JP4785401B2 - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner used for general home use or business use, and more particularly to control of a rotating brush built in a suction tool.

  Conventionally, when the rotary brush drive motor is locked or close to the state for a long time, there is a central cleaner that stops the rotary brush drive motor to ensure safety and prevents the fan motor from being stopped ( For example, see Patent Document 1). In this central cleaner, the voltage detection means detects the applied voltage of the rotary brush drive motor, the detection output is input to the stop signal generation means, and the stop signal generation means outputs the stop signal of the rotary brush drive motor. It was. This central cleaner uses a transformer as a voltage detection means.

  When the contact of the relay is turned on manually and the rotating brush is rotating normally with the rotating brush driving motor driven, a predetermined voltage is output from the transformer. At this time, the output of the OP amplifier is at the H level, the transistor is turned on, the bidirectional thyristor is kept on, the rotating brush continues to operate, and the fan motor continues to operate normally. In this state, if the rotating brush is locked or close to the state for a long time, a large current (overcurrent) flows through the transformer.

  For this reason, the output voltage on the secondary side of the transformer is extremely lowered. That is, the operating voltage of the drive signal generating means tends to be lower than the limit voltage. In the transformer, in order to detect this voltage, the OP amplifier outputs an L level, the transistor is turned off, the relay contact is opened, the bidirectional thyristor is also turned off, and the power supply to the rotary brush driving motor is performed. When stopped, the rotating brush stops operating.

  As a result, the output voltage on the secondary side of the transformer is restored to a predetermined voltage value. Because of this, the drive signal generating means can continue to operate, and the fan motor can also continue normal operation. Since the relay contact can be closed only by a manual operation, the rotary brush driving motor remains off.

  As described above, when the rotating brush driving motor is locked or close to the state for a long time, the abnormal state of the rotating brush driving motor is detected by the voltage detecting means, and the stop signal generating means stops the rotating brush driving motor. Output a signal. For this reason, the rotary brush drive motor can be stopped, and a normal voltage can be output from the transformer. Therefore, the drive signal generating means performs normal operation and controls the fan motor without stopping and without causing abnormal heat generation of the transformer.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 04-261624 (page 3, FIGS. 1 and 2)

  The relational characteristic between the output current and the output voltage of the transformer of the central cleaner described above is that the voltage decreases as the current increases. Thus, when the current increases, the voltage drops, so the brush motor torque decreases and the brush performance deteriorates. Further, when the power supply voltage fluctuates, the brush drive motor applied voltage changes, so that the detection at the time of rotating brush lock cannot be accurately detected. That is, when the power supply voltage is low, the lock is detected early, and when the power supply voltage is high, the lock is detected late.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and includes a direct current power supply device having a drooping type characteristic in which the output voltage rapidly drops when the output current exceeds a predetermined value. An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner that can ensure stable dust absorption performance because the output voltage does not fluctuate due to changes in the output current, and that can be protected when the rotating brush is locked without being affected by fluctuations in the commercial AC power supply. And

The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention is driven by an AC power source, generates a suction force, a suction motor that sucks dust by the suction force of the fan motor, and a rotation that is built into the suction tool and scrapes up dust. a brush, an electric motor for driving the rotary brush in the DC power supply, and control means for controlling the power supply to the fan motor and the electric motor, and supplies DC power for driving the electric motor to the electric motor, the output current And a voltage detecting means for detecting the output voltage of the DC power supply output from the DC power supply device, and a relationship between the output current and the output voltage having a drooping characteristic. And the said control means controls the DC power supply supplied to the said motor from the said DC power supply device based on the detection voltage from the said voltage detection means, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention is driven by an AC power source, generates a suction force, a suction motor that sucks dust by the suction force of the fan motor, and a rotation that is built into the suction tool and scrapes up dust. a brush, an electric motor for driving the rotary brush in the DC power supply, and control means for controlling the power supply to the fan motor and the electric motor, and supplies DC power for driving the electric motor to the electric motor, the output current And a voltage detecting means for detecting the output voltage of the DC power supply output from the DC power supply device, and a relationship between the output current and the output voltage having a drooping characteristic. intake, and the control means, and controls the DC power supply to the motor from the DC power supply based on a detected voltage from said voltage detecting means, a user-friendly, a stable It can ensure performance.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a vacuum cleaner 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vacuum cleaner 50 includes a main body 1, a hose 3, a hand operating unit 4, an extension pipe 5, and a suction tool 6. The main body 1 includes a fan motor 2 that generates a suction force and a dust collection chamber (not shown) that collects dust sucked by the fan motor 2.

  The hose 3 has one end connected to the main body 1 and the other end connected to the hand operation unit 4 and has flexibility. The suction tool 6 is for contacting dust to be cleaned such as a floor or a tatami mat to suck dust. The suction tool 6 includes a rotating brush 7 that sweeps up dust on the surface to be cleaned and a brush motor 8 that functions as an electric motor that drives the rotating brush 7. The extension pipe 5 connects the suction tool 6 and the hand operation unit 4 and is extendable.

  The hand operating unit 4 includes a power switch (not shown) for starting / stopping power supply to the fan motor 2, a strength switch (not shown) for setting the strength of the suction force of the fan motor 2, and an operation mode (floor mode). And a mode switch for setting a tatami mode, a carpet mode, and the like. That is, it functions as an operation unit that receives instructions from the user. In addition, the hand operation unit 4 may be provided with a display unit (not shown) for notifying that the power supply to the brush motor 8 has been stopped. The hand operation unit 4 may be configured integrally with the hose 3.

Next, the dust collecting operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 50 will be described.
When a user gives an operation instruction via the hand operation unit 4, the fan motor 2 and the brush motor 8 start driving. When the brush motor 8 starts driving, the rotating brush 7 rotates via a belt or the like (not shown). As the rotating brush 7 rotates, dust on the surface to be cleaned is scraped up. The suction tool 6 sucks dust collected by the rotating brush 7 in order to collect the dust in the dust collection chamber. That is, the dust sucked in by the suction tool 6 is conveyed to the main body 1 through the extension pipe 5 and the hose 3 and collected in the dust collecting chamber. The suction air is discharged from the main body 1.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the electric vacuum cleaner 50.
The circuit of the electric vacuum cleaner 50 includes four circuit blocks including a main body 1, a hose 3, an extension pipe 5, and a suction tool 6. The commercial AC power supply 33 supplies AC power to the vacuum cleaner 50. The 15A fuse 34 functions as a protective device when the fan motor 2 is in a locked state or when a short circuit abnormality occurs.

(Circuit configuration of the main body 1)
The circuit of the main body 1 includes a 4A fuse 35, a power transformer 36, a diode bridge 37, a smoothing electrolytic capacitor C1, a constant voltage power supply 38, an electrolytic capacitor C2, a main body driving triac 41, a diode D1, It comprises a smoothing electrolytic capacitor C3, a DC power supply 30, a voltage detection means 31, a transistor 42, a fan motor 2, a microcomputer 32, and a resistor R5.

  The 4A fuse 35 functions as a protective device when the brush motor 8 is in a locked state or when a short circuit abnormality occurs. The power transformer 36 is connected to the commercial AC power source 33 and transforms the commercial AC voltage to a predetermined voltage. The diode bridge 37 rectifies the output of the power transformer 36. The smoothing electrolytic capacitor C1 smoothes the output rectified by the diode bridge 37. The constant voltage power supply 38 has an input side connected to the smoothing electrolytic capacitor C1 and outputs a predetermined constant voltage power supply from the output side. The electrolytic capacitor C2 is for suppressing oscillation of the constant voltage power supply 38.

  The constant voltage power supply 38 supplies a voltage of 5 V to the microcomputer 32 and the hand operating unit 4. The main body drive triac 41 is for driving the fan motor 2 and is a bidirectional thyristor. The diode D1 rectifies the output of the commercial AC power supply 33. The smoothing electrolytic capacitor C3 smoothes the output rectified by the diode D1. The electrolytic capacitor C4 is for suppressing oscillation of the DC power supply device 30.

  The DC power supply 30 has an input side connected to the smoothing electrolytic capacitor C3 and outputs a predetermined DC voltage from the output side. The brush motor 8 is driven by a DC voltage output from the DC power supply device 30. The voltage detecting means 31 detects the output voltage of the DC power supply device 30. That is, the voltage detection means 31 outputs the resistance divided by the detection resistance R6 and the detection resistance R7 to the microcomputer 32. The transistor 42 is a switching element for driving the brush motor 8.

  The microcomputer 32 functions as control means, and controls switching of the transistor 42 based on the detection voltage from the voltage detection means 31. That is, the microcomputer 32 performs on / off control of the transistor 42 based on the voltage detected by the detection resistor R6 and the detection resistor R7 of the voltage detection means 31 due to the drooping characteristics of the DC power supply device 30, and the brush The power supply to the motor 8 is adjusted. The resistor R5 will be described later.

(Circuit configuration of hose 3)
The circuit of the hose 3 includes a bellows portion 40 and a hand operating portion 4. The bellows section 40 incorporates three piano wires (piano wire 44a, piano wire 44b, and piano wire 44c) and one lead wire 43. By connecting the lead wire 43 of the bellows section 40 to the resistance (R1 to R4) of the hand operating section 4, the voltage drop is reduced and a stable voltage can be input to the microcomputer 32. The three piano wires give the hose 3 restorability and flexibility.

  The hand operation unit 4 includes switches SW1 to SW3 and resistors R1 to R4. The input voltage of the microcomputer 32 varies depending on the combination of the resistors R1 to R4 and the resistor R5 incorporated in the circuit of the main body 1 and the on states of the switches SW1 to SW3. Therefore, the microcomputer 32 can determine the operation mode based on this input voltage. The microcomputer 32 controls the power supplied to the fan motor 2 and the brush motor 8 according to the ON state of the switches SW1 to SW3 of the hand operation unit 4.

(Circuit configuration of extension pipe 5)
The extension pipe 5 connects the main body 1, the hose 3, and the suction tool 6 with three piano wires. That is, the extension pipe 5 supplies DC power from the DC power supply device 30 of the main body 1 to the brush motor 8 of the suction tool 6. The extension pipe 5 may be configured to be removable in several stages.

(Circuit configuration of the suction tool 6)
The circuit of the suction tool 6 includes a brush motor 8 and a safety switch 39. The brush motor 8 is driven by a DC power supplied from the DC power supply device 30 of the main body 1 and rotates the rotating brush 7. The safety switch 39 is for shutting off the rotating brush 7 by cutting off the power supply to the brush motor 8 when the suction tool 6 is lifted in the air.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the output current and the output voltage of the DC power supply device 30.
The direct current power supply device 30 has a characteristic (a drooping characteristic) in which the voltage abruptly drops when a predetermined current (for example, about 500 mA) is exceeded (A in the figure). As described above, the operation guarantee range of the brush motor 8 is maintained until the predetermined current (for example, about 500 mA) is reached.

  Therefore, the drive voltage of the brush motor 8 is constant up to the current value just before the rotary brush 7 is locked even if the commercial AC power supply 33 fluctuates. Current detection is possible. Since the electric vacuum cleaner 50 according to the present invention uses this drooping characteristic, the overcurrent is detected, the power supply to the brush motor 8 is stopped, and the brush motor 8 is protected. is there.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the microcomputer 32. Based on the drawing, an electrical operation process of the microcomputer 32 will be described.
When there is a driving instruction from the user via the hand operating unit 4 (step S101), the microcomputer 32 determines the driving mode based on the driving instruction. Then, the microcomputer 32 starts operation according to the operation mode (step S102). In other words, the microcomputer 32 controls the main body drive triac 41 to supply power to the fan motor 2.

  The microcomputer 32 controls the transistor 42 and supplies power to the brush motor 8. When the brush motor 8 starts operation, a current flows through the DC power supply device 30. This current is the output current (horizontal axis shown in FIG. 3). This output current varies depending on the surface to be cleaned. That is, the output current changes depending on the rotation state that changes according to the load condition of the rotary brush 7 incorporated in the suction tool 6.

  Furthermore, the output current also changes when dust such as hair or lint entangles with the rotating brush 7. That is, when the rotating brush 7 is locked, an overcurrent always flows. Then, the output current changes in the same manner as it changes depending on the surface to be cleaned. Therefore, the output current increases as the load condition of the rotary brush 7 built in the suction tool 6 increases. And if it exceeds a predetermined value, a voltage will fall rapidly. The microcomputer 32 constantly detects the voltages of the detection resistors R6 and R7 of the voltage detection means 31 (step S104).

  When this voltage changes and becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage set in advance (step S104; Yes), the microcomputer 32 controls the transistor 42 to be turned off (step S106). That is, by controlling the transistor 42 for driving the brush motor 8 to be turned off, the driving of the brush motor 8 is stopped so that no overcurrent flows into the brush motor 8. By doing so, abnormal heat generation in the brush motor 8 is prevented and the brush motor 8 is protected. On the other hand, if this voltage does not fall below the predetermined voltage (step S104; No), since no overcurrent flows into the brush motor 8, the microcomputer 32 continues the on control of the transistor 42 (step S105). .

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing after the brush motor 8 is stopped. Based on the drawing, an electrical operation process of the microcomputer 32 will be described.
In order to protect the brush motor 8 from the overcurrent generated according to the load condition of the rotating brush 7, the microcomputer 32 controls the transistor 42 to be off and stops the brush motor 8 (step S201).

  After the brush motor 8 stops because the surface to be cleaned is a carpet with long bristle feet, etc., when the surface to be cleaned has changed to a carpet or floor with short bristle feet, or tangled hair or lint When removed, if the stopped state of the brush motor 8 is continued, the cleaning performance is affected. That is, even if the stop condition of the brush motor 8 is released, if the stop state of the brush motor 8 is continued, the adverse effect that the cleaning function (dust removal performance) that is the original function of the electric vacuum cleaner 50 cannot be realized. Will occur.

  When the load condition of the rotating brush 7 is reduced (step S202; Yes), that is, when the voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage value that has been set, the microcomputer 32 controls the transistor 42 to turn on the brush motor 8. The power supply to is resumed (step S203). However, when the load condition of the rotating brush 7 is not reduced (step S202; No), that is, when the voltage is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage value that has been set, the transistor 42 is kept off and power to the brush motor 8 is maintained. The supply remains stopped (step S204).

  In this way, the transistor 42 is automatically turned on and the brush motor 8 is supplied with power to maintain the cleanability even if the user does not give a restart instruction via the hand operating unit 4. Further, when the load condition of the rotary brush 7 is reduced after the brush motor 8 is stopped (when the brush motor 8 is released from the overcurrent state), there is no instruction from the user via the hand operation unit 4. However, since the operation of the brush motor 8 is resumed, the convenience for the user is improved.

FIG. 6 is a state transition diagram showing a state transition of the brush motor 8 corresponding to a change in voltage.
Since the DC power supply device 30 has a drooping type characteristic, when a predetermined current is exceeded (A shown in the figure, which corresponds to A shown in FIG. 3), the voltage suddenly drops. It is like that. Since the microcomputer 32 detects that the voltage is higher than a predetermined voltage set in advance by utilizing this drooping characteristic, an overcurrent does not flow into the brush motor 8. 42 is turned on, and the power supply to the brush motor 8 is continued.

  On the other hand, when the microcomputer 32 detects that the voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage set in advance (A in the figure), an overcurrent flows into the brush motor 8, and thus the transistor 42 is turned off. And the power supply to the brush motor 8 is stopped. As described above, the brush motor 8 is protected by preventing the overcurrent from flowing into the brush motor 8. If the load condition of the rotating brush 7 is not reduced even after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is preferable that the notifying means (not shown) leave the state.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when a stop state is notified.
When the load condition of the rotary brush 7 of the suction tool 6 changes due to the surface to be cleaned or the rotary brush 7 is locked, and the voltage drops rapidly due to the overcurrent flowing, the microcomputer 32 controls the transistor 42 to turn off. Then, the brush motor 8 is stopped (step S301). When the predetermined time (T1) has elapsed (step S302; Yes), the microcomputer 32 causes the notifying means (not shown) to notify the state (step S303).

  If it does so, the user of the vacuum cleaner 50 who knew the state can change to the operation mode according to the surface to be cleaned, or can change the strength of the suction force of the fan motor 2. In addition, it is good to display this alerting | reporting means on the display part of illustration omitted provided in the hand operation part 4, or to warn with a sound or a buzzer. Further, when no operation is performed by the user even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the fan motor 2 may be stopped and the operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 50 may be terminated.

It is a schematic structure figure showing a vacuum cleaner concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a circuit diagram which shows the circuit structure of a vacuum cleaner. It is a characteristic view showing the relationship between the output current and output voltage of a DC power supply device. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a microcomputer. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process after stopping a brush motor. It is a state transition diagram which shows the state transition of the brush motor corresponding to the change of a voltage. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process at the time of alert | reporting a stop state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body, 2 Fan motor, 3 hose, 4 hand operation part, 5 Extension pipe, 6 Suction tool, 7 Rotating brush, 8 Brush motor, 30 DC power supply device, 31 Voltage detection means, 32 Microcomputer, 33 Commercial AC power supply, 34 15A fuse, 35 4A fuse, 35 power transformer, 37 diode bridge, 38 constant voltage power supply, 39 safety switch, 40 bellows part, 41 triac for driving main body, 42 transistor, 43 lead wire, 44a to 44c piano wire, C1 smoothing Power capacitor, C2 electrolytic capacitor, C3 smoothing power capacitor, C4 electrolytic capacitor, D1 diode, R1 to R5 resistor, R6 detection resistor, R7 detection resistor, SW1 to SW3 switch.

Claims (2)

A fan motor that is driven by an AC power source and generates suction
A suction tool for sucking dust by the suction force of the fan motor;
A rotating brush that is built into the suction tool and that sweeps up dust;
An electric motor that drives the rotating brush with a DC power source;
Control means for controlling power supply to the fan motor and the electric motor;
DC power supply for driving the electric motor to the electric motor, and when the output current exceeds a predetermined value, a direct current power supply apparatus having a drooping type relationship between the output current and the output voltage;
Voltage detection means for detecting the output voltage of the DC power source output from the DC power supply device,
The control means includes
A vacuum cleaner that controls a DC power supplied from the DC power supply device to the electric motor based on a detection voltage from the voltage detection means. Informing means for informing that the power supply from the DC power supply device to the electric motor has been stopped,
The control means includes
When the output voltage of the DC power supply device detected by the voltage detection means is equal to or less than a predetermined value set in advance, the power supply from the DC power supply device to the motor is stopped,
After stopping the power supply from the DC power supply device to the electric motor, when the output voltage of the DC power supply device detected by the voltage detection means becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value set in advance, the DC power supply device to the electric motor Power supply to
2. The notification unit is configured to notify the notification unit that power supply to the electric motor is stopped when a state in which power supply to the electric motor is stopped from the DC power supply device has elapsed for a predetermined time. Electric vacuum cleaner.

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