KR20020023030A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A vacuum cleaner is provided to simplify a mode change operation and to provide a convenience of a usage by constituting to change from a disinfection mode into a normal cleaning mode if a flexible connecting pipe is inserted to a body of the vacuum cleaner. CONSTITUTION: A vacuum cleaner comprises a device for cutting off an exhaust air guide path. The cut off device is changed from a disinfection mode into a normal cleaning mode by closing automatically the exhaust air guide path if a flexible extensible pipe(3) is inserted to an extensible pipe rotation portion(35) of an inlet(33a) and is changed from the cleaning mode into the disinfection mode if the extensible pipe(3) is separated from the extensible pipe rotation portion of the inlet. The cut off device of the exhaust air guide path is composed of an absorbing air port(31a) and a first and a second sliders(41,46). The absorbing air port(31a) is formed at a lower dust cover(31) assembled to body(1) of the vacuum cleaner and is provided with an exhaust air guide path connection hole(31b) at a side. The first and the second sliders(41,46) perform a sliding opening and closing operation with regard to the top side of the absorbing air port(31a) according to whether the extensible pipe is inserted or not.

Description

Vacuum cleaner {Vacuum cleaner}

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner that can sterilize bacteria and insects, such as mites, and more specifically, to recycle a part of the exhaust air by a fan motor to sterilize bacteria or insects inside the dust collecting chamber with hot exhaust air. It relates to a vacuum cleaner that can.

In general, the vacuum cleaner sucks the outside air by using the suction power of the fan motor, and cleans by filtering the foreign matter contained in the sucked outside air by using the filter of the dust collecting chamber.

However, such a vacuum cleaner is very effective for removing foreign substances such as dust, but cannot remove bacteria or bugs. When vacuuming items that are easily inhabited by bacteria or insects such as mites, such as blankets or carpets, Mites and the like are also sucked together with the outside air and collected in the dust collecting chamber. However, the dust bag of the dust collecting chamber is usually used for a long time, so the dust collecting chamber itself is a breeding ground for bacteria and insects, and there is a high possibility that the sanitary environment is lowered.

Therefore, in order to sterilize bacteria or insects in the dust collecting chamber of the vacuum cleaner, an apparatus for sterilizing bacteria or insects in the dust collecting chamber by raising the exhaust temperature to a temperature capable of sterilization while circulating the exhaust air has been proposed. In order to circulate the exhaust air, a shielding device is required to block the inlet of the outside air. In the related art, a shielding means of sliding type is provided at the inlet of the outside air. Could.

The open and closed states of the shielding means in a vacuum cleaner with a conventional sliding shield are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The flow state of the exhaust air in the cleaning mode, as shown in Figure 1, when the flexible extension pipe 3 is fixed to the extension pipe rotation part 6 through the extension pipe insertion hole 17a provided in the upper dust cover 17, the extension pipe (3) One end of the coincides with the suction air tool 15a provided in the lower dust cover 15. In this state, when the cleaner start switch (not shown) provided in the extension pipe 3 is turned on, external air is sucked from the other end of the flexible extension pipe 3 to pass through the extension pipe 3, and the suction air mechanism 15a and the dust collecting chamber ( Pass 7) and enter the inlet of the fan motor (9). External air passing through the fan motor 9 becomes exhaust air and is exhausted to the exhaust port 10. The cleaning is performed by the continuous air flow. At this time, since the insertion port cover 14 is in an open state, the exhaust flow path 12 is blocked by the insertion cover 14 so that the exhaust air does not flow to the intake air tool 15a and is exhausted only to the exhaust port 10.

In addition, the flow of exhaust air in the sterilization mode is as shown in FIG. First, the user removes the flexible extension tube 3 from the extension tube rotation part 6 to disinfect the tick and the like, and closes the sliding insert cover 14. As a result, the exhaust inflow path 12 is opened to communicate with the intake air mechanism 15a, and is connected to the intake air path composed of the intake air hole 15a, the dust collecting chamber 7, and the fan motor portion 9 inlet. As such, when the exhaust air circulation path is formed, the exhaust air is guided to the exhaust air flow path 12 and sucked into the suction air path 15a to be exhausted through the suction air flow path, and the exhaust air is again sucked through the exhaust flow path 12. It flows into the air channel. In other words, the exhaust air is hardly discharged to the outside, and the exhaust air circulation path inside the cleaner, that is, the fan motor part 9, the exhaust port, the exhaust induction path 12, the suction air mechanism 15a, the dust collecting chamber 7, and the fan motor part. (9) The inlet is circulated. The circulating air passes through the heated motor part, so that the temperature rises. Since this hot exhaust air circulates through the dust collecting chamber 7, bacteria and insects such as mites and the like in the dust collecting chamber 7 can be sterilized. Sterilization mode is automatically stopped after a certain period of time after the exhaust temperature has risen above the temperature that can sterilize ticks. Initiation of the sterilization mode is performed by two limit switches which are assembled such that the sterilization mode switch 19 is turned on while the cover is closed on the side of the inlet cover 14 and the cleaning mode switch 20 is turned on when the cover is open. Is operated by As soon as the sterilization mode switch 19 is turned on, the fan motor 9 is operated to execute sterilization mode. When the cleaning mode switch 20 is turned on, the fan motor 9 is in the standby state of operation. The fan motor 9 rotates to be cleaned only when the cleaner start switch provided is turned on.

Such a suction port shielding device of the conventional vacuum cleaner has a problem that the user has to close the insertion port cover 14 after removing the flexible connection pipe 3 and thus, the operation operation is cumbersome. In addition, since the insertion port cover 14 must cover the outer diameter of the extension tube rotating part 6, the upper surface of the vacuum cleaner occupies a large amount, and thus there is a problem that a space for accommodating the cleaning accessories cannot be secured.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and when the flexible connector is removed from the cleaner body, it is immediately switched to the sterilization mode, and only the connector is inserted into the cleaning mode, that is, the sterilization mode and the cleaning mode. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaner that is easy to use due to the simple switching operation. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner having a storage space for cleaning accessories by minimizing the air inlet shield.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow of the exhaust air and the state in which the shutoff means is closed in the exhaust induction in the vacuum cleaner according to the prior art,

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow of the exhaust air and the state in which the shutoff means of the exhaust induction path in the vacuum cleaner according to the prior art,

3 is a plan view showing an exhaust induction blocking means in the vacuum cleaner according to the prior art,

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow of the exhaust air in the state in which the shutoff means of the exhaust induction road in the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention,

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow of the exhaust air in the state and the blocking means of the exhaust induction road in the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention,

Figure 6 is a plan view showing the exhaust induction road blocking means in the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

One; Vacuum cleaner main body 3; Flexible extension tube

7; Dust chamber 9; Fan motor part

10; Exhaust 11; outlet

19; Sterilization mode switch 20; Cleaning mode switch

22; Exhaust air flow path 22a; Exhaust hole road hole

31; Lower dust cover 31a; Suction tool

31b; Exhaust hole connecting hole 33; upper dust cover

33a; Extension tube insert 35; Extension tube rotator

40; Exhaust passage blocking means 41; First sliding means

41a; Slide cap 41b; Compression Spring

41c; Spring support 46; Second sliding means

The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a vacuum cleaner including an exhaust flow path for connecting the exhaust air to the intake air flow in order to circulate and heat the exhaust air to kill bacteria and worms in the dust chamber. In the vacuum inlet, the exhaust passage is automatically closed when the vacuum tube is inserted into the cleaning mode, and the exhaust passage is automatically opened when the extension pipe is removed from the vacuum cleaner. It includes.

The exhaust passage blocking means includes: a suction air mechanism formed in a lower dust cover assembled to the vacuum cleaner main body and having a connection hole for exhaust passage; And first and second sliding means for sliding opening and closing with respect to the upper surface of the suction air tool according to whether the extension tube is inserted. Here, the sliding means has a slide cap having an inclined surface of one end is in contact with each other and the angle can slide smoothly to the rear in accordance with the insertion of the extension tube; A compression spring that elastically supports the slide cap in a slide direction; And a spring support for supporting the compression spring.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail. The same parts as in the prior art will be described using the same symbols.

4 and 5, when the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention is inserted into the extension tube rotating part 35 in the extension tube insertion hole 33a of the vacuum cleaner, the exhaust path 22 Is automatically closed to switch to the cleaning mode, and when the extension pipe 3 is removed from the extension pipe rotating part 35 of the vacuum cleaner insertion port 33a, the exhaust flow path 22 automatically opens to block the exhaust flow path which is switched to the sterilization mode. Means 40 are provided.

The exhaust passage blocking means 40 is formed in the lower dust cover 31 assembled in the vacuum cleaner main body 1, and has a suction inlet 31a and a flexible extension tube having a connection hole 31b at the side of the exhaust passage. The first and second sliding means 41 and 46 perform sliding opening and closing operations with respect to the upper surface of the suction air tool 31a, depending on whether or not (3) is inserted. Here, the sliding means (41, 46) is a slide having an inclined surface of the angle that one end is in contact with each other and the sliding end (3a) of the flexible extension pipe (3) can be smoothly slid back by inserting into the extension pipe insertion hole (33a) Caps 41a and 46a, compression springs 41b and 46b for elastically supporting the slide caps 41a and 46a in the slide direction to maintain a closed state, and spring supports for supporting the compression springs 41b and 46b. And 41c and 46c. The spring support 41c of the first sliding means is coupled to the lower dust cover 31 to elastically support the first slide cap 41a, and the spring support 46c of the second sliding means is attached to the upper dust cover 33. It is formed to elastically support the second slide cap 46a. The first and second slide caps 41a and 46a are provided with the lower dust cover 31 and the upper dust cover 33 in a direction opposite to the elastic support direction of the compression springs 41b and 46b when the flexible extension pipe 3 is inserted. The second slide cap 46a is formed so as to retreat in the space formed therebetween, and the second slide cap 46a opens the hole 22a through the exhaust induction path connected to the suction air mechanism 31a formed in the lower dust cover 31 in the retracted state. It is designed to be sealed.

6 is a plan view showing the exhaust passage blocking means. As shown in the drawing, the exhaust induction road blocking means 40 provided with the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention occupies a small installation area compared with the vacuum cleaner having the conventional exhaust induction road blocking means shown in FIG. do. That is, the conventional exhaust path blocking means has a size that can cover the insertion port 17a, but the exhaust path blocking means 40 of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention is the suction pipe mechanism of the same inner diameter as the inner diameter of the extension pipe rotating part 35 Since the size which can cover only 31a is enough, the space occupied in the vacuum cleaner main body 1 becomes small.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described the operation of the blocking means of the exhaust induction in the sterilization mode and cleaning mode of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 shows the state of the blocking means 40 with the exhaust induction in the sterilization mode. In this state, one end of the first and second slide caps 41a and 46a is in contact with each other to seal the upper portion of the suction air hole 31a, and the hole 22a of the exhaust induction path that the second slide cap 46a is blocking. It opens and communicates with the suction air mechanism 31a. At this time, the compression springs 41b and 46b of the first and second sliding means 41 and 46 pressurize the first and second slide caps 41a and 46a to such an extent that the exhaust air does not leak to the extension tube insertion port 33a. It is compressed to such an extent. In the state where the shutoff means of the exhaust path is closed, the sterilization mode switch 19 installed on the side of the second slide cap 46a is turned on so that the fan motor 9 operates. When the fan motor 9 is operated, the exhaust air flows through the exhaust inflow path 22 through the connection hole 31b through the exhaust induction path formed on the side of the intake air tool 31a. This suction air flow passage consists of a suction air mechanism 31a, a dust collecting chamber 7 and a fan motor 9 inlet portion. The air drawn into the fan motor 9 is exhausted again through the outlet 11 of the fan motor 9 and sucked into the exhaust flow path 22. That is, in the sterilization mode, the exhaust air passage 22 communicates with the intake air passage and the exhaust air passage so that the exhaust air circulation path is formed so that the exhaust air circulates through the hot fan motor unit 9 and the exhaust air is heated. Since this hot air circulates through the dust collecting chamber 7, bacteria and insects, such as ticks, which were in the dust collecting chamber 7 can be sterilized.

The state of the exhaust induction road blocking means in the cleaning mode is shown in FIG. When the connecting end 3a of the flexible extension tube is inserted into the extension tube inserting hole 33a of the vacuum cleaner 1, the end of the connecting end 3a and the inclined surfaces of the first and second slide caps 41a and 46a are used. The second slide caps 41a and 46a are pushed in the direction of compressing the compression springs 41b and 46b, respectively, so that the end of the connecting end 3a is fitted into the suction air tool 31a and in this state the connecting end of the extension pipe ( 3a) is fixed to the extension pipe rotating part 35 in the insertion hole 33a. At this time, since the second slide cap 46a is pushed backward to close the hole 22a of the exhaust flow path, the exhaust flow path 22 is disconnected from the intake air flow path. In addition, since the slide cap 46a turns on the cleaning mode switch 20 provided on the side surface of the slide cap 46a in the state where the second slide cap 46a is pushed, the user starts the cleaner start switch provided in the flexible extension pipe 3. Cleaning can be performed by turning ON / OFF (not shown). The sterilization mode switch 19 and the cleaning mode switch 20 may be installed on the side of the first slide cap 41a unlike the present embodiment.

The flow of exhaust air at this time will be described with reference to FIG. 5. When the cleaner start switch provided in the flexible extension pipe 3 is turned on while the flexible extension pipe 3 is inserted, the fan motor 9 rotates to suck external air. The outside air flows through the extension pipe 3 and flows into the suction air flow path inside the cleaner, and is discharged through the outlet 11 of the fan motor 9 to the exhaust port 10 of the cleaner body. Such continuous discharge of external air enables cleaning to be performed without significantly increasing the temperature of the fan motor 9.

In order to switch from the cleaning mode to the sterilization mode again, the user detaches the flexible extension pipe 3 from the extension pipe rotation part 35 in the extension pipe insertion hole 33a, and the first and second slide caps 41a and 46a are compressed respectively. The springs 41b and 46b are slid by the elasticity and come into contact with each other. When the first and second slide caps 41a and 46a come into contact with each other, the upper end of the suction air mechanism 31a is sealed and the hole 22a is opened with the exhaust induction path, thereby forming an exhaust air circulation path. Subsequent action is the same as that of the sterilization mode described above.

As described above, the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention is switched to the sterilization mode as soon as the flexible connector is detached from the cleaner body, and is switched to the cleaning mode by simply inserting the connector, so switching between the sterilization mode and the cleaning mode is easy. Since it is made, the convenience of the cleaner user is improved. In addition, since the area occupied by the exhaust air induction blocking means is narrower than the conventional blocking means, the periphery of the blocking means can be used as a storage space for the cleaning accessory.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific preferred embodiments, and the present invention belongs without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the following claims. Various modifications will be possible to those skilled in the art.

Claims (3)

In a vacuum cleaner including an exhaust flow path connecting the exhaust air to the intake air flow path to circulate and heat the exhaust air to kill bacteria and insects in the dust collection chamber. The flexible inlet pipe is inserted into the vacuum cleaner and the exhaust induction path is automatically closed and switched to the cleaning mode, and when the extension pipe is removed from the vacuum cleaner, the exhaust induction path is automatically opened and includes an exhaust induction path blocking means. Vacuum cleaner, characterized in that. According to claim 1, wherein said exhaust induction road blocking means, An extension pipe insertion hole formed in a lower dust cover assembled to the vacuum cleaner body and having a connection hole for exhaust induction; And And first and second sliding means for sliding opening and closing with respect to the upper surface of the extension tube insertion opening, depending on whether the extension tube is inserted into the vacuum cleaner. The method of claim 2, wherein the sliding means, One end is in contact with each other slide cap having an inclined surface of the angle that can be smoothly sliding backward according to the insertion of the extension tube; A compression spring that elastically supports the slide cap in a slide direction; And And a spring support for supporting the compression spring.