KR101314678B1 - Cleaner with steering means for head - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaner having a steering means, according to an aspect of the present invention, the main body; A head portion rotatably mounted in a direction parallel to the ground with respect to the main body; Steering means mounted to the head to change an angle of the head to the main body; A handle part provided in the main body; First sensing means for measuring a change in an angle of the handle part with respect to the main body; And a control unit which receives the signal from the first sensing means and controls the steering means.

Description

Cleaner with steering means {CLEANER WITH STEERING MEANS FOR HEAD}

The present invention relates to a cleaner having steering means, and more particularly to a cleaner having means for arbitrarily changing the angle of the head portion.

In general, a vacuum cleaner is a device that is provided with a suction motor for generating a suction force inside the main body, and sucks air containing the dust and then filters the dust inside the main body. The vacuum cleaner includes a suction head unit for sucking air containing dust on the surface to be cleaned, a dust separator for separating dust from air sucked from the suction head unit, a dust collecting device for storing dust stored in the dust separator; The cleaner body includes the dust collecting device mounted thereon. Here, the dust collecting device may be detachably coupled to the cleaner body.

Such a vacuum cleaner can be classified into an upright type and a canister type according to its shape. Unlike the upright, the canister vacuum cleaner communicates with the suction head and the cleaner body through the hose and the extension tube.

The upright vacuum cleaner directly connects the suction head to the cleaner body without going through a separate hose or extension tube, and can improve the cleaning efficiency by using the vacuum cleaner's own weight when cleaning the carpet. It is easy.

However, in the case of the upright vacuum cleaner, since its own weight is heavy, there is a problem that it is not easy to change the direction of the suction head compared to the canister vacuum cleaner.

In order to solve this problem, as disclosed in the following D1, there have been attempts to facilitate the rotation by making the wheel supporting the suction head portion have a concrete shape other than a normal wheel, but while supporting the weight of the cleaner body by hand. There was still a problem of uncomfortable use to rotate.

D1: Republic of Korea Patent Application No. 10-2005-7002320

The present invention has been made to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art as described above, the technical problem is to provide a vacuum cleaner that can easily change the direction of the suction head.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above technical problem, the main body; A head portion rotatably mounted in a direction parallel to the ground with respect to the main body; Steering means mounted to the head to change an angle of the head to the main body; A handle part provided in the main body; First sensing means for measuring a change in an angle of the handle part with respect to the main body; And a control unit which receives the signal from the first sensing means and controls the steering means.

According to another aspect of the invention, the main body; A head portion including a suction port; One end is connected to the main body, the other end is connected to the head portion so that the traveling direction of the head portion can be changed; Steering means for steering a traveling direction of the head portion; A handle part provided in the connection hose; Signal input means provided in the handle portion; And a control unit for controlling the steering means such that the steering angle of the head portion is changed by a target steering angle corresponding to the signal input by the signal input means.

According to one aspect of the present invention having the configuration as described above, rather than directly tilting or rotating the main body, it detects the change in the angle of the handle portion and utilizes it as a steering signal to drive the steering means mounted on the head portion so that the head portion is steered. Doing. Therefore, the user can steer by simply rotating the handle without having to tilt the main body, thereby making it possible to intuitively and easily change the heading direction.

In addition, the driving wheel is a wheel body rotatably mounted to the head portion; And an auxiliary wheel rotatably mounted to the wheel body, the auxiliary wheel being rotated in a direction orthogonal to the wheel body, thereby simplifying the configuration of the steering apparatus, thereby facilitating maintenance and repair, and reducing manufacturing costs. Can be lowered.

In addition, the head portion includes a suction port for suctioning foreign matter, and the driving wheel is disposed on the other side of the suction port with respect to the center of the head portion, it is possible to increase the steering angle of the head portion even if the driving wheel does not move greatly.

The apparatus may further include second sensing means for measuring an actual rotation angle of the head, and the controller may detect whether the angle of the head is changed by an angle corresponding to a signal transmitted through the first sensing means. By judging through means, steering can be made more precise and accurate.

In addition, the signal detected by the first sensing means is transmitted to the control unit via a wired or wireless transmission means, it is possible to further improve the reliability of the product when using a wired transmission means, in the case of using a wireless transmission means This not only simplifies the configuration, but also increases the design freedom.

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a cleaner having a steering means according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the back side of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is an enlarged perspective view of a driving wheel part of FIG. 1.
4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a bottom surface of the head of FIG. 1.
5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the embodiment shown in FIG.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a steering process in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail an embodiment of a cleaner having a steering means according to the present invention.

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a cleaner having a steering means according to the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the back of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an enlarged driving wheel portion of Figure 1 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a bottom surface of the head of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is illustrated in FIG. 1. In the embodiment is a flow chart illustrating a steering process.

1 and 2, the embodiment (1) is a main body 10 is provided with a suction motor for generating a suction force, rotatably connected in the vertical direction from the lower side of the main body 10 to the bottom surface Suction head portion 20 to be placed, a dust separator 30 detachably mounted to the main body 10, and detachably mounted to the main body 10, and clean other parts than the bottom or the bottom surface. Auxiliary suction unit (60, 70), a handle 40 provided above the main body 10, and a connection hose 50 for connecting the handle 40 and the main body 10 is included. do.

In detail, a suction port 24 is formed on the bottom of the suction head 20 to suck dust and air from the bottom surface, and guides dust or foreign matter into the suction port 24 inside the suction port 24. Edge data 26 is rotatably mounted.

The dust separator 30 is detachably mounted to the front of the main body 10, and the auxiliary suction units 60 and 70 are detachably mounted to the rear of the main body 10. A suction motor, not shown, is located below the inner body, and the dust separation device is mounted to the main body above the suction motor. Of course, the position of the suction motor is not necessarily limited to the position.

The air sucked by the suction force generated by the rotation of the suction motor passes through the dust separation device 30, and dust is separated, and the dust thus separated is stored in the dust separation device 30.

Meanwhile, the auxiliary suction part includes a nozzle 70 for cleaning a bottom surface or a portion other than the bottom surface, and a suction pipe 60 for connecting the nozzle 70 and the handle 40 to each other. In addition, a mounting part 11 to which the auxiliary suction part is mounted is recessed on the rear surface of the main body 10. The mounting portion 11 is formed with a suction pipe mounting portion 12 on which the suction pipe 60 is mounted, and a nozzle mounting portion 13 on which the nozzle 70 is mounted. This eliminates the need to store the nozzle separately.

On the other hand, the handle 40 is formed with a flow path (not shown) through which the dust and air sucked through the nozzle 70 flows. The connection hose 50 allows the dust and air sucked through the nozzle 70 to be moved to the main body 10. The connection hose 50 is adjustable in length, it may be formed of a flexible material that is free to move.

In addition, the driving wheel 100 is mounted on the lower rear side of the main body 10. The driving wheel 100 includes a circular wheel body 102 and a drive shaft 104 to rotate the wheel body 102 in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the head portion 20. The drive shaft 104 is disposed substantially parallel to the traveling direction of the head portion 20. A plurality of auxiliary wheels 110 and 112 are mounted on the outer circumferential portion of the driving wheel 100. Four auxiliary wheels 110 are mounted on the front side of the wheel body 104 and four on the rear side, and each of the auxiliary wheels 110 is mounted to rotate in a direction perpendicular to the wheel body 102. .

Therefore, when the head portion 20 is moved forward or backward, the wheel body 102 does not rotate, and only the wheel in contact with the ground of the auxiliary wheel 110 rotates, and the head portion 20 rotates smoothly. Do it. In the illustrated example, all eight auxiliary wheels 110 are mounted, but not necessarily limited thereto, and fewer or more auxiliary wheels may be mounted.

The drive shaft 104 of the drive wheel 100 is connected to a drive motor (not shown). When the driving motor is rotated, the driving wheel 100 is rotated in the left and right direction based on FIG. 4 by the driving shaft 104, and accordingly, the heading direction of the head is changed. At this time, the cross-sectional shape of the auxiliary wheel 110 for the smoother rotation of the drive wheel 100 may be in the form of a smaller diameter toward both ends, rather than cylindrical as shown.

Referring to FIG. 4, the driving wheel 100 is disposed to face the suction port 24 with respect to the center of the head portion 20. In addition, a pair of casters 120 are mounted between the suction port 24 and the driving wheel 100, and the casters 120 are mounted to rotate independently of each other. Therefore, in FIG. 4, when the driving wheel 100 rotates to the right side, the caster 120 rotates in different directions while the head portion rotates counterclockwise.

Then, when the head portion is moved forward or backward while the driving wheel 100 is stopped, the auxiliary wheel and the caster rotate in the same direction, and the head portion is moved forward or backward.

In some cases, the driving wheel 100 may be directly mounted to the head portion instead of the main body. In addition, the driving wheel 100 is disposed on the rear surface of the main body that receives the most weight of the main body, but the position may be changed depending on the point where the main body weight of the main body is applied.

In addition, the pair of driving wheels may be provided to be driven independently of each other, so that the head part is moved forward or backward when rotating in the same direction, and the traveling direction is changed when rotating in the opposite direction.

On the other hand, the handle 40 is rotatably mounted with respect to the handle mounting portion 42, the first angle sensor (not shown) for measuring the rotation angle of the handle 40 inside the handle mounting portion 42 Is mounted, so that the angle change of the handle 40 can be measured. In addition, the head unit 20 is also provided with a second angle sensor (not shown) capable of measuring a change in the traveling direction. In the illustrated example, since the head portion is configured to rotate only in the up and down direction with respect to the main body, the rotation angle of the head portion coincides with the rotational angle of the main body. Can be. In this case, the second angle sensor may be provided to measure an angle change of the head portion with respect to the main body.

Referring to FIG. 5, the controller 130 mounted inside the main body 10 is electrically connected to the first angle sensor 44 provided in the handle mounting part 42. In this case, the first angle sensor 44 may be connected to the control unit through a wireless communication means. In addition, the conductive wire connecting the first angle sensor 44 and the control unit 130 may be disposed in the connection hose.

On the other hand, the control unit is also connected to the second angle sensor, is also connected to the drive motor 106 described above to control the drive wheel 100 based on the values measured from the first and second angle sensors. do.

The operation of this embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

The user cleans the bottom surface while holding the handle 40 and moving the suction head portion 20 forward or backward. At this time, the two casters 120 located on the bottom surface of the suction head 20 and the auxiliary wheels 110 and 112 of the driving wheel provided in the main body 10 come into contact with the bottom surface to contact the suction head and the main body. Support against the floor. Here, as described above, since the auxiliary wheel 110 may rotate in the same direction as the caster 120, the wheel head 102 moves forward and backward while maintaining the stationary state. Can be.

If it is necessary to change the advancing direction of the suction head 20, that is, when steering is required, the user rotates the handle 40 with respect to the handle mounting part 42. The rotation of the handle 40 is detected by the first angle sensor 44, and the first angle sensor 44 transmits a signal corresponding to the rotation angle of the handle 40 to the controller 130. .

The controller 130 sets a target steering angle based on the transmitted signal. The target steering angle may be set to the same value as the rotation angle of the handle 40, or may be set to a value proportional to a predetermined ratio. For example, when a quick steering is required, the steering wheel may be set to a value larger than the rotation angle of the handle. When precise steering is required, the steering wheel may be set to a value smaller than the rotation angle of the handle.

When the target steering angle is determined as described above, the controller 130 controls the driving motor 106 to change the traveling direction of the suction head by the target steering angle. Thereafter, the controller 130 compares the target steering angle with the actual steering angle actually steered through the second angle sensor, and stops steering if the two match, and sets and drives an additional steering angle to offset the difference. The motor will be restarted.

Here, the target steering angle may be set to simultaneously measure the actual steering angle through the second angle sensor in the process of steering through the driving motor. In this case, when the target steering angle and the actual steering angle coincide with each other, the controller stops the operation of the driving motor so that the steering is actually performed by the set value.

On the other hand, in the above embodiment, the object is an upright type vacuum cleaner, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and may be applied to a caster type vacuum cleaner. In this case, the driving wheel and the driving motor may be installed in the suction head part instead of the main body.

Claims (14)

main body;
A head portion mounted to the main body to rotate together with the main body;
Steering means mounted to the main body or the head to change an angle of the head relative to the main body;
A handle part provided in the main body;
First sensing means for measuring a change in an angle of the handle part with respect to the main body;
And a controller configured to control the steering means by receiving a signal from the first sensing means. The method of claim 1,
The handle part is configured separately from the main body, characterized in that rotatably mounted relative to the main body. The method of claim 1,
The handle part is integrally configured with the main body, characterized in that configured to be twisted with respect to the main body. The method of claim 1,
The steering means
A driving wheel rotatably mounted to the head; And
And a drive motor for rotating and driving the drive wheel. 5. The method of claim 4,
The drive wheel is
A wheel body rotatably mounted to the head portion; And
And an auxiliary wheel rotatably mounted to the wheel body, the auxiliary wheel being rotated in a direction orthogonal to the wheel body. 5. The method of claim 4,
The head unit includes a suction port for suctioning foreign matter, and the driving wheel is disposed on the other side of the suction port with respect to the center of the head portion. The method of claim 1,
And second sensing means for measuring an actual rotation angle of the head portion, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the angle of the head portion is changed by an angle corresponding to a signal transmitted through the first sensing means. Cleaner, characterized in that judged through. The method of claim 7, wherein
And the controller further controls the steering means to match when the actual rotation angle of the head portion detected by the second sensing means is inconsistent with the angle corresponding to the signal transmitted through the first sensing means. The method of claim 1,
Further comprising a second sensing means for measuring the actual rotation angle of the head portion, if the angle of the head portion detected by the second sensing means is changed by an angle corresponding to the signal transmitted through the first sensing means of the steering means Cleaner, characterized in that to stop the operation. The method of claim 1,
And a signal sensed by the first sensing means is transmitted to the controller through a wired or wireless transmission means. main body;
A head portion including a suction port and mounted to the main body to rotate together with the main body;
One end is connected to the main body, the other end is connected to the head portion so that the traveling direction of the head portion can be changed;
Steering means for steering a traveling direction of the head portion;
A handle part provided in the connection hose;
Signal input means provided in the handle portion;
And a controller configured to control the steering means such that the steering angle of the head is changed by a target steering angle corresponding to the signal input by the signal input means. 12. The method of claim 11,
The signal input means includes an angle sensor for detecting a change in angle with respect to the connection hose of the handle portion; And
And wired / wireless transmission means for transmitting the signal generated by the angle sensor to the control unit. 12. The method of claim 11,
And an error detecting means for detecting a difference between the target steering angle and the steering angle changed by the steering means. The method of claim 13,
And the controller further controls the steering means so as to reduce the difference between the target steering angle and the actual steering angle detected by the error detecting means.

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