as the main body 5 progresses. Further, the second supply port 73 may be an elongated flat nozzle having a long side extending in the width direction of the main body 5.

The second on-off valve 74 is a so-called solenoid valve. By opening the second on-off valve 74, the second supply mechanism unit 66 supplies the electrolyzed water by the height difference between the water level of the electrolyzed water in the storage tank 16 and the second supply port 73, that is, the head difference. The second supply mechanism unit 66 may include a pump for pumping the electrolyzed water in the storage tank 16 instead of the second on-off valve 74. Further, the second supply mechanism unit 66 may be simply a flow path through which the electrolyzed water in the storage tank 16 flows out, for example, a thin tube or an orifice. In such a case, the inner diameter of the thin tube or the orifice diameter is appropriately and preferably set in order to obtain the required supply amount (supply amount per unit time) of the electrolyzed water.

Further, the first supply unit 18 includes a third supply mechanism unit 67 that supplies electrolyzed water from the storage tank 16 to the atmosphere around the main body 5. The third supply mechanism unit 67 includes a first atomizing device 75 that atomizes the electrolyzed water and supplies it to the atmosphere around the main body 5, a first water conveyance path 76 that guides the electrolyzed water to the first atomizing device 75, It has.

The first atomizer 75 is provided at the top of the storage tank 16. The first atomizing device 75 diffuses or sprinkles the atomized electrolyzed water from the top of the storage tank 16 to the atmosphere around the main body 5.

The first atomizer 75 is a heating type that heats the electrolyzed water to atomize it, an ultrasonic type that vibrates the electrolyzed water with ultrasonic waves to atomize it, and a spray using the venture effect, for example, atomizing the electrolyzed water by mist blowing. Various atomization methods such as atomization method, electrostatic atomization that atomizes electrolyzed water using corona discharge, and water crushing method that diffuses electrolyzed water by a propeller rotated at high speed to crush water molecules. Use. In either method, the first atomizer 75 atomizes the electrolyzed water so as to contain fine particles having a diameter of 100 micrometers or less, and more preferably atomizes the electrolyzed water so as to contain fine particles having a diameter of 10 micrometers or less. To do.

The first water conveyance path 76 is a rope or a rope that sucks up the electrolyzed water in the storage tank 16 by, for example, a capillary phenomenon.

The second supply unit 19 supplies the electrolyzed water stored in the storage tank 16 to the suction air passage 39. The second supply unit 19 may supply the electrolyzed water stored in the storage tank 16 to the dust container 37, or may supply the electrolyzed water stored in the storage tank 16 to the upstream air passage 39u connecting the suction port 34 and the dust container 37. , The dust container 37 may be supplied to the downstream air passage 39d connecting the electric blower 38. In other words, the second supply unit 19 takes the electrolyzed water stored in the storage tank 16 into the upstream air passage 39u connecting the suction port 34 and the dust container 37, the inside of the dust container 37, and the dust container 37 and the electric blower 38. It is supplied to at least one of the downstream air passages 39d connecting the above.

The second supply unit 19 vaporizes the electrolyzed water to suck the electrolyzed water into the upstream air passage 39u connecting the suction port 34 and the dust container 37, the inside of the dust container 37, and the downstream connecting the dust container 37 and the electric blower 38. Supply to at least one of the side air passages 39d. Therefore, the second supply unit 19 atomizes the electrolyzed water and supplies it to at least one of the upstream air passage 39u, the dust container 37, and the downstream air passage 39d connecting the dust container 37 and the electric blower 38. It includes a two atomizing device 77 and a second water conveyance path 78 that guides electrolyzed water from the storage tank 16 to the second atomizing device 77.

The second atomizer 77 may be exposed to the upstream air passage 39u itself or the space connected to the upstream air passage 39u, or may be exposed to the dust container 37 itself or the space connected to the dust container 37. Alternatively, it may be exposed to the downstream air passage 39d itself or the space connected to the downstream air passage 39d. The second atomizer 77 diffuses or sprinkles the atomized electrolyzed water into at least one of the upstream air passage 39u, the dust container 37, and the downstream air passage 39d.

Here, in the "space connected to the upstream air passage 39u", the "space connected to the dust container 37", and the "space connected to the downstream air passage 39d", the suction negative pressure generated by the electric blower 38 acts on the air. It includes a portion where sufficient flow is generated, and also includes a portion where the suction negative pressure generated by the electric blower 38 acts, while the air flow due to the suction negative pressure is not sufficiently generated and the flow is stagnant.

The second atomizer 77 is a heating type that heats the electrolyzed water to atomize it, an ultrasonic type that vibrates the electrolyzed water with ultrasonic waves to atomize it, and a spray using the venturi effect, for example, atomizing the electrolyzed water by spraying. Various atomization methods such as atomization method, electrostatic atomization that atomizes electrolyzed water using corona discharge, and water crushing method that diffuses electrolyzed water by a propeller rotated at high speed to crush water molecules. Use. In either method, the second atomizer 77 atomizes the electrolyzed water so as to contain fine particles having a diameter of 100 micrometers or less, and more preferably atomizes the electrolyzed water so as to contain fine particles having a diameter of 10 micrometers or less. To do.

The second water conveyance path 78 may be, for example, a pipe connecting the storage tank 16 and the second atomizing device 77, or the electrolyzed water in the storage tank 16 may be sucked up by, for example, a capillary phenomenon and guided to the second atomizing device 77. It may be a rope or a rope.

The second supply unit 19 replaces or in addition to the second atomizer 77 with the upstream air passage 39u connecting the suction port 34 and the dust container 37, the inside of the dust container 37, and the dust container 37. A water retaining body 79 that vaporizes the electrolyzed water in at least one of the downstream air passages 39d connecting the electric blower 38 may be provided.

The water retention body 79 is connected to the storage tank 16 via the same or different water conduction path as the second atomizer 77. The water retaining body 79 sucks the electrolyzed water supplied through the water conveyance path and becomes moist with the electrolyzed water. A part of the water retention body 79 is in contact with the electrolyzed water passing through the water conveyance path connecting the storage tank 16 and the water retention body 79. A part of the water retention body 79 may be in direct contact with the electrolyzed water in the storage tank 16 without passing through a water conveyance path. The other part of the water retention body 79 may be exposed to the upstream air passage 39u itself or the space connected to the upstream air passage 39u, or may be exposed to the dust container 37 itself or the space connected to the dust container 37. Alternatively, it may be exposed to the downstream air passage 39d itself or the space connected to the downstream air passage 39d.

The water retention body 79 retains electrolyzed water due to its water absorption. Further, the water retention body 79 absorbs the electrolyzed water in the water conveyance path connecting the storage tank 16 and the water retention body 79 by its water absorption. That is, in the vacuum cleaner 1, the member having water absorption is brought into contact with the electrolyzed water, so that the upstream air passage 39u connecting the suction port 34 and the dust container 37, the inside of the dust container 37, and the dust container 37 and the electric vacuum cleaner 1 are electrically operated. Electrolyzed water is supplied to at least one of the downstream air passages 39d connecting the blower 38. The water retention body 79 sucks up and moves the liquid by capillary action even if the supply location of the electrolyzed water (upstream air passage 39u, dust container 37, or downstream air passage 39d) is higher than the storage tank 16. Can be done. By changing the degree and size of the water absorption of the water retention body 79, it is possible to adjust the suction force and the height and avoid oversupply. The water retention body 79 may be arranged below the storage tank 16. In this case, the electrolyzed water is easily supplied to the water holding body 79 due to the head difference.

The water retaining body 79 is, for example, a woven fabric or a non-woven fabric. The material of the water retention body 79 is natural fiber such as cotton, regenerated fiber such as cellulose, polyester fiber, polyamide fiber such as nylon 6, nylon 66 and nylon 46, and synthetic fiber such as polyolefin fiber such as polyethylene and polypropylene. is there. The water retention body 79 may be a sponge. Further, the water retaining body 79 may integrally have a member made of a superabsorbent polymer (SAP). The water retention body 79 integrally having a member made of a super absorbent polymer can further retain the target electrolyzed water.

The vaporization of the electrolyzed water proceeds until the vapor pressure of the gas in the suction air passage 39 reaches the saturated vapor pressure. The vaporized electrolyzed water reaches the dust container 37 through the suction air passage 39 and sterilizes the dust accumulated in the dust container 37.

The water retention body 79 can vaporize the electrolyzed water by the flow of air inside the upstream air passage 39u and the dust container 37, and supply the electrolyzed water to the dust container 37. The electrolyzed water vaporized by the flow of air sterilizes the dust accumulated in the dust container 37. Further, a part of the electrolyzed water passes through the dust container 37 by the suction negative pressure and reaches the electric blower 38 to sterilize the exhaust gas of the electric blower 38. Further, the water retaining body 79 vaporizes the electrolyzed water by the flow of air in the downstream air passage 39d, passes through the dust container 37, reaches the electric blower 38, and sterilizes the exhaust gas of the electric blower 38. Further, in the water holding body 79, with the electric blower 38 stopped, the electrolyzed water is vaporized in the upstream air passage 39u, the inside of the dust container 37, and the downstream air passage 39d, and the electrolyzed water is sent to the dust container 37. Can be supplied. The vaporized electrolyzed water diffuses in the suction air passage 39 and sterilizes the dust accumulated in the dust container 37.

When the second supply unit 19 is provided in the downstream air passage 39d, the exhaust gas of the electric blower 38 can be sterilized by vaporizing the electrolyzed water while the electric blower 38 is being driven. In other words, when the second supply unit 19 is provided in the downstream air passage 39d, the vaporized electrolyzed water is used to sterilize the exhaust blown from the vacuum cleaner 1 while the electric blower 38 is being driven. The dust accumulated in the dust container 37 can be sterilized while the entire amount is used and the electric blower 38 is stopped.

On the other hand, when the second supply unit 19 is provided in the upstream air passage 39u or the dust container 37, the second supply unit 19 vaporizes the electrolyzed water by the flow of air in the suction air passage 39, and the dust container 37. Electrolyzed water can be supplied to. The electrolyzed water vaporized by the flow of air in the suction air passage 39 sterilizes the dust accumulated in the dust container 37. Further, a part of the electrolyzed water that has reached the dust container 37 passes through the dust container 37 due to the suction negative pressure and reaches the electric blower 38 to sterilize the exhaust gas of the electric blower 38.

The vacuum cleaner 1 is provided in the suction air passage 39, and includes a moisture absorbing portion 80 that absorbs electrolyzed water (moisture) sucked into the suction air passage 39 by suction negative pressure. When the electrolyzed water is sucked into the suction air passage 39, the moisture absorbing unit 80 absorbs the electrolyzed water before reaching the electric blower 38 to prevent the electrolyzed water from reaching the electric blower 38. The moisture absorbing portion 80 is, for example, a woven fabric or a non-woven fabric. The material of the moisture absorbing portion 80 is a natural fiber such as cotton, a recycled fiber such as cellulose, a polyester fiber, a polyamide fiber such as nylon 6, nylon 66, and nylon 46, and a synthetic fiber such as a polyolefin fiber such as polyethylene and polypropylene. is there. The moisture absorbing portion 80 may be a sponge. Further, the moisture absorbing portion 80 may integrally have a member made of a superabsorbent polymer (SAP, so-called absorbent polymer, highly absorbent resin, polymer absorber). The moisture absorbing portion 80 integrally having a member made of a super absorbent polymer can retain a larger amount of electrolyzed water.

The moisture absorbing portion 80 may be provided in the upstream air passage 39u of the suction air passage 39, or may be provided in the downstream air passage 39d. The moisture absorbing portion 80 may be provided in the dust container 37. The moisture absorbing portion 80 may be provided on the downstream side of the air flow with respect to the second atomizing device 77 and the water retaining body 79. That is, the moisture absorbing portion 80 is closer to the electric blower 38 than the second atomizing device 77 and the water retaining body 79 in the suction air passage 39. The moisture absorbing portion 80 may also serve as a filter for a dust container 37 that separates dust from the dust-containing air sucked into the suction air passage 39.

Next, the storage tank 16 will be described in detail. The storage tank 16A of the first example (hereinafter, simply referred to as “storage tank 16A”), the storage tank 16B of the second example (hereinafter, simply referred to as “storage tank 16B”), and the storage tank 16C of the third example (hereinafter, simply referred to as “storage tank 16B”). In (simply referred to as "storage tank 16C"), the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a storage tank of a first example of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a storage tank of a first example of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the storage tank 16A of the first example according to the present embodiment has a D-shaped appearance in which a part of the disk-shaped main body 5 is cut out in a plan view. The storage tank 16A is surrounded by an arc connected to the side surface of the main body 5 and strings connecting both ends of the arc. The string portion of the storage tank 16A faces a part of the outer surface of the main body 5.

The storage tank 16A contains a plurality of containers 81 that can be separated and connected. The plurality of containers 81 include a first container portion 82A for storing water before electrolysis and a second container portion 83A for accommodating the electrode 61 of the electrolyzed water generator 17.

The first container portion 82A and the second container portion 83A of the storage tank 16A are horizontally separated and adjacent to each other. The first container portion 82A and the second container portion 83A may be separated in the horizontal direction and connected in the horizontal direction, or may be separated in the vertical direction and connected in the vertical direction. .. In the storage tank 16A that can be separated and connected in the horizontal direction, the first container portion 82A and the second container portion 83A are separated in the horizontal direction and connected in the horizontal direction. The storage tank 16A that can be separated and connected in the vertical direction is separated and connected by sliding the first container portion 82A and the second container portion 83A in the vertical direction.

The first container portion 82A is removable from the main body 5. The user can easily supply water by removing the first container portion 82A from the main body 5. Further, since the first container portion 82A can be removed from the main body 5, water is splashed on the electric parts, for example, the electric blower 38 and the electronic parts, for example, the control unit 15 in the main body 5 at the time of water supply, and these break down. You can prevent that.

At the top of the first container portion 82A, a water supply port 85 for introducing water into the first container portion 82A and a lid 86 for opening and closing the water supply port 85 are provided. The user can easily supply water to the first container portion 82A by opening the lid 86. Further, the user can easily prevent water from leaking from the first container portion 82A by closing the lid 86.

The second container portion 83A can receive the water stored in the first container portion 82A. At the bottom of the second container portion 83A, an electrolyzed water supply port 87 connected to the first supply portion 18 is provided. An air hole for removing air from the container is provided at the top of the second container portion 83A. The air hole may be opened to the outside of the second container portion 83A, or may be connected to the first container portion 82A. The air holes facilitate the supply of water from the first container portion 82A to the second container portion 83A. Inside the second container portion 83A, a water level meter 88 for detecting the amount of water stored in the second container portion 83A, that is, the water level (liquid level of electrolyzed water) is provided.

The water level gauge 88 may be either a contact type or a non-contact type. The contact type water level gauge 88 is, for example, a float type that measures the water level based on the position of the float (float) provided in the second container portion 83A in the vertical direction, and detects the capacitance between the pair of electrodes. A known method such as a capacitance method for measuring the water level can be adopted. The non-contact water level gauge 88 can employ, for example, a known method of measuring the water level using radio waves, ultrasonic waves, or light waves.

A joint 89 that fluidly connects both containers is provided at the bottom of the first container portion 82A and the second container portion 83A. The joint 89 opens a water passage by connecting the half body on the side of the first container portion 82A and the half body on the side of the second container portion 83A. The half body on the side of the first container portion 82A and the half body on the side of the second container portion 83A close the passage in the unconnected state to prevent the water (electrolyzed water) in the container from leaking out. The joint 89 can be easily connected with the connection of the first container portion 82A and the second container portion 83A, and can be easily separated with the separation of the first container portion 82A and the second container portion 83A. preferable. For example, in the storage tank 16A that can be separated and connected in the horizontal direction, the joint 89 has a half body provided at the bottom of the side wall of the first container portion 82A and a half body provided at the bottom of the side wall of the second container portion 83A. ,have. In the storage tank 16A that can be separated and connected in the vertical direction, the joint 89 includes a half body provided on the bottom wall of either the first container portion 82A or the second container portion 83A, and the first container portion 82A and the second container portion 82A. It has a half body provided in a connecting pipe extending downward from either one of the container portions 83A to the lower side of either the first container portion 82A or the second container portion 83A.

At least, when the water level of the water stored in the first container portion 82A is higher than the water level of the water stored in the second container portion 83A or the electrolyzed water, the water in the first container portion 82A is the second container. It is supplied to the unit 83A. In other words, the storage tank 16A supplies the water stored in the first container portion 82A to the second container portion 83A by the head difference between the first container portion 82A and the second container portion 83A. That is, each time the electrolyzed water generated in the second container portion 83A is consumed, the water stored in the first container portion 82A is supplied to the second container portion 83A. Therefore, the water level of the first container portion 82A and the water level of the second container portion 83A are balanced. Therefore, the water level of the storage tank 16A is the same as the water level of the first container portion 82A and the water level of the second container portion 83A in the connected state.

The second container portion 83A has a non-inundation portion 92A that partitions the non-inundation space 91A that prevents the ingress of water supplied from the first container portion 82A to the second container portion 83A.

The non-flooded space 91A is partitioned above, for example, the water level WL1 when the first container portion 82A is full. The second container portion 83A includes a non-flooded portion 92A that projects upward from the water level WL1 when the first container portion 82A is full and partitions the non-flooded space 91A.

As shown in FIG. 5, the non-flooded portion 92A may be housed at the height of the main body 5 or may project above the main body 5. That is, the maximum height of the storage tank 16A may be substantially the same as the height of the main body 5 or may be equal to or higher than the height of the main body 5. The maximum height of the storage tank 16A is the same as the maximum height of the second container portion 83A. The maximum height of the first container portion 82A may be lower than the height of the second container portion 83A by the height of the non-flooded portion 92A, may be smaller than the height of the main body 5, and is substantially the height of the main body 5. It may be the same as the height.

In the non-flooded space 91A, if water remains in the second container portion 83A (at this time, of course, water at the same water level also remains in the first container portion 82A), and the first container portion 82A Even when the water level of the second container 83A reaches the water level WL1 when the first container 82A is full due to repeated separation and reconnection of the first container 82A of full water, water intrusion Can be reliably prevented. That is, the water level when the second container portion 83A is full may be the same as the water level WL1 when the first container portion 82A is full, and the water level when the storage tank 16A is full is the water level when the second container portion 83A is full. The water level is the same as the water level WL1 when the first container portion 82A is full.

The non-flooded space 91A may be secured by appropriately setting the full amount of water in the first container portion 82A and the residual water storage amount in the second container portion 83A. For example, a water supply mark 93 is provided in the first container section 82A, and when the water level of the first container section 82A is lower than the water supply mark 93, water supply to the first container section 82A is permitted and the user is urged to supply water. .. When the water level of the first container portion 82A is the water supply mark 93, the water level of the second container portion 83A is also the same as that of the water supply mark 93. The amount of water in the second container portion 83A at the water supply mark 93 is the maximum value of the residual water storage amount in the second container portion 83A. Then, a non-inundation space 91A is secured above the water level that is in equilibrium with the first container portion 82A filled with water connected to the second container portion 83A in which the electrolyzed water remains. In such a non-flooded space 91A, even when the first container portion 82A is separated and the full water first container portion 82A is reconnected while water remains in the second container portion 83A. , The ingress of water can be reliably prevented. The water level in equilibrium between the first container portion 82A and the second container portion 83A, in which the total amount of water obtained by the maximum value of the residual water storage amount of the second container portion 83A and the full water amount of the first container portion 82A is connected, is the storage tank 16A. It corresponds to the water level when the water is full.

The vacuum cleaner 1 has a lock mechanism that prevents the first container portion 82A from being removed from the main body 5 when the water level of the first container portion 82A is higher than the water supply mark 93 based on the detection result of the water level gauge 88. May be provided.

The plurality of electrodes 61 include at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are arranged alternately with their main surfaces facing each other. Each electrode 61 has a plate shape and extends in the vertical direction. In other words, the electrode 61 has a main surface facing the horizontal direction.

Each electrode 61 has a non-submerged portion 94 located above the water surface even when the storage tank 16A is full. The non-submerged portion 94 is housed in the non-flooded space 91A of the non-flooded portion 92A. The electrode 61 and the non-submerged portion 94 are a bonded product of the same material or an integrally molded product of the same material. Therefore, the electrode 61 and the non-submerged portion 94 are less likely to cause contact corrosion of dissimilar metals.

The non-submerged portion 94 is connected to a conducting wire 95 extending from the power supply portion 57. By connecting the conductor 95 to the non-submerged portion 94, it is possible to prevent the conductor 95, the non-submerged portion 94, and a filler material such as solder connecting them from being submerged in water or electrolyzed water and corroded. ..

There are a plurality of conductors 95, and each of them corresponds to an electrode 61. The non-immersed portion 92A of the second container portion 83A has at least one conductor hole 96 through which the conductor 95 is inserted. By connecting the conductor 95 to the non-submerged portion 94, it is connected to the conductor 95 extending from the power supply portion 57.

When having a plurality of conductor holes 96, each conductor hole 96 passes each conductor 95 individually. When having a single conductor hole 96, the conductor hole 96 passes all the conductors 95 at once.

At least one of the conductor holes 96 has a gap through which gas can pass between the conductor 95 and the conductor hole 96. Through this gap, the gas in the non-immersed space 91A, particularly the hydrogen gas generated by the electrolysis of water, is easily discharged from the storage tank 16A (second container portion 83A). Therefore, the hydrogen gas concentration in the storage tank 16A can be kept low. In the other conductor holes 96, it is preferable that the gap between the conductor 95 and the conductor hole 96 is closed with a sealing material, for example, a silicone sealing material. In the conductor hole 96 whose gap is closed, it is possible to prevent water or electrolyzed water from leaking from the storage tank 16A.

The electrode 61 of the electrolyzed water generator 17 can also serve as a water level gauge 88. The electrode 61 extending in the vertical direction includes a portion submerged in water (in the electrolyzed water) and a gas in the second container 83A as the water level (electrolyzed water level) of the second container 83A changes. The proportion with the part exposed to is changed. This change in ratio changes the value of the current flowing between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode 61. Therefore, the electrolyzed water generator 17 estimates the amount of water stored in the storage tank 16A based on the change in the current value flowing between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode 61.

Further, in the non-flooded portion 92A, a liquid that suppresses the behavior of the surface of the electrolyzed water (splash of the electrolyzed water and waviness of the water surface) above the water level WL1, that is, above the bottom surface of the non-flooded space 91A A surface behavior suppressing plate may be provided. The liquid level behavior suppressing plate is provided below the connection portion between the non-submerged portion 94 of the electrode 61 and the conducting wire 95. The liquid level behavior suppressing plate has a hole through which the electrode 61 is inserted, while partitioning the non-immersed space 91A in a substantially closed state. The liquid level behavior suppressing plate suppresses the intrusion of electrolyzed water into the non-immersed space 91A due to the liquid level behavior accompanying the movement of the vacuum cleaner 1, for example.

The first supply unit 18, that is, the first supply mechanism unit 65, the second supply mechanism unit 66, and the third supply mechanism unit 67 is provided in the storage tank 16A, but may be provided in the main body 5. When the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 66 are provided in the storage tank 16A, the pipe 62 of the first supply unit 18 is integrated with the storage tank 16A to integrate the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 65 and the second. It reaches the supply mechanism unit 66. When the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 66 are provided in the main body 5, the pipe 62 of the first supply unit 18 passes through the storage tank 16A through the main body 5 to the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the first. (Ii) Reach the supply mechanism unit 66. When the third supply mechanism unit 67 is provided in the storage tank 16A, the first water conveyance path 76 of the first supply unit 18 is provided in the storage tank 16A and reaches the third supply mechanism unit 67. When the third supply mechanism unit 67 is provided in the main body 5, the first water conveyance path 76 of the first supply unit 18 reaches the third supply mechanism unit 67 from the storage tank 16A through the main body 5.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a storage tank of a second example of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a storage tank of a second example of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the storage tank 16B of the second example according to the present embodiment accommodates the first container portion 82B for storing water before electrolysis and the electrode 61 of the electrolyzed water generator 17. (2) The container portion 83B and the like are included.

The first container portion 82B and the second container portion 83B of the storage tank 16B are vertically separated and stacked. The first container portion 82B and the second container portion 83B may be separated in the horizontal direction and connected in the horizontal direction, or may be separated in the vertical direction and connected in the vertical direction. .. The storage tank 16B that can be separated and connected in the horizontal direction is separated and connected by sliding the first container portion 82B and the second container portion 83B in the horizontal direction. The storage tank 16B, which can be separated and connected in the vertical direction, is separated from the first container portion 82B and the second container portion 83B in the vertical direction, and is connected in the vertical direction.

In a plan view, the shape of the second container portion 83B is substantially the same as the shape of the first container portion 82B. The height of the second container portion 83B is higher than the height of the first container portion 82B. The volume of the second container portion 83B is larger than the volume of the first container portion 82B. The first container portion 82B is connected to the second container portion 83B so as to cover the top surface of the second container portion 83B.

The first container portion 82B is removable from the main body 5. The user can easily supply water by removing the first container portion 82B from the main body 5. Further, since the first container portion 82B can be removed from the main body 5, water is splashed on the electric parts, for example, the electric blower 38 and the electronic parts, for example, the control unit 15 in the main body 5 at the time of water supply, and these break down. You can prevent that.

At the top of the first container portion 82B, a water supply port 85 for introducing water into the first container portion 82B and a lid 86 for opening and closing the water supply port 85 are provided. The user can easily supply water to the first container portion 82B by opening the lid 86. In addition, the user can easily prevent water from leaking from the first container portion 82B by closing the lid 86.

At the bottom of the second container portion 83B, an electrolyzed water supply port 87 connected to the first supply portion 18 is provided. An air hole for removing air from the container is provided at the top of the second container portion 83B. The air hole may be opened to the outside of the second container portion 83B, or may be connected to the first container portion 82B. Inside the second container portion 83B, a water level meter 88 for measuring the water level (water amount, electrolyzed water amount) in the second container portion 83B is provided.

A joint 89 that fluidly connects both containers is provided at the bottom of the first container portion 82B and the top of the second container portion 83B. The joint 89 opens a water passage by connecting the half body on the side of the first container portion 82B and the half body on the side of the second container portion 83B. The half body on the side of the first container portion 82B and the half body on the side of the second container portion 83B close the passage in the unconnected state to prevent the water (electrolyzed water) in the container from leaking out. The joint 89 can be easily connected with the connection of the first container portion 82B and the second container portion 83B, and can be easily separated with the separation of the first container portion 82B and the second container portion 83B. preferable. For example, in the storage tank 16B that can be separated and connected in the vertical direction, the joint 89 has a half body provided on the bottom wall of the first container portion 82B and a half body provided on the ceiling wall of the second container portion 83B. Have. In the storage tank 16B that can be separated and connected in the horizontal direction, the joint 89 is the half body provided on either the bottom of the side wall of the first container portion 82B or the top of the bottom wall of the second container portion 83B, and the first It has a half body provided in a connecting pipe extending from any one of the container portion 82B and the second container portion 83B to the side of either the first container portion 82B and the second container portion 83B.

The storage tank 16B supplies the water stored in the first container portion 82B to the second container portion 83B due to the height difference between the first container portion 82B and the second container portion 83B, that is, the head difference. In the storage tank 16A of the first example, the water level of the first container portion 82A and the water level of the second container portion 83A continue to be balanced, while in the storage tank 16B of the second example, the water stored in the first container portion 82B is It flows into the second container portion 83A at once.

The second container portion 83B has a non-inundation portion 92B that partitions the non-inundation space 91B that prevents the ingress of water supplied from the first container portion 82B to the second container portion 83B.

The non-flooded space 91B is secured by appropriately setting the full amount of water in the first container portion 82B and the residual water storage amount in the second container portion 83B. For example, a water supply mark 93 is provided in the second container section 83B, and when the water level of the second container section 83B is lower than the water supply mark 93, water supply to the first container section 82B is permitted and the user is urged to supply water. .. When the water level of the second container portion 83B is the water supply mark 93, the amount of water in the second container portion 83B is zero. The amount of water in the second container portion 83B at the water supply mark 93 is the maximum value of the residual water storage amount in the second container portion 83B. Then, when the first container portion 82B filled with water is connected to the second container portion 83B in which the electrolyzed water remains, the total amount of water in the first container portion 82B is added to the second container portion 83B. A non-inundation space 91B is secured above the water level when the total amount of water in the first container portion 82B is added to the second container portion 83B. In such a non-flooded space 91B, even when the first container portion 82B is separated and the full water first container portion 82B is connected in a state where water remains in the second container portion 83B, the first container portion 82B is connected. The ingress of water can be reliably prevented. The total amount of water obtained by the maximum value of the residual water storage amount of the second container portion 83B and the full water amount of the first container portion 82B is the full water amount of the second container portion 83B, which corresponds to the full water amount of the storage tank 16B. At this time, the water level WL2 of the second container portion 83B is full, which corresponds to the water level of the storage tank 16B when the water level is full. Therefore, the volume of the second container portion 83B is secured larger than the volume of the first container portion 82B.

The vacuum cleaner 1 has a lock mechanism that prevents the first container portion 82B from being removed from the main body 5 when the water level of the second container portion 83B is higher than the water supply mark 93 based on the detection result of the water level gauge 88. May be provided.

The non-submerged portion 94 of each electrode 61 is housed in the non-flooded space 91B of the non-flooded portion 92B.

At least one of the conductor holes 96 has a gap through which gas can pass between the conductor 95 and the conductor hole 96. Through this gap, the gas in the non-immersed space 91B, particularly the hydrogen gas generated by the electrolysis of water, is easily discharged from the storage tank 16B (second container portion 83B). Therefore, the hydrogen gas concentration in the storage tank 16B can be kept low. In the other conductor holes 96, it is preferable that the gap between the conductor 95 and the conductor hole 96 is closed with a sealing material, for example, a silicone sealing material. In the conductor hole 96 whose gap is closed, it is possible to prevent water or electrolyzed water from leaking from the storage tank 16B.

Further, in the non-flooded portion 92B, a liquid level behavior suppressing plate that suppresses the behavior of the liquid level of the electrolyzed water may be provided above the water level WL2, that is, above the bottom surface of the non-flooded space 91B. The liquid level behavior suppressing plate is provided below the connection portion between the non-submerged portion 94 of the electrode 61 and the conducting wire 95. The liquid level behavior suppressing plate has a hole through which the electrode 61 is inserted, while partitioning the non-immersed space 91B in a substantially closed state. The liquid level behavior suppressing plate suppresses the intrusion of electrolyzed water into the non-immersed space 91B due to the liquid level behavior accompanying the movement of the vacuum cleaner 1, for example. It is preferable that the space below the liquid level behavior suppressing plate, that is, the space where the electrolyzed water is stored, and the half body of the joint 89 on the second container portion 83B side are connected by, for example, a pipe.

The first supply unit 18, that is, the first supply mechanism unit 65, the second supply mechanism unit 66, and the third supply mechanism unit 67 may be provided in the storage tank 16B or in the main body 5. .. When the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 66 are provided in the storage tank 16B, the pipe 62 of the first supply unit 18 is integrated with the storage tank 16B to integrate the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 65 and the second. It reaches the supply mechanism unit 66. When the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 66 are provided in the main body 5, the pipe 62 of the first supply unit 18 passes through the storage tank 16B through the main body 5 to the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second. (Ii) Reach the supply mechanism unit 66. When the third supply mechanism unit 67 is provided in the storage tank 16B, the first water conveyance path 76 of the first supply unit 18 is provided in the storage tank 16B and reaches the third supply mechanism unit 67. When the third supply mechanism unit 67 is provided in the main body 5, the first water conveyance path 76 of the first supply unit 18 reaches the third supply mechanism unit 67 from the storage tank 16B via the inside of the main body 5.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a storage tank of a third example of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a storage tank of a third example of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the storage tank 16C of the third example according to the present embodiment is different from the two-layer type such as the storage tank 16A of the first example and the storage tank 16B of the second example, and is an electrolyzed water generator. It is a single-tank type that accommodates the electrodes 61 of 17 and can directly supply water before electrolysis. That is, the storage tank 16C has one container 81C.

At the top of the container 81C, a water supply port 85 for introducing water into the container and a lid 86 for opening and closing the water supply port 85 are provided. The user can easily supply water to the container 81C by opening the lid 86. In addition, the user can easily prevent water from leaking from the container 81C by closing the lid 86.

The container 81C has a non-inundation portion 92C that partitions the non-inundation space 91C that prevents the ingress of water supplied from the water supply port 85 to the container 81C.

The non-flooded space 91C is partitioned above, for example, the container 81C. The container 81C includes a non-flooded portion 92C that projects upward from the water supply port 85 and partitions the non-flooded space 91C.

The non-inundation space 91C can surely prevent the ingress of water when the water level of the container 81C reaches the water supply port 85, that is, even if the container 81C is full WL.

Each electrode 61 has a non-submerged portion 94 located above the water surface even when the storage tank 16C is full. The non-submerged portion 94 is housed in the non-flooded space 91C of the non-flooded portion 92C. The electrode 61 and the non-submerged portion 94 are a bonded product of the same material or an integrally molded product of the same material. Therefore, the electrode 61 and the non-submerged portion 94 are less likely to cause contact corrosion of dissimilar metals.

There are a plurality of conductors 95, and each of them corresponds to an electrode 61. The non-immersed portion 92C of the container 81C has at least one conductor hole 96 through which the conductor 95 is inserted. By connecting the conductor 95 to the non-submerged portion 94, it is connected to the conductor 95 extending from the power supply portion 57.

At least one of the conductor holes 96 has a gap through which gas can pass between the conductor 95 and the conductor hole 96. Through this gap, the gas in the non-immersed space 91C, particularly the hydrogen gas generated by the electrolysis of water, is easily discharged from the storage tank 16C (container 81C). Therefore, the hydrogen gas concentration in the storage tank 16C can be kept low. In the other conductor holes 96, it is preferable that the gap between the conductor 95 and the conductor hole 96 is closed with a sealing material, for example, a silicone sealing material. In the conductor hole 96 whose gap is closed, it is possible to prevent water or electrolyzed water from leaking from the storage tank 16C.

Further, in the non-flooded portion 92C, a liquid level behavior suppressing plate that suppresses the behavior of the liquid level of the electrolyzed water may be provided above the water level WL, that is, above the bottom surface of the non-flooded space 91C. The liquid level behavior suppressing plate is provided below the connection portion between the non-submerged portion 94 of the electrode 61 and the conducting wire 95. The liquid level behavior suppressing plate has a hole through which the electrode 61 is inserted, while partitioning the non-immersed space 91C in a substantially closed state. The liquid level behavior suppressing plate suppresses the intrusion of electrolyzed water into the non-immersed space 91A due to the liquid level behavior accompanying the movement of the vacuum cleaner 1, for example.

The first supply unit 18, that is, the first supply mechanism unit 65, the second supply mechanism unit 66, and the third supply mechanism unit 67 is provided in the storage tank 16C, but may be provided in the main body 5. When the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 66 are provided in the storage tank 16C, the pipe 62 of the first supply unit 18 is integrated with the storage tank 16C to integrate the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 65 and the second. It reaches the supply mechanism unit 66. When the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second supply mechanism unit 66 are provided in the main body 5, the pipe 62 of the first supply unit 18 passes through the storage tank 16C through the main body 5 to the first supply mechanism unit 65 and the second. (Ii) Reach the supply mechanism unit 66. When the third supply mechanism unit 67 is provided in the storage tank 16C, the first water conveyance path 76 of the first supply unit 18 is provided in the storage tank 16C and reaches the third supply mechanism unit 67. When the third supply mechanism unit 67 is provided in the main body 5, the first water conveyance path 76 of the first supply unit 18 reaches the third supply mechanism unit 67 from the storage tank 16C via the inside of the main body 5.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10 in addition to FIGS. 2 to 3, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes an electric motor 27 of the moving unit 11, a brush electric motor 36 of the suction cleaning unit 31, an electric blower 38, and a detection unit 13. , A control unit 15, a secondary battery 6, an electrolyzed water generator 17, and a communication unit 111 in addition to the first supply unit 18.

The communication unit 111 includes a transmission unit 111a that transmits an infrared signal to the station 7 and a reception unit 111b that receives an infrared signal transmitted by the station 7 or the remote controller. The transmission unit 111a includes, for example, an infrared light emitting element. The receiving unit 111b includes, for example, a phototransistor.

The camera unit 51 of the detection unit 13 is, for example, a digital camera. That is, the camera unit 51 includes an image sensor 51a (image sensor) that converts a captured image into an electric signal, and an optical system 51b that forms an image on the image sensor 51a to generate an image. The image sensor 51a is, for example, a CCD image sensor (Charge-Coupled Device image sensor) or a CMOS image sensor (Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor). Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 1 can immediately handle the digital data of the image taken by the camera unit 51. That is, the image captured by the camera unit 51 can be compressed into a predetermined data format, converted into a binary image, or converted into grayscale by using, for example, an image processing circuit. The camera unit 51 captures, for example, an image in the visible light region. An image in the visible light region has better image quality than, for example, an image in the infrared region, and can easily provide visible information to the user without performing complicated image processing.

The camera unit 51 is a so-called stereo camera. The images to be captured by the camera unit 51 overlap in a photographing range including a position in front of the vacuum cleaner 1 extending the center line in the width direction. The camera unit 51 can obtain information on the depth (distance from the vacuum cleaner 1) in the shooting range. An image containing depth information is called a "distance image".

A lighting device such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or a light bulb may be attached to the camera unit 51. The lighting device illuminates a part or the whole of the shooting range of the camera unit 51. The lighting device enables the camera unit 51 to acquire an appropriate image even in a dark place such as behind an obstacle such as furniture or in a dark environment such as at night.

A large number of pixels are arranged on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 51a. Each pixel on the light receiving surface converts the received light into an electrical signal. By integrating the light information received by each pixel according to the position of each pixel, an image representing the scenery taken by the camera unit 51 can be obtained. A general image sensor 51a captures a color image. A color image is represented by a mixture of three colors, for example, red, green, and blue.

The distance measuring device 55 includes a light emitting unit 55a that irradiates light in a range for obtaining depth information, and a light receiving unit 55b that receives the reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 55a. The vacuum cleaner 1 can acquire distance information from the vacuum cleaner 1 to the object to be detected based on the time difference between the start of light emission of the light emitting unit 55a and the reception of the reflected light by the light receiving unit 55b. The light emitting unit 55a irradiates, for example, infrared rays or visible light.

The control unit 15 is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), an auxiliary storage device (for example, Read Only Memory, ROM) for storing various arithmetic programs executed (processed) by the central processing unit, parameters, and a program. It is equipped with a main storage device (for example, Random access memory, RAM) in which the work area is dynamically allocated. The auxiliary storage device is preferably rewritable, for example, a non-volatile memory.

The control unit 15 is electrically connected to the electric motor 27 of the moving unit 11, the brush electric motor 36 and the electric blower 38 of the suction cleaning unit 31, the detection unit 13, the secondary battery 6, and the communication unit 111. The control unit 15 includes an electric motor 27 of the moving unit 11, a brush electric motor 36 and an electric blower 38 of the suction cleaning unit 31, and a detection unit 13, 2 in response to a command received from the station 7 and the remote controller via the communication unit 111. The next battery 6 is controlled to autonomously operate and move the vacuum cleaner 1.

The control unit 15 includes an autonomous movement control unit 121 that controls the autonomous movement of the vacuum cleaner 1 and a detection control unit 122 that controls the operation of the detection unit 13. The autonomous movement control unit 121 and the detection control unit 122 are arithmetic programs.

The autonomous movement control unit 121 includes a map information storage unit 123 that stores the environment map information (Environment Map) of the area A to be cleaned, a movement control unit 125 that controls the operation of the electric motor 27 of the movement unit 11, and a suction cleaning unit 31. The brush electric motor 36 and the suction cleaning control unit 126 that controls the operation of the electric blower 38 are provided.

The map information storage unit 123 is a set of data constructed in a storage area secured in the auxiliary storage device, and has an appropriate data structure. The map information storage unit 123 is read from the auxiliary storage device into the main storage device and used, and is overwritten on the auxiliary storage device after being appropriately updated.

The environmental map information is information used for autonomous movement of the vacuum cleaner 1, and is information including the shape of a region in which the vacuum cleaner 1 can move, at least in a place to be cleaned. The environmental map information is constructed, for example, as a set of rectangles having a side of 10 cm, which are arranged in an orderly manner. The environmental map information may be prepared in advance when the vacuum cleaner 1 is used, or may be created at the same time as self-position estimation by Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). The environmental map information may be created and updated in the process of movement accompanying the cleaning operation. When creating environmental map information by SLAM, it is preferable that the vacuum cleaner 1 is provided with various sensors such as an encoder in addition to the detection unit 13. The movement control unit 125 creates environmental map information based on the information acquired from the detection unit 13 and various sensors.

The movement control unit 125 controls the movement unit 11 based on the environmental map information to autonomously move the vacuum cleaner 1. The movement control unit 125 controls the magnitude and direction of the current flowing through the electric motor 27 to rotate the electric motor 27 in the forward or reverse direction. The movement control unit 125 controls the drive of the drive wheels 26 by rotating the electric motor 27 in the forward direction or in the reverse direction.

The suction cleaning control unit 126 individually controls the brush electric motor 36 and the electric blower 38.

The detection control unit 122 controls the operation of the camera unit 51. The detection control unit 122 causes the camera unit 51 to take an image at predetermined time intervals. The detection control unit 122 stores the image captured by the camera unit 51 in the detection result storage unit 127. For the image taken by the camera unit 51, the detection result storage unit 127 is secured in the main storage device. The detection result storage unit 127 stores the image taken by the camera unit 51. The detection result storage unit 127 has a capacity capable of storing a plurality of images.

The detection result storage unit 127 may store the image information representing the image taken by the camera unit 51 without processing, or is processed so as to reduce the data size as long as the information necessary for the image analysis processing remains. Image information may be stored. The image information stored in the detection result storage unit 127 is, for example, an image obtained by converting an image taken by the camera unit 51 into grayscale (hereinafter, referred to as an “image” like the original image taken by the camera unit 51). .) May be. In the case of a grayscale image, the pixel value of the image matches the luminance value. When saving the image converted to grayscale, the control unit 15 can reduce the capacity of the memory area allocated to the detection result storage unit 127, that is, a small amount of resources, as compared with the case of storing the original image. is there. Further, when the grayscale-converted image is used for the subsequent analysis processing, the control unit 15 can reduce the load on the central processing unit as compared with the case of processing the original image. Image processing including grayscale of the image may be executed by the camera unit 51. By executing image processing on the camera unit 51, the load on the central processing unit is reduced.

Further, the detection control unit 122 controls turning on and off of the lighting device. The lighting device brightens the image to facilitate the analysis process and improve the accuracy.

Further, the detection control unit 122 stores in the detection result storage unit 127 the detection result of the proximity detection unit 52, that is, that the object to be detected approaches the main body 5 and the distance between the object to be detected and the main body 5 at that time. ..

Further, the detection control unit 122 stores in the detection result storage unit 127 the detection result of the contact detection unit 53, that is, that the object to be detected has come into contact with the main body 5.

The electrolyzed water generator 17 applies a voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode 61 while the moving unit 11 is moving the main body 5, and is stored in the storage tank 16 (storage tanks 16A, 16B, 16C). The water is electrolyzed by the electric power of the secondary battery 6 to generate electrolyzed water. Here, the electrolyzed water generating device 17 may generate electrolyzed water while the moving unit 11 is moving the main body 5, or the preset moving unit 11 moves the main body 5. Electrolyzed water may be generated during a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period is not particularly limited and can be set as appropriate. During the predetermined period, for example, as will be described in detail below, the concentration of hypochlorous acid contained in the generated electrolyzed water, the amount of water stored in the storage tank 16, and the secondary battery 6 It may be determined according to the remaining amount or the like.

Further, the electrolyzed water generator 17 applies a voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode 61 while the moving unit 11 is not moving the main body, and uses the water stored in the storage tank 16 as a secondary battery. Electrolyzed water may be generated by electrolysis with the electric power of 6. For example, when the main body 5 is stopped in the area A to be cleaned or when the main body 5 is connected to the station 7, a voltage is applied between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode 61 to generate electrolyzed water. You may.

By the way, in the storage tank 16A, when the water level of the second container portion 83A is lower than the water level of the first container portion 82A, the water of the first container portion 82A is immediately supplied to the second container portion 83A by the head difference. In the storage tank 16B, the water in the first container portion 82B is immediately supplied to the second container portion 83B with a head difference. Therefore, when water in the storage tank 16 or electrolyzed water is insufficient and water is replenished in the first container portions 82A and 82B, the water before electrolysis generally flows into the second container portions 83A and 83B. The concentration of hypochlorite in the electrolyzed water in the second container portions 83A and 83B decreases.

Therefore, in the electrolyzed water generator 17, the electrolyzed water generator 17 moves the electrolyzed water before the moving unit 11 moves the main body 5 so that the electrolyzed water containing a desired concentration of hypochlorous acid can be obtained before the movement of the main body 5 is started. It is preferable to start the production of. For example, in a state where the second container portions 83A and 83B are filled with water before electrolysis, electrolyzed water is generated so as to secure a time for obtaining electrolyzed water containing a desired concentration, for example, 5 ppm or more of hypochlorous acid. The device 17 starts the generation of electrolyzed water before the moving unit 11 moves the main body 5. The electrolyzed water generator 17 is provided with electrolyzed water before the moving unit 11 moves the main body 5 so that the time for obtaining electrolyzed water can be secured based on the amount of water in the second container portions 83A and 83B measured by the water level gauge 88. May start to be generated.

Further, in the electrolyzed water generator 17, at least the moving unit 11 starts moving the main body 5 so that the electrolyzed water containing the desired concentration of hypochlorous acid can be obtained at an early stage after the movement of the main body 5 is started. The voltage value applied between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode 61 is made larger than in other cases until a predetermined time elapses. The voltage value at this time is called a large voltage value. For example, the electrolyzed water generator 17 has a large voltage on the electrode 61 until the time elapses until the electrolyzed water containing 5 ppm of hypochlorous acid is obtained from the water before electrolysis in the second container portions 83A and 83B. A value, eg a voltage of 10 volts, is applied. The electrolyzed water generator 17 may apply a large voltage value to the electrode 61 until the time for obtaining electrolyzed water elapses based on the amount of water in the second container portions 83A and 83B measured by the water level gauge 88. good.

Further, the electrolyzed water generator 17 may change the voltage value applied between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode 61 based on the remaining amount of water stored in the second container portions 83A and 83B.

As described above, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment is located above the water surface even when the storage tanks 16, 16A, 16B, and 16C are full, and is connected to the conducting wire 95 extending from the power supply unit 57. Each of the non-submerged portions 94 is provided with a plurality of electrodes 61. Therefore, in the vacuum cleaner 1, the connecting portion between the electrode 61 and the conducting wire 95 does not come into contact with water or electrolyzed water. Therefore, the connecting portion between the electrode 61 and the conducting wire 95 is prevented from being corroded by contact with water or electrolyzed water. Then, the vacuum cleaner 1 can continuously exert the electrolysis function of water in a good manner.

Further, the electrode 61 and the non-submerged portion 94 of the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment are a bonded product of the same material or an integrally molded product of the same material. Therefore, the electrode 61 and the non-submerged portion 94 are less likely to cause contact corrosion of dissimilar metals. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 1 can continuously exert the electrolysis function of water in a good manner.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes storage tanks 16, 16A, 16B, 16C having at least one lead hole 96 through which a lead wire 95 for electrically connecting the power supply unit 57 and the electrode 61 is inserted. ing. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 1 easily electrically connects the power supply unit 57 arranged outside the storage tanks 16, 16A, 16B, 16C and the electrodes 61 arranged inside the storage tanks 16, 16A, 16B, 16C. It is possible to easily generate the desired electrolyzed water by supplying an appropriate electric power.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes at least one conductor hole 96 having a gap between the conductor 95 and the conductor hole 96 through which gas can pass. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 1 reliably discharges the hydrogen gas generated by the electrolysis of water from the storage tanks 16, 16A, 16B, 16C, and keeps the hydrogen gas concentration in the storage tanks 16, 16A, 16B, 16C low. Be done.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of electrodes 61 having a main surface facing the horizontal direction and extending in the vertical direction. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 1 can prevent the connecting portion between the electrode 61 and the conducting wire 95 from coming into contact with water or electrolyzed water by simply extending the aligned flat plates to the surface of the water.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment has a water supply port 85 capable of injecting water and a non-inundation space located above the water supply port 85 to prevent water from entering and to accommodate a non-submerged portion 94. It is provided with a storage tank 16C having a non-flooded portion 92C for partitioning 91C. Therefore, in the vacuum cleaner 1, the connecting portion between the electrode 61 and the conducting wire 95 does not come into contact with water or electrolyzed water. Therefore, the connecting portion between the electrode 61 and the conducting wire 95 is prevented from being corroded by contact with water or electrolyzed water. Then, the vacuum cleaner 1 can continuously exert the electrolysis function of water in a good manner.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment can receive the water stored in the first container portions 82A and 82B and the first container portions 82A and 82B having the water supply port 85 capable of injecting water. , A storage tank 16A, 16B having a second container portion 83A, 83B for accommodating the electrode 61. The second container portions 83A and 83B prevent the infiltration of water supplied from the first container portions 82A and 82B to the second container portions 83A and 83B, and the non-immersed spaces 91A and 91B accommodating the non-submerged portion 94. It has non-flooded portions 92A and 92B that partition the water. Therefore, in the vacuum cleaner 1, the connecting portion between the electrode 61 and the conducting wire 95 does not come into contact with water or electrolyzed water. Therefore, the connecting portion between the electrode 61 and the conducting wire 95 is prevented from being corroded by contact with water or electrolyzed water. Then, the vacuum cleaner 1 can continuously exert the electrolysis function of water in a good manner.

Therefore, in the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment, the connection portion between the electrode 61 and the conducting wire 95 is suppressed from being corroded by water or electrolyzed water, and the electrolysis function of water is exhibited well and continuously. You can continue.

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, 5 ... Main body, 6 ... Secondary battery, 7 ... Station, 8 ... Power cord, 9 ... Charging circuit, 11 ... Moving unit, 12 ... Cleaning unit, 13 ... Detection unit, 15 ... Control unit, 16, 16A, 16B, 16C ... Storage tank, 17 ... Electrolyzed water generator, 18 ... First supply unit, 19 ... Second supply unit, 21 ... Main body case, 22 ... Bumper, 26 ... Drive wheels, 27 ... Electric motor, 28 ... driven wheel, 31 ... suction cleaning unit, 32 ... wiping cleaning unit, 34 ... suction port, 35 ... rotating brush, 36 ... brush electric motor, 37 ... dust container, 38 ... electric blower, 39 ... suction air passage, 39u ... upstream Side air passage, 39d ... Downstream side air passage, 41 ... Exhaust air passage, 43 ... Wiping cleaning member, 45 ... Wiping cleaning member mounting part, 51 ... Camera unit, 51a ... Imaging element, 51b ... Optical system, 52 ... Proximity detection unit, 53 ... contact detection unit, 55 ... distance measuring device, 55a ... light emitting unit, 55b ... light receiving unit, 57 ... power supply unit, 61 ... electrode, 62 ... piping, 65 ... first supply mechanism unit, 66 ... second supply mechanism unit , 67 ... Third supply mechanism, 71 ... First supply port, 72 ... First on-off valve, 73 ... Second supply port, 74 ... Second on-off valve, 75 ... First atomizer, 76 ... First water guide Path, 77 ... Second atomizer, 78 ... Second water guide path, 79 ... Water retainer, 80 ... Moisture absorbing part, 81, 81C ... Container, 82A, 82B ... First container part, 83A, 83B ... Second container part , 85 ... Water supply port, 86 ... Lid, 87 ... Supply port, 88 ... Water level gauge, 89 ... Joint, 91A, 91B, 91C ... Non-flooded space, 92A, 92B, 92C ... Non-flooded part, 93 ... Water supply mark, 94 ... Non-submerged part, 95 ... Lead wire, 96 ... Lead hole, 111 ... Communication unit, 111a ... Transmission unit, 111b ... Receiver unit, 121 ... Autonomous movement control unit, 122 ... Detection control unit, 123 ... Map information storage unit, 125 ... movement control unit, 126 ... suction cleaning control unit, 127 ... detection result storage unit.

Claims (7)

A storage tank for storing water and
An electrolyzed water generator that electrolyzes the water to generate electrolyzed water is provided.
The electrolyzed water generator has a power supply unit that supplies DC power, and a plurality of electrodes that are provided in the storage tank and apply a DC current supplied from the power supply unit to the water.
Each of the electrodes has a non-submerged portion located above the water surface even when the storage tank is full.
The non-submerged portion is a vacuum cleaner connected to a conducting wire extending from the power supply portion. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the electrode and the non-submerged portion are joined products of the same material or integrally molded products of the same material. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage tank has at least one lead hole through which the lead wire is inserted. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the conductor holes has a gap between the conductor and the conductor hole through which gas can pass. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electrode has a main surface facing the horizontal direction and extends in the vertical direction. The storage tank has a water supply port capable of injecting the water and a non-immersed portion which is located above the water supply port to prevent the ingress of the water and partitions a non-immersed space for accommodating the non-submerged portion. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The storage tank has a first container portion having a water supply port capable of injecting the water, and a second container portion capable of receiving the water stored in the first container portion and accommodating the electrodes. Have and
The second container portion has a non-immersed portion that prevents the ingress of the water supplied from the first container portion to the second container portion and partitions a non-immersed space that accommodates the non-submerged portion. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of 5 to 5.

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