JP2021087679A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vacuum cleaner capable of restricting dust from remaining at an end of a bottom surface of a dust collection chamber.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner includes: a suction port; an electric blower arranged to suck air into the vacuum cleaner from the suction port; a dust collection part arranged to collect dust in the air sucked from the suction port so as to store the dust; and a dust removal part. The dust collection part includes a dust collection chamber arranged to store dust. The dust removal part includes: a dust removal port; and a lid part arranged to open/close the dust removal port. The dust removal port is arranged to allow a suction tube to be inserted to the dust removal port or to allow the suction tube to be connected to the dust removal port, and also is positioned to suck dust stored in the dust collection chamber with the use of the suction tube so as to remove the dust. A bottom surface of the dust collection chamber has an inclination surface to be lower inward from an end of the bottom surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

A self-propelled vacuum cleaner that sucks dust while rotating a drive wheel and moving on the floor surface is known. Self-propelled vacuum cleaners usually have a flat shape and a width of usually 40 cm or less. This makes it possible for the self-propelled vacuum cleaner to enter a narrow gap and remove dust.
However, since the dust box of a self-propelled vacuum cleaner has a small dust storage capacity, it is necessary for the operator to frequently remove the dust accumulated in the vacuum cleaner.
A vacuum cleaner system is known that sucks dust accumulated in a self-propelled vacuum cleaner and moves it to a relatively large dust box of a docking station (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such a system can reduce the frequency of dust removal.

JP-A-2007-181656

When removing dust accumulated in the dust box of a self-propelled vacuum cleaner by suction, dust may remain on the bottom edge of the dust box.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an electric vacuum cleaner capable of suppressing dust from remaining on the bottom edge of a dust collecting chamber.

The present invention includes a suction port, an electric blower provided so as to suck air from the suction port into the electric vacuum cleaner, and a collection provided to collect and collect dust in the air sucked from the suction port. The dust collecting unit is provided with a dust unit and a dust removing unit, and the dust collecting unit has a dust collecting chamber provided for collecting dust, and the dust removing unit can open and close the dust removing port and the dust removing port. The dust removal port is provided so that the suction tube can be inserted into the dust removal port or the suction tube can be connected to the dust removal port, and the dust removal port is provided as described above. It is arranged at a position where dust accumulated in the dust collecting chamber can be sucked and removed by using a suction pipe, and the bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber has an inclined surface that becomes lower inward from the end of the bottom surface. To provide an electric duster characterized by.

The bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention has an inclined surface that decreases inward from the edge of the bottom surface. Therefore, the dust that has slid down from the end to the inside due to the inclination of the bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber can be sucked and removed by the suction pipe.

It is a schematic perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic back view of the vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic sectional drawing of the electric vacuum cleaner in the broken line AA of FIG. 1 and FIG. It is the schematic of the bottom surface of the dust collection chamber included in the vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic sectional drawing of the electric vacuum cleaner in the state which the suction pipe is inserted into the dust collection chamber from the dust removal port. It is a block diagram which shows the electric structure of the vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a control flowchart of the vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic sectional drawing of the electric vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic sectional drawing of the electric vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic sectional drawing of the electric vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic sectional drawing of the electric vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic sectional drawing of the electric vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the bottom surface of the dust collection chamber included in the vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a partial cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner in the broken line BB of FIG. It is the schematic of the bottom surface of the dust collection chamber included in the vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a partial cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner in the broken line CC of FIG. It is the schematic of the bottom surface of the dust collection chamber included in the vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention.

The electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention has a suction port, an electric blower provided so as to suck air into the electric vacuum cleaner from the suction port, and dust in the air sucked from the suction port so as to be collected and collected. The dust collecting unit is provided with a dust collecting unit and a dust removing unit, and the dust collecting unit has a dust collecting chamber provided for collecting dust, and the dust removing unit has a dust removing port and the dust removing unit. It is provided with a lid portion provided so that the mouth can be opened and closed, and the dust removal port is provided so that a suction tube can be inserted into the dust removal port or the suction tube can be connected to the dust removal port. And, it is arranged at a position where the dust collected in the dust collecting chamber can be sucked and removed by using the suction pipe, and the bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber is inclined to be lowered inward from the end of the bottom surface. It is characterized by having a surface.

The inclined surface preferably has an inclination angle of 5 degrees or more and 15 degrees or less. As a result, the dust on the upper side of the inclined surface can be moved to the lower side of the inclined surface, and the dust accommodating amount in the dust collecting chamber can be suppressed from becoming small.
The dust removal port is preferably arranged at the upper part of the bottom surface of the dust collection chamber, which includes at least a part of the lowest portion. As a result, the dust on the lower side of the inclined surface on the bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber can be easily sucked and removed using the suction pipe.
The dust removal port is preferably provided so that the suction pipe can be inserted into the dust collection chamber. As a result, the dust in the dust collecting chamber can be efficiently sucked and removed.

The dust collecting chamber is preferably provided so that it cannot be removed from the vacuum cleaner. As a result, the dust storage capacity of the dust collection chamber can be increased.
The dust collecting portion is preferably provided with a dust box, the dust box is preferably provided so as to be removable from the vacuum cleaner, and the dust collecting chamber is preferably inside the dust box. This makes it possible to remove the dust box from the vacuum cleaner body and clean it. It also makes it easier to clean and replace the filter.

The electric vacuum cleaner preferably includes a dust amount sensor, and the dust amount sensor includes a light emitting unit provided so as to irradiate infrared rays or light toward or near the lowest portion of the bottom surface of the dust collection chamber. It is preferable to provide a photoelectric conversion unit provided so as to receive infrared rays or reflected light of light emitted by the light emitting unit. Using this dust amount sensor, it is possible to detect dust in the lower part of the bottom surface of the dust collection chamber.
The vacuum cleaner preferably includes a control unit provided to control the vacuum cleaner, and the control unit sucks dust accumulated in the dust collecting chamber by a suction pipe based on a sensor signal of a dust amount sensor. It is preferable that the vacuum cleaner is controlled so as to vibrate the dust collecting chamber when it is detected that the dust has been removed. Due to this vibration, the dust left on the upper side of the inclined surface can be moved to the lower side of the inclined surface, and the remaining dust can be easily sucked and removed by the suction pipe.
It is preferable that the control unit is provided so as to control the drive unit so that the vacuum cleaner vibrates when it detects that the dust accumulated in the dust collection chamber is sucked and removed by the suction pipe.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to a plurality of embodiments. The configurations shown in the drawings and the following description are examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to those shown in the drawings and the following description.

1st Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic back view of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner in the broken lines AA of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber included in the vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner in a state where the suction pipe is inserted into the dust collection chamber from the dust removal port, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment. ..

The electric vacuum cleaner 60 of the present embodiment includes a suction port 5, an electric blower 4 provided so as to suck air into the electric vacuum cleaner 60 from the suction port 5, and dust 12 in the air sucked from the suction port 5. The dust collecting unit 6 is provided with a dust collecting unit 6 and a dust removing unit 9 provided for collecting and collecting dust, and the dust collecting unit 6 has a dust collecting chamber 7 provided for collecting dust 12 and is provided with a dust collecting unit 7. 9 includes a dust removing port 10 and a lid portion 11 provided so as to open and close the dust removing port 10, and the dust removing port 10 inserts a suction tube 15 into the dust removing port 10 or a suction tube 15 Is provided so that the dust can be connected to the dust removing port 10, and is arranged at a position where the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 can be sucked and removed by using the suction pipe 15. The bottom surface 16 is characterized by having an inclined surface 17 that is lowered inward from the end of the bottom surface 16.
Further, the vacuum cleaner 60 can have a dust amount sensor 22, a rotating brush 41, a drive unit 29, a power supply unit, and the like.

The electric vacuum cleaner 60 of the present embodiment may be a self-propelled vacuum cleaner (robot vacuum cleaner), a stick type vacuum cleaner, or a canister type vacuum cleaner. FIGS. 1 to 6 show an example of a self-propelled vacuum cleaner. Further, the dust collection method may be a filter method or a cyclone method. The vacuum cleaner 60 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 collects dust by a filter method. In the electric vacuum cleaner 60 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the direction in which the vacuum cleaner goes straight to suck the dust on the floor surface is the forward direction, and the opposite direction is the rear direction. With the vacuum cleaner moving southward, the west is on the right and the east is on the left.
Further, the vacuum cleaner 60 of the present embodiment may be a cordless vacuum cleaner using the battery 50 as a drive power source, or may be a vacuum cleaner with a cord connected to an outlet by an electric cord.

The electric blower 4 is a member that takes in and exhausts air, and includes a fan 2 and a motor 3 for an electric blower that rotates the fan 2. Further, the electric blower 4 can be arranged on the downstream side of the dust collecting portion 6 in the flow of the air flow. A control board provided with a drive circuit for an electric blower or the like may be attached to the electric blower 4. The motor 3 for the electric blower may be a motor having a carbon brush or a brushless motor.

In the vacuum cleaner 60, by rotating the fan 2 of the electric blower 4, the outside air can be sucked into the vacuum cleaner 60 together with the dust 12 from the suction port 5 to clean the floor surface and the like. The air sucked into the electric vacuum cleaner 60 from the suction port 5 flows through the air flow path 36 and flows into the dust collecting section 6, and the dust 12 sucked together with the air is collected inside the dust collecting section 6 and is in the air. Dust is removed. The air after passing through the dust collector 6 and the filter 8 is discharged from the exhaust port 44.
The suction force of the vacuum cleaner 60 can be controlled by adjusting the electric power supplied from the power supply unit to the motor 3 for the electric blower by the adjusting unit 52a included in the control unit 28 and adjusting the rotation speed of the fan 2.

The rotating brush 41 is a brush that rotates when cleaning the floor surface or the like. The rotary brush 41 can be arranged at the suction port 5. The rotating rotary brush 41 can scrape out dust such as the floor surface, and the scraped dust can be sucked from the suction port 5. Therefore, dust such as the floor surface can be firmly removed. The rotary brush 41 may be one that is rotated by the rotary brush motor 42, or may be a turbine brush that is rotated by suction air.

The drive unit 29 is a portion that moves the vacuum cleaner 60. The drive unit 29 can include a motor 32 that rotates the drive wheels 30a and 30b and the drive wheels 30a and 30b.
The power supply unit may be a DC power supply unit or an AC power supply unit. Further, the power supply unit is connected to the control unit 28 by a power line, and the motor 3 of the electric blower 4, the motor 42 for rotating the rotary brush 41, the drive wheels 30a, 30b via the adjustment units 52a, 52b, 52c of the control unit 28. It is possible to supply electric power to a motor 32 or the like that rotates the motor 32. When the power supply unit is a DC power supply unit, the power supply unit may include a battery 50. When the power supply unit is an alternating current power supply unit, the power supply unit can be a power supply unit using an alternating current supplied from an outlet.

The notification unit 38 is a unit that notifies the user of information. The notification unit 38 is controlled by the control unit 28. The notification unit 38 is, for example, a lamp (LED), a buzzer, a speaker, or the like. Further, the notification unit 38 may be a display unit such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. Further, the notification unit 38 may be a communication unit that communicates with an information processing terminal such as a smartphone or a mobile phone. In this case, the information is notified to the user via the information processing terminal.

The dust detection sensor 33 is a sensor provided to detect dust 12 passing through the air flow path 36. The dust detection sensor 33 is controlled by the control unit 28. The dust detection sensor 33 may include, for example, a first light emitting unit 34 and a first photoelectric conversion unit 35. Further, the first light emitting unit 34 and the first photoelectric conversion unit 35 are arranged so as to face each other with the air flow path 36 through which the sucked air and dust 12 pass into the vacuum cleaner 60 so as to face each other. The first photoelectric conversion unit 35 is provided so as to receive the light emitted by. The light emitted by the first light emitting unit 34 may be infrared rays.

The control unit 28 is a part that controls the vacuum cleaner 60. The control unit 28 can include, for example, a microcontroller having a CPU, a memory (storage unit 51), a timer, an input / output port, and the like. The control unit 28 may be composed of a plurality of control boards. These plurality of control boards can be connected by a signal line or a power line. The control unit 28 is composed of, for example, a control board for a dust detection sensor, a control board having a drive circuit for an electric blower, a control board having a drive circuit for a rotating brush, a control board for a dust amount sensor, a microcontroller, and the like. ..

The control unit 28 may have adjustment units 52a, 52b, 52c provided to adjust the electric power supplied from the power supply unit to the electric blower motor 3, the rotary brush motor 42, the drive wheel motor 32, and the like. .. The adjusting units 52a, 52b, 52c are, for example, a PWM circuit, a phase control circuit having a bidirectional thyristor, and the like.
The storage unit 51 of the control unit 28 stores control software for controlling the vacuum cleaner 60. The control software can include firmware for controlling the dust detection sensor 33, the dust amount sensor 22, the electric blower 4, the rotary brush 41, the drive wheels 30a and 30b, the power supply unit, the notification unit 38, and the like. Further, the firmware can be regarded as a part of the dust detection sensor 33, the dust amount sensor 22, the electric blower 4, the rotary brush 41, the drive wheels 30a and 30b, the power supply unit, the notification unit 38, and the like.

The dust collecting unit 6 has a dust collecting chamber 7. The dust collecting chamber 7 is a chamber that directly collects the dust 12 separated from the air sucked into the vacuum cleaner 60. The dust collection chamber 7 may be an internal chamber of a dust box (or dust cup) provided so as to be removable from the vacuum cleaner 60. As a result, the dust box (or dust cup) can be removed from the vacuum cleaner 60 to remove the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7.
Further, the dust collecting chamber 7 may be a chamber provided so as not to be removed from the vacuum cleaner 60 (that is, a chamber integrated with the vacuum cleaner main body). As a result, the dust storage capacity of the dust collection chamber 7 can be increased. Further, in this case, the dust collecting unit 7 can be used to remove the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7.

When the dust collecting method of the vacuum cleaner 60 is a filter method, the dust collecting unit 6 has a filter 8 and a dust collecting chamber 7. The filter 8 may be arranged on the side wall facing the side wall of the dust collecting chamber 7 provided with an opening for air from the suction port 5 to flow into the dust collecting chamber 7, and is the same side wall as the side wall provided with the opening. It may be arranged on the ceiling of the dust collecting chamber 7, or may be arranged on the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting portion 7.
When the dust collecting method of the electric vacuum cleaner 60 is a cyclone method, the dust collecting unit 6 has a centrifugal separation unit and a dust collecting chamber 7.
The vacuum cleaner 60 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 has a filter type dust collecting unit 6 and has a dust collecting chamber 7 provided so as not to be removed from the vacuum cleaner 60. Further, the filter 8 is arranged on a side wall facing the side wall of the dust collecting chamber 7 provided with an opening for air from the suction port 5 to flow into the dust collecting chamber 7.

The bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7 has an inclined surface 17 (inclined surfaces 17a to 17d) that becomes lower from the end of the bottom surface 16 toward the center (inside). Using this inclined surface, it is possible to move the dust 12 near the end of the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7 (upper side of the inclined surface 17) toward the center (inside).
The inclined surface 17 can have an inclined angle of, for example, 5 degrees or more and 15 degrees or less. As a result, the dust 12 near the end of the bottom surface 16 can be moved toward the center (inside), and the dust storage capacity of the dust collecting chamber 7 can be suppressed from becoming small.
The inclination angle refers to the degree of inclination of the inclined surface 17 with respect to the horizontal plane when the vacuum cleaner 60 is placed on the horizontal plane.
For example, 70% or more and 100% or less of the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7 can be an inclined surface 17.

The inclined surface 17 may be a flat surface or a curved surface. Further, the inclined surface 17 may be provided so that the center of the dust collecting chamber 7 is the lowest. Further, the inclined surface 17 may be provided so that one end of the opposite ends of the bottom surface 16 is high and the other end is low.
The dust collecting chamber 7 of the vacuum cleaner 60 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 has a bottom surface 16 having a square (rectangular) shape when viewed from above, and the inclined surfaces 17a to the center of the bottom surface 16 are the lowest. It has 17d (inclined surface 17). The inclined surface 17a is inclined so that the front side of the bottom surface 16 is high and the center is low, the inclined surface 17b is inclined so that the right side of the bottom surface 16 is high and the center is low, and the inclined surface 17c is high on the rear side of the bottom surface 16. The inclined surface 17d is inclined so that the left side of the bottom surface 16 is high and the center is low.

The vacuum cleaner 60 can be provided so that the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7 can be vibrated. By vibrating the bottom surface 16, dust on the upper side of the inclined surface 17 can be moved toward the lower side of the inclined surface 17.
When the vacuum cleaner 60 is a self-propelled vacuum cleaner and has drive wheels 30a and 30b, the entire vacuum cleaner 60 is vibrated by rotating the drive wheels 30a and 30b, and the bottom surface 16 of the dust collection chamber 7 is vibrated. Can be made to. For example, the vacuum cleaner 60 can be vibrated back and forth by repeatedly moving forward and backward using the drive wheels 30a and 30b.
For example, when the left drive wheel 30b is rotated in the forward direction and the right drive wheel 30a is rotated in the reverse direction, the vacuum cleaner 60 turns clockwise. When the right drive wheel 30a is rotated in the forward direction and the left drive wheel 30b is rotated in the reverse direction, the vacuum cleaner 60 turns counterclockwise. The vacuum cleaner 60 can be vibrated by repeating such a clockwise turn and a counterclockwise turn.

The vacuum cleaner 60 may have a vibrating portion provided so as to vibrate the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7. The vibrating portion is a portion provided so that the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7 can be vibrated by, for example, an eccentric rotating mass method (ERM) or a linear resonance actuator method (LRA). When the dust collecting chamber 7 is inside a dust box provided so as to be removable from the vacuum cleaner 60, the entire dust box may be vibrated by shaking the side surface of the dust box using a vibrating portion.

The dust removing portion 9 is a portion used for removing the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7. The dust removing portion 9 has a dust removing port 10 and a lid portion 11 provided so as to open and close the dust removing port 10.
The dust removal port 10 is provided so that the suction pipe 15 can be inserted into the dust removal port 10 or the suction pipe 15 can be connected to the dust removal port 10. Further, the dust removing port 10 is arranged at a position where the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 can be sucked and removed by using the suction pipe 15. As a result, the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 can be sucked and removed by using the suction pipe 15. Further, since the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 can be removed without the user touching the dust box or the filter 8, it is possible to prevent the dust 12 from adhering to the user's hand and the dust 12 from flying up. It is possible to remove the dust 12 hygienically.
For example, as in the vacuum cleaner 60 shown in FIG. 5, the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 can be removed by using the suction pipe 15.

The dust removing port 10 can be arranged above the position including at least a part of the lowest portion of the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7. As a result, the dust 12 on the lower side of the inclined surface 17 of the bottom surface 16 can be sucked and removed using the suction pipe 15. Further, since the dust 12 on the upper side of the inclined surface 17 moves to the lower side of the inclined surface due to the inclination of the inclined surface 17, the dust 12 can also be sucked and removed by using the suction pipe 15. The dust removing port 10 may be arranged on the side portion of the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7 at a position including at least a part of the lowest portion.
In the vacuum cleaner 60 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7 has inclined surfaces 17a to 17d provided so that the center of the bottom surface 16 is lowered, and dust is removed from the upper part of the center. The mouth 10 is arranged.

The suction pipe 15 is, for example, a suction pipe of a vacuum cleaner different from the vacuum cleaner 60. For example, when the electric vacuum cleaner 60 is a self-propelled vacuum cleaner, the dust collecting chamber 7 is filled with dust 12 at a relatively early stage because the dust collecting capacity of the dust collecting chamber 7 is relatively small. In this case, a suction pipe 15 of a canister type vacuum cleaner, a stick type vacuum cleaner, or the like is inserted into the dust collection chamber 7 through the dust removal port 10 of the electric vacuum cleaner 60, and the dust 12 in the dust collection chamber 7 is sucked. Can be removed. Since the canister type vacuum cleaner or the stick type vacuum cleaner has a larger dust storage capacity in the dust collection chamber than the self-propelled vacuum cleaner, the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collection chamber 7 of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner 60 is substantially collected. All can be sucked into. When the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 is sucked and removed by using the suction pipe 15, the air flow path 36 provided so that air does not flow into the dust collecting chamber 7 from the suction port 5 is closed. It may be provided in the electric vacuum cleaner 60. As a configuration for closing the air flow path 36, it is conceivable to provide a valve that can be manually opened and closed in the air flow path 36. With such a configuration, when suction is performed by the suction pipe 15, air mainly flows into the dust collection chamber 7 from the filter 8, so that the dust 12 attached to the filter 8 can be more easily removed.
Since the self-propelled vacuum cleaner runs on the floor and automatically cleans it, it cannot clean high places such as on shelves. Such a place needs to be cleaned with a canister type vacuum cleaner, a stick type vacuum cleaner, or the like. In addition to cleaning such a high place, the dust 12 in the dust collecting chamber 7 of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner can be sucked and removed by using a canister type vacuum cleaner, a stick type vacuum cleaner, or the like.

When the electric vacuum cleaner 60 is a self-propelled vacuum cleaner and the docking station (charging stand) to which the electric vacuum cleaner 60 docks has a suction pipe 15 (when the vacuum cleaner system includes a docking station and the electric vacuum cleaner 60). ), The suction pipe 15 of the docking station can be inserted or connected to the dust removal port 50. The docking station preferably has a dust box larger than the dust collecting chamber 7 of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner in order to suck the dust 12 accumulated in the self-propelled vacuum cleaner. As a result, the dust 12 collected in the dust collecting chamber 7 of the vacuum cleaner 60 can be moved to the relatively large dust collecting chamber of the docking station. Further, since the dust 12 collected in the dust collecting chamber 7 of the vacuum cleaner 60 can be transferred to the docking station a plurality of times, the number of times of dumping the dust in the docking station can be reduced, which improves convenience.

The lid portion 11 is provided so as to cover or close the dust removing port 10. Further, in order to seal the gap between the vacuum cleaner main body and the lid portion 11, a sealing member can be provided on the lid portion 11 side or the electric vacuum cleaner main body side. As a result, it is possible to prevent air from flowing into the dust collecting chamber 7 from the dust removing port 10 when the electric blower 4 is used to suck air and dust 12 from the suction port 5 for cleaning. The dust removal efficiency of the electric vacuum cleaner 60 can be improved. Further, the lid portion 11 and the seal member can be provided so that the seal member is compressed by the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure outside the lid portion 11 and the negative pressure of the dust collecting chamber 7. This makes it possible to improve the airtightness of the dust removing port 10.

The lid portion 11 may be provided so as to be removable from the main body of the vacuum cleaner 60. In this case, the user can manually remove the lid 11 from the vacuum cleaner body to open the dust removal port 10. For example, the lid portion 11 may be attached to the vacuum cleaner main body by a screwing method, or may be attached to the vacuum cleaner main body by a fitting method. Further, one of the lid portion 11 and the vacuum cleaner body may have a convex portion and the other may have a concave portion, and the lid portion 11 may be locked to the vacuum cleaner main body by the convex portion entering the concave portion.

The lid portion 11 may be provided so that the dust removing port 10 can be opened and closed by a hinge structure or a slide structure. In this case, the lid portion 11 may be provided so that the user can manually open the dust removal port 10, or the lid portion 11 may be provided so as to be opened by the suction force of the suction pipe 15, and suction is performed. The pipe 15 may be provided so that the lid portion 11 can be opened by pushing a part of the vacuum cleaner 60, or may be provided so that the lid portion 11 can be opened and closed electrically.
In the vacuum cleaner 60 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the lid portion 11 is attached to the vacuum cleaner main body by a fitting method, and is provided so that the user can manually remove the lid portion 11 from the vacuum cleaner main body.

The dust amount sensor 22 has a second light emitting unit 23 provided so as to irradiate infrared rays or light toward the lowest portion of the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7, and infrared rays or light emitted by the second light emitting unit 23. It has a second photoelectric conversion unit 24 provided so as to receive the reflected light of the above. The second light emitting unit 23 and the second photoelectric conversion unit 24 can be arranged around the dust removing port 10.
When the dust 12 is accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7, the infrared rays or the light emitted by the second light emitting unit 23 are reflected, absorbed or scattered by the dust 12. Therefore, the electromotive force of the second photoelectric conversion unit 24 changes according to the amount of dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7, and the amount of dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 is detected based on this electromotive force. be able to. The dust amount sensor 22 (second light emitting unit 23) may be provided so as to irradiate infrared rays or light toward the vicinity of the lowest portion of the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7. This is because if it is near the lowest part, it is not so different from the lowest part.

After removing the dust 12 in the dust collecting chamber 7 using the suction tube 15, when the bottom surface 16 is irradiated with infrared rays or light from the second light emitting unit 23, the dust 12 remains on the bottom surface 16 and the bottom surface 16 The electromotive force of the second photoelectric conversion unit 24 is different from that in the case where the dust 12 does not remain on the top. Therefore, it is possible to measure whether or not the dust 12 remains in the dust collecting chamber 7 by using the dust amount sensor 22.
Since the second light emitting unit 23 irradiates infrared rays or light toward the lower portion of the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7, the dust 12 that has moved to the lower side of the inclined surface 17 due to the inclination of the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7. Can be detected by the dust amount sensor 22.

When the dust 12 remaining in the dust collecting chamber 7 is detected by using the dust amount sensor 22, the control unit 28 notifies the user that the dust 12 remains by using the notification unit 38, and the user uses the suction pipe. By sucking and removing the dust 12 remaining in the dust collecting chamber 7 using the dust collecting chamber 7, it is possible to prevent the dust 12 from remaining in the dust collecting chamber 7.
After removing the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 using the suction pipe 15, the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7 is vibrated to move the dust 12 remaining in the corner of the dust collecting chamber 7 to the lower side of the inclined surface 17. Can be moved. After that, by detecting the dust 12 on the bottom surface 16 using the dust amount sensor 22, the dust 12 remaining in the corner of the dust collecting chamber 7 can also be detected. Further, the moved dust 12 can be sucked and removed using the suction pipe 15.

The color of the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7 can be white or black. When the bottom surface 16 is white and no dust 12 remains on the bottom surface 16, the reflectance of the light or infrared rays emitted by the second light emitting unit 23 becomes high, and the electromotive force of the second photoelectric conversion unit 24 becomes large. When the bottom surface 16 is white and dust 12 remains on the bottom surface 16, the light or infrared rays emitted by the second light emitting unit 23 are absorbed or scattered by the dust 12, and the second dust 12 is not left. The electromotive force of the photoelectric conversion unit 24 becomes smaller. Therefore, the dust 12 remaining on the bottom surface 16 can be accurately detected.

When the bottom surface 16 is black and no dust 12 remains on the bottom surface 16, the reflectance of the light or infrared rays emitted by the second light emitting unit 23 becomes low, and the electromotive force of the second photoelectric conversion unit 24 becomes small. When the bottom surface 16 is black and dust 12 remains on the bottom surface 16, the light or infrared rays emitted by the second light emitting unit 23 are reflected by the dust 12, and the second photoelectric conversion is performed as compared with the case where the dust 12 does not remain. The electromotive force of the unit 24 becomes large. Therefore, the dust 12 remaining on the bottom surface 16 can be accurately detected.

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart of the electric vacuum cleaner 60 (self-propelled vacuum cleaner) illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6. The control of the vacuum cleaner 60 will be described with reference to this flowchart.
First, when the user presses the operation start button, the vacuum cleaner 60 starts operation. The operation start button may be a button arranged on the upper surface of the vacuum cleaner 60, or may be a button of a remote controller or an external device capable of communicating with the vacuum cleaner 60.

When the operation is started, the control unit 28 determines whether or not the dust removal port 10 is open (step S1). This determination may be made based on the sensor signal of the sensor that detects the opening / closing of the dust removing port 10, or may be made based on the current value of the motor 3 when the suction by the electric blower 4 is started. Further, it may be determined by detecting the light incident on the dust collecting chamber 7 from the dust removing port 10 by the second photoelectric conversion unit 24.
When the dust removal port 10 is open, the control unit 28 uses the notification unit 38 to notify the user that the dust removal port 10 needs to be closed by the lid portion 11 (step S15).
When it is confirmed that the dust removal port 10 is closed, the control unit 28 rotates the drive wheel motor 32 to start the movement of the electric vacuum cleaner 20, and rotates the electric blower motor 3 to start suction. , The motor 42 for the rotary brush 41 is rotated to start the rotation of the rotary brush 41 (step S2). That is, cleaning by the vacuum cleaner 60 is started.

During cleaning, the dust 12 sucked into the vacuum cleaner together with the air from the suction port 5 flows through the air flow path 36 and flows into the dust collection chamber 7. At this time, the dust detection sensor 33 arranged in the air flow path 36 is used to detect the dust 12 sucked into the vacuum cleaner, and the amount of dust 12 flowing into the dust collection chamber 7 is integrated. This integrated value α corresponds to the amount of dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7. The integrated value α is stored in the storage unit 51 (step S3).
Further, during cleaning, the operation end button is not pressed (step S4), the remaining battery level is not less than a predetermined value (step S5), and the dust removal button is not pressed (step S6). , Cleaning proceeds while confirming that the integrated value α does not exceed the threshold value (step S7) (steps S3 to S7). The dust removal button is a button that the user presses when removing the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collection chamber 7, and can be arranged on the upper surface of the vacuum cleaner 60. Further, the threshold value of the integrated value α is a threshold value for determining whether or not the amount of dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 has reached the full amount.

When the operation end button is pressed (step S4) or when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined value (step S5), the vacuum cleaner 60 returns to the charging stand (step 16), sucks, and rotates. The rotation and movement of the brush are stopped (step S17), and the operation is ended.

When the dust removal button is pressed (step S6) or when the integrated value α reaches the threshold value (step S7), the control unit 28 stops suction, rotation of the rotating brush, and movement (step S8). Subsequently, the vacuum cleaner 60 is vibrated (step S9). Specifically, the drive wheels 30a and 30b can be used to vibrate the vacuum cleaner 60 in the front-rear direction and the rotation direction. As a result, the dust 12 collected in the dust collecting chamber 7 moves on the inclined surface 17 to a position lower than the slip. Further, the vacuum cleaner 60 may vibrate the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7 by using the vibrating portion.

Next, the control unit 28 notifies the user that it is necessary to remove the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collection chamber 7 by using the suction pipe 15 (step S10). Then, the user removes the lid 11 from the dust removal port 10, and attaches the suction pipe 15 of a vacuum cleaner (for example, a canister type vacuum cleaner or a stick type vacuum cleaner) different from the vacuum cleaner 60 from the dust removal port 10. It is inserted into the dust collecting chamber 7 and the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 is sucked and removed. Then, the control unit 28 determines whether or not the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 has been removed based on the sensor signal of the dust amount sensor 22 (step S11). If the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 is not removed even after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that the user cannot remove the dust 12 (for example, the user is not near the vacuum cleaner 60). Then, it returns to the charging stand and ends the operation (steps S18, S16, S17).

When it is determined in step S11 that the dust 12 has been removed, the control unit 28 vibrates the vacuum cleaner 60 (step S12). If the dust 12 is not removed and remains in the corner of the dust collecting chamber 7, the dust 12 in the corner moves on the inclined surface 17 to a position lower than the slip due to this vibration. Further, the vacuum cleaner 60 may vibrate the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7 by using the vibrating portion.
Then, the control unit 28 determines whether or not the dust 12 remains in the dust collecting chamber 7 based on the sensor signal of the dust amount sensor 22 (step S13). When it is determined that no dust 12 remains, the integrated value α stored in the storage unit 51 is initialized (step S14), the process returns to step S1, and cleaning is restarted if the dust removal port 10 is closed.

When it is determined in step S13 that the dust 12 remains, the dust 12 in the corner of the dust collecting chamber 7 slides down the inclined surface 17 due to the vibration and moves to the lower side. Therefore, the control unit 28 returns to step S10. The user is notified that the dust 12 remaining in the dust collecting chamber 7 needs to be removed by using the suction pipe 15 (step S10). Then, the user inserts the suction pipe 15 of an electric vacuum cleaner (for example, a canister type electric vacuum cleaner or a stick type electric vacuum cleaner) different from the electric vacuum cleaner 60 into the dust collecting chamber 7 from the dust removing port 10 to collect dust. The dust 12 remaining in the chamber 7 is sucked and removed. As a result, substantially all of the dust 12 accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 7 can be sucked and removed.

2nd Embodiment FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of this embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vacuum cleaner in a state where a suction pipe is connected to a dust removal port.
In the vacuum cleaner 60 of the present embodiment, the dust box 20 is detachably attached to the vacuum cleaner main body, and the inside of the dust box 20 is a dust collecting chamber 7.
Further, in the vacuum cleaner 60 of the present embodiment, the lid portion 11 is provided so that the lid portion 11 is connected to the vacuum cleaner main body by a hinge structure and the dust removing port 10 can be opened and closed. Further, a dust removing port 10 is provided so that the suction pipe 15 can be connected to the peripheral edge of the dust removing port 10. For example, as shown in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 9, when the suction pipe 15 is connected to the dust removing port 10, the lid 11 is opened by the suction force of the suction pipe 15, and the dust 12 inside the dust collecting chamber 7 is sucked and removed. Will be done. Further, when the suction pipe 15 is removed from the dust removal port 10, the lid portion 11 is automatically closed by a spring or the like.
A cover portion that can be opened and closed is provided on the upper surface of the vacuum cleaner 60. When removing the dust box 20 from the vacuum cleaner body, the cover portion can be opened and removed. Further, the cover portion has a dust removing port 10 and a lid portion 11.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. In addition, the description of the first embodiment also applies to the second embodiment as long as there is no contradiction.

The third embodiment FIG . 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment.
In the vacuum cleaner 60 of the present embodiment, the filter 8 of the dust collecting unit 6 is arranged at the lowest portion of the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7. This makes it easier for the dust 12 to collect under the dust removing port 10, and the dust 12 in the dust collecting chamber 7 can be easily sucked and removed using the suction pipe 15. Further, since the filter 8 is located at the lowest portion of the bottom surface 16, dust 12 is blown up at the time of suction, so that the suction becomes easier.
Other configurations are the same as in the first or second embodiment. In addition, the description of the first or second embodiment also applies to the third embodiment as long as there is no contradiction.

4th Embodiment FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are schematic cross-sectional views of the vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment, respectively.
In the vacuum cleaner 60 of the present embodiment, an inclined surface 17 is provided so as to be lowered inward from the end of the bottom surface 16 located on the side surface side facing the filter 8 among the bottom surface 16 of the dust collecting chamber 7. The portion close to the filter 8 is the lowest. Further, the dust removing port 10 is arranged above the portion where the bottom surface 16 is the lowest. This makes it easier for the suction pipe 15 to remove the dust 12 in the vicinity of the filter 8, and it is possible to prevent the filter 8 from being clogged.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first to third embodiments. Further, the description of the first to third embodiments also applies to the fourth embodiment as long as there is no contradiction.

Fifth Embodiment FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber included in the vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment, FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the broken line B-B in FIG. 13.
In the vacuum cleaner 60 of the present embodiment, the filter 8 of the dust collecting unit 6 is arranged on the ceiling of the dust collecting chamber 7. As a result, the dust 12 near the filter 8 can be dropped to the bottom surface 16 by gravity, and the filter 8 can be prevented from being clogged.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first to fourth embodiments. Further, the description of the first to fourth embodiments also applies to the fifth embodiment as long as there is no contradiction.

Sixth Embodiment FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber included in the vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment, FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the broken line C-C in FIG. 15. FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber included in the vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment. The partial cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner in the broken line DD of FIG. 17 is substantially the same as the partial cross-sectional view shown in FIG.
In the vacuum cleaner 60 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the dust collecting chamber 7 has a square box shape, but the shape of the dust collecting chamber 7 is not particularly limited.
For example, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the dust collecting chamber 7 may have a hexagonal columnar shape, and as shown in FIG. 17, the dust collecting chamber 7 may have a cylindrical shape.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first to fifth embodiments. Further, the description of the first to fifth embodiments also applies to the sixth embodiment as long as there is no contradiction.

2: Fan 3: Motor for electric blower 4: Electric blower 5: Suction port 6: Dust collection part 7: Dust collection room 8: Filter 9: Dust removal part 10: Dust removal port 11: Lid part 12: Dust 15: Suction Tube 16: Bottom surface of dust collecting chamber 17, 17a to 17f: Inclined surface 20: Dust box 22: Dust amount sensor 23: Second light emitting unit 24: Second photoelectric conversion unit 28: Control unit 29: Drive unit 30a, 30b: Drive Wheel 32: Drive wheel motor 33: Dust detection sensor 34: First light emitting unit 35: First photoelectric conversion unit 36: Air flow path 38: Notification unit 40: Housing 41: Rotating brush 42: Rotating brush motor 43a, 43b: Side brush 44: Exhaust port 45: Omnidirectional sensor 46: Distance sensor 47: Front wheel 48: Rear wheel 50: Battery 51: Storage unit 52a to 52c: Adjustment unit 53: Exhaust flow path 60: Vacuum cleaner

Claims (9)

A suction port, an electric blower provided to suck air from the suction port into the electric vacuum cleaner, a dust collector provided to collect and collect dust in the air sucked from the suction port, and the like. Equipped with a dust remover
The dust collecting unit has a dust collecting chamber provided for collecting dust, and has a dust collecting chamber.
The dust removing portion includes a dust removing port and a lid portion provided so as to open and close the dust removing port.
The dust removal port is provided so that a suction pipe can be inserted into the dust removal port or the suction pipe can be connected to the dust removal port, and the suction pipe is used to collect in the dust collection chamber. It is placed in a position where it can suck and remove dust.
A vacuum cleaner characterized in that the bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber has an inclined surface that is lowered inward from the end of the bottom surface. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface has an inclination angle of 5 degrees or more and 15 degrees or less. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dust removing port is arranged above a position including at least a part of the lowest portion of the bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the dust removing port is provided so that the suction pipe can be inserted into the dust collecting chamber. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the dust collecting chamber is provided so as not to be removed from the vacuum cleaner. The dust collector is provided with a dust box.
The dust box is provided so that it can be removed from the vacuum cleaner.
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the dust collecting chamber is inside the dust box. Equipped with a dust sensor
The dust amount sensor includes a light emitting unit provided so as to irradiate infrared rays or light toward or near the lowest portion of the bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber, and reflected light of infrared rays or light emitted by the light emitting unit. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a photoelectric conversion unit provided so as to receive light. Further provided with a control unit provided to control the vacuum cleaner,
When the control unit detects that the dust collected in the dust collecting chamber is sucked and removed by the suction pipe based on the sensor signal of the dust amount sensor, the control unit causes the vacuum cleaner to vibrate the dust collecting chamber. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, which is provided to be controlled. Further provided with a drive unit provided to move the vacuum cleaner,
8. The control unit is provided to control the drive unit so that the vacuum cleaner vibrates when it detects that the dust collected in the dust collection chamber is sucked and removed by the suction pipe. The vacuum cleaner described in.

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