JP4363995B2 - Suction port and cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a suction port body having a pair of flexible members that form a suction path communicating with a suction port, and a cleaning device including the suction port body.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a wet vacuum cleaner for business use, that is, a wet vacuum cleaner, includes a dolly that can travel. A vacuum cleaner main body containing an electric blower is placed on the carriage. In addition, a longitudinal squeegee as a suction port that communicates with the suction side of the electric blower is provided on the front side of the carriage. This squeegee includes a longitudinal case body and a pair of squeegee rubbers as flexible members provided at the lower end of the case body. These squeegee rubbers are opposed to each other in the front-rear direction in the width direction of the case body, and are spaced apart substantially in parallel. These squeegee rubbers are pressed against the floor as a surface to be cleaned and grounded, and a suction path for sucking dust, waste liquid, etc. on the floor is formed between the case body.

  However, in the squeegee described above, the squeegee rubber is disposed so as to be spaced substantially parallel to each other. Therefore, the airtightness and liquid tightness of the suction path cannot be maintained in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the squeegee. As it approaches the longitudinal ends, the suction force decreases rapidly.

Therefore, a squeegee rubber is known in which both ends in the longitudinal direction are fixed to each other (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-57291 (FIG. 3)

  However, in the above-described squeegee, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the pair of squeegee rubbers are fixed to each other. Therefore, when these squeegee rubbers are pressed against the floor surface and deformed, the both ends of both squeegee rubbers are integrated with each other. Twist and deform. As a result, when the squeegee is running, the squeegee rubber located on the rear side in the running direction of the squeegee is separated from the floor surface, and there is a problem in that the suction path is likely to leak.

  This invention is made in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the suction inlet body which can prevent the leak from a suction path, and a cleaning apparatus provided with the same.

The present invention has a longitudinal case body provided with a suction port and notches located at both ends in the longitudinal direction, and projects downward along the longitudinal direction of the case body, with the lower end portion being the surface to be cleaned. And a pair of flexible members that form a suction path that communicates with the suction port between the case body and the case body, and these flexible members are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction of the case body. And both end portions in the longitudinal direction protrude from the notch portion in a free end shape, and the entire portions protruding from the notch portion are in sliding contact with each other in a planar shape.

According to the present invention, the entire ends of the pair of flexible members protruding in the shape of free ends from the notches at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the case body are brought into sliding contact with each other in a planar manner, thereby being flexible by movement. Even when the elastic member is deformed, the entire portion of the flexible member protruding from the case body is displaced from each other while being in sliding contact, and the contact between the surface to be cleaned and both ends of each flexible member is maintained. Leakage from the suction path formed between the flexible member and the case body can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, a configuration of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a vacuum cleaner as a cleaning device. The vacuum cleaner 1 is a wet type vacuum cleaner that collects waste liquid during hard floor cleaning or wax peeling in floor care, that is, a wet cleaner. It is a vacuum cleaner.

  The vacuum cleaner 1 includes a dolly 2 that can travel, a vacuum cleaner body 3 that is placed on the dolly 2, and a squeegee 4 that is detachably attached to the dolly 2 as a longitudinal suction port body. I have.

  The carriage 2 includes a mounting table 11 as a substantially rectangular mounting unit on which the cleaner body 3 is mounted. A pair of front wheels 12 that are turning wheels and a pair of rear wheels 13 that are running wheels are rotatably provided below the mounting table 11, and the front wheels 12 and the rear wheels 13 pass through the carriage 2. The vacuum cleaner 1 can run. Further, a substantially U-shaped handle portion 14 that is held by an operator is provided at the rear portion of the mounting table 11.

  The vacuum cleaner body 3 includes a waste liquid tank 15 that stores both waste liquid and dust sucked from the squeegee 4, and a suction part 16 that is detachably provided on the upper part of the waste liquid tank 15.

  The waste liquid tank 15 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, for example, of metal or the like, and is detachably disposed on the mounting table 11 of the carriage 2.

  The suction part 16 includes a suction part body 17 formed of, for example, a synthetic resin. The suction portion main body 17 closes the upper portion of the waste liquid tank 15 while being attached to the upper portion of the waste liquid tank 15. Further, in the suction portion main body 17, an electric blower 18, a filter (not shown) or the like is accommodated. Furthermore, a power cord (not shown) for supplying electric power to the electric blower 18 is led out from the rear portion of the suction portion main body 17 so as to be wound up. The suction portion main body 17 is provided with a bellows-cylindrical hose body 19 projectingly connected to the suction side of the electric blower 18. The hose body 19 has flexibility and stretchability, and a tip end portion thereof is detachably connected to the squeegee 4. On the other hand, the intake side of the electric blower 18 communicates with the waste liquid tank 15 through a filter or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the squeegee 4 includes a squeegee case 21 as a case body that is formed in a longitudinal shape along a direction intersecting, for example, orthogonal to the width direction of the vacuum cleaner 1, that is, the traveling direction. A plate-like support plate 22 as a reinforcing member attached to the lower part of the squeegee case 21 and a pair of squeegee rubbers 23 and 23 as elastic members attached to the front and rear of the squeegee case 21 respectively. I have.

  The squeegee case 21 is curved in an arc shape in plan view, and is formed in a shape that is substantially symmetrical in the longitudinal direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the squeegee case 21 has both ends in the longitudinal direction positioned forward of the center portion of the mounting body 25 protruding forward from the lower portion of the mounting table 11 of the carriage 2. As shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the squeegee case 21 is composed of an upper case 27 and a lower case 28 which are respectively molded from a synthetic resin.

  In the central region of the upper case 27 in the longitudinal direction, a substantially cylindrical communication pipe portion 36 having a through hole 35 penetrating through the upper case 27 in the vertical direction at the center is projected upward. As shown in FIG. 6, the tip end portion of the hose body 19 is detachably connected to the communication pipe portion 36.

  Furthermore, a pair of substantially cylindrical mounting bases 42 each having an upper bolt insertion hole (not shown) drilled along the central axis are provided on the upper part of the upper case 27 so as to protrude upward. For example, four case fixing holes 43 are formed, respectively. Here, when the squeegee case 21 is attached to the attachment body 25, the attachment base portion 42 has an upper end that abuts on the lower part of the attachment body 25.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, cutout portions 45 from which both end portions of the squeegee rubber 23 can protrude are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the upper case 27. These cutout portions 45 are formed by cutting out the lower end portions of both ends of the upper case 27 into a square shape. A plurality of reinforcing upper ribs 46 are provided in the upper case 27, that is, on the lower side surface.

  The lower case 28 is provided in the upper case 27 so as to be fitted from below. On the lower surface inside the lower case 28, a plurality of ribs (not shown) are provided along the longitudinal direction, and protrude downward.

  In addition, a rectangular suction port 54 that communicates with the lower portion of the communication pipe portion 36 of the upper case 27 in a fitted state between the upper case 27 and the lower case 28 is formed in the center portion of the lower case 28 in the longitudinal direction. A rectangular tube-shaped suction port 55 is provided so as to project downward.

  The upper case 27 and the lower case 28 are fixed to each other in a state where the upper end portion of the squeegee rubber 23 is sandwiched by screwing a screw (not shown) inserted from the lower side of the lower case 28 to the small attachment knob 59. Is done.

  The support plate 22 is provided by a hard member such as metal, for example, and a suction hole 55 of the lower case 28 and a central hole 65 through which a part of the rib of the lower case 28 is inserted, and other ribs of the lower case 28 A fixing hole (not shown) through which a part is inserted is formed.

  The support plate 22 is fixed to the squeegee case 21 with a bolt (not shown) inserted from below. The bolts are screwed to a mounting knob 26 positioned at the upper part of the mounting body 25 in a state where the bolts are respectively inserted into mounting holes (not shown) of the mounting body 25 so that the squeegee 4 can be detachably mounted on the carriage 2.

  Each squeegee rubber 23 is grounded to the floor surface F and sucks waste liquid on the floor surface F as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, and is formed in a plate shape with rubber having flexibility and elasticity. Has been.

  Each squeegee rubber 23 is attached to the lower part of the squeegee case 21 so that the thickness direction is positioned in the front-rear direction, which is a direction intersecting the surface direction of the squeegee case 21 and the support plate 22. The pair of squeegee rubbers 23, 23 are arranged to face and separate from each other in the front-rear direction of the squeegee case 21, and are attached along the longitudinal direction of the squeegee 4.

  Furthermore, the squeegee rubber 23 is attached to the squeegee case 21 and the lower end portion projects downward from the squeegee case 21. For this reason, these squeegee rubbers 23 are grounded to the floor surface F as a surface to be cleaned, so that a suction path S communicating with the suction port 54 is formed between the lower surface of the lower case 28 of the squeegee case 21 and the rib. The squeegee case 21 is formed in a longitudinal shape along the longitudinal direction. Here, the suction passage S sucks in dust, waste liquid, and the like on the floor surface F by driving the electric blower 18.

  Hereinafter, the suction path S opposite to the suction path S of each squeegee rubber 23, that is, the front side of the squeegee rubber 23 located on the front side of the squeegee 4 and the rear side of the squeegee rubber 23 on the rear side of the squeegee 4 will be referred to as the front side. The side, that is, the rear side of the squeegee rubber 23 located on the front side of the squeegee 4 and the front side of the squeegee rubber 23 located on the rear side of the squeegee 4 will be described as back sides.

  These squeegee rubbers 23 are formed so that the longitudinal dimension is larger than that of the squeegee case 21. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, these squeegee rubbers 23 are curved along the curved shape of the squeegee case 21 while being attached to the squeegee case 21, and both end portions thereof are adjacent to the other squeegee rubber 23. And the rear sides of both end portions are in sliding contact with each other so that the suction path S is airtight and liquid tight. That is, both ends in the longitudinal direction of each squeegee rubber 23 are not fixed to each other. Further, both end portions of the squeegee rubber 23 in the longitudinal direction are in sliding contact with each other in a planar shape with substantially no gap between them.

  Further, the back side of each squeegee rubber 23 is formed into a flat surface without any irregularities. A plurality of engagement protrusions 77 that are engaged with slits (not shown) provided in the lower case 28 are provided at the upper end of the back side of the squeegee rubber 23.

  On the other hand, on the front side of each squeegee rubber 23, a plurality of grooves 78 are provided along the vertical direction. Therefore, protrusions 79 are formed at portions between the respective groove portions 78 on the front side of each squeegee rubber 23.

  Each groove portion 78 extends in the vertical direction from the lower end portion of the squeegee rubber 23, is provided in a straight line over the vicinity of the upper end portion of the squeegee rubber 23, and is spaced apart from each other at substantially equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the squeegee rubber 23. Yes. Further, the upper ends of the grooves 78 are located at the lower ends of the upper case 27 when the squeegee rubber 23 is attached. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, these groove portions 78 are formed so that the lower ends of the squeegee rubbers 23 are grounded to the floor surface F and deformed to the suction path S side, that is, the rear side in the running direction of the squeegee 4. Communication with S is possible.

  Arc-shaped portions 81 are formed at the lower ends of the protrusions 79, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, these arc-shaped portions 81 are formed along the longitudinal direction of the squeegee rubber 23 and have an arc shape downward along the surface direction of the squeegee rubber 23. In other words, these arc-shaped portions 81 are formed in an arc shape convex downward in a front view. Further, these arc-shaped portions 81 communicate with the groove portions 78 adjacent to both sides of each projection 79, respectively. In other words, the lower ends of the grooves 78 are expanded in both directions by the arc-shaped portions 81.

  Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

  An operator pulls the hose body 19 forward from the vacuum cleaner body 3 placed on the carriage 11 of the carriage 2 and connects it to the communication pipe portion 36 of the squeegee 4 and plugs the power cord into an outlet (not shown). The electric blower 18 is connected to drive the electric blower 18, grips the handle portion 14, and causes the vacuum cleaner 1 to run on the floor surface F.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower end portion of the squeegee rubber 23 grounded to the floor F is elastically bent backward in the running direction, and the front side of the squeegee rubber 23 positioned on the front side in the running direction of the squeegee 4. The lower end portion of each arc-shaped portion 81 of the squeegee 4 contacts with the floor surface F in a point-like manner, and the lower end portion of the back side of the squeegee rubber 23 located on the rear side in the running direction of the squeegee 4 contacts the floor surface F. The groove portion 78 and the arcuate portion 81 on the front side in the running direction communicate with the suction path S, respectively, and the rear side in the running direction of the squeegee 4 on the suction path S is hermetically and liquid-tightly sealed.

  At the same time, as shown in FIG. 2, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the squeegee rubber 23 located on the rear side in the running direction with respect to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the squeegee rubber 23 located on the front side in the running direction are slightly in contact with each other. It deform | transforms so that it may slip | deviate below, and the airtightness with respect to the floor surface F and the liquid-tightness of the suction path S in a longitudinal direction both ends is maintained.

  Then, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 5, dust or waste liquid on the floor surface F escapes from the lower end of each arcuate part 81 to each groove part 78 adjacent to the arcuate part 81, and the electric blower After being sucked into the suction path S by the drive of 18, it is sucked into the suction part 16 through the suction port 54, the through hole 35 and the hose body 19 in order, and is stored in the waste liquid tank 15.

  When dust and waste liquid accumulate in the waste liquid tank 15, the suction part 16 is removed from the waste liquid tank 15, the waste liquid tank 15 is removed from the carriage 2, and the waste liquid accumulated in the waste liquid tank 15 is discarded. And when using again, after attaching the waste liquid tank 15 to the trolley | bogie 2, the suction part 16 is attached to the waste liquid tank 15. FIG.

  As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the two end portions of the pair of squeegee rubbers 23 protruding in a free end shape from both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the squeegee case 21 are configured to be in sliding contact with each other in a planar shape.

  For this reason, even when the squeegee rubber 23 is deformed by the running of the squeegee 4, both ends in the longitudinal direction of both squeegee rubbers 23 are integrated as in the conventional case where both ends in the longitudinal direction of the squeegee rubber are fixed to each other. Without being twisted, they can be displaced from each other while being in sliding contact with each other so that the contact between the floor surface F and both ends in the longitudinal direction of each squeegee rubber 23 can be maintained, so that leakage from the suction path S can be prevented and the longitudinal ends of the squeegee 4 The suction force can be secured up to

  In addition, both ends of the squeegee rubber 23 in the longitudinal direction are slidably contacted with each other in a planar shape outside the notch 45 of the squeegee case 21, thereby preventing leakage from the suction path S outside the squeegee case 21. it can.

  Further, by providing a groove portion 78 communicating with the suction path S by deformation of the squeegee rubber 23 due to contact with the floor surface F on the front side of the squeegee rubber 23, the squeegee rubber can remove dust or waste liquid when the squeegee 4 travels. 23 can be guided to the suction path S without being pushed, and the cleaning performance can be improved.

  At the same time, it is possible to prevent dust, waste liquid, and the like from becoming resistance to running of the squeegee 4, so that the running performance of the squeegee 4 can be improved and the operability of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can be improved.

  In addition, by making the back side of the squeegee rubber 23 into a substantially flat surface, the squeegee rubber 23 positioned on the rear side in the running direction of the squeegee 4 maintains airtightness and liquid tightness with respect to the floor surface F. Since the contact is made, leakage from the gap between the squeegee rubber 23 located on the rear side in the traveling direction and the floor surface F can be prevented.

  Further, by providing the groove portion 78 along the vertical direction, when the squeegee rubber 23 is deformed when the squeegee 4 travels, the groove portion 78 communicates with the suction path S and is along the travel direction of the squeegee 4. Waste liquid or the like can be more reliably guided to the suction path S along the groove 78.

  Further, by positioning the upper end portion of the groove portion 78 in the vicinity of the lower end portion of the squeegee case 21, the traveling speed of the squeegee 4 is increased and the groove portion 78 can be surely placed in the suction path S even when the squeegee rubber 23 is deformed more greatly. Since it can be made to communicate, the freedom degree of the setting of the running speed of the squeegee 4 can be expanded, and the usability of the vacuum cleaner 1 can be improved.

  Then, by providing an arc-shaped portion 81 along the longitudinal direction of the squeegee rubber 23 at the lower end of the protrusion 79, the protrusion 79 is brought into contact with the floor surface F due to deformation of the squeegee rubber 23 due to contact with the floor surface F. On the other hand, since the lower end portion of the arc-shaped portion 81 makes a point-like contact, the contact resistance between the squeegee rubber 23 and the floor surface F can be further reduced, and the running performance of the squeegee 4 and the operability of the vacuum cleaner 1 can be further improved. It can be improved.

  Further, by connecting the arc-shaped portion 81 to the groove portion 78 adjacent to the arc-shaped portion 81, dust and waste liquid are pushed in the direction of squeegee movement at the protrusion as in the conventional case where the arc-shaped portion is not provided. Therefore, since dust, waste liquid, etc. can escape along the arcuate portion 81 to the groove portion 78 and be sucked into the suction path S, the cleaning efficiency can be further improved.

  In the one embodiment, details of the squeegee 4 are not limited to the above configuration.

  The groove portion 78 can have various other shapes as long as it can communicate with the suction path S by deformation due to the ground contact of the squeegee rubber 23 with the floor surface F.

  Further, as the cleaning device, in addition to the electric vacuum cleaner 1 described above, an upright cleaning device, a self-propelled cleaning device, a handy cleaning device, or the like can be used.

It is a perspective view which shows the suction inlet of one embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the deformation | transformation state of the flexible member of the longitudinal direction one end part of a suction inlet body same as the above. It is a front view which shows a flexible member same as the above. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows a suction inlet same as the above. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a part of same suction inlet body. It is a perspective view which shows the cleaning apparatus provided with the suction inlet same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vacuum cleaner as a vacuum cleaner 4 Squeegee as a suction port
21 Squeegee case as case body
23 Squeegee rubber as a flexible member
45 notch
54 Suction port
78 Groove
81 Arc-shaped part F Floor surface to be cleaned S Suction path

Claims (4)

A longitudinal case body having a suction port and a notch located at both ends in the longitudinal direction ;
A pair of flexible members projecting downward along the longitudinal direction of the case body, and having a lower end grounded to the surface to be cleaned and forming a suction path communicating with the suction port between the case body and Comprising
The flexible member is disposed so as to be opposed to and spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction of the case body, and both end portions in the longitudinal direction protrude from the notch portion in a free end shape and project from the notch portion. A suction port characterized in that the whole is in sliding contact with each other in a plane. The suction port body according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member includes a plurality of grooves extending in the vertical direction on the side opposite to the surfaces facing each other. The suction port body according to claim 2, wherein the flexible member includes an arcuate portion along a longitudinal direction of the flexible member at a lower end portion between the groove portions. A cleaning device comprising the suction port according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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