U.S. patent application number 11/716862 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-20 for electric vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Hitoshi Suzuki.
Application Number | 20070214597 11/716862 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38197734 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070214597 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Suzuki; Hitoshi |
September 20, 2007 |
Electric vacuum cleaner
Abstract
An electric vacuum cleaner, including: a dust separating section
to separate a dust sucked from a suction opening with air; a
dust-collecting chamber to collect the dust separated at the dust
separating section; a light emitting diode D1 to emit a light into
the dust-collecting chamber; a light receiving diode D2 to receive
the light through the dust-collecting chamber; a control device 200
to judge an amount of the dust through the suction opening/or
judging whether or not the dust collected in the dust-collecting
chamber reached to a predetermined amount based on a light
receiving condition of the light receiving device; a display unit
17 to display the amount of the dust judged with the judging device
and a alarm device 1000 to alarm in response with the judging
amount detected by the control device 200.
Inventors: |
Suzuki; Hitoshi; (Kanagawa,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRISHAUF, HOLTZ, GOODMAN & CHICK, PC
220 Fifth Avenue, 16TH Floor
NEW YORK
NY
10001-7708
US
|
Assignee: |
Toshiba Tec Kabushiki
Kaisha
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
38197734 |
Appl. No.: |
11/716862 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/339 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/2842 20130101;
A47L 9/2815 20130101; A47L 9/19 20130101; A47L 9/2857 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/339 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/00 20060101
A47L009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 14, 2006 |
JP |
2006-68898 |
Mar 17, 2006 |
JP |
2006-73826 |
Claims
1. An electric vacuum cleaner, comprising: a dust separating
section to separate dust sucked from a suction opening with air; a
dust-collecting chamber to accumulate the dust separated at the
dust separating section; an light emitting device to emit a light
to the dust-collecting chamber; a light receiving device to receive
the light passing through the dust-collecting chamber; a judging
device to detect an amount of the dust passing through the suction
opening/or judge whether or not the dust accumulated in the
dust-collecting chamber has reached to a predetermined amount based
on a light receiving condition of the light receiving device; and a
display unit to display the amount of the dust detected by the
judging device.
2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the
light receiving device includes: a first light receiving device to
detect the amount of the dust passing through the suction opening;
and a second light receiving device to judge whether or not the
dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber has reached to the
predetermined amount, the first light receiving device being
provided at an upstream side than the second light receiving
device.
3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the
first light receiving device receives a light reflected by the
dust.
4. The electric vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main body; a
dust-collecting container detachably provided on the main body
including: an electric blower to suck dust from a suction opening;
a dust separating section to separate dust sucked from the suction
opening with air; a dust-collecting chamber to accumulate the dust
separated at the dust separating section; a light emitting device
to emit a light to the dust-collecting chamber; a light receiving
device to receive the light through the dust-collecting chamber; a
judging device to judge whether or not the dust accumulated in the
dust-collecting chamber has reached to a predetermined amount based
on a light receiving condition of the light receiving device; an
alarm device to alarm an alarm in accordance with a detected amount
of the dust detected by the judging device.
5. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the
alarm device hop ups the dust-collecting device to alarm.
6. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the
alarm device carries out the alarm when the amount of the dust
accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber is equal to or more than
the predetermined amount, or when the electric blower is switched
on.
7. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the
alarm device carries out the alarm when the amount of the dust
accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber is equal to or more than
the predetermined amount, or when stops an operation of the
electric blower after a predetermined time lapsed.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on and claims the priority from
each of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-68898, filed on Mar.
14, 2006, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-73826, filed on
Mar. 17, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner
provided with a dust separating section for separating sucked dust
from a suction opening to dust and air, and a dust-collecting
chamber for accumulating the dust separated at the dust separating
section.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Conventionally, it is known that an electric vacuum cleaner
includes a hand operational section on which a dust sensor is
provided for detecting dust passing through an air passage (for
reference, see JP-A-H7-322989).
[0006] The electric vacuum cleaner according to JP-A-H7-322989 is
configured to control the electric blower based on an amount of the
dust detected by the dust sensor.
[0007] In such an electric vacuum cleaner, the dust passing through
the air passage is detected by the dust sensor, about whether or
not the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber is full,
i.e. equal to or more than a predetermined amount is determined
based on an input of the electric blower.
[0008] However, in a cyclonic (inertia separation) electric vacuum
cleaner, there is a problem that a suction power is not reduced
even dust is accumulated in a dust-collecting chamber, so that it
is impossible to determine whether or not the dust accumulated in
the dust-collecting chamber has reached to or more than a
predetermined amount by an input of an electric blower.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an electric
vacuum cleaner capable of alarming reliably whether or not dust
accumulated in a dust-collecting chamber has reached to or more
than a predetermined amount and alarming an amount of the dust
through an air passage.
[0010] To accomplish the above object, an electric vacuum cleaner
according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a
dust separating section for separating dust sucked from a suction
opening to dust and air; a dust-collecting chamber for accumulating
the dust separated at the dust separating section; a light emitting
device for emitting a light to the dust-collecting chamber; a light
receiving device for receiving the light passing through the
dust-collecting chamber; a judging device for detecting an amount
of the dust passing through the suction opening/or judging whether
or not the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber has
reached to a predetermined amount based on a light receiving
condition of the light receiving device; and a display unit for
displaying the amount of the dust detected by the judging
device.
[0011] To accomplish the above object, an electric vacuum cleaner
according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises:
a main body; an electric blower for sucking dust from a suction
opening; a dust-collecting container detachably provided in the
main body, which includes a dust separating section for separating
the dust sucked from the suction opening with air, a
dust-collecting chamber for accumulating the dust separated at the
dust separating section; a light emitting device for emitting a
light to the dust-collecting chamber; a light receiving device for
receiving the light passing through the dust-collecting chamber; a
judging device for judging whether or not the dust accumulated in
the dust-collecting chamber has reached to a predetermined amount
based on a light receiving condition of the light receiving device;
and an alarm device for alarming an alarm in accordance with a
detecting value detected by the judging device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outer shape of
an electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating a
structure of a main body of the electric vacuum cleaner illustrated
in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the main body in
which a dust-collecting unit is removed.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an outer shape of
the dust-collecting unit.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the dust-collecting unit
illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an outer shape of
a dust separating unit.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a dust-collecting
container.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the dust-collecting
container illustrated in FIG. 7, as viewed from another
direction.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the
dust-collecting container, with a cover removed.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the dust-collecting
container, as viewed from backward.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating main parts of the
electric vacuum cleaner main body, with the dust-collecting
container removed.
[0023] FIG. 12 is an explanatory view illustrating structures of a
hop up device and a lock device.
[0024] FIG. 13 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a
lock release device.
[0025] FIG. 14 is a block view illustrating a structure of a
control system of the electric vacuum cleaner.
[0026] FIG. 15 is an explanatory view illustrating the hop up
device and the lock device when the dust-collecting container is
hop upped.
[0027] FIG. 16 is an explanatory view illustrating the electric
vacuum cleaner when the dust-collecting container is hop upped.
[0028] FIG. 17 is an explanatory view illustrating a condition of
just before the dust-collecting container is locked.
[0029] FIG. 18 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a
judging device of the electric vacuum cleaner according to a second
embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 19 is a block view illustrating a structure of a
control system of the electric vacuum cleaner according to a second
embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 20 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a
judging device of another example of the electric vacuum cleaner
according to a second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be
explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings
below.
First Embodiment
[0033] An electric vacuum cleaner 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1
includes a main body 11, a dust-collecting hose 12 which is
detachably connected at one end thereof to a connecting port 11A of
the main body 11 and provided at the other end with an operational
tube 13 at hand, an extension tube 14 detachably connected to the
operational tube 13, and a suction body 15 detachably connected to
a leading end of the extension tube 14. Provided on the operational
tube 13 is an operational part 13A which is provided with an
operational switch 13a for stopping after mentioned operation of an
electric blower 24 or a strong and weak switch 13b for setting a
power of the electric blower 24.
[0034] A display unit (display device) 17 is adjacent provided to
the operational part 13A and displays an amount of dust passing
through an air passage.
[0035] The suction body 15 is provided with a suction chamber (not
illustrated) having a suction opening (suction inlet) (not
illustrated) to introduce dust on a bottom surface. The suction
chamber communicates with a suction connecting port 57a of a
dust-collecting unit 50 (see FIG. 6) provided in the main body 11
through the extension tube 14 and the dust-collecting hose 12 and
the connecting port 11A.
[0036] The main body 11 includes a body case 20, the
dust-collecting unit 50 (see FIG. 4) mounted in the body case 20,
and the after mentioned electric blower 24.
[0037] A front side of the body case 20 is as illustrated in FIG. 2
and FIG. 3, provided with a dust-collecting unit chamber 22. A dust
separating unit 400 and a dust-collecting container 410 which are
described hereinafter are detachably disposed in a dust-collecting
unit 22.
[0038] The electric blower 24 is provided in a back side of the
body case 20. A cylindrical connecting passage 25 having a front
opening 25B is provided in a front side (right side in FIG. 2) of
the electric blower 24. A sealing member 27 is attached to the
front opening 25B. Formed in a back wall 25A of the connecting
passage 25 is a connecting opening 25b which communicates with a
suction opening 24A of the electric blower 24.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the dust-collecting unit chamber
22 is provided with a drive gear Ga, and a drive motor Ml to rotate
the drive gear Ga. The dust-collecting unit chamber 22 has a front
side having an inner wall 22a which is provided with a
light-emitting diode (light-emitting device) D1 for emitting an
infrared light.
[0040] The dust-collecting unit 22 is provided with a hop up
mechanism (alarm device) 1000 (see FIG. 11) for hop upping a
dust-collecting part 70 described hereinafter.
[0041] The dust-collecting unit chamber 22 has an upper opening 23
(see FIG. 3) which is hermetically closed by a cover case 21A, 21B,
as illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the dust-collecting
unit 50 includes a dust separating unit 400 and a dust-collecting
container 410.
[0043] The dust separating unit 400 includes a dust separating
section 52 (inertia separating section), a filter part 80 formed
integrally with the dust separating section 52, and the cover case
21A provided on the filter part 80.
[0044] The dust-collecting container 410 includes a dust-collecting
part 70 formed with transparent resin and a cover case 21B provided
on the dust-collecting part 70.
[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the dust separating section 52
includes a separation chamber portion 54 which is formed in a
circular shape by an outer peripheral wall 53, a dust separation
device 55 which has a generally conical shape and is provided in
the separation chamber portion 54 along an axis of the separation
chamber portion 54, a suction air trunk 56 provided in an outer
side of a right side wall 54A of the separation chamber portion 54,
and an air guide tube 57 to guide air from a suction connecting
port 57a (dust suction inlet). The suction connecting port 57a is
configured to communicate with the connecting port 11A of the main
body 11 when the dust separating unit 400 is mounted on the
dust-collecting unit chamber 22.
[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 5, an introduction opening 53A is
formed on an upper portion of the outer peripheral wall 53 of the
separation chamber portion 54 to introduce dust separated from air
into the dust-collecting part 70.
[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the separation chamber portion 54
has the right side wall 54A which is provided with a circular
opening 154A and a sector opening 154B. The dust separation device
55 is attached to the opening 154A and a net filter NF2 (not
illustrated) is attached to the opening 154B. Provided in the right
side wall 54A is a connecting opening 54Aa which is connected to
the air guide tube 57 to communicate the separation chamber portion
54 with the air guide tube 57.
[0048] The dust separation device 55 includes a plurality of frames
55a and a net filter NF1 attached to circumferences of the frames
55a. The suction air trunk 56 communicates with the separation
chamber portion 54 through the opening 154A of the right side wall
54A and the net filter NF1 (see FIG. 5), and with the separation
chamber portion 54 through the net filter NF2 of the opening 154B
of the right side wall 54A (not illustrated).
[0049] The suction passage 56 communicates with a containing case
81 of a filter part 80 mentioned hereinafter, and with a
dust-collecting chamber 73 of a dust-collecting case portion 74 as
described hereinafter through a connecting port 56A formed on a
right side wall portion 156 (see FIG. 6).
[0050] As illustrated by arrow in FIG. 6, the air guide tube 57 is
configured to rotate air introduced from the connecting opening
54Aa of the separation chamber portion 54 into the separation
chamber portion 54 in counterclockwise direction.
[0051] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, the dust-collecting part 70
includes a communication case portion 72 having a communication
passage 71 which is provided in an upper portion of the
communication case portion 72 extending rightward and leftward, and
the dust-collecting case portion 74 which extends from a right end
portion of the communication case portion 72 downwardly and forms
the dust-collecting chamber 73 to collect the dust. As illustrated
in FIG. 8, a lower surface of a bottom wall 72T of the
communication case portion 72 is provided with a first rib 72R
projecting downward and a second rib 72M extending downward, the
second rib 72M is provided with an engaging part 72Ma projecting
rightward on its lower part, as illustrated in FIG. 12.
[0052] An opening 72A is provided on a lower surface of a left side
of the communication case portion 72 as illustrated in FIG. 5 and
FIG. 8, and the opening 72A is communicated with the introduction
opening 53A of the dust separating section 52, as illustrated in
FIG. 5. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the dust-collecting
case portion 74 has a left side wall 74A which is provided with a
connecting opening 75. The connecting opening 75 is provided with a
net filter NF3.
[0053] A cover plate 170 is attached to an outer wall portion of
the dust-collecting case portion 74 in an outer side of the net
filter NF3 and at a potion remote from the net filter NF3 a
predetermined interval. An opening 170A is formed in a lower
portion of the cover plate 170 (see FIG. 8).
[0054] The opening 170A of the cover plate 170 is connected to the
connecting opening 56A of the suction air trunk 56, as illustrated
in FIG. 5.
[0055] An opening 76 is provided on a right side surface of the
dust-collecting case portion 74, as illustrated in FIG. 9. A cover
plate 77 is attached to the opening 76 which is capable of opening
and closing thereof (see FIG. 7). The cover plate 77 is configured
to open and close by rotating the cover plate 77 about a shaft
77J.
[0056] When the dust-collecting container 410 is mounted in the
dust-collecting unit chamber 22 of the main body 11 in which the
dust separating unit 400 is mounted, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the
introduction opening 53A of the dust separating section 52 is
connected to the opening 72A of the dust-collecting container 410,
and the opening 170A of the cover plate 170 of the dust-collecting
container 410 is connected to the connecting opening 56A of the
suction air trunk 56 of the dust separating unit 400.
[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the filter part 80 includes a
cylindrical containing case 81 having a back surface which is
opened, a pleated filter structure 100 (secondary filter) rotatably
provided in the containing case 81. The dust separating section 52
is formed on a front surface of a front wall portion 84 of the
containing case 81 integrally (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 6).
[0058] Formed in the front wall portion 84 of the containing case
81 is a connecting opening 84A. The connecting opening 84A is
connected to the suction air trunk 56 (see FIG. 5). The suction air
trunk 56 communicates with the containing case 81 through the
connecting opening 84A.
[0059] An edge part of the connecting opening 84A of the front wall
portion 84 is provided with a projection T (see FIG. 2) which
projecting towards to the pleated filter structure 100. An end part
of the projection is configured to contact with after mentioned a
mountain part of a pleated filter 104. In addition, a front surface
of the front wall portion 84 is provided with a light-receiving
diode (light receiving device: first light-receiving part) D2 (see
FIG. 6).
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the pleated filter structure 100
includes a cylindrical frame 101, a shaft 101A provided at a
central position of the cylindrical frame 101, the pleated filter
104 to form pleats radially extending from the shaft 101A.
[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a shaft 84J provided on the front
wall portion 84 is relatively and rotatably inserted in a hole
101Aa of the shaft portion 101A, and the pleated filter structure
100 is configured to be rotated about the shaft 84J in the
containing case 81.
[0062] A back end surface of the frame 101 is provided with a gear
107 which projects outwardly from the containing case 81, and is
engaged with a drive gear Ga of the dust-collecting unit chamber 22
of the main body 11. The pleated filter structure 100 is rotated in
the containing case 81 by the driving of the motor M1.
[0063] When the dust separating unit 400 is mounted in the
dust-collecting unit chamber 22 of the main body 11, through the
seal member 27, the back end surface of the containing case 81 of
the dust separating unit 400 is jointed to the front opening 25B of
the connecting passage 25 of the main body 11 to communicate the
suction opening 24A of the electric blower 24 and the containing
case 81 through the connecting passage 25.
[0064] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the light-emitting diode D1 is
configured to emit the infrared light toward the dust-collecting
case portion 74 of the dust-collecting part 70 of the dust
separating unit 400 which is mounted in the dust-collecting unit
22, and pass through the dust-collecting container 74 along a level
of a dust disposal line L1 (see FIG. 7) of the dust-collecting
chamber 73. The infrared light passed through the dust-collecting
case portion 74 is configured to be received by the light-receiving
diode D2 of the front wall portion 84 of the dust separating unit
400. The light-emitting diode D1 and light-receiving diode D2A form
a dust detecting device 1500 (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 7).
[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the hop up mechanism (alarm
device) 1000 includes a hop up device 1100 for hop upping the
dust-collecting container 410, a lock device 1200 for fixing the
dust-collecting container 410 to a mounting position, and a
releasing device 1300 for releasing a lock of the lock device
1200.
[0066] The hop up device 1100 includes a cylindrical guide case
1101 which is provided on an upper wall surface of the air guide
tube 57 of the dust separating unit 400 extending upwardly and
downwardly and has a square-tube cross section, a moving board 1102
which is provided in the guide case 1101 movably seesaw, a spring
1103 which is disposed in the guide case 1101 and for biases the
moving board 1102 upwardly. The hop up device 1100 is configured to
hop up the dust-collecting container 410 by moving the moving board
1102 upwardly by a biasing force of the spring 1103.
[0067] The guide case 1101 includes an upper end board 1104 which
is provided with a notch 1105. A notch 1107 is formed on a side
wall 1106 of the guide case 1101 extending upwardly and downwardly
and continuing to the notch 1105.
[0068] The lock device 1200 includes an arm 1201 which is rotatably
provided on an outer surface of the air guide tube 57 and extends
upwardly, and a spring (not illustrated) biasing the arm 1201 in a
counterclockwise direction. The arm 1201 has an upper part which is
provided with an engaging claw 1202. The dust-collecting part 70
has the second rib 72M having an engaging part 72Ma. The engaging
claw 1202 is engaged with the engaging part 72Ma to lock the
dust-collecting container 410, as illustrated in FIG. 12. The
engaging claw 1202 has an upper surface which is formed like
circular arc. The arm 1201 is not to be rotated in the
counterclockwise direction from a position illustrated in FIG. 12
by the stopper 1204.
[0069] When the dust-collecting container 410 is pushed from the
opening 23 of the main body 11 into the dust-collecting unit
chamber 22, the first rib 72R of the dust-collecting part 70 of the
dust-collecting container 410 is entered into the notches 1105,
1107 of the guide case 1101, and the moving board 1102 is pushed
downwardly against the biasing force of the spring 1103, as
illustrated in FIG. 17. Then, when the dust-collecting container
410 is pushed further, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the engaging claw
1202 of the arm 1201 is engaged with the engaging part 72Ma of the
second rib 72M to lock the dust-collecting container 410.
[0070] The releasing device 1300 includes a sliding member 1301
which is movably provided on the upper surface of the air guide
tube 57 in an anteroposterior direction (horizontal direction in
FIG. 11), a motor M2 arranged on the front part of the main body 11
and provided on an under side of an upper cover-case 11D, as
illustrated in FIG. 11 and FIG. 13, and an arm member 1302 which is
provided on a driving shaft of the motor M2.
[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the sliding member 1301 includes
a pair of guide hole 1303 which extend backward and forward. A
guide pin 1304 disposed on the upper surface of the air guide tube
57 is inserted into the guide hole 1303. By the guide pin 1304
moving relatively along the guide hole 1303, thereby the sliding
member 1301 is guided in the forward and backward direction. The
sliding member 1301 has a back end which is contacted with the
front part of the engaging claw 1202 of the arm 1201 as illustrated
in FIG. 12. In addition, an abutting part 1301A is formed on the
end part of the sliding member 1301.
[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the arm member 1302 is formed in
L shape, and has an end part 1302A which is contacted with the
abutting part 1301A of the slide member 1301. The arm member 1302
has an end part which is provided with a shaft receiving part 1302B
mounted on the driving shaft M2a of the motor M2.
[0073] When the motor M2T is driven, the arm member 1302 is rotated
in a clockwise direction illustrating in FIG. 11, and the slide
member 1301 is moved backwardly (rightward in FIG. 11). By the
backward movement of the slide member 1301, the engaging claw 1202
of the arm 1201 is released from the engaging part 72Ma of the
second rib 72M of the dust-collecting part 70 and the lock of the
dust-collecting part 70 is released.
[0074] FIG. 14 is a block view illustrating a structure of a
control system of the electric vacuum cleaner. In FIG. 14,
reference number 200 presents a control device (judging device)
which controls the electric blower 24 or the motors M1, M2, based
on operation of the operational switches 13a (see FIG. 1) of the
operational part 13A or a light receiving signal of the light
receiving diode. In addition, the control device 200 detects an
amount of the dust passing through the communication case portion
72 of the dust-collecting part 70 based on a light receiving
condition of the light receiving diode D2 and displays the amount
of the dust on the display unit 17.
[0075] The control device 200 detects the amount of the dust
accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber 73 based on a light
receiving amount of the light receiving diode D2, when the amount
of the dust reaches to the dust disposal line L1, the motor M2 is
driven, and then hop ups the dust-collecting part 70.
[Operation]
[0076] Next, operation of the electric vacuum cleaner structured as
mentioned above will be explained.
[0077] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the dust-collecting unit 50 is
mounted in the dust-collecting unit chamber 22 of the main body 11,
and as illustrated in FIG. 1, one end of the dust-collecting hose
12 is connected to the connection port 11A of the main body 11 and
the operational tube 13 is connected to the suction body 15 through
the extension tube 14.
[0078] The light emitting diode D1 is emitted by the control device
200 when a power plug (not illustrated) is connected to an outlet.
The infrared light emitted from the light emitting diode D1 is
received by the light receiving diode D2.
[0079] The electric blower 24 is driven when the operational switch
13b of the operational part 13A of the operational tube 13 is
operated. By the driving of the electric blower 24, air is sucked
from the suction opening 24A of the electric blower 24 to generate
a negative pressure in the containing case 81 of the
dust-collecting unit 50 through the connecting passage 25 and in
the dust-collecting case portion 74 and the suction chamber portion
54 of the dust separating section 52 through the suction passage
portion 56. The negative pressure acts in the dust-collecting hose
12, the extension tube 14 and the suction body 15 through the air
guide tube 57, thereby the dust together with air are sucked into
the suction body 15.
[0080] The sucked dust and air are sucked into the suction
connecting port 57a of the dust-collecting unit 50 through the
extension tube 14 and the dust-collecting hose 12. The dust and air
sucked into the suction connecting port 57a are guided into the
separation chamber portion 54 of the dust separating section 52
through the air guide tube 57 and rotated counterclockwise in the
separation chamber portion 54, as illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0081] This rotation causes the dust and air to be separated by
inertia, the separated air passes through the net filter NF1 (see
FIG. 5) of the dust separation device 55 and the net filter NF2 of
the opening 154B (not illustrated) and further passes through the
suction passage portion 56, and is sucked into the containing case
81 of the filter part 80.
[0082] On the other hand, the separated dust together with a part
of air passing through the introduction opening 53A of the
separation chamber portion 54 and it is introduced into the
communicating case portion 72 of the dust-collecting part 70 by
inertia. The introduced dust and air are sucked into the
dust-collecting chamber 73 through the communication passage 71 of
the communicating case portion 72, and the dust is collected in the
dust-collecting chamber 73.
[0083] The air sucked into the dust-collecting chamber 73 is sucked
into the suction passage portion 56 through the net filter NF3 and
the opening 170A of the lower portion of the cover plate 170, and
further into the containing case 81 of the filter part 80.
[0084] The air sucked into the containing case 81 is sucked into
the connecting passage 25 of the main body 11 through the pleated
filter 104 of the pleated filter structure 100, further into the
suction opening 24A of the electric blower 24.
[0085] The air sucked into the suction opening 24A of the electric
blower 24 is exhausted from an exhaust port 20H of the main body 11
illustrated in FIG. 2 through the electric blower 24.
[0086] On the other hand, when the dust is collected into the
dust-collecting chamber 73, the dust shields the infrared light
which is received by the light receiving diode D2, thereby the
infrared light is intermittently received by the light receiving
diode D2. When the dust collected in the dust-collecting chamber 73
is accumulated and reaches to the dust disposal line L1, the light
receiving diode D2 does not receive the infrared light since the
dust shields the infrared light continually.
[0087] The control device 200 calculates the amount of the dust
passing through the communication passage 71 which is in the
communication case portion 72 of the dust-collecting part 70, i.e.
the amount of the dust passing through the suction connecting port
(dust suction port) 57a based on the light receiving condition of
the light receiving diode D2 and displays the amount on the display
unit 17 of the operational tube 13. Here, within a predetermined
time, the amount of the passed dust is calculated based on a total
of shielding time during which the light receiving diode D2 is
shielded. That it to say, the control device 200 judges that the
amount of the passed dust will be big if a totaled shielding time
is long and the amount of the passed dust will be small if a
totaled shielding time is short in the predetermined time, and then
displays the amount of passed dust on the display unit 17.
[0088] Whether or not a subject surface which is being cleaned is
still dirty or not, i.e. whether or not the dust is still attached
to the subject surface are judged, by displaying the amount of the
passed dust on the display unit 17.
[0089] When the dust passing through the communication passage 71
of the dust-collecting portion 70 is collected in the
dust-collecting chamber 73 and the dust accumulated in the
dust-collecting chamber 73 reaches to the dust disposal line L1,
the dust shields the infrared light continuously, thereby the light
receiving diode D2 does not receive the infrared light.
[0090] When the light receiving diode D2 does not receive the
infrared light more than the predetermined time continuously, the
control device 200 judges that the dust accumulated in the
dust-collecting chamber 73 has reached to the predetermined amount,
i.e. the dust disposal line L1. That it to say, the control device
200 detects whether or not the amount of the dust accumulated in
the dust-collecting chamber 73 has reached to the predetermined
amount.
[0091] Like this, the control device 200 is configured to detect
the amount of the dust passing through the communication passage 71
of the dust-collecting portion 70 and judge whether or not the dust
accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber 73 has reached to the
predetermined amount, based on the light receiving condition of the
one light receiving diode D2. Thereby, it is capable of providing a
cheaper electric vacuum cleaner without individual special light
receiving diode.
[0092] When the operational switch 13a of the operational part 13A
is operated, the control device 200 drives the motor M2 of the hop
up mechanism 1000 for a predetermined time only, and stops the
driving of the electric blower 24. By the driving of the motor M2,
the arm member 1302 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the
FIG. 11, the slide member 1301 is moved backwardly from a position
illustrated in FIG. 12, and the engaging claw 1202 of the arm 1201
is pushed backwardly. Thereby, the arm 1201 is rotated in the
clockwise direction against a biasing force of a spring not shown,
the engaging claw 1202 of the arm 1201 is released from the
engaging part 72Ma of the second rib 72M of the dust-collecting
part 70, and the lock of the dust-collecting container 410 is
released.
[0093] When the lock is released, the moving board 1102 in the
guide case 1101 is moved upwardly by a biasing force of the spring
1103, and as illustrated in FIG. 15, the first rib 72R is pushed
upwardly with the dust-collecting container 410. That it to say,
the dust-collecting container 410 is hop upped, as illustrated in
FIG. 16. By the hop up, the user knows that in the dust-collecting
chamber 73 of the dust-collecting container 410 the dust is
accumulated to the level of the dust disposal line L1 (see FIG. 7),
and is capable of dumping the dust accumulated in the
dust-collecting chamber 73 quickly, and thus it is possible to
prevent that the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber 73
is filled over.
[0094] After the amount of the dust accumulated in the
dust-collecting chamber 73 has reached to the level of the dust
disposal line L1, or the operational switches 13a of the
operational part 13A is not operated even a preliminarily set time
(a predetermined time) lapsed, the control device 2000 stops the
driving of the electric blower 24 forcibly and drives the motor M2
to hop up the dust-collecting container 410.
[0095] Consequently, even the operational switches 13a of the
operational part 13A is not operated, it is possible to prevent
that the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber 73 is
filled over.
[0096] However, when the driving of the electric blower 24 is
stopped, the motor M1 is driven in a specified time. By the driving
of the motor M1, the driving gear Ga is rotated, and the pleated
filter structure 100 is rotated.
[0097] By the rotation of the pleated filter structure 100, the
protrusion T (see FIG. 2) provided on the front wall portion 84 of
the dust separating unit 400 is in contact with the mountain
portion of the pleated filter 104, to give vibrations to the
pleated filter 104, thereby to remove the dust attached to the
pleated filter 104.
[0098] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the alarm is carried out
by hop upping the dust-collecting container 410, to alarm that the
dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber 73 has reached to
the level of the dust disposal line L1. However, the present
invention is not limited to those embodiments. For example, the
alarm can be carried out by ringing a buzzer or lighting a
lamp.
[0099] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the alarm is
carried out when the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting
chamber 73 has reached to the level of the dust disposal line L1,
however it is possible to arrange a plurality of light receiving
diodes upwardly and downwardly to judge an amount of the dust
accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber 73, and carry out an
alarm corresponding to the amount thereof. Further, in the
above-mentioned embodiment, the electric vacuum cleaner separates
the dust by inertia. However, it is not limited to this embodiment,
it can be a type of trapping the dust with the filter or a type of
sucking the dust into the dust-collecting chamber 73 directly
without passing through the separating section.
Second Embodiment
[0100] Next, a second embodiment of the electric vacuum cleaner
according to the present invention will be described.
[0101] FIG. 18 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a
judging device 1600 of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the
second embodiment. In FIG. 18, a light emitting device 1601
includes a light emitting diode D1 for emitting an infrared light
to the communication case portion 72 and the dust-collecting
chamber 73 of the dust-collecting part 70, and a projecting lens
DL1 and so on. The infrared light emitted from the light emitting
device 1601 passes through a region illustrated by a dashed line,
and passes through the dust-collecting container portion 74 along
the level of the dust disposal line L1 (see FIG. 7) of the
dust-collecting chamber 73.
[0102] A light receiving device 1602 receives the infrared light
passed through the communication case portion 72. The light
receiving device 1602 includes a light receiving diode (a first
light receiving device) D3 and a collecting lens DL3, and so on. A
light receiving device 1603 receives the infrared light passed
through the communication case portion 73. The light receiving
device 1603 includes a light receiving diode (the second light
receiving device) D4 and a collecting lens DL4, and so on. The
light receiving device 1602 is then disposed on an upstream side
than the light receiving device 1603.
[0103] FIG. 19 is a block view illustrating a structure of a
control system of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the
second embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the control device
210 calculates the amount of the dust passing through the
communication case portion 72 based on the light receiving
condition of the light receiving device 1602 and displays the
amount on the display unit 17. In addition, the control device 210
judges that the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber 73
reached to the position of the dust disposal line L1, and then
drives the motor M2.
[0104] According to the second embodiment, even the dust
accumulated has reached to the position of the dust disposal line
L1 of the dust-collecting chamber 73, it is possible to calculate
the amount of the dust passing through the communication case
portion 72, and since the light emitting device 1601 is provided
only one, the judging device 1600 is made cheaper.
[0105] FIG. 20 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a
judging device 1610 of another example of the electric vacuum
cleaner according to the second embodiment. In the embodiment, the
light receiving device 1602 is configured to receive an infrared
light which is reflected by the dust passing through the
communication case portion 72. According to the embodiment, it is
possible to detect the dust passing through the communication case
portion 72 in a broad range. In the embodiment, also the light
receiving device 1602 is disposed on the upstream side than the
light receiving device 1603.
[0106] According to the invention, even the electric vacuum cleaner
is of the inertia separation type, it is possible to alarm
certainly that whether or not the dust accumulated in the
dust-collecting chamber 73 is reached to or more than the
predetermined amount, and also to inform the amount of the dust
passing through the dust suction inlet.
[0107] According to the invention, since the alarm device alarms
corresponding to the detected amount of the dust accumulated in the
dust-collecting chamber 73, it is possible to prevent that the dust
accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber 73 is filled over.
[0108] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been mentioned, the present invention is not limited to these
embodiments, various modifications and changes can be made to the
embodiments.
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