WO2012035895A1 - Electric cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

This electric cleaner is provided with: an electrical fan (6) which is arranged inside a main-body unit (2); a suction-opening body (5), which has a suction port that faces a surface which is being cleaned, and which is connected to the main-body unit (2); a surface-contact detection switch (11) which detects surface-contact made by the suction-opening body (5); and an operating unit (14) which directs the initiation and termination of cleaning operation. A suspension mode is provided wherein, when cleaning operation is initiated, if the suction-opening body (5) is in surface-contact, the electrical fan (6) is driven at a prescribed output, and if the suction-opening body (5) is not in surface-contact, the electrical fan (6) is temporarily stopped and is returned by means of the suction-opening body (5) making surface-contact. During the suspension mode, if the suction-opening body (5) is dislodged from the main-body unit (2) cleaning operation is terminated.

Description

Electric vacuum cleaner

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner that temporarily stops an electric blower when a suction port is separated from a surface to be cleaned.

A conventional vacuum cleaner is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this vacuum cleaner, a control unit and an electric blower are arranged in the main body. The control unit controls each unit including the electric blower. A suction port is connected to the main body via a flexible connection hose and an extension pipe. The suction port body has an air intake opening facing the surface to be cleaned, and is provided with a grounding detection switch for detecting the grounding to the surface to be cleaned. Moreover, the electrode which electrically connects a control part and a grounding detection switch is provided in a connection hose and an extension pipe.

When the cleaning operation is started, the electric blower is driven at a predetermined output, and the dust on the surface to be cleaned is sucked from the intake port. The airflow including dust is collected in the main body through the suction port, the extension pipe, and the connection hose, and the airflow from which the dust is removed is exhausted from the main body. Thereby, the surface to be cleaned can be cleaned.

The vacuum cleaner is provided with a pause mode in which the electric blower is paused when the suction port is moved away from the surface to be cleaned during the cleaning operation. When the suction port is brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned from the temporary stop mode, the electric blower is returned to drive. Thereby, power saving can be achieved.

Also, if the suction port or extension pipe is removed during the cleaning operation, the desk top can be cleaned. At this time, the mounting state of the suction port body or the extension pipe is detected, and the electric blower is driven with an output suitable for a desk or the like. Thereby, the convenience of a vacuum cleaner can be improved.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-63573 (pages 5-7, FIG. 1)

However, according to the conventional vacuum cleaner, the user may misrecognize that the cleaning operation is completed because the electric blower is stopped when the temporary stop mode is entered. At this time, if the suction port and the extension pipe are removed for housing the vacuum cleaner, the electric blower is driven against the user's intention. For this reason, there was a problem that the user felt uncomfortable and the usability of the vacuum cleaner was poor.

This invention aims at providing the vacuum cleaner which can improve usability.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electric blower disposed in a main body, a suction port that is connected to the main body having an intake port facing a surface to be cleaned, and the suction port A grounding detection switch for detecting grounding and an operation unit for instructing start and end of a cleaning operation are provided. When the cleaning operation is started, the electric blower is driven with a predetermined output when the suction port is grounded. In addition, a temporary stop mode is provided in which the electric blower is temporarily stopped when the suction port body is not grounded and returned by the grounding of the suction port body, and the suction port body is provided in the main body during the temporary stop mode. On the other hand, it is characterized in that the cleaning operation ends when it is removed.

According to this configuration, when the start of the cleaning operation is instructed by the operation unit and the ground detection switch detects that the suction port body is grounded, the electric blower is driven with a predetermined output. Thereby, the surface to be cleaned is cleaned. When the operation unit instructs the end of the cleaning operation, the electric blower is stopped and the cleaning operation is ended. Thus, the cleaning operation is not started until an instruction from the operation unit is given. When the grounding detection switch detects that the suction port has been separated from the surface to be cleaned during the cleaning operation, the electric blower is stopped and a transition is made to the temporary stop mode. When the suction port is grounded in the temporary stop mode, the electric blower is driven again with a predetermined output. Moreover, cleaning operation will be complete | finished if a suction inlet is removed with respect to a main-body part at the time of temporary stop mode.

According to the present invention, in the vacuum cleaner having the above-described configuration, the grounding detection switch is provided in the suction port body and includes an electrode that connects the grounding detection switch and the control unit provided in the main body. A first current flows through the electrode when the mouth is grounded, and a second current smaller than the first current flows through the electrode when the suction mouth is not grounded. Yes.

According to this configuration, when the control unit detects that the first current flows to the electrode, the control unit determines that the suction port body is grounded, and drives the electric blower. Moreover, a control part will judge that the suction inlet body is not earth | grounding if it detects that the 2nd electric current flowed into the electrode during cleaning operation, and will stop an electric blower.

According to the present invention, in the electric vacuum cleaner having the above-described configuration, the rotating brush disposed in the air inlet, the brush motor that drives the rotating brush, and the brush motor that are connected in parallel and more resistant than the brush motor. A resistor having a large value, wherein the grounding detection switch is selectively connected to the brush motor and the resistor, and is connected to the brush motor when the suction port is grounded and the suction port. Is connected to the resistor when not grounded.

According to this configuration, when the suction port is grounded to the surface to be cleaned, the grounding detection switch is connected to the brush motor, and a first current corresponding to the resistance value of the brush motor flows to the electrode. When the suction port is separated from the surface to be cleaned, the ground detection switch is connected to the resistor, and a second current smaller than the first current flows through the electrode according to the resistance value of the resistor.

Further, in the electric vacuum cleaner having the above-described configuration, when the suction port body is removed from the main body before the predetermined time has elapsed after the transition to the pause mode, the pause mode is set. The electric blower is released and the electric blower is driven. According to this configuration, when the suction port body is removed from the main body before the predetermined time elapses after the transition to the pause mode, the electric blower is driven while avoiding the end of the cleaning operation.

Further, in the electric vacuum cleaner of the above configuration, the present invention provides a case where the suction port body is removed from the main body when the suction port body is grounded when the cleaning operation is started and the suction port body is When the cleaning operation is started after being removed from the main body, the electric blower is driven with an output lower than the predetermined output. According to this configuration, when the suction port body is removed from the main body before shifting to the temporary stop mode, the electric blower is driven with a low output to clean the desk or the like.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the vacuum cleaner having the above-described configuration, the cleaning operation is terminated when the temporary stop mode continues for a predetermined time.

According to the present invention, when the suction port body is separated from the surface to be cleaned, the electric blower is temporarily stopped and returned to the ground by the suction port body. Finish the cleaning operation. Thus, when the user erroneously recognizes that the cleaning operation has ended when the mode is shifted to the temporary stop mode and the suction port is removed for storing the vacuum cleaner, the stopped state of the electric blower is maintained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable and improve the usability of the vacuum cleaner.

The perspective view which shows the vacuum cleaner of embodiment of this invention The block diagram which shows the vacuum cleaner of embodiment of this invention The circuit diagram of the suction inlet body of the vacuum cleaner of embodiment of this invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the vacuum cleaner of embodiment of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment. The vacuum cleaner 1 includes a main body 2 that houses an electric blower 6 (see FIG. 2). A power cord 8 that can be pulled out and stored is provided on the back surface of the main body 2. The power cord 8 has a power plug 9 at its tip, and is supplied to the main unit 2 by being inserted into a commercial power outlet.

A flexible connection hose 3 is connected to the front surface of the main body 2, and an extension pipe 4 is connected to the tip of the connection hose 3. A suction port body 5 having a suction port (not shown) facing the floor surface is provided at the tip of the extension pipe 4. The extension pipe 4 is provided with a pipe gripping portion 13 and an operation portion 14. The user operates the operation unit 14 to instruct the start and end of the cleaning operation, grips the pipe gripping unit 13, and moves the suction port body 5.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the vacuum cleaner 1. The vacuum cleaner 1 includes a control unit 10 that controls each unit in the main body unit 2. An electric blower 6, a brush motor 7, a ground detection switch 11, an operation unit 14, and a display unit 15 are connected to the control unit 10. The brush motor 7 drives a rotating brush (not shown) disposed at the intake port. The ground detection switch 11 is disposed on the lower surface of the suction port body 5 and detects the grounding of the suction port body 5. The display part 15 consists of LED provided in the operation part 14, and displays the operation state of cleaning operation.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram of the suction port body 5 portion. The suction port body 5 is provided with terminals 5a and 5b. The terminals 5a and 5b are connected to the control unit 10 through electrodes 21 and 22 arranged in the extension pipe 4 and the connection hose 3. A brush motor 7 and a resistor 12 are connected in parallel between the terminals 5a and 5b. The resistance value of the resistor 12 is larger than that of the brush motor 7.

The ground detection switch 11 is alternatively connected to one end of the brush motor 7 and the resistor 12. That is, the ground detection switch 11 is connected to the brush motor 7 when the suction port body 5 is grounded, and is connected to the resistor 12 when the suction port body 5 is separated from the surface to be cleaned.

When the ground detection switch 11 is connected to the brush motor 7, a first current corresponding to the resistance value of the brush motor 7 flows through the electrodes 21 and 22. When the ground detection switch 11 is connected to the resistor 12, a second current smaller than the first current flows through the electrodes 21 and 22 according to the resistance value of the resistor 12. Thereby, the control part 10 can detect the 1st, 2nd electric current, and can detect the grounding state of the suction inlet 5.

In addition, when the suction port body 5 is removed from the extension pipe 4, the current between the electrodes 21 and 22 does not flow because the space between the electrodes 21 and 22 is opened. Thereby, the control part 10 can detect the mounting state of the suction inlet 5. Similarly, when the extension pipe 4 is detached from the connection hose 3 or when the connection hose 3 is detached from the main body 2, no current flows through the electrodes 21 and 22. Thereby, the mounting state with respect to the main-body part 2 of the suction inlet body 5 is detectable.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart showing the operation of the cleaning operation of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 having the above configuration. When the start of the cleaning operation is instructed by the operation unit 14, the flag F indicating the ground contact state of the suction port body 5 is initialized in step # 11. As for the flag F, 0 is substituted in the initial state and the grounding state of the suction port body 5, and 1 is substituted in the non-grounded state of the suction port body 5.

In step # 12, it is determined whether or not the suction port body 5 is attached to the main body 2. If the suction port body 5 is attached to the main body 2, the process proceeds to step # 13. In step # 13, it is determined whether or not the suction port body 5 is grounded. If the suction port body 5 is grounded, the process proceeds to step # 25, and 0 is assigned to the flag F.

In step # 26, the electric blower 6 is driven with a predetermined output, and the brush motor 7 is driven to rotate the rotating brush. At this time, a display indicating normal operation (for example, green lighting) is performed by the display unit 15. Then, the process returns to step # 12. As the electric blower 6 is driven, dust on the surface to be cleaned is sucked from the intake port. The airflow containing dust is collected in the main body 2 through the suction port body 5, the extension pipe 4 and the connection hose 3, and the airflow from which the dust has been removed is exhausted from the main body 2. Thereby, the surface to be cleaned can be cleaned.

If it is determined in step # 13 that the suction port body 5 is not grounded, the process proceeds to step # 14. In step # 14, it is determined whether or not the flag F is 1. If the flag F is 0, the process proceeds to step # 21. In step # 21, 1 indicating that the suction port 5 is separated from the surface to be cleaned is assigned to the flag F.

In Step # 22, the electric blower 6 and the brush motor 7 are shifted to a temporary stop mode. At this time, display indicating the pause mode (for example, red lighting) is performed by the display unit 15. Then, the process returns to step # 12. The temporary stop mode returns to the original state by performing the operations of steps # 25 and # 26 based on the determination of step # 13 by the grounding of the suction port body 5.

If the flag F is 1 in the judgment of step # 14, it has already shifted to the pause mode. In step # 15, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 2 minutes) has elapsed since the transition to the pause mode. If the predetermined time has not elapsed since the transition to the pause mode, the process returns to step # 12. When the predetermined time has elapsed since the transition to the temporary stop mode, the electric blower 6 is stopped and the display unit 15 is turned off to complete the cleaning operation.

If it is determined in step # 12 that the suction port 5 is not attached to the main body 2, that is, if the suction port 5 is detached from the main body 2, the process proceeds to step # 31. In step # 31, it is determined whether the flag F is 1 or not.

If the flag F is 0, the process proceeds to step # 33. That is, when the suction port body 5 is removed from the main body 2 while being grounded during the cleaning operation, or when the cleaning operation is started after the suction port body 5 is detached from the main body portion 2, the process proceeds to step # 33. Transition. In step # 33, the electric blower 6 is driven at a lower output than the above-mentioned step # 26, and the process returns to step # 12. Thereby, cleaning on a desk etc. can be cleaned by low output, and power saving can be achieved.

If the flag F is 1 in step # 31, the process proceeds to step # 32. In step # 32, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed since the transition to the pause mode. When the predetermined time has elapsed since the transition to the temporary stop mode, the electric blower 6 is stopped and the display unit 15 is turned off to complete the cleaning operation. Thereby, when the user mistakenly recognizes the end of the cleaning operation in the pause mode and removes the suction port 5 for storing the electric vacuum cleaner 1, the stopped state of the electric blower 6 is maintained.

If the predetermined time has not elapsed since the transition to the pause mode in Step # 32, the process proceeds to Step # 33. In step # 33, the electric blower 6 is driven with an output lower than that in the above-described step # 26, and the process returns to step # 12. As a result, the pause mode is canceled and the end of the cleaning operation is avoided.

Therefore, cleaning can be performed with the suction port body 5 removed without stopping the electric blower 6 following the cleaning with the suction port body 5 attached. That is, it is selected whether to continue or end the cleaning operation depending on the elapsed time from the transition to the temporary stop mode until the suction port body 5 is removed from the main body 2. Therefore, it can drive | operate as a user's intention and can clean more comfortably.

According to this embodiment, when the suction port body 5 moves away from the surface to be cleaned, the electric blower 6 is temporarily stopped and the suspension mode is restored by the grounding of the suction port body 5. When the is removed from the main body 2, the cleaning operation is terminated. As a result, when the user erroneously recognizes that the cleaning operation has ended and the suction port body 6 is removed for storage of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 when shifting to the temporary stop mode, the stopped state of the electric blower 6 is maintained. Is done. Therefore, a user's uncomfortable feeling can be prevented and the usability of the vacuum cleaner 1 can be improved.

Further, when the suction port body 5 is grounded, a first current flows through the electrodes 21 and 22, and when the suction port body 5 is not grounded, a second current smaller than the first current flows through the electrodes 21 and 22. Therefore, the grounding state of the suction port body 5 can be easily detected. Further, since the second current is small when the suction port body 5 is separated from the surface to be cleaned and cleaning is not performed, power saving can be achieved.

The ground detection switch 11 is connected to the brush motor 7 when the suction port body 5 is grounded, and is connected to the resistor 12 having a higher resistance value than the brush motor 7 when the suction port body 5 is not grounded. The Accordingly, the first and second currents can flow through the electrodes 21 and 22 with a simple configuration, and the grounding state of the suction port body 5 can be easily detected.

In addition, since the suspension mode is canceled when the suction port body 5 is removed from the main body 2 before the predetermined time has elapsed after the transition to the suspension mode, the suction port is stopped without stopping the electric blower 6. The desk etc. can be cleaned continuously from the grounding state of the body 5. Therefore, it can drive | operate as a user's intention and can clean more comfortably.

In addition, when the suction port body 5 is removed from the main body 2 when the cleaning operation is started and the suction port body 5 is grounded, and after the suction port body 5 is removed from the main body portion 2, the cleaning operation is performed. Since the electric blower 6 is driven at a low output when the operation is started, the desk top or the like can be cleaned at a low output to save power.

Also, since the cleaning operation is terminated when the temporary stop mode continues for a predetermined time, further power saving can be achieved.

In the present embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 1 is formed in a canister type in which the suction port body 5 is connected to the main body portion 2 in which the electric blower 6 is housed via the connection hose 3. May be a vertical vacuum cleaner provided integrally.

The present invention can be used for canister type and vertical type vacuum cleaners.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric vacuum cleaner 2 Main-body part 3 Connection hose 4 Extension pipe 5 Suction opening 6 Electric blower 7 Brush motor 10 Control part 11 Grounding detection switch 12 Resistance 13 Grip part 14 Operation part 15 Display part 21, 22 Electrode

Claims (6)

1. An electric blower disposed in the main body, an intake port having an intake port facing the surface to be cleaned and connected to the main unit, a grounding detection switch for detecting grounding of the suction port body, and a cleaning operation When the cleaning operation is started, the electric blower is driven at a predetermined output when the suction port is grounded, and the suction port is not grounded. Sometimes, the electric blower is temporarily stopped and returned to the ground by the suction port body, and the cleaning operation is terminated when the suction port body is removed from the main body in the temporary stop mode. A vacuum cleaner characterized by that.
2. The ground detection switch is provided in the suction port body and has an electrode for connecting the ground detection switch and the control unit provided in the main body, and the electrode is connected to the electrode when the suction port body is grounded. 2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a second current smaller than the first current flows through the electrode when the first current flows and the suction port is not grounded.
3. A rotating brush disposed in the air inlet; a brush motor that drives the rotating brush; and a resistor that is connected in parallel with the brush motor and has a resistance value greater than that of the brush motor. It is alternatively connected to the brush motor and the resistor, and is connected to the brush motor when the suction port is grounded, and is connected to the resistor when the suction port is not grounded The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2.
4. After the transition to the pause mode, when the suction port body is removed from the main body before a predetermined time elapses, the pause mode is canceled and the electric blower is driven. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
5. When cleaning operation is started and the suction port body is grounded, the cleaning port is started when the suction port body is removed from the main body and after the suction port body is removed from the main body. 4. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the electric blower is driven at an output lower than the predetermined output.
6. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cleaning operation is terminated when the temporary stop mode continues for a predetermined time.

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