JP7104593B2

JP7104593B2 - Vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: JP7104593B2
Application number: JP2018168238A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 真愛及川; 正俊田中; 信秀興津; 洋光市川; 聰後藤; 拳斗大島
Original assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Priority date: 2018-09-07
Filing date: 2018-09-07
Publication date: 2022-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-07
Also published as: CN211212895U; JP2020039511A

Description

本発明の実施形態は、車輪により走行面を走行する電気掃除機に関する。 An embodiment of the present invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner that travels on a traveling surface by wheels.

キャニスタ型や自律走行式の電気掃除機において、進行方向を設定する旋回輪が掃除機本体の走行方向の前側に一つ配置され、走行を安定させる走行輪が掃除機本体の後側の左右にそれぞれ配置された電気掃除機が広く知られている。このような電気掃除機では、旋回輪と対をなす走行輪とにより、床面に対して三点支持されるようになっている。 In a canister type or autonomous traveling type vacuum cleaner, one swivel wheel for setting the traveling direction is arranged on the front side of the traveling direction of the vacuum cleaner body, and traveling wheels for stabilizing running are arranged on the left and right sides of the rear side of the vacuum cleaner body. The vacuum cleaners placed in each are widely known. In such a vacuum cleaner, the swivel wheels and the traveling wheels paired with each other support the floor surface at three points.

掃除機本体の小型化に連れて、走行方向における旋回輪と走行輪との距離も近くなっている。このように旋回輪と走行輪との距離が近くなると、走行面に対する走行時の安定感が損なわれやすく、走行時に転倒する可能性も高くなってしまう。 As the vacuum cleaner body becomes smaller, the distance between the turning wheel and the traveling wheel in the traveling direction is getting closer. When the distance between the turning wheel and the traveling wheel becomes short in this way, the sense of stability during traveling with respect to the traveling surface is likely to be impaired, and the possibility of falling during traveling increases.

特開２００３－１５３８３２号公報Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-153832

本発明が解決しようとする課題は、走行時の転倒を抑制できる電気掃除機を提供することである。 An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electric vacuum cleaner capable of suppressing a fall during traveling.

実施形態の電気掃除機は、第一車輪と、二つの第二車輪と、掃除機本体と、塵埃を集積する集塵装置と、受け部材と、補助支持部と、を備える。第一車輪は、底面側において、走行方向の前方側に設けられて走行面上を走行する。第二車輪は、底面側において、走行方向の後方側に設けられて走行面上を走行する。補助支持部は、第一車輪と第二車輪との接地位置を結ぶ仮想線よりも走行方向の前方側において、第一車輪と第二車輪とが平面に接地されている場合に該平面から離間する。第一車輪及び補助支持部は、受け部材に設けられる。第二車輪は、掃除機本体に設けられる。受け部材は、掃除機本体の走行方向の前方に突設され、集塵装置を下方から受ける。受け部材は、径寸法が、集塵装置の径寸法に応じて設定されるとともに掃除機本体の幅寸法より小さく、かつ、集塵装置と連通する風路を内部に有しない。 The vacuum cleaner of the embodiment includes a first wheel, two second wheels, a vacuum cleaner main body, a dust collector for collecting dust, a receiving member, and an auxiliary support portion. The first wheel is provided on the front side in the traveling direction on the bottom surface side and travels on the traveling surface. The second wheel is provided on the bottom surface side on the rear side in the traveling direction and travels on the traveling surface. The auxiliary support portion is separated from the plane when the first wheel and the second wheel are grounded on a plane on the front side in the traveling direction from the virtual line connecting the grounding positions of the first wheel and the second wheel. To do . The first wheel and the auxiliary support portion are provided on the receiving member. The second wheel is provided on the vacuum cleaner body. The receiving member projects forward in the traveling direction of the vacuum cleaner body and receives the dust collector from below. The diameter of the receiving member is set according to the diameter of the dust collector, is smaller than the width of the vacuum cleaner body, and does not have an air passage communicating with the dust collector inside .

一実施形態の電気掃除機を示す底面図である。It is a bottom view which shows the vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment. 同上電気掃除機の補助支持部付近の拡大断面図である。It is the enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of the auxiliary support part of the vacuum cleaner of the same as above. 同上掃除機本体の斜視図である。It is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner body as above. 同上電気掃除機の側面図である。It is a side view of the same as above. 同上電気掃除機の斜視図である。It is a perspective view of the same as above.

以下、一実施形態について図面を参照して説明する。 Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

図４及び図５において、１は電気掃除機である。本実施形態の電気掃除機１は、ユーザが走行面Ｓ上を走行させて移動させて塵埃を掃除する。本実施形態では、電気掃除機１として、キャニスタ型の電気掃除機を例に挙げて示すが、自律走行式のロボットクリーナ等でもよい。以下、本実施形態において、走行方向の前後方向及び上下方向は、電気掃除機１を走行面Ｓに載置した状態を基準として説明する。また、各図において、電気掃除機１の走行方向の前方側を矢印FRで示し、走行方向の後方側を矢印RRで示す。 In FIGS. 4 and 5, 1 is a vacuum cleaner. In the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, the user travels on the traveling surface S to move the vacuum cleaner 1 to clean dust. In the present embodiment, as the vacuum cleaner 1, a canister type vacuum cleaner is shown as an example, but an autonomous traveling type robot cleaner or the like may also be used. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the front-rear direction and the up-down direction of the traveling direction will be described with reference to a state in which the vacuum cleaner 1 is placed on the traveling surface S. Further, in each figure, the front side in the traveling direction of the vacuum cleaner 1 is indicated by an arrow FR, and the rear side in the traveling direction is indicated by an arrow RR.

電気掃除機１は、掃除機本体２を備え、走行手段３により走行面Ｓ上を走行可能となっている。また、掃除機本体２には、収容物として、例えば吸引源となる電動送風機４、電動送風機４を制御する制御部、及び、これら電動送風機４や制御部に電源を供給する電源部等が収容されている。電源部としては、外部電源を取るためのコードリール装置、あるいは二次電池等が用いられる。本実施形態では、掃除機本体２は、電源部としてコードリール装置を有するとともに、その外形の一部がコードリール装置内の形状に沿った略球体状を呈している。掃除機本体２は、図１に示すように、走行面Ｓに直接対向する底面部６を有しているとともに、底面部６の前方左右から底面部６の両側部全体に亘り、底面部６に対して外側斜め上方に立ち上がる傾斜部７を有している。ここで、底面部６とは、曲率が０又は曲率が所定値以下の平面状のものに限らず、凹凸等の構造が形成されているものを含む。また、傾斜部７は、例えば球面に沿って湾曲したものでもよいし、これに限らず、複数の平面や曲面等が連なって湾曲して形成されているもの等でもよい。 The electric vacuum cleaner 1 includes a vacuum cleaner main body 2 and can travel on the traveling surface S by the traveling means 3. Further, the vacuum cleaner main body 2 houses, for example, an electric blower 4 serving as a suction source, a control unit that controls the electric blower 4, a power supply unit that supplies power to the electric blower 4 and the control unit, and the like. Has been done. As the power supply unit, a cord reel device for taking an external power source, a secondary battery, or the like is used. In the present embodiment, the vacuum cleaner main body 2 has a cord reel device as a power supply unit, and a part of the outer shape thereof has a substantially spherical shape along the shape inside the cord reel device. As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner main body 2 has a bottom surface portion 6 that directly faces the traveling surface S, and the bottom surface portion 6 extends from the front left and right of the bottom surface portion 6 to the entire side surface portions of the bottom surface portion 6. It has an inclined portion 7 that rises diagonally upward on the outside. Here, the bottom surface portion 6 is not limited to a flat surface having a curvature of 0 or a curvature of a predetermined value or less, and includes a structure having irregularities or the like. Further, the inclined portion 7 may be curved along a spherical surface, for example, or may be not limited to this, and may be formed by connecting a plurality of planes, curved surfaces, or the like.

また、図３に示すように、掃除機本体２には、走行方向の前方側に取付部９を備えている。取付部９は、塵埃を集積する集塵装置10が取り付けられる部分であり、集塵装置10の形状に沿って湾曲している。取付部９は、走行方向の後方側に湾曲した円筒面状に形成されている。また、取付部９には、集塵装置10(図４)と接続される連通口11が設けられている。連通口11は、電動送風機４の吸込側と連通している。 Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the vacuum cleaner main body 2 is provided with a mounting portion 9 on the front side in the traveling direction. The attachment portion 9 is a portion to which the dust collector 10 for collecting dust is attached, and is curved along the shape of the dust collector 10. The mounting portion 9 is formed in a cylindrical surface shape curved to the rear side in the traveling direction. Further, the mounting portion 9 is provided with a communication port 11 connected to the dust collector 10 (FIG. 4). The communication port 11 communicates with the suction side of the electric blower 4.

また、電気掃除機１は、含塵空気の吸込口13を備えている。本実施形態において、吸込口13は、走行方向の前方側に位置する吸込部14に形成されているが、これに限られず、例えば電気掃除機１がロボットクリーナである場合には、掃除機本体２の下部等に配置されていてもよい。吸込部14は、走行前後方向に沿って軸方向を有する筒状に形成され、掃除機本体２に対して接続部15により接続されている。接続部15は、アーム状又は帯状に形成され、吸込部14の両側部と掃除機本体２の両側部とを接続している。 Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 includes a suction port 13 for dust-containing air. In the present embodiment, the suction port 13 is formed in the suction portion 14 located on the front side in the traveling direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the vacuum cleaner 1 is a robot cleaner, the vacuum cleaner main body is formed. It may be arranged in the lower part of 2. The suction portion 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape having an axial direction along the traveling front-rear direction, and is connected to the vacuum cleaner main body 2 by a connecting portion 15. The connecting portion 15 is formed in an arm shape or a band shape, and connects both side portions of the suction portion 14 and both side portions of the vacuum cleaner main body 2.

また、吸込口13には、図４及び図５に示すように、風路体17が接続される。風路体17は、例えば吸込口体、延長管、ホース体等を備えている。また、風路体17は、ユーザが把持操作する操作部を備えている。操作部には、電気掃除機１の起動及び停止を設定する設定手段が配置されている。なお、風路体17は、電気掃除機１がロボットクリーナである場合には不要である。 Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the air passage body 17 is connected to the suction port 13. The air passage body 17 includes, for example, a suction port body, an extension pipe, a hose body, and the like. Further, the air passage body 17 includes an operation unit that is gripped and operated by the user. A setting means for setting the start and stop of the vacuum cleaner 1 is arranged in the operation unit. The air passage body 17 is unnecessary when the vacuum cleaner 1 is a robot cleaner.

さらに、掃除機本体２には、集塵装置10が着脱される。集塵装置10は、掃除機本体２の走行方向の前方側に着脱される。本実施形態において、集塵装置10は、掃除機本体２の取付部９と吸込部14との間に、軸方向である長手方向に沿って挿脱されることで着脱される。本実施形態では、集塵装置10の挿脱方向は上下方向に沿っており、一端を下端として上方から装着され、上方に引き抜かれて取り外されるが、掃除機本体２の傾斜角度等によっては、これに限られない。また、集塵装置10は、本実施形態において、含塵空気を旋回させて塵埃を遠心分離するサイクロン分離式の集塵装置とするが、これに限られず、含塵空気から塵埃を分離捕集して空気を通過させる任意の構成としてよい。 Further, the dust collector 10 is attached to and detached from the vacuum cleaner main body 2. The dust collector 10 is attached to and detached from the front side of the vacuum cleaner main body 2 in the traveling direction. In the present embodiment, the dust collector 10 is attached / detached by being inserted / removed from the attachment portion 9 of the vacuum cleaner main body 2 and the suction portion 14 along the longitudinal direction which is the axial direction. In the present embodiment, the dust collector 10 is inserted / removed in the vertical direction, is mounted from above with one end as the lower end, and is pulled out upward to be removed. However, depending on the inclination angle of the vacuum cleaner body 2, etc. Not limited to this. Further, in the present embodiment, the dust collector 10 is a cyclone separation type dust collector that swirls the dust-containing air to centrifuge the dust, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the dust is separated and collected from the dust-containing air. It may be any configuration that allows air to pass through.

集塵装置10は、円筒状に形成されている。また、集塵装置10は、含塵空気を導入する導入口を備える。導入口は、集塵装置10を掃除機本体２に装着した状態で吸込口13と気密に接続される。さらに、集塵装置10は、塵埃が分離された空気を排出する排出口を備える。排出口は、集塵装置10を掃除機本体２に装着した状態で連通口11(図３)と気密に接続される。また、集塵装置10は、係止手段により掃除機本体２に係止されるとともに、取外し機構19により係止手段による係止が解除されて掃除機本体２から取り外し可能となっている。 The dust collector 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape. Further, the dust collector 10 includes an introduction port for introducing dust-containing air. The introduction port is airtightly connected to the suction port 13 with the dust collector 10 attached to the vacuum cleaner main body 2. Further, the dust collector 10 includes an outlet for discharging air from which dust has been separated. The discharge port is airtightly connected to the communication port 11 (FIG. 3) with the dust collector 10 attached to the vacuum cleaner main body 2. Further, the dust collector 10 is locked to the vacuum cleaner main body 2 by the locking means, and is released from the locking means by the removing mechanism 19 so that the dust collector 10 can be removed from the vacuum cleaner main body 2.

さらに、集塵装置10は、受け部材21により下方から支持される。受け部材21は、掃除機本体２の前方側に突設されている。本実施形態の受け部材21は、吸込部14及び接続部15に対して下方に離れて位置しているが、これに限られず、吸込部14や接続部15と連なって形成されていてもよい。また、受け部材21は、取付部９(図３)の下部に位置している。例えば、受け部材21は、取付部９の下部を覆って形成されている。すなわち、受け部材21は、走行面Ｓ側から見て、掃除機本体２の外形に対して前方側に突出している。さらに、本実施形態の受け部材21は、両側の傾斜部７の間に位置している。また、受け部材21は、集塵装置10を長手方向つまり掃除機本体２への着脱方向から見た形状に応じて形成されている。すなわち、本実施形態の受け部材21は、円形の皿状に形成されている。受け部材21の径寸法は、集塵装置10の径寸法に応じて設定され、本実施形態において、集塵装置10の径寸法よりも僅かに大きい。また、受け部材21の幅寸法は、本実施形態において、掃除機本体２の幅寸法よりも小さく設定されている。そのため、本実施形態の受け部材21の両側方には、掃除機本体２の傾斜部７との間に、括れ部22が形成されている。図１に示すように、括れ部22の位置において、掃除機本体２の底面部６と受け部材21とが括れて連なって形成されている。すなわち、括れ部22の位置において、掃除機本体２は、走行面Ｓからの上下方向の距離が、走行面Ｓから底面部６までの上下方向の距離よりも大きくなっている。なお、各括れ部22を覆って、掃除機本体２と受け部材21とに亘り連結部材が配置されていてもよい。 Further, the dust collector 10 is supported from below by the receiving member 21. The receiving member 21 is projected from the front side of the vacuum cleaner main body 2. The receiving member 21 of the present embodiment is located below the suction portion 14 and the connection portion 15, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the receiving member 21 may be formed in succession with the suction portion 14 and the connection portion 15. .. Further, the receiving member 21 is located at the lower part of the mounting portion 9 (FIG. 3). For example, the receiving member 21 is formed so as to cover the lower portion of the mounting portion 9. That is, the receiving member 21 projects forward with respect to the outer shape of the vacuum cleaner main body 2 when viewed from the traveling surface S side. Further, the receiving member 21 of the present embodiment is located between the inclined portions 7 on both sides. Further, the receiving member 21 is formed according to the shape of the dust collector 10 as viewed from the longitudinal direction, that is, the attachment / detachment direction to / from the vacuum cleaner main body 2. That is, the receiving member 21 of the present embodiment is formed in a circular dish shape. The diameter dimension of the receiving member 21 is set according to the diameter dimension of the dust collector 10, and is slightly larger than the diameter dimension of the dust collector 10 in the present embodiment. Further, the width dimension of the receiving member 21 is set smaller than the width dimension of the vacuum cleaner main body 2 in the present embodiment. Therefore, constricted portions 22 are formed on both sides of the receiving member 21 of the present embodiment between the inclined portions 7 of the vacuum cleaner main body 2. As shown in FIG. 1, at the position of the constricted portion 22, the bottom surface portion 6 of the vacuum cleaner main body 2 and the receiving member 21 are constricted and formed in a row. That is, at the position of the constricted portion 22, the vertical distance of the vacuum cleaner main body 2 from the traveling surface S is larger than the vertical distance from the traveling surface S to the bottom surface portion 6. A connecting member may be arranged over the vacuum cleaner main body 2 and the receiving member 21 so as to cover each constricted portion 22.

また、走行手段３は、本実施形態において、走行方向の前方側に配置された第一車輪25と、走行方向の後方側に配置された二つの第二車輪26と、を備えている。第一車輪25と対をなす第二車輪26とにより、電気掃除機１は走行面Ｓに対し三点支持される。つまり、走行面Ｓとは、第一車輪25と第二車輪26との接平面である。したがって、床面が例えばフローリング等の硬質平面状のものである場合、床面は走行面Ｓと略一致するものの、床面が絨毯等、毛足の長い起毛部材を備えるものである場合、床面は走行面Ｓと必ずしも一致せず、床面の一部をなす起毛部材の先端部が走行面Ｓに対して上方まで延びていることもある。また、電気掃除機１の風路体17を除く部分の重心位置は、上下方向に見て、第一車輪25と対をなす第二車輪26とのそれぞれの接地位置を結ぶ仮想三角形TRにより囲まれる範囲内にある。本実施形態において、仮想三角形TRは、第一車輪25と各第二車輪26とを結ぶ仮想線Ｌの長さが互いに等しい又は略等しい二等辺三角形である。 Further, in the present embodiment, the traveling means 3 includes a first wheel 25 arranged on the front side in the traveling direction and two second wheels 26 arranged on the rear side in the traveling direction. The vacuum cleaner 1 is supported at three points with respect to the traveling surface S by the second wheel 26 paired with the first wheel 25. That is, the traveling surface S is a tangent plane between the first wheel 25 and the second wheel 26. Therefore, when the floor surface is a hard flat surface such as flooring, the floor surface substantially coincides with the running surface S, but the floor surface is provided with a raised member having long fluff such as a carpet. The surface does not necessarily coincide with the traveling surface S, and the tip of the raised member forming a part of the floor surface may extend upward with respect to the traveling surface S. Further, the position of the center of gravity of the portion of the vacuum cleaner 1 excluding the air passage body 17 is surrounded by a virtual triangle TR connecting the respective ground contact positions of the first wheel 25 and the second wheel 26 paired with the first wheel 25 when viewed in the vertical direction. It is within the range of In the present embodiment, the virtual triangle TR is an isosceles triangle in which the lengths of the virtual lines L connecting the first wheel 25 and each second wheel 26 are equal to or substantially equal to each other.

第一車輪25は、電気掃除機１の底面側に配置された自由輪である。以下、電気掃除機１の底面側とは、電気掃除機１が走行する際に走行面Ｓに対向する部分であって、その形状は面形状に限られるものではない。本実施形態において、第一車輪25は、受け部材21の下方、つまり集塵装置10の下方に配置されている。また、第一車輪25は、左右方向の中央部に配置されている。第一車輪25は、本実施形態において、両側の傾斜部７及び括れ部22の間に位置している。さらに、第一車輪25は、各第二車輪26に対して、走行方向前側に位置している。 The first wheel 25 is a free wheel arranged on the bottom surface side of the vacuum cleaner 1. Hereinafter, the bottom surface side of the vacuum cleaner 1 is a portion facing the traveling surface S when the vacuum cleaner 1 travels, and the shape thereof is not limited to the surface shape. In the present embodiment, the first wheel 25 is arranged below the receiving member 21, that is, below the dust collector 10. Further, the first wheel 25 is arranged at the central portion in the left-right direction. The first wheel 25 is located between the inclined portions 7 and the constricted portions 22 on both sides in the present embodiment. Further, the first wheel 25 is located on the front side in the traveling direction with respect to each second wheel 26.

本実施形態の第一車輪25は、受け部材21に対して旋回可能に設けられた台座部28と、台座部28に回転自在に保持された車輪本体29と、を備えている。図２に示すように、台座部28は、例えば上下方向に沿う旋回軸31を中心として旋回可能に設けられている。また、車輪本体29は、左右方向に沿う回転軸32を中心として台座部28に回転自在に設けられている。 The first wheel 25 of the present embodiment includes a pedestal portion 28 provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the receiving member 21, and a wheel body 29 rotatably held by the pedestal portion 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the pedestal portion 28 is provided so as to be able to swivel around, for example, a swivel shaft 31 along the vertical direction. Further, the wheel body 29 is rotatably provided on the pedestal portion 28 about a rotation shaft 32 along the left-right direction.

なお、第一車輪25は、台座部28及び車輪本体29に代えて、球体状に形成されて無軸状に回転自在に支持されていてもよいし、回転軸32を中心として回転自在に配置された固定輪でもよい。 The first wheel 25 may be formed in a spherical shape and rotatably supported in a non-axis shape instead of the pedestal portion 28 and the wheel body 29, or may be rotatably arranged around the rotation shaft 32. It may be a fixed wheel.

また、第二車輪26は、電気掃除機１の底面側にて両側部に回転自在に配置されて走行を安定させる固定輪である。本実施形態の第二車輪26は、掃除機本体２に左右対称又は略左右対称に配置されている。第二車輪26は、互いに左右方向に離れて位置している。また、第二車輪26は、左右方向に沿う回転軸34を中心として回転自在に設けられている。さらに、第二車輪26は、第一車輪25の車輪本体29よりも径寸法が大きく設定されている。このため、第二車輪26の回転軸34は、走行面Ｓからの距離が、第一車輪25の回転軸32よりも大きく設定されている。 Further, the second wheel 26 is a fixed wheel that is rotatably arranged on both side portions on the bottom surface side of the vacuum cleaner 1 to stabilize traveling. The second wheel 26 of the present embodiment is arranged symmetrically or substantially symmetrically on the vacuum cleaner main body 2. The second wheels 26 are located apart from each other in the left-right direction. Further, the second wheel 26 is rotatably provided about a rotation shaft 34 along the left-right direction. Further, the second wheel 26 has a larger diameter than the wheel body 29 of the first wheel 25. Therefore, the distance from the traveling surface S of the rotating shaft 34 of the second wheel 26 is set to be larger than that of the rotating shaft 32 of the first wheel 25.

さらに、図１及び図２に示すように、掃除機本体２には、走行時の転倒防止用の補助支持部36が設けられている。補助支持部36は、第一車輪25と第二車輪26との接地位置を結ぶ仮想線Ｌに対して走行方向の前方側に位置している。上記のように、電気掃除機１の風路体17を除く部分の重心位置は、仮想三角形TRにより囲まれる範囲内にあるため、補助支持部36は、仮想三角形TR外の位置に設けられる。このとき、第二車輪26の接地位置を結ぶ仮想線よりも後方側には掃除機本体２が形成されていないため、補助支持部36は、仮想線Ｌに対して走行方向の前方側に位置している。好ましくは、補助支持部36は、第一車輪25に対して走行方向の前方側に位置している。例えば、図示される例では、補助支持部36は、第一車輪25の旋回軸31よりも走行方向の前方側に位置している。 Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vacuum cleaner main body 2 is provided with an auxiliary support portion 36 for preventing a fall during traveling. The auxiliary support portion 36 is located on the front side in the traveling direction with respect to the virtual line L connecting the ground contact positions of the first wheel 25 and the second wheel 26. As described above, since the position of the center of gravity of the portion of the vacuum cleaner 1 excluding the air passage body 17 is within the range surrounded by the virtual triangle TR, the auxiliary support portion 36 is provided at a position outside the virtual triangle TR. At this time, since the vacuum cleaner main body 2 is not formed on the rear side of the virtual line connecting the ground contact positions of the second wheels 26, the auxiliary support portion 36 is located on the front side in the traveling direction with respect to the virtual line L. is doing. Preferably, the auxiliary support 36 is located on the front side in the traveling direction with respect to the first wheel 25. For example, in the illustrated example, the auxiliary support portion 36 is located on the front side in the traveling direction of the turning shaft 31 of the first wheel 25.

また、補助支持部36は、電気掃除機１が平面の走行面Ｓに接地されている通常時、走行面Ｓに対して離れて位置し、電気掃除機１が走行方向の前方側に傾斜時に走行面Ｓに対し接触して掃除機本体２を支持可能となっている。つまり、補助支持部36は、通常時、走行面Ｓに対して上方に距離Ｈ(図２)離れて配置されている。距離Ｈは、好ましくは、補助支持部36が走行面Ｓに接触した状態で電気掃除機１が大きく傾かないように、例えば２～３ｍｍ程度の僅かな距離に設定されている。このため、床面が走行面Ｓに対して上方に延びる起毛部材を備える絨毯等である場合、起毛部材の先端側に補助支持部36が接触していてもよい。 Further, the auxiliary support portion 36 is normally located away from the traveling surface S when the vacuum cleaner 1 is in contact with the traveling surface S on a flat surface, and when the vacuum cleaner 1 is tilted forward in the traveling direction. The vacuum cleaner main body 2 can be supported by contacting the traveling surface S. That is, the auxiliary support portion 36 is normally arranged above the traveling surface S at a distance H (FIG. 2). The distance H is preferably set to a small distance of, for example, about 2 to 3 mm so that the vacuum cleaner 1 does not tilt significantly when the auxiliary support portion 36 is in contact with the traveling surface S. Therefore, in the case of a carpet or the like having a raised member whose floor surface extends upward with respect to the traveling surface S, the auxiliary support portion 36 may be in contact with the tip end side of the raised member.

また、補助支持部36は、好ましくは第二車輪26の接地位置を結ぶ仮想線を第一仮想線L1、第一仮想線L1の中点と第一車輪25の接地位置を結ぶ仮想線を第二仮想線L2として、第二仮想線L2を挟んで両側にそれぞれ配置されている。なお、本実施形態の補助支持部36は、左右方向に離れて対をなして配置されているが、これに限られず、掃除機本体２の左右方向の中心を挟む両側に亘り連続的に一つ配置されていてもよい。例えば、図示される例では、補助支持部36は、第一車輪25を挟んで配置されている。 Further, the auxiliary support portion 36 preferably has a virtual line connecting the ground contact position of the second wheel 26 as the first virtual line L1, and a virtual line connecting the midpoint of the first virtual line L1 and the ground contact position of the first wheel 25. As two virtual lines L2, they are arranged on both sides of the second virtual line L2. The auxiliary support portions 36 of the present embodiment are arranged in pairs apart from each other in the left-right direction, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the auxiliary support portions 36 are continuously arranged on both sides of the vacuum cleaner main body 2 in the left-right direction. One may be arranged. For example, in the illustrated example, the auxiliary support portion 36 is arranged so as to sandwich the first wheel 25.

本実施形態では、補助支持部36は、集塵装置10を支持する受け部材21に設けられており、また、補助支持部36は、受け部材21の下部に走行面Ｓに向かい凸形状に形成された配置部37に配置されている。配置部37は、例えば受け部材21の走行面Ｓに対向する下部に走行方向の前方側から後方側へと下方に傾斜する傾斜面部38に連なって形成されている。なお、図示される例では、補助支持部36は、括れ部22に対して走行方向の前方側に位置しているが、これに限られず、括れ部22を覆う連結部材を備える構成の場合、この連結部材に配置されていてもよい。 In the present embodiment, the auxiliary support portion 36 is provided on the receiving member 21 that supports the dust collector 10, and the auxiliary support portion 36 is formed in a convex shape at the lower part of the receiving member 21 toward the traveling surface S. It is arranged in the arranged arrangement part 37. The arrangement portion 37 is formed, for example, in a lower portion of the receiving member 21 facing the traveling surface S so as to be connected to an inclined surface portion 38 that inclines downward from the front side to the rear side in the traveling direction. In the illustrated example, the auxiliary support portion 36 is located on the front side in the traveling direction with respect to the constricted portion 22, but the present invention is not limited to this, and in the case of a configuration including a connecting member covering the constricted portion 22. It may be arranged in this connecting member.

また、補助支持部36は、走行面Ｓ側に向かい凸状となる単なる構造部としてもよいし、車輪としてもよい。好ましくは、補助支持部36は、左右方向に沿う回転軸40を中心として回転自在に支持された車輪である。この場合、補助支持部36は、回転軸40が傾く方向に沿って斜めに傾斜して配置されていてもよい。また、補助支持部36は、第一車輪25の車輪本体29、及び第二車輪26に対して径寸法が小さく形成されていることが好ましい。図示される例では、補助支持部36の中心の走行面Ｓからの距離は、第一車輪25の車輪本体29及び第二車輪26のそれぞれの中心の走行面Ｓからの距離より小さい。なお、補助支持部36は、例えば球体状に形成されて無軸状に回転自在に支持されていてもよい。 Further, the auxiliary support portion 36 may be a simple structural portion having a convex shape toward the traveling surface S side, or may be a wheel. Preferably, the auxiliary support portion 36 is a wheel rotatably supported around a rotation shaft 40 along the left-right direction. In this case, the auxiliary support portion 36 may be arranged so as to be obliquely inclined along the direction in which the rotation shaft 40 is inclined. Further, the auxiliary support portion 36 is preferably formed to have a smaller diameter than the wheel body 29 of the first wheel 25 and the second wheel 26. In the illustrated example, the distance from the central traveling surface S of the auxiliary support portion 36 is smaller than the distance from the central traveling surface S of the wheel body 29 and the second wheel 26 of the first wheel 25. The auxiliary support portion 36 may be formed in a spherical shape, for example, and may be rotatably supported in a non-axial shape.

また、補助支持部36には、好ましくは表面に滑り性が良好な起毛布や不織布等の滑り部材が配置されていてもよい。 Further, the auxiliary support portion 36 may preferably have a sliding member such as a brushed cloth or a non-woven fabric having good slipperiness arranged on the surface thereof.

次に、一実施形態の動作を説明する。 Next, the operation of one embodiment will be described.

電気掃除機１は、通常時、第一車輪25と第二車輪26とにより走行面Ｓに支持され、第一車輪25と第二車輪26とが走行面Ｓに沿って回転することで走行面Ｓ上を走行可能となっている。このとき、補助支持部36は、走行面Ｓに対して離れて位置していることで、電気掃除機１の走行を妨げない。 Normally, the vacuum cleaner 1 is supported by the traveling surface S by the first wheel 25 and the second wheel 26, and the first wheel 25 and the second wheel 26 rotate along the traveling surface S to rotate the traveling surface. It is possible to drive on S. At this time, since the auxiliary support portion 36 is located away from the traveling surface S, the traveling of the vacuum cleaner 1 is not hindered.

例えば停止状態にある電気掃除機１に対して、ユーザが風路体17を引っ張って走行を開始させる場合、又は、走行中の電気掃除機１が停止する場合等には、走行方向前側に慣性力が生じることで、第一車輪25、又は、第一車輪25及びいずれかの第二車輪26を支点として、電気掃除機１が走行方向の前方側に傾斜する場合がある。このとき、掃除機本体２をその収容物の形状に応じて小型化している場合には、第一車輪25と対をなす第二車輪26とによる三点支持の仮想三角形TRが小さくなるとともに、第二車輪26に対して走行方向の前方側の部分の底面部６の面積が狭くなることで、傾斜した電気掃除機１を走行面Ｓに対して支持する部分が狭くなり、電気掃除機１が走行面Ｓに対して傾斜しやすくなる。そこで、本実施形態では、第一車輪25と第二車輪26とが平面に接地されている場合に該平面から離間する補助支持部36を仮想線Ｌよりも走行方向の前方側に配置しているので、電気掃除機１が仮に傾斜しても補助支持部36が走行面Ｓに接触して支持し、転倒を抑制できる。 For example, when the user pulls the air passage body 17 to start traveling with respect to the stopped vacuum cleaner 1, or when the running vacuum cleaner 1 stops, the inertia is applied to the front side in the traveling direction. When a force is generated, the vacuum cleaner 1 may incline forward in the traveling direction with the first wheel 25 or the first wheel 25 and any second wheel 26 as fulcrums. At this time, when the vacuum cleaner main body 2 is miniaturized according to the shape of the contained object, the virtual triangle TR of three points supported by the first wheel 25 and the second wheel 26 paired with the first wheel 25 becomes smaller, and the virtual triangle TR is reduced. By narrowing the area of the bottom surface portion 6 of the portion on the front side in the traveling direction with respect to the second wheel 26, the portion supporting the inclined electric vacuum cleaner 1 with respect to the traveling surface S becomes narrow, and the electric vacuum cleaner 1 Is more likely to incline with respect to the traveling surface S. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the first wheel 25 and the second wheel 26 are in contact with the plane, the auxiliary support portion 36 that is separated from the plane is arranged on the front side in the traveling direction with respect to the virtual line L. Therefore, even if the vacuum cleaner 1 is tilted, the auxiliary support portion 36 comes into contact with the traveling surface S to support it, and the fall can be suppressed.

また、補助支持部36が第一車輪25よりも走行方向の前方側に位置することで、第一車輪25の両側の括れ部22を避けて、より配置スペースが広い位置に補助支持部36を配置できるとともに、仮想線Ｌに対して補助支持部36を離して配置できるため、電気掃除機１の傾斜が相対的に小さい時点で補助支持部36を走行面Ｓに対して接触させることができるので、電気掃除機１が大きく傾きにくく、転倒をより確実に抑制できる。 Further, since the auxiliary support portion 36 is located on the front side in the traveling direction of the first wheel 25, the auxiliary support portion 36 is placed at a position where the arrangement space is wider, avoiding the constricted portions 22 on both sides of the first wheel 25. Since the auxiliary support portion 36 can be arranged apart from the virtual line L, the auxiliary support portion 36 can be brought into contact with the traveling surface S when the inclination of the vacuum cleaner 1 is relatively small. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 1 is large and difficult to tilt, and the fall can be suppressed more reliably.

さらに、補助支持部36が第二仮想線L2を挟んで両側にそれぞれ配置されているため、電気掃除機１が走行方向の前方側の両側いずれに傾斜した場合でも、補助支持部36によって確実に支持することができる。 Further, since the auxiliary support 36 is arranged on both sides of the second virtual line L2, the auxiliary support 36 ensures that the vacuum cleaner 1 is tilted to either side of the front side in the traveling direction. Can be supported.

また、補助支持部36を車輪とすることで、例えば走行面Ｓに凸状の段差が生じている場合等に、補助支持部36が当該段差と接触しても引っ掛かりにくく、段差を乗り越えやすいとともに、補助支持部36が電気掃除機１を走行面Ｓに対して支持した状態で回転して走行方向の前方側に生じる慣性力を逃がすため、補助支持部36を支点としたさらなる電気掃除機１の傾斜を抑制でき、より転倒しにくくできる。特に、補助支持部36を配置した配置部37は、傾斜面部38に連なって傾斜して形成されているので、補助支持部36の周辺の位置で走行面Ｓの上記段差等に引っ掛かりにくくなる。 Further, by using the auxiliary support portion 36 as a wheel, for example, when a convex step is generated on the traveling surface S, even if the auxiliary support portion 36 comes into contact with the step, it is difficult to get caught and it is easy to get over the step. , The auxiliary support 36 rotates while supporting the vacuum cleaner 1 with respect to the traveling surface S to release the inertial force generated on the front side in the traveling direction. Therefore, the auxiliary support 36 is used as a fulcrum for the additional vacuum cleaner 1. It is possible to suppress the inclination of the wheel and make it more difficult to fall. In particular, since the arrangement portion 37 in which the auxiliary support portion 36 is arranged is formed so as to be continuous with the inclined surface portion 38 and is formed so as to be inclined, it is difficult for the auxiliary support portion 36 to be caught in the step or the like on the traveling surface S at a position around the auxiliary support portion 36.

また、補助支持部36の中心の走行面Ｓからの距離を、第一車輪25及び第二車輪26のそれぞれの中心の走行面Ｓからの距離より小さくすることで、例えば補助支持部36として小型の車輪を用いた場合でも、補助支持部36を走行面Ｓに対して近接させて配置することができ、補助支持部36周辺での電気掃除機１の大型化を抑制できる。 Further, by making the distance from the running surface S at the center of the auxiliary support portion 36 smaller than the distance from the running surface S at the center of each of the first wheel 25 and the second wheel 26, for example, the auxiliary support portion 36 can be made smaller. Even when the wheels of the above are used, the auxiliary support portion 36 can be arranged close to the traveling surface S, and the increase in size of the vacuum cleaner 1 around the auxiliary support portion 36 can be suppressed.

特に、集塵装置10を小型化する場合には、受け部材21も小型化することができるものの、その場合、掃除機本体２に対する受け部材21の幅が狭くなることで、掃除機本体２から突出する受け部材21の両側で走行方向の前方側の位置に掃除機本体２の支持構造を形成することが難しい。そこで、本実施形態では、受け部材21に第一車輪25と補助支持部36とを設けることにより、受け部材21の配置スペースを利用して、第一車輪25と補助支持部36とを効率よく配置できるとともに、電気掃除機１の意匠性を損ないにくく、かつ、二つの第二車輪26は掃除機本体２に設けることで、第二車輪26を左右に大きく離して配置するスペースを取ることができる。 In particular, when the dust collector 10 is miniaturized, the receiving member 21 can also be miniaturized, but in that case, the width of the receiving member 21 with respect to the vacuum cleaner main body 2 becomes narrower, so that the vacuum cleaner main body 2 It is difficult to form a support structure for the vacuum cleaner main body 2 at positions on both sides of the protruding receiving member 21 on the front side in the traveling direction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by providing the first wheel 25 and the auxiliary support portion 36 on the receiving member 21, the first wheel 25 and the auxiliary support portion 36 can be efficiently connected by utilizing the arrangement space of the receiving member 21. It can be arranged, it does not easily impair the design of the vacuum cleaner 1, and by providing the two second wheels 26 on the vacuum cleaner main body 2, it is possible to take a space for arranging the second wheels 26 on the left and right. can.

本発明のいくつかの実施形態を説明したが、これらの実施形態は、例として提示したものであり、発明の範囲を限定することは意図していない。これら新規な実施形態は、その他の様々な形態で実施されることが可能であり、発明の要旨を逸脱しない範囲で、種々の省略、置き換え、変更を行うことができる。これら実施形態やその変形は、発明の範囲や要旨に含まれるとともに、特許請求の範囲に記載された発明とその均等の範囲に含まれる。 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電気掃除機
２掃除機本体
10 集塵装置
21 受け部材
25 第一車輪
26 第二車輪
36 補助支持部
Ｌ仮想線
L1 第一仮想線
L2 第二仮想線
Ｓ走行面 1 Electric vacuum cleaner 2 Vacuum cleaner body
10 Dust collector
21 Receiving member
25 First wheel
26 Second wheel
36 Auxiliary support L virtual line
L1 first virtual line
L2 2nd virtual line S running surface

Claims

On the bottom side, the first wheel provided on the front side in the traveling direction and traveling on the traveling surface,
A vacuum cleaner provided with two second wheels on the bottom side, which are provided on the rear side in the traveling direction and travel on the traveling surface.
With the vacuum cleaner body
A dust collector that collects dust and
A receiving member that is projected forward in the traveling direction of the vacuum cleaner body and receives the dust collector from below.
On the front side in the traveling direction from the virtual line connecting the ground contact positions of the first wheel and the second wheel, when the first wheel and the second wheel are grounded on a plane, they are separated from the plane. With an auxiliary support ,
The first wheel and the auxiliary support portion are provided on the receiving member.
The second wheel is provided on the vacuum cleaner body.
The receiving member has a diameter dimension set according to the diameter dimension of the dust collector, is smaller than the width dimension of the vacuum cleaner main body, and does not have an air passage communicating with the dust collector inside.
A vacuum cleaner that features that.

The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary support portion is located on the front side in the traveling direction with respect to the first wheel.

When the virtual line connecting the ground contact positions of the two second wheels is defined as the first virtual line and the virtual line connecting the midpoint of the first virtual line and the first wheel is defined as the second virtual line.
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the auxiliary support portions are arranged on both sides of the second virtual line.

The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the auxiliary support portion is a wheel.

The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the distance of the center of the auxiliary support portion from the traveling surface is smaller than the distance of the center of the first wheel and the second wheel from the traveling surface .