JP6847644B2 - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

The filter that filters and separates dust preferably has a surface area as large as possible so as not to reduce the suction force (or suction power) of the vacuum cleaner. Vacuum cleaners with pleated filters that have a larger surface area than a simple planar filter for the same projected area are known.

JP-A-2007-268120

However, if the folds of the pleated filter become too deep (high), the surface area can be increased, but it is difficult to remove the dust adhering to the filter.

Therefore, the present invention proposes an electric vacuum cleaner that can have a larger surface area per the same projected area (per unit projected area) and that the depth (height) of the crease is suppressed.

In order to solve the above problems, the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention filters and separates dust from an electric blower that generates a negative pressure and air containing dust that is sucked by the negative pressure generated by the electric blower. The filter unit includes a pair of filters facing each other, and the pair of filters face each other on the downstream side and are arranged between the pair of filters to collectively combine the pair of filters. The pair of filters has a dust removing mechanism for removing dust and a connecting air passage for guiding the air flowing out from the downstream side of the pair of filters to the electric blower, and the pair of filters has a ridge line extending in the vertical direction at the time of dust removal. the communication air passage is lower than the uppermost end of the ridge, and that are located above the lowermost end.

The perspective view which shows the electric cleaning apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the electric cleaning apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of a vacuum cleaner body of the electric cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The vertical sectional view of the vacuum cleaner main body of the electric vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the primary dust container of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The side view of the primary dust container of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a primary dust container of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view of the dust removal mechanism of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure of the power transmission mechanism of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure of the power transmission mechanism of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure of the power transmission mechanism of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure of the power transmission mechanism of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the station of the electric cleaning apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the station of the electric cleaning apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the power transmission path of the electric cleaning apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

An embodiment of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15.

1 and 2 are perspective views showing an electric cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes a stationary station 2 and a vacuum cleaner 3 that can be connected to and disconnected from the station 2.

Note that FIG. 1 shows a form in which the vacuum cleaner 3 is connected to the station 2. This form is called a storage form of the electric cleaning device 1. FIG. 2 shows a mode in which the vacuum cleaner 3 separated from the station 2 is used for cleaning.

The vacuum cleaner 3 is a so-called cordless type. The vacuum cleaner 3 is a so-called canister type, but is not limited to this, and may be an upright type, a stick type, or a handy type.

The station 2 has both a charging function of the vacuum cleaner 3 and a function of collecting and accumulating the dust collected by the vacuum cleaner 3. The station 2 is arranged at an appropriate place in the living room.

The user disconnects the vacuum cleaner body 7 of the vacuum cleaner 3 connected to the station 2 from the station 2 (FIG. 2), runs the vacuum cleaner 3 on the surface to be cleaned in the living room, or holds the vacuum cleaner 3 by hand. Take it to and move it to clean the surface to be cleaned. After that, the user returns (connects) the vacuum cleaner main body 7 to the station 2 and stores it (FIG. 1). When the vacuum cleaner main body 7 is connected, the station 2 charges the vacuum cleaner main body 7, while collecting the dust accumulated by the electric vacuum cleaner 3 in a timely manner. That is, after using the vacuum cleaner 3 for cleaning, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 collects the dust collected by the vacuum cleaner 3 in the station 2 each time the vacuum cleaner main body 7 is connected to the station 2, and performs electric cleaning. Empty the machine 3.

The frequency of collecting dust from the vacuum cleaner 3 to the station 2 does not have to be every time the vacuum cleaner 3 is connected to the station 2. The frequency of collecting dust is such that each time the vacuum cleaner 3 is connected to the station 2 a plurality of times, for example, the number of times the dust is collected every week on the assumption that the vacuum cleaner 3 is used once a day, that is, every 7 times. It may be.

The vacuum cleaner 3 includes a vacuum cleaner main body 7 that can travel on the surface to be cleaned, and a pipe portion 8 that can be attached to and detached from the vacuum cleaner main body 7. The pipe portion 8 is fluidly connected to the vacuum cleaner main body 7.

The vacuum cleaner main body 7 is housed in the main body case 11, a pair of wheels 12 provided on the left and right sides of the main body case 11, a primary dust container 13 detachably attached to the main body case 11, and the main body case 11. The primary electric blower 15 is provided, a vacuum cleaner control unit 16 that mainly controls the primary electric blower 15, and a secondary battery 17 that stores electric power supplied to the primary electric blower 15.

The vacuum cleaner main body 7 drives the primary electric blower 15 with the electric power stored in the secondary battery 17. The vacuum cleaner main body 7 exerts a negative pressure generated by the primary electric blower 15 on the pipe portion 8. The electric vacuum cleaner 3 sucks air containing dust (hereinafter referred to as "dust-containing air") from the surface to be cleaned through the pipe portion 8, separates the dust from the dust-containing air, and collects the separated dust. , Accumulates and exhausts clean air after separating dust.

A main body connection port 18 corresponding to a suction port of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 is provided on the front portion of the main body case 11. The main body connection port 18 is a joint to which the pipe portion 8 can be attached and detached. The main body connection port 18 fluidly connects the pipe portion 8 and the primary dust container 13.

The vacuum cleaner main body 7 according to the present embodiment is connected to the station 2 with the main body connection port 18 facing upward. The vacuum cleaner main body 7 is lowered (lowered) from above and connected to the station 2.

The wheels 12 support the vacuum cleaner main body 7 so as to travel. The vacuum cleaner main body 7 is supported by casters (not shown) in addition to the pair of wheels 12.

The primary dust container 13 accumulates dust sucked into the vacuum cleaner 3. The primary dust container 13 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from the dust-containing air flowing into the vacuum cleaner main body 7, while sending clean air from which the dust has been removed to the primary electric blower 15.

The primary electric blower 15 sucks air from the primary dust container 13 to generate a negative pressure (suction negative pressure).

The vacuum cleaner control unit 16 includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a storage device (not shown) that stores various arithmetic programs and parameters executed by the microprocessor. The storage device stores various settings (arguments) related to a plurality of preset operation modes. The plurality of operating modes are associated with the output of the primary electric blower 15. Different input values (input value of the primary electric blower 15 and current value flowing through the primary electric blower 15) are set in each operation mode. Each mode of operation is associated with an input received by the pipe unit 8. The vacuum cleaner control unit 16 selectively selects an arbitrary operation mode corresponding to the input to the pipe unit 8 from a plurality of preset operation modes, reads it from the storage unit, and sets the read operation mode. Therefore, the primary electric blower 15 is operated.

The secondary battery 17 supplies electric power to the primary electric blower 15 and the vacuum cleaner control unit 16. The secondary battery 17 is electrically connected to a pair of charging electrodes 19 provided on the vacuum cleaner main body 7.

The pipe portion 8 sucks dust-containing air from the surface to be cleaned by the negative pressure acting from the vacuum cleaner main body 7 and guides the pipe portion 8 to the vacuum cleaner main body 7. The pipe portion 8 has a connecting pipe 21 as a joint that can be attached to and detached from the vacuum cleaner main body 7, a dust collecting hose 22 that is fluidly connected to the connecting pipe 21, and a hand operation that is fluidly connected to the dust collecting hose 22. The pipe 23, the grip portion 25 protruding from the hand operation pipe 23, the operation portion 26 provided on the grip portion 25, the extension pipe 27 detachably connected to the hand operation pipe 23, and the extension pipe 27 can be attached and detached. It includes a suction port body 28 to be connected.

The connection pipe 21 is a joint that can be attached to and detached from the main body connection port 18. The connection pipe 21 is fluidly connected to the primary dust container 13 through the main body connection port 18.

The dust collecting hose 22 is a long and flexible hose having a substantially cylindrical shape. One end of the dust collection hose 22 (here, the rear end) is fluidly connected to the connecting pipe 21. The dust collecting hose 22 is fluidly connected to the primary dust container 13 through the connecting pipe 21.

The hand operation pipe 23 relays the dust collecting hose 22 and the extension pipe 27. One end of the hand control tube 23 (here, the rear end) is fluidly connected to the other end of the dust collection hose 22 (here, the front end). The hand operating pipe 23 is fluidly connected to the primary dust container 13 through the dust collecting hose 22 and the connecting pipe 21.

The grip portion 25 is a portion that the user grips by hand in order to operate the vacuum cleaner 3. The grip portion 25 protrudes from the hand operation tube 23 in an appropriate shape that can be easily gripped by the user.

The operation unit 26 includes a switch associated with each operation mode. For example, the operation unit 26 is used to supply power to the stop switch 26a associated with the operation stop operation of the primary electric blower 15, the start switch 26b associated with the operation start operation of the primary electric blower 15, and the suction port 28. It includes a brush switch 26c that is associated with the brush switch 26c. The stop switch 26a and the start switch 26b are electrically connected to the vacuum cleaner control unit 16. The user of the vacuum cleaner 3 can selectively select the operation mode of the primary electric blower 15 by operating the operation unit 26. The start switch 26b also functions as an operation mode selection switch during the operation of the primary electric blower 15. Each time the vacuum cleaner control unit 16 receives an operation signal from the start switch 26b, the vacuum cleaner control unit 16 switches the operation mode in the order of strong → medium → weak → strong → medium → weak → ………. The operation unit 26 may individually include a strong operation switch (not shown), a medium operation switch (not shown), and a weak operation switch (not shown) instead of the start switch 26b.

The extension tube 27 having a telescopic structure in which a plurality of cylinders are superposed is expandable and contractible. One end of the extension tube 27 (here, the rear end) is provided with a removable joint to the other end (here, the front end) of the hand operating tube 23. The extension pipe 27 is fluidly connected to the primary dust container 13 through the hand operation pipe 23, the dust collection hose 22, and the connection pipe 21.

The suction port body 28 is capable of traveling or sliding on a surface to be cleaned such as a wooden floor or a carpet, and has a suction port 31 on the bottom surface facing the surface to be cleaned in the traveling state or the sliding state. Further, the suction port body 28 includes a rotatable rotary cleaning body 32 arranged at the suction port 31 and an electric motor 33 for driving the rotary cleaning body 32. One end of the suction port 28 (here, the rear end) is provided with a removable joint to the other end (here, the front end) of the extension tube 27. The suction port 28 is fluidly connected to the primary dust container 13 through an extension pipe 27, a hand operation pipe 23, a dust collection hose 22, and a connection pipe 21. That is, the suction port body 28, the extension pipe 27, the hand operation pipe 23, the dust collecting hose 22, the connecting pipe 21, and the primary dust container 13 are suction air passages from the suction port 31 to the primary electric blower 15. The electric motor 33 alternately repeats operation start and stop each time it receives an operation signal from the brush switch 26c.

The vacuum cleaner 3 starts the primary electric blower 15 when the start switch 26b is operated. For example, in the vacuum cleaner 3, when the start switch 26b is operated while the primary electric blower 15 is stopped, the primary electric blower 15 is first started in the strong operation mode, and when the start switch 26b is operated again. The primary electric blower 15 is operated in the medium operation mode, and when the start switch 26b is operated three times, the primary electric blower 15 is operated in the weak operation mode, and so on. The strong operation mode, the medium operation mode, and the weak operation mode are a plurality of preset operation modes, and the input value to the primary electric blower 15 is smaller in the order of the strong operation mode, the medium operation mode, and the weak operation mode. The started primary electric blower 15 sucks air from the primary dust container 13 and makes the inside of the primary dust container 13 a negative pressure.

The negative pressure in the primary dust container 13 acts on the suction port 31 through the main body connection port 18, the connection pipe 21, the dust collection hose 22, the hand operation pipe 23, the extension pipe 27, and the suction port body 28 in this order. The vacuum cleaner 3 sucks dust on the surface to be cleaned together with air by the negative pressure acting on the suction port 31. The primary dust container 13 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from the sucked dust-containing air, while sending the air separated from the dust-containing air to the primary electric blower 15. The primary electric blower 15 exhausts the air sucked from the primary dust container 13 to the outside of the vacuum cleaner main body 7.

The station 2 is installed at an arbitrary location on the surface to be cleaned. The station 2 includes a pedestal 41 to which the vacuum cleaner main body 7 can be connected, and a dust collecting unit 42 integrally provided with the pedestal 41. Further, the station 2 includes a dust transfer pipe 43 connected to the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3 in the storage form of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

The pedestal 41 has a width dimension similar to that of the dust collecting unit 42, and projects toward the front side of the dust collecting unit 42 and extends in a rectangular shape. The pedestal 41 has a shape and dimensions that can accommodate the vacuum cleaner body 7 of the vacuum cleaner 3 in a plan view.

The pedestal 41 includes a charging terminal 45 that can be connected to the vacuum cleaner main body 7. When the vacuum cleaner 3 is connected to the station 2, the charging terminal 45 contacts the charging electrode 19 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 and is electrically connected.

The pedestal 41 has a bulging portion 46 arranged so as to be close to the side surface of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 in the storage form of the electric cleaning device 1.

The dust collecting unit 42 is arranged behind the pedestal 41. The dust collecting unit 42 is a box body having an appropriate shape that can be placed on the surface to be cleaned integrally with the pedestal 41. The dust collecting unit 42 extends upward from the pedestal 41. The dust collecting unit 42 has an appropriate shape that does not interfere with the vacuum cleaner main body 7 connected to the pedestal 41.

The dust collecting unit 42 collects the dust discarded from the primary dust container 13 through the case 47 and the dust transfer pipe 43, and stores the collected dust in the secondary dust container 48 and the dust collecting unit 42. A secondary electric blower 49 fluidly connected to the secondary dust container 48, a station control unit 51 that mainly controls the secondary electric blower 49, and a power cord 52 that guides power from a commercial AC power source to the dust collection unit 42. , Is equipped.

The top plate of the case 47 and the pedestal 41 is an integrally molded resin product.

The secondary dust container 48 is fluidly connected to the dust transfer pipe 43. The secondary dust container 48 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from the dust-containing air flowing from the dust transfer pipe 43, while sending clean air from which the dust has been removed to the secondary electric blower 49. The secondary dust container 48 is detachably attached to the left side (right side when viewed from the front) of the dust collecting unit 42, and is exposed to the appearance of the station 2.

The secondary electric blower 49 sucks air from the secondary dust container 48 to generate a negative pressure (suction negative pressure), and moves the dust from the primary dust container 13 to the secondary dust container 48. The secondary electric blower 49 is housed on the right side (left side when viewed from the front) of the dust collecting unit 42.

The station control unit 51 includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a storage device (not shown) that stores various arithmetic programs and parameters executed by the microprocessor. The station control unit 51 controls the operability of the secondary electric blower 49 and the charge control of the secondary battery 17 of the vacuum cleaner 3.

The dust transfer pipe 43 is connected to the primary dust container 13 in the storage form of the electric cleaning device 1. The dust transfer pipe 43 is an air passage for moving the dust collected by the vacuum cleaner 3 to the secondary dust container 48. When the vacuum cleaner 3 is connected to the station 2, the dust transfer pipe 43 is connected to the primary dust container 13 and fluidly connects the primary dust container 13 and the secondary dust container 48.

The dust transfer pipe 43 is connected to the suction side of the secondary dust container 48. The negative pressure generated by the secondary electric blower 49 acts on the dust transfer pipe 43 via the secondary dust container 48.

The dust transfer pipe 43 has an inlet connected to the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3 and an outlet connected to the secondary dust container 48. The dust transfer pipe 43 extends rearward from the inlet arranged on the pedestal 41 to reach the inside of the dust collecting unit 42, bends in the dust collecting unit 42 and extends upward, and is arranged on the side of the secondary dust container 48. To the exit.

The charging terminal 45 and the entrance of the dust transfer pipe 43 are attached to the pedestal 41.

When the vacuum cleaner 3 is connected (returned) to the station 2, the charging electrode 19 of the vacuum cleaner 3 is electrically connected to the charging terminal 45 of the station 2, and the dust transfer pipe 43 of the station 2 is primary. It is connected to the dust container 13. After this, the station 2 starts charging the secondary battery 17 of the vacuum cleaner 3. In addition, the station 2 starts the secondary electric blower 49 in a timely manner. The started secondary electric blower 49 sucks air from the secondary dust container 48 and makes the inside of the secondary dust container 48 a negative pressure.

The negative pressure in the secondary dust container 48 acts on the primary dust container 13 through the dust transfer pipe 43. The station 2 sucks the dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 together with the air by the negative pressure acting on the primary dust container 13. The secondary dust container 48 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from the sucked air, while sending the separated dust air to the secondary electric blower 49. The secondary electric blower 49 exhausts the clean air sucked from the secondary dust container 48 to the outside of the station 2.

Next, the vacuum cleaner main body 7 of the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of a vacuum cleaner main body of the electric cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner body of the electric cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The flat cross section of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to a cross section in a plane parallel to the front surface in the storage form of the electric cleaning device 1. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the connecting pipe 21 of the pipe portion 8 is removed from the vacuum cleaner main body 7. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the connecting pipe 21 is attached to the vacuum cleaner main body 7.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the vacuum cleaner main body 7 of the electric cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a tubular rear portion lying down in the width direction of the main body case 11 and a tubular shape in a plan view. The main body case 11 is provided with a front half portion that bulges in an arc shape from the latter half portion toward the front.

The main body connection port 18 extends along a line passing through the center in the width direction and the center in the height direction of the main body case 11 (hereinafter, referred to as a center line C), and reaches the primary dust container 13. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views passing through the center line C.

The wheels 12 are arranged at the left and right ends of the latter half of the tubular shape of the main body case 11, and are concentrically arranged at the latter half of the tubular shape of the main body case 11. The diameter of the wheel 12 is larger than the height of the main body case 11 in the vertical direction (corresponding to the diameter of the latter half of the tubular shape). Further, in the side view of the vacuum cleaner main body 7, that is, the axial view of the wheels 12, the wheels 12 cover the back surface of the main body case 11. Therefore, in the vacuum cleaner main body 7, the wheels 12 can be grounded to the surface to be cleaned even when the main body case 11 is upside down (front and back). The vacuum cleaner main body 7 can invert the main body case 11 upside down (front and back) around the axle of the wheel 12 without interfering with the back surface of the main body case 11 with the surface to be cleaned. The vacuum cleaner main body 7 is provided with training wheels 12a that support the vacuum cleaner main body 7 with the front side facing upward together with the wheels 12. The connecting pipe 21 is provided with training wheels 12b that support the vacuum cleaner main body 7 with the back side facing upward together with the wheels 12.

The secondary battery 17 is arranged on the opposite side of the main body connection port 18 with the axle of the wheel 12 interposed therebetween, that is, at the center of the rear end of the main body case 11. That is, the secondary battery 17 is housed in the latter half of the tubular shape of the main body case 11. The secondary battery 17 has a plurality of cylindrical elementary batteries 17a arranged so as to follow the inner surface of the latter half of the cylinder.

Here, the center line of the latter half of the tubular shape of the main body case 11 and the rotation center line of the wheels 12 are substantially on the same line. The inside of the latter half of the tubular shape of the main body case 11 centered on this line is referred to as region A. Wheel 12 avoids region A. That is, the wheel 12 has an annular shape having an inner diameter larger than that of the region A.

The primary dust container 13 and the primary electric blower 15 are arranged in the area A and arranged in the width direction of the main body case 11. The primary dust container 13 is arranged in a region A1 of the region A that reaches one wheel 12 (for example, the wheel 12 on the right side when the vacuum cleaner main body 7 is connected to the station 2) from the central portion. The primary electric blower 15 is arranged in a region A2 that is biased toward the other wheel 12 of the region A (for example, the wheel 12 on the left side when the vacuum cleaner main body 7 is connected to the station 2).

The main body case 11 has a dust container chamber 61 for detachably accommodating the primary dust container 13, and an electric blower chamber 62 for accommodating the primary electric blower 15. The dust container chamber 61 occupies the area A1. The electric blower room 62 occupies the area A2.

The primary electric blower 15 is housed in the electric blower room 62. The suction port of the primary electric blower 15 is directed to the dust container chamber 61.

The dust container chamber 61 partitions a tubular space that conforms to the shape of the primary dust container 13. The dust container chamber 61 has a dust container insertion / removal port 61a arranged on the side surface of the main body case 11. The opening diameter of the dust container insertion / removal port 61a is smaller than the inner diameter of the annular wheel 12. The dust container insertion / extraction port 61a is arranged inside the annular wheel 12 in the side view of the vacuum cleaner main body 7.

The primary dust container 13 has a tubular appearance having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the wheel 12. The primary dust container 13 is inserted into and removed from the dust container chamber 61 through the dust container insertion / extraction port 61a. That is, the primary dust container 13 is inserted and removed in the width direction of the vacuum cleaner main body 7. As a result, the primary dust container 13 is attached to and detached from the vacuum cleaner main body 7.

Next, the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a primary dust container of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the primary dust container of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the primary dust container of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention in the line VII-VII of FIG.

In addition to FIGS. 3 and 4, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment accumulates dust sucked into the vacuum cleaner 3. The primary dust container 13 includes a separation unit 64 that separates dust from air containing dust, which is sucked by the negative pressure generated by the primary electric blower 15, and a dust collecting unit 65 that accumulates the dust separated by the separation unit 64. A connecting air passage 66 that guides the air flowing out from the dust collecting unit 65 to the primary electric blower 15 is provided.

The separation unit 64 is connected to the main body connection port 18. The separation unit 64 passes through the first separation unit 68 and the first separation unit 68, which separate the relatively heavy dust among the dust from the air by the difference in the inertial force acting on the dust and the air by allowing the air containing the dust to travel straight. It is provided with a filter unit 69 as a second separation unit that separates dust from air containing relatively light dust.

The dust collecting unit 65 is attached to the separating unit 64 and the connecting air passage 66. The dust collecting unit 65 includes a coarse dust collecting chamber 71 for accumulating relatively heavy dust among the dust separated by the separating unit 64, and a filter chamber 72 for accommodating the filter unit 69.

The relatively heavy dust separated by the first separation unit 68 is called coarse dust. The relatively light dust separated by the filter unit 69 is called fine dust. The coarse dust collecting chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72 are collectively referred to as a dust collecting chamber 73.

The dust-containing air flowing from the main body connection port 18 into the primary dust container 13 is separated into coarse dust and other (air containing fine dust) by the first separation unit 68. The separated coarse dust is accumulated in the coarse dust collecting chamber 71. The air (including fine dust) separated by the first separation unit 68 flows into the filter chamber 72. The air that has flowed into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 also flows into the filter chamber 72. The air (including fine dust) that has flowed into the filter chamber 72 is separated into fine dust and air by the filter unit 69. The separated fine dust is captured by the filter unit 69 and accumulated in the filter chamber 72. The clean air that has passed through the filter unit 69 is sucked into the primary electric blower 15 via the connecting air passage 66.

The first separation portion 68 includes a nozzle portion 75 connected to the main body connection port 18, a conical trapezoidal primary filter frame 76 including the nozzle portion 75, and a first mesh filter 77.

The nozzle portion 75 extends into the container body 78 from the suction port 78a of the container body 78 corresponding to the outer shell of the primary dust container 13.

The primary filter frame 76 is provided on the inner surface of the container body 78. The primary filter frame 76 extends in a tapered shape along the center line of the main body connection port 18, that is, substantially along the center line C of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 in a state where the primary dust container 13 is attached to the main body case 11. There is. The bottom of the large diameter is in contact with the inner surface of the container body 78, and the bottom of the small diameter has a coarse dust discharge port 79 connected to the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 of the dust collecting portion 65. The diameter of the bottom of the large diameter is larger than the opening diameter of the suction port 78a. The center line of the coarse dust discharge port 79 substantially follows the center line of the suction port 78a, and substantially along the center line of the main body connection port 18.

The first mesh filter 77 is provided on the side surface of the primary filter frame 76. A relay air passage 81 connected to the filter chamber 72 is defined outside the first mesh filter 77.

The first separation unit 68 becomes negative pressure due to the flow of air sucked into the primary electric blower 15 through the first mesh filter 77 and the flow of air sucked into the primary electric blower 15 through the coarse dust discharge port 79.

The coarse dust collecting chamber 71 accumulates relatively heavy dust separated by the first separation unit 68. The coarse dust collecting chamber 71 is a part of the air passage of the air sucked into the primary electric blower 15. The coarse dust collecting chamber 71 is connected to the coarse dust discharge port 79 of the first separation portion 68. The coarse dust collecting chamber 71 is also connected to the filter chamber 72. The coarse dust collecting chamber 71 is arranged on the center line of the main body connection port 18, that is, substantially on the center line C of the vacuum cleaner main body 7. Further, the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 is expanded in a direction away from the primary electric blower 15, in other words, a direction closer to the filter unit 69. A partition wall 83 having a plurality of coarse dust collecting chamber outlets 82 is provided between the expanded portion and the filter chamber 72 in which the filter portion 69 is housed. A second mesh filter 84 is provided at the outlet 82 of the coarse dust collecting chamber of the partition wall 83. The second mesh filter 84 prevents coarse dust from flowing out from the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 to the filter chamber 72, and compresses the dust accumulated in the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 by the flow of air passing through. The second mesh filter 84 has substantially the same mesh as the first mesh filter 77. Temporarily, the fine dust that has not been separated by the first separation section 68 and has flowed into the coarse dust collection chamber 71 has passed through the second mesh filter 84 and has flowed into the filter chamber 72, or has been filtered in the coarse dust collection chamber 71. It is captured by the coarse dust compressed as in.

The filter unit 69 filters and separates dust, particularly fine dust that passes through the first separation unit 68, from the dust-containing air (dust-containing air) sucked by the negative pressure generated by the primary electric blower 15. The filter unit 69 includes a pair of facing filters 86 and 87, and a secondary filter frame 88 that maintains and supports the shape of the pair of filters 86 and 87.

The pair of filters 86 and 87 face each other on the downstream side. The filters 86 and 87 filter and separate the dust from the dust-containing air sucked into the primary dust container 13. The mesh of the filters 86 and 87 is finer than that of the first mesh filter 77 of the first separation portion 68 and the second mesh filter 84 of the coarse dust collecting chamber 71. The filters 86 and 87 are, for example, non-woven fabrics. The fine dust captured by the filters 86 and 87 includes dust that can pass through the first mesh filter 77 and the second mesh filter 84.

One of the filters 86 and 87 (filter 86) is directly exposed to the air flowing into the filter chamber 72, and the other of the filters 86 and 87 (filter 87) wraps around one of the filters 86 and 87 (filter 86). It is exposed to the air. That is, the filter 86 wants a relay air passage 81 that connects the first separation unit 68 and the filter unit 69, and faces the coarse dust collection chamber outlet 82 that connects the coarse dust collection chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72. .. The filter 87 is hidden behind the filter 86 and is arranged at a position that cannot be seen from the relay air passage 81 and the outlet 82 of the coarse dust collecting chamber.

The pair of filters 86, 87 are pleated filters having substantially the same width (interval) and the same depth of creases.

The filter 86 overlooking the relay air passage 81 and the coarse dust collecting chamber outlet 82 may have a wider and shallower crease than the filter 87. Since the filter 86 desires the relay air passage 81 and the coarse dust collecting chamber outlet 82, the dust passing through the first separation portion 68 and the dust flowing out from the coarse dust collecting chamber 71, that is, fine dust, are first filtered. It sprays on 86. Then, the filter 86 captures fine dust and gradually causes clogging. As the filter 86 is clogged, the fine dust sprayed on the filter 86 from the relay air passage 81 and the outlet 82 of the coarse dust collecting chamber wraps around the filter 87. Then, clogging of the filter 87 also starts. That is, the filter 86 is more likely to be clogged than the filter 87. In other words, dust is more likely to adhere to the filter 86 than to the filter 87. Therefore, by making the crease of the filter 86 wider and shallower than that of the filter 87, the dust can be easily removed from the filter 86 to which the dust is more likely to adhere.

The filters 86 and 87 may have a film of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, so-called Teflon (registered trademark)) on the upstream surface so as to easily remove the adhering dust. Further, only the filter 86, which is more likely to be clogged than the filter 87, may have a polytetrafluoroethylene film on the upstream surface.

The filters 86 and 87 have ridge lines 86a and 87a extending in the vertical direction (vertical direction) in the storage form of the electric cleaning device 1. In other words, the ridges 86a and 87a of the filters 86 and 87 extend in the front-rear direction of the vacuum cleaner body 7. The end faces of the filters 86 and 87 that intersect the creases are open.

The open end faces of the filters 86 and 87 may have a zigzag shape having peaks and valleys along the end face shapes of the filters 86 and 87, or ventilation holes (not shown) between adjacent peaks and peaks. ) May intervene in a plate-shaped frame.

The secondary filter frame 88 supports a pair of filters 86 and 87 facing each other and separated from each other. The space partitioned by the secondary filter frame 88 and the pair of filters 86 and 87 corresponds to the air passage on the downstream side of the filter unit 69. The internal space of the filter unit 69 is connected to the connecting air passage 66. The secondary filter frame 88 has secondary filter outlets 89 arranged on both sides of the filter 86 and connected to the connecting air passage 66. The secondary filter outlet 89 causes the air that has passed through the filters 86 and 87 to flow out to the connecting air passage 66.

The filter chamber 72 is also a fine dust collecting chamber for accumulating fine dust trapped in the filter unit 69 by filtration separation. The fine dust passing through the first mesh filter 77 and the second mesh filter 84 is captured by a pair of finer mesh filters 86 and 87 and accumulated in the filter chamber 72. That is, the dust collecting chamber 73 (coarse dust collecting chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72) is arranged on the upstream side of the filters 86 and 87.

The filter chamber 72 is a part of the air passage of the air sucked into the primary electric blower 15. The filter chamber 72 is connected to the relay air passage 81. The filter chamber 72 is also connected to the coarse dust collecting chamber 71.

Of the dust-containing air flowing from the nozzle portion 75 to the first separation portion 68, the coarse dust having a relatively large mass travels straight from the nozzle portion 75 to the coarse dust discharge port 79 by inertial force and is sent to the coarse dust collection chamber 71. Be done. The dust (coarse dust) flowing from the coarse dust discharge port 79 into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 is accumulated in the coarse dust collecting chamber 71. On the other hand, among the dust-containing air flowing from the nozzle portion 75 to the first separation portion 68, the fine dust and air having a relatively small mass spread radially from the nozzle portion 75 and are provided on the side surface of the primary filter frame 76. It passes through the mesh filter 77, flows into the filter chamber 72 through the relay air passage 81. Along with the dust (coarse dust) flowing from the coarse dust discharge port 79 into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71, a part of the air also flows into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71. The air that has flowed into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 passes through the second mesh filter 84 and flows into the filter chamber 72. Of the air (air containing fine dust) that passes through the first mesh filter 77 or the second mesh filter 84 and flows into the filter chamber 72, the fine dust is filtered and separated by the filter unit 69, and the pair of filters 86 and 87 Captured on the surface. The clean air passing through the filters 86 and 87 is sucked into the primary electric blower 15 through the connecting air passage 66.

The container body 78 partitions the dust collecting chamber 73, that is, the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72. Of the separation units 64, the first separation unit 68 and the connecting air passage 66 are arranged between the filter unit 69 and the primary electric blower 15 and are adjacent to each other.

The pair of wheels 12 sandwich the primary electric blower 15, the separation unit 64 (first separation unit 68 and filter unit 69), the dust collection unit 65 (coarse dust collection chamber 71 and filter chamber 72), and the connecting air passage 66. It is sandwiched between.

The first separation portion 68 is arranged in the central portion in the width direction of the main body case 11, the filter portion 69 is biased to one side portion of the main body case, for example, the right side portion, and the primary electric blower 15 is the other of the main body case 11. It is biased to the side part of, for example, the left side part.

The primary dust container 13 is a container body 78 having a dust collecting chamber 73 for accumulating dust sucked into the vacuum cleaner 3 and a disposal port 91 for discarding the dust accumulated in the dust collecting chamber 73, and a disposal port. It includes a waste lid 92 that opens and closes the 91.

Further, the primary dust container 13 opens and closes an intake port 93 and an intake port 93 that directly introduce air from the outside of the air passage including the primary dust container 13 by the negative pressure generated by the secondary electric blower 49 of the station 2. It is provided with an intake lid 94.

Further, the primary dust container 13 links the dust removing mechanism 95 for removing the dust adhering to the filter unit 69, that is, the dust adhering to the filters 86 and 87, and the dust removing operation of the dust removing mechanism 95 and the opening operation of the waste lid 92. It is equipped with a power transmission mechanism 96.

The container body 78 houses the separation unit 64, that is, the first separation unit 68, and the filter unit 69, and partitions the dust collection chamber 73, that is, the coarse dust collection chamber 71, and the filter chamber 72. Further, the container body 78 partitions the machine room 97 that houses the power transmission mechanism 96. The container body 78 has a tubular shape as a whole. The container main body 78 is mounted in the region A1 with the tubular center line directed in the width direction of the main body case 11.

The disposal port 91 and the intake port 93 are provided on the side surface of the container body 78. The intake lid 94 and the waste lid 92 are opened and closed together. The disposal port 91 is closed by the disposal lid 92 except when moving dust from the vacuum cleaner main body 7 to the station 2. The intake port 93 is closed by the intake lid 94 except when moving dust from the vacuum cleaner main body 7 to the station 2.

The disposal port 91 disposes of the dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 together with the air introduced from the intake port 93. The disposal port 91 is arranged at the rear end of the main body case 11. The disposal port 91 is arranged at a portion where the station 2 and the vacuum cleaner main body 7 are in contact with each other. That is, the disposal port 91 is arranged on the back surface of the main body case 11. The back surface of the main body case 11 is located at the lowermost end of the main body case 11 in the storage form (FIG. 2) of the electric cleaning device 1. The waste port 91 is arranged below the filter unit 69 in the storage form of the electric cleaning device 1.

At the rear end of the main body case 11, a main body case disposal port 98 larger than the disposal port 91 is provided. The main body case disposal port 98 passes through the dust transfer pipe 43 of the station 2 in the storage form of the electric cleaning device 1, and connects the inlet of the dust transfer pipe 43 to the disposal port 91.

The disposal port 91 includes a coarse dust disposal port 101 connected to the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 and a fine dust disposal port 102 connected to the filter chamber 72. The coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102 are arranged in the width direction of the main body case 11, that is, in the center line direction of the container main body 78. The coarse dust collecting chamber 71 and the filter chamber 72 share a partition wall 83 in the vicinity of the disposal port 91 and are adjacent to each other.

The waste lid 92 is a part of the side surface of the container body 78. The waste lid 92 is provided so as to be reciprocally movable in the circumferential direction of the tubular container body 78. The waste lid 92 is supported by the container body 78 by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The waste lid 92 opens and closes the coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102 at once. When the disposal lid 92 is opened, the coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102 are collectively connected to the dust transfer pipe 43.

A packing 103 is appropriately provided at the disposal port 91. The packing 103 is an integrally molded product. The packing 103 is sandwiched between the waste lid 92 and the container body 78, and collectively seals the coarse dust disposal port 101 and the fine dust disposal port 102.

The intake port 93 is an inlet for taking in air into the filter chamber 72 from the outside of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 or from the outside of the air passage connected to the primary electric blower 15 inside the main body case 11. The intake port 93 is a suction port that creates an air flow when moving dust from the vacuum cleaner main body 7 to the station 2.

The intake port 93 is arranged at a position farthest from the disposal port 91 when viewed in the circumferential direction of the container body 78, that is, a position 180 degrees away, in other words, a line symmetric position with the center line of the container body 78 as the symmetric line. .. That is, the intake port 93 is arranged above the filter unit 69 in the storage form (FIG. 1) of the electric cleaning device 1. In other words, the filters 86 and 87 are arranged so as to be sandwiched between the intake port 93 and the disposal port 91.

Further, the intake port 93 is arranged in the air passage on the upstream side (upstream side of the flow generated by the primary electric blower 15) of the filters 86 and 87.

The air introduced from the intake port 93 collectively causes the fine dust filtered by the filters 86 and 87 and the coarse dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 to flow out from the waste port 91. When a negative pressure acts on the filter chamber 72 from the dust transfer pipe 43 through the fine dust disposal port 102, the intake port 93 blows air on the filters 86 and 87. The air blown on the filters 86 and 87 blows off the dust trapped on the surfaces of the filters 86 and 87 and guides them to the fine dust disposal port 102. The filters 86 and 87 have ridge lines 86a and 87a extending in the vertical direction at the time of dust removal, that is, in the storage form of the electric cleaning device 1, and the end faces intersecting the folds are open. Therefore, the air blown on the filters 86 and 87 easily flows along the crease, and the separated fine dust can be smoothly discharged from the end of the crease.

At this time, a negative pressure also acts on the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 from the dust transfer pipe 43 through the coarse dust disposal port 101. Since the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 is directly connected to the filter chamber 72 and indirectly to the filter chamber 72 via the first separation portion 68, a part of the air flowing from the intake port 93 is coarse dust. It also flows into the dust collection chamber 71. The air that has flowed into the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 causes the coarse dust accumulated in the coarse dust collecting chamber 71 to flow out (discard) from the coarse dust disposal port 101.

The intake port 93 according to the present embodiment is provided in the container body 78 of the primary dust container 13 and is arranged in the air passage on the upstream side of the filters 86 and 87, but on the downstream side of the filters 86 and 87 ( It may be provided in the air passage (downstream side of the flow generated by the primary electric blower 15) (the intake port 93 and the intake lid 94 shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 6). In this case, the intake port 93 leads to an air passage from the filters 86 and 87 to the primary electric blower 15, for example, a connecting air passage 66.

The secondary battery 17 surrounds the coarse dust collecting chamber 71. That is, the plurality of elementary batteries 17a included in the secondary battery 17 are arranged along the inner surface of the latter half of the tubular shape of the main body case 11 and surround the coarse dust collecting chamber 71.

Next, the dust removing mechanism 95 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a dust removing mechanism of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the dust removing mechanism 95 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment is arranged between the pair of filters 86 and 87. In other words, the dust removing mechanism 95 is arranged in the internal space of the filter unit 69. The dust removing mechanism 95 collectively removes dust from the pair of filters 86 and 87.

The dust removing mechanism 95 includes a driven portion 106 including a plurality of connected racks 105, and a gear 107 that sequentially meshes with the plurality of racks 105 while rotating in one direction to move the driven portion 106 along a predetermined trajectory. , Is equipped.

The driven portion 106 includes a frame 108 for integrally connecting a plurality of racks 105 in addition to the rack 105, a mechanism for defining the moving direction of the rack 105, for example, a slider 109, and a dust remover 111 in contact with the filters 86 and 87, respectively. , Is equipped.

The plurality of racks 105 of this embodiment are a pair of racks 105 arranged in parallel. The driven portion 106 reciprocates by alternately engaging the gears 107 with the pair of racks 105.

The frame 108 connects the respective ends of the pair of racks 105. The pair of racks 105 and the frame 108 form a rectangle as a whole.

The slider 109 has a hole 105a of the rack 105 and a rod-shaped rail 112 that is inserted into the hole 105a and fixed to the secondary filter frame 88 of the filter unit 69. The slider 109 may have, for example, an elongated hole provided in the frame 108 or the rack 105, and a pin member such as a screw or a rivet that is inserted into the elongated hole and fixed to the secondary filter frame 88. ..

The gear 107 is arranged at the center of the filter unit 69. In other words, the gear 107 is sandwiched between the pair of filters 86 and 87 and is arranged at the center of the projection plane of the filters 86 and 87.

The teeth 107a of the gear 107 are partially provided. In other words, the gear 107 is partially missing the teeth 107a. The teeth 107a of the gear 107 sequentially mesh with the plurality of racks 105 in the process of one rotation of the gear 107. The teeth 107a of the gear 107 are limited to a range (number of teeth) that does not mesh with two or more racks 105 at the same time.

More specifically, the rack 105 has one more tooth 105b than the gear 107 tooth 107a. That is, the number of grooves between the teeth 105b and 105b of the rack 105 is the same as that of the teeth 107a of the gear 107. For example, the gear 107 has four teeth 107a and the rack 105 has five teeth 105b. The distance from the bottom of the groove of the pair of racks 105 to the bottom of the groove is slightly larger than the outermost diameter of the gear 107. This difference (gap) facilitates meshing between the teeth 107a of the gear 107 and the teeth 105b of the rack 105 and smooth removal.

While the gear 107 without the teeth 107a makes a half turn, the teeth 107a mesh with one of the racks 105 to move the driven portion 106 on the outward path. As the rotation of the gear 107 advances (advances by about 180 degrees), the teeth 107a come out of one rack 105, mesh with the other rack 105, and move the driven portion 106 on the return path. The gear 107 may have a period in which the teeth 107a are not temporarily engaged with any rack 105 between the outward path and the return path of the driven portion 106.

The dust removing mechanism 95 having three or more racks 105 may include a mechanism other than the slider 109 that defines the moving direction of the rack 105, and a gear 107 having teeth on the entire circumference. The dust removing mechanism 95 having three or more racks 105 may rotate the gear 107 one or more times when the driven portion 106 makes a round in the orbit.

Next, the power transmission mechanism 96 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment will be described.

9 to 12 are views of the power transmission mechanism of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

9 and 11 show a state in which the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 are closed by the power transmission mechanism 96. 10 and 12 show a state in which the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 are opened by the power transmission mechanism 96. Further, FIGS. 11 and 12 show a power transmission mechanism 96 in which the second gear 122 is omitted.

In addition to FIGS. 3 and 5, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the power transmission mechanism 96 of the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment is a dust removal mechanism 95, a waste lid 92, and an intake lid 94 from the station 2. Is received and distributed to the dust removing mechanism 95, the waste lid 92, and the intake lid 94 and transmitted. The power transmission mechanism 96 includes a joint half body 115, a first transmission mechanism 117 that transmits a driving force from the joint half body 115 to the dust removal mechanism 95, and a second transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force from the joint half body 115 to the waste lid 92. It includes a mechanism 118 and a third transmission mechanism 119 that transmits a driving force from the joint half body 115 to the intake lid 94.

The joint half body 115 is a part of a shaft joint 120 that transmits a rotational driving force. The joint half body 115 is connected to the joint half body 116 of the station 2.

The first transmission mechanism 117 always transmits the driving force input to the joint half body 115 to the gear 107 of the dust removal mechanism 95. The first transmission mechanism 117 simply transmits the rotational driving force input to the joint half body 115 to rotate the gear 107. That is, the first transmission mechanism 117 reverses the gear 107 if the joint half body 115 rotates in the normal direction, and rotates the gear 107 in the normal direction if the joint half body 115 rotates in the normal direction.

The first transmission mechanism 117 includes a first gear 121 that is rotationally integrated with the joint half body 115, and a large-diameter second gear 122 that is meshed with the first gear 121. The second gear 122 penetrates the secondary filter frame 88 of the filter unit 69 and is rotatably supported by a shaft 99 that is rotationally integrated with the gear 107 of the dust removing mechanism 95. That is, the second gear 122 and the gear 107 of the dust removing mechanism 95 are rotationally integrated. Since the second gear 122 is larger than the first gear 121, the dust removing mechanism 95 that operates while flipping or deforming the filters 86 and 87 is a motor with a smaller output (drive source 149 of station 2 described later). ) Can be driven.

The second transmission mechanism 118 opens and closes the waste lid 92 by the driving force input to the joint half body 115. Further, the third transmission mechanism 119 opens and closes the intake lid 94 by the driving force input to the joint half body 115. Since the intake lid 94 and the waste lid 92 are opened and closed at once, when the second transmission mechanism 118 opens the waste lid 92, the third transmission mechanism 119 also opens the intake lid 94. Further, when the second transmission mechanism 118 closes the waste lid 92, the third transmission mechanism 119 also closes the intake lid 94.

The third transmission mechanism 119 swings the first gear 121 shared with the first transmission mechanism 117, the lever portion 123 having teeth 123a arranged in an arc shape and meshed with the first gear 121, and the lever portion 123. A guide portion 124 for guiding and a pair of stoppers 125 for defining a swing range of the lever portion 123 are provided.

The lever portion 123 has a swing center that coincides with the rotation center of the second gear 122. That is, the lever portion 123 is supported together with the second gear 122 by a shaft that rotatably supports the second gear 122. The lever portion 123 is directly connected to the intake lid 94.

The guide portion 124 includes a groove 126 provided in the container main body 78 and a guide plate 127 arranged in the groove 126. The groove 126 extends in an arc shape according to the trajectory of the swing of the lever portion 123. The guide plate 127 is integrated with the lever portion 123.

The stopper 125 defines (regulates) the swing range of the lever portion 123 according to the fully closed position and the fully open position of the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94.

The second transmission mechanism 118 includes a first gear 121 shared with the first transmission mechanism 117 and the third transmission mechanism 119, a lever portion 123, a guide portion 124, and a stopper 125 shared with the third transmission mechanism 119, and a lever portion. It includes a slider 128 that converts the swing of 123 into a reciprocating motion and transmits it to the waste lid 92, and a waste lid closing spring 129 that generates a spring force that fully closes the waste lid 92. The slider 128 pushes over the waste lid closing spring 129 to open the waste lid 92. Further, the slider 128 closes the waste lid 92 by utilizing the spring force of the waste lid closing spring 129.

Here, the power transmission mechanism 96 transmits the driving force from the station 2 to the dust removing mechanism 95 for an appropriate period of time, while the dust removing mechanism 95 is being driven after the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 are fully opened or fully closed. It is necessary to cut off (cut off) the power transmission from the station 2 to the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 even within an appropriate period.

Therefore, the second transmission mechanism 118 cuts off the transmission of the driving force from the joint half body 115 to the waste lid 92 when the waste lid 92 is fully opened or fully closed. Further, the third transmission mechanism 119 cuts off the transmission of the driving force from the joint half body 115 to the intake lid 94 when the intake lid 94 is fully opened or fully closed.

Specifically, the second transmission mechanism 118 and the third transmission mechanism 119 release the meshing between the teeth 123a of the lever portion 123 and the first gear 121 when the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 are fully opened or fully closed. To do. That is, the teeth 123a arranged in an arc shape are provided (limited) within a range in which the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 come out of the first gear 121 when the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 are fully opened or fully closed.

When the waste lid 92 is fully closed or fully opened, the teeth 123a of the lever portion 123 cannot withstand the waste lid 92 whose movement is hindered, and escape from the first gear 121 to block the transmission of the driving force (torque). When the intake lid 94 is fully closed or fully opened, the teeth 123a of the lever portion 123 come out of the first gear 121 and cut off the transmission of the driving force (torque).

The power transmission mechanism 96 includes a drive source that promotes smooth engagement between the teeth 123a of the lever portion 123 and the first gear 121, for example, a return spring 131. The return spring 131 is crushed to store energy when the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 are fully opened or fully closed. Further, when the return spring 131 starts to open or close the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94, it consumes energy to push back the lever portion 123, and the teeth 123a of the lever portion 123 and the first gear 121 are engaged with each other. Helps to restore the match.

Further, the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 must be fully opened while the dust removal mechanism 95 reciprocates for an appropriate period to remove dust from the filters 86 and 87. If the dust removing mechanism 95 is reciprocated by switching between normal rotation and reverse rotation of the motor (drive source 149 of the station 2 described later), the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 can be switched between normal rotation and reverse rotation of the motor. It will open and close each time. Therefore, the dust removing mechanism 95 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the driven portion 106 can be reciprocated by a gear 107 that rotates in one direction.

Next, the station 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

13 and 14 are perspective views of the station of the electric cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the station 2 from which the top plate of the pedestal 41 and the case 47 of the dust collecting unit 142 have been removed.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the secondary dust container 48 of the station 2 according to the present embodiment includes a centrifuge unit 143 that centrifuges the dust flowing from the dust transfer pipe 43 from the air. The centrifuge 143 is a multi-stage type, and has a first centrifuge 144 that centrifuges the dust flowing from the dust transfer pipe 43 from the air and a second centrifuge that centrifuges the dust passing through the first centrifuge 144 from the air. It is provided with a separation unit 145.

The first centrifuge section 144 centrifuges coarse dust among the dust flowing into the secondary dust container 48. The second centrifuge 145 centrifuges the fine dust that passes through the first centrifuge 144. Cosmic dust is mainly fibrous dust such as lint and cotton dust and dust having a large mass such as sand grains, and fine dust is dust in the form of particles or powder and having a small mass.

The secondary electric blower 49 is connected to the secondary dust container 48 via the downstream air passage pipe 146. The secondary electric blower 49 applies a negative pressure to the primary dust container 13 via the downstream air passage pipe 146, the secondary dust container 48, and the dust transfer pipe 43, and causes the dust accumulated in the primary dust container 13 to be combined with air. Move to the secondary dust container 48.

Further, the station 2 is derived from the connection guide portion 148 provided on the pedestal 41, the drive source 149 for generating the open drive force and the closed drive force of the waste lid 92 of the primary dust container 13 of the vacuum cleaner 3, and the drive source 149. It is provided with a power transmission mechanism 151 that transmits a driving force to the vacuum cleaner 3.

In the connection guide unit 148, when the vacuum cleaner main body 7 is connected to the station 2, the charging terminal 45 of the station 2 is suitably connected to the charging electrode 19 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7, and the dust transfer pipe 43 is connected to the vacuum cleaner main body 7. The vacuum cleaner main body 7 is guided to a position where the vacuum cleaner main body 7 is suitably connected to the waste port 91.

The vacuum cleaner main body 7 is connected to the station 2, the charging terminal 45 of the station 2 is suitably connected to the charging electrode 19 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7, and the dust transfer pipe 43 is suitable for the disposal port 91 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7. The form connected to is the storage form of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

The connection guide portion 148 is recessed in conformity with the shape of the rear end portion of the main body case 11 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7. That is, the connecting guide portion 148 fits into the latter half of the tubular shape of the main body case 11, and is recessed in an arc shape when viewed from the side of the station 2. Since the vacuum cleaner main body 7 is lowered (lowered) from above the pedestal 41 and connected to the station 2, the connection guide portion 148 that matches the shape of the rear end portion of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 is the electric cleaning device 1. Ensure the positioning of the vacuum cleaner body 7 in the stowed mode.

The charging terminal 45 and the inlet of the dust transfer pipe 43 are arranged in the connection guide portion 148.

The drive source 149 is, for example, an electric motor. The drive source 149 is electrically connected to the station control unit 51. The drive source 149 is controlled by the station control unit 51 in the same manner as the secondary electric blower 49.

The drive source 149 generates an open drive force and a closed drive force of the intake lid 94 of the vacuum cleaner 3. The drive source 149 generates the driving force of the dust removing mechanism 95 of the vacuum cleaner 3. That is, the drive source 149 generates the driving force of the waste lid 92, the intake lid 94, and the dust removing mechanism 95. The drive source 149 is provided between the inlet of the dust transfer pipe 43 and the dust collection unit 142.

The power transmission mechanism 151 is an appropriate mechanism for transmitting the power of the drive source 149 from the drive source 149, that is, the center line of the joint half body 115 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 in the storage form of the electric cleaning device 1 from the output shaft of the electric motor. .. The power transmission mechanism 151 according to the present embodiment is a gearbox (illustrated) that rotatably supports and accommodates a plurality of, for example, three gears 151a, 151b, 151c and these gears 151a, 151b, 151c that are meshed with each other. Omitted) and. The power transmission mechanism 151 may be a mechanism in which a pulley and a belt are combined, or a mechanism in which a chain and a sprocket are combined.

Next, a power transmission path for transmitting the driving force of the driving source 149 from the station 2 to the vacuum cleaner main body 7 will be described.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a power transmission path of the electric cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Note that FIG. 15 shows only the station 2 side of the power transmission path 155, that is, only the power transmission mechanism 151 of the station 2.

In addition to FIGS. 9 and 14, as shown in FIG. 15, the electric cleaning device 1 according to the present embodiment is a power transmission path for transmitting a driving force from the drive source 149 of the station 2 to the waste lid 92 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7. The 155 is provided with a coupler 156 that connects and disconnects the power transmission path 155 between the station 2 and the vacuum cleaner 3.

The power transmission path 155 includes a power transmission mechanism 96 of the vacuum cleaner 3 and a power transmission mechanism 151 of the station 2. The coupler 156 connects the power transmission mechanism 96 of the vacuum cleaner 3 and the power transmission mechanism 151 of the station 2 to make the power transmission path 155 function.

The coupler 156 excluding the power transmission mechanism 151 and the joint half body 115 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 is covered with the bulging portion 46 of the pedestal 41. The bulging portion 46 accommodates the joint half body 116 so as to be able to appear and disappear.

The coupler 156 includes a shaft joint 120, a drive source that generates a force for disconnecting the shaft joint 120, for example, a joint cutting spring 157, and a cam mechanism 158 that connects the shaft joint 120 with the drive force generated by the drive source 149. It has. The coupler 156 connects the shaft joint 120 with the driving force of the drive source 149, and disconnects (edges) the shaft joint 120 with the spring force of the joint cutting spring 157.

The shaft joint 120 is a so-called dog clutch. The shaft joint 120 includes a joint half body 115 provided in the power transmission mechanism 96 of the vacuum cleaner 3 and a joint half body 116 provided in the power transmission mechanism 151 of the station 2.

The joint half body 115 includes a plurality of arcuate grooves 161 arranged in a circle. The joint half body 116 includes a plurality of shafts 162 arranged in a circle. Each shaft 162 has a diameter dimension that allows it to enter and exit the arc groove 161. The shaft 162 is preferably tapered so that it can be easily inserted into the arc groove 161.

The joint half body 116 is constantly rotated by the driving force transmitted by the power transmission mechanism 151. The joint half body 115 rotates together with the joint half body 116 by connecting the shaft joint 120. The joint half body 116 protrudes from the bulging portion 46 of the station 2 and is connected to the joint half body 115. The joint half body 116 projects from the bulging portion 46 arranged on the side of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 in the width direction of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 and is connected to the joint half body 115. In other words, when the coupler 156 disconnects the vacuum cleaner body 7 from the station 2 and returns the vacuum cleaner body 7 to the station 2, the direction in which the vacuum cleaner body 7 moves, that is, the direction in which the vacuum cleaner body 7 intersects with respect to the vertical direction. In order to connect the shaft joint 120 by projecting the joint half body 116 from the bulging portion 46, it is possible to prevent dust from entering the station 2 through the gap between the bulging portion 46 and the joint half body 116, and transmit power. Good operation of the mechanism 151 can be guaranteed.

The joint half body 116 is provided so as to project from the bulging portion 46 in the width direction of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 in the width direction and connected to the joint half body 115, or to be provided so as to protrude from the connection guide portion 148, and the vacuum cleaner main body is provided at the station 2. When 7 is connected, it may be connected to the joint half body 115 at the same time (in FIG. 13, the joint half body 116 of the two-point chain wire). Further, the joint half body 116 may be arranged in the dust collecting portion 42, projecting forward of the station 2 and being connected to the joint half body 115 (in FIG. 13, the joint half body 116 of the alternate long and short dash line). ).

The joint cutting spring 157 pulls the joint half body 116 in the direction of breaking the shaft joint 120, that is, in the direction of pulling it away from the joint half body 115.

The cam mechanism 158 is provided on the station 2 side. The cam mechanism 158 is a so-called end face cam. The cam mechanism 158 converts the rotational motion of the power transmission mechanism 151 into a linear motion of the joint half body 116 (a motion in which the joint half body 116 appears and disappears in the bulging portion 46), and the linear motion of the joint half body 116 is appropriately performed. As it progresses, the joint half body 116 is rotated. The cam mechanism 158 includes a primary node 163 that is rotated by the power transmission mechanism 151, and a slave node 164 that is provided on the joint half body 116. The follow-up section 164 is the closest to the shaft 162 of the joint half body 116, and has a recumbent surface 164a extending in the circumferential direction of the joint half body 116, an inclined surface 164b extending in the opposite direction of the shaft 162 of the joint half body 116, and an inclined surface 164b. It has an upright surface 164c, which is connected to the top of the. The upright surface 164c is substantially parallel to the rotation centerline of the joint half body 116. The original section 163 has a shape that allows line contact with the recumbent surface 164a and the inclined surface 164b and surface contact with the upright surface 164c.

When the coupler 156 is not connected, the original section 163 is applied to the lateral surface 164a of the slave section 164 of the cam mechanism 158, or the original section 163 is closest to the lateral surface 164a. In this state, the joint half body 116 is most inserted into the bulging portion 46 of the station 2. When the drive source 149 is started, the original section 163 rotates together with the gear 115c of the power transmission mechanism 151. The rotating original section 163 moves on the recumbent surface 164a of the subsection 164, approaches the inclined surface 164b, and eventually rides on the inclined surface 164b. Then, the joint half body 116 is pushed out from the bulging portion 46 by the force that the original node 163 pushes the inclined surface 164b, and is connected to the joint half body 115. When the rotation of the joint half body 116 progresses and the original section 163 comes into surface contact with the upright surface 164c, the entire coupler 156 rotates in synchronization with the original section 163.

The joint half body 116 is pulled into the bulging portion 46 by the spring force of the joint cutting spring 157. This spring force generates an appropriate frictional force between the original node 163 and the slave node 164, and ensures that the original node 163 rides on the inclined surface 164b of the slave node 164.

The cam mechanism 158 looks at the joint half body 115 of the vacuum cleaner body from the joint half body 116 of the station 2, and rotates the joint half body 116 in either the forward rotation (clockwise direction) or the reverse rotation (counterclockwise direction). Also has an inclined surface 164b and an upright surface 164c. In other words, the cam mechanism 158 has a pair of inclined surfaces 164b and an upright surface 164c that sandwich the lying surface 164a.

Here, for example, in the power transmission path 155, the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 are opened by rotating the joint half body 116 in the normal direction, and the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 are closed by reversing the joint half body 116. explain. One of the inclined surface 164b and the upright surface 164c connects the coupler 156 with the forward rotation of the joint half body 116, and opens the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94. The other inclined surface 164b and the upright surface 164c connect the coupler 156 with the reversal of the joint half body 116, and close the waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94.

The vacuum cleaner main body 7 is connected to the station 2, and the electric cleaning device 1 shifts to the storage form. Then, the charging electrode 19 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7 comes into contact with the charging terminal 45 of the station 2 and is electrically connected to the charging terminal 45. The inlet of the dust transfer pipe 43 comes into close contact with the outer surface of the container main body 78 of the primary dust container 13 through the main body case disposal port 98 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7.

The station control unit 51 uses a detection method such as a charging circuit connected to the charging terminal 45 (not shown), a contact sensor such as a micro switch (not shown), or a non-contact sensor using an infrared sensor (not shown). It is detected that the vacuum cleaner main body 7 is connected to 2. When the station control unit 51 detects that the vacuum cleaner main body 7 is connected to the station 2, the station control unit 51 starts the drive source 149 in a timely manner. When the drive source 149 is started, the joint half body 116 of the station 2 protrudes from the bulging portion 46 and is connected to the joint half body 115 of the vacuum cleaner main body 7. That is, the coupler 156 is connected. The station control unit 51 continues the operation of the drive source 149. The power transmission path 155 to which the coupler 156 is connected distributes and transmits the driving force of the drive source 149 to the waste lid 92, the intake lid 94, and the dust removal mechanism 95.

The waste lid 92 and the intake lid 94 are fully opened by the driving force transmitted from the power transmission path 155. The dust removing mechanism 95 removes fine dust adhering to the filters 86 and 87 by the driving force transmitted from the power transmission path 155. The station control unit 51 continuously operates the drive source 149 for an appropriate period of time, for example, 10 seconds, in which the dust removing mechanism 95 removes fine dust adhering to the filters 86 and 87, and then temporarily stops the drive source 149.

Next, the station control unit 51 starts the secondary electric blower 49. The started secondary electric blower 49 sucks air from the secondary dust container 48 to generate a negative pressure. That is, in the secondary electric blower 49, after the drive source 149 opens the waste lid 92, a negative pressure is applied to the secondary dust container 48. The secondary electric blower 49 applies a negative pressure to the secondary dust container 48 after the drive source 149 opens the intake lid 94. In the secondary electric blower 49, after the drive source 149 drives the dust removing mechanism 95, a negative pressure is applied to the secondary dust container 48.

The negative pressure acting on the secondary dust container 48 acts on the primary dust container 13 through the dust transfer pipe 43 and the disposal port 91. Then, the primary dust container 13 sucks air from the intake port 93. At this time, air is also sucked from the main body connection port 18. The air sucked into the primary dust container 13 causes the coarse dust in the coarse dust collection chamber 71 to flow out from the coarse dust disposal port 101 to the dust transfer pipe 43, and the fine dust in the filter chamber 72 is discharged from the fine dust disposal port 102. It flows out to the dust transfer pipe 43. The dust (dust in which coarse dust and fine dust are mixed) that has flowed into the dust transfer pipe 43 is sucked into the secondary dust container 48 through the dust transfer pipe 43.

The first centrifuge section 144 of the secondary dust container 48 separates coarse dust from the dust flowing from the dust transfer pipe 43 and accumulates it. The second centrifuge 145 separates and accumulates fine dust passing through the first centrifuge 144.

The vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment includes a pair of facing filters 86 and 87. Therefore, the filters 86, 87 have a larger surface area than a single planar filter that is non-face-to-face and has the same projected area. That is, the vacuum cleaner 3 improves the suction power. Further, the filters 86 and 87 have shallower or wider creases than a single pleated filter having the same surface area and the same projected area, and are easy to remove dust adhering to the surface. The surface area of the filters 86 and 87 is the total surface area of the two filters 86 and 87. The projected area of the filters 86 and 87 is smaller than the projected area of the filters 86 and 87 because the filters 86 and 87 face each other. For example, when the filters 86 and 87 are completely overlapped, the projected area of the filters 86 and 87 is equal to the projected area of either of the filters 86 and 87.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment includes a pair of filters 86 and 87 that face each other on the downstream side. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 3 partitions the filter chamber 72 outside the filters 86 and 87. The filter chamber 72 is easier to remove dust than the case where the upstream sides of the filters 86 and 87 are faced to each other and the inner region sandwiched between the filters 86 and 87 is used as the filter chamber.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment includes a dust removing mechanism 95 that collectively removes dust from the filters 86 and 87. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 3 removes the dust of the filters 86 and 87 by a simpler and simpler mechanism than in the case of removing the dust of the plurality of filters 86 and 87 by individual mechanisms. Further, the vacuum cleaner 3 can prevent dust from adhering to the dust removing mechanism 95. This prevents the dust removing mechanism 95 from malfunctioning and realizes maintenance-free operation.

Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment includes filters 86 and 87 having ridge lines 86a and 87a extending in the vertical direction at the time of dust removal. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 3 keeps the dust falling off from the filters 86 and 87 away from the filters 86 and 87 in a state where the air does not pass through the filters 86 and 87, and prevents the dust from reattaching to the filters 86 and 87.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment includes a filter 86 that is directly exposed to the air flowing into the filter chamber 72, and a filter 87 that is exposed to the air that wraps around the filter 86. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 3 causes the pair of filters 86 and 87 to be clogged in order to maintain the suction force for a longer period of time.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment includes a filter 86 having a wider and shallower crease than the filter 87. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 3 can easily remove dust from the filter 86 that causes clogging first.

Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment has a polytetrafluoroethylene film at least on the upstream surface of the filter 86. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 3 can easily remove dust from the filter 86 that causes clogging first.

Therefore, according to the vacuum cleaner 3 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to have a larger surface area per the same projected area (per unit projected area), and it is possible to suppress the depth (height) of the crease. ..

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

1 ... Electric vacuum cleaner, 2 ... Station, 3 ... Vacuum cleaner, 7 ... Vacuum cleaner body, 17 ... Vacuum cleaner body, 8 ... Pipe, 11 ... Body case, 12 ... Wheels, 12a, 12b ... Auxiliary wheels, 13 ... Primary dust container, 15 ... Primary electric blower, 16 ... Vacuum cleaner control unit, 17 ... Secondary battery, 17a ... Elementary battery, 18 ... Main unit connection port, 19 ... Charging electrode, 21 ... Connection pipe, 22 ... Dust collection hose , 23 ... Hand operation tube, 25 ... Grip part, 26 ... Operation part, 27 ... Extension tube, 28 ... Suction port body, 26a ... Stop switch, 26b ... Start switch, 26c ... Brush switch, 31 ... Suction port, 32 ... Rotary cleaner, 33 ... Electric, 41 ... Pedestal, 42 ... Dust collection unit, 43 ... Dust transfer pipe, 45 ... Charging terminal, 46 ... Swelling part, 47 ... Case, 48 ... Secondary dust container, 49 ... Secondary Electric blower, 51 ... Station control unit, 52 ... Power cord, 61 ... Dust container room, 61a ... Dust container insertion / extraction port, 62 ... Electric blower room, 64 ... Separation unit, 65 ... Dust collection unit, 66 ... Communication air passage, 68 ... First separation section, 69 ... Filter section, 71 ... Coarse dust collection chamber, 72 ... Filter chamber, 73 ... Dust collection chamber, 75 ... Nozzle section, 76 ... Primary filter frame, 77 ... First mesh filter, 78 ... Container body, 78a ... Suction port, 79 ... Coarse dust discharge port, 81 ... Relay air passage, 82 ... Coarse dust collection chamber outlet, 83 ... Partition, 84 ... Second mesh filter, 86 ... Filter, 87 ... Filter , 88 ... Secondary filter frame, 86a ... Ridge line, 89 ... Secondary filter outlet, 91 ... Disposal port, 92 ... Disposal lid, 93 ... Intake port, 94 ... Intake lid, 95 ... Dust removal mechanism, 96 ... Power transmission mechanism , 97 ... Machine room, 98 ... Main body case disposal port, 99 ... Shaft, 101 ... Coarse dust disposal port, 102 ... Fine dust disposal port, 103 ... Packing, 105 ... Rack, 105a ... Hole, 105b ... Teeth, 106 ... Driven Part, 107 ... Gear, 107a ... Tooth, 108 ... Frame, 109 ... Slider, 111 ... Dust cleaner, 112 ... Rail, 115 ... Joint half body, 116 ... Joint half body, 117 ... First transmission mechanism, 118 ... Second Transmission mechanism, 119 ... Third transmission mechanism, 120 ... Shaft joint, 121 ... First gear, 122 ... Second gear, 123 ... Lever part, 123a ... Teeth, 124 ... Guide part, 125 ... Stopper, 126 ... Groove, 127 ... Guide plate, 128 ... Slider, 129 ... Disposal lid closing spring, 131 ... Return spring, 142 ... Dust collection unit, 143 ... Centrifugal separator, 144 ... First centrifugal separator, 145 ... Second centrifugal separator, 146 ... Downstream air passage pipe, 148 ... connection guide, 149 ... drive source, 151 ... power transmission mechanism, 151a, 151b, 151c ... Gears, 155 ... Power transmission path, 156 ... Coupler, 157 ... Joint cutting spring, 158 ... Cam mechanism, 161 ... Arc groove, 162 ... Shaft, 163 ... Original section, 164 ... Subordinate section, 164a ... Lying surface, 164b ... Inclined surface, 164c ... Upright surface.

Claims (4)

An electric blower that generates negative pressure,
A filter unit for filtering and separating dust from air containing dust, which is sucked by the negative pressure generated by the electric blower, is provided.
The filter unit may have a pair of filters facing,
The pair of filters face each other on the downstream side.
A dust removal mechanism arranged between the pair of filters and collectively removing the pair of filters,
A connecting air passage for guiding the air flowing out from the downstream side of the pair of filters to the electric blower is provided.
The pair of filters have ridges that extend vertically when dust is removed.
The communication air passage, the electric vacuum cleaner that are located above the lower, and the lowest end than the uppermost end of the ridge. It is a part of the air passage of the air sucked into the electric blower, and includes a filter chamber for accommodating the filter unit.
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein one of the filters is directly exposed to the air flowing into the filter chamber, and the other of the filters is exposed to the air surrounding one of the filters. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein one of the filters has a wider and shallower crease than the other of the filters. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein at least one of the filters has a polytetrafluoroethylene film on the upstream surface.

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