JP7323006B2 - vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

Patent Literature 1 describes an electric vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1 includes a vacuum cleaner main body and a suction tool. The vacuum cleaner body is equipped with an electric blower. The suction tool includes a case, side brushes, and a motor. The side brush is detachable from the case. A motor drives the side brushes. When the electric blower is driven, power supply to the motor is started.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-28113

In the vacuum cleaner disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the side brush is attached to the case, the side brush always rotates when the electric blower is driven. If the side brushes do not need to be rotated, they must be removed from the case.

The present invention was made to solve the above problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner that can stop the rotation of the side brushes without removing the side brushes when there is no need to rotate the side brushes during cleaning.

A vacuum cleaner according to the present invention comprises a case having a suction port formed on the bottom surface thereof, a suction tool provided with a side brush partially protruding sideways from the case, an extension pipe to which the suction tool is attachable and detachable, and a A blower for generating an airflow for sucking dust, a first operation means for driving and stopping the blower by a user's manual operation, and a second operation for rotating and stopping the side brush by a user's manual operation. A means, a control device, and a secondary battery are provided. The suction tool further includes a rotating brush, a motor that generates driving force for rotating the side brush, and a second motor that generates driving force for rotating the rotating brush . The control device controls the motor according to the operation performed on the second operation means. A secondary battery supplies power to the blower , the motor , and the second motor . When the remaining amount of the secondary battery is less than the reference value , the control device changes the control of the motor, does not drive the motor, or reduces the rotation speed of the motor , and does not change the control of the second motor. The vacuum cleaner is of canister type or stick type.

With the electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, the rotation of the side brush can be stopped without removing the side brush when it is unnecessary to rotate the side brush during cleaning.

1 is a diagram showing an example of a vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 1 shows an example of electrical connection of devices provided in a vacuum cleaner. It is a front view of a suction tool. It is a top view of a suction tool. It is a bottom view of a suction tool. It is a side view of a suction tool. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a cross section taken along line AA of FIG. 4; It is a top view which shows the other example of a suction tool. It is a side view which shows the other example of a suction tool. It is a figure which shows the other example of a vacuum cleaner. 11 shows an example of electrical connection of devices provided in the vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 10. FIG. FIG. 10 shows an example of electrical connection of devices provided in the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the hardware resources of a control apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of hardware resources of a control device;

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Duplicate descriptions are appropriately simplified or omitted. In each figure, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a vacuum cleaner 1 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 1 shows a canister type vacuum cleaner 1 as an example. The vacuum cleaner 1 includes, for example, a suction tool 2, an extension pipe 3, an operating body 4, a hose 5, and a main body 6. FIG. 2 shows an example of electrical connection of devices provided in the vacuum cleaner 1. As shown in FIG.

The suction tool 2 is connected to one end of the extension pipe 3 . The suction tool 2 is attachable to and detachable from the extension pipe 3 . The extension pipe 3 is extendable. An operating body 4 is connected to the other end of the extension pipe 3 . The extension pipe 3 is detachable from the operating body 4 . The operating body 4 has a handle 7 . A handle 7 is provided with an operation portion 8 . A user of the vacuum cleaner 1 holds the handle 7 and moves the suction tool 2 when cleaning. A user operates the operation unit 8 with the hand holding the handle 7, for example.

One end of a hose 5 is connected to the operating body 4 . The other end of hose 5 is connected to body 6 . The hose 5 is attachable to and detachable from the main body 6 . The main body 6 includes, for example, an air blower 9, a control device 10, and a dust collector 11. As shown in FIG.

A suction port 12 (not shown in FIG. 1) is formed in the suction tool 2 . The blower 9 generates an airflow for sucking dust from the suction port 12 . The dust sucked from the suction port 12 accumulates in the dust collector 11. - 特許庁The control device 10 controls electrical equipment provided in the vacuum cleaner 1 . The control device 10 controls the electrical equipment based on information input from the operation unit 8, for example. Air blower 9 is controlled by control device 10 .

FIG. 3 is a front view of the suction tool 2. FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the suction tool 2. FIG. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the suction tool 2. FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view of the suction tool 2. FIG. Regarding the suction tool 2, the upper and lower sides are specified as shown in FIG. Similarly, front and rear and left and right are specified as shown in FIG. The suction tool 2 includes a case 20, a connecting pipe 21, a rotating brush 22, a motor 23, a side brush 24, and a motor 25, for example.

As shown in FIG. 4, the case 20 has a rectangular shape as a whole when viewed from above. A suction port 12 for sucking dust is formed on the lower surface of the case 20 . When the suction tool 2 is placed on the floor, the lower surface of the case 20 faces the floor. The connection pipe 21 extends obliquely upward from the rear central portion of the case 20 . A space formed inside the connection pipe 21 communicates with a space formed inside the case 20 . One end of the extension pipe 3 is connected to the connection pipe 21 .

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the AA section of FIG. The rotating brush 22 is rotatably supported by the case 20 . A rotating shaft 26 of the rotating brush 22 is arranged in the left-right direction in a space formed inside the case 20 . A portion of the rotating brush 22 extending downward from the rotating shaft 26 passes through the suction port 12 . That is, at least a portion of the rotating brush 22 protrudes downward from the case 20 .

A motor 23 generates driving force for rotating the rotating brush 22 . That is, the rotating brush 22 is rotationally driven by the motor 23 . Motor 23 is supported by case 20 . The motor 23 is arranged in a space formed inside the case 20 . A driving force of the motor 23 is transmitted to the rotating brush 22 by a belt 27, for example. Motor 23 is electrically connected to control device 10 . Motor 23 is controlled by control device 10 .

The side brush 24 is rotatably supported by the case 20 . The rotating shaft 28 of the side brush 24 is arranged vertically, for example. At least a portion of the side brush 24 protrudes laterally from the case 20 when viewed from above. This embodiment shows an example in which a part of the side brush 24 also protrudes forward of the case 20 when viewed from above.

A motor 25 generates driving force for rotating the side brush 24 . That is, the side brush 24 is rotationally driven by the motor 25 . Motor 25 is supported by case 20 . The motor 25 is arranged in a space formed inside the case 20 . The driving force of the motor 25 is transmitted to the side brushes 24 by a transmission mechanism 29, for example. Motor 25 is electrically connected to control device 10 . Motor 25 is controlled by control device 10 .

This embodiment shows an example in which the side brushes 24 are arranged on the right side and the left side of the suction port 12, respectively. In this case, the portion of the right side brush 24 extending to the right from the rotating shaft 28 protrudes from the case 20 when viewed from above. A portion of the left side brush 24 extending leftward from the rotating shaft 28 protrudes from the case 20 when viewed from above. The suction tool 2 preferably comprises a first motor 25 for driving the right side brush 24 and a second motor 25 for driving the left side brush 24 .

FIG. 2 shows an example in which the operation unit 8 includes an operation button 30, a brush button 31, and a brush button 32. FIG.

The operation button 30 is a button for driving and stopping the blower 9 by manual operation of the user, and corresponds to first operation means. The control device 10 controls the blower 9 according to the operation performed on the operation button 30 . For example, when the operation button 30 is pressed while the blower 9 is stopped, the control device 10 drives the blower 9 . When the operation button 30 is pushed while the blower 9 is being driven, the control device 10 stops the blower 9 .

The brush button 31 is a button for rotating and stopping the rotating brush 22 by manual operation of the user, and corresponds to third operation means. The control device 10 controls the motor 23 according to the operation performed on the brush button 31 . For example, when the brush button 31 is pressed while the motor 23 is stopped, the controller 10 drives the motor 23 . Thereby, the rotating brush 22 rotates. When the brush button 31 is pressed while the motor 23 is running, the controller 10 stops the motor 23 . Thereby, the rotating brush 22 stops.

The brush button 32 is a button for rotating and stopping the side brush 24 by a user's manual operation, and corresponds to the second operation means. The control device 10 controls the motor 25 according to the operation performed on the brush button 32 . For example, when the brush button 32 is pressed while the motor 25 is stopped, the controller 10 drives the motor 25 . Thereby, the side brush 24 rotates. If the brush button 32 is pressed while the motor 25 is running, the controller 10 stops the motor 25 . As a result, the side brushes 24 are stopped.

The operation button 30 , the brush button 31 , and the brush button 32 are examples of means manually operated by the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 . The operation button 30, the brush button 31, and the brush button 32 may be appropriately combined and shared, for example, such that the operation button 30 and the brush button 31 are configured as one button and shared. As another example, the operation unit 8 may have a button for switching the operation mode. For example, the control device 10 controls the blower 9 according to the operation performed on this button to adjust the suction force.

As another example, the operation unit 8 may have a button for switching the rotational speed of the rotating brush 22 . The control device 10 controls the motor 23 and adjusts the rotation speed of the rotating brush 22 according to the operation performed on this button. The rotational speed of the rotating brush 22 may be adjustable in multiple steps or steplessly.

As another example, the operation unit 8 may have a button for switching the rotational speed of the side brushes 24 . The control device 10 controls the motor 25 and adjusts the rotation speed of the side brush 24 according to the operation performed on this button. The rotational speed of the side brushes 24 may be adjustable in multiple steps or steplessly.

In the example shown in this embodiment, the user can operate the operation button 30 to drive or stop the blower 9 . Also, the user can rotate or stop the side brush 24 by operating the brush button 32 . Therefore, in the example shown in this embodiment, the user can stop the rotation of the side brush 24 without removing it during cleaning. Also, the user can rotate the side brushes 24 as needed during cleaning. The side brushes 24 may be rotatable only when the blower 9 is driven.

In the example shown in this embodiment, the user can rotate or stop the rotating brush 22 by operating the brush button 31 . The side brushes 24 can be stopped while the rotating brushes 22 are rotating. The side brushes 24 are rotatable when the rotating brushes 22 are stopped. Therefore, in the example shown in this embodiment, the user can stop the side brush 24 without stopping the rotation of the rotating brush 22 during cleaning. Note that the rotating brush 22 may be rotatable only when the blower 9 is driven. Also, the rotating brush 22 may always rotate while the blower 9 is being driven. In such a case, the operation section 8 does not need to have the brush button 31 .

In this embodiment, an example in which the brush button 31 and the brush button 32 are provided on the handle 7 has been described. The brush button 31 may be provided on the suction tool 2 . The brush button 32 may be provided on the suction tool 2 .

In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the means manually operated by the user of vacuum cleaner 1 is the button. This is an example. The above means are not limited to buttons.

In this embodiment, an example in which the side brush 24 is driven by the motor 25 has been described. This is an example. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another example of the suction tool 2. FIG. FIG. 9 is a side view showing another example of the suction tool 2. FIG. 8 and 9, the suction tool 2 includes, for example, a case 20, a connecting pipe 21, a rotating brush 22, a motor 23 (not shown in FIGS. 8 and 9), a side brush 24, a lid 33, and a turbine. 34. In the example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the suction tool 2 does not have a motor 25. FIG.

An intake port 35 is formed in the upper surface of the case 20 . A space formed inside the connection pipe 21 communicates with the intake port 35 via a space formed inside the case 20 .

The lid 33 opens and closes the intake port 35 . A lid 33 is provided on the case 20 . In the example shown in FIG. 8 , the lid 33 slides horizontally with respect to the case 20 . A user can slide the lid 33 by hand.

The turbine 34 generates a driving force for rotating the side brushes 24 by an airflow from the intake port 35 generated when the blower 9 is driven. That is, in the examples shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the side brushes 24 are rotationally driven by the turbine 34. As shown in FIG. Turbine 34 is supported by case 20 . The turbine 34 is arranged in a space formed inside the case 20 . The driving force of the turbine 34 is transmitted to the side brushes 24 by a transmission mechanism 36, for example.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which side brushes 24 are arranged on the right and left sides of the suction port 12, respectively. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 8, the suction tool 2 is provided with a first turbine 34 for driving the right side brush 24 and a second turbine 34 for driving the left side brush 24. is preferred. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the case 20 is formed with a first intake port 35 corresponding to the turbine 34 on the right side and a second intake port 35 corresponding to the turbine 34 on the left side. In addition, the suction tool 2 is provided with a first lid 33 for opening and closing the right intake port 35 and a second lid 33 for opening and closing the left intake port 35 .

In the examples shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the user can operate the operation button 30 to drive or stop the fan 9 . Also, the user can rotate or stop the side brush 24 by opening and closing the lid 33 . Therefore, even in the examples shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the user can stop the rotation of the side brush 24 without removing it during cleaning. Also, the user can rotate the side brushes 24 as needed during cleaning. In the examples shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the side brushes 24 are rotatable only when the blower 9 is driven.

The lid 33 is an example of a second operating means manually operated by the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 . Also, the lid 33 is an example of a member that opens and closes the intake port 35 . The intake port 35 may be opened and closed by a member other than the lid 33 . For example, the suction tool 2 may include a shielding plate arranged inside the case 20 as a member for opening and closing the intake port 35 .

In the present embodiment, an example in which the vacuum cleaner 1 is of the canister type has been described. This is an example. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the vacuum cleaner 1. FIG. FIG. 10 shows an example in which the vacuum cleaner 1 is a stick type. A vacuum cleaner 1 shown in FIG. 10 includes, for example, a suction tool 2, an extension pipe 3, and a main body 13. As shown in FIG. FIG. 11 shows an example of electrical connection of devices provided in the vacuum cleaner 1 shown in FIG.

The suction tool 2 and the extension pipe 3 are the same as in any of the examples described above. An example in which the side brush 24 is driven by the motor 25 will be described below.

The other end of the extension pipe 3 is connected to the main body 13 . The extension pipe 3 is attachable to and detachable from the main body 13 . The main body 13 includes a secondary battery 14, a blower 9, a control device 10, a dust collector 11, and a handle 15, for example. The secondary battery 14 supplies electric power to the blower 9, the control device 10, the motor 23, and the motor 25, for example.

The handle 15 has the same function as the handle 7 described above. For example, the handle 15 has an operating portion 8 . A user of the vacuum cleaner 1 holds the handle 15 and moves the suction tool 2 when cleaning. A user operates the operation unit 8 with the hand holding the handle 15, for example. FIG. 11 shows an example in which the operation unit 8 has an operation button 30, a brush button 31, and a brush button 32, like the example shown in FIG.

When vacuum cleaner 1 includes secondary battery 14 , control device 10 may change control of motor 23 or motor 25 according to the remaining amount of secondary battery 14 . For example, cleaning itself is possible even if the rotating brush 22 and the side brush 24 are not rotating. Therefore, the control device 10 does not have to drive the motor 23 or the motor 25 when the remaining amount of the secondary battery 14 is less than the reference value. For example, the control device 10 does not drive the motor 23 even if the brush button 31 is pressed when the remaining amount of the secondary battery 14 is less than the reference value. Further, even if the brush button 32 is pressed, the motor 25 is not driven. Also, the rotation speed of the motor 23 or the motor 25 may be decreased. As a result, it is possible to extend the cleaning time by the electric vacuum cleaner 1 .

Embodiment 2.
Embodiment 1 described an example in which the side brushes 24 are rotated and stopped by manual operation by the user. In this embodiment, an example in which the side brushes 24 are automatically rotated and stopped will be described.

FIG. 12 shows an example of electrical connection of devices provided in the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 shows an example in which the vacuum cleaner 1 is a stick type. The vacuum cleaner 1 may be of a canister type. That is, the vacuum cleaner 1 does not have to include the secondary battery 14 . In this embodiment, differences from the example disclosed in the first embodiment will be described in detail. Any of the examples described in the first embodiment may be adopted for items not described in the present embodiment.

Vacuum cleaner 1 in the present embodiment further includes detector 16 . The operation unit 8 also includes an operation button 30 and a brush button 31 . In the example shown in FIG. 12 , the operation section 8 does not have the brush button 32 .

The detector 16 detects the type of floor that the lower surface of the case 20 faces. Detection by the detector 16 may be performed on condition that the suction tool 2 is placed on the floor. For example, the suction tool 2 is provided with a switch that turns on when the suction tool 2 is placed on the floor. Detector 16 detects the type of floor when this switch is on. The detector 16 does not perform detection processing if this switch is off.

The detector 16 is provided in the suction tool 2, for example. The detector 16 may detect the type of floor by irradiating infrared rays or the like.

As another example, detector 16 may detect the type of floor based on the value of the current flowing through motor 25 . For example, the detector 16 detects that the floor is carpeted if the current value of the motor 25 is greater than a threshold. The detector 16 detects that the floor is flooring if the current value of the motor 25 is equal to or less than the threshold. Similarly, the type of floor may be detected based on the value of the current flowing through the motor 23 that drives the rotating brush 22 .

As another example, the detector 16 may detect the floor type based on the degree of vacuum in the space formed inside the suction tool 2 . The above space is the space directly above the suction port 12 . For example, a rotating brush 22 is arranged in the space. The detector 16 detects that the floor is flooring, for example, if the degree of vacuum in the space is higher than a threshold. The detector 16 detects that the floor is carpeted if the degree of vacuum in the space is below the threshold.

The control device 10 controls the motor 25 based on the type of floor detected by the detector 16 . For example, when the detector 16 detects that the floor is flooring, the controller 10 stops the motor 25 . As a result, the side brushes 24 do not rotate. On the other hand, when the detector 16 detects that the floor is carpeted, the controller 10 drives the motor 25 . Thereby, the side brush 24 rotates. Note that the control device 10 may drive the motor 25 when the detector 16 detects that the floor is flooring. Thereby, the side brush 24 rotates. On the other hand, the controller 10 may stop the motor 25 when the detector 16 detects that the floor is carpeted. As a result, the side brushes 24 do not rotate.

In this embodiment, an example in which the operation unit 8 does not include the brush button 32 has been described. The operation unit 8 may include an operation button 30 , a brush button 31 and a brush button 32 . In such a case, the operation unit 8 may further include a switch or the like for switching the setting of the side brush 24 between "manual" and "automatic". For example, if the setting of the side brush 24 is "manual", the control device 10 controls the motor 25 according to the operation performed on the brush button 32. FIG. The control device 10 controls the motor 25 according to the type of floor detected by the detector 16 if the setting of the side brush 24 is "automatic".

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of hardware resources of the control device 10. As shown in FIG. The control device 10 includes, as hardware resources, a processing circuit 37 including a processor 38 and a memory 39, for example. The control device 10 implements each of the functions described above by causing the processor 38 to execute programs stored in the memory 39 .

The processor 38 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. As the memory 39, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a DVD may be used. Semiconductor memories that can be employed include RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM, and the like.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another example of hardware resources of the control device 10. As shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the control device 10 comprises processing circuitry 37 including, for example, a processor 38, a memory 39, and dedicated hardware 40. In the example shown in FIG. FIG. 14 shows an example in which some of the functions of the control device 10 are realized by dedicated hardware 40. FIG. All the functions of the control device 10 may be realized by dedicated hardware 40 . Dedicated hardware 40 can be a single circuit, multiple circuits, programmed processors, parallel programmed processors, ASICs, FPGAs, or combinations thereof.

1 Vacuum Cleaner 2 Suction Tool 3 Extension Pipe 4 Operation Body 5 Hose 6 Main Body 7 Handle 8 Operation Part 9 Blower 10 Control Device 11 Dust Collector 12 Suction Port 13 Main Body 14 Secondary battery 15 Handle 16 Detector 20 Case 21 Connection pipe 22 Rotating brush 23 Motor 24 Side brush 25 Motor 26 Rotating shaft 27 Belt 28 Rotating shaft 29 Transmission mechanism 30 Operation button (first operation means), 31 brush button (third operation means), 32 brush button (second operation means), 33 lid (second operation means), 34 turbine, 35 intake port, 36 transmission mechanism, 37 processing circuit , 38 processor, 39 memory, 40 dedicated hardware

Claims (1)

a suction tool comprising a case having a suction port formed on the lower surface thereof and a side brush partially projecting laterally from the case;
an extension pipe to which the suction tool is detachable;
an air blower that generates an airflow for sucking dust from the suction port;
a first operation means for driving and stopping the blower by manual operation by a user;
a second operating means for rotating and stopping the side brush by manual operation by a user;
a controller;
a secondary battery;
with
The suction tool is
a rotating brush;
a motor that generates a driving force for rotating the side brush ;
a second motor that generates a driving force for rotating the rotating brush;
further comprising
The control device controls the motor according to an operation performed on the second operation means,
the secondary battery supplies power to the blower , the motor , and the second motor ;
When the remaining amount of the secondary battery is less than a reference value , the control device
changing the control of the motor so as not to drive the motor or reduce the rotational speed of the motor ;
A canister-type or stick-type vacuum cleaner that does not change the control of the second motor .

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