JP6945793B2 - Electric cleaning equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electric cleaning device (for example, a vacuum cleaner nozzle or a robot type electric vacuum cleaner) and an electric vacuum cleaner (for example, a can type or a stick type) having a nozzle formed by such an electric cleaning device. ..

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-113315 discloses a dust suction nozzle for an electric vacuum cleaner, which is configured to appropriately capture and suck dust even when dust is scattered during cleaning and protect the surface to be cleaned. doing. At the bottom of the nozzle case connected to the hose of the vacuum cleaner through the connection part, a brush part and a feather brush part extending outward from the nozzle case are provided, and a dust suction port connected to the connection part is provided in the nozzle case. Can be opened on the peripheral wall. The nozzle case is an outer tube with a top plate formed with a connection port connected to the connection and a peripheral wall opened to provide a dust suction port connected to the connection and lower opening. It is a double tube structure having a suction port connected to a connection portion, a brush portion at the bottom, and an inner tubular body having a feather brush portion extending outward from the opening end of the bottom of the outer tubular body. .. The feather brush member is formed by orienting the posterior curved tip of each of the many outwardly oriented feathers placed around the inner tubing, and these base ends that contact the periphery of the inner tubing are It is wound and fixed by a ligating member.

The field of quick / flexible vacuum cleaner cleaning is becoming more and more popular. The set of requirements for nozzles is changing in these rapid vacuum cleaners as they are mainly used to clean tight spaces, small areas and coarse dust particles under furniture.

Known vacuum cleaner nozzles are usually square and rigid. This may not be the optimal shape for cleaning small spaces. Current nozzles suck dust through a plurality of evenly divided openings along the periphery of the nozzle. There is an air flow through all of these holes, but there is an air flow that is needed only in the direction of movement. This is a waste of suction power and is therefore inefficient.

An object of the present invention is, among other things, to provide an electric cleaning device that provides a user with improved efficiency and omnidirectional flexibility. The present invention is defined by the independent claims. Advantageous examples are defined in the dependent claims.

An embodiment of the present invention introduces a flexible moving part that is pulled over the floor and follows the direction of movement, producing a guide for coarse dust that is always in front of the suction hole nozzle. The current forward is determined by the current direction of movement.

These and other aspects of the invention will be explained and clarified with reference to the examples described below.

The behavior of the example of the vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the present invention is shown. The behavior of the example of the vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the present invention is shown. The behavior of the example of the vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the present invention is shown. Other figures of the examples according to the present invention are shown. Other examples of the present invention are shown. Other examples of the present invention are shown. Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

The embodiments of the present invention are primarily insights that conventional rectangular vacuum cleaner nozzles are designed to cover a large area and such requirements are not valid in the area of "quick / flexible cleaning" applications. based on. For quick / flexible cleaning, it is important to have easy-to-maneuver and lightweight equipment (saving energy).

In one embodiment, the vacuum cleaner nozzle has a plurality of elements Lx, in this embodiment, six leaf-shaped or petal-shaped portions L1 to L6, preferably made of a flexible material. Each of these elements, however, rotates around the corresponding axis (.) A in the center of the nozzle, preferably around the corresponding axis A evenly spaced around the central region C. From here, dirty air passes through the suction tube T and away toward the fan of the can-type or stick-type vacuum cleaner. The drag force of the movement causes the leaf-shaped portions L1 to L6 to be fastened to the rear, forms a suction hole in the direction MD of the movement, and closes the opening on the other side of the nozzle. When the leaflets L1 to L6 are hollow (as shown in FIG. 4), the suction caused by the vacuum cleaner fan at the other end of the suction tube T causes decompression in the leaflets L1 to L6. It improves the operation of the nozzle in that it increases the drag force and thus moves the foliage so that the suction holes stay only in the MD in the direction of travel. Another way to increase the drag force is to select the material for the foliage (or at least part of the foliage in contact with the floor). Rubber, for example, provides sufficient friction with the floor, seals the decompression on a hard floor, and drags on a soft floor.

The shape of the foliage guides large particles towards the hole. This provides a vacuum cleaner feel that is close to map-covering, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in the drawing, when the nozzle is moved to the left, there is an open passage only on the left, and all airflow goes to the passage on the left. Airflow from other directions is blocked by foliate portions L1 to L6 that are being forced to align close to each other. The foliate portions that will be anterior as a result of the movement direction MD (ie, L1 and L6 in the movement shown in FIG. 1 and L4 and L5 in the movement shown in FIG. 2) are between these anterior foliate portions. Guide coarse dust towards the suction opening.

Upon encountering furniture such as table legs TL or chair legs, the leaflets L1 through L6 are curved as shown in FIG. 3 to provide suction around the object. Preferably, the central region C of the nozzle is free to rotate around its center in order to facilitate the movement of the nozzle in a mop-like manner around an object such as a table leg.

Decompression under the foliate portions L1 to L6 ensures that the gap CV in the floor F is aspirated until empty. For this purpose, in one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the foliate portions L1 to L6 are hollow and the suction passage is along the foliate portions L1 to L6. In this way, the total diameter D of the nozzle is used to suck in dust from the gap CV.

In a more flexible embodiment, the shaft A is fitted to pull the spring, allowing the foliate portions L1 to L6 to be pulled out from the central portion. In this way, the nozzle can be located near the wall, improving the possibility of cleaning around corners and along the plinth. Thus, in normal movement, the anterior lobe forms a V-shape with, for example, an opening at an angle of 90 degrees, guiding dust into the suction opening, but when pressed near the wall, the tension spring It may be possible for the anterior lobe to form an opening angle of 180 degrees.

5A and 5B show other embodiments of the present invention. In this embodiment, there are 20 flexible elements L1 to L20 mounted on a single central axis A at the center of the central region C. From the axis Ac, each element Lx first has a relatively thin portion that gives the flexible element flexibility, and if the flexible element Lx is pushed together as a result of the nozzle being moved (eg, the flexible element moves to the right). As a result of the nozzle being moved to the left (see FIG. 5B), air enters the central region C of the nozzle only on the side of the nozzle corresponding to the direction of movement (between elements L14 and L15 in FIG. 5B). It is possible and on all other sides is followed by a relatively thick portion that ensures that the nozzle is substantially airtight. Beyond the relatively thick portion, each element Lx assists in guiding the dust particles towards the central air inlet (between elements L14 and L15 in FIG. 5B) and is neutral as shown in FIG. 5A. It may have a relatively thin portion that can help provide a drag force (as a result of friction with the floor) that starts at position and results in the element Lx that takes the position shown in FIG. 5B. Advantageously, the element Lx can rotate around the central axis Ac, thereby realizing a mop-like flexible embodiment that moves the nozzle around an object such as a table or chair leg.

6A-6C show still other embodiments of the present invention. As in the previous embodiments of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the 21 flexible elements L1 to L21 of the embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B are mounted on a single central axis Ac and near the axis Ac, FIG. 6B. It has a relatively thin and flexible part as shown in. However, unlike the embodiments described above, beyond these relatively thin flexible portions, the element Lx is no longer covered by the central region C, and the element Lx covers the wall defining the hollow bottom and the closed top. With this, the decompression in the hollow portion of the element Lx forms a central suction opening between the elements L1 and L21 corresponding to the movement direction MD, and other elements L1 and L2 ... L20 and L21. It may provide additional drag force to improve closing the opening.

As shown in FIG. 6B, to allow the decompression to be obtained, these walls are covered by a central region C, except for a portion with a reduced height that leaves a distance to the floor. , Has a height that exceeds the height of the relatively thin flexible portion. The circles in FIG. 6B show that no openings are left between the walls of the flexible elements when they are pressed together as a result of the drag force.

Advantageously, the top extends beyond the wall of the element Lx, which, as schematically indicated by the arrows in FIG. 6C, under the extension of the top, on the plinth P. This is because there is an air flow passage for sucking up nearby dust, which enables suitable vacuuming along the pillar foundation. Since the elements Lx are flexibly mounted, the tops of adjacent elements Lx overlap each other as shown in FIG. 6A when pressed together as a result of the drag force.

FIG. 6A further shows a hinge H made from a small flexible tube (about 4 cm in length) above the central region C. The nozzle attaches itself to the floor as a result of suction, and since the element Lx is hollow, it feels unnatural to push forward like a conventional vacuum cleaner nozzle. The hinge H provides some flexibility in all directions while ensuring that the element Lx stays on the floor, allowing the user to operate the nozzle with both hands like a mop.

The above-described embodiment provides an omnidirectional vacuum cleaner nozzle having a plurality of moving parts Lx that ensure that an opening exists only in the moving direction MD, for example as shown in the drawings. In the embodiment, a central region C where dirty air can leave the vacuum cleaner nozzle and a central region C which is arranged and flexibly mounted in the central region C and currently corresponds to the current moving direction MD of the vacuum cleaner nozzle. Provided is a vacuum cleaner nozzle with a plurality of elements Lx, which provides a suction opening on the side of the surface and reduces the possibility of air entering the central region C from other directions. Preferably, the central region C is circular, but may have other shapes, for example quadrangular. Advantageously, the central region (C) is rotatable around its center. Preferably, the element Lx can rotate with respect to each axis A provided in the central region C, and preferably the axes A are evenly spaced around the center of the central region C. .. Advantageously, the element Lx is flexible. Advantageously, the element Lx is mounted on a single shaft Ac and has a flexible first portion with a first thickness, the first portion having a second thickness that exceeds the first thickness. The possibility that the second part of the adjacent element Lx will enter the central region C from between the adjacent elements when it is followed in the second part with a sword and pressed together as a result of the movement. Reduce. Preferably, the element Lx has a side wall and an uppermost portion extending beyond the side wall. Advantageously, the element Lx is configured to collect dust from the gap CV over the entire operating diameter D of the cleaning equipment defined by the element Lx. The present invention may also relate to an electric vacuum cleaner having a nozzle formed by such an electric vacuum cleaner nozzle, and further to a robot type electric vacuum cleaner formed by such an electric cleaning equipment.

An embodiment of the present invention has the following characteristics, that is, it means that a circular central region having a suction passage and the suction passage are blocked / released in the dragging direction to generate a larger pressure (change the width of the passage). Shows an omnidirectional nozzle with a flexible rotating flap that does not block the suction passage but exposes only the proper position of the suction passage based on dragging motion. Conventional nozzles need to be steered to clean in different directions to ensure that the suction passages are oriented correctly, but in the omnidirectional nozzles provided by the embodiments of the present invention, dragging The suction passage is automatically reoriented based on. The flexible flaps or foliage are preferably hollow, producing a decompression that provides optimal movement resistance / drag so that the foliage can be turned naturally.

In an embodiment of a robotic vacuum cleaner, the central region C is simply the central region near the inlet of dirty air at the bottom of the robotic vacuum cleaner. In the present specification, the expression "flexibly mounted" refers to the concept shown in FIG. 1 in which the element Lx can rotate with respect to each axis A, and the concept in which the element Lx is mounted by a tension spring. It covers the concept shown in FIGS. 5A and 6B, where the element Lx is connected to a single central axis Ac and the flexible elements each have a relatively thin portion that is easily bent. In the claims, the phrase "a plurality of elements Lx are flexibly attached to the central region C" is the situation shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in which the flexible elements Lx are individually attached to the central region C, and the flexible elements. It covers both the situation shown in FIGS. 5A-6C, where Lx is connected to the center point Ac in all central regions C. The above-mentioned embodiments are not limited to the present invention but are described, and it is possible that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. It should be noted. In the claims, none of the reference symbols in parentheses should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. The word "comprise" does not preclude the existence of elements or steps other than those stated in the claims. The word "one (a or an)" preceding an element does not preclude the existence of a plurality of such elements. In the device claim which lists some means, some of these means may be implemented by the same hardware item. The mere fact that certain means are listed in different dependent claims does not indicate that the combination of these means cannot be used to their advantage.

Claims (13)

An electric cleaning device having a plurality of elements arranged in a central region and flexibly mounted, the plurality of elements corresponding to the current moving direction of the electric cleaning device among a plurality of possible moving directions. An electrical cleaning device arranged and mounted to provide a suction opening on the side of the central region and reduce the possibility of air entering the central region from a plurality of other directions. The electric cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the central region is circular. The central region is rotatable about the center of the central region, the vacuum cleaner appliance according to claim 1 or 2. The electric cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the element is rotatable with respect to each axis provided in the central region. The electric cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein the shafts are evenly distributed around the center of the central region. The electric cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the element is flexible. The element is mounted on a single shaft provided in the central region and has a flexible first portion having a first thickness, the first portion exceeding the first thickness. Following the second portion with a second thickness, the second portion of the adjacent element is aired from between the adjacent elements into the central region when pressed together as a result of the movement of the cleaning device. The electric cleaning equipment according to claim 6, which is configured to reduce the possibility of entering. The electric cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the single shaft is a shaft around which the element rotates. The electric cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the element is hollow. The electric cleaning device according to claim 9, wherein the element has a side wall and an uppermost portion extending beyond the side wall. The electric cleaning device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the element is configured to collect dust from a gap over the entire operating diameter of the electric cleaning device defined by the element. A vacuum cleaner having a nozzle formed by the electric cleaning equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 11. A robot-type vacuum cleaner formed by the electric cleaning equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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