JPH09238871A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accomplish the power saving in a vacuum cleaner having a cleaning tool brought into sliding contact with the floor surface through a cleaning member. SOLUTION: A cleaning tool 10 is provided with a cleaning unit 20 having a brush 33 (cleaning member), and the cleaning unit 20 is driven by a fan 35 rotated by a sucked air flow of a cleaner main body 100 to bring the brush into sliding contact with the floor surface to be cleaned. Further, the cleaning tool is provided with a proximity switch 104b (connecting state detecting means) for detecting that the cleaning tool 10 to be connected to the cleaner main body 100 is put in the connecting state, a current control means for controlling the current applied to the vacuum cleaner 100 and a control means, wherein a current supplied to a motor-driven blower M is decreased by the control of the control means according to the detection of the proximity switch 104b so as to prevent waste consumption of power consumed by the motor-driven blower at the time of using the cleaning tool 10. Thus, the power saving can be accomplished.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner of a type in which a cleaning member having a cleaning member provided on a cleaning tool is driven to slidably contact a floor surface for cleaning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cleaning tool provided with a cleaning body having a brush, which is selectively replaced with the floor suction port body in a vacuum cleaner body for cleaning by connecting the floor suction port body. There is an electric vacuum cleaner of the type in which the cleaning member is driven to clean the floor surface by sliding contact with the cleaning member. The cleaning tool in this type of electric vacuum cleaner has an intake hole formed in the outer peripheral wall of the case body, and an intake air passage is formed by communicating the upstream side with the intake hole. A cleaning tool having a brush is provided so as to be swingable, and a fan rotating by the suction air flow of the electric vacuum cleaner and a vibrating body vibrating by the rotation of the fan are arranged in the suction air passage to form a cleaning tool. Then, the suction airflow of the electric vacuum cleaner rotates the fan to vibrate the vibrating body, and the vibration of the vibrating body drives or vibrates the cleaning body to clean the floor surface by sliding contact with the cleaning member. It is supposed to do.

The floor suction port is connected to the suction hose of the main body of the vacuum cleaner for normal cleaning, and the floor suction port is used for cleaning the floor surface with a brush. The cleaning tool is connected to a suction hose instead of the body.

By the way, the setting of the input current of the electric vacuum cleaner, that is, the electric blower is set to a value necessary for performing the normal cleaning. On the other hand, when the floor surface or the like is cleaned using the cleaning tool, the speed of rotation of the fan is large, and therefore the speed reducing mechanism is used to reduce the speed to drive the vibrating body. The use of this reduction mechanism is also adopted because it has the advantage that a large rotational force can be obtained.

When the cleaning tool is used for cleaning, it is sufficient to rotate the fan in order to drive or vibrate the cleaning body. Even if the intake air flow for obtaining the rotational force of the fan is not so large, This is sufficiently obtained in combination with the provision of the speed reducing mechanism. Therefore, when cleaning with the cleaning tool, the suction air flow of the vacuum cleaner main body may be small, so the output of the vacuum cleaner main body does not have to be large, in other words, the input may be small. Is.

However, in the conventional vacuum cleaner of the type using the above-mentioned cleaning tool, even when the cleaning tool that requires a small output is used, it is the same as when using the normal floor suction port. It is driven. That is, it is driven with more output than necessary, that is, more input than necessary, and therefore wasteful power is consumed.

Further, the cleaning tool further includes a steam generator for generating water supplied from a water storage tank as steam by a steam generator having a heater and jetting the steam onto a floor surface,
When the fan is rotated while jetting steam and the cleaning member is driven by the vibrating member to clean the floor surface while the brush slides on the floor surface, the heater is supplied with a heating current. On the other hand, as described above, on the other hand, although the input current required to rotate the fan for driving the cleaning body does not have to be large, it is as large as when using the floor suction port body. The main body of the vacuum cleaner, that is, the electric blower is driven by the input current. Therefore, in addition to the large input current of the main body of the vacuum cleaner, the heating current to be supplied to the heater is required. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner including the cleaning tool is required. A large input current, that is, a large input power is required as a whole.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above, an electric cleaning system of the type in which the conventional suction unit for a floor and a cleaning tool for slidingly cleaning the floor surface are selectively exchanged with the main body of the electric vacuum cleaner for use. In the machine, when the cleaning tool is used, although a small input current is sufficient, the electric blower needs a large input current similar to the case of the normal cleaning performed using the floor suction port body. Is driven, there is a problem that useless electric power is consumed in cleaning using a cleaning tool. In addition, there is a problem that noise and the like during use become large because the device is driven in a state where a large input current is supplied, that is, a large output state.

Further, when the cleaning tool is a cleaning tool of the type in which a steam generator is added, the floor suction port body is required although a small input current is sufficient to rotate the fan driving the cleaning body. Since the electric blower is driven in a state where a large input current is required as in the case of normal cleaning performed by using, a large input current that is unnecessary for driving the fan is supplied. Therefore, useless power is consumed, and since the heater heating current is added to the input current for driving the electric blower including the useless power consumption, the entire electric vacuum cleaner is provided. There is a problem that the input current, that is, the input power becomes large.

[0010]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the invention of claim 1 is intended to solve the former problem, and is connected to an intake hole. A case body provided with a suction air passage, a cleaning body provided on the case body having a cleaning member, and the cleaning body provided in the suction air passage so that the cleaning member slides on a surface to be cleaned. A cleaning tool having a driving fan, and an electric vacuum cleaner body provided with an electric blower connected via the other end side of a ventilation pipe having one end side connected to the downstream side of the suction air passage,
Connection state detecting means connected to the main body of the electric vacuum cleaner to detect that the cleaning tool is placed in a connected state, current adjusting means to adjust the current supplied to the electric blower, and detection of the connection state detecting means Based on the above, the electric vacuum cleaner is provided with a control means for controlling so as to reduce the current supplied to the electric blower.

As described above, the connection state detecting means for detecting the connection state of the cleaning tool connected to the electric vacuum cleaner body, the current adjusting means for adjusting the current supplied to the electric blower, and the detecting means. Provided with a control means for controlling so as to reduce the current supplied to the electric blower based on the detection, when using the cleaning tool, that is, when the cleaning tool is placed in the connected state, this state by the connection state detection means Detect
Based on this detection, the control means controls the current adjusting means to reduce the current supplied to the electric blower, so that it is possible to prevent wasteful power consumption when using the cleaning tool. It has an action. Further, it also has an effect of reducing noise and the like generated from the main body of the electric vacuum cleaner as the input power of the electric blower is reduced, that is, the output is reduced.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is to solve the latter problem, and is formed by providing a jetting portion on the side facing the surface to be cleaned and airtightly separated from the jetting portion. A case body provided with a suction air passage, a cleaning body having a cleaning member and located in the vicinity of the ejection portion and provided on the case body, and a cleaning member provided in the suction air passage on the surface to be cleaned. A fan that drives the cleaning body so as to be in sliding contact,
A cleaning tool having a heater, which has a heater for heating water supplied from a water storage tank via a water supply means to generate steam and supplies the steam to the jetting unit, and one end side on the downstream side of the suction air passage. The electric vacuum cleaner body connected via the other end of the connected connecting pipe and provided with an electric blower, a current adjusting means for adjusting the electric current supplied to the electric blower, and the heater placed in an energized state The electric vacuum cleaner is provided with an energization detection means for detecting the electric current and a control means for controlling the electric current to be supplied to the electric blower based on the detection by the energization detection means.

As described above, in the invention according to claim 2, the current adjusting means for adjusting the current supplied to the electric blower, the energization detecting means for detecting that the heater is in the energized state, and the energization detection When a cleaning device having a steam generator is provided with control means for controlling the electric current to be supplied to the electric blower based on the detection of the means, the heater is placed in the energized state by the energization detection means. That is, based on this detection, by controlling the current adjusting means by the control means to reduce the current supplied to the electric blower, even when using a cleaning tool having a steam generator It is possible to prevent wasteful power consumption and reduce the input current of the electric blower when the heating current is supplied to the heater. Those having an effect of the input current of the entire vacuum cleaner can be reduced, including a force current clogging cleaner. Further, it also has an effect of reducing noise and the like generated from the main body of the electric vacuum cleaner or the like as the input current of the electric blower is reduced, that is, the output is reduced.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire electric vacuum cleaner (hereinafter referred to as “vacuum cleaner”) 1, and FIG. 2 is a view of a cleaning tool 10 showing a main portion in section.

The cleaner 1 comprises a cleaning tool 10 and an electric vacuum cleaner body (hereinafter referred to as a cleaner body) 100, and the cleaning tool 10 includes a case body 11, which will be described later.
The case body 11 is also composed of a cleaning body 20 which will be described later and a ventilation pipe 40 connected to the case body 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the case body 11 is formed in the shape of a bottomed cylinder having a ceiling wall 11a at the upper part and an annular wall 11b extending downward from the outer periphery of the ceiling wall 11a in the figure. A storage space 12 is provided. The ceiling wall 11a is formed with an intake hole 13 composed of a plurality of elongated holes, and a connecting pipe 14 is formed on the rear side (right side in the drawing) of the annular wall 11b.

Next, the cleaning body 20 will be described. The cleaning body 20 includes a fan storage chamber 29, a case 21 in which a vibrating body disposition portion 30 is formed, and the fan storage chamber 29.
It is composed of a fan 35 housed in the housing, an oscillating body 36 arranged in the oscillating body arranging portion 30, and the like.

The case 21 has a bottomed cylindrical portion 24 formed by a substantially rectangular flat plate-like base 22 and an annular wall 23 formed by using the base 22 as a bottom wall and projecting upward in the drawing. The jetty portion 25 having a substantially rectangular cross section formed by projecting downward at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the base 22.
And 26. And base 2
A partition wall 28 is formed at a position slightly lower than the middle portion of the annular wall 23 of the bottomed tubular portion 24 formed in 2, and the fan storage chamber 29 is formed above the partition wall 28. . A bearing mounting portion 28a is formed in the center of the partition wall 28, and a bearing 31 is mounted on the bearing mounting portion 28a. Also, the jetty portions 25 and 26
Brushes 33, 33 serving as cleaning members are provided downwardly, that is, toward the floor surface.

In the case 21, the bottomed cylindrical portion 24 is located in the storage space 12 of the case body 11, and the inner peripheral wall of the annular wall 11b and the outer peripheral wall of the annular wall 23 of the case body 11 are arranged. It is attached via an elastic support 38 made up of a plurality of coil springs and the like arranged between the fan housing chamber 29, and a through hole 23a is formed in the side wall of the fan housing chamber 29, that is, the rear side of the annular wall 23. , This through hole 2
3a and the through hole 14a of the connecting pipe 14 formed in the case body 11 are connected by a stretchable ventilation pipe 37 made of a bellows made of rubber or the like. The case 21 is swingably attached to the housing space 12 of the case body 11 by the elastic support body 38 and the stretchable ventilation tube 37. The case 21 is the case body 11.
In the state of being attached to, the space between the upper surface of the base 22 of the case 21 and the opening edge of the annular wall 23 of the case body 11,
A small gap G is formed so that the case 21 or the cleaning body 20 does not come into contact when vibrating.

The fan storage chamber 29 accommodates the fan 35 integrally attached to a rotary shaft 34 which is rotatably supported by the bearing 31, and the lower end portion of the rotary shaft 34. Is provided so as to project downward from the bearing 31 and project into the vibrating body disposition chamber 30, and the vibrating body 36 described above is attached to the lower end of the rotary shaft 34. The vibrating body 36 includes an arm portion 36a whose one end side is attached to the rotary shaft 34 and a weight 36b which is attached to the other end side of the arm portion 36a, and a rotational force is generated by the fan 35. And this rotational force is the fan 3
5, the weight 36b that is transmitted to the rotating shaft 34 that rotates together with the rotating shaft 34 is eccentric with respect to the rotating shaft, and thus vibration occurs.
1, and the case 21 vibrates. When the case 21 vibrates, the brushes 33, 33 provided on the jetty portions 25, 26
The tip of the slides on the floor surface in sliding contact with the vibration of the case 21. That is, the brushes 33, 33 are brought into sliding contact with the floor surface by the rotational force of the vibrating body 36. Also, this brush 33
Since substantially the entire weight of the cleaning tool 10 is applied to the cleaning tool 10, the tip end of the cleaning tool 10 is brought into sliding contact with the floor surface while pressing the floor surface with the pressing force of the weight. Alternatively, firmly attached dirt and the like is removed.

The fan storage chamber 29 communicating with the intake hole 13, the elastic ventilation pipe 37, and the connecting pipe 14 form a suction air passage formed in the main body case. The fan storage chamber 29, which is a part of the suction air passage, includes the base 22 and the partition wall 2.
8, a partition formed by the annular wall 23 and the like is formed to be airtightly isolated from the vibrating body disposing portion 30.

The fan 35 is driven by an electric blower M provided in the cleaner body 100, which will be described later, by the suction action of the electric blower M, that is, the cleaner body 100. It rotates.

Next, the ventilation pipe 40 will be described. The ventilation pipe 40 is formed of a hollow pipe 41 made of synthetic resin or metal, and a lower end portion in the drawing is a connecting portion 42. The connecting portion 42 and the connecting pipe 14 formed in the case body 11 are connected to each other. The ventilation pipe 40 is integrally attached to the case body 11 by fitting the. Further, an operating handle 43 formed in an L shape is formed on the other end side of the hollow pipe 41. Further, a connection pipe 44 formed by projecting to the side of the hollow pipe 41 is provided near the operation handle 43 of the hollow pipe 41. The connecting pipe 44 communicates with the hollow pipe 41 and is tapered gradually toward the tip. The operation handle 43 does not communicate with the hollow pipe 41. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a concave portion 44a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting pipe 44, and a magnet piece 44 for operating a proximity switch 104b described later is formed in the concave portion 44a.
b is stored and attached.

Next, the cleaning tool 1 constructed as described above
The vacuum cleaner body 100 to which 0 is connected will be described. The main structure of this cleaner main body 100 is similar to the conventionally known one. That is, a dust collection chamber and an electric blower chamber (not shown) are provided in the main body case 101, and a dust collection device (not shown) and the electric blower M (not shown in FIG. 1) are provided in the dust collection chamber and the electric blower chamber, respectively. The main body case 101 is provided with a suction port 102 communicating with the dust collecting chamber, and the suction port 102 has a flexible suction hose 1.
03 is connected to one end. A connection pipe 104 is attached to the other end of the suction hose 103. The connection pipe 104 is detachable from the connection pipe 44 provided in the ventilation pipe 40, that is, the hollow pipe 41.
A fitting hole is formed that is tapered so as to gradually expand toward the tip so that the fitting hole fits in.

A concave portion 104a is formed on the inner peripheral wall of the connecting pipe 104 as shown in FIG.
The proximity switch 10 as a connection state detecting means is shown in a.
4b is housed and attached, and the signal line 104c is connected to the proximity switch 104b.
Although not shown, 04c is embedded in the suction hose 103 and connected to the control means 90 described later. The proximity switch 104b is in a closed state when it is located facing the magnet piece 44b, and is in an open state when it is not facing the magnet piece 44b. That is, when the connecting pipe 44 is fitted into the connecting pipe 104, the proximity switch 104b and the magnet piece 44b are positioned so as to face each other. Therefore, when the connecting pipe 44 is fitted into the connecting pipe 104, the proximity switch 104b is closed and the fitting is released.
When it is pulled out from 4, it will open. Then, depending on whether the proximity switch 104b is in the closed state or in the open state, the cleaning tool 10 is installed in the cleaner body 1
It is for detecting whether or not it is connected to 00, that is, whether or not it is placed in a connected state.

The vacuum cleaner body 100 is provided with a carrying handle 125 on its upper portion, and
A drive switch 115 is provided.

Next, the operation, that is, the control of the vacuum cleaner 1 will be described. First, the configuration of the control circuit of the vacuum cleaner 1 will be described based on the control block diagram shown in FIG. Although not shown, the control circuit is provided in the cleaner body 100.

The structure of the control circuit is as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a control means 90 including a microcomputer, a proximity switch 104b as a connection state detecting means connected to the control means 90, a current adjusting means 91, and a cleaner main body 100 connected to the current adjusting means 91. There is. The current adjusting means 91 is an SC for controlling the load current by controlling the gate current, that is, the phase control.
It is composed of a semiconductor element such as R.

Next, the control of the control block diagram is controlled by the vacuum cleaner 1
The operation will be described together with.

First, when the cleaning tool 10 is connected to the cleaner body 100 for use, the connection pipe 44 provided on the ventilation pipe 40 is fitted and connected to the connection pipe 104 of the suction hose 103. In this way, the connecting pipe 44 and the connecting pipe 104
Is connected, the magnet piece 44b provided in the connection pipe 44 and the proximity switch 104b provided in the connection pipe 104 are positioned to face each other, so that the proximity switch 104b is closed. Next, the drive switch 11 of the cleaner body 100.
Operate 5 to make it closed.

When the drive switch 115 is closed, the control means 90 is activated. Then, the control means 90 controls the state of the proximity switch 104b, that is, the proximity switch 1
04b confirms whether or not the cleaning tool 10 detects that the cleaning tool 10 is connected to the cleaner body 100. In the above case, since the proximity switch 104b is in the closed state, it is detected that the cleaning tool 10 is connected to the cleaner main body 100, that is, in the connected state. The control means 90 determines a current value to be supplied to the cleaner body 100, that is, the electric blower M, based on the proximity switch 104b detecting that the cleaning tool 10 is connected to the cleaner 100. The current adjusting means 91 is controlled so as to decrease the value of. Then, the electric blower is driven by the reduced current value. When the electric blower M is driven by the reduced predetermined current value, the rotational force of the fan 35 sufficient to drive the cleaning body 20 of the cleaning tool 10 is obtained. That is, the predetermined current value means the electric blower M, that is, the cleaner body 1
The rotational force of the fan 35 rotated by the suctioned airflow generated by driving 00 is a value at which the cleaning body 20 is driven to a normal state. Then, this value may be smaller than that in the case where cleaning is performed using the floor suction port body (not shown) as described above.

The connecting pipe 44 may be connected to the connecting pipe 104 in a state in which the drive switch 115 is closed to drive the electric blower M first. In this case, the control means 90 causes the connecting pipe 44 to be connected. Is connected to the connection pipe 104, the proximity switch 104b is closed and the cleaning tool 10
Confirms that it is placed in the connected state to the cleaner body 100, and as described above, the electric blower M
Is controlled to reduce the current to the.

Next, in the case of performing normal cleaning using a floor suction port (not shown), the connecting pipes 104 to 44 are connected.
To remove the cleaning tool 10 from the cleaner body 100, and connect the floor suction port (not shown) to the connection pipe 104. A magnet piece is not provided in the connection pipe (not shown) of the floor suction port, and therefore, when the floor suction port is connected to the connection pipe 104, the proximity switch 104b is closed. The open state is maintained without any. Then, after connecting the floor suction port to the cleaner body 100 and operating the drive switch 115 to bring it into the closed state, the control means 90 confirms the state of the proximity switch 104b as in the above case. . In this case, since the proximity switch 104b does not detect that the proximity switch 104b is in the open state, that is, the cleaning tool 10 is in the connected state to the cleaner body 100, the control means 90 does not decrease the current value for the floor. The current adjusting means 91 is controlled so as to supply the electric blower M with the current required to use the suction port body.

As described above, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the above-described embodiment has the floor body suction port body and the cleaning tool 10 in the vacuum cleaner body 100.
Can be selectively connected as needed to perform normal cleaning and cleaning in which the floor is slidably contacted by a cleaning member, and the cleaning tool 1 is connected by the connection state detecting means.
It is detected whether 0 is placed in the connected state in the cleaner body 100, and when it is in the connected state, the control unit 90 controls the current adjusting unit 91 to decrease the current value, and the state is not in the connected state. In this case, by controlling the current value so as not to decrease, in the case of cleaning using the cleaning tool 10 in which the suction air flow may be small, the current value supplied to the electric blower M is decreased to reduce the input current, It is possible to reduce wasteful power consumption. Further, in the case of normal cleaning, it can be used in a state where sufficient dust can be sucked by the floor suction port without reducing the current value.

In the above embodiment, the control means 90 confirms the state of the proximity switch 104b which is closed in advance. However, the control means 91 controls the state of the proximity switch 104b. When it is configured to check at any time, that is, at every predetermined time, when the cleaning tool 10 is connected after the drive switch 115 is closed to drive the electric blower M as described above, or While the vacuum cleaner body 100 is being driven during the cleaning using the floor suction port,
Even when the cleaning tool 10 is replaced and connected in place of the floor suction port, the cleaning tool 10 is not included in the cleaner body 10.
When the connection pipe 44 is connected to 0, that is, the connection pipe 104b is connected, the proximity switch 104b is closed, and the control means 90 constantly confirms the state of the proximity switch 104b. Therefore, the cleaning tool 10 is connected. At the same time as this connection, the control means 90 confirms that the proximity switch 104b detects that the cleaning tool 10 is connected to the cleaner body 100, and controls the current adjusting means 91 to change the current value. The current value can be reduced to a predetermined value, and the current value can be controlled to decrease when the cleaning tool 10 is connected regardless of when the cleaning tool 10 is connected to the cleaner body 100.

In the above embodiment, the proximity switch 104 in which the connection state detecting means is provided in the connection pipe 104.
Although it is configured to be b, this is, for example, the cleaner body 1
00, a switch to be operated when using the cleaning tool 10 is provided separately from the drive switch 115, and this switch is configured to close the separately provided switch when the cleaning tool 10 is connected and cleaning is performed. Then, whether or not the cleaning tool 10 is placed in the connected state may be detected by the state of this switch.

Further, although the connection state detecting means is the proximity switch 104b, it may be constituted by another switch.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The second embodiment is a cleaning tool of the first embodiment in which a steam generating device is added, that is, a cleaning tool with a steam generating device. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration provided with the steam generation device and the configuration parts related to the provision of the steam generation device. Since they are similar, the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cleaner 1a comprising a cleaner body 100a and a cleaning tool 10a according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a view of the cleaning tool 10a showing a cross section of its main part. Yes, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the steam generator 70.

The vacuum cleaner 1a is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 7, the cleaning tool 10 according to the first embodiment is provided with the steam generating device 50 and the steam ejector 32. Therefore, as described above, the addition of the steam generation device 50 and the steam ejector 32 and the configuration associated with this addition are different.

As shown in FIG. 6, the steam ejector 32 is appropriately attached to the ejector disposing portion 27 formed between the jetting portions 25 and 26 provided on the lower surface side of the base 22 of the case 21. It is attached and provided by the attaching means of. Further, the steam ejector 32 has a large number of ejection ports 32a as ejection parts formed toward the floor surface.
Is provided, and a connecting pipe 32b extending rearward is provided through a groove 26a formed in the jetty 26.

Steam generated by a steam generating device 50, which will be described in detail later, is ejected from the ejection port 32a of the steam ejector 32, and the cleaning body 20 is driven, that is, the brush 33, while the steam is ejected. Three
When the floor surface is slidably contacted by 3, the floor surface is soiled or adhered, and the soiled matter or the like is softened by steam and slidably contacted by the brushes 33, 33, so that the soiled matter or debris can be surely and quickly removed or cleaned. It is a thing.

Next, the steam generator 50 will be described. The steam generator 50 includes a case 51, a water storage tank 60 housed in the case 51, a steam generator 70, and an electric pump (hereinafter, referred to as a water supply means) for supplying water in the water storage tank 60 to the steam generator 70. 80).

The case 51 is made of a synthetic resin or a metal plate and has a substantially elliptical cross section, and has both ends, that is, an upper end and a lower end shown in the drawing.
And detachable lid members 53 and 5 for closing the openings at both ends.
It is formed from four. The water tank 60, the steam generator 70, and the pump 80 are positioned and housed inside the case body 52 by an appropriate positioning means (not shown). Further, a lid member 53 attached to the upper end opening is formed with an attachment hole 53a and a water injection port insertion hole 53b which are attached to penetrate the ventilation pipe 40, that is, the hollow pipe 41. The wire insertion hole 53c is formed. Also,
The lid member 54, which closes the lower opening and is attached to the case body 52, has an attachment hole 54a and an insertion hole 54b which are attached to penetrate the ventilation pipe 40, that is, the hollow pipe 41.
Are formed.

Next, the water storage tank 60 is composed of a hollow cylindrical body made of synthetic resin or the like, and a water injection port 61 is formed on the upper end side, and this water injection port 61 is the lid member 53.
The water injection port insertion hole 53b formed in the above is inserted into the water injection port insertion hole 53b, and the tip of the water injection port insertion hole 53b projects outward from the lid member 53. The water injection port 61 is always closed by a removable plug 61a. A water supply port 62 is formed on the lower end side.

Next, the pump 80 comprises a well-known electric pump, is located on the downstream side of the water storage tank 60, has an intake port 81 on the side of the water storage tank 60, and a discharge port 82 on the side of a steam generator 70 which will be described later. Located in the case body 5
It is stored in 2. The suction port 81 is connected to the water supply port 62 of the water storage tank 60 by the water supply pipe 55.

Next, the steam generator 70 operates as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the tube body is formed of an insulating material and has a through hole 72 surrounded by a thick wall 71. The thick tube wall 71 surrounds the through hole 72. Thus, the heater 73 is embedded. Electric power is supplied to the heater 73 by a power supply line 74 connected to a terminal (not shown) provided on one end side of the heater 73. The rear end side of the through hole 72 is connected to the discharge port 82 of the pump 80 by the water supply pipe 56, and the front end side opening of the through hole 72 has heat resistance and flexibility. It is made of a member and is connected to the connecting pipe 32b of the steam ejector 32 through a steam supply pipe 58 inserted through an insertion hole 54b formed in the lid member 54. Further, since the steam supply pipe 58 has flexibility, when the cleaning device 20, that is, the case 21 rocks, this rocking is not hindered.

Further, the power supply line 74 is pulled out to the outside through a power supply line insertion hole 53c formed in the lid member 53, and a male connector 75 is attached to the tip of the power supply line 74. Connector 75 is the vacuum cleaner body 1
The suction hose 103 of 00a is connected to the female connector 108 provided on the connection pipe 104.

Further, the pump 80 of the case body 52.
In the vicinity where the pump 8 is provided, the pump 8 is connected to the power supply line 74 and after a predetermined time elapses after the power supply line 74 is energized, that is, the power supply to the steam generator 70 is started.
A relay means 85 having a timekeeping function for starting energization to 0 is provided, and the power feeding line 74 is provided through the relay means 85.
The pump 80 is supplied with electric power.

Then, the heater 7 of the steam generator 70
3 is fed through the power feeding line 74, the inner wall of the through hole 72 is gradually heated, and after a predetermined time elapses, the through hole 72.
The incoming water is heated almost instantaneously to a temperature sufficient to turn it into steam or steam. In this way the steam generator 7
When 0 is heated, that is, when the relay means 85 having the timekeeping function counts the predetermined time, the relay means 85 energizes the pump 80 to drive the pump 80 and water is stored in the water storage tank 60. The water is sent to the steam generator 70, and the water is made into steam almost instantaneously by the steam generator 70, and the generated steam is sent to the steam ejector 32 through the steam supply pipe 58 and the ejection port. It is jetted from 32a toward the floor.

Next, a female plug 105 is provided near the lower portion of the suction port 102 of the main body case 101a of the cleaner main body 100a, and a male plug 107 provided at one end of a cord 106 is connected to the female plug 105. . The other end of the cord 106 is connected to a female connector 108 provided on the connecting pipe 104. The female connector 108 includes a male connector 7 provided on the power supply line 74.
5 is connected.

Then, the connecting pipe 1 of the suction hose 103.
04 and the connecting pipe 44 of the ventilation pipe 40, the cleaning tool 10a is connected to the cleaner body 100a, and the power supply line 74 connects its male connector 75 to the female connector 108. As a result, the heater 73 of the steam generator 70 and the pump 80, that is, the electric motor (not shown) of the pump 80 can be supplied with power via the power supply line 74. Further, a switch for operating the steam generator 50 separately from the drive switch 115 for driving the electric blower M above the main body case 101a of the cleaner main body 100a, that is, a switch for energizing or de-energizing the steam generator 70 and the pump 80. A (steam generation device driving switch) 116 is provided.

The cleaning tool 10 is attached to the cleaner body 100a.
When connecting and using a, the steam generator drive switch 116 is closed to operate the steam generator 7.
The electric power is supplied to the pump 80 via 0 and the relay means 85 to be operated, and the drive switch 115 is closed to drive the electric blower M. When the floor suction port is connected and used without connecting the cleaning tool 10a, only the drive switch 115 is operated.

Next, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the second embodiment described above.
The operation of a, that is, the control will be described. First, vacuum cleaner 1
The configuration of the control circuit a will be described based on the control block diagram shown in FIG. Although not shown, the control circuit is provided in the cleaner body 100a.

The configuration of the control circuit is as shown in FIG.
Control means 95 including a microcomputer or the like, energization detection means 96 connected to the control means 95 for detecting that the heater 73 is placed in an energized state, current adjusting means 9
7 and an electric vacuum cleaner 100a connected to the current adjusting means 97. The energization detection means 96 is constituted by an appropriate switch means that is interlocked with the opening / closing operation of the steam generator drive switch 116,
The open / close signal may be input to the control means 95, or the open / closed state may be checked by the control means 95 at any time. Also, the current adjusting means 97
Is composed of a semiconductor element such as an SCR which controls a load current by controlling a gate current, that is, a phase control as in the first embodiment.

Next, the control operation of the control block diagram will be described.

First, the cleaning tool 10a is attached to the cleaner body 100a.
When connecting and using the connecting pipe 44, the connecting pipe 44 provided in the ventilation pipe 40 is connected to the connecting pipe 104 of the suction hose 103.
The cleaning tool 10a is connected to the cleaner main body 100a, and then the steam generator drive switch 116 is operated to be closed, and then the drive switch 115 of the electric vacuum cleaner 100a is closed. It Then, with the closing operation of the steam generator drive switch 116, the energization detection means 96 detects that the heater 73 has been energized, that is, has been placed in an energized state. The state of being energized includes not only the state in which the heater 73 is actually energized but also the state in which energization is scheduled to start within a predetermined time.

Then, based on the detection of the energization detection means 96, the control means 95 controls the current adjustment means 91 so as to reduce the current value supplied to the cleaner main body 100a, that is, the electric blower M to a predetermined value. . Then, the electric blower M is driven by the reduced current value. And
When the electric blower M is driven by the reduced predetermined current value, the rotational force of the fan 35 sufficient to drive the cleaning body 20 of the cleaning tool 10a as in the case of the first embodiment. Is obtained. That is, the predetermined current value means an electric blower, that is, the electric vacuum cleaner 100.
The rotational force of the fan 35 rotated by the suction air flow generated by driving a is a value at which the cleaning body 20 is driven to a normal state. Then, this value may be smaller than that in the case where cleaning is performed by using the floor suction port as in the case of the above-described first embodiment.

Next, in the case of performing normal cleaning using the floor suction port body, the connecting pipe 44 is removed from the connecting pipe 104 to remove the cleaning tool 10a from the cleaner main body 100a, and the above-mentioned floor cleaning device (not shown) is used. The suction inlet is connected to the connection pipe 104, and after the floor suction inlet is connected to the cleaner body 100a, the drive switch 115 is operated to be in a closed state. In this case, since the steam generator drive switch 116 is not operated, the energization detection unit 96 does not detect that the heater 73 is in the energized state, and the control unit 95 decreases the current value. The electric current adjusting means 97 is controlled so as to supply the electric blower M with the electric current required to use the floor suction port without using it.

Next, the vacuum cleaner 1 configured as described above
The operation of a will be described. First, a case where the cleaning tool 10a is connected to the electric vacuum cleaner 100a and used will be described.

When the cleaning tool 10a is used by being connected to the cleaner body 100a, as described above, the suction hose 103 is used.
The connecting pipe 44 of the ventilation pipe 40 is connected to the connecting pipe 104 of (1) and the female connector 108 and the male connector 75 are connected to connect the cleaning tool 10a to the cleaner body 100a. Then, the steam generator drive switch 116 and the drive switch 115 are operated to be closed. Then, the heater 73 of the steam generator 70 is energized via the power supply line 74, and after a predetermined time, the peripheral wall of the through hole 72 of the steam generator 70 is heated almost instantly to a state where water becomes steam, that is, steam. It Further, as described above, when the steam generator drive switch 116 is closed, the energization detection means 96 detects that the heater 73 is in the energized state, and based on this detection, the control means 95 is the current adjustment means 97. To reduce the current value supplied to the electric blower M, the electric blower M is driven by this reduced current value, and the suction airflow generated by this driving constitutes a part of the suction air passage. When the fan 35 rotates by passing through the storage chamber 29, the rotation of the fan 35 causes the vibrating body 36 to rotate and generate vibration, which vibrates the cleaning body 20 and causes the brushes 33, 33 to slide the floor surface. To be done. On the other hand, the relay means 85 starts timing from the time when the heater 73 of the steam generator 70 is energized, and when the predetermined time is reached, the power supply to the pump 80 is started to drive the pump 80. When the pump 80 is driven, the water stored in the water storage tank 60 is supplied to the steam generator 70, and this water is generated almost instantaneously as steam and is supplied to the steam ejector 32 via the steam supply pipe 58. It is sent and ejected from the ejection port 32a toward the floor surface. That is, the brushes 33 and 3 while ejecting steam.
As described above, the floor surface is slidably contacted for cleaning, and as described above, the softening and cleaning action by the steam and the slidable contact action in the pressed state of the brush ensure reliable and quick removal or cleaning. is there.

Next, when normal cleaning is performed using the floor suction inlet (not shown) without using the cleaning tool 10a, the connecting pipe 44 is connected to the connecting pipe 104 as in the first embodiment described above. Then, the floor suction port is connected, and the steam generator drive switch 116 is not closed, but only the drive switch 115 is closed. In this state, the steam generator drive switch 116
Is not closed, the energization detection means 96 does not detect that the heater 73 is in the energized state, and the control means 95 does not decrease the current value supplied to the electric motor blower M of the cleaner body 100a. Then, the current adjusting means 97 is controlled. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a sufficient suction air flow for normal cleaning using the floor suction inlet.

As described above, the vacuum cleaner according to this embodiment has the vacuum cleaner 100a, the floor suction port and the cleaning tool 10.
a can be selectively connected as needed to perform normal cleaning and cleaning in which the floor is slidably contacted by a cleaning member as needed, and the energization detection means 96 allows the heater 7
It is detected whether or not 3 is in the energized state, and when it is in the energized state, the control means 95 controls the current adjusting means 97 to decrease the current value, and also the energized state. By controlling the current value so as not to decrease when the apparatus is not placed, in the case of cleaning using the cleaning tool 10a which may have a small intake air flow, the current value of the electric blower M is decreased to reduce the input power. It is possible to reduce power consumption by reducing the power consumption. Further, in the case of normal cleaning, it can be used in a state where sufficient dust can be sucked by the floor suction port without reducing the current value.

Then, when the current value required for the heater 73 in the state of generating steam is large,
Since the current value supplied to the electric blower M is reduced, the current value of the entire cleaner 1a can be reduced to reduce the total input power.

In the above embodiment, the steam generator drive switch 116 is provided on the main body case 101a of the cleaner main body 100a, but it may be provided on the operating handle 43 of the cleaning tool 10a.

In the first and second embodiments, the brush 33 is used as the cleaning body, but the cleaning body is not limited to the brush 33, and a thin rubber plate or mop is used. You may make it comprised with a strip-shaped member.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the vibrating body 36 is provided in order to cause the brush 33 as the cleaning body to slide in contact with the rotating force of the fan 35, and the brush 33 is vibrated by the vibrating body 36. Although the sliding contact operation is performed, the invention is not limited to this. For example, a speed reducing means including a plurality of gears is provided in a portion of the vibrating body placement chamber 30, that is, a space, and a brush is provided in a donut-shaped frame body. Is provided as a ring-shaped rotary brush, and the rotary force of the fan 35 is transmitted to the ring-shaped rotary brush via the speed reducing means. You can also do it. In this case, since the case 21 does not need to be vibrated, it may be fixedly attached to the case body 11 with a screw or the like, and the configurations of the case 21 and the case body 11 may be appropriately shaped. Good.

Further, the cleaning member may be a cylindrical rotating brush having a rotating shaft parallel to the surface to be cleaned, and the rotating brush may be driven by the fan 35. In this case, the fan accommodating chamber 29 is formed so that the rotating shaft 34 of the fan 35 can be arranged in the horizontal direction, and the tip end of the rotating shaft 34 is hermetically protruded from the fan chamber 29, and the protruding part It suffices that pulleys are respectively provided on the tip end portion of the rotary shaft 34 and the rotary shaft of the rotary brush, and the belt is hung on these pulleys.

The rotation of the fan 35 of the annular rotary brush and the cylindrical rotary brush is also performed with a smaller amount of suction air flow than in the case of normal cleaning using the floor suction port body.

[0070]

According to the first aspect of the present invention configured as described above, the connection state detecting means connected to the cleaner body to detect the connection state of the cleaning tool and the electric blower provided in the cleaner are supplied. The current adjusting means for adjusting the electric current to be supplied and the control means for controlling the electric current to be supplied to the electric blower based on the detection by the detecting means are provided, and when the cleaning tool is used, that is, in the connected state. When this occurs, the connection state detection means detects this state, and based on this detection, the control means controls the current adjustment means to reduce the current supplied to the electric blower, so that the cleaning tool is used. In this case, it is possible to prevent wasteful power consumption of the electric blower and save power. Further, there is an effect that noise generated from the cleaner body or the like can be reduced as the input current of the electric blower is reduced.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2 configured as described above, the current adjusting means for adjusting the current supplied to the electric blower provided in the cleaner body and the heater of the steam generator are placed in the energized state. Energization detection means for detecting that the
In the case of using a cleaning tool provided with a steam generator, which is provided with control means for controlling so as to reduce the current supplied to the electric blower based on the detection of the energization detection means,
The energization detecting means detects that the heater is in the energized state, and based on this detection, the control means controls the current adjusting means to reduce the current supplied to the electric blower. When using a cleaning tool equipped with a generator, it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption by the electric blower and save power, and at the same time, when the heating current is supplied to the heater, Since the input current of the blower is reduced, it is possible to reduce the input current of the entire vacuum cleaner, that is, the total input power. Further, there is an effect that noise generated from the cleaner body or the like can be reduced as the input current of the electric blower is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a main part of a cleaning tool of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a connection state detecting means of the cleaning tool.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an entire electric vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a main part of a cleaning tool of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a steam generator of the cleaning tool,
(A) is a perspective view of the whole, (B) is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. (A)).

FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vacuum cleaner 10, 10a Cleaning tool 20 Cleaning body 21 Cleaning device case 29 Fan storage chamber 32 Steam ejector 32a Steam ejector ejection port (ejection part) 33 Brush (cleaning body) 35 Fan 40 Vent pipe 44 Vent pipe Connection pipe provided in 50 Steam generator 60 Water storage tank 70 Steam generator 80 Pump (supplying means) 90, 95 Control means 96 Energization detecting means 91, 97 Current adjusting means 100 Vacuum cleaner body 103 Suction hose 104 Provided in suction hose Connection tube 104b Proximity switch (connection state detection means) M Electric blower

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kenji Harada 43 Horiyamashita, Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture Tec Hadano Factory

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A case body provided with a suction air passage communicating with an intake hole, a cleaning body having a cleaning member and provided on the case body, and a cleaning member provided in the suction air passage on the cleaning surface. A cleaning tool having a fan that drives the cleaning body so as to be in sliding contact with an electric blower, and an electric blower that is connected through the other end side of a ventilation pipe whose one end side is connected to the downstream side of the suction air passage. A main body of the vacuum cleaner, a connection state detecting means connected to the main body of the electric vacuum cleaner for detecting that the cleaning tool is placed in a connected state, a current adjusting means for adjusting a current supplied to the electric blower, and the connection An electric vacuum cleaner, comprising: a control unit that controls so as to reduce the current supplied to the electric blower based on the detection by the state detection unit. 2. A case body provided with a jetting portion on the side facing the surface to be cleaned and a suction air passage formed so as to be airtightly separated from the jetting portion, and a cleaning member. A cleaning body provided in the case body located in the vicinity of, a fan for driving the cleaning body so that the cleaning member is slidably brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned and provided in the suction air passage, and a heater. A cleaning tool having a steam generator that heats water supplied from a water storage tank via means to generate steam and supplies the steam to the jetting portion; and a connecting pipe having one end connected to the downstream side of the suction air passage. An electric vacuum cleaner main body provided with an electric blower connected via the other end side, current adjusting means for adjusting the electric current supplied to the electric blower, and energization detection for detecting that the heater is in an energized state Means and the detection of the energization detection means Vacuum cleaner, characterized in that a control means for controlling to reduce the current supplied to the electric blower Zui.