JP5578908B2 - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner provided with dust detection means for detecting the amount of dust passing through.

  The electric vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1 includes a light emitter and a light receiver in a main body connection port of a vacuum cleaner body, and a passage of a connection pipe (hose connection pipe) of a pipe portion connected to the main body connection port. Dust detection means for optically detecting the passing amount of the passing dust is provided. And this dust detection means is disclosed in which a transparent member is installed at a part of the connecting tube, that is, at a location where light traveling from the light emitter to the light receiver intersects.

JP 2003-93299 A

  In the electric vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1, the light emitter and the light receiver of the dust detection means are not provided in the connection pipe of the pipe part (hose), but are installed in the main body connection port of the vacuum cleaner body. The connecting pipe can be downsized.

  However, in the vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1, since the connecting pipe is repeatedly attached to and detached from the main body connection port, and dust such as dust is likely to adhere, the above-described attachment / detachment is performed on the transparent member of the connecting pipe. Innumerable scratches are caused by the operation. As a result, the light transmittance of the transparent member is hindered, and the dust detection performance of the dust detection means is reduced.

  The object of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and can reduce the size of the connecting pipe of the pipe portion connected to the main body connection port of the cleaner body, and allows dust to pass through the connecting pipe. It is providing the vacuum cleaner which can detect quantity suitably.

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner main body provided with a main body connection port in a main body case containing an electric blower, and a pipe section provided with a connection pipe connected to the main body connection port at one end and a suction port body at the other end. And a vacuum cleaner provided with dust detection means comprising a light emitter and a light receiver for optically detecting the amount of dust passing through the connecting pipe, wherein the light emitter and the light receiver Is disposed opposite to the inside of the main body connection port, and the connection pipe is connected to the main body connection port, and is guided to transmit light to positions corresponding to the light emitter and the light receiver, respectively. light member is installed, the body of the connecting tube between the connection state between the connection pipe and the body connection port, the light guide member near a region including the light guide member in the connecting tube and the body connection port Dust spills from the connection pipe when it is attached to or detached from the connection port It is characterized in that the gap to prevent the hurt is the light guide member enjoyed is set.

  According to the present invention, the light emitter and the light receiver of the dust detection means for detecting the amount of dust passing through the connection pipe of the pipe part are not provided in the connection pipe of the pipe part, but provided in the main body connection port of the cleaner body. Therefore, the connecting pipe of the pipe part can be reduced in size. In addition, since there is a gap between the connection pipe and the main body connection port between the region near the light guide member including the light guide member in the connection pipe and the main body connection port, the connection pipe is attached to and detached from the main body connection port. In doing so, it is possible to prevent the light guide member of the connecting tube from coming into contact with the main body connection port and causing scratches or the like. As a result, the light transmission by the light guide member can be ensured satisfactorily, so that the amount of dust passing through the connecting pipe can be suitably detected by the dust detection means.

1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention. Sectional drawing which shows the connection state of the main-body connection port of the cleaner body in FIG. 1, and the connection pipe of a pipe part. The expanded sectional view which expands and shows the III section of FIG. The expanded sectional view which expands and shows the IV section of FIG.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

  The vacuum cleaner 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called canister-type vacuum cleaner. The electric vacuum cleaner 1 includes a cleaner main body 2 disposed on a surface to be cleaned, and a pipe portion 3 detachably connected to the cleaner main body 2.

  The vacuum cleaner main body 2 communicates with the main body case 5, a pair of wheels 6 pivotally supported on both sides of the main body case 5, a dust collection chamber 10 provided in the main body case 5, and the dust collection chamber 10. The electric blower 8, the main body control unit 9 that controls driving of the electric blower 8, and the power cord 11 that guides electric power to the electric blower 8 are provided.

  The main body case 5 has a main body connection port 12 communicated with the dust collection chamber 10. The dust collection chamber 10 accommodates the dust collection unit 7. The dust collecting unit 7 separates and collects dust from air (dust-containing air) containing dust sucked into the vacuum cleaner 1 by the negative pressure generated by the electric blower 8. The wheel 6 is a large-diameter traveling wheel for traveling of the cleaner body 2. Furthermore, the power cord 11 includes a power plug 14 at the free end.

  The main body control unit 9 has a plurality of preset operation modes. Each operation mode is associated with an operation signal input from the pipe section 3 and set with different output values to the electric blower 8. The main body control unit 9 selectively selects an arbitrary operation mode from a plurality of operation modes in response to the operation signal input from the pipe unit 3, and drives the electric blower 8.

  The pipe part 3 sucks dust-containing air from the surface to be cleaned by the negative pressure acting from the cleaner body 2 as the electric blower 8 is operated, and guides it to the cleaner body 2. The pipe part 3 is detachably connected to the main body connection port 12 of the vacuum cleaner body 2, and a dust collection hose body 20 including a connection pipe 19, a dust collection hose 21, and a hand operation pipe 22 connected in communication with each other; The dust collection hose body 20 includes an extension pipe 25 that is detachably connected to and communicates with a hand operation pipe 22 of the dust collection hose body 20 and a suction port body 26 that is detachably connected to the extension pipe 25 and communicates therewith.

  The connection pipe 19 of the dust collection hose body 20 is detachably connected to the main body connection port 12 of the cleaner body 2. Moreover, the dust collection hose 21 of the dust collection hose body 20 is formed in an elongated substantially cylindrical shape having flexibility. A hose cover 27 covers a connection portion between the dust collection hose 21 and the connection pipe 19. Further, a gripping portion 23 is provided on the hand control tube 22 of the dust collection hose body 20, and an operation portion 24 is provided on the gripping portion 23. The grip part 23 is operated by the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 to operate the vacuum cleaner 1. The grip portion 23 protrudes from the other end portion side of the hand operation tube 22 and is bent toward one end portion of the hand operation tube 22.

  The operation unit 24 includes a switch corresponding to each operation mode. Specifically, the operation unit 24 includes a stop switch 24A that operates to stop the operation of the electric blower 8, and a start switch 24B that operates to start the operation of the electric blower 8. The start switch 24B may include a weak operation switch (not shown), a medium operation switch (not shown), and a strong operation switch (not shown). The user of the vacuum cleaner 1 operates the operation unit 24 to selectively select the operation mode of the electric blower 8.

  The extension tube 25 is formed in an elongated and substantially cylindrical shape that can be expanded and contracted. The extension pipe 25 is formed in a telescopic structure by superposing a plurality of cylindrical bodies. One end of the extension pipe 25 is detachably connected to the other end of the hand operation tube 22 of the dust collection hose body 20, and is connected via the dust collection hose body 20 (the hand operation tube 22, the dust collection hose 21 and the connection tube 19). It communicates with the interior of the vacuum cleaner body 2.

  The suction port body 26 is detachably connected to the other end of the extension pipe 25 and communicates with the inside of the cleaner body 2 via the extension pipe 25 and the dust collecting hose body 20. In addition, the suction port body 26 is configured to be able to travel on a surface to be cleaned such as a wooden floor or a carpet, and has a suction port 28 on the bottom surface side facing the surface to be cleaned in the traveling state.

  When the start switch 24 </ b> B is operated, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 drives the electric blower 8 in the cleaner body 2 to apply a negative pressure (suction negative pressure) in the dust collection chamber 10 of the cleaner body 2. This negative pressure acts on the suction port 28 of the suction port body 26 from the main body connection port 12 through the dust collecting hose body 20 and the extension pipe 25. Due to the negative pressure acting on the suction port 28, the vacuum cleaner 1 sucks dust collected on the surface to be cleaned together with air from the suction port 28 to clean the surface to be cleaned. The dust-containing air sucked from the suction port 28 is separated into air and dust by the dust collecting unit 7 accommodated in the dust collecting chamber 10. The separated dust is collected by the dust collecting unit 7. On the other hand, the separated air passes through the dust collecting unit 7, is sucked into the electric blower 8, and is exhausted from the cleaner body 2.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, the main body connection port 12 of the cleaner body 2 is configured by a cover body 31 covering the outside of a substantially cylindrical base body 30, and a light emitting element 32 as a light emitter inside, A light receiving element 33 as a light receiving body is disposed.

  The connection pipe 19 of the dust collecting hose body 20 is inserted into the base body 30 and the connection pipe 19 and the main body connection port 12 are connected. A clamp 34 projects from the outer surface of the connection pipe 19, and the clamp 34 is locked to the base body 30 of the main body connection port 12, whereby the connection state between the connection pipe 19 and the main body connection port 12 is maintained. The The connecting pipe 19 is connected to the dust collecting chamber 10 of the cleaner body 2 while being connected to the main body connecting port 12, and the inside of the connecting pipe 19 (that is, the passage 35) is connected to the suction port of the pipe portion 3. The dust-containing air sucked in by the body 26 flows from the dust collection hose 21 side toward the dust collection chamber 10 side.

  The light emitting element 32 is a light emitting diode, for example, and is mounted on the light emitting element substrate 36. The light receiving element 33 is, for example, a CdS photoelectric cell or a photodiode, and is mounted on the light receiving element substrate 37. The light-emitting element substrate 36 and the light-receiving element substrate 37 are connected to the main body so that the light-emitting element 32 and the light-receiving element 33 are opposed to each other across the passage 35 of the connection pipe 19 connected to the main body connection port 12. It is supported by the base body 30 of the mouth 12.

  The light emitting element 32 and the light receiving element 33 are respectively covered with protective covers 38 and 39 made of a transparent material that can transmit light, and are protected from dust and the like. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, these protective covers 38 and 39 are projected from the inner surface 40 of the base body 30 of the main body connection port 12 to the side of the connecting pipe 19 connected to the base body 30 by an amount h. It is configured to protrude.

  As shown in FIG. 2, light guide members 42 and 43 are installed in the connection pipe 19 at positions corresponding to the light emitting element 32 and the light receiving element 33 in a state where the connection pipe 19 is connected to the base body 30 of the main body connection port 12. Is done. These light guide members 42 and 43 are made of a transparent material capable of transmitting light. Further, the light guide members 42 and 43 are elongated in the direction of the optical axis 41 of light traveling from the light emitting element 32 to the light receiving element 33 and are formed in a cylindrical shape. The light projected from the light emitting element 32 passes through the long light guide members 42 and 43, so that the straightness is stabilized and enters the light receiving element 33.

  When the connection pipe 19 provided with the light guide members 42 and 43 is connected to the base body 30 of the main body connection port 12, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. Corresponding portions 44, including the light guide members 42 and 43, are recessed inward by a recess amount t from other portions 45 in the circumferential direction, and are formed in a groove shape extending in the axial direction of the connecting pipe 19. Thereby, when the connection pipe 19 is connected to the base body 30 of the main body connection port 12, it is possible to prevent interference (collision) with the protruding protective covers 38 and 39 together with the light guide members 42 and 43.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the connection pipe 19 provided with the light guide members 42 and 43 is connected to the base body 30 of the main body connection port 12 provided with the light emitting element 32 and the light receiving element 33 and the protective covers 38 and 39. The In this connected state, the outer surface 47A (including the other portion 45) of the light guide member vicinity region 47 including the light guide members 42 and 43 in the connection pipe 19 is connected to the main body connection port as shown in FIGS. A predetermined gap L is set between the 12 inner surfaces 40 of the base bodies 30. As a result, dust such as dust spilled from the connection pipe 19 when the connection pipe 19 is attached or detached can be stored in the gap L, and the light guide members 42 and 43 and the protective cover included in the light guide member vicinity region 47. When the connecting pipe 19 and the main body connection port 12 are attached to and detached from the connecting pipe 19 and the main body connecting port 12, the 38 and 39 are reliably prevented from being damaged (scratched) by dust such as dust.

  As described above, the light-emitting element 32 and the light-receiving element 33 disposed in the main body connection port 12 (FIG. 2), and the light guide members 42 and 43 installed in the connection pipe 19, and the passage 35 of the connection pipe 19. A dust detection device 46 is configured as dust detection means for optically detecting the amount of dust passing through the inside. That is, the dust detection device 46 detects the amount of dust passing through the passage 35 based on a change in the amount of light from the light emitting element 32 received by the light receiving element 33. Specifically, the dust detection device 46 detects that the amount of dust passing through the passage 35 has increased when the amount of light received by the light receiving element 33 has decreased, and conversely, when the amount of light received by the light receiving element 33 has increased. It is detected that the amount of dust passing through the passage 35 has decreased.

  The main body control unit 9 shown in FIG. 1 increases the amount of power supplied to the electric blower 8 when the dust detection device 46 detects that the amount of dust passing through the passage 35 has increased, and suction by the electric blower 8 is performed. Increase power. Further, the main body control unit 9 reduces the amount of power supplied to the electric blower 8 when the dust detection device 46 detects that the amount of dust passing through the passage 35 is reduced, and the suction force by the electric blower 8 is increased. Reduce. Thereby, the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 1 can be saved.

  With the configuration as described above, the following effects (1) to (6) are achieved according to the present embodiment.

  (1) The light emitting element 32 and the light receiving element 33 of the dust detection device 46 for detecting the amount of dust passing through the passage 35 of the connecting pipe 19 in the pipe portion 3 are not provided in the connecting pipe 19, and the vacuum cleaner main body 2 Since the main body connection port 12 is provided, the connection pipe 19 of the pipe section 3 can be downsized. For this reason, when the connection pipe 19 is gripped in order to attach or detach the pipe portion 3 to or from the cleaner body 2, the gripping can be facilitated.

  (2) The connection state of the connection pipe 19 and the main body connection port 12 between the outer surface 47A of the light guide member vicinity region 47 including the light guide members 42 and 43 in the connection pipe 19 and the base body 30 of the main body connection port 12 A predetermined gap L is provided. For this reason, when the connecting pipe 19 is attached to and detached from the main body connecting port 12, even if dust such as sand dust spills out from the connecting pipe 19, the dust is contained in the gap L, and the main body connecting port 12 and the connecting pipe 19 thereafter. It is possible to prevent the surface of the light guide members 42 and 43 of the connection pipe 19 and the protective covers 38 and 39 of the main body connection port 12 from being scratched even when attached to and detached from. As a result, the light transmission by the light guide members 42 and 43 can be ensured satisfactorily, so that the amount of dust passing through the passage 35 of the connecting pipe 19 can be suitably detected by the dust detector 46.

  (3) Protective covers 38 and 39 that protect the light emitting element 32 and the light receiving element 33 installed on the base body 30 of the main body connection port 12 are connected to the main body connection port 12 rather than the inner surface 40 of the base body 30. It protrudes toward the connecting pipe 19 side. Therefore, even when dust accumulates on the inner surface 40 of the base body 30, it is possible to suppress the dust from adhering to the protective covers 38 and 39, and the dust adhering to the protective covers 38 and 39 can be easily removed.

  (4) When the connection pipe 19 in which the light guide members 42 and 43 are installed is connected to the base body 30 of the main body connection port 12, these protective covers are provided so as not to interfere with the protruding protective covers 38 and 39. The portions 44 corresponding to 38 and 39, including the light guide members 42 and 43, are recessed inwardly from the other portions 45 in the circumferential direction and formed in a groove shape. As a result, it is possible to prevent damage due to interference between the protective covers 38 and 39 and the light guide members 42 and 43 when the connection pipe 19 is connected to the main body connection port 12.

  In addition, even when dust adheres to the groove-shaped portion 44, the portion 44 away from the light guide members 42 and 43 is in an open state, so that the attached dust can be easily removed.

  (5) Further, the connecting pipe 19 is formed such that a portion 44 corresponding to the protective covers 38 and 39 is recessed including the light guide members 42 and 43, but a portion 44 ( Since other portions 45 in the circumferential direction (including the light guide members 42 and 43) are not recessed, it is possible to prevent rattling when the connection pipe 19 is connected to the main body connection port 12.

  (6) The connection pipe 19 of the pipe part 3 is provided with light guide members 42 and 43 at positions corresponding to the light emitting element 32 and the light receiving element 33 arranged in the main body connection port 12 of the cleaner body 2, respectively. These light guide members 42 and 43 are formed in an elongated shape in the direction of the optical axis 41 of light traveling from the light emitting element 32 toward the light receiving element 33. For this reason, light directed from the light emitting element 32 to the light receiving element 33 can be stabilized by the light guide members 42 and 43. Therefore, the dust detection device 46 can further improve the amount of dust passing through the passage 35 of the connection pipe 19. Can be detected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric vacuum cleaner 2 Vacuum cleaner main body 3 Pipe part 5 Main body case 8 Electric blower 12 Main body connection port 19 Connection pipe 26 Suction port body 32 Light emitting element (light emitting body)
33 Light-receiving element (photoreceptor)
35 Connection pipe passages 38 and 39 Protective cover 40 Inner surface 41 of base body Optical axes 42 and 43 Light guide members 44 and 45 Location 46 Dust detection device (dust detection means)
47 Light guide member vicinity region h Projection amount t Depression amount L Clearance

Claims (4)

A vacuum cleaner main body provided with a main body connection port in a main body case containing an electric blower, and a pipe portion provided with a connection pipe connected to the main body connection port at one end and a suction port body at the other end, respectively. ,
In a vacuum cleaner provided with dust detection means comprising a light emitter and a light receiver for optically detecting the amount of dust passing through the connecting pipe,
The light emitter and the light receiver are arranged facing the inside of the main body connection port,
In the connection pipe, a light guide member capable of transmitting light is installed at a position corresponding to each of the light emitter and the light receiver in a state of being connected to the main body connection port,
When the connecting pipe is attached to and detached from the main body connection port between the main body connection port and the region near the light guide member including the light guide member in the connection pipe in a connected state of the connection pipe and the main body connection port. A vacuum cleaner is provided in which a gap is set to prevent dust spilling from the connection pipe from being damaged by damaging the light guide member . Each of the light emitter and the light receiver disposed in the main body connection port is covered with a protective cover made of a transparent material, and the protective cover is connected to the main body connection port rather than the inner surface of the main body connection port. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the electric vacuum cleaner is configured to protrude to the side. The connecting pipe in which the light guide member is installed is configured such that the portion corresponding to the protective cover when connected to the main body connection port is depressed more than the other portions in the circumferential direction including the light guide member. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the light guide member is configured to be elongated in an optical axis direction of light traveling from the light emitter to the light receiver.

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