JP5486982B2 - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner in which a dust detection means for detecting the amount of dust passing through the passage is provided in a main body connection port of a vacuum cleaner main body.

  In Patent Document 1, a dust detection means including a light emitter and a light receiver for optically detecting the amount of dust passing through the passage of the main body connection port is installed in the main body connection port of the cleaner body. An improved vacuum cleaner is disclosed.

  Furthermore, in the electric vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1, a protective light guide (transparent cover) made of a transparent member that protects the light emitter and the light receiver from dust and the like is attached to each of the light emitter and the light receiver. Yes. And the top | upper surface of this protective light guide is comprised substantially flush with the inner surface of the channel | path wall which comprises the said channel | path of a main body connection port.

JP 2003-93299 A

  However, in the vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to configure the top surface of the protective light guide to be substantially flush with the inner surface of the passage wall. If it is one or protruding, sand dust or the like in the dust-containing air passing through the passage of the main body connection port will cause many scratches on the top surface of the protective light guide and prevent light from passing therethrough. In addition, if the top surface of the protective light guide is recessed from the inner surface of the passage wall, dust in the dust-containing air passing through the passage of the main body connection port accumulates on the top surface of the protective light guide and transmits light. Stop it. Accordingly, it is difficult to accurately detect the amount of dust passing through. Moreover, when the top surface of the protective light guide is recessed from the inner surface of the passage wall, it is difficult to remove dust accumulated in the recess.

  The object of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and can suppress the damage and adhesion of dust to the protective light guide of the dust detection means for optically detecting the amount of dust passing therethrough. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner that can easily remove adhering dust.

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner main body provided with a main body connection port in a main body case containing an electric blower, and a pipe section provided with a connection pipe connected to the main body connection port at one end and a suction port body at the other end. And a dust detection means comprising a light emitter and a light receiver for optically detecting the amount of dust that is sucked from the pipe portion and passes through the passage. In the vacuum cleaner, the light emitting body and the light receiving body are disposed opposite to each other across the passage on the outer side of the passage wall constituting the passage of the main body connection opening at the main body connection opening, A protective light guide that protects the light emitter and the light receiver and allows light to pass therethrough is attached to the passage wall, and the peripheral portion of the attachment portion of the protective light guide in the passage wall is formed of the protective light guide. The upstream part of the peripheral part upstream from the central axis is Projecting toward the center line side of the passage from the protective light guide, the downstream portion of the peripheral portion downstream from the central axis of the protective light guide is further away from the center line of the passage than the protective light guide. It is characterized by being recessed on the side.

  According to the present invention, the passage in the main body connection port includes, from the upstream side toward the downstream side, the upstream portion of the peripheral portion of the passage wall, the protective light guide of the dust detection means, and the downstream portion of the peripheral portion of the passage wall. Sequentially away from the center line of the passage. For this reason, it is possible to suppress damage and adhesion of dust to the protective light guide of the dust detection means, and it is possible to easily remove the adhered dust.

1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention. Sectional drawing which shows the main-body connection port of the cleaner body in FIG. 1 with the connection pipe of a pipe part. The expanded sectional view which expands and shows the III section of FIG. The expanded sectional view which expands and shows the IV section of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view taken along arrow V in FIGS. 3 and 4.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

  The vacuum cleaner 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called canister-type vacuum cleaner. The electric vacuum cleaner 1 includes a cleaner main body 2 disposed on a surface to be cleaned, and a pipe portion 3 detachably connected to the cleaner main body 2.

  The vacuum cleaner main body 2 includes a main body case 5, a pair of wheels 6 pivotally supported on both sides of the main body case 5, a dust collection container 7 detachably mounted on the main body case 5, and a main body case 5. A built-in electric blower 8, a main body control unit 9 that controls driving of the electric blower 8, and a power cord 11 that guides electric power to the electric blower 8 are provided.

  The main body case 5 includes a lid portion 10 that covers an upper portion of the dust collecting container 7, and a main body connection port 12 is provided in the lid portion 10. A dust collection container 7 is installed between the main body connection port 12 and the electric blower 8, and the dust collection container 7 communicates with the main body connection port 12 and the electric blower 8. And the dust container 7 isolate | separates and collects dust from the air (dust-containing air) containing the dust sucked into the vacuum cleaner 1 by the negative pressure generated by the electric blower 8. The wheel 6 is a large-diameter traveling wheel for traveling of the cleaner body 2. Furthermore, the power cord 11 includes a power plug 14 at the free end.

  The main body control unit 9 has a plurality of preset operation modes. Each operation mode is associated with an operation signal input from the pipe section 3 and set with different output values to the electric blower 8. The main body control unit 9 selectively selects an arbitrary operation mode from a plurality of operation modes in response to the operation signal input from the pipe unit 3, and drives the electric blower 8.

  The pipe part 3 sucks dust-containing air from the surface to be cleaned by the negative pressure acting from the cleaner body 2 as the electric blower 8 is operated, and guides it to the cleaner body 2. The pipe part 3 is detachably connected to the main body connection port 12 of the vacuum cleaner body 2, and a dust collection hose body 20 including a connection pipe 19, a dust collection hose 21, and a hand operation pipe 22 connected in communication with each other; The dust collection hose body 20 includes an extension pipe 25 that is detachably connected to and communicates with a hand operation pipe 22 of the dust collection hose body 20 and a suction port body 26 that is detachably connected to the extension pipe 25 and communicates therewith.

  The connection pipe 19 of the dust collection hose body 20 is detachably connected to the main body connection port 12 of the cleaner body 2. Moreover, the dust collection hose 21 of the dust collection hose body 20 is formed in an elongated substantially cylindrical shape having flexibility. A hose cover 27 covers a connection portion between the dust collection hose 21 and the connection pipe 19. Further, a gripping portion 23 is provided on the hand control tube 22 of the dust collection hose body 20, and an operation portion 24 is provided on the gripping portion 23. The grip part 23 is operated by the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 to operate the vacuum cleaner 1. The grip portion 23 protrudes from the other end portion side of the hand operation tube 22 and is bent toward one end portion of the hand operation tube 22.

  The operation unit 24 includes a switch corresponding to each operation mode. Specifically, the operation unit 24 includes a stop switch 24A that operates to stop the operation of the electric blower 8, and a start switch 24B that operates to start the operation of the electric blower 8. The start switch 24B may include a weak operation switch (not shown), a medium operation switch (not shown), and a strong operation switch (not shown). The user of the vacuum cleaner 1 operates the operation unit 24 to selectively select the operation mode of the electric blower 8.

  The extension tube 25 is formed in an elongated and substantially cylindrical shape that can be expanded and contracted. The extension pipe 25 is formed in a telescopic structure by superposing a plurality of cylindrical bodies. One end of the extension pipe 25 is detachably connected to the other end of the hand operation tube 22 of the dust collection hose body 20, and is connected via the dust collection hose body 20 (the hand operation tube 22, the dust collection hose 21 and the connection tube 19). It communicates with the interior of the vacuum cleaner body 2.

  The suction port body 26 is detachably connected to the other end of the extension pipe 25 and communicates with the inside of the cleaner body 2 via the extension pipe 25 and the dust collecting hose body 20. In addition, the suction port body 26 is configured to be able to travel on a surface to be cleaned such as a wooden floor or a carpet, and has a suction port 28 on the bottom surface side facing the surface to be cleaned in the traveling state.

  Although the structure of the pipe part 3 was demonstrated with the canister, it is not restricted to the said description etc., such as an upright by which a suction inlet body is detachably connected to the main body connection port of a cleaner body.

  When the start switch 24 </ b> B is operated, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 drives the electric blower 8 in the cleaner main body 2 to apply a negative pressure (suction negative pressure) to the dust collecting container 7. This negative pressure acts on the suction port 28 of the suction port body 26 from the main body connection port 12 through the dust collecting hose body 20 and the extension pipe 25. Due to the negative pressure acting on the suction port 28, the vacuum cleaner 1 sucks dust collected on the surface to be cleaned together with air from the suction port 28 to clean the surface to be cleaned. The dust-containing air sucked from the suction port 28 is separated into air and dust by the dust collecting container 7, and the separated dust is collected by the dust collecting container 7. On the other hand, the separated air passes through the dust collecting container 7 and is sucked into the electric blower 8 and exhausted from the cleaner body 2.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, the main body connection port 12 of the cleaner body 2 is configured to include a passage wall 31, a seal member 32, and a substrate support member 33 inside the cover body 30. In the main body connection port 12, the light emitting element 34 as a light emitter, the light receiving element 35 as a light receiver, and the light emitting element 34 and the light receiving element 35 are protected and connected to the passage wall 31 in an airtight manner. Light guides 36 and 37 are arranged.

  The passage wall 31 is formed in a substantially ring shape and constitutes a passage 38 through which dust-containing air passes. The passage 38 communicates with the dust collection container 7 (FIG. 1) placed on the main body case 5 of the cleaner body 2 and is connected to the connection pipe 19 of the dust collection hose body 20 connected to the main body connection port 12. Communicate. The dust-containing air flows in the passage 38 from the connecting pipe 19 side toward the dust collecting container 7 side.

  The seal member 32 is made of an elastic member such as rubber and is sandwiched between the passage wall 31 and the substrate support member 33. The seal member 32 is provided so as to be able to contact the dust collecting container 7 and the connecting pipe 19, and has a sealing property between the passage wall 31 and the dust collecting container 7 and a sealing property between the passage wall 31 and the connecting pipe 19. Secure.

  The substrate support member 33 supports the light emitting element substrate 39 on which the light emitting element 34 is mounted and the light receiving element substrate 40 on which the light receiving element 35 is mounted. The light emitting element 34 is, for example, a light emitting diode. The light receiving element 35 is, for example, a CdS photoelectric cell or a photodiode. The light-emitting element substrate 39 and the light-receiving element substrate 40 are supported by the substrate support member 33 so that the light-emitting element 34 and the light-receiving element 35 are disposed to face each other across the passage 38 outside the passage wall 31.

  The protective light guides 36 and 37 are fitted and attached to attachment holes 41 as attachment portions formed in the passage wall 31, and the attachment holes 41 are light beams that travel from the light emitting element 34 toward the light receiving element 35. The shaft is formed at a position where it intersects the passage wall 31. The protective light guides 36 and 37 are formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a transparent material that can transmit light. The protective light guide 36 protects the light emitting element 34, and the protective light guide 37 protects the light receiving element 39 from dust and the like of the dust-containing air 9 flowing in the passage 38.

  Dust detection that includes the light-emitting element 34, the light-receiving element 35, and the protective light guides 36 and 37 disposed in the main body connection port 12 and optically detects the amount of dust passing through the passage 38. A dust detection device 42 as means is configured. That is, the dust detection device 42 detects the amount of dust passing through the passage 38 based on a change in the amount of light from the light emitting element 34 received by the light receiving element 35. Specifically, the dust detection device 42 detects that the amount of dust passing through the passage 38 has increased when the amount of light received by the light receiving element 35 has decreased, and conversely, when the amount of light received by the light receiving element 35 has increased. It is detected that the amount of dust passing through the passage 38 has decreased.

  The main body control unit 9 shown in FIG. 1 increases the amount of power supplied to the electric blower 8 when the dust detection device 42 detects that the amount of dust passing through the passage 38 has increased, and the suction by the electric blower 8. Increase power. When the dust detection device 42 detects that the amount of dust passing through the passage 38 has decreased, the main body control unit 9 reduces the amount of power supplied to the electric blower 8 and increases the suction force by the electric blower 8. Reduce. Thereby, the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 1 can be saved.

  Now, the protective light guides 36 and 37 are fitted and attached to the attachment hole 41 of the passage wall 31, and the peripheral portion upstream portion 43 and the peripheral portion are attached to the peripheral portion of the attachment hole 41 on the inner surface of the passage wall 31. A downstream portion 44 is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the peripheral portion upstream portion 43 is positioned upstream of the central axis O of the protective light guides 36 and 37 in the passage 38. The peripheral portion upstream side portion 43 gradually protrudes from the top surface 45 of the protective light guides 36 and 37 toward the center line P side of the passage 38 toward the center line P side of the passage 38 from the upstream side to the downstream side. Provided.

  Further, the peripheral portion downstream portion 44 is positioned downstream of the peripheral portion upstream portion 43 in the passage 38 (that is, downstream of the protective light guides 36 and 37 in the passage 38 from the center line O). The protective light guides 36 and 37 are formed on the side farther from the center line P of the passage 38 than the top surface 45.

  Further, the peripheral portion upstream side portion 43 is a portion protruding from the inner surface of the passage wall 31, and the edge 46 (side ab, bc, cd, de, ef in FIG. 5) that directly contacts the flow of the dust-containing air is a curved surface ( It is formed at a corner R). Similarly, the edge 47 (side ghi in FIG. 5) on the peripheral portion downstream portion 44 side of the top surface 45 from which the protective light guides 36 and 37 protrude from the peripheral portion downstream portion 44 is also a curved surface (corner R). Is formed.

  With the configuration as described above, the following effects (1) to (3) are achieved according to the present embodiment.

  (1) A peripheral portion upstream portion 43 and a peripheral portion downstream portion 44 are provided in the peripheral portion of the mounting hole 41 on the inner surface of the passage wall 31. The peripheral portion upstream side portion 43 is positioned upstream of the central axis O of the protective light guides 36 and 37, and is closer to the center line P side of the passage 38 than the top surface 45 of the protective light guides 36 and 37. Protrusively formed. Further, the peripheral portion downstream portion 44 is positioned downstream of the peripheral portion upstream portion 43 (that is, downstream of the center line O of the protective light guides 36 and 37), and the protective light guides 36 and 37 are located. It is formed so as to be recessed from the top surface 45 to the side away from the center line P of the passage 38.

  For this reason, in the passage 38 in the main body connection port 12, from the upstream side toward the downstream side, the peripheral portion upstream portion 43 of the passage wall 31, the protective light guide 36 or 37 of the dust detection device 42, and the passage wall 31. The peripheral portion downstream side portion 44 is formed so as to be gradually separated from the center line P of the passage 38. As a result, it is possible to suppress the dust from adhering to the protective light guides 36 and 37 of the dust detector 42 and to easily check and remove the attached dust.

  Furthermore, it is possible to prevent sand dust or the like in the dust-containing air passing through the passage 38 from hitting the top surfaces 45 of the protective light guides 36 and 37 and causing many scratches.

  (2) The peripheral portion upstream portion 43 of the peripheral portion of the mounting hole 41 on the inner surface of the passage wall 31 gradually protrudes toward the center line P side of the passage 38 from the upstream side to the downstream side of the passage 38 and is formed into a curved shape. ing. Therefore, the flow A of the dust-containing air flowing in the passage 38 is away from the protective light guides 36 and 37, as shown in FIGS. The adhesion of dust can be further suppressed.

  (3) The peripheral portion upstream portion 43 protrudes from the inner surface of the passage wall 31, and the edge 46 that directly contacts the flow of dust-containing air and the protective light guides 36 and 37 protrude from the peripheral portion downstream portion 44. An edge portion 47 on the peripheral portion downstream side portion 44 side of the top surface 45 is formed as a curved surface (angle R). For this reason, dust in dust-containing air, particularly cotton-like dust, can be prevented from being entangled with the edge 46 of the peripheral portion upstream side portion 43 and the edge 47 of the protective light guides 36 and 37. Furthermore, the generation of wind noise can be suppressed.

  It should be noted that the peripheral portion upstream side portion 43 and the peripheral portion downstream side portion 44 of the peripheral portion of the attachment hole 41 in the passage wall 31 are provided in the case where the protective light guides 36 and 37 are prismatic shapes. 37, with the upstream edge of the passage 38 as a reference, the upstream portion of the protective light guides 36, 37 is the peripheral portion upstream portion 43, and the downstream portion is the peripheral portion downstream portion. 44.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric vacuum cleaner 2 Vacuum cleaner main body 3 Pipe part 5 Main body case 8 Electric blower 12 Main body connection port 19 Connection pipe 26 Suction port body 31 Passage wall 34 of main body connection port Light emitting element (light emitting body)
36 Light receiving element (photoreceptor)
36, 37 Protective light guide 38 Main body connection port passage 41 Mounting hole (mounting portion)
42 Dust detection device (dust detection means)
43 Peripheral part upstream part 44 Peripheral part downstream part 46 Peripheral part upstream part edge 47 Protective light guide edge O Protective light guide central axis P Passage center line

Claims (3)

A vacuum cleaner main body provided with a main body connection port in a main body case containing an electric blower, and a pipe portion provided with a connection pipe connected to the main body connection port at one end and a suction port body at the other end, respectively. ,
In the vacuum cleaner provided with a dust detection means comprising a light emitter and a light receiver for optically detecting the amount of dust sucked from the pipe portion and passing through the passage into the main body connection port,
In the main body connection port, the light emitter and the light receiver are arranged opposite to each other across the passage on the outside of the passage wall constituting the passage of the main body connection port, and the passage wall includes the A protective light guide that protects the light emitter and the light receiver and transmits light is attached,
The peripheral portion upstream portion of the protective light guide mounting portion in the passage wall is protruded toward the center line side of the passage from the protective light guide, the upstream portion of the peripheral portion upstream of the protective light guide, The electric vacuum cleaner characterized in that a peripheral portion downstream portion downstream of the peripheral portion upstream portion is configured on a side farther from the center line of the passage than the protective light guide. 2. The electric cleaning according to claim 1, wherein the upstream portion of the peripheral portion of the peripheral portion of the passage portion in the passage wall is formed so as to gradually protrude from the upstream side toward the downstream side toward the center line side of the passage. Machine. An edge of a portion where the peripheral portion upstream portion of the peripheral portion of the attachment portion on the passage wall protrudes from the passage wall, and an edge of a portion where the protective light guide protrudes from the downstream portion of the peripheral portion of the peripheral portion of the attachment portion The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the portion is formed on a curved surface.

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