U.S. patent application number 11/601510 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Dong-yun Lee.
Application Number | 20080000044 11/601510 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38875102 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080000044 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Dong-yun |
January 3, 2008 |
Vacuum cleaner
Abstract
Provided is a vacuum cleaner which comprises: a cleaner body
formed with a mounting space; a vacuum motor mounted in the cleaner
body to produce suction force; a brush assembly connected to the
cleaner body; a dust collection device mounted in the mounting
space and having a dust collection bin; and a lifting/lowering unit
for lifting or lowering the dust collection bin in relation to the
cleaner body, so that the dust collection bin is anchored in the
mounting space or removed from the mounting space, wherein the
lifting/lowering unit is mounted on the outer bottom surface of the
dust collection bin so that it can be mounted in the mounting space
or removed from the mounting space along with the dust collection
bin. As a result, it is possible to prevent the leakage of
discharge air and to reduce the pollution and malfunction of the
lifting/lowering unit.
Inventors: |
Lee; Dong-yun;
(Gwangju-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul D. Greeley;Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, L.L.P.
10th Floor, One Landmark Square
Stamford
CT
06901-2682
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
38875102 |
Appl. No.: |
11/601510 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/352 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/1691
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/352 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/10 20060101
A47L009/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 30, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0061069 |
Claims
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body formed with a
mounting space; a vacuum motor mounted in the cleaner body to
produce suction force; a brush assembly connected to the cleaner
body; a dust collection device mounted in the mounting space and
having a dust collection bin; and a lifting/lowering unit for
lifting or lowering the dust collection bin in relation to the
cleaner body so that the dust collection bin is anchored in the
mounting space or removed from the mounting space, respectively,
wherein the lifting/lowering unit is mounted on an outer bottom
surface of the dust collection bin so that it can be mounted in the
mounting space or removed from the mounting space along with the
dust collection bin.
2. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer
bottom surface of the dust collection bin is formed with a recess,
and the lifting/lowering unit is fitted in the recess.
3. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
lifting/lowering unit comprises: a lifting/lowering control member
fitted in the recess; and a plurality of cam guides which are
provided on the lifting/lowering control member and the outer
bottom surface of the dust collection bin, respectively, upon
rotation of the lifting/lowering control member.
4. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
lifting/lowering control member comprises a lever part capable of
being gripped by a hand and a body part integrally formed with the
lever part.
5. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality
of cam guides comprises first and second cam guides projecting from
the outer bottom surface of the dust collection bin, and third and
fourth cam guides projecting from the body part in such a manner as
to be engaged with the first and second cam guides.
6. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality
of cam guides further comprises a fifth cam guide projecting from
the outer bottom surface of the dust collection bin in such a
manner as to come into contact with the lever part, thereby
separating the lever part from the outer bottom surface of the dust
collection bin.
7. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer
bottom surface of the dust collection bin includes an air outlet
port formed therethrough and the body part of the lifting/lowering
unit includes a bore formed therein, so that air purified in the
dust collection device is introduced into a motor chamber, within
which the vacuum motor is installed, via the air outlet and the
bore.
8. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a
discharge flow passage within the cleaner body for communicating
between a motor chamber, within which the vacuum motor is
installed, and a cyclone cylinder of the dust collection device in
order to discharge air to the motor chamber.
9. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the dust
collection bin comprises a cylindrical rotary shaft extending from
the outer bottom surface of the dust collection bin.
10. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9, wherein the body part
of the lifting/lowering control member comprises a cylinder into
which the cylindrical rotary shaft can be inserted so as to center
the lifting/lowering control member when the lifting/lowering
control member is rotated.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C .sctn.119(a)
from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0061069 filed Jun. 30,
2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner for
cleaning a surface, and more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner
having a lifting/lowering unit for use in mounting a dirt
collection bin on a cleaner body or removing the dirt collection
bin from the cleaner body.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a vacuum cleaner is an appliance for suctioning
dust-contained in air, removing dust from the air, and discharging
dust-free air, wherein such a vacuum cleaner comprises a cleaner
body and a dust collection device mounted in a mounting space
formed on the cleaner body. The dust collection device comprises a
dust collection bin for temporarily storing filtered dust, wherein
in order to receive filtered dust, the dust collection bin should
be fixed to the mounting space in the vacuum cleaner in such a
manner that the dust collection bin is neither shaken nor released,
and when the dust fills the dust collection bin to some extent, the
dust collection bin should be removed from the mounting space so as
to throw away the collected dust.
[0006] In particular, an upright type vacuum cleaner employs a
lifting/lowering unit for use in lifting or lowering a dust
collection bin within a mounting space so as to mount or remove the
dust collection bin. Such a lifting/lowering unit is mounted on the
bottom wall of the mounting space formed on the cleaner body so
that when the lifting/lowering unit is lifted from the bottom of
the mounting space, it pushes the dust collection bin upward,
thereby making the dust collection bin come into close contact with
a cyclone cylinder so as to fix the dust collection bin in such a
manner as to be unmovable, or when the lifting/lowering unit is
lowered and thus returned to its original position, the dust
collection bin is spaced from the cyclone cylinder.
[0007] The publication of Korean Patent No. 433407 owned by the
applicant also discloses a vacuum cleaner, wherein a
lifting/lowering unit is installed on the bottom wall of a mounting
space for receiving a dust collection device, the mounting space
being formed on the cleaner body of the vacuum cleaner, and a dust
collection bin, which is laid on the top of the lifting/lowering
unit, comes into close contact with the cyclone cylinder or is
spaced from the cyclone cylinder as a lever part is rotated left or
right. However, because an air tubing, which is provided within the
vacuum cleaner, and through which air from the cyclone cylinder is
discharged, is curved toward the cleaner body of the vacuum
cleaner, the flow passage for discharge air is increased, which
results in a pressure loss. In addition, the cyclone cylinder is
mounted in the mounting space and only the dust collection bin is
removable. Therefore, there was a disadvantage in that when the
dust collection bin is removed, dust or the like deposited on the
inner wall of the cyclone cylinder drops, thereby causing the
pollution or even the malfunction of the lifting/lowering unit and
reducing the lifetime of the lifting/lowering unit.
[0008] The publication of Korean Patent No. 471142 also owned by
the applicant also discloses a vacuum cleaner in which air
discharged from a cyclone chamber is adapted to be discharged
through the bottom wall of a dust collection bin so as to reduce
the length of tubing for use in discharging air from the cyclone
chamber, as a result of which the loss of pressure in the tubing
can be reduced. However, with such a construction, it was difficult
to apply a lifting/lowering unit for lifting and lowering the dust
collection bin due to the leakage of air between the dust
collection bin and the body of the vacuum cleaner, for which
problem researches have been continuously made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure are to
address at least the above problems. Therefore, an aspect of the
present disclosure is to provide a vacuum cleaner, which can reduce
the pressure loss in a flow passage of discharge air as well as
suppress the leakage of discharge air occurring in a
lifting/lowering unit interposed between a dust collection bin and
a cleaner body.
[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a
vacuum cleaner, which can reduce the pollution of a
lifting/lowering unit, thereby reducing the malfunction of the
lifting/lowering unit, as well as increasing the lifetime of the
lifting/lowering unit.
[0011] To achieve the above-described object, there is provided a
vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body formed with a mounting
space; a vacuum motor mounted in the cleaner body to produce
suction force; a brush assembly connected to the cleaner body; a
dust collection device mounted in the mounting space and having a
dust collection bin; and a lifting/lowering unit for lifting or
lowering the dust collection bin in relation to the cleaner body,
so that the dust collection bin is anchored in the mounting space
or removed from the mounting space, wherein the lifting/lowering
unit is mounted on the outer bottom surface of the dust collection
bin so that it can be mounted in the mounting space or removed from
the mounting space along with the dust collection bin.
[0012] With this arrangement, because the lifting/lowering unit is
mounted on the outer bottom surface of the dust collection bin,
when it moves downward, the dust collection bin comes into close
contact with the cyclone cylinder, and when it moves upward to its
original position (toward the outer bottom surface of the dust
collection bin), the cyclone cylinder and the dust collection bin
are spaced from each other. As a result, the leakage of discharge
air can be effectively prevented. In addition, because the
lifting/lowering unit mounted on the outer bottom surface of the
dust collection bin, the lifting/lowering unit can be removed along
with the dust collection bin when the dust collection bin is
removed. As a result, the pollution of the lifting/lowering unit
and the malfunction of the lifting/lowering unit caused by the
pollution can be avoided or at least reduced.
[0013] Here, it is preferable that the outer bottom surface of the
dust collection bin is formed with a recess and the
lifting/lowering unit is fitted in the recess.
[0014] In addition, the lifting/lowering unit may comprise: a
lifting/lowering control member fitted in the recess; and a
plurality of cam guides which are provided on the lifting/lowering
control member and the outer bottom surface of the dust collection
bin, respectively. The lifting/lowering control member may comprise
a lever part capable of being gripped by a hand, and a body part
integrally formed with the lever part. The cam guides may comprise
first and second cam guides projecting from the outer bottom
surface of the dust collection bin, and third and fourth cam guides
projecting from the body part in such a manner as to be engaged
with the first and second cam guides.
[0015] In addition, the cam guides may further comprise a fifth cam
guide projecting from the outer bottom surface of the dust
collection bin in such a manner as to come into contact with the
lever part, thereby separating the lever part from the outer bottom
surface of the dust collection bin.
[0016] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
an air outlet port is formed through the bottom wall of the dust
collection bin and a bore is formed in the lifting/lowering unit,
so that air purified in the dust collection device is introduced
into a motor chamber, within which the vacuum motor is installed,
via the air outlet port and the bore.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The above aspects and features of the present disclosure
will be more apparent by describing certain embodiments of the
present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vacuum cleaner
according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a body part of FIG.
1;
[0020] FIG. 3 shows the dust collection bin and the
lifting/lowering unit of FIG. 1 in an assembled state;
[0021] FIG. 4 shows the dust collection bin and the
lifting/lowering unit of FIG. 1 in a disassembled state;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a lifting/lowering
control member, which is viewed from the lower side thereof;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the lifting/lowering
control member, which is viewed from the upper side thereof;
[0024] FIGS. 7 to 9 show the operation of a screw member inserted
into a recess in a state in which the lever part is not
rotated;
[0025] FIG. 10 shows a vacuum cleaner according to a second
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the bottom side of the
dust collection bin of FIG. 10; and
[0027] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lifting/lowering
control member, which is viewed from the upper side thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be
described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings. In the
drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference
numerals throughout the drawings. In the following description,
detailed descriptions of known functions and configurations
incorporated herein have been omitted for conciseness and
clarity.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vacuum cleaner according to
a first embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a cleaner
body 10, a dust collection device 20, and a lifting/lowering unit
30.
[0030] The cleaner body 10 has a handle 15 formed at the top end of
the cleaner body I 0 to be capable of being gripped by a user, and
a brush assembly 13 for suctioning dust from the outside of the
cleaner body 10 is connected to the bottom end of the cleaner body
10.
[0031] The dust collection device 20 includes a cyclone cylinder 21
fixedly installed in a mounting space formed on the cleaner body
10, the cyclone cylinder 21 suctioning external air and separating
dust from the suctioned air, and a dust collection bin 23 mounted
to be in close contact with the bottom end of the cyclone cylinder
21 so as to collect dust separated in the cyclone cylinder 2 1. The
dust collection bin 23 can be spaced from the cyclone cylinder 21,
which is fixedly installed on the cleaner body 10. From the front
face of the dust collection bin 23, gripping knobs 24 are projected
so that the duct collection bin can be gripped by the user. At the
center of the dust collection bin 23, there is provided an outlet
tube 40, through which air is discharged from the cyclone cylinder
21, and at the central area of the bottom wall of the dust
collection bin 23, there is provided an outlet port 27, through
which the air passing the outlet tube 40 is discharged to the
outside.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, on the outer bottom surface of
the dust collection bin 23, there are provided a first recess 23a
formed at the central area of the outer bottom surface in such a
manner as to be capable of receiving a body part 25a of a
lifting/lowering control member 25, and a second recess 23b formed
in a fan shape on the outer bottom surface and connected to the
first recess 23a, the second recess 23b cooperating with a lever
part 25b, which is formed on the lifting/lowering member 25, in
such a manner as to limit the rotating angle of the body part 25a.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 28 indicates a filter unit, reference
numeral 28a indicates a skirt for interrupting the backflow of dust
or dirt, and reference numeral 42 indicates an anti-rotation member
for preventing the dust stored in the dust collection bin 23 from
being rotated by swirling airflow.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, the lifting/lowering unit 30
comprises a plurality of cam guides 23e, 23f, 23g, 25g and 25h, a
lifting/lowering control member 25, and first and second central
pipes 23d and 25f, wherein the lifting/lowering unit 30 is mounted
on the outer bottom surface of the dust collection bin 23, and when
the dust collection bin 23 is positioned in the mounting space 9,
the lifting/lowering unit 30 comes into close contact with the
bottom wall 10a of the mounting space 9. By increasing or
decreasing the gap L1 between the bottom wall 10a and the bottom
surface of the lifting/lowering unit 30, the lifting/lowering unit
30 lifts or lowers the dust collection bin 23 in relation to the
bottom wall 10a of the mounting space 9. When the lifting/lowering
unit 30 presses on the bottom wall 10a, thereby lifting the dust
collection bin 23 to increase the gap L1 between the bottom surface
of the collection bin 23 and the bottom wall 10a, the dust
collection bin 23 comes into close contact with the outer bottom
surface of the cyclone cylinder 21. In contrast, when the
lifting/lowering unit 30 decreases the gap L1 between the bottom
surface of the dust collection bin 23 and the bottom wall 10a,
thereby lowering the dust collection bin 23, the dust collection
bin 23 can be spaced from the cyclone cylinder 21, so that the dust
collection bin 23 can be pulled out from the mounting space 9.
[0034] The cam guides comprise first to fifth cam guides 23e, 23f,
25g, 25h and 23g, wherein the first cam guide 23e and the second
cam guide 23f project from the outer bottom surface of the dust
collection bin 23 along the circumference of the outlet port 27 in
such a manner as to surround the first central pipe 23d. The fifth
cam guide 23g has the same circular arc as the first recess 23a and
is projectedly formed in the second recess 23b. Due to the fifth
cam guide 23g, when the lifting/lowering control member 25 rotates,
a part of the top surface of the lever part 25b comes into slidable
contact with the fifth cam guide 23g, thereby maintaining the gap
between the outer bottom surface 23-1 of the dust collection bin 23
and the top surface of the lever part 25b. As a result, when the
body part 25a is spaced away from the outer bottom surface 23-1 by
coming into contact with the first and second cam guides 23e and
23f, the lever part 25b is likewise spaced from the outer bottom
surface 23-1 by coming into contact with the fifth cam guide 23g,
whereby the lifting/lowering control member 25 can be stably
rotated. The third and fourth cam guides 25g and 25h are formed on
the lifting/lowering control member 25, wherein the third and
fourth cam guides 25g and 25h are engaged and rotated with the
first and second cam guides 23e and 23f, respectively.
[0035] The lifting/lowering control member 25 consists of a body
part 25a and a lever part 25b. The body part 25a is formed in a
circular shape and the lever part 25b extends from the
circumference of the body part 25a to a side of the body part 25a.
The body part 25a has a second central pipe 25f, which is formed on
one of the bottom and top surfaces of the body part 25a in such a
manner as to be capable of being inserted into the first central
pipe 23d, wherein the second central pipe 25f has a bore 25e formed
through the second central pipe 25f. The bore 25e formed through
the body part 25a is communicated with the outlet port 27 formed in
the dust collection bin 23, so that air can be discharged to the
motor chamber 10b. If the body part 25a is rotated in one direction
or the other direction, the first cam guide 23e and the second cam
guide 23f are engaged and rotated with the third cam guide 25g and
the fourth cam guide 25h, respectively, thereby lifting or lowering
the dust collection bin 23. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, on the
circumference of the body part 25a, there are formed third and
fourth recesses 25c and 25d, which are equi-spaced from the lever
part 25b, wherein the top wall of each of the recesses 25c and 25d
is divided into an inclined guide wall 26a and a horizontal guide
wall 26b, which extends horizontally from the upper end of the
inclined guide wall. FIG. 5 shows only the third recess 25c and the
guide walls 26a, 26b thereof. The fourth recess 25d and the guide
walls thereof, which are not shown in FIG. 5, are formed in the
same construction as the third recess 25c and the guide walls
thereof opposite to the third recess 25c and the guide walls
thereof.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 7 to 9, the dust collection bin
23 is provided with at least two anchoring members so as to allow
the lifting/lowering control member 25 to be engaged with the dust
collection bin 23, wherein the anchoring members include first and
second anchoring screws 31 and 33, which have heads 31a and 33a,
respectively. When the first and second anchoring screws 31 and 33
are provided on the dust collection bin 23, the heads 31a and 33b
are partially inserted into the third and fourth recesses 25c and
25d, respectively. That is, if the lifting/lowering control member
25 is inserted into the first and second recesses 23a and 23b and
then the anchoring screws 31 and 33 are fitted on the outer bottom
surface of the dust collection bin 23, the heads 31a and 33a of the
first and second anchoring screws 31 and 33 are partially inserted
into the third and fourth recesses 25c and 25d, as a result of
which the lifting/lowering control member 25 is in a
semi-restrained condition, thereby being prevented from being
released downward away from the dust collection bin 23.
[0037] Now, the movement of the dust collection bin 23, which is
caused by the lifting/lowering unit 30 according to the first
embodiment of the present disclosure, is described with reference
to FIGS. 1 to 9.
[0038] In a state in which the lever part 25d is not rotated as
shown in FIG. 7, the heads 3 la and 33a of the first and second
anchoring screws 31 and 33 are positioned at the lower most ends of
the inclined guide walls 26a. If the lever part 25b is rotated in a
direction for lifting the dust collection bin 23, the first and
second cam guides 23e and 23f and the third and fourth cam guides
25g and 25h cooperatively slide in relation to each other, thereby
lifting the dust collection bin 23, as a result of which the
lifting/lowering collection member 25 is relatively lowered in
relation to the dust collection bin 23. At this time, the heads 3
la and 33a of the first and second anchoring screws 31 and 33 are
slid along the inclined guide walls 26a. Thereafter, if the lever
part 25b is further rotated forward so as to maintain the lifted
condition of the dust collection bin 23 after the lifting of the
dust collection bin 23 is terminated, the heads 31a and 33a are
moved along the horizontal guide walls 26b and positioned as shown
in FIG. 9.
[0039] In this manner, because the lifting/lowering control member
25 for rendering the dust collection bin 23 to be engaged with the
outer bottom surface of the cyclone cylinder 21 is provided on the
outer bottom surface 23-1 of the dust collection bin 23 rather than
on the cleaner body 10, if the lever part 25b is rotated in the
direction for lifting the lifting/lowering control member 25, the
dust collection bin 23 is lifted and the lifting/lowering control
member 25 is lowered in relation to the dust collection bin 23.
Consequently, the dust collection bin 23 is lifted and comes into
close contact with the lower end of the cyclone bin 21, and the
lifting/lowering control member 25 is lowered so as to compresses
the bottom wall 10a of the mounting space 9 (see FIG. 2), whereby
no gap is produced between the lifting/lowering unit 30 and the
bottom wall 10a of the mounting space 9. According to the prior
art, such a lifting/lowering unit 30 is provided on the bottom wall
of the mounting space. Therefore, in order to cause the dust
collection bin mounted on the lifting/lowering unit to be lifted
and come into close contact with the cyclone cylinder, the
lifting/lowering control member moves upward and presses the dust
collection bin upward. Consequently, a gap is produced between the
lifting/lowering unit and the bottom wall of the mounting surface
to the extent the lifting/lowering control member is upwardly
moved. However, according to the present embodiment, the
lifting/lowering unit 30 is provided on the bottom side of the dust
collection bin 23, so that the lifting/lowering control member 25
is moved and presses against the bottom wall 10a of the mounting
space 9. Therefore, no gap is produced between the bottom wall 10a
of the mounting space 9 and the lifting/lowering unit 30, thereby
preventing the leakage of discharge air. Referring to FIG. 2, the
motor chamber 10b formed on the cleaner body 10 and the
lifting/lowering unit 30 are sealed substantially without a gap L2
between them, so that clean air, from which dust has been removed
in the cyclone cylinder 21, is all directed toward the motor
chamber 10b via the outlet port 27 without leaking out through the
gap L2, whereby a pressure loss caused by the leakage of air can be
reduced. In addition, because the first and second central pipes
23d and 25f are positioned in such a manner that one is put upon
another, no discharge air leaks out. Furthermore, because the
lifting/lowering unit 30 is mounted on the bottom side of the dust
collection bin 23, even if dirt drops from the cyclone cylinder 21
after the dust collection bin 23 has been removed from the mounting
space 9, the dirt drops on the bottom wall 10a of the mounting
space 9, thereby preventing the pollution and malfunction of the
lifting/lowering unit 30 and increasing an ease of cleaning of the
cleaner body 10.
[0040] Now, a vacuum cleaner 110 according to a second embodiment
of the present disclosure is described with reference to FIGS. 10
to 12. Here, component parts performing similar or analogous
functions as the first embodiment are labeled in multiples of one
hundred.
[0041] The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment
in that a discharge flow passage P is provided within the cleaner
body 110 for communicating the motor chamber 110b and the cyclone
cylinder 121 in order to discharge air, from which dust has been
removed in the cyclone cylinder 121, to the motor chamber 110b.
That is, the second embodiment is constructed in such a manner that
the air of the cyclone cylinder 121 is adapted to be introduced
into the motor chamber 110b through the discharge flow passage P,
unlike the first embodiment which is provided with an outlet tube
and an outlet port 27, which are formed in the dust collection bin
23, and a bore 25e, which is formed in the lifting/lowering unit
30. Referring to FIG. 11, no outlet port is formed through the
bottom wall of the dust collection bin 123 and a cylindrical rotary
shaft 123c extends from the bottom part of the dust collection bin
123. Referring to FIG. 12, the central area of the body part 125a
of the lifting/lowering control member 125 is provided with a small
cylinder 125-1, into which the rotary shaft 123c can be inserted,
without being formed with an opening. The rotary shaft 123c is
inserted into the cylinder 125-1 so as to center the
lifting/lowering control member 125, when the control member 125 is
rotated. The other components of the second embodiment are equal to
those of the first embodiment. Therefore, reference numerals and
description thereof are omitted.
[0042] According to the second embodiment described above, the dust
collection device for a vacuum cleaner is configured in such a
manner that lifting/lowering control member 125 is mounted on the
bottom side of a dust collection bin 123 so that the dust
collection bin and the lifting/lowering control member are movable
to push away one another. As a result, no gap is produced between
the lifting/lowering control member 125 and a motor chamber 110b,
whereby discharge air is completely blocked not to leak out.
Furthermore, because the air is discharged through the bottom end
of the cyclone cylinder 121 without leaking out, it is possible to
reduce the length of the discharge flow passage P can be shortened
as well as to reduce a pressure loss caused by the leakage of air
from the vacuum cleaner.
[0043] In addition, because the lifting/lowering control member 125
is mounted on the outer bottom surface of the dust collection bin
123, dust dropping from the cyclone cylinder 121 is not introduced
into the lifting/lowering unit 130 even if the dust collection bin
123 is removed from the cyclone cylinder 121. As a result, it is
possible to maintain the performance of the lifting/lowering unit
130, to prevent the malfunction of the lifting/lowering unit and to
increasing the lifetime of the lifting/lowering unit.
[0044] While the disclosure has been shown and described with
reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of
the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *