JP4984853B2 - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner having a mechanism for compressing collected dust.

  As a conventional vacuum cleaner of this type, there is one in which a dust collection bag that collects dust is compressed by a compression plate, and the amount of dust in the dust collection bag is determined from the position of the compression plate (for example, Reference 1).

  However, in the case of the dust bag, it was not necessary to reverse the compression means. However, when the dust in the dust container is compressed, the dust in the dust container is compressed to increase the dust collection amount. In addition, there is also a purpose of securing a suction air passage and extending the suction force, it is necessary to reciprocate the compression means, and a vacuum cleaner in which a compression plate for compressing dust in the dust collecting container is reciprocally attached A main body, a storage case that supports the vacuum cleaner body in a mounted state, and an operating body that protrudes downward from the dust collecting container; each time the vacuum cleaner main body is mounted in a storage case, the operating body is The storage case is operated by interfering with the storage case, the operating force is transmitted to the compression plate by the transmission mechanism, the dust is compressed after cleaning, and a clutch is provided in the transmission mechanism so that the compression plate can be manually operated regardless of the operation of the operating body There is something that can be operated For example, see Patent Document 2).

In addition, there is a device that can efficiently clean the dust by judging the amount of collected dust from the current flowing through the electric blower and notifying the user (for example, see Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-7927 Japanese Patent Publication No. 64-4776 JP 2000-201872 A

  However, the configuration of the conventional vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 2 does not have a function of notifying the amount of dust collection, and the vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1 also considers a stable compression mechanism. However, it is necessary to provide a means for detection inside the dust collecting container, and it is difficult to use it for detecting the amount of dust from the viewpoint of durability and accuracy. Further, in the electric vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 3, since the change in the current value of the electric blower varies depending on the quality of the collected dust, it is determined from the amount of dust actually collected and the current. There was a difference in the amount of dust, and even when it became full, cleaning continued and dust sometimes overflowed from the dust collection container.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, can compress dust in a dust collecting container with a stable compressive force, and can notify the dust collection amount with high accuracy, and can collect dust. It aims at providing the vacuum cleaner which can prevent overflowing from a container.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, an electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes an electric blower, a control unit that drives and controls the electric blower, a current detection unit that detects a current flowing through the electric blower, and dust collection. A dust collecting container to be collected; a dust collecting container storage unit that is connected to the electric blower and is detachably mounted; and a compression that compresses the dust collected and collected in the dust collecting container Means, a compression drive means for driving the compression means, a load amount detection means for detecting a load applied to the compression drive means, and the load amount detection means when the dust is compressed by the compression means When the predetermined load amount is detected, the compression means is moved backward, the compression movement amount detection means for detecting the compression movement amount of the compression means, and the compression movement amount detected by the compression movement amount detection means Dust collection A dust amount determination means for determining the amount of dust in the converter, and the power supply amount to the electric blower and the control means are set, and the detected current value of said current detecting means, said dust amount determination means and a suctioning state determining means for determining the attraction state and a decision was dust collection amount, the suction status determining means, the amount of dust the dust amount determination means determines that the detected is a and the current detection means below a predetermined amount When the current value is less than a predetermined value, it is determined that fine dust is being sucked in, and the control unit that receives this determination information limits the amount of power supplied to the electric blower by a predetermined amount. At this time , the dust suction force is reduced by reducing the amount of power supplied to the electric blower by a predetermined amount while the pressure of the floor suction tool is high by collecting dust that contains a lot of fine dust. Suppressing adsorption to the surface to be cleaned It is possible to provide a good vacuum cleaner operability of good usability.

  The vacuum cleaner of the present invention is capable of compressing dust with a stable compressive force, is excellent in durability and provides a highly accurate notification of the amount of collected dust and controls the power supply to the electric blower to collect dust. It can prevent dust from overflowing from the container and is easy to use.

The first invention communicates with the electric blower, control means for driving and controlling the electric blower, current detection means for detecting a current flowing through the electric blower, a dust collecting container for collecting dust, and the electric blower. In addition, a dust collection container storage unit in which the dust collection container is detachably mounted, a compression means for compressing the dust arranged and collected in the dust collection container, and a compression drive means for driving the compression means And a load amount detection means for detecting a load amount applied to the compression drive means, and when the load amount detection means detects a predetermined load amount when the dust is compressed by the compression means , the compression means And a compression movement amount detection means for detecting the compression movement amount of the compression means, and a dust for judging the amount of dust in the dust collecting container based on the compression movement amount detected by the compression movement amount detection means Quantity judgment means The electric power supplied to the electric blower and the control means is set, the detected current value, the suction status to determine the attraction state and a dust collection amount the dust amount determination means determines said current detecting means and a determination means, the suction status determination unit, when the current value amount of dust the dust amount determination means determines that the detected is a and the current detection means below the predetermined amount is less than the predetermined value, the suction of fine dust It is determined that the amount of power supplied to the electric blower is limited by a predetermined amount by the control means that has received this determination information , and at this time, by collecting dust with a lot of fine dust, When the pressure of the floor suction tool is high , the power supply to the electric blower is reduced by a predetermined amount , ensuring dust suction and controlling the suction to the surface to be cleaned. An easy-to-use electric vacuum cleaner It can be provided.

In particular, the second invention is provided with a floor suction tool having an electric motor and suction tool control means for driving and controlling the electric motor while sucking dust on the surface to be cleaned of the first invention, and a suction status judging means. The suction tool control means increases the power supply amount to the electric motor by a predetermined amount, and the rotation of the brush in a state where the pressure increases and the suction becomes stronger. It is possible to provide an easy-to-use vacuum cleaner that increases the number and improves operability.

The third aspect of the invention is particularly based on the electric motor current detection means for detecting the current flowing through the electric motor of the second aspect of the invention, the amount of electric power supplied to the electric motor and the current value detected by the electric motor current detection means. A floor surface judging means for judging, and the control means controls the amount of electric power supplied to the electric blower according to the situation of the floor surface judged by the floor surface judging means. Since it is possible to adjust the power supply of the electric blower according to the state of adsorption, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use vacuum cleaner with a better balance between suction force and operability.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
The vacuum cleaner in the 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using FIGS. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the vacuum cleaner according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the vacuum cleaner.

  1 and 2, the vacuum cleaner main body 1 is provided with an electric blower chamber 3 having a built-in electric blower 2 at the rear, and a dust collecting container for detachably storing a dust collecting container 4 for separating and collecting dust at the front. A container storage unit 5 is arranged. An air inlet 7 to which one end of the hose 6 is detachably connected is provided at the front of the cleaner body 1.

  The other end of the hose 6 is provided with a tip pipe 9 provided with a driving operation unit 8 for gripping during cleaning and operating the operation of the cleaner body 1. Reference numeral 10 denotes an extendable or jointable extension pipe, the downstream end of which is detachably connected to the tip pipe 9 and the other end is detachably connected to the floor suction tool 11. 70 is a power cord for supplying power to the cleaner body 1, and a power plug 71 is provided at the tip.

  A container handle 12 for carrying the dust collection container 4 is gripped when carrying the dust collection container 4 or removing the vacuum cleaner main body 1 from the dust collection container storage section 5.

  Next, the configuration of the dust collecting container 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the dust collecting container of the vacuum cleaner, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the dust collecting container, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dust collecting container and the dust collecting container storage unit. FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the dust collecting container.

  3 to 6, the dust collection container 4 includes a dust collection container main body 15 and a filter unit 16 that is detachably attached to the rear opening of the dust collection container main body 15.

  When the dust container 4 is attached to the front part of the dust container body 15 in the dust container housing part 5 of the cleaner body 1, the dust container body 15 is hermetically pressed and communicated with the rear side of the air inlet 7 of the cleaner body 1. A suction port 17 is provided. The dust collecting container body 15 further includes a coarse dust chamber 18 that directly communicates with the suction port 17 and stores coarse dust, and a filter unit 16 that collects fine dust contained in the suction air that has passed through the coarse dust chamber 18. The fine dust chamber 19 for storing fine dust separated from the dust chamber, the lower openings of the coarse dust chamber 18 and the fine dust chamber 19, and the rear end portion thereof are pivotally supported by the dust collecting container body 15 so as to be rotatable. A lid 20 is provided.

  The lid 20 is urged in the opening direction by a coil spring 21 and is normally held in a closed state with a buckle 22 provided on the dust collecting container main body 15. When the container operating part 23 provided in the part is pushed, the buckle 22 is moved outward via the connecting rod C46 connected thereto, and the lid 20 is opened by the urging force of the coil spring 21. Reference numeral 25 denotes a spring material for constantly urging the container operation unit 23 upward.

In the dust chamber 18, the entire inner peripheral wall (four side walls) excluding the portion communicating with the suction port 17 has a lower opening 26.
It is formed of a primary filter A28 having an inclined surface 27 that gradually widens toward the surface.

  In addition, a compression plate 30 having a primary filter B29 is disposed on the upper portion of the coarse dust chamber 18 while being fixed to the lower end of a vertically movable connecting rod A24. The compression plate 30 serves as a compression means for pressing and compressing dust collected in the coarse dust chamber 31. One end of a substantially L-shaped slider 31 is fixed to the upper end of the connecting rod A24. A rack gear 31 a is formed on the side of the slider 31 in the vertical direction. Reference numeral 32 denotes a slider spring made of an elastic member that constantly biases the connecting rod A24 upward, that is, the compression plate 30 always upward.

  A drive shaft 33 is rotatably supported on the side of the dust collecting container 4 and has a gear B35 at the rear end thereof. Further, a gear D37 for transmitting power to the rack gear 31a via the gear group 39. It has.

  On the other hand, when the dust container 4 is attached to the dust container storage part 5, the gear B35 is engaged with the partition wall 40 that partitions the electric blower chamber 3 and the dust container storage part 5 in the vacuum cleaner body 1. A gear storage portion 41 that stores a gear E38 that is rotationally driven by the compression drive motor 56 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the filter unit 16 includes a frame body 42 and a secondary filter 43 that is pleated and provided on the frame body 42 with the pleats in the vertical direction.

  Next, the control method of the vacuum cleaner in this Embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 7 is a control system block diagram of the electric vacuum cleaner.

  In FIG. 7, 51 is an energization detection means for detecting whether the cleaner body 1 is connected to a commercial power source (not shown) and energized.

  Reference numeral 52 denotes a control means constituted by a microcomputer or the like, which outputs a signal to the drive means 54 for driving the electric blower 2 based on the operation information input from the driving operation unit 8 by the user, as well as operation information and energization. Based on the detection information of the detection means 51, the control means outputs a signal to the compression drive means 55 that drives the compression plate 30.

  The compression drive means 55 is composed of a compression drive motor 56 that rotationally drives the gear E38, and receives the signal from the control means 52 to drive the compression plate 30.

  Reference numeral 53 denotes a load amount detecting means for detecting a load amount applied to the compression drive motor 56. In this embodiment, the load amount detection means 53 detects an increase or decrease in the current flowing through the compression drive motor 56 to detect the load amount applied to the compression drive motor 56. I am doing so.

  Reference numeral 57 denotes a compression movement amount detecting means for detecting how much the compression plate 30 has moved in the dust collecting container 4, and in this embodiment, a magnet (not shown) attached to the shaft of the gear E38. Is detected by a detection circuit (not shown) composed of a Hall IC or the like, so that a signal synchronized with the rotational speed can be obtained.

  58 is a dust collection amount judgment means for judging the amount of dust in the dust collection container 4 from the signal detected by the compression movement amount detection means 57. The distance that the compression plate 30 can move as the dust in the dust collection container 4 accumulates. Therefore, the amount of dust is judged.

59 is a dust collection amount notification means for notifying the user of the dust collection amount based on the dust collection amount determined by the dust amount determination means 58. In the present embodiment, 59 is a display circuit (not shown) constituted by an LED or the like. )).

  Reference numeral 60 denotes a brush provided in the floor suction tool 11 for scraping up dust, and reference numeral 61 denotes an electric motor for rotating the brush 60 (see FIG. 1). Reference numeral 62 denotes suction tool control means for driving and controlling the electric motor 61.

  63 is an example of a buzzer for prompting the user to throw away the dust when the amount of dust in the dust collecting container 4 (hereinafter referred to as “dust collecting amount”) is more than a predetermined amount. It is a full notification means composed of, for example.

  Reference numeral 64 denotes a current detection unit configured by a current sensor or the like to detect a current flowing through the electric blower 2. Reference numeral 65 denotes a power supply amount to the electric blower 2 set by the control unit 52 and an actual current detection unit. The suction state determination unit determines a negative pressure applied to the suction from the current value detected by 64 and the dust collection amount determined by the dust amount determination unit 58.

  Reference numeral 66 denotes an electric motor current detecting means for detecting a current flowing through the electric motor 61. Reference numeral 67 denotes an electric power supply amount to the electric motor 61 set by the suction tool control means 62 and an actual electric motor current detecting means 66. This is floor surface judging means for judging the state of the floor surface, that is, the surface to be cleaned, from the detected current value.

  The operation and action of the vacuum cleaner in the present embodiment configured as described above are as follows.

  When the user starts using the vacuum cleaner, when the user plugs the power plug 71 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1 into an outlet provided on the wall of the room, the energization detection means 51 detects that the vacuum cleaner main body 1 is energized. Then, a signal is sent to the control means 52. The control means 52 sends a signal to the compression drive means 55 to drive the compression drive motor 56 that rotationally drives the gear E38. As the gear E38 rotates, the rotational power of the compression drive motor 56 is transmitted to the rack gear 31a via the gear D37 attached to the drive shaft 33, and the compression plate 30 descends and compresses dust. .

  When the compression plate 30 is lowered while compressing the dust accumulated in the dust chamber 18, the load applied to the compression drive motor 56 gradually increases. When the flowing current gradually increases and the load amount detected by the load amount detection means 53 exceeds a predetermined load amount, the compression drive means 55 determines that the dust in the coarse dust chamber 18 is sufficiently compressed, and the compression drive motor 56 is reversed, and the compression plate 30 is retracted to the first top dead center and stopped. This series of operations is performed within a preset number of times.

  At this time, the moving distance of the compression plate 30 from the end of the compression to the start of reverse rotation until the stop at the top dead center decreases as the amount of collected dust in the dust collecting container 4 increases. It can be considered to have a primary relationship with the amount of dust. By detecting the ON / OFF of the magnet in accordance with the rotation of the gear E38 with the Hall IC and using it as a pulse signal, the compression movement amount detecting means 57 detects the movement distance of the compression plate 30 from the number of pulses, and the amount of dust. The determination unit 58 notifies the user of the dust collection amount determined from the detected moving distance by the dust collection amount notification unit 59. By detecting the moving distance of the compression plate 30 from the rotation of the gear E38, it is not necessary to exchange electric signals with the inside of the dust collecting container 4, and the usability is improved from the viewpoint of durability and ease of handling.

In particular, when the amount of collected dust exceeds a predetermined amount, the full notification means 63 alerts the user and the control means 52 determines that the user is full and the electric blower 2 is operated. By stopping the operation of the motor or significantly restricting the power, it is possible to avoid the continuation of cleaning in a state where the suction force is low, prevent the dust from overflowing from the dust collecting container 4, and reduce the burden on the electric blower 2 You can also.

  This full notification is not only notified immediately after the compression operation, but also when the next operation instruction is given by the operation of the operation operation unit 8, if the notification is made again, the dust collection can be more reliably given to the user. It can alert | report that the container 4 is a full state, and can reduce the burden on a vacuum cleaner. Further, if the electric motor 61 of the floor suction tool 11 is not operated, the dust may overflow from the dust collecting container 4 or cannot be sucked and collected in the floor suction tool 11, the extension pipe 10, and the hose 6. Can be prevented.

  Next, when the operation unit 8 is operated to start the operation of the vacuum cleaner, the control unit 52 sends a signal to the drive unit 54 to start the operation of the electric blower 2. The suction force by the electric blower 2 reaches the floor suction tool 11 through the secondary filter 43, the primary filter A 28 and the primary filter B 29, the coarse dust chamber 18, the hose 6, and the extension pipe 10.

  Then, the suction tool control means 62 drives the electric motor 61 to rotate the brush 60 to scoop up the dust on the floor surface to collect the dust, and the air sucked together with the dust is taken into the intake port of the cleaner body 1. 7 enters the coarse dust chamber 18 straight from the suction port 17 of the dust collecting container main body 15, hits the primary filter A 28 and the primary filter B 29, where dust is collected and accumulated. Fine dust contained in the air that has passed through the primary filter A 28 and the primary filter B 29 is captured by the secondary filter 43.

  Here, when the suction air volume decreases due to accumulation of dust, the current of the electric blower 2 decreases. Along with this, the pressure in the suction path increases and the adsorption to the floor surface also becomes stronger. When the value of the current flowing through the electric blower 2 detected by the current detection means 64 is reduced to less than a predetermined value, and the dust amount determined by the dust amount determination means 58 has not yet reached the predetermined amount, the suction status determination means 65 is Therefore, it is determined that there is a lot of fine dust as a ratio of collected dust. In this situation, since the floor suction tool 11 has a high pressure, it is strongly adsorbed on the floor surface, and the operability is deteriorated. At this time, by reducing the amount of power supplied to the electric blower 2 by a predetermined amount, it is possible to suppress the adsorption force and improve the operability. As for suction, since the pressure is high, dust in the center of fine dust can be sufficiently sucked.

  Furthermore, the operability can be ensured by increasing the number of rotations of the brush 60 by the suction tool control means 62 increasing the amount of power supplied to the electric motor 61 in this state. In this case, if the electric power supply amount of the electric blower 2 is not limited, the operability can be improved without reducing the suction force.

  Further, since the current flowing through the motor 61 varies depending on the load applied to the brush 60, the current can be detected by the motor current detection unit 66, so that the floor surface determination unit 67 can determine the situation of the floor surface, and the adsorption. If the power supply amount to the electric blower 2 and the electric motor 61 is determined optimally by determining whether or not the electric power becomes stronger, it is possible to perform control that can satisfy the suction force and the operability at a high level, and is easy to use. A good vacuum cleaner can be provided.

  Next, disposal of dust that has been compressed and accumulated in the dust container 4 will be described.

  When removing the dust collecting container 4 from the dust collecting container storage part 5, it is only necessary to hold the container handle 12 and lift the dust collecting container 4 upward. When the dust collecting container 4 is held on a trash box or the like and the container operation unit 23 is pushed, the connecting rod C46 is lowered, the buckle 22 is moved outward, and the lid 20 and the buckle 22 are moved. The locking is released, the lid 20 is opened by the urging force of the coil spring 21, and the compressed dust in the dust collecting container 4 falls into the trash box.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the load amount detecting means 53 detects a predetermined load amount when dust is compressed by the compression plate 30, the compression plate 30 is moved backward. Further, since the amount of dust in the dust collection container 4 is detected from the amount of movement of the compression plate 30 by the compression movement amount detection means 57 and the dust amount judgment means 58, regardless of the amount of dust in the dust collection container 4. Dust can always be compressed with a constant force, the dust compression is insufficient, the compression force is too strong, and the dust collecting container 4 is not damaged or deformed. Since no mechanical release mechanism is used, it is possible to provide a vacuum cleaner that is excellent in durability and can accurately determine the amount of dust collection.

  Further, since the compression drive motor 56 is provided in the partition wall 40 which is a part of the dust container storage section 5, the dust container 4 can be formed in a light weight and compact, and the dust container 4 can be carried and handled. It becomes extremely easy.

  As a method for detecting the movement distance of the compression plate 30, the Hall IC is used in the present embodiment, but a position sensor, a photo sensor, or the like may be used. Needless to say, a method of judging from the load amount and driving time of the compression driving means 55 is also conceivable.

  As described above, the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention can always compress dust with a stable compressive force, has excellent durability, can perform highly accurate dust collection amount notification, and is easy to use. It can be applied to various vacuum cleaners for home use, business use, and store use.

Whole perspective view of the electric vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 1 of this invention Side sectional view of the vacuum cleaner Partially missing perspective view of dust collector of the vacuum cleaner Cross section of the dust container Perspective view of the dust collection container and the dust collection container storage Rear perspective view of the dust container Control system block diagram of the vacuum cleaner

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vacuum cleaner main body 2 Electric blower 4 Dust collection container 5 Dust collection container storage part 15 Dust collection container main body 30 Compression plate (compression means)
52 control means 53 load amount detection means 55 compression drive means 56 compression drive motor 57 compression movement amount detection means 58 dust amount judgment means 59 dust collection amount notification means 61 electric motor 62 suction tool control means 63 full notification means 64 current detection means 66 electric motor Current detection means 67 Floor surface judgment means

Claims (3)

An electric blower,
Control means for driving and controlling the electric blower;
Current detecting means for detecting a current flowing through the electric blower;
A dust collecting container for collecting dust;
A dust collection container storage unit that communicates with the electric blower and is detachably attached to the dust collection container;
Compression means for compressing the dust collected and collected in the dust collection container;
Compression driving means for driving the compression means;
A load amount detecting means for detecting a load applied to the compression drive means;
While the dust is being compressed by the compression means, if the load amount detection means detects a predetermined load amount , the compression means is moved backward, and the compression movement amount detection detects the compression movement amount of the compression means. Means,
A dust amount judging means for judging the amount of dust in the dust collecting container based on the compression movement amount detected by the compression movement amount detecting means;
Suction status determination for determining the suction state from the amount of power supplied to the electric blower set by the control means, the current value detected by the current detection means, and the dust collection amount determined by the dust amount determination means and means,
The suction status determination means determines that the suction of fine dust is large when the dust amount determined by the dust amount determination means is less than a predetermined amount and the current value detected by the current detection means is less than a predetermined value. The electric vacuum cleaner that limits the power supply amount to the electric blower by a predetermined amount by the control means that has received the determination information . When sucking dust on the surface to be cleaned and having a floor suction tool having an electric motor and suction tool control means for driving and controlling the electric motor, when the suction status judging means judges that a fine dust is sucked , the suction unit control means, electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 in which the power supply to the motor is increased by a predetermined amount. An electric motor current detecting means for detecting a current flowing through the electric motor; and a floor surface judging means for judging a state of the floor surface from a power supply amount to the electric motor and a current value detected by the electric motor current detecting means. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein the control means adjusts the amount of electric power supplied to the electric blower according to the condition of the floor surface determined by the means.

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