JP7014657B2 - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a cleaning device including a first device for cleaning and a second device connected to the first device.

For example, there are vacuum cleaners that use a secondary battery as a power source, such as autonomous traveling vacuum cleaners and cordless vacuum cleaners. In the case of a vacuum cleaner powered by a secondary battery, after cleaning, it can be connected to a charging stand to charge the secondary battery in preparation for the next cleaning. At this time, an electric blower is arranged on the charging stand, and the dust collected in the dust collecting part of the vacuum cleaner is sucked by the electric blower on the charging stand side and transferred to the dust collecting part on the charging stand side by the user. There is something that reduces the labor of dumping the dust in the dust collecting part of the vacuum cleaner.

On the other hand, as an electric vacuum cleaner, there is one provided with a silent mode such as a manner mode in which an electric blower or the like is operated silently. Conventionally, the operation of transferring dust to the dust collecting part on the charging stand side is common regardless of the mode set for the vacuum cleaner. However, for example, when the user cleans using the quiet mode, it can be said that the user emphasizes the quietness at the time of cleaning, and when the dust is transferred to the dust collector on the charging stand side after the cleaning is completed. However, it is considered that achieving quietness meets the needs of users. In this way, it is desirable to change the control for transferring dust to the dust collecting unit on the charging stand side according to the mode set for the vacuum cleaner.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-267236

An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cleaning device capable of changing the control of dust transfer to the second device according to the operation mode set in the first device.

The cleaning device of the embodiment has a first electric blower, and includes a first device for driving and cleaning the first electric blower. Further, the cleaning device has a second electric blower, is connectable to the first device, and drives the second electric blower to transfer dust accumulated in the first device from the first device. The first device has a first suction control means for setting the driving force of the first electric blower from two or more operation modes. The second device has a second suction control means for setting a driving force of the second electric blower . The second suction control means receives information indicating the operation mode set by the first suction control means when the first device and the second device are connected from the first device, and the operation mode of the first electric blower is predetermined. When the mode has a relatively small driving force with respect to the operation mode of, the driving force of the second electric blower is set to be relatively small .

It is a perspective view which shows the cleaning apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the 1st apparatus of the cleaning apparatus returned to the 2nd apparatus. It is a top view which shows the 1st apparatus from the bottom. (a) is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the first device, and (b) is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the second device. It is the flowchart which shows an example of the setting process of the operating state of the 2nd electric blower of the same-mentioned cleaning device. It is the flowchart which shows the other example of the setting process of the operating state of the 2nd electric blower of the same-mentioned cleaning device. It is a flowchart which shows still another example of the setting process of the operating state of the 2nd electric blower of the said cleaning device. It is a flowchart of the setting process of the operating state of the 2nd electric blower of the cleaning device of 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the cleaning apparatus of 3rd Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a vacuum cleaner as a first device. The vacuum cleaner 1 constitutes a vacuum cleaner 3 together with a dust station 2 as a second device.

The vacuum cleaner 1 cleans the dust on the floor surface, which is the surface to be cleaned. In the present embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 1 will be described by taking as an example an autonomous traveling type robot cleaner that cleans the floor surface while autonomously traveling on the floor surface.

The vacuum cleaner 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4A includes a main body 4. Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 is provided with a traveling means 5 for traveling the main body 4. Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 is provided with a first dust collecting unit 6 for collecting dust. Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 includes a first electric blower 7 that sucks dust into the first dust collecting unit 6. Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 includes a first communication means 8 capable of communicating with the dust station 2. Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 includes a first suction control means 9 for operating the first electric blower 7. Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 may be provided with a detection means 10 for detecting various information supporting the running and cleaning of the main body 4, such as a running obstacle. Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 may include a first control means 11 which is a controller. Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 may include a secondary battery as a power supply unit. In addition, the vacuum cleaner 1 may also include an input unit as a setting means such as a switch or a touch panel for receiving an external input by the user. Then, as a general rule, the vacuum cleaner 1 collects dust on the floor surface by the suction force of the first electric blower 7 operated by the first suction control means 9 while the main body 4 is driven by the traveling means 5. When the floor surface within a predetermined range has been cleaned by sucking it into 6, the main body 4 is driven by the traveling means 5 and returned to the dust station 2, and the dust in the first dust collecting unit 6 is collected by the dust station. Transfer to the 2nd side. Further, the direction along the traveling direction of the main body 4 will be described as the front-rear direction (arrows FR and RR directions shown in FIG. 1 and the like), and the left-right direction intersecting (orthogonal) with the front-rear direction will be described as the width direction.

The main body 4 is formed in a circular shape in a plan view in the present embodiment, but is not limited to this shape. The main body 4 is provided with a suction port 13 which is a dust collecting port at the lower part. Further, the main body 4 is provided with a dust discharge port 14 for discharging the dust of the first dust collecting unit 6. Further, the main body 4 is provided with an exhaust port 15 for discharging the exhaust air from the first electric blower 7 to the outside of the main body 4.

The suction port 13 is an opening that causes a negative pressure generated by the operation of the first electric blower 7 to act on the floor surface. The suction port 13 is formed longitudinally in the width direction. The suction port 13 is arranged in the central portion of the lower part of the main body 4 in the present embodiment, but is not limited to this arrangement. A rotary brush 16 as a rotary cleaning body may be rotatably arranged at the suction port 13. The rotary brush 16 is rotationally driven by a brush motor (not shown). The rotary brush 16 and the brush motor are not essential configurations.

The dust discharge port 14 is arranged at the lower part of the main body 4 in the present embodiment, but is not limited to this arrangement. Further, the dust discharge port 14 may be arranged near the rear portion of the main body 4, for example. Further, the dust discharge port 14 is closed so as to be openable and closable by the lid body 18.

The exhaust port 15 is an opening for discharging the air discharged from the first electric blower 7 to the outside of the main body 4. The exhaust port 15 is arranged at the lower part of the main body 4 in the present embodiment, but is not limited to this arrangement.

The traveling means 5 includes, for example, traveling control means 23 for controlling a motor 22 as a driving means for driving the driving wheels 21 as a driven unit. The traveling means 5 further includes a turning wheel 24 in the present embodiment, but the turning wheel 24 is not an essential configuration.

The drive wheel 21 causes the main body 4 to travel in the forward direction and the backward direction on the floor surface. In the present embodiment, for example, a pair of drive wheels 21 are provided on the left and right sides of the main body 4, but the arrangement and number of the drive wheels 21 are not limited to this. Each drive wheel 21 is driven by a motor 22. In addition, instead of the drive wheel 21, an endless track or the like as a driven portion can be used.

The travel control means 23 is electrically connected to the motor 22 and controls the drive of the drive wheels 21 by controlling the motor 22. The travel control means 23 may be configured to set a travel route based on a map stored in a memory 26 as a storage means described later. Further, the travel control means 23 may change the travel route at any time according to the travel obstacle detected by the detection means 10. Although the travel control means 23 is provided integrally with the first control means 11 in the present embodiment, it may be provided separately from the first control means 11.

The first dust collecting unit 6 separates and collects dust from the dust-containing air sucked through the suction port 13 by the operation of the first electric blower 7. As the first dust collector 6, a known configuration such as a filter, a cyclone separation device, or a combination thereof is used. The first dust collecting unit 6 communicates with the suction port 13. Further, the first dust collecting unit 6 communicates with the dust discharging port 14, and can discharge the dust accumulated inside through the dust discharging port 14. The first dust collecting unit 6 may be provided so as to be detachable from, for example, the main body 4.

The first electric blower 7 sucks in and discharges air. The first electric blower 7 is built in the main body 4. The intake side of the first electric blower 7 communicates with the first dust collecting unit 6. Further, in the first electric blower 7, the exhaust side communicates with the exhaust port 15.

The first communication means 8 is capable of intercommunication with the dust station 2 and the like. The first communication means 8 may be configured to provide a terminal or the like for wired communication to the dust station 2, or may be configured to perform wireless communication using infrared rays, radio waves, or the like. .. Further, the first communication means 8 may be capable of wireless communication with a setting means such as a remote controller via, for example, infrared rays. In the present embodiment, the first communication means 8 is a wireless communication means. Further, the first communication means 8 may be capable of mutual communication with an external device such as a smartphone, for example, directly or via a server via a network such as a home gateway and the Internet (not shown). The first communication means 8 can output various signals to the dust station 2, such as a suction instruction signal instructing the start of transfer of dust in the first dust collection unit 6. Further, in the present embodiment, the first communication means 8 also has a function of a return confirmation means for confirming whether or not the vacuum cleaner 1 has returned to the dust station 2 based on the communication with the dust station 2 side. The return confirmation means may be provided separately from the first communication means 8.

The first suction control means 9 sets the driving force of the first electric blower 7 in an operation mode set by the user via a remote controller, an external device such as a smartphone, or a setting means such as an input unit. It is a drive control means. Here, the driving force of the first electric blower 7 means the suction force of the first electric blower 7, and the larger the driving force of the first electric blower 7, the louder the operating noise. As the operation mode of the first electric blower 7, in addition to the normal operation mode set to the predetermined normal driving force, a predetermined operation mode that is relatively smaller than the driving force of the normal operation mode such as the manner mode, for example. There is an operation mode of silent setting in which the operation sound is reduced by being set to the driving force of. The first suction control means 9 selectively sets the driving force of the first electric blower 7 from these two or more operation modes. Although the first suction control means 9 is provided integrally with the first control means 11 in the present embodiment, it may be provided separately from the first control means 11.

The detecting means 10 includes an obstacle sensor for detecting a traveling obstacle such as a wall or a pillar in front of the main body 4 in the traveling direction or a step below the main body 4. Further, the detection means 10 includes any other sensors such as a dust amount detecting means (dust sensor) for detecting the amount of dust on the floor surface collected from the suction port 13 to the first dust collecting unit 6. You may. For example, when the traveling means 5 causes the main body 4 to travel along a predetermined traveling route, it may not be necessary for the detecting means 10 to detect the information. Therefore, the detecting means 10 is indispensable. is not it.

As the obstacle sensor, for example, an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor may be used, a sensor using an image captured by one or more cameras, or the like may be used, or a sensor that detects an object or a step by contact may be used. Or any combination of these may be used.

As the first control means 11, for example, a microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, or the like is used. As shown in FIG. 4A, the first control means 11 may include a memory 26. Further, the first control means 11 includes a detection processing means 27. Further, the first control means 11 may include a processing means 28 having the functions of a cartographic means and a self-position estimation means. Further, since the first control means 11 is electrically connected to the secondary battery, it may be provided with a charge control means for controlling the charging of the secondary battery. Further, in the present embodiment, the traveling control means 23, the first suction control means 9, and the like are integrally incorporated in the first control means 11.

As the memory 26, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory is used. The memory 26 stores various data referred to by the traveling control means 23, the first suction control means 9, the detection processing means 27, the processing means 28, and the like. For example, the memory 26 may store map data indicating a cleaning target area. The map data may be created by the processing means 28, or may be input by the user via the first communication means 8 or the input unit.

The detection processing means 27 is electrically connected to the detection means 10. The detection processing means 27 can acquire the detection result by the detection means 10 and output it to the traveling control means 23, the processing means 28, and the like. The detection processing means 27 is not an essential configuration because it is unnecessary in the case of a configuration without the detection means 10.

The processing means 28 recognizes the detected obstacles, the arrangement of steps, and the like, creates map data of a traveling area (cleaning target area) in which the main body 4 can travel, and estimates its own position. Since known SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) technology or the like can be used for map data creation and self-position estimation, details will be omitted. The processing means 28 is not an essential configuration.

The secondary battery includes the motor 22 of the traveling means 5, the traveling control means 23, the first electric blower 7, the first communication means 8, the first suction control means 9, the detection means 10, the brush motor, and the first control means. It supplies power to 11 mag. In the present embodiment, the main body 4 is provided with a charging terminal 29 for charging the secondary battery. The charging terminal 29 is arranged, for example, at the lower part of the main body 4.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dust station 2 is installed in a cleaning area or the like, and has a function of transferring dust collected in the first dust collecting unit 6 of the vacuum cleaner 1. The dust station 2 includes a station body 31 which is a second device body. Further, the dust station 2 includes a second dust collecting unit 32 for collecting dust. Further, the dust station 2 includes a second electric blower 33 that transfers dust to the second dust collecting unit 32. Further, the dust station 2 includes a second communication means 34 capable of communicating with the vacuum cleaner 1. Further, the dust station 2 includes a second suction control means 35 for operating the second electric blower 33. Further, the dust station 2 is provided with a return confirmation means 36 for confirming the return of the vacuum cleaner 1. Further, the dust station 2 may include a second control means 37 which is a station controller. Further, the dust station 2 may be provided with a power cord 38 for taking power from an external power source such as a commercial AC power source (not shown). Further, the dust station 2 is electrically connected to the charging terminal 29 of the vacuum cleaner 1 to charge the secondary battery of the vacuum cleaner 1, or the charging terminal 39 to assist the charging of the secondary battery of the vacuum cleaner 1. It is equipped with. Then, as a general rule, the dust station 2 collects dust collected by the first dust collecting unit 6 of the returned vacuum cleaner 1 by the suction force of the second electric blower 33 operated by the second suction control means 35. It is transferred to the dust collecting unit 32 and the secondary battery of the vacuum cleaner 1 is charged. As shown in FIG. 2, the returned vacuum cleaner 1 is connected to the dust station 2. Hereinafter, when the vacuum cleaner 1 is connected to the dust station 2, the vacuum cleaner 1 is stopped at a predetermined position with respect to the dust station 2 to collect dust from the first dust collecting unit 6 to the second dust collecting unit 32. It means that it will be in a transportable state.

The station body 31 includes a mounting portion 40 on which the vacuum cleaner 1 returned to the dust station 2 rides. Further, the station body 31 includes a dust suction port 41 connected to a dust discharge port 14 of the vacuum cleaner 1 connected to the dust station 2. Further, the station body 31 includes a lid opening / closing portion 42 for opening / closing the lid 18 of the vacuum cleaner 1. Further, the station body 31 has an exhaust opening (not shown).

The dust suction port 41 is an opening for transferring dust from the first dust collecting portion 6 of the vacuum cleaner 1 connected to the dust station 2 to the second dust collecting portion 32. The dust suction port 41 is formed in, for example, a mounting portion 40. The dust suction port 41 communicates with the second dust collection unit 32, and also communicates with the dust discharge port 14 of the vacuum cleaner 1 in a state where the vacuum cleaner 1 is connected to the dust station 2. A seal member 44 for airtightly connecting to the dust discharge port 14 may be attached to the outer edge portion of the dust suction port 41.

The lid opening / closing portion 42 opens the lid 18 when the vacuum cleaner 1 is connected to the dust station 2, and closes the lid 18 when the vacuum cleaner 1 separates from the dust station 2. The lid opening / closing portion 42 is arranged at the dust suction port 41. The lower end of the lid opening / closing portion 42 is rotatably supported with respect to the station body 31, the upper end portion extends outward from the dust suction port 41, and the upper end portion is inclined from the lower end portion toward the upper end portion. There is.

The second dust collecting unit 32 is a dust collecting box that transfers and stores the dust collected in the first dust collecting unit 6 of the vacuum cleaner 1. The second dust collecting unit 32 communicates with the first dust collecting unit 6 of the vacuum cleaner 1 connected to the dust station 2 via the dust suction port 41. As the second dust collector 32, a known configuration such as a filter, a cyclone separation device, or a combination thereof is used. Further, the volume of the second dust collecting unit 32 is set to be larger than that of the first dust collecting unit 6 of the vacuum cleaner 1. The second dust collecting unit 32 may be detachable from the station body 31. Further, the second dust collecting unit 32 communicates with the dust suction port 41 in a state of being attached to the station main body 31.

The second electric blower 33 sucks in and discharges air. The second electric blower 33 is built in the station body 31. The intake side of the second electric blower 33 communicates with the second dust collector 32. Further, in the second electric blower 33, the exhaust side communicates with the exhaust opening. Then, the second electric blower 33 transfers the dust in the first dust collecting unit 6 of the vacuum cleaner 1 connected to the dust station 2 to the second dust collecting unit 32. Further, as the second electric blower 33, one having a larger suction force than the first electric blower 7 of the vacuum cleaner 1 is used.

The second communication means 34 is capable of intercommunication with the first communication means 8 and the like of the vacuum cleaner 1. The second communication means 34 may be configured to provide a terminal or the like for wired communication with the first communication means 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1, or may be configured to perform wireless communication using infrared rays, radio waves, or the like. It may be configured. In the present embodiment, the second communication means 34 is a wireless communication means. Further, the second communication means 34 may be capable of wireless communication with a setting means such as a remote controller via, for example, infrared rays. Further, the second communication means 34 may be capable of mutual communication with an external device such as a smartphone, for example, directly or via a server such as a home gateway and a network (not shown). Further, the second communication means 34 may be configured to output a guidance signal for guiding the vacuum cleaner 1 to the dust station 2, for example.

The second suction control means 35 is a second drive control means that sets the driving force of the second electric blower 33 according to the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 set by the user for the vacuum cleaner 1. .. Here, the driving force of the second electric blower 33 means the suction force of the second electric blower 33, and the larger the driving force of the second electric blower 33, the louder the operating noise. Then, the second suction control means 35 sets the driving force of the second electric blower 33 to be the driving force corresponding to at least two of the operation modes set by the first suction control means 9 of the vacuum cleaner 1. For example, in the second suction control means 35, when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is a strong mode which is a predetermined operation mode, a weak mode in which the driving force is relatively small with respect to the normal operation mode, or a silent setting mode. In addition, the driving force of the second electric blower 33 is set to a relatively small driving force. The state in which the driving force of the second electric blower 33 is set to a small driving force includes a stopped state. Further, for example, in the second suction control means 35, when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is a mode other than the silent setting mode, the driving force of the second electric blower 33 is used by the operation mode of the first electric blower 7. The driving force may be set to be relatively larger than in the silent setting mode. At this time, for example, in the second suction control means 35, when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is a plurality of operation modes other than the silent setting mode, the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is the silent setting mode. It may be set to a constant driving force that is relatively larger than the above, or it may be set to a different driving force corresponding to a plurality of operation modes. At this time, in consideration of the user's request, it is preferable that the second suction control means 35 sets the driving force of the second electric blower 33 to be larger or equal as the driving force of the first electric blower 7 in the operation mode is larger. However, the magnitude relationship between the driving force of the first electric blower 7 and the driving force of the second electric blower 33 does not necessarily have to match. Further, in the present embodiment, the second suction control means 35 acquires, for example, the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 by communication between the second communication means 34 and the first communication means 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1. The operation of the second electric blower 33 is set based on the operation mode. Although the second suction control means 35 is provided integrally with the second control means 37 in the present embodiment, it may be provided separately from the second control means 37.

The return confirmation means 36 can confirm the return of the vacuum cleaner 1 by detecting the relative distance to the vacuum cleaner 1 by using, for example, visible light or infrared rays. The return confirmation means 36 is arranged, for example, in the front part of the station main body 31. The return confirmation means 36 is, for example, electrically connected to the second communication means 34, and when the return of the vacuum cleaner 1 is confirmed, the return indicating that the return from the second communication means 34 to the dust station 2 of the vacuum cleaner 1 is confirmed. By outputting a confirmation signal, the return to the dust station 2 may be communicated to the vacuum cleaner 1 side.

As the second control means 37, for example, a microcomputer provided with a CPU, ROM, RAM, or the like is used. The second control means 37 may include a charge control means for controlling the charge of the secondary battery. Then, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, the second suction control means 35 and the like are integrally incorporated in the second control means 37.

The power cord 38 supplies power to the second electric blower 33, the second suction control means 35, the return confirmation means 36, the second control means 37, and the like by being connected to, for example, an outlet provided on a wall surface or the like. It is a thing.

The charging terminal 39 is mechanically and electrically connected to the charging terminal 29 of the vacuum cleaner 1 that has returned to the dust station 2 to enable charging of the secondary battery of the vacuum cleaner 1. The charging terminal 39 is provided, for example, in the mounting portion 40 of the station main body 31. If the vacuum cleaner 1 does not have a secondary battery, or if the dust station 2 does not have a charging function for the secondary battery of the vacuum cleaner 1, the charging terminal 39 is unnecessary.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

Generally, the cleaning device 3 has a cleaning operation of cleaning by the vacuum cleaner 1 and a transfer operation of transferring the dust collected in the first dust collecting unit 6 of the vacuum cleaner 1 to the second dust collecting unit 32 of the dust station 2. Equipped with. When the power source of the vacuum cleaner 1 is a secondary battery, the cleaning device 3 further includes a charging operation for charging the secondary battery.

First, in the cleaning work, the outline from the start to the end of cleaning will be described. The vacuum cleaner 1 starts cleaning from a predetermined position such as a position connected to the dust station 2. Cleaning is started when, for example, a cleaning start instruction signal for instructing the start of cleaning is received from a user output by an external device such as a remote controller or a smartphone by the first communication means 8, or the input unit of the vacuum cleaner 1 is used for cleaning. When a start instruction is input, or when a predetermined cleaning start time is reached, etc.

When the map data of the area to be cleaned is not stored in the memory 26, the vacuum cleaner 1 performs, for example, a map data creation operation in advance, and the travel control means 23 sets a travel route based on the created map data. Further, when the map data of the cleaning target area is stored in the memory 26, the vacuum cleaner 1 sets the traveling route based on the map data by the traveling control means 23. Then, the vacuum cleaner 1 cleans the dust on the floor surface by the suction operation of the first electric blower 7, the rotation of the rotating brush 16, etc., while traveling the main body 4 by the traveling means 5 along the set traveling route. Dust is collected in the first dust collecting unit 6.

At this time, the first suction control means 9 operates the first electric blower 7 in an operation mode set by the user via, for example, a remote controller, an external device such as a smartphone, or an input unit. The operation mode of the first electric blower 7 may be set in advance before the start of cleaning, for example, or may be arbitrarily switched after the start of cleaning.

Then, when the cleaning is completed, the vacuum cleaner 1 returns to the dust station 2 and then shifts to a transfer operation of transferring the dust of the first dust collecting unit 6 to the second dust collecting unit 32 at a predetermined timing. Further, when the dust station 2 has a function of charging the secondary battery, the operation shifts to the charging operation of the secondary battery at a predetermined timing.

For the return to the dust station 2, the traveling means 5 heads toward the dust station 2 according to the map data held in the memory 26 or the guidance signal output from the second communication means 34 of the dust station 2. Run 4 When traveling to the dust station 2 after completing the cleaning in this way, it is preferable that the vacuum cleaner 1 has stopped the cleaning function.

When the vacuum cleaner 1 approaches the vicinity of the dust station 2, for example, the traveling means 5 causes the rear portion of the main body 4 to move backward toward the dust station 2. Then, when the traveling means 5 further moves the main body 4 backward while the drive wheel 21 rides on the mounting portion 40, the upper end portion of the lid opening / closing portion 42 is caught by the lid 18, and in this state, the traveling means 5 When the main body 4 is further moved backward, the lid opening / closing portion 42 rotates downward while being caught by the lid 18, thereby rotating the lid 18 downward. After that, when the traveling means 5 moves the main body 4 backward to the rearmost portion, the lid 18 is opened and the exposed dust discharge port 14 and the dust suction port 41 are positioned so as to face each other vertically and are airtightly connected. At the same time, the charging terminal 29 is mechanically and electrically connected to the charging terminal 39 of the dust station 2. The return confirmation means 36 monitors the distance of the vacuum cleaner 1 to the dust station 2 until the vacuum cleaner 1 returns to the dust station 2. When the distance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the vacuum cleaner 1 Is determined to have returned to the dust station 2. Then, when it is determined by the return confirmation means 36 that the vacuum cleaner 1 has returned to the dust station 2, for example, a return confirmation signal is output from the second communication means 34, and in the vacuum cleaner 1, the output return confirmation signal is the second. 1 When received by the communication means 8, the traveling means 5 stops the traveling of the main body 4.

Next, when the vacuum cleaner 1 confirms that it is connected to the dust station 2, it outputs a suction instruction signal by the first communication means 8. Then, in the dust station 2, when the suction instruction signal is received by the second communication means 34, the second electric blower 33 is operated by the second suction control means 35 according to the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 of the vacuum cleaner 1. Set the operation. For example, when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is the normal operation mode, the second suction control means 35 sets the second electric blower 33 in the normal operation state. On the other hand, when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is the operation mode of the silent setting, the second suction control means 35 sets the second electric blower 33 to an operation state in which the driving force is set to be small and the operation noise is suppressed. ..

Here, the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is acquired by the second suction control means 35 by communication between the first communication means 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1 and the second communication means 34 of the dust station 2 in the present embodiment. To. Specifically, when a signal indicating the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is output from the first communication means 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1, the signal is received and received by the second communication means 34 of the dust station 2. By outputting the signal from the second communication means 34 to the second suction control means 35, the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 can be acquired by the second suction control means 35 of the dust station 2.

The timing of acquiring the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 may be at the end of cleaning, at the start of cleaning, or during cleaning.

For example, when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is acquired at the end of cleaning, first, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the return of the vacuum cleaner 1 to the dust station 2 is confirmed (step S1). Next, the first suction control means 9 determines whether or not the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is the silent setting (step S2). If it is determined in step S2 that the silent setting is not set, the vacuum cleaner 1 outputs a normal suction instruction signal from the first communication means 8 (step S3). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the silent setting is set, the vacuum cleaner 1 outputs a silent suction instruction signal from the first communication means 8 (step S4).

Then, the second suction control means 35 operates the second electric blower 33 in an operating state according to the type of the suction instruction signal received by the second communication means 34. Specifically, when the normal suction instruction signal is received by the second communication means 34, the second suction control means 35 operates the second electric blower 33 so as to have a predetermined normal driving force. Further, the second suction control means 35 is in a state where the second electric blower 33 is set to have a smaller driving force than usual when the suction instruction signal for noise reduction is received by the second communication means 34, and the operation noise is suppressed. Operate with.

Further, for example, when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is acquired at the start of cleaning, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, first, when the cleaning start instruction signal is received by the first communication means 8 (step S5). ), Check the connection of the vacuum cleaner 1 to the dust station 2 (step S6). The first suction control means 9 determines whether or not the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is a silent setting (step S7). If it is determined in step S7 that the silent setting is not made, the vacuum cleaner 1 outputs a normal operation setting signal from the first communication means 8 (step S8). The normal operation setting signal is a signal that causes the second electric blower 33 to operate normally when the second electric blower 33 is operated by the second suction control means 35. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the silent setting is set, the vacuum cleaner 1 outputs a silent operation setting signal from the first communication means 8 (step S9). The operation setting signal for noise reduction is a signal for operating the second electric blower 33 when the second electric blower 33 is operated by the second suction control means 35 to suppress the operation noise. In the dust station 2, when the operation setting signal output from the first communication means 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1 is received by the second communication means 34, the second suction control means 35 responds to the received operation setting signal. The operating state of the second electric blower 33 when operating the second electric blower 33 is set.

Then, when the vacuum cleaner 1 returns to the dust station 2 and is connected to the dust station 2, the suction instruction signal is output from the first communication means 8, and the suction instruction signal is received by the second communication means 34, the operation setting signal is received. The second suction control means 35 operates the second electric blower 33 in the operating state preset by the above.

Further, when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is acquired during cleaning, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the vacuum cleaner 1 is the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 in the first suction control means 9. Determines if is a silent setting (step S10). If it is determined in step S10 that the silent setting is not set, the vacuum cleaner 1 outputs a normal operation setting signal from the first communication means 8 (step S11). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that the silent setting is set, the vacuum cleaner 1 outputs a silent operation setting signal from the first communication means 8 (step S12). The operation setting signal may be output from the first communication means 8 at regular intervals, and each time the operation mode is set by the remote controller or the like, the operation setting signal corresponding to the set operation mode is output. It may be output. In the dust station 2, when the operation setting signal output from the first communication means 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1 is received by the second communication means 34, the second suction control means 35 responds to the received operation setting signal. The operating state of the second electric blower 33 when operating the second electric blower 33 is set.

Then, when the vacuum cleaner 1 returns to the dust station 2 and is connected to the dust station 2, the suction instruction signal is output from the first communication means 8, and the suction instruction signal is received by the second communication means 34, the operation setting signal is received. The second suction control means 35 operates the second electric blower 33 in the operating state preset by the above.

However, as described above, when the acquisition timing of the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is at the start of cleaning or during cleaning, the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is switched to a mode that is not a silent setting at the end of cleaning. It is also assumed that it is. Therefore, it is preferable to confirm whether or not the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is set to be silent at the end of cleaning. The operation mode of the first electric blower 7 can be confirmed by communication between the first communication means 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1 and the second communication means 34 of the dust station 2. As described above, the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is acquired on the dust station 2 side via the first communication means 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1 in the present embodiment.

Then, by operating the second electric blower 33 by the second suction control means 35, the dust collected in the first dust collection unit 6 is collected through the dust discharge port 14 and the dust suction port 41. Transferred to the dust section 32. The time for the second suction control means 35 to operate the second electric blower 33 may be set differently according to, for example, the driving force of the second electric blower 33 set by the second suction control means 35, or may be set differently. 2 It may be a constant time regardless of the driving force of the second electric blower 33 set by the suction control means 35.

Then, when the transfer of dust is completed, the cleaning device 3 shifts to the charging work of the secondary battery of the vacuum cleaner 1 at a predetermined timing. If the secondary battery has a sufficient remaining amount when the vacuum cleaner 1 is connected to the dust station 2, the charging operation may not be performed.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the second suction control means 35 of the dust station 2 determines the driving force of the second electric blower 33 according to the operation mode set by the first suction control means 9. By using this driving force, it is possible to change the control of dust transfer to the dust station 2 according to the operation mode set in the vacuum cleaner 1. Therefore, when the vacuum cleaner 1 cleans using, for example, the silent setting mode, the quietness at the time of cleaning, which is assumed to be emphasized by the user, is obtained when the dust is transferred from the vacuum cleaner 1 to the dust station 2 side. Therefore, it is possible to provide a cleaning device 3 that meets the needs of the user.

Specifically, when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 of the vacuum cleaner 1 is a manner mode in which the driving force of the first electric blower 7 is relatively small, the second suction control means 35 is the second of the dust station 2. Since the driving force of the electric blower 33 is set relatively small, when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 of the vacuum cleaner 1 is set to be silent, the operation of the second electric blower 33 of the dust station 2 also suppresses the operation noise. Can be in a state. Therefore, the operations of the first electric blower 7 and the second electric blower 33 can be linked, and the vacuum cleaner 1 and the dust station 2 can be linked to maintain quietness.

Further, when the second suction control means 35 receives information indicating the operation mode set by the first suction control means 9 from the cleaner 1 when the vacuum cleaner 1 and the dust station 2 are connected, for example, cleaning The second suction control means 35 can acquire information indicating the operation mode by using the timing at which the vacuum cleaner 1 and the dust station 2 are connected, such as at the start time and the end time.

Further, since the second suction control means 35 acquires the operation mode based on the communication between the first communication means 8 and the second communication means 34 in the state where the vacuum cleaner 1 which has finished cleaning is connected to the dust station 2. It is not necessary to match the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 at the time of acquisition with the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 at the time of finishing cleaning, and the first electric blower 7 of the vacuum cleaner 1 does not need to be matched. The suction operation of the second electric blower 33 of the dust station 2 can be more reliably linked to the setting of the operation mode.

Further, when the vacuum cleaner 1 that has finished cleaning is connected to the dust station 2, a suction instruction signal is output from the first communication means 8 in order to shift to the transfer work. By changing the type of the suction instruction signal according to the operation mode of the first electric blower 7, a dedicated signal for causing the second suction control means 35 to acquire the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 becomes unnecessary.

On the other hand, the second suction control means 35 is vacuumed by the first communication means 8 and the second communication means 34 provided in the vacuum cleaner 1 and the dust station 2 to provide information indicating the operation mode set by the first suction control means 9. When receiving from 1, the second suction control means 35 can acquire the operation mode even at a timing other than when the cleaning is completed, such as during cleaning, so that the communication timing of the operation mode can be arbitrarily selected. ..

In particular, in the case of an autonomous traveling type vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner 1 and the dust station 2 may be provided with a first communication means 8 and a second communication means 34 for wireless communication with each other in advance. Since there are many, it can be manufactured at low cost by using the first communication means 8 and the second communication means 34 provided in advance without adding a dedicated configuration.

In the first embodiment, for example, when setting the operation mode of the first electric blower 7, the operation mode setting signal for the user to set the operation mode from an external device such as a remote controller or a martphone is used. When outputting, the operation mode setting signal is simultaneously received by the second communication means 34 of the dust station 2, so that the dust station 2 does not go through the first communication means 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1. 2 The suction control means 35 may be made to acquire the operation mode of the first electric blower 7.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The same components and operations as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the second suction control means 35 is the second electric motor when the operation mode set in the first electric blower 7 is a mode in which the driving force of the first electric blower 7 is relatively small and quiet. The blower 33 is not operated.

In the present embodiment, the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is acquired by, for example, the presence or absence of communication of a suction instruction signal between the first communication means 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1 and the second communication means 34 of the dust station 2. More specifically, when the vacuum cleaner 1 confirms that it is connected to the dust station 2, it outputs a suction instruction signal when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is not the silent setting, and outputs the suction instruction signal, and the operation mode of the first electric blower 7. Does not output the suction instruction signal when is set to silent.

For example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, after step S1, if it is determined in step S2 that the silent setting is not set, a suction instruction signal is output from the first communication means 8 (step S15). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the silent setting is set, the transfer operation is not performed as it is without outputting the suction instruction signal from the first communication means 8.

Then, when the suction instruction signal is received by the second communication means 34 of the dust station 2, the second suction control means 35 causes the second electric blower 33 to operate in a normal operating state. Therefore, the second suction control means 35 does not operate the second electric blower 33 when the suction instruction signal is not received by the second communication means 34.

In this way, when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 of the vacuum cleaner 1 is set to be silent, the second electric blower 33 of the dust station 2 is not operated, so that the vacuum cleaner 1 and the dust station 2 are interlocked to be quiet. You can keep your sex.

In the second embodiment, when the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 of the vacuum cleaner 1 is set to be silent, the second electric blower 33 may not be operated at least until the end of the next cleaning. However, the operation may be performed at an arbitrary timing until the next cleaning start, for example, when an operation instruction signal for instructing the operation is input by the user.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The same components and operations as those of the above embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment is a non-autonomous traveling type vacuum cleaner using a secondary battery as a drive source. A hose body 51, an extension pipe 52, a suction port body (not shown), and the like are connected to the main body 4 of the vacuum cleaner 1. Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 is provided with a setting button (not shown) on the tip end side of the hose body 51 as a setting means for the user to set the operation mode of the first electric blower 7. Then, as the vacuum cleaner 1, the driving force of the first electric blower 7 is set by the first suction control means 9 so as to be in the operation mode set by the setting button, and the main body 4 is placed on the floor surface via the hose body 51. The canister-type vacuum cleaner, in which the user pulls and runs while cleaning the floor surface with a suction port or the like, will be described above as an example.

When the cleaning is completed, the vacuum cleaner 1 is connected to and stored in the dust station 2 by the user. At this time, when a signal indicating the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is output from the first communication means 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1, the signal is output by the second communication means 34 of the dust station 2 as in each of the above embodiments. Is received, and the received signal is output from the second communication means 34 to the second suction control means 35, so that the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 is acquired by the second suction control means 35 of the dust station 2. The driving force of the second electric blower 33 is set according to the acquired operation mode. As a result, the same effects as those of each of the above embodiments can be obtained.

In the third embodiment, the signal indicating the operation mode of the first electric blower 7 can be set to be after a predetermined time from the end of cleaning, even if it is not at the end of cleaning.

Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 and the dust station 2 may communicate with each other by wireless communication means. In this case, the second suction control means 35 of the dust station 2 can acquire information indicating the operation mode other than when the vacuum cleaner 1 and the dust station 2 are connected, for example, even during cleaning.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the vacuum cleaner 1 is not limited to a self-propelled robot cleaner or a canister type, but is an arbitrary vacuum cleaner housed in the dust station 2, such as a stick type, an upright type, and a handy type. It is possible to apply about 1.

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 variations 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 Vacuum cleaner as the first device 2 Dust station as the second device 3 Cleaning device 7 First electric blower 8 First communication means which is a wireless communication means 9 First suction control means
33 Second electric blower
34 Second communication means
35 Second suction control means

Claims (6)

A first device having a first electric blower and driving the first electric blower for cleaning,
A second device having a second electric blower, which can be connected to the first device, and which drives the second electric blower to transfer dust accumulated in the first device from the first device. It is a cleaning device equipped with
The first device is
It has a first suction control means for setting the driving force of the first electric blower from two or more operation modes.
The second device is
It has a second suction control means for setting the driving force of the second electric blower.
The second suction control means receives from the first device information indicating an operation mode set by the first suction control means when the first device and the second device are connected, and the first electric blower. When the operation mode of the above is a mode in which the driving force is relatively small with respect to the predetermined operation mode, the driving force of the second electric blower is set to be relatively small.
A cleaning device that features that . The first device and the second device each include wireless communication means.
The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the second suction control means receives information indicating an operation mode set by the first suction control means from the first device by the wireless communication means. The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the first device is a vacuum cleaner capable of autonomous traveling. The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the first device is a non-autonomous traveling type vacuum cleaner using a secondary battery as a drive source . The first device is an autonomously traveling electric vacuum cleaner provided with a first communication means.
The second device includes a second communication means.
The second suction control means acquires the operation mode based on the communication between the first communication means and the second communication means when the first device and the second device are connected after cleaning is completed. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , which is characterized. The second suction control means uses the second electric blower when the operation mode of the first electric blower is a mode in which the driving force of the first electric blower is relatively small with respect to the predetermined operation mode. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the cleaning device is set so as not to be driven.

Images