<title lang="zh">電動掃除機及電動掃除機系統
</title><technical-field><p>本發明係有關於電動掃除機及電動掃除機系統。
</p></technical-field><background-art><p>使用充電電池的電力來作動的電動掃除機，與使用商用電源來作動的電動掃除機相比，其向電動送風機的輸入較小。集塵盒內的塵埃雖若電動送風機越強則越會被強力地壓縮，但若基於充電電池的輸入程度的話，則會比較弱而無法被壓縮。因此，塵埃將會累積，丟棄垃圾的頻率容易變高。
</p><p>作為與本發明有關連的技術，例如，已知有專利文獻1及專利文獻2。專利文獻1揭示了一種除塵體，藉由旋轉動作，在除去附著於灰塵分離過濾器的塵埃的同時，也使除去的塵埃通過第1開口移動至集塵部。
</p><p>此外，專利文獻2揭示了利用內藏於掃除機本體內的充電電池的電力，使除塵用電動機作動的這點。
</p><heading level="1">〔先前技術文獻〕
</heading><heading level="1">〔專利文獻〕
</heading><p>[專利文獻1]JP 2015-8755 A
</p><p>[專利文獻2]JP 2006-175270 A
</p></background-art><disclosure><tech-problem><p>專利文獻1因為藉由旋轉體的機械式旋轉動作，而使塵埃移動來進行壓縮，使得集塵盒的容積能有效率地使用，而降低丟棄垃圾的頻率，但需要成為動作機構的旋轉體的部件，構造會變得複雜。
</p><p>專利文獻2係使用充電電池的電力來使除塵用電動機作動。但是，因為伴隨著充電電池的放電，劣化持續地進行，期望能盡量抑制放電。
</p></tech-problem><tech-solution><p>鑑於上記情事的本發明為一種電動掃除機，具有：充電電池；吸引口；集塵盒；電動送風機；排氣口；連接前述吸引口、前述集塵盒、前述電動送風機、及前述排氣口的風路；電路；其中前述電路係以：前述電動送風機能夠電連接至輸出基於商用電源的電力的充電用電源電路的方式，在該電動掃除機電連接至前述商用電源的狀態下，藉由前述充電用電源電路所輸出的電力，來驅動前述電動送風機。
</p></tech-solution><advantageous-effects><p></advantageous-effects></disclosure><description-of-drawings><description-of-element><p>10‧‧‧吸入部
</p><p>17‧‧‧吸引口
</p><p>21‧‧‧旋轉刷馬達
</p><p>53‧‧‧排氣口
</p><p>57‧‧‧行走馬達
</p><p>81‧‧‧電動送風機
</p><p>300‧‧‧自走式電動掃除機
</p><p>310‧‧‧接觸點
</p><p>320‧‧‧馬達驅動電路
</p><p>330‧‧‧充電用電源電路
</p><p>350‧‧‧二極體
</p><p>360‧‧‧開關
</p><p>365‧‧‧第2開關
</p><p>370‧‧‧控制機構
</p><p>380‧‧‧連接檢測電路
</p><p>390‧‧‧充電電池
</p><p>400‧‧‧充電台
</p><p>410‧‧‧端子
</p><p>420‧‧‧直流電源電路
</p><p>K‧‧‧集塵盒
</p></description-of-element><p>[圖1]有關實施形態的自走式電動掃除機的斜視圖。
</p><p>[圖2]有關實施形態的自走式電動掃除機的取出上蓋殼的形態的斜視圖。
</p><p>[圖3]有關實施形態的自走式電動掃除機的底面圖。
</p><p>[圖4]沿圖1的A-A線剖面圖。
</p><p>[圖5]從有關實施形態的自走式電動掃除機的吸入部取出旋轉刷、拉毛滾體、及刮刷的狀態的底面圖。
</p><p>[圖6]有關實施形態的自走式電動掃除機的吸入部的斜視圖。
</p><p>[圖7]表示有關實施形態的自走式電動掃除機本體內的集塵盒的位置關係的分解模式圖。
</p><p>[圖8]充電台400的斜視圖[圖9]有關第1實施形態的電動掃除機的電路方塊圖。
</p><p>[圖10]有關第1實施形態的電動掃除機的控制流程圖。
</p><p>[圖11]有關第2實施形態的電動掃除機的電路方塊圖。
</p><p>[圖12]有關第2實施形態的電動掃除機的控制流程圖。
</p></description-of-drawings><mode-for-invention><p>以下，適宜地參照圖式詳細說明有關本發明的實施形態。
</p><p>同樣的構成要素附加相同的符號，不重覆同樣的說明。
</p><heading level="1"><實施形態1>
</heading><p>本實施形態雖有關於自走式電動掃除機300，但也可以置換成其他具有充電電池的電動掃除機。圖1為從左前方向下觀察有關實施形態的自走式電動掃除機300的斜視圖。
</p><p>[自走式電動掃除機300]
</p><p>自走式電動掃除機300為在預定的掃除區域(例如，室內)一邊自律地移動一邊作掃除的掃除機。自走式電動掃除機300具備本體50，該本體50包含：上壁(及一部分的側壁)即上殼91、底壁(及一部分的側壁)即下殼51(參照圖2)、設置於前部的緩衝部92。在上殼91設有用以使後記集塵盒K(參照圖7)進出的蓋93。
</p><p>(本體50)
</p><p>圖2為從左前方向下觀察將上殼91取下的狀態的斜視圖。下殼51為載置：行走馬達57、旋轉刷馬達21、電動送風機81、控制裝置95等的框體，其外形呈現薄型的圓板狀。
</p><p>圖3為自走式電動掃除機300的底面圖。在下殼51形成有：可向下方露出的驅動輪61、行走馬達57、收容包含減速機構而構成的驅動機構的2個驅動機構收容部54、側刷安裝部82、將吸入部10固定的孔部52、排氣口53、收納充電電池390(參照圖9、11)的電池收容部55(圖4參照)。
</p><p>在平面視時呈略圓板狀的下殼51的左右兩側，形成有驅動機構收容部54。又，在平面視時呈圓形的下殼51的中心附近，形成複數排氣口53將驅動機構收容部54夾於中間的位置。在比下殼51的中心還前側，形成有電池收容部55。在電池收容部55的左右，形成有安裝側刷40的側刷安裝部82。在比下殼51的中心還後側，也就是在排氣口53，及在驅動機構收容部54的後側，形成有固定吸入部10的孔部52。
</p><p>固定於孔部52的吸入部10為在形成吸引口17(參照圖5)的同時，將刮刷1、旋轉刷5、及在被掃除面上自由轉動的拉毛滾體100收容的構件。
</p><p>圖4為沿圖1的A-A線切斷的側剖面圖。緩衝部92因應從外部作用的按壓力而以可在前後方向移動的方式設置。緩衝部92經由左右一對的緩衝彈簧(圖示省略)在前方向彈壓。緩衝彈簧其前端彎曲成J字狀，該彎曲位置接於緩衝部92的內壁面。從障礙物來的抗力通過緩衝部92作用於緩衝彈簧後，緩衝彈簧因而變形，將緩衝部92向前方向彈壓的同時，容許緩衝部92後退。緩
衝部92離開障礙物而前述抗力消失後，因緩衝彈簧的彈壓力而緩衝部92返回原來的位置。順便一提，緩衝部92的後退(也就是與障礙物的接觸)係藉由感測器類96(紅外線感測器)來檢測。
</p><heading level="1">(驅動輪61)
</heading><p>如圖3所示，驅動輪61為藉由自體的旋轉而使本體50能夠前進、後退、旋轉的車輪。驅動輪61配置於左右兩側。
</p><heading level="1">(支撐機構)
</heading><p>收容於圖3所示的驅動機構收容部54的支撐機構係為將驅動輪61支撐於本體50的機構。支撐機構包含支撐驅動輪61的臂71。
</p><heading level="1">(電池收容部55)
</heading><p>如圖4所示，電池收容部55為在形成於下殼51的內部收容充電電池390的空間，具有以壁面包圍的向下的開口而構成。
</p><heading level="1">(前方蓋56)
</heading><p>如圖3所示，前方蓋56為將形成於下殼51的電池收容部55(參照圖4)的開口從下殼51的下面塞住的略長方形板狀的構件。前方蓋56在前部中央附近具備鎖定爪
56a，在後部左右兩側具備含有螺絲孔的伸出部56b。前方蓋56藉由鎖定爪56a、及插通於螺絲孔的螺絲，從下方固定於下殼51。又，前方蓋56在下殼51的中心側附近，具備安裝補助輪83的圓形補助輪取付部84。再來前方蓋56在安裝於下殼51的狀態下，具備：側刷40的回轉軸、在與下殼51的略中心位置連接的線上位置固定導引刷(L)45的溝部。導引刷(L)45(刷毛構件)位於該溝部。
</p><p>(補助輪83)
</p><p>如圖3所示，補助輪83為將本體50從地面保持在預定高度上，同時使自走式電動掃除機300圓滑地移動的補助車輪。補助輪83隨著本體50的移動，藉由與地面之間產生的摩擦力，以隨動旋轉的方式軸支撐。又，補助輪83係以方向朝著水平方向作360°自由旋轉的方式構成。此外，圖3所示的補助輪83設於本體50的前方的左右方向的中央，安裝於補助輪取付部84。
</p><p>(吸入部10)
</p><p>圖5為將旋轉刷5、刮刷1、及拉毛滾體100取下的狀態中的吸入部10的底面圖。圖5所示的吸入部10安裝於下殼51的孔部52(參照圖3)。
</p><p>接著，如圖4所示，從吸入部10朝著下游側依序形成：集塵盒K、集塵濾波器F、電動送風機81、及
排氣口53(參照圖3)這種能流通空氣的流路。吸入部10為在形成吸引口17的同時，將旋轉刷5、刮刷1、及拉毛滾體100收容的構件(參照圖3)，也是固定旋轉刷馬達21(參照圖6)的構件。
</p><p>如圖5所示，在吸入部10的前部，形成有收容旋轉刷5的旋轉刷收容部15。在旋轉刷收容部15的前部，形成有收容拉毛滾體100的拉毛滾體收容部101。在旋轉刷收容部15的後部，形成有收容刮刷1的刮刷收容部11。在旋轉刷收容部15配置有旋轉刷5(參照圖3)。在拉毛滾體收容部101配置有拉毛滾體100。也就是說，從自走式電動掃除機300的前部依序配置有拉毛滾體100、旋轉刷5、刮刷1。
</p><p>此外，旋轉刷5、拉毛滾體100、刮刷1分別以旋轉可能的方式安裝。旋轉刷5、拉毛滾體100、刮刷1以可取下的方式安裝於吸入部10。
</p><p>圖6為吸入部10的斜視圖。如圖6所示，吸入部10的上面側，在具備使旋轉刷5旋轉的旋轉刷馬達21的同時，也具備傳達旋轉刷馬達21動力的動力傳達機構22。將旋轉刷5的旋轉方向稱為第一旋轉方向。在第一旋轉方向旋轉的旋轉刷5與地面連接之側從前方向後方旋轉。
</p><p>(旋轉刷收容部15)
</p><p>說明有關旋轉刷收容部15的形狀。如圖5、圖6所
示，旋轉刷收容部15為剖面具有圓弧狀的曲面的凹部。如圖5所示，在旋轉刷收容部15的後側的曲面形成有吸引口17。吸引口17與集塵盒K的開口連通(參照圖4)。
</p><p>(側刷40)
</p><p>如圖3所示的側刷40為在略上下方向具備回轉軸的刷子。藉由側刷40自體的旋轉驅動，能夠將位於比本體50還更外側的房間的角落等的旋轉刷5不容易到達的場所的塵埃導入吸入部10(吸引口17)。側刷40的一部分在平面視時從本體50露出。右側的側刷40其根源固定於側刷支架41。側刷40的刷毛隨著前端的方向，以接近地面的方式傾斜，該前端附近接觸地面。
</p><p>側刷支架41設置於下殼51的底面附近，連結於側刷馬達42(參照圖2)。藉由側刷馬達42的驅動，側刷40朝向內側(附加於圖3的箭頭的方向)旋轉，在左右的導引刷(L)45之間將塵埃刮集。此外，左側的側刷40也一樣。
</p><p>(電動送風機81)
</p><p>圖4所示的電動送風機81具有藉由旋轉驅動將集塵盒K內的空氣向外部排出產生負壓，而從地面經由吸引口17(吸入部10)將塵埃吸入的機能。如圖2所例示的，在本實施形態中，電動送風機81配置於下殼51的中心附
近。
</p><p>圖7表示在本體50內的吸入部10(吸引口17)、集塵盒K、電動送風機81的位置關係的模式圖。如圖7所示，從吸引口17朝著下游側依序設置：集塵盒K、集塵過濾器F、電動送風機81、及排氣口53(參照圖3)，其等分別藉由風路連繫。在吸引口17附近，設有將地面上的塵埃刮取的旋轉刷5(參照圖3)。在驅動電動送風機81、及旋轉刷馬達21後，地面等的塵埃經由吸引口17(吸入部10)被吸引，並藉由旋轉刷5(圖3參照)刮取。該塵埃經由流入口K1被導至集塵盒K。在集塵過濾器F挾帶著塵埃的空氣通過排氣口53(參照圖3)從本體50排出。此外，集塵盒K藉由將設於上殼91的蓋93(參照圖1)開啟而裝卸可能。
</p><p>(操作按鍵97)
</p><p>操作按鍵97係因為使用者的操作而將操作信號輸出至控制裝置95的按鍵(參照圖1)，例如，具有：電源按鍵、掃除開始/結束按鍵、用以變更掃除模式的掃除模式選擇按鍵。
</p><p>充電電池390被收容於電池收容部55(參照圖4)。從充電電池390放出的電力被供應至感測器類96(參照圖2)、各馬達、各驅動裝置、及控制裝置95。
</p><p>(集塵盒K)
</p><p>集塵盒K係將從地面通過吸引口17(吸入部10)吸入的塵埃回收的容器(參照圖13)。集塵盒K具備：將回收的塵埃收容的本體、可將回收的塵埃取出的蓋K2、可折疊的把手K3。集塵盒本體為其下面對應吸入部10的上部形狀而構成的形狀，在與吸引口17對向的位置具備對應吸引口17形狀的流入口K1，其全體為略長方體形狀。蓋K2具備與電動送風機的吸引口對向的集塵過濾器F。把手位於本體的上部。
</p><p>〔塵埃的壓縮〕
</p><p>(充電台400)
</p><p>圖8為充電台400的斜視圖。
</p><p>充電台400具有：設於自走式電動掃除機300底面的可與接觸部310電連接的端子410、向上方凸起的凸部420。端子410位於凸部420上。在接觸部310及端子410電連接的狀態中，因為自走式電動掃除機300乘載於凸部420，旋轉刷5能夠離開地面。藉此，通過以下說明的塵埃壓縮動作，能有效地吸入空氣。
</p><p>(電路的構成)
</p><p>圖9為充電台400及自走式電動掃除機300的電路區塊圖；圖10為包含自走式電動掃除機300的系統的塵埃壓縮流程圖。
</p><p>充電台400具有：取得商用電源的電源插頭、將從電
源插頭而來的電力轉換成直流電力的直流電源電路420、及用以將直流電源電路420輸出的直流電力供應至自走式掃除機300的與接觸點310電連接的端子410。也就是說、直流電源電路420接收由商用電源而來的電力，並將基於此的電力輸出。
</p><p>自走式電動掃除機300具有：馬達驅動電路320、充電用電源電路330、二極體350、第1切換機構即開關360、控制機構370、連接檢測電路380、充電電池390、及電動送風機81。
</p><p>充電電池390能夠供應電流至馬達驅動電路320。馬達驅動電路320利用供應的電流使電動送風機81驅動。
</p><p>充電用電源電路330能夠根據經由接觸部310而從直流電源電路420供應來的DC電源，生成充電所需的電壓及電流。所謂充電所需的電壓及電流指的是因應充電電池390的例如定額決定的電壓及電流。
</p><p>通過接觸點310流至自走式掃除機300的直流電源電路420的輸出，在當開關360為ON時，在充電用電源電路330再作變換後，通過二極體350、及開關360，供應至充電電池390。當電動送風機81為ON時，因為電動送風機81負擔比較大的負載，充電用電源電路330的輸出主要流至馬達驅動電路320而非充電電池390。
</p><p>連接檢測電路380檢測自走式電動掃除機300
及充電台400的連接，並將該資訊傳達至控制機構370。
</p><p>自走式掃除機300具有：充電用電源電路330、位於充電電池390及馬達驅動電路320之間的連接點340。又，自走式掃除機300在充電用電源電路330及連接點340之間，在從接近充電用電源電路330的位置依序具有二極體350及開關360。二極體350位於充電用電源電路330及開關360之間，在充電用電源電路330側為正。也就是說，二極體350僅使從充電用電源電路330流向連接點340的電流通過。開關360可以切換與接觸部310之間的開放及短路。
</p><p>當自走式電動掃除機300回到充電台400之後，連接檢測電路380對控制機構370輸出連接檢測信號。當辨識到連接控制機構370時(步驟S100，Yes)，使得連接至旋轉刷馬達21、驅動輪61的行走馬達57、電動送風機81、或檢測到前方的障礙物的感測器的這種行走關連感測器等的負載的一部或全部停止(步驟S110)。藉此，控制自走式電動掃除機300的動作或使其停止，容易維持與充電台400的連接。通常，當自走式電動掃除機300回到充電台400時，在充電電池390的能量較少的情形很多。自走式電動掃除機300在例如停止負載後，進行電池殘量檢出。
</p><p>控制機構370基於電池殘量，當判斷以充電電池390單體的能量，在輸入比通常時的向電動送風機81還高的輸入，能夠在某種程度的時間運轉電動送風機
81時(步驟S120，Yes)，將開關360OFF(步驟S121)，而且，以比自走式電動掃除機300驅動時還高的輸入來驅動電動送風機81(步驟S130)。藉此，利用充電電池390的能量將電力供應至馬達驅動電路320，能夠將高速的空氣送入集塵盒K內。藉此，因為能夠壓縮集塵盒K內的塵埃壓縮，能夠延長自走式電動掃除機300的丟棄垃圾的間隔。
</p><p>另一方面，當充電電池390的殘量少至某種程度時(稱為第1閾值以下的情形)(步驟S120，No)，將比第1閾值還小的第2閾值與充電電池390的殘量作比較(步驟S122)。當第2閾值以上的情形(步驟S122，Yes)，將開關360ON(步驟S123)，遷移至步驟S130。第2閾值，例如，藉由充電用電源電路330的輸出，若在將充電電池390充電的同時，也使充電電池390放電的話，能夠將其設為將電動送風機81以高輸出來驅動的值以上的值。也就是說，若有第2閾值以上的殘量的話，藉由充電電池390及充電用電源電路330的輸出，能夠執行塵埃的壓縮。此外，例如如同後述的實施形態2，充電用電源電路330若是能夠切換至供應比充電電池390的額定電力還大的電力的模式者，藉由使得充電用電源電路330的輸出比充電電池390的充電所需的電力還大，僅藉由充電用電源電路330的輸出也能使得電動送風機81驅動。
</p><p>另一方面，當充電電池390的殘量未滿第2
閾值時(步驟S122，No)，將開關360ON(步驟S124)，將充電電池390暫時充電至第2閾值以上(步驟S125，No)。當充電電池390成為第2閾值以上的話(步驟S125，Yes)，遷移至步驟S130。
</p><p>使電動送風機81在預定時間以上驅動時(步驟S140，Yes)，使電動送風機81停止，將開關360ON(步驟S150)。藉此，能將充電電池390充電。
</p><p>此外，省略步驟S120而遷移至步驟S121也可以。此時，不管充電電池的殘量而追加充電電池390的輸出，充電用電源電路330的輸出也可供應至馬達驅動電路320。若充電電池390的殘量充足的話，可以有效地進行塵埃的壓縮。另一方面，當充電電池390的殘量少時，在使電動送風機81以通常時更高的輸入驅動的同時，充電電池390的放電量變少。也就是說，能夠抑制成為充電電池390劣化的原因的放電，同時使電動送風機81驅動。也就是說，能夠在抑制充電電池390的劣化的同時，進行塵埃的壓縮。
</p><p>此外，所謂的「比自走式電動掃除機300的驅動時還高的輸入」，例如，可以想成是指自走式電動掃除機300清掃地板面時的輸入。自走式電動掃除機300雖根據清掃的地面的種類等，而能夠有向電動送風機81的不同輸入，但之中可以指比最低輸入值還大的輸入，也可以指比此還高的值。例如，習知的自走式電動掃除機，在掃除地毯時，可以以比清掃地板面時還大的輸入來驅動電
動送風機。因此，該等的比任何值還大的輸入可以想成「比自走式電動掃除機300的驅動時還高的輸入」。自走式電動掃除機300的驅動時間的比較高的比例，因為可以想成地板面的輸入，也可以是比其還大的輸入。不過，若考慮進行更有效果的塵埃壓縮，例如可以考慮比地毯的清掃時的輸入還大的輸入等，與在自走式電動掃除機300從充電台400離開時最高的輸入大致相同或其以上的值較佳。
</p><p>此外，上述中雖使用充電台400這種用語，但這是向電動掃除機300供應電流的充電部的一例，並不一定要具備「台」這種構造。例如，作為充電部，是自走式電動掃除機300的一端與商用電源的另一端連接的電線也可以。又，即便在這種情形，或上述本實施形態的構成，使電動掃除機300具有直流電源電路420也可以。
</p><p>電動掃除機300及充電台400並不一定需要分別具有其他的構成要素，在不妨礙的範圍內具有什麼都可以。
</p><heading level="1"><實施形態2>
</heading><p>本實施形態的構成除了以下的點以外可以與實施形態1一樣。圖11為充電台400及自走式電動掃除機300的電路區塊圖；圖12為包含自走式電動掃除機300的系統的塵埃壓縮流程圖。
</p><p>本實施形態的自走式電動掃除機300具有：二極體350及開關360之間的第1端部、比開關360及充
電電池390還靠電動送風機81側的第2端部、以及電連接至馬達驅動電路320的第3端部，所電連接的第2切換機構即別的開關(稱為第2開關365)。第2開關365可以切換：將第1端部及第3端部短路並將充電用電源電路330的電力供應至電動送風機81的商用電源驅動模式、以及將第2端部及第3端部短路，至少將充電電池390的電力供應至電動送風機81的充電電池驅動模式。充電電池驅動模式的情形，更將開關360ON的話，也可以利用充電用電源電路330的電力來將電動送風機81驅動。
</p><p>本實施形態的充電用電源電路330，除了用於充電電池390的充電的額定電力的輸出，也可以輸出比該輸出還大的電力。也就是說，充電用電源電路330係因應從控制機構370而來的指示而可變輸出。作為這種充電用電源電路330，例如，可以採用具有升壓電路或降壓電路的充電用電源電路330。又，與充電用電源電路330不同，藉由設置可以輸出基於商用電源的電力的其他的電路(稱為馬達電源電路)也可以實現這樣的機能。
</p><p>步驟S100及S110與實施形態1一樣。之後，控制機構370將充電用電源電路330(作為其他例為充電用電源電路330與馬達電源電路)所輸出的電力，設定成比用於充電電池390的充電的額定充電電力還高的電力(步驟S220)。之後，將開關360OFF，並將第2開關365作為商用電源驅動模式後(步驟S221)，將電動送風機81以高輸入設為ON(步驟S130)。這樣的話，因為
使用充電用電源電路330(作為其他例為充電用電源電路330與馬達電源電路)的輸出，能夠將電動送風機81以高輸入驅動，基於從商用電源而來的電力，不使用從充電電池390而來的電流也可以驅動電動送風機81。因此，降低了充電電池390的放電量，能抑制充電電池390的劣化。又，因為不管充電電池390的殘量而能夠驅動電動送風機81，在自走式電動掃除機300回來之後能夠馬上進行塵埃的壓縮。
</p><p>若塵埃的壓縮結束之後(步驟S140，Yes)，將電動送風機81OFF，將第2開關365設為充電電池驅動模式(步驟S250)。之後，將充電用電源電路330的輸出，設定成用於充電電池390的充電的額定電力，將開關360ON(步驟S260)。藉此，能將充電電池390充電。若必要的話，將開關360ON，將第2開關365設為充電電池驅動模式，作為電動送風機81也可以。
</p><p>電動掃除機300及充電台400並不一定需要如本實施形態所明示的一樣，分別具有所有的本實施形態的各種構成要素，在不妨礙的範圍內具有什麼都可以。例如，取代控制電路370或者追加之，將指示向充電用電源電路330輸出的變更的構成要素設在充電台400也可以。
</p><p>又，第1切換機構或第2切換機構並不限於繼電器等機械開關，使用半導體開關元件也可以。
</p></mode-for-invention><title lang="zh">Electric sweeper and electric sweeper system
</title><technical-field><p>The present invention relates to an electric sweeper and an electric sweeper system.
</p></technical-field><background-art><p>The electric sweeper that uses the power of the rechargeable battery to operate the electric blower compared to the electric sweeper that uses the commercial power supply. small. Although the dust in the dust box is more strongly compressed if the electric blower is stronger, it is weaker and cannot be compressed if it is based on the input degree of the rechargeable battery. Therefore, dust will accumulate and the frequency of discarding garbage tends to become high.
</p><p> As a technique related to the present invention, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known. Patent Document 1 discloses a dust removing body that removes dust adhering to the dust separating filter by a rotating operation, and also moves the removed dust to the dust collecting portion through the first opening.
Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that the dust removing motor is operated by the electric power of the rechargeable battery built in the body of the sweeper.
</p><heading level="1">[Previous Technical Literature]
</heading><heading level="1">[Patent Literature]
</heading><p>[Patent Document 1] JP 2015-8755 A
</p><p>[Patent Document 2] JP 2006-175270 A
</p></background-art><disclosure><tech-problem><p>Patent Document 1 causes the dust to move and compress by the mechanical rotation of the rotating body, so that the volume of the dust box can be made It is used efficiently, and the frequency of discarding garbage is reduced, but it is necessary to become a member of the rotating body of the operating mechanism, and the structure becomes complicated.
</p><p> Patent Document 2 uses a power of a rechargeable battery to operate a dust removing motor. However, since the deterioration continues with the discharge of the rechargeable battery, it is desirable to suppress the discharge as much as possible.
</p></tech-problem><tech-solution><p>In view of the above, the invention is an electric sweeper having: a rechargeable battery; a suction port; a dust box; an electric blower; an exhaust port; a suction port, the dust collecting case, the electric blower, and an air passage of the exhaust port; wherein the circuit is configured such that the electric blower can be electrically connected to a charging power supply circuit that outputs electric power based on a commercial power source The electric blower is driven by the electric power output from the charging power supply circuit in a state where the electric sweeper is electrically connected to the commercial power source.
</p></tech-solution><advantageous-effects><p></advantageous-effects></disclosure><description-of-drawings><description-of-element><p>10‧‧‧Inhalation unit
</p><p>17‧‧‧Attraction
</p><p>21‧‧‧Rotary brush motor
</p><p>53‧‧‧Exhaust port
</p><p>57‧‧‧Travel motor
</p><p>81‧‧‧Electric blower
</p><p>300‧‧‧Self-propelled electric sweeper
</p><p>310‧‧‧Contact points
</p><p>320‧‧‧Motor drive circuit
</p><p>330‧‧‧Power supply circuit for charging
</p><p>350‧‧‧ Diodes
</p><p>360‧‧‧Switch
</p><p>365‧‧‧2nd switch
</p><p>370‧‧‧Control agency
</p><p>380‧‧‧Connection detection circuit
</p><p>390‧‧‧Rechargeable battery
</p><p>400‧‧‧Charging station
</p><p>410‧‧‧ Terminal
</p><p>420‧‧‧DC power supply circuit
</p><p>K‧‧‧ dust box
</p></description-of-element><p> [Fig. 1] A perspective view of a self-propelled electric sweeper according to an embodiment.
</p><p> [Fig. 2] A perspective view showing a state in which the upper cover is taken out of the self-propelled electric sweeper according to the embodiment.
</ P> <p> [Fig. 3] A bottom view of the self-propelled electric sweeper according to the embodiment.
</p><p>[Fig. 4] A cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 1.
[Fig. 5] A bottom view showing a state in which the rotating brush, the napping roller, and the wiping blade are taken out from the suction portion of the self-propelled electric sweeper according to the embodiment.
</p><p> [Fig. 6] A perspective view of a suction portion of a self-propelled electric sweeper according to an embodiment.
</p><p> [Fig. 7] is an exploded perspective view showing the positional relationship of the dust collecting case in the body of the self-propelled electric sweeper according to the embodiment.
[Fig. 8] A perspective view of the charging stand 400. Fig. 9 is a circuit block diagram of the electric sweeper according to the first embodiment.
</p><p> [Fig. 10] A control flow chart of the electric sweeper according to the first embodiment.
</p><p> Fig. 11 is a circuit block diagram of an electric sweeper according to a second embodiment.
</p><p> [Fig. 12] A control flow chart of the electric sweeper according to the second embodiment.
</p></de>-of-drawings> <mode-for-invention> <p> Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
</p><p>The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the same description will not be repeated.
</p><heading level="1"><Embodiment 1>
</heading><p> Although the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 is described in the present embodiment, it may be replaced with another electric sweeper having a rechargeable battery. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 according to the embodiment as viewed from the left front side.
</p><p>[Self-propelled electric sweeper 300]
</p><p> The self-propelled electric sweeper 300 is a sweeper that performs a sweeping movement while autonomously moving in a predetermined sweeping area (for example, indoors). The self-propelled electric sweeper 300 includes a main body 50 including an upper wall (and a part of side walls), that is, an upper casing 91, a bottom wall (and a part of side walls), that is, a lower casing 51 (refer to FIG. 2), and is disposed in front of The buffer portion 92 of the portion. The upper case 91 is provided with a cover 93 for allowing the post-collection box K (refer to FIG. 7) to enter and exit.
</p><p>(body 50)
</p><p> FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper casing 91 is removed from the left front side. The lower casing 51 is a casing on which the traveling motor 57, the rotating brush motor 21, the electric blower 81, the control device 95, and the like are placed, and its outer shape is a thin disk shape.
</p><p> FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the self-propelled electric sweeper 300. The lower casing 51 is formed with a drive wheel 61 that can be exposed downward, a travel motor 57, two drive mechanism accommodating portions 54 that accommodate a drive mechanism including a speed reduction mechanism, a side brush attachment portion 82, and a hole that fixes the suction portion 10. The portion 52, the exhaust port 53, and the battery housing portion 55 (see FIG. 4) that houses the rechargeable battery 390 (see FIGS. 9 and 11).
</p><p> A drive mechanism housing portion 54 is formed on the right and left sides of the lower case 51 which is slightly disk-shaped in plan view. Further, in the vicinity of the center of the lower case 51 which is circular in plan view, a plurality of exhaust ports 53 are formed to sandwich the drive mechanism housing portion 54 therebetween. A battery housing portion 55 is formed on the front side of the center of the lower case 51. A side brush attachment portion 82 to which the side brush 40 is attached is formed on the left and right of the battery housing portion 55. A hole portion 52 that fixes the suction portion 10 is formed on the rear side of the center of the lower case 51, that is, on the exhaust port 53 and on the rear side of the drive mechanism housing portion 54.
</p><p>The suction portion 10 fixed to the hole portion 52 is a brushing roller 1 that rotates freely on the surface to be swept while forming the suction port 17 (refer to FIG. 5). The member housed in the body 100.
</p><p> FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1. The buffer portion 92 is provided to be movable in the front-rear direction in response to a pressing force acting from the outside. The buffer portion 92 is biased in the front direction via a pair of right and left buffer springs (not shown). The front end of the buffer spring is bent in a J shape, and the bending position is connected to the inner wall surface of the buffer portion 92. When the resistance from the obstacle acts on the buffer spring through the buffer portion 92, the buffer spring is deformed, and the buffer portion 92 is biased in the forward direction, and the buffer portion 92 is allowed to retreat. slow
When the punching portion 92 is separated from the obstacle and the resistance is lost, the buffer portion 92 returns to the original position due to the elastic pressure of the buffer spring. Incidentally, the retreat of the buffer portion 92 (that is, the contact with the obstacle) is detected by the sensor type 96 (infrared sensor).
</p><heading level="1">(drive wheel 61)
</heading><p> As shown in FIG. 3, the drive wheel 61 is a wheel that can move, retreat, and rotate the body 50 by self-rotation. The drive wheels 61 are disposed on the left and right sides.
</p><heading level="1">(support organization)
</heading><p> The support mechanism housed in the drive mechanism housing portion 54 shown in FIG. 3 is a mechanism for supporting the drive wheel 61 to the body 50. The support mechanism includes an arm 71 that supports the drive wheel 61.
</p><heading level="1">(Battery accommodating unit 55)
</heading><p> As shown in FIG. 4, the battery housing portion 55 is a space in which the rechargeable battery 390 is housed inside the lower case 51, and has a downward opening surrounded by a wall surface.
</p><heading level="1">(front cover 56)
</heading><p> As shown in FIG. 3, the front cover 56 is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member that plugs the opening of the battery housing portion 55 (see FIG. 4) formed in the lower case 51 from the lower surface of the lower case 51. . The front cover 56 has a locking claw near the center of the front portion
The 56a has a projecting portion 56b including a screw hole on the left and right sides of the rear portion. The front cover 56 is fixed to the lower case 51 from below by a lock claw 56a and a screw inserted through the screw hole. Further, the front cover 56 is provided with a circular auxiliary wheel take-up portion 84 to which the auxiliary wheel 83 is attached, in the vicinity of the center side of the lower case 51. In the state in which the front cover 56 is attached to the lower case 51, the front cover 56 includes a rotary shaft of the side brush 40 and a groove portion that fixes the guide brush (L) 45 at a line position that is connected to a substantially central position of the lower case 51. A guide brush (L) 45 (bristle member) is located at the groove portion.
</p><p>(subsidy round 83)
</p><p> As shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary wheel 83 is a supplementary wheel that holds the main body 50 at a predetermined height from the ground while smoothly moving the self-propelled electric sweeper 300. The auxiliary wheel 83 is axially supported in a rotatable manner by the frictional force generated between the body and the ground with the movement of the body 50. Further, the auxiliary wheel 83 is configured such that the direction is freely rotated 360 degrees in the horizontal direction. Further, the auxiliary wheel 83 shown in FIG. 3 is provided at the center in the left-right direction in front of the main body 50, and is attached to the auxiliary wheel take-out portion 84.
</p><p>(inhalation section 10)
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the suction unit 10 in a state where the rotating brush 5, the wiper 1, and the napping roller 100 are removed. The suction portion 10 shown in Fig. 5 is attached to the hole portion 52 of the lower case 51 (see Fig. 3).
</p><p> Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the dust collecting box K, the dust collecting filter F, the electric blower 81, and the like are sequentially formed from the suction portion 10 toward the downstream side.
The exhaust port 53 (see Fig. 3) is a flow path through which air can flow. The suction unit 10 is a member that accommodates the rotating brush 5, the wiper 1, and the napping roller 100 while forming the suction port 17, and is also a member that fixes the rotary brush motor 21 (see FIG. 6).
</p><p> As shown in FIG. 5, a rotating brush accommodating portion 15 that accommodates the rotating brush 5 is formed in the front portion of the suction portion 10. In the front portion of the rotating brush housing portion 15, a nappy roller housing portion 101 for accommodating the brush body 100 is formed. A wiper accommodating portion 11 that houses the wiper 1 is formed at a rear portion of the rotating brush accommodating portion 15. The rotating brush 5 is disposed in the rotating brush housing portion 15 (see FIG. 3). The napper roller 100 is disposed in the nappy roller housing portion 101. That is, the brush body 100, the rotary brush 5, and the wiper 1 are disposed in this order from the front portion of the self-propelled electric sweeper 300.
</p><p> In addition, the rotating brush 5, the brushing roller 100, and the wiper 1 are respectively mounted in a rotatable manner. The rotating brush 5, the pulling roller 100, and the wiper 1 are detachably attached to the suction portion 10.
</p><p> FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the suction portion 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper surface side of the suction unit 10 includes a rotary brush motor 21 that rotates the rotary brush 5, and also includes a power transmission mechanism 22 that transmits the power of the rotary brush motor 21. The direction of rotation of the rotating brush 5 is referred to as a first direction of rotation. The side of the rotating brush 5 that rotates in the first rotational direction is connected to the ground from the front to the rear.
</p><p>(Rotary brush housing 15)
</p><p> describes the shape of the rotating brush housing portion 15. As shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6.
The rotating brush housing portion 15 is a concave portion having a curved curved surface in cross section. As shown in FIG. 5, the suction port 17 is formed in the curved surface of the back side of the rotating brush accommodation part 15. The suction port 17 communicates with the opening of the dust box K (refer to FIG. 4).
</p><p>(side brush 40)
</p><p> The side brush 40 shown in FIG. 3 is a brush having a rotary shaft in a slightly upper and lower direction. By the rotational driving of the side brush 40 by itself, dust in a place where the rotating brush 5 such as a corner of the room outside the main body 50 is not easily accessible can be introduced into the suction portion 10 (suction port 17). A portion of the side brush 40 is exposed from the body 50 in a plan view. The side brush 40 on the right side is fixed to the side brush holder 41 at its root. The bristles of the side brush 40 are inclined in a manner close to the ground with the direction of the front end, and the front end is in contact with the ground.
</p><p> The side brush holder 41 is provided near the bottom surface of the lower case 51, and is coupled to the side brush motor 42 (see Fig. 2). By the driving of the side brush motor 42, the side brush 40 is rotated toward the inner side (in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 3), and the dust is scraped between the left and right guide brushes (L) 45. In addition, the side brush 40 on the left side is also the same.
</p><p>(electric blower 81)
</p><p>The electric blower 81 shown in FIG. 4 has a negative pressure generated by discharging the air in the dust box K to the outside by rotational driving, and sucks the dust from the ground via the suction port 17 (the suction portion 10). Function. As illustrated in Fig. 2, in the present embodiment, the electric blower 81 is disposed at the center of the lower case 51.
near.
</p><p> FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the positional relationship between the suction portion 10 (suction port 17), the dust box K, and the electric blower 81 in the main body 50. As shown in Fig. 7, the dust collecting box K, the dust collecting filter F, the electric blower 81, and the exhaust port 53 (see Fig. 3) are sequentially disposed from the suction port 17 toward the downstream side, and the wind is respectively driven by the wind. Road connection. In the vicinity of the suction port 17, a rotating brush 5 for scraping dust on the ground is provided (see Fig. 3). After the electric blower 81 and the brush motor 21 are driven, dust such as the ground is sucked through the suction port 17 (suction portion 10), and scraped by the rotary brush 5 (refer to FIG. 3). This dust is guided to the dust box K via the inflow port K1. The dust-carrying air in the dust collecting filter F is discharged from the body 50 through the exhaust port 53 (refer to FIG. 3). Further, the dust box K may be attached or detached by opening the cover 93 (refer to FIG. 1) provided in the upper casing 91.
</p><p>(Operation button 97)
</p><p>The operation button 97 is a button for outputting an operation signal to the control device 95 by the user's operation (refer to FIG. 1), for example, a power button, a sweep start/end button, and a change sweep. Mode sweep mode selection button.
</p><p> The rechargeable battery 390 is housed in the battery housing portion 55 (see FIG. 4). The electric power discharged from the rechargeable battery 390 is supplied to the sensor type 96 (refer to FIG. 2), the respective motors, the respective driving devices, and the control device 95.
</p><p>(dust box K)
</p><p>The dust box K is a container for recovering dust sucked from the floor through the suction port 17 (the suction portion 10) (see Fig. 13). The dust box K includes a main body that stores the collected dust, a cover K2 that can take out the collected dust, and a foldable handle K3. The dust collecting box body has a shape in which the lower surface of the dust collecting box 10 has a shape corresponding to the upper portion of the suction portion 10, and an inflow port K1 corresponding to the shape of the suction port 17 is provided at a position facing the suction port 17, and the entire body has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The cover K2 is provided with a dust collecting filter F that faces the suction port of the electric blower. The handle is located on the upper part of the body.
</p><p>[Compression of dust]
</p><p>(Charging station 400)
</p><p> FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the charging stand 400.
</p><p> The charging stand 400 has a terminal 410 that is electrically connected to the contact portion 310 and a convex portion 420 that is protruded upward from the bottom surface of the self-propelled electric sweeper 300. The terminal 410 is located on the convex portion 420. In a state where the contact portion 310 and the terminal 410 are electrically connected, since the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 is carried by the convex portion 420, the rotary brush 5 can be separated from the ground. Thereby, the air can be efficiently taken in by the dust compression operation described below.
</p><p>(The composition of the circuit)
</p><p> FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram of the charging station 400 and the self-propelled electric sweeper 300; FIG. 10 is a dust compression flowchart of the system including the self-propelled electric sweeper 300.
</p><p>The charging station 400 has: a power plug for obtaining a commercial power source, and a power source plug
The DC power supply circuit 420 that converts the power from the source plug into DC power, and the DC power that is used to supply the DC power output from the DC power supply circuit 420 to the terminal 410 of the self-propelled sweeper 300 that is electrically connected to the contact point 310. That is, the DC power supply circuit 420 receives power from a commercial power source and outputs power based thereon.
</p><p>The self-propelled electric sweeper 300 includes a motor drive circuit 320, a charging power supply circuit 330, a diode 350, a first switching mechanism, that is, a switch 360, a control unit 370, a connection detecting circuit 380, and charging. A battery 390 and an electric blower 81 are provided.
</p><p> The rechargeable battery 390 is capable of supplying current to the motor drive circuit 320. The motor drive circuit 320 drives the electric blower 81 with the supplied current.
</p><p> The charging power supply circuit 330 can generate a voltage and a current required for charging based on the DC power supply supplied from the DC power supply circuit 420 via the contact portion 310. The voltage and current required for charging refer to voltages and currents determined in accordance with, for example, a rating of the rechargeable battery 390.
</p><p> The output of the DC power supply circuit 420 flowing through the contact point 310 to the self-propelled sweeper 300, when the switch 360 is ON, after the charging power supply circuit 330 is further converted, passes through the diode 350, and switch 360, are supplied to the rechargeable battery 390. When the electric blower 81 is ON, since the electric blower 81 is burdened with a relatively large load, the output of the charging power supply circuit 330 mainly flows to the motor drive circuit 320 instead of the rechargeable battery 390.
</p><p>Connection detection circuit 380 detects self-propelled electric sweeper 300
The connection to the charging station 400 is communicated to the control mechanism 370.
The self-propelled sweeper 300 has a charging power supply circuit 330, and a connection point 340 between the rechargeable battery 390 and the motor drive circuit 320. Further, the self-propelled sweeper 300 has a diode 350 and a switch 360 sequentially between the charging power supply circuit 330 and the connection point 340 from the position close to the charging power supply circuit 330. The diode 350 is located between the charging power supply circuit 330 and the switch 360, and is positive on the side of the charging power supply circuit 330. That is, the diode 350 passes only the current flowing from the charging power supply circuit 330 to the connection point 340. The switch 360 can switch between opening and shorting with the contact portion 310.
</p><p>After the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 returns to the charging station 400, the connection detecting circuit 380 outputs a connection detecting signal to the control unit 370. When the connection control mechanism 370 is recognized (Yes in step S100), such walking of the sensor connected to the rotating brush motor 21, the traveling motor 57 of the driving wheel 61, the electric blower 81, or the sensor detecting the obstacle ahead is made. One or all of the loads connected to the sensor or the like are stopped (step S110). Thereby, the operation of the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 is controlled or stopped, and the connection with the charging stand 400 is easily maintained. Generally, when the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 returns to the charging stand 400, there are many cases where the energy of the rechargeable battery 390 is small. The self-propelled electric sweeper 300 performs battery residual detection after, for example, stopping the load.
</p><p>The control unit 370 can operate the electric motor for a certain period of time when it is determined that the energy of the battery 390 alone is higher than the normal input to the electric blower 81 based on the battery residual amount. Blower
At 81 o'clock (Yes in step S120), the switch 360 is turned off (step S121), and the electric blower 81 is driven at an input higher than that when the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 is driven (step S130). Thereby, electric power is supplied to the motor drive circuit 320 by the energy of the rechargeable battery 390, and high-speed air can be sent into the dust box K. Thereby, since the dust in the dust box K can be compressed, the interval of the garbage disposal by the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 can be lengthened.
On the other hand, when the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 390 is less than a certain level (referred to as a first threshold or less) (step S120, No), the first threshold is smaller than the first threshold. The threshold value is compared with the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 390 (step S122). When the second threshold is equal to or greater than the second threshold (Yes in step S122), the switch 360 is turned ON (step S123), and the flow proceeds to step S130. The second threshold value can be set to a value that drives the electric blower 81 at a high output by discharging the rechargeable battery 390 while charging the rechargeable battery 390, for example, by charging the output of the charging power supply circuit 330. The above values. In other words, if there is a residual amount equal to or larger than the second threshold value, the compression of the dust can be performed by the output of the rechargeable battery 390 and the charging power supply circuit 330. Further, for example, as in the second embodiment to be described later, the charging power supply circuit 330 can switch to the mode in which the electric power larger than the rated electric power of the rechargeable battery 390 can be switched, and the output of the charging power supply circuit 330 is made larger than that of the rechargeable battery 390. The electric power required for charging is also large, and the electric blower 81 can be driven only by the output of the charging power supply circuit 330.
</p><p>On the other hand, when the residual amount of the rechargeable battery 390 is less than the second
At the threshold (step S122, No), the switch 360 is turned ON (step S124), and the rechargeable battery 390 is temporarily charged to the second threshold or more (step S125, No). When the rechargeable battery 390 is equal to or greater than the second threshold (Yes in step S125), the process proceeds to step S130.
</p><p> When the electric blower 81 is driven for a predetermined time or longer (step S140, Yes), the electric blower 81 is stopped, and the switch 360 is turned ON (step S150). Thereby, the rechargeable battery 390 can be charged.
</p><p> Further, the step S120 may be omitted and the process may proceed to step S121. At this time, the output of the rechargeable battery 390 is added regardless of the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery, and the output of the charging power supply circuit 330 can be supplied to the motor drive circuit 320. If the residual amount of the rechargeable battery 390 is sufficient, the dust can be effectively compressed. On the other hand, when the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 390 is small, the amount of discharge of the rechargeable battery 390 is reduced while the electric blower 81 is driven at a higher input. In other words, the discharge that causes the deterioration of the rechargeable battery 390 can be suppressed, and the electric blower 81 can be driven. That is, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the rechargeable battery 390 while performing the compression of the dust.
In addition, the "input higher than the driving of the self-propelled electric sweeper 300" is, for example, an input when the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 cleans the floor surface. The self-propelled electric sweeper 300 may have different inputs to the electric blower 81 depending on the type of the ground to be cleaned, etc., but may be an input that is larger than the lowest input value, and may be a value higher than this. . For example, a conventional self-propelled electric sweeper can drive electricity when the carpet is removed, with a larger input than when cleaning the floor.
Move the fan. Therefore, these inputs larger than any value can be considered as "higher input than when the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 is driven". The relatively high proportion of the driving time of the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 can be considered as an input of the floor surface, and may be an input larger than this. However, if it is considered to perform more effective dust compression, for example, an input larger than the input of the carpet cleaning may be considered, and the highest input is substantially the same as when the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 is removed from the charging stand 400 or The above values are preferred.
In addition, although the term "charging station 400" is used in the above, this is an example of a charging unit that supplies electric current to the electric sweeper 300, and does not necessarily have to have a "stage" structure. For example, as the charging unit, an electric wire to which one end of the self-propelled electric sweeper 300 is connected to the other end of the commercial power source may be used. Further, even in such a case or the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the electric sweeper 300 may have the DC power supply circuit 420.
</p><p> The electric sweeper 300 and the charging stand 400 do not necessarily have to have other components, and may have anything in a range that does not interfere.
</p><heading level="1"><Embodiment 2>
</heading><p> The configuration of the present embodiment can be the same as that of the first embodiment except for the following points. 11 is a circuit block diagram of the charging station 400 and the self-propelled electric sweeper 300. FIG. 12 is a flow chart of dust compression of the system including the self-propelled electric sweeper 300.
</p><p>The self-propelled electric sweeper 300 of the present embodiment has a first end portion between the diode 350 and the switch 360, a ratio switch 360, and a charge
The electric battery 390 is further connected to the second end portion on the side of the electric blower 81 and the third end portion electrically connected to the motor drive circuit 320, and is a second switch that is electrically connected, that is, a second switch (referred to as a second switch 365). The second switch 365 can be switched: short-circuiting the first end portion and the third end portion, supplying power of the charging power supply circuit 330 to the commercial power source driving mode of the electric blower 81, and short-circuiting the second end portion and the third end portion At least the electric power of the rechargeable battery 390 is supplied to the rechargeable battery driving mode of the electric blower 81. In the case of the rechargeable battery drive mode, even if the switch 360 is turned on, the electric blower 81 can be driven by the electric power of the charging power supply circuit 330.
</p><p> The charging power supply circuit 330 of the present embodiment can output electric power larger than the output in addition to the output of the rated power for charging the rechargeable battery 390. That is, the charging power supply circuit 330 is variably output in response to an instruction from the control unit 370. As such a charging power supply circuit 330, for example, a charging power supply circuit 330 having a boosting circuit or a step-down circuit can be employed. Further, unlike the charging power supply circuit 330, such a function can be realized by providing another circuit (referred to as a motor power supply circuit) that can output power based on the commercial power source.
</p><p> Steps S100 and S110 are the same as in the first embodiment. Thereafter, the control unit 370 sets the power output from the charging power supply circuit 330 (which is another example of the charging power supply circuit 330 and the motor power supply circuit) to be higher than the rated charging power for charging the rechargeable battery 390 ( Step S220). Thereafter, the switch 360 is turned off, and after the second switch 365 is used as the commercial power source drive mode (step S221), the electric blower 81 is turned on with the high input (step S130). In this case, because
By using the output of the charging power supply circuit 330 (which is another example of the charging power supply circuit 330 and the motor power supply circuit), the electric blower 81 can be driven at a high input, and based on the electric power from the commercial power source, the charging battery 390 is not used. The incoming current can also drive the electric blower 81. Therefore, the discharge amount of the rechargeable battery 390 is lowered, and deterioration of the rechargeable battery 390 can be suppressed. Further, since the electric blower 81 can be driven regardless of the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 390, the dust can be compressed immediately after returning from the self-propelled electric sweeper 300.
</p><p>After the compression of the dust is completed (Yes in step S140), the electric blower 81 is turned OFF, and the second switch 365 is set to the rechargeable battery drive mode (step S250). Thereafter, the output of the charging power supply circuit 330 is set to the rated power for charging the rechargeable battery 390, and the switch 360 is turned ON (step S260). Thereby, the rechargeable battery 390 can be charged. If necessary, the switch 360ON is turned on, and the second switch 365 is set to the rechargeable battery drive mode, and may be used as the electric blower 81.
</p><p>The electric sweeper 300 and the charging stand 400 do not necessarily need to have all the components of the present embodiment as they are described in the embodiment, and may have anything in a range that does not interfere. . For example, instead of the control circuit 370 or the addition, the component that is instructed to be output to the charging power supply circuit 330 may be provided in the charging station 400.
</p><p> Further, the first switching mechanism or the second switching mechanism is not limited to a mechanical switch such as a relay, and a semiconductor switching element may be used.
</p></mode-for-invention>