JPH0675353U - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a vacuum cleaner with improved operability during cleaning. A positional relationship detecting means for detecting a distance between the dust suction section and the cleaner body and a direction of the cleaner body with respect to the dust suction section, and information about the distance and the direction detected by the positional relationship detecting means. Based on the above, the cleaner body is provided with a cleaner body position control means for automatically controlling the wheel drive motors provided on the wheels of the cleaner body so as to track the dust suction portion from the rear side.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having improved operability.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional vacuum cleaner. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a cleaner body, which includes a suction motor, a dust storage unit, and the like, which are not shown. Wheels 2 and 3 are attached to both sides of the main body 1 of the vacuum cleaner. Reference numeral 4 denotes a wheel arranged in front of the bottom surface of the cleaner body 1, and a shaft attached to the bottom surface of the cleaner body 1 can freely rotate 360 degrees. Reference numeral 5 denotes a flexible dust suction hose, one end of which is attached to the cleaner body 1 and the other end of which is fitted and attached to a pipe 7 extending from a dust suction portion 6 having a dust suction port. .

When cleaning the floor or the like, the pipe 7 extending from the dust suction portion 6 is operated to move the dust suction portion 6 on the floor surface to suck dust on the floor surface for cleaning.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 Since the conventional vacuum cleaner is configured as described above, when operating the pipe 7 extending from the dust suction section 6 to move the dust suction section 6 on the floor surface, the vacuum cleaner body 1 also moves to the floor. The dust collector hose 5 has to be routed on the surface, and because the dust collector hose 5 is unnecessarily applied to pull the cleaner body 1 around, the dust collector hose 5 is likely to deteriorate, and the cleaner body 1 becomes an obstacle. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaner having improved operability during cleaning.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 A vacuum cleaner according to the present invention comprises a positional relationship detecting means for detecting a distance between the dust suction part and the cleaner body and a direction of the cleaner body with respect to the dust suction part, and the distance detected by the positional relationship detecting means. Position control that automatically controls the wheel drive motors provided on the wheels of the cleaner body so that the cleaner body tracks the dust suction part from the back based on the information on the direction and direction. And means.

Further, the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention includes a clutch for transmitting the driving power of the wheel obtained from the dust suction motor to the wheel as necessary, the dust suction section, and the cleaner main body. The distance between the cleaner and the position relation detecting means for detecting the direction of the cleaner body with respect to the dust suction part, and the cleaner body based on the information about the distance and direction detected by the position relation detecting means. The cleaner main body position control means for controlling the clutch so as to track the suction part from the rear side.

[0008]

[Action]

 In the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, when the dust suction part is moved for cleaning, the wheel drive motors respectively attached to the wheels of the vacuum cleaner body are controlled according to the movement of the dust suction part, and the cleaner main body is moved. The dust suction unit should be automatically tracked from the rear to eliminate the need to pull the cleaner body around for cleaning, and the cleaner body should be automatically controlled so that it is always located behind the dust suction unit. Eliminates the need to move the vacuum cleaner body to a position that does not interfere with cleaning, improving operability.

Further, in the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, when the dust suction portion is moved for cleaning, the clutches respectively attached to the wheels of the cleaner body are controlled according to the movement of the dust suction portion, and the above-mentioned vacuum cleaner The main unit automatically tracks the dust suction unit from the rear, eliminating the need to pull the cleaner body around for cleaning.In addition, the cleaner body is automatically controlled so that it is always located behind the dust suction unit. Therefore, the operability is improved by eliminating the need to move the vacuum cleaner body to a position that does not interfere with cleaning.

[0010]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are views showing a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the vacuum cleaner of this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a cleaner body, which is provided with a suction motor, a dust storage, etc., which are not shown. Reference numeral 1a is a control window formed on the front surface of the cleaner body 1. Inside the control window 1a, mirrors 1b and 1c and optical sensors 1d and 1e are arranged.

Wheels 2 and 3 are attached to both side surfaces of the cleaner body 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a wheel arranged in front of the bottom surface of the cleaner body 1, and a shaft attached to the bottom surface of the cleaner body 1 can freely rotate 360 degrees. Reference numeral 5 denotes a flexible dust suction hose, one end of which is attached to the main body 1 of the sweeper, and the other end of which is detachably attached to a pipe 7 extending from a dust suction portion 6 having a dust suction port. A light projector 8 is attached to the pipe 7 of the dust suction unit 6 and emits light toward the cleaner body 1 located behind the dust suction unit 6.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a cleaner body position control circuit of the vacuum cleaner of this embodiment. This cleaner body position control circuit has a predetermined amount of light received by the optical sensors 1d and 1e so that the cleaner body 1 is always at a constant position with respect to the dust suction portion 6 and the light sensors 1d and 1e receive light. This circuit controls the drive motors for the wheels 2 and 3 of the cleaner body 1 so that the amount of light emitted becomes equal.

The optical sensors 1d and 1e are composed of phototransistors. Reference numeral 22 is a resistor connected between the collector terminal of the optical sensor 1d and the power supply, and 23 is a first comparator. The first comparator 23 compares the collector terminal voltage of the optical sensor 1d with the reference voltage Vr1 and outputs a signal when the collector terminal voltage of the optical sensor 1d becomes smaller than the reference voltage Vr1.

Reference numeral 26 is a resistor connected between the collector terminal of the optical sensor 1e and the power supply, and 27 is a second comparator. The second comparator 27 compares the collector terminal voltage of the optical sensor 1e with the reference voltage Vr2, and outputs a signal when the collector terminal voltage of the optical sensor 1e becomes smaller than the reference voltage Vr2.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a differential amplifier circuit that compares the collector terminal voltage of the optical sensor 1d with the collector terminal voltage of the optical sensor 1e. The differential amplifier circuit 29 calculates the difference between the collector terminal voltage of the optical sensor 1d and the collector terminal voltage of the optical sensor 1e. Outputs a voltage signal of positive or negative polarity with the corresponding level.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a control circuit, which is a circuit for generating and outputting a motor drive signal based on signals output from the first comparator 23, the second comparator 27, and the differential amplifier circuit 29.

Reference numeral 31 is a motor drive circuit, which is a circuit that amplifies the motor drive signal and supplies it to the motor 32 that drives the wheels 2 and the motor 33 that drives the wheels 3 of the cleaner body 1.

Next, the operation will be described. First, turn on the power switch (not shown) to start cleaning. At this time, the dust suction unit 6 is operated so that the light emitted from the light projector 8 attached to the pipe 7 of the dust suction unit 6 is directed to the cleaner body 1.

Then, the light emitted from the projector 8 and reflected by the mirrors 1b and 1c is received by the optical sensors 1d and 1e of the scavenger main body position control circuit. The optical sensors 1d and 1e output voltage signals according to the amount of received light. The differential amplifier circuit 29 compares the magnitude relationships and detects the difference component, and outputs the voltage signals to the control circuit 30 as voltage signals whose polarities and amplitude values change according to the magnitude relationship between the two.

The control circuit 30 determines the rotation direction and rotation speed of the motor 32 and the motor 33 from the polarity and amplitude value of the supplied voltage signal so that the light amounts received by the optical sensors 1d and 1e become equal. A motor drive signal for driving the motor 32 and the motor 33 is output to the motor drive circuit 31. The motor drive circuit 31 amplifies the motor drive signal and drives the motor 32 and the motor 33.

As a result, the direction of the cleaner body 1 is automatically adjusted to the state behind the dust suction portion 6 and toward the dust suction portion 6.

On the other hand, the first comparator 23 and the second comparator 27 detect whether or not the levels of the voltage signals output from the optical sensor 1d and the optical sensor 1e are lower than the reference voltages Vr1 and Vr2, respectively. When the distance between the suction unit 6 and the cleaner body 1 is large, the amount of light received by the optical sensor is small, so the level of the voltage signal output from the optical sensor 1d and the optical sensor 1e becomes a value close to the power supply voltage + V. Is larger than the reference voltages Vr1 and Vr2, the signals are not output from the first comparator 23 and the second comparator 27.

The control circuit 30 drives the motor 32 and the motor 33 when the signals are not output from the first comparator 23 and the second comparator 27, and moves the cleaner body 1 toward the dust suction portion 6. .

As a result, when the distance between the dust suction unit 6 and the cleaner body 1 becomes short and becomes a certain distance, the amount of light received by the optical sensor increases and the output from the optical sensor 1d and the optical sensor 1e is output. The level of the generated voltage signal becomes lower than the reference voltages Vr1 and Vr2, and the first comparator 23 and the second comparator 27 output signals.

The control circuit 30 detects this timing and stops the motor 32 and the motor 33. In this way, the distance between the dust suction unit 6 and the cleaner body 1 is always automatically adjusted to a constant distance.

As described above, the adjustment of the orientation of the cleaner body 1 with respect to the dust suction portion 6 and the adjustment of the distance between the dust suction portion 6 and the cleaner body 1 are performed at the same time. When it is moved on the surface, the cleaner body 1 automatically tracks the dust suction unit 6 according to the movement.

In the embodiment described above, the projector 8 is configured to emit light, but this light may be visible light or infrared light, and the influence of ambient light is eliminated. For this reason, the light emitted from the projector may be modulated.

Next, a second embodiment of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment. The same or corresponding parts as in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of the vacuum cleaner body position control circuit. This vacuum cleaner body position control circuit has a predetermined amount of light received by the optical sensors 1d and 1e so that the cleaner body 1 is always at a fixed position with respect to the dust suction portion 6 and the optical sensors 1d and 1e receive light. This is a circuit for controlling the electromagnetic clutches for driving the wheels 2 and 3 of the cleaner body 1 so that the amount of light emitted becomes equal.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 41 is an electromagnetic clutch for transmitting power to the wheels 2, and 42 is an electromagnetic clutch for transmitting power to the wheels 3. Reference numeral 43 is a control circuit, which is a circuit for controlling the electromagnetic clutch 41 and the electromagnetic clutch 42 based on the voltage signals output from the optical sensors 1d and 1e according to the detected light amount. Therefore, a comparator circuit 43a and a differential amplifier circuit 43b for identifying the magnitude relationship between the voltage signals output by the optical sensor 1d and the optical sensor 1e are provided.

The circuit configurations of the comparator circuit 43a and the differential amplifier circuit 43b and the optical sensors 1d and 1e are the same as the configuration of the cleaner body position control circuit shown in FIG.

GB is a reduction gear box, and a gear 48 is attached to the input side shaft. Reference numeral 44 denotes a suction motor, and a fan 47 is attached to the tip of the output shaft 45. A gear 46 is attached near the intermediate position of the output shaft 45. The gear 46 meshes with a gear 48 attached to the input shaft of the reduction gear box GB.

Reference numeral 49 denotes an output shaft of the reduction gear box GB, and both ends thereof are connected to the amateur side of the electromagnetic clutch 41 and the electromagnetic clutch 42, respectively.

Next, the operation will be described. First, turn on the power switch (not shown) to start cleaning. At this time, the dust suction unit 6 is operated so that the light emitted from the light projector 8 attached to the pipe 7 of the dust suction unit 6 is directed to the cleaner body 1.

Then, the optical sensors 1d and 1e of the cleaner body 1 receive the light emitted from the projector 8. The optical sensors 1d and 1e output voltage signals according to the amount of received light. These voltage signals are supplied to the control circuit 43, the magnitude relationship is compared by the differential amplifier circuit 43b, the difference component is detected, and a voltage signal whose polarity and amplitude value change according to the magnitude relationship between the two is taken out. .

The control circuit 30 outputs the electromagnetic clutch excitation signal to the electromagnetic clutch 41 and the electromagnetic clutch 42 so that the light amounts received by the optical sensors 1d and 1e become equal from the polarity and the amplitude value of the extracted voltage signal. . As a result, the power taken out from the suction motor 44 via the gears 46, 48 and the reduction gearbox GB is transmitted to the wheels connected to the electromagnetic clutch via the electromagnetic clutch excited by the electromagnetic clutch excitation signal. , Rotate the wheels, adjust the direction of the cleaner body 1 so that the light amounts received by the optical sensors 1d and 1e become equal, and control the direction of the cleaner body 1 so that it faces the dust suction part 6. .

On the other hand, the comparator circuit 43a detects whether or not the levels of the voltage signals output from the optical sensor 1d and the optical sensor 1e are smaller than the reference voltage value, respectively, and the dust suction unit 6 and the cleaner main body are detected. When the distance from 1 is large, the amount of light received by the optical sensor is small, so that the level of the voltage signal output from the optical sensor 1d and the optical sensor 1e becomes a value close to the power supply voltage + V and larger than the reference voltage. No signal is output from the comparator circuit 43a.

The control circuit 30 excites the coils of the electromagnetic clutch 41 and the electromagnetic clutch 42 by the electromagnetic clutch excitation signal in a state where no signal is output from the comparator circuit 43 a, and causes the wheels 2 and 3 to move toward the dust suction portion 6. Rotate it and bring the cleaner body 1 closer to the dust suction part 6.

As a result, when the distance between the dust suction unit 6 and the cleaner body 1 becomes short and becomes a certain distance, the amount of light received by the optical sensor increases and the light is output from the optical sensors 1d and 1e. The level of the voltage signal becomes lower than the reference voltage, and the comparator circuit 43a outputs the signal.

The control circuit 30 detects this timing and turns off the electromagnetic clutch excitation signal to cut off the power transmitted to the wheels via the electromagnetic clutch to stop the rotation of the wheels 2 and 3. In this way, the distance between the dust suction unit 6 and the cleaner body 1 is always automatically adjusted to a constant distance.

As described above, the adjustment of the orientation of the cleaner body 1 with respect to the dust suction portion 6 and the adjustment of the distance between the dust suction portion 6 and the cleaner body 1 are performed at the same time. When it is moved on the surface, the cleaner body 1 automatically tracks the dust suction unit 6 according to the movement.

In the embodiment described above, the projector 8 is configured to emit light, but this light may be visible light or infrared light, and the influence of ambient light is eliminated. Therefore, the light emitted from the light projector may be modulated.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the vacuum cleaner. Reference numeral 51 denotes a cleaner main body, which is provided with a suction motor, a dust storage unit and the like, which are not shown. Wheels 52 and 53 are attached to both side surfaces of the cleaner body 51. Reference numeral 54 is a directional wheel arranged in front of the bottom surface of the cleaner body 51, and the mounting shaft 54a on the bottom surface of the cleaner body 51 rotates 360 degrees. Reference numerals 55 and 56 are infrared sensors in which an infrared emitting section and an infrared receiving section are integrally configured.

Reference numeral 57 denotes a flexible dust suction hose, one end of which is attached to the cleaner main body 51, and the other end of which is fitted and attached to a pipe 58 extending from a dust suction portion 59 having a dust suction port. ing.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaner main body 51, and a gear 60 is fixed to the upper end of a mounting shaft 54a that attaches a direction wheel 54 to the bottom surface of the cleaner main body. Reference numeral 61 is a reduction gear box integrally provided with the motor 62. A pinion gear 63 is attached to the output shaft of the reduction gear box 61 and meshes with the gear 60.

Reference numeral 64 denotes a control circuit which controls the rotation direction of the motor 62 based on the signal detected by the infrared sensor 55 and the signal detected by the infrared sensor 56 to control the direction of the direction wheel 54, that is, the cleaner body. This is a circuit for adjusting the direction of 51.

Next, the operation will be described. The wheel 52 and the wheel 53 of the cleaner body 51 are in a freely rotating state, and when cleaning the room, the cleaner body 51 is drawn around along with the movement of the dust suction portion 59.

In this state, for example, when the cleaner body 51 approaches a wall or the like, the infrared sensor 55 or the infrared sensor 56 detects a nearby wall and outputs a signal. The control circuit 64 identifies the infrared sensor that has detected the wall, and drives the motor 62 so that the direction wheel 54 faces in the opposite direction to the side on which the identified infrared sensor is attached.

That is, when the infrared sensor 56 attached to the right side detects a wall, the direction wheel 54 is adjusted to the left side, and when the cleaner body 51 is pulled around, the cleaner body 51 moves to the left side. It steers to move to. In this way, when cleaning the room, the cleaner body 51 is prevented from coming into contact with a wall or the like, and the burden on the person doing the cleaning is reduced and operability is improved.

[0050]

[Effect of device]

 According to this invention, the wheel drive motors attached to the wheels of the cleaner body are controlled so that the cleaner body always tracks the dust suction portion from the rear, so that the cleaner body is not drawn around. In addition to reducing the labor required for cleaning, the scavenger body is located in the place where it is cleaned, which obstructs the operation, and saves the trouble of moving the cleaner body to an unobtrusive position. It has the effect of obtaining a vacuum cleaner.

Further, according to the present invention, the cleaner body is configured to always track the dust suction portion by controlling the clutches attached to the wheels of the cleaner body. In addition to reducing the labor required for cleaning, the vacuum cleaner main body is located in the place where it is cleaned, which obstructs the operation, and saves the trouble of moving the main body of the vacuum cleaner to an unobtrusive position. It is effective in obtaining a vacuum cleaner.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a cleaner body position control circuit of the vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a vacuum cleaner according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of the same vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional vacuum cleaner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vacuum cleaner body 2,3 Wheel 6 Dust suction part 8 Light projector 1d, 1e Optical sensor 1b, 1c Mirror 23 1st comparator 27 2nd comparator 29,43b Differential amplifier circuit 30,43 Control circuit 43a Comparator circuit 32,33 Motor 41,42 Electromagnetic clutch

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A vacuum cleaner in which a dust suction section and a cleaner body having wheels are connected by a flexible tube, and the dust suction section and the cleaner body are moved to perform cleaning. The positional relationship detecting means for detecting the distance between the suction part and the cleaner body and the direction of the cleaner body with respect to the dust suction part, and the above based on the information on the distance and direction detected by the positional relationship detecting means. A vacuum cleaner main body position control means for automatically controlling a wheel driving motor provided on each wheel of the vacuum cleaner main body so that the cleaner main body tracks the dust suction portion from the rear side. 2. A vacuum cleaner for cleaning by moving the dust suction part and the cleaner body by connecting the dust suction part and a cleaner body having wheels with a flexible tube. Clutch for transmitting the driving power of the wheel obtained from the motor for driving to the wheel as necessary, the distance between the dust suction part and the cleaner body, and the direction of the cleaner body with respect to the dust suction part And a cleaner for controlling the clutch so that the cleaner body tracks the dust suction portion from the back based on the information on the distance and the direction detected by the positional relationship detection means. A vacuum cleaner having a body position control means.