JP4294060B2 - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner. More specifically, the present invention relates to a canister type vacuum cleaner provided with a cyclone dust box.

  Conventional vacuum cleaners, especially upright type (vertical) vacuum cleaners, are detachably attached to the suction path of the vacuum cleaner body without using a disposable dust collection paper pack, Using a cyclone type dust collector that has a cylindrical filter in a dust collection case that generates a flow (so-called cyclone), and that allows dust filtered by this filter to accumulate in the dust collection case It has been known. Since this dust collector can be used semipermanently by the maintenance of the filter as compared with a disposable paper pack, it is economical.

  The inventors of the present invention have made extensive studies on the use of such an economical and high dust collection efficiency cyclone type dust collector for a canister type (horizontal type) vacuum cleaner, and then used the cyclone type dust box as the main body of the vacuum cleaner. To develop a canister type vacuum cleaner.

  Conventionally, in an upright type cyclonic electric vacuum cleaner, a dust box is detachably attached to the main body of the vacuum cleaner. For example, when installing a dust box with air inlets and exhaust ports formed on one side, the dust box first aligns the fulcrum and then rotates the dust box to position the air intake and exhaust ports respectively. It is matched.

  However, in such a configuration, the alignment of the dust box is cumbersome and the usability is not good. Conventionally, when a cyclone type dust box is used for a canister type vacuum cleaner, the intake and exhaust ports must be positioned on one side, and therefore connected to either the intake or exhaust port. It is necessary to provide the air passage to the position opposite to the connecting port to which the suction hose is connected or the electric blower so as to go around the outer peripheral side surface of the dust box, etc., and the air passage becomes complicated and the suction efficiency is deteriorated. There's a problem.

On the other hand, in order to solve the problem of alignment of the dust box, in a canister type vacuum cleaner, it can be considered that the dust box is taken in and out in the vertical direction. (Patent Document 1)
However, in such a configuration, in order to visually recognize the amount of dust accumulated in the dust box, it is necessary to make the dust box visible from the side surface of the cleaner body. Therefore, since the rear part of the cleaner body and the front wall of the suction hose are separated, there is a problem that the strength of the cleaner body is weakened.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and it is possible to visually check the inside of the dust box and to suppress the reduction in the strength of the entire vacuum cleaner. An object is to provide a vacuum cleaner.

The first means of the present invention is a dust box housing portion formed at the front portion of the canister type cleaner body, an electric blower housing chamber formed at the rear portion of the cleaner body, and a front end portion of the cleaner body. A front wall formed with a connection port for connecting a suction hose and a cyclone-type dust box inserted into the dust box housing portion from above, and the dust box is connected to the connection port on the front side surface A dust box body projecting from a tube, an upper lid portion closing an upper end opening of the dust box body, and an exhaust port communicating with the electric blower housing chamber formed at the rear end, and being fixed in a state of hanging from the upper lid portion A cylindrical filter located in the center of the dust box body and filtering the air in the dust box body and guiding it to the upper lid, and the intake pipe The tip side opening is formed so as to be inclined so that the projecting distance downward from above is shortened .

The opening on the front end side of the intake pipe is formed near the center of the dust box body in the width direction, and guides the air flowing through the intake pipe into the dust box body in the direction of the flow of the cyclone generated inside the dust box. It is preferable that the guide rib for extending in the direction along the inner surface of the dust box body in the vicinity of the opening on the root side of the intake pipe on the inner surface of the dust box body.

A handle is formed on the upper lid portion, and a bottom lid is provided for opening and closing the opening on the bottom surface of the dust box body , and the bottom lid is closed by engaging with the bottom lid on the side surface of the dust box body. Preferably, a holding clamp is provided.

  It is preferable to store the electric blower in the electric blower storage chamber with the intake port facing upward.

  It is preferable that the rear part of the cleaner body and the connecting part are integrally formed.

  According to the configuration of claim 1 of the present invention, the air containing dust sucked through the suction hose enters the dust box through the connection port and the intake pipe, and swirls in the dust box body to separate coarse dust. The fine dust is filtered by a filter and discharged from the exhaust port to the outside of the dust box.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the air containing dust sucked through the suction hose enters the dust box through the connection port and the intake pipe, and swirls in the dust box body to separate coarse dust. The fine dust is filtered by a filter and discharged from the exhaust port to the outside of the dust box. In addition, since the guide rib extends in the direction along the inner surface of the dust box near the root side opening of the intake pipe on the inner surface of the dust box, the air flowing into the dust cup through the intake pipe is moved in the direction of the swirling flow. It can guide and can show high dust collection efficiency.

  According to the configuration of the third aspect of the present invention, the dust box can be removed upward by gripping the handle, the bottom lid can be opened by operating the clamp, and the dust accumulated in the dust box body can be discarded.

  Next, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view showing an embodiment of the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of the electric vacuum cleaner in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view of the electric vacuum cleaner in FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory view of the dust box in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a front view of the dust box in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the dust box in FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a perspective explanatory view showing a state where the dust box of the vacuum cleaner in FIG. 1 is taken out, and FIGS. 10 to 13 are assembly procedures of the vacuum cleaner in FIG. FIG. 14 is a partially cutaway view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 and is viewed from the front, and FIG. 15 is an explanatory view of an example of use of the vacuum cleaner of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment includes a cyclone type dust box in a dust box housing portion 1 f (see FIG. 9) formed in the front portion of the canister type cleaner main body 1. 2 is detachably provided by being inserted from above, and an electric blower storage chamber 1d (see FIG. 10) is formed in the rear portion 40 of the cleaner body 1, and the electric blower 3 is built in the storage chamber 1d. It has a configuration. Although not shown, a series of suction hoses, suction pipes, and suction tools are connected to the connection port 4 on the front end face of the cleaner body 1. Moreover, the cleaner body 1 includes a front wheel 1a and a pair of rear wheels 1b and 1c so that the floor surface can be moved.

  9-10, the front wall 36 which has the connection port 4 for connecting a suction hose (not shown) is provided in the front part of the cleaner body 1. As shown in FIG. The rear upper portion of the cleaner body 1 and the front wall 36 are connected by a connecting portion 37 extending around the side of the dust box 2, and the dust box 2 is connected between the connecting portion 37 and the bottom portion 38 of the cleaner body 1. At least one opening 39 is formed to expose the side surface. In the present embodiment, a connecting portion 37 and an opening 39 are arranged around the sides on both sides of the dust box 2. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 51 denotes a reel supporter assembly.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the front wall 36 of the present embodiment is integrally formed with the case lower upper 41 by a synthetic resin or the like. The lower portion of the front wall 36 is fixed by engaging a claw 41a (see FIG. 7) of the case lower upper 41 with the square hole 42a in a state of being in contact with the rear surface of the square hole forming portion 42b of the case lower 42. . The front side of the front wall 36 and the square hole forming portion 42 b is covered with a front cover 45.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, the connecting portion 37 of the present embodiment includes a hollow case cover 44 whose inside is reinforced by reinforcing ribs and whose lower surface is opened, and a back side of the case cover 44. Since it is constituted by a hollow case cover assembly 48 comprising a pair of case cover lowers 47 which are fixed and have hooks 47a at their tips, they are lightweight and strong against impacts.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 to 11, the front wall 36 of the case cover lower 41 is fixed at the lower part to the aforementioned square hole forming part 42 b and fixed at the upper part by the engagement of the hook 47 a and the protrusion 41 b. High impact resistance.

  The front wall 36 is reinforced by being connected to the rear portion of the cleaner body 1 by a connecting portion 37 formed of a lightweight and high-strength case cover assembly 48, and the front wall 36 becomes a wall of a room, furniture, or the like during a cleaning operation. Even if it collides with, it will not be damaged. Further, the dust accumulated inside the dust box 2 can be easily visually recognized from the outside through the opening 39 below the connecting portion 37. The size of the opening 39 is not particularly limited, but the size of the dust box 2 is such that dust inside the dust box 2 can be seen from the outside. Is preferably set to a size that does not affect use.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the rear portion 40 and the connecting portion 37 of the cleaner body 1 are integrally formed by a synthetic resin or the like by the case cover 44, so that the strength is further increased. As it becomes higher, assembly becomes easier.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 11, in the present embodiment, the front wall 36 of the cleaner body 1 is formed on the case lower upper 41, but the present invention is not limited to this, The front wall 36 may be integrally formed with the case lower 42. For example, the front wall 36 having the connection port 4 may be integrally formed with a synthetic resin or the like at the portion of the square hole forming portion 42b of the case lower 42 shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the case upper 43 and the case cover 44 are formed as separate parts, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these are integrally formed of synthetic resin or the like. May be.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment, when the dust box 2 is attached to the cleaner body 1, the front wall 36, the cleaner body rear portion 40, and the pair of connecting portions 37 are connected to the dust box 2. Since the outer periphery is surrounded and contacted, the dust box 2 can be protected and the strength of the entire cleaner can be improved.

  The vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment is assembled in the following procedure.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 to 11, first, the case lower upper 41 is attached to the case lower 42. At this time, the claw 41a (see FIG. 7) of the case lower upper 41 is fitted into the square hole 42a of the case lower 42, and protrudes upward in the case lower upper 41 (that is, inside the dust box housing portion 1f in FIG. 9). Regulating floating in the direction). Further, a rib 45a (see FIG. 7) of the front cover 45 described later prevents the square hole forming portion 42b of the case lower 42 from falling forward.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 11, a case cover assembly 48 having a rectangular cross section is assembled by screwing a case cover lower 47 to the back side of the case cover 44, and the case cover assembly 48 is then assembled to the vacuum cleaner main body. Attach so that the top of 1 is covered. At this time, the case cover assembly 48, specifically, the hook 47a (see FIGS. 11 and 14) of the case cover lower 47 engages with the protrusion 41b of the case lower upper 41, thereby correcting the deformation of the case cover assembly 48. To do. After that, as shown in FIG. 12, the front cover 45 is fitted from the front, the lower part is screwed to the case lower 42, and the upper part is fitted with the clamp hook cover 49 as shown in FIG. After that, as shown in FIG. 13, the parts are fitted by screwing to improve the overall strength.

  As described above, in the vacuum cleaner according to the present embodiment, each individual component does not have a large strength (for example, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 11, case lower 41, case lower 42, case cover 44, and The case cover lower 47 is a thin member made of a synthetic resin, and the strength of individual parts is not so high), and by combining all the parts, it is possible to ensure strength enough to withstand use.

  In addition, the vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment is designed with the first consideration for improvement in usability, and as shown in FIG. 9, the dust box 2 can be clamped by simply inserting it into the dust box housing portion 1f from above. The structure is such that the dust box 2 can be easily taken out from just above by being locked by the hook 50, and by simply releasing one clamp hook 50. By simplifying the mechanism for fixing the dust box 2, etc. Achieving miniaturization and weight reduction.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and FIG. 8, the dust box 2 includes a substantially cylindrical outer filter portion 6 and an inner side inside a transparent or translucent dust box body 5 formed of a substantially cylindrical transparent resin or the like. The filter unit 7 is disposed concentrically with the dust box body 5.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the outer filter section 6 includes an outer cylindrical member 8, and an outer filter 9 that covers the periphery of a plurality of slits 8 a formed along the vertical direction on the side surface of the outer cylindrical member 8. Consists of.

  Further, a flange portion 10 that protrudes toward the inner wall of the dust box main body 5 is provided on the outer peripheral side surface of the outer cylindrical member 8. A gap 34 is formed between the inner wall of the dust box body 5 and the flange 10. Therefore, between the inner wall of the dust box body 5 and the outer filter part 6, the first cyclone space 25 surrounded by the inner wall of the dust box body 5, the outer filter 9 and the flange part 10, and the first cyclone space 25 and the gap 34. A space portion 26 is formed for collecting dust communicated with each other.

  Since the tip portion 10a of the flange portion 10 is bent downward, when the dust moves from the first cyclone space 25 to the space portion 26 via the gap 34, the dust is less likely to be caught by the tip portion 10a. Therefore, it is preferable.

  Similarly, the inner filter portion 7 includes an inner cylindrical member 11 and an inner filter 12 that covers the periphery of a plurality of slits 11 a formed on the side surface of the inner cylindrical member 11 along the vertical direction.

  In addition, a flange 13 that protrudes toward the inner wall of the outer cylindrical member 8 is provided on the outer peripheral side surface of the inner cylindrical member 11. A gap 35 is formed between the inner wall of the outer cylindrical member 8 and the flange portion 13. Therefore, between the inner wall of the outer cylindrical member 8 and the inner filter portion 7, the second cyclone space 27 and the second cyclone space surrounded by the inner wall of the outer cylindrical member 8, the inner filter 12 and the flange 13. A space 28 for collecting dust that communicates with the air gap 27 through the gap 35 is formed.

  Similarly to the flange portion 10, the tip portion 13a of the flange portion 13 is also bent downward, so that when the dust moves from the second cyclone space 27 to the space portion 28 via the gap 35, the dust tip This is preferable because the portion 13a is less likely to get caught.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the outer filter unit 6 and the inner filter unit 7 are fixed in a suspended state on the lower surface of the upper lid unit 14 that closes the upper end opening of the dust box body 5.

  Specifically, an inner lid portion 8b extending on the upper portion of the outer cylindrical member 8 is fitted to the inner wall of the upper lid portion 14 with the seal ring 8c interposed therebetween. The space between the middle lid portion 8b and the dust box body 5 is hermetically sealed by a seal ring 8d provided at a step portion of the middle lid portion 8b. On the other hand, a cylindrical holder 11 b having a plurality of slits extending at the upper part of the inner cylindrical member 11 is accommodated inside the upper lid portion 14 while holding the cylindrical filter 29. The space between the cylindrical holder 11b and the inner lid portion 8b is hermetically sealed by a seal ring 11c provided at the lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical holder 11b.

  An intake pipe 15 protrudes from the side surface of the dust box 2, and a front end side opening 16 of the intake pipe 15 is connected to the connecting port 4 (see FIGS. 1 and 7) formed at the center in the width direction of the cleaner body. It is formed near the approximate center in the width direction of the dust box 2 so that it can be directly connected.

  Further, since the guide rib 18 extends in the direction along the inner surface of the dust box 2 in the vicinity of the root side opening 17 of the intake pipe 15 on the inner surface of the dust box 2, the guide rib 18 passes through the intake pipe 15 by the guide rib 18 inside the dust box 2. The air flowing in can be guided in a direction in which a cyclone generated inside the dust box 2 flows (for example, a clockwise direction in FIG. 8). Thereby, the air containing the dust sucked from the intake pipe 15 shown in FIG. 8 turns in the dust box 2, and high dust collection efficiency can be achieved.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, a bottom lid 21 configured to be opened and closed by a hinge 20 provided at a lower portion of the handle 19 is attached to the bottom of the dust box body 5. The bottom lid 21 pushes the upper part of the lever 22 provided below the intake pipe 15, whereby the clamp 23 formed at the lower end of the lever 22 is detached from the locking claw 24 on the bottom lid 21 side, and the dust box body. The lower end opening of 5 is opened.

  The type and material of the outer filter 9 and the inner filter 12 are not particularly limited. For example, a mesh filter is disposed in a cylindrical shape on the outer periphery of a cylindrical body that serves as an air passage for filtered air. The filter etc. which were made are employ | adopted. In addition, other filters such as a filter in which filter paper filters folded in a pleat shape (bellows shape) are arranged in a cylindrical shape can be employed.

  Next, the flow of dust and air in the electric vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 7, the air containing dust sucked in from the outside of the cleaner body 1 enters the dust box 2 through the connection port 4 and the intake pipe 15 and swirls along the inner wall of the dust box body 5. . Specifically, in the first cyclone space 25 surrounded by the inner wall of the dust box body 5, the outer filter 9 and the flange portion 10, air flows into the outer filter 9 while swirling, and large dust (coarse dust) The dust deposits in the space 26 at the bottom of the dust box body 5 through the gap 34 between the inner wall of the dust box body 5 and the flange 10.

  Similarly, the air that has flowed into the outer filter 9 also swirls. Specifically, in the second cyclone space 27 surrounded by the outer cylindrical member 8, the inner filter 12, and the flange portion 13, air flows into the inner filter 12 while turning, and dust flows into the outer cylindrical member 8. And deposits in the space 28 at the bottom of the dust box body 5 through a gap 35 between the flange 13 and the flange 13.

  Since the bottom lid 21 is provided with a packing 36 for closing the gap between the lower end edge of the outer cylindrical member 8 and the bottom lid 21, the space 26 extends from the space portion 26 along the bottom lid 21. Air does not leak to the portion 28.

  The air from which dust has been filtered by the dust box body 5 is further filtered by the cylindrical filter 29 inside the upper lid portion 14 and then comes out of the dust box 2 through the exhaust port 30 at the rear end of the upper lid portion 14 before being shown in FIG. The air is taken into the electric blower 3 through the communication passage 31, is filtered from the electric blower 3 through the exhaust filter 32, and is passed through the mesh-like exhaust port 24 formed on the side surface of the cleaner body 1 and the mesh of the rear wheel 1b or 1c. Discharged outside.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, since the lower side of the bag-like case cover 44 is closed by the case cover lower 47, the case cover 44 can be seen from below through the opening 39. The reinforcing ribs are not visible and the appearance is improved. Moreover, since the case cover 44 is reinforced by the case cover lower 47, the strength is greatly improved.

  The vacuum cleaner of this invention can visually recognize the dust inside the dust box 2 from the outside if at least the dust box body 5 (see FIG. 5) of the dust box 2 is transparent or translucent. Furthermore, when considering the overall design of the vacuum cleaner, if the entire dust box 2 and the case upper 43 and handle 52 (see FIG. 13) of the vacuum cleaner body 1 are made transparent or translucent, the appearance will be more beautiful, lighter and lighter. It is preferable because it gives a good impression.

  However, as shown in FIG. 13, when the transparent handle 52 is attached, the screw boss 43a on the case upper 43 side, the reinforcing rib (not shown) of the screw boss, and the like are visible from the outside, so that the appearance is not good. Therefore, by surrounding the outer periphery of the screw boss 43a with a smoother cylindrical rib 53, the strength of the attachment portion of the handle 52 and the appearance can be improved. The cylindrical rib 53 is fitted into a recess (not shown) formed on the end surface of the handle 52.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, in this embodiment, when the cleaning operation is to be interrupted for a while, the extension pipe 54 is raised by hooking the hook 55 of the extension pipe 54 to the engagement recess 1e at the rear of the cleaner body 1. I can leave.

  In order to facilitate the insertion and removal of the hook 55, it is preferable that the clearance between the hook 55 and the engaging portion 1e is large. However, if the clearance is large, the play increases and the stability of the extension pipe 54 in the upright state is impaired. Therefore, in the present embodiment, since the outer rear surface 52a of the handle 52 is configured to abut against the hook 55 in a state where the hook 55 is engaged with the engaging recess 1e, the extension pipe 54 can be stably kept upright. Improves. In addition, when the hook 55 is inserted into the engaging recess 1e, the rear surface 52a guides the hook 55, so that the insertion operation is facilitated.

It is a perspective explanatory view showing one embodiment of a vacuum cleaner of the present invention. It is plane | planar explanatory drawing of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. It is explanatory drawing at the time of seeing the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 from the left side surface. 1 is a perspective explanatory view of the dust box. It is a front view of the dust box of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dust box of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. It is the VIII-VIII sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a perspective explanatory view which shows the taking-out state of the dust box of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. It is process explanatory drawing which shows the assembly procedure of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. It is process explanatory drawing which shows the assembly procedure of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. It is process explanatory drawing which shows the assembly procedure of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. It is process explanatory drawing which shows the assembly procedure of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. It is the figure which notched the electric vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 partially, and was seen from the front. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of use of the vacuum cleaner of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vacuum cleaner 2 Dust box 3 Electric blower

Claims (4)

A dust box housing part formed at the front part of the canister type cleaner body, an electric blower housing chamber formed at the rear part of the cleaner body, and a suction hose formed at the front end part of the cleaner body A front wall having a connection port, and a cyclone-type dust box inserted from above into the dust box housing portion, the dust box has a dust box body projecting an intake pipe communicating with the connection port on the front side surface, An upper lid portion that closes the upper end opening of the dust box main body and has an exhaust port communicating with the electric blower housing chamber formed at the rear end thereof, and is fixed in a state of hanging from the upper lid portion, and is positioned at the center portion in the dust box main body. and, wherein the dust box air in the main body is filtered and a tubular filter leading to the upper cover, the intake pipe, on the tip side opening Vacuum cleaner according to claim more the protruding distance of the downward formed to be inclined to be shorter. The opening on the front end side of the intake pipe is formed near the center of the dust box body in the width direction, and guides the air flowing through the intake pipe into the dust box body in the direction of the flow of the cyclone generated inside the dust box. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein a guide rib for extending in the direction along the inner surface of the dust box body in the vicinity of the opening on the root side of the intake pipe on the inner surface of the dust box body. A handle is formed on the upper lid portion, and a bottom lid is provided for opening and closing the opening on the bottom surface of the dust box body , and the bottom lid is closed by engaging with the bottom lid on the side surface of the dust box body. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , further comprising a clamp for holding. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electric blower is housed in the electric blower housing chamber with an intake port facing upward.

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