JPH0482526A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit a working body to slide smoothly, and need no great force for the sliding of the working body, and enable the working body to be adopted even when the suction performance of a motor blower is low, by detecting the position of the working body in non-contact with the working body, with an optical sensor. CONSTITUTION:At the time of driving a motor blower 21, while the storing quantity of dust in a dust collecting bag 17 is small, a piston 41 is positioned on the right side due to low ventilating resistance, and this valve seat port 37 is blocked. In this case, by the shield section 44 of the piston 41, light from the photodiode 51 of an optical sensor 50 to a phototransistor 52 is interrupted, and so the phototransistor 52 is set in an OFF-state. Accordingly, a display lamp 49 is set in an extinguished state. In view of this, it is known that the storing quantity of the dust is less. When the storing quantity of the dust gets more and the piston 41 slides to the left side, then the shield section 44 is removed from the optical sensor 50, and the phototransistor 52 is turned ON, and the display lamp 49 is lit. In view of this, it is known that a dust collecting bag 17 full of the dust is required to be thrown away.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Object of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner for household or commercial use,
In particular, the present invention relates to a structure for displaying the state of accumulation of dust in a dust collection chamber.

(Prior art) Many vacuum cleaners have a dust indicator (dust collection meter) that displays the amount of dust accumulated in the dust collection chamber to inform the user that the dust should be thrown away when a certain amount of dust has accumulated in the dust collection chamber. has been established.

Conventional dust indicators are, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1983-
As described in Publication No. 51824, a piston can be freely slid into a cylinder that communicates between the intake side of an electric blower and a dust collection filter such as a dust collection bag on one end, and communicates with the atmosphere on the other end. The structure is such that the piston is biased toward the atmosphere by a spring. and,
When the amount of accumulated dust is small, the pressure on the intake side of the electric blower is high, so the piston is located in the cylinder on the side facing the biasing force of the spring. Due to clogging, the pressure on the intake side of the electric blower decreases, so the piston is located on the opposite side, and the position of this piston indicates the state of dust accumulation.

However, in this conventional structure, since the piston itself is used as the display means, the display may be overlooked even if the inside of the dust collection bag is full of dust.

Conventionally, high-grade vacuum cleaners use an electric pressure sensor made of a semiconductor such as silicon and a detection comparison using a microcomputer, etc., as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-212521. A structure has also been adopted in which a dust indicator is composed of a circuit and a lamp such as a light emitting diode. That is,
This dust indicator has one end of the pressure sensor communicated between the intake side of the electric blower and the dust collection filter, and the other end of the pressure sensor communicated with the atmosphere, and the pressure between the intake side of the electric blower and the atmosphere. Based on the difference, the dust accumulation status is displayed using a lamp.

However, in this conventional structure, since the pressure sensor and the detection/comparison circuit are expensive, it is extremely difficult to apply it to a relatively low-priced vacuum cleaner.

Furthermore, there are conventional dust indicators that use a sensor to convert the movement of the piston into an electrical signal and display it using a display means separate from the piston. A structure is adopted in which the sensor is constituted by a magnet provided in the cylinder and a reed switch provided near the cylinder.

However, adding a member such as a magnet to the piston increases the weight of the piston, so it is especially important for electric blowers with low suction performance, that is, those that can obtain a low degree of vacuum, to avoid the inner surface of the cylinder. There is a risk that the sliding resistance between the piston and the piston will become large and the piston will not move smoothly, resulting in a decrease in reliability.

Additionally, conventionally, a structure has been adopted in which the piston is mechanically linked to the pointer using a cam, gear, etc.

However, even with this conventional structure, the mechanical load on the piston increases, so in vacuum cleaners with low suction performance, the piston may not move due to insufficient pulling force. , cannot be hired.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, the conventional dust indicator that uses the piston itself that slides inside the cylinder due to the pressure difference between the intake side of the electric blower and the atmosphere as a display means has the problem that the display is difficult to read. In addition, conventional dust indicators, which are composed of a pressure sensor made of a semiconductor such as silicon, a detection comparison circuit made of a microcomputer, and a lamp, have the problem of being expensive. Conventional dust indicator that detects and displays movement using a magnet and reed switch
Alternatively, conventional dust indicators in which a piston and a pointer are mechanically linked tend to be less reliable and cannot be used in vacuum cleaners with low suction performance.

The present invention aims to solve these problems, and provides an electric cleaner with an easy-to-read display, high reliability, and an inexpensive dust indicator that can be used even when the suction performance of an electric blower is low. The purpose is to provide opportunities.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 of the present invention includes an electric blower and a dust collection filter such as a dust collection bag that is connected to the suction side of the electric blower. a vacuum cleaner body with a built-in dust collection chamber inside; a communication path consisting of a pipe or the like, one end of which communicates between the intake side of the electric blower and the dust collection filter, and the other end of which communicates with the atmosphere; An actuating body such as a piston that is slidably provided in the communication passage and biased toward the other end of the communication passage by a spring or the like; an optical sensor consisting of a light emitting element and a light receiving element; A display means such as a lamp that displays a display according to the amount of light received by the light-receiving element, and the actuating body changes the amount of light from the light-emitting element of the optical sensor to the light-receiving element as the actuating body slides. It is equipped with a light control section.

In addition, in the vacuum cleaner of claim 2, the optical sensor includes a wide directional light emitting element and a wide directional light receiving element, and the optical sensor is attached to the operating body as the operating body slides. A light control unit is provided to change the amount of light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element of the optical sensor in three or more stages, and the display means displays a display in three or more stages according to the amount of light received by the light receiving element of the optical sensor. It is.

(Function) In the vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 of the present invention, during cleaning, the electric blower is driven, and the dust sucked into the dust collection chamber of the vacuum cleaner body is captured by the dust collection filter, and the dust is collected inside the dust collection chamber. I will save up. When the electric blower is running, while the amount of accumulated dust is small, the pressure between the electric blower's intake side and the dust collection filter is high and is closer to atmospheric pressure, so one end is the electric blower's intake side. The actuating body, which is located in a communication path that communicates between the side and the dust collection filter and communicates with the atmosphere, is biased toward the other end of the communication path. To position. At this time, for example, the light control section of the operating body blocks light from the light emitting element of the optical sensor to the light receiving element, and the light receiving element is not receiving light, so the display means has a small amount of accumulated dust. Display the following information. When the amount of dust accumulated in the dust collection chamber increases, the dust collection filter becomes clogged, and the pressure between the intake side of the electric blower and the dust collection filter decreases, causing the operating body to close the communication passage. Slide toward one end.

At this time, for example, the light control part of the actuating body does not block light from the light emitting element of the optical sensor to the light receiving element, and the light receiving element is receiving light, so that the display means indicates the amount of accumulated dust. Display that there are many.

Note that the relationship between the position of the actuator and the blocking of light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element may be reversed to that described above. Further, the light control section may reflect light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element.

Furthermore, in the vacuum cleaner of claim 2, as the amount of dust accumulated in the dust collection chamber changes and the operating body slides,
The light control section of this operating body changes the amount of light from the wide directional light emitting element to the wide directional light receiving element of the optical sensor in three or more stages. As the amount of light received by the light-receiving element of the optical sensor changes in this way, the display means performs display in three or more stages. That is, the amount of accumulated dust is displayed in three or more levels.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, the structure of a first embodiment of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 4.

In FIG. 3, 11 is a vacuum cleaner main body, and this vacuum cleaner main body 11 is composed of a main body case 12 and a lid body 13. The inside of the main body case 12 has a ventilation hole 1.
It is partitioned into the front and back by a partition plate 15 having a diameter of 4, and a dust collection chamber 16 is defined in front of the partition plate 15. This dust collection chamber 16 opens upward and is covered by the lid 13 from above so as to be openable and closable.

Further, a dust collection bag 17 serving as a main dust collection filter is removably installed in the dust collection chamber 16, and is inserted into and taken out of the dust collection chamber 16 through an upper opening thereof. Furthermore, a sponge-like auxiliary dust collecting filter 18 is attached to the front side of the partition plate 15 so as to cover the ventilation opening 14 . Although not shown, for example, a suction port is formed on the front surface of the main body case 12 to face the dust collection chamber 16 and to which a suction hose is detachably connected.

Further, inside the main body case 12, on the rear side of the partition plate 15,
An electric blower 21 is supported via a pair of rubber supports 22 and 23, and the intake side and exhaust side of the electric blower 21 are airtightly partitioned by the annular rubber support 22 on the front side. There is. The intake side of the electric blower 21 communicates with the dust collection chamber 16 via the ventilation port 14 . Although not shown, an exhaust port communicating with the exhaust side of the electric blower 21 is formed, for example, on the rear surface of the main body case 12.

Furthermore, the electric blower 21 is provided in the main body case I2.
A recessed dust indicator housing section 30 is formed above the housing, and a dust indicator 31 that also serves as a leak valve is disposed within this housing section 30.

Next, regarding this dust indicator 31, the first
This will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings and FIG.

The intake side of the electric blower 21 and the auxiliary dust collection filter】8
On the upper side, the negative pressure space 32 between
This partition wall 33 is airtightly separated from the atmosphere by
A communication port 34 is formed in the opening. Note that the upper opening of the dust indicator storage section 30 is covered by a cover 35, and through a gap formed between the cover 35 and the main body case 12,
The inside of the dust indicator storage section 30 is the vacuum cleaner main body 1
1.Communicates with the outside atmosphere.

36 is a cylindrical pipe forming a communication path, and this pipe 36 has one end surface (left end surface) open, and
A valve seat opening 37 is formed in the center of the other end surface (right end surface). One end of the pipe 36 is connected to the communication port 34 of the partition wall 33 via a rubber connecting pipe 38 bent at right angles.

In this way, the inside of the pipe 36 has one end connected to the connecting pipe 3.
It communicates with the negative pressure space 32 via 8, and
The other end side communicates with the atmosphere via the valve seat port 37. Further, the pipe 36 is fixed in the dust indicator storage part 30 by being held by holding ribs 39 and 40 formed on the upper surface of the partition wall 33 and the lower surface of the cover 35, respectively.

In the pipe 36, a piston 41 as an actuating body that opens and closes the valve seat port 37 is disposed inside the pipe 36.
6 in a slidable manner in the axial direction (left and right direction).

This piston 41 is made of plastic and has a cylindrical shape with the surface on the valve seat port 37 side closed, and has a protrusion 42 on the outer circumferential surface. A gap 43 is maintained between the inner circumferential surface of. Further, a shielding portion 44 serving as a light control portion in the shape of a protrusion that protrudes from the valve seat opening 37 to the outside of the pipe 36 is integrally formed on the right end surface of the piston 4 . This shielding part 44
extends in the sliding direction of the piston 41. Furthermore, within the pipe 36, a coiled spring 45 is installed between the connecting pipe 38 and the piston 41.
As a result, the piston 41 is always urged toward the valve seat port 37, that is, toward the atmosphere.

Further, a circuit board 46 is disposed in the dust indicator storage section 30 so as to be parallel to and adjacent to the front side of the pipe 41 . This circuit board 46 is connected to the main body case 1.
It is held in place by holding ribs 47.4g formed on the upper surface of the partition wall 33 of No. 2 and the lower surface of the cover 35, respectively, and is locked in a vertically standing state.

A display lamp 49 such as a light emitting diode as display means, an optical sensor 50, and other circuit components are mounted on the rear surface of the circuit board 46. The indicator lamp 49 is located in front of the pipe 36,
It passes through the cover 35 and is exposed to the upper outer shell of the cleaner body 11.

The optical sensor 50 is located adjacent to the right side of the valve seat opening 37 of the pipe 36, and includes a photodiode 51 as a light-emitting element, which is a light source lamp, and light emitted from the photodiode 51. It has a phototransistor 52 (both shown in FIG. 4) as a light-receiving element that receives light.

These photodiodes 51 and phototransistors 52 are arranged in front and behind each other and are located across the locus of the shielding portion 44 of the piston 41.
slides to the right and closes the valve seat port 37, the photodiode 51 and the phototransistor 5
A shielding part 44 is located between the photodiode 51 and the phototransistor 52, and when the piston 41 slides to the left to some extent, the shielding part 44 comes off from between the photodiode 51 and the phototransistor 52.

Next, the configuration of the electric circuit will be explained based on FIG. 4.

A resistor 56 and the photodiode 51 are connected in series between the two poles of a DC power source (electromotive force vCC), and the phototransistor 52, which is a switching element, the resistor 57, and the display lamp 49 are connected in series. has been done. With this configuration, the photodiode 5
The display lamp 49 is turned on only when the light from the phototransistor 1 is received by the phototransistor 52.

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

During cleaning, when the electric blower 21 is driven, dust is sucked in together with air from, for example, a suction port connected to a hose via an extension tube, and the dust is sucked in through the extension tube and the hose.
The dust is guided into the dust collection chamber 16 of the cleaner body 11 and captured in the dust collection bag 17, and the dust is accumulated in the dust collection bag 17.

Further, the air filtered by the dust collection bag 17 passes through the auxiliary dust collection filter 18, the vent 14, the negative pressure space 32, and the electric blower 21 in this order, and is discharged to the outside of the cleaner main body 11 from the exhaust port.

During use, that is, when the electric blower 21 is driven, while the amount of dust accumulated in the dust collection bag 17 is small, the negative pressure between the intake side of the electric blower 21 and the dust collection filter 18 is low due to the small ventilation resistance. The pressure in space 32 is higher and closer to atmospheric pressure. As a result, the pressure in the negative pressure space 32 and the tension of the spring 45 are lower than this atmospheric pressure.
Since the resultant force with
7 is blocked.

At this time, the shielding portion 44 of the piston 41 blocks light from the photodiode 51 of the optical sensor 50 to the phototransistor 52, so the phototransistor 51, which is not receiving light, is turned off. therefore,
Since no current flows through the indicator lamp 49, the indicator lamp 49 is off. Seeing this, the user knows that the amount of accumulated dust is small and that there is no need to replace the dust collection bag 17 yet.

On the other hand, when the amount of dust accumulated in the dust collection bag 17 increases, the dust collection bag I7 becomes clogged and the ventilation resistance becomes thicker, so the pressure in the negative pressure space 32 becomes lower (the negative pressure becomes higher). .

As a result, the atmospheric pressure becomes stronger than the resultant force of the pressure in the negative pressure space 32 and the tension of the spring 45, so the piston 41
Resisting the elasticity of the spring 45, it slides in the direction opposite to the atmosphere side, ie, to the left, within the pipe 36, and moves away from the valve seat opening 37, so that the valve seat opening 37 is opened. Therefore, the atmosphere
Flows into the pipe 36 from the gap 43 between the inner peripheral surface of the pipe 36 and the outer peripheral surface of the piston 41, the connecting pipe 38,
Electric blower 21 via communication port 34 and negative pressure space 32
flows into. As a result, the electric blower 2 is removed from the dust collection chamber 16.
1 is compensated for, and the electric blower 21 is prevented from overheating due to the decrease in air volume.

Then, the amount of accumulated dust increases and the piston 4
1 slides to the left to a certain extent, this piston 41
The shielding part 44 is removed from the optical sensor 50, and the space between the photodiode 51 and the phototransistor 52 is opened, so that the light from the photodiode 51 to the phototransistor 52 is not blocked. The phototransistor 52 is turned on by receiving the light. Therefore, current flows through the indicator lamp 49, so that the indicator lamp 49 lights up. Seeing this, the user knows that the amount of accumulated dust has increased and that it is necessary to throw away the dust collection bag 17 which is already full of dust.

According to the above configuration, since the display is performed not by the piston 41 itself but by the lamp 49, the display prompting to throw away dust is easy to see and understand, and the possibility of overlooking this display can be reduced.

However, like a conventional vacuum cleaner, the pipe 36
In addition to making the pipe transparent, a window hole is formed in the cover 35 facing the pipe 36 so that the piston 41 can be seen directly, and in addition to the indicator lamp 49, the piston 41 itself can also be used to display the information. good. This makes the display easier to see.

Furthermore, since expensive parts such as an electric pressure sensor made of a semiconductor such as silicon and a detection/comparison circuit made of a microcomputer are not used, the cost can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the protruding shielding portion 44 is simply added to the plastic piston 41, the piston 41
The load on the movement can be reduced. In addition, since the optical sensor 50 detects the position of the piston 41 without contacting the piston 41, the load on the movement of the piston 41 can be reduced compared to the case where the piston is mechanically interlocked with the pointer. Therefore, the piston 41 can slide smoothly and maintain high reliability.

In addition, since there is no need to apply a large force for sliding the piston 41, it can be used even when the electric blower 21 has low suction performance.

In addition, conventional vacuum cleaners have a cover that covers the dust indicator made of a pipe or piston from above, but the circuit board 46 on which the optical sensor 50 and indicator lamp 49 are mounted is mounted between the bulkhead 33 of the main body case 12 and the cover 35. Since the dust indicator 31 is clamped, the present dust indicator 31 can be easily incorporated into a conventional vacuum cleaner with few design changes.

Note that, contrary to the above embodiment, when the piston is located on the atmosphere side, light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element is not blocked;
It is also possible to block light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element when the piston is located on the side opposite to the atmosphere.

In addition, as shown by the chain line in FIG. 1, the optical sensor is a multi-stage optical sensor 50 in which a plurality of sets of a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged in the sliding direction of the piston 41, and each set of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is provided. By providing a plurality of corresponding indicator lamps, it can be used as a dust indicator that indicates the amount of accumulated dust in stages.

Next, the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5 to 7.
This will be explained based on the diagram. Note that this second embodiment basically has the same structure as the first embodiment, so
Corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted.

In this second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a shielding portion 61 serving as a protruding light control portion provided on the piston 41 is tapered in the sliding direction of the piston 41. ing. This shielding portion 61 has a diameter that gradually decreases toward the tip and has a portion with the maximum diameter S at the base.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the optical sensor 62 includes a diffused photodiode 63 which has a wide light emission spread as a wide directional light emitting element, and a wide directional type photodiode 63 which has a wide light receiving angle as a wide directional light receiving element. It has a built-in photo transistor 64.

Of course, as in the previous embodiment, the shielding portion 6I of the piston 41 is located between the photodiode 63 and the phototransistor 64, but this shielding portion 61 has a tapered shape as described above. As a result, the amount of light blocked from the photodiode 63 to the phototransistor 64 changes continuously as the piston 41 slides.

Next, the configuration of the electric circuit will be explained based on FIG. 7.

A resistor 66 and the photodiode 63 are connected in series between the two poles of the DC power supply, and a resistor 67, the phototransistor 64, and a resistor 68 are connected in series. Also, the first voltage comparison circuit 71 and the second voltage comparison circuit 71
A resistor 73 is connected to the positive input terminal of the voltage comparator circuit 72, respectively.
．． The positive pole of a DC power supply is connected via 74. Note that the resistance value of the resistor 73 is greater than the resistance value of the resistor 74. On the other hand, the negative input terminals of both voltage comparison circuits 71 and 72 are commonly connected, and are connected to the emitter E of the phototransistor 64.
It is connected to the negative electrode of the DC power supply via a resistor 75. Resistors 76 and 77 and a first display lamp 78 and a second display lamp 79 as display means are connected in series between the output terminals of both voltage comparison circuits 71 and 72 and the negative electrode of the DC power supply, respectively. It is connected to the.

In this way, the output of the optical sensor 62 is taken out via the two voltage comparison circuits 7 and 72, and the output of the optical sensor 62 is
The number of lighting indicators 78 and 79 varies from 0 to 2 depending on the output state of
The display is controlled in three stages.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be explained.

In the driving state of the electric blower 21, the larger the amount of dust stored in the dust collection bag 17, that is, the amount of collected dust, the more the piston 41 in the pipe 36 moves away from the valve seat port 37 on the atmosphere side, as in the previous embodiment. Located further away (more to the left).

Since the shielding portion 61 of the piston 41 is tapered and the photodiode 63 and phototransistor 64 emit light and receive light at a wide angle, the piston 41 slides to the left. Accordingly, the amount of light blocked from the photodiode 63 to the phototransistor 64 becomes smaller continuously from the maximum value. Conversely, more light enters from the photodiode 63 to the phototransistor 64.

As the amount of light received by the phototransistor 64 increases, the voltage between the collector C and the emitter 8 of the phototransistor 64 decreases, and the potential of the emitter E also decreases. Note that even when the amount of dust collected is small, the piston 41 is moved toward the valve seat port 37, and the light from the photodiode 63 to the phototransistor 64 is blocked by the maximum diameter S portion of the shielding portion 61. This light is not completely blocked, and a small current flows between the collector C and emitter 8 of the phototransistor 64.

Then, when the potential of the emitter E of the phototransistor 64 decreases and becomes lower than the potential of the positive input terminal of the voltage comparator circuits 71 and 72, the output of the voltage comparator circuits 71 and 72 is turned on and the light is turned off until then. Display lamp 78.
79 lights up.

In this way, depending on the position of the piston 41, the indicator lamp 7
The number of 8.79 lights will change.

When the amount of dust collected is small and the piston 41 is moved toward the valve seat port 37 side, the amount of light blocked by the shielding part 61 is large, so that the potential of the emitter E is lower than that of the voltage comparison circuit 71.
．． Both of the potentials exceed the potential of the positive input terminals of the terminals 72, and therefore, the image display lamps 78 and 79 are all turned off.

Then, when the amount of collected dust increases and the amount of light blocked by the shielding part 61 decreases to a certain extent, the potential of the emitter E will first change to the first voltage comparison circuit 71 due to the difference in the resistance values of the resistors 73 and 74.
, and only the first indicator lamp 78 lights up.

When the amount of collected dust further increases and the amount of light blocked by the shielding part 61 is further reduced to a certain extent, the potential of the emitter E becomes lower than the potential of the positive input terminal of the second voltage comparator circuit 72,
The display lamp 79 also lights up.

In this way, the two display lamps 78 and 79 display the amount of collected dust in three stages.

Since the amount of collected dust is displayed in detail in this way, it is convenient and convenient for the user.

Furthermore, only one photodiode 63 and one phototransistor 64 are required for this purpose, making the structure simple, compact, and inexpensive.

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, but in this third embodiment, instead of making the shielding portion 61 of the piston 41 tapered as in the second embodiment, the piston 41 has a tapered shape.
In the sliding direction of FIG. 1, the cross-sectional area of the shielding part 81 as a light control part of the piston 41 is changed stepwise. Therefore, as the piston 41 slides, the amount of light blocked from the photodiode 63 to the phototransistor 64 also changes in stages, and the output of the optical sensor 62 also changes in stages.

In addition, in the second and third embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the shielding portion H, 81 of the piston 41 was made smaller continuously or stepwise toward the tip of the shielding portion 61° 81.
On the other hand, the size may be increased continuously or stepwise toward the tip of the shielding portion.

Further, in the second and third embodiments, three levels of display are provided depending on the amount of dust, but four or more display lamps and four or more voltage comparison circuits may be provided to provide four or more levels of display. is also possible.

Further, in the second and third embodiments, two lamps 7
8. I changed the number of lights on the 79 to display three levels, but by changing the brightness of one lamp to three or more levels,
It is also possible to perform display in three or more stages.

Further, in each of the embodiments described above, the shielding portion 44 of the piston 41.
The photodiode 51 is cut off by 61.81.
．． Although the amount of light from 63 to phototransistors 52 and 64 is changed, a reflective part is integrally formed on the piston 41 as a light control part, and as the piston 41 slides,
The amount of light reflected from the photodiode 51.63 to the phototransistor 52.64 may be changed by the reflecting portion.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the display means is the lamp 49.7.
8.79, but the display means may be a liquid crystal display board or the like.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 has a communication passage whose one end side communicates between the intake side of the electric blower and the dust collection filter and whose other end side communicates with the atmosphere, and a communication passage which is slidably provided within the communication passage. An actuating body biased toward the other end, an optical sensor consisting of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a display means for displaying an amount of light received by the light receiving element. A light control section is provided that changes the amount of light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element as the body slides, making the display easier to read than when displaying the amount of dust collected using the operating body itself. , there is no need to use expensive parts such as pressure sensors made of semiconductors,
It is inexpensive, there is no need to provide a separate member such as a magnet to the actuating body, and the optical sensor can detect the position of the actuating body without contacting it, making the sliding of the actuating body smooth. It can be used even when the suction performance of an electric blower is low because it can be used as an electric blower and has high reliability, and because a large force is not required for the sliding of the operating body.

Furthermore, in the vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, the optical sensor is composed of a wide directional light emitting element and a wide directional light receiving element, and the operating body is provided with a light emitting element to a light receiving element as the operating body slides. A light control unit that changes the amount of light in three or more levels is provided, and the display means displays in three or more levels depending on the amount of light received by the light receiving element, so the amount of collected dust is displayed in detail, making it easier to use. In addition, only one light-emitting element and one light-receiving element are required for this purpose, and the structure is simple, compact, and inexpensive.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an enlarged rear view of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention in the vicinity of the dust indicator, Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the vicinity of the dust indicator, and Fig. 3 shows a part of the main body of the vacuum cleaner. A cross-sectional side view, Figure 4 is the same circuit diagram as above,
FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear view of the vicinity of the dust indicator showing the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the vicinity of the same dust indicator, FIG. 7 is the circuit diagram of the above, and FIG. It is an enlarged rear view of the vicinity of a dust indicator showing a third embodiment. II...Vacuum cleaner body, 16...Dust collection chamber, 17...Dust collection bag as a dust collection filter, 18...Auxiliary dust collection filter 21...Electric blower, 36...Pipe forming a communication path,
41... Piston as an operating body, 44... Shielding part as a light control part, 49... Display lamp as a display means, 5
0... Optical sensor, 51... Photodiode as a light emitting element, 52... Phototransistor as a light receiving element, 60... Optical sensor 61... Shielding part as a light control part, 62... Optical sensor 63... Diffused photodiode as a wide directional light emitting element, 64... Wide directional phototransistor as a wide directional light receiving element
78.79...Display lamp as display means, 8j...
A shielding part as a light control part.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An electric blower and a vacuum cleaner body that is connected to the suction side of the electric blower and has a dust collection chamber inside that has a built-in dust collection filter, and one end is between the suction side of the electric blower and the dust collection filter. an optical system consisting of a communication passage whose other end communicates with the atmosphere, an actuator that is slidably provided within the communication passage and is biased toward the other end of the communication passage, and a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. a sensor; and a display means for displaying a display according to the amount of light received by the light receiving element of the optical sensor; A vacuum cleaner characterized by being provided with a light control part that changes the amount of light. (2) The optical sensor is composed of a wide directional light emitting element and a wide directional light receiving element, and has an operating body that controls the amount of light from the light emitting element of the optical sensor to the light receiving element as the operating body slides. 2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a light control section that changes light in three or more stages, and a display means that displays a display in three or more stages according to the amount of light received by a light receiving element of the optical sensor.