JPH0582205B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner that exterminates harmful microorganisms such as mites trapped in a dust collecting section by heating.

(b) Prior art As a technology prior to the present invention, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-
Publication No. 127026 discloses a vacuum cleaner that kills and exterminates harmful microorganisms such as mites trapped in a dust collecting part by heating the dust collecting part. In this prior art, a delay timer switch or a bimetallic switch is used as a switch means for stopping the tick extermination operation. However, in this conventional technology, when a delay timer switch is used as the switching means, the mite extermination operation is performed regardless of the heating temperature of the dust collecting section. There is a risk that the mite extermination operation will stop before reaching the specified temperature, and if the mite extermination operation is performed in the summer when the ambient temperature is high, the temperature of the circulating air will rise above the specified temperature, and the vacuum cleaner body, which is usually made of resin parts, may There have also been cases where the heat has deformed or ignited the material.

On the other hand, if a bimetallic switch is used and the mite extermination operation is performed when the ambient temperature is low, such as in winter, the temperature of the circulating air will not reach the set temperature of the bimetallic switch, and the mite extermination operation will not stop for a long time. It has the disadvantage that it runs continuously without turning off when no one is using it.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention The present invention kills harmful microorganisms such as mites trapped in the dust collecting part by circulating the exhaust flow of an electric blower through the dust collecting part and heating it. In a vacuum cleaner equipped with a so-called mite extermination operation, the electric blower can be reliably stopped even when the ambient temperature is low in the winter, etc., and it can also be used for cleaning caused by overheating even when the ambient temperature is high such as in the summer. The object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner that can reliably prevent deformation and ignition of the machine body, is highly safe, prevents unnecessarily long mite extermination operation, and is economical and capable of mite extermination operation. do.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The vacuum cleaner of the present invention circulates harmful microorganisms such as mites captured in the dust collection section during cleaning operation through the exhaust flow of an electric blower to the dust collection section. In the vacuum cleaner, the electric blower is killed by heating, the temperature detecting means detecting that the heating temperature of the dust collecting part reaches a predetermined temperature and stops the operation of the electric blower, and when the electric blower starts operating. and a timer means for stopping the operation of the electric blower after a predetermined period of time, the timer means causing the electric blower to stop when the temperature detection means does not stop the electric blower for the predetermined period of time. is characterized by being carried out.

(E) Function The vacuum cleaner of the present invention circulates the exhaust flow of the electric blower to the dust collecting section to heat it, and when the temperature of the dust collecting section reaches a predetermined temperature, the electric blower is automatically activated by the temperature detection means. In addition, if the ambient temperature of the vacuum cleaner is low and the temperature of the dust collection part does not reach the specified temperature even after a certain period of time has passed after the electric blower started operating, the electric blower is automatically stopped by the timer means. make it stop.

(F) Example Hereinafter, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 6.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes the vacuum cleaner body of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, in which a dust collection chamber 3 with a top opening that can be opened and closed with a lid 2 is provided at the front, and the dust collection chamber 3 is located at the rear. Each of the chambers 6 is provided with a blower storage chamber 6 which communicates with the chamber through a ventilation hole 4 and has an exhaust hole 5 formed in the rear wall.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an electric blower housed in the blower storage chamber 6, and its intake side 7a is airtightly communicated with the dust collection chamber 3. 8 is a box-shaped filter with breathability and shape retention that is removably housed in the dust collection chamber 3;
Reference numeral 9 denotes a paper bag filter that is removably housed in the box-shaped filter 8, and the paper bag filter 9 is made of an air-permeable paper bag that does not allow harmful microorganisms such as mites to pass through. Further, 10 is an intake filter, and 11 is an exhaust filter.

Furthermore, reference numeral 12 denotes a suction port provided in the lid 2 and rotatably connects the suction hose;
, a hose connecting tube 14 that rotatably holds a suction hose, and a sliding shutter plate 15 located above the hose connecting tube 14 to open and close the suction port 13 .

Further, a reference numeral 16 is provided inside the vacuum cleaner body 1 in order to circulate the exhaust flow of the electric blower 7 to the dust collection chamber 3 and heat the inside of the dust collection chamber 3 to a temperature at which microorganisms such as mites captured by the paper bag filter 9 are killed. From a main body side circulation path 18 provided with a circulation inlet 17 in the blower storage chamber 6 and a lid side circulation path 20 provided with a circulation outlet 19 in the hose connection tube 14 of the suction port 12. configured. The circulation outlet 19 is closed when the suction hose is connected to the suction port 12 during cleaning operation and does not circulate the exhaust flow, and is opened when the suction hose is not connected during the tick drive operation. and circulate the exhaust stream.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a push-button type mite extermination switch button disposed on the right side of the upper center of the vacuum cleaner body 1, and a mite switch SW1 consisting of a tact switch that is turned on by pressing the switch button 21 is housed inside.

SW3 is a shutter switch provided in the suction port 12, which is turned off by contact with the shutter plate 15 when the shutter plate 15 is closed, and turned on when the shutter plate 15 is opened.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a function display section disposed at the center of the upper surface of the vacuum cleaner main body 1, and the display section 22 is located on the display panel board 2.
3 is illuminated by backlighting of light emitting diodes, and each function is highlighted by the lighting of the light emitting diodes.
The display section 22 includes a garbage amount display section 24 and a power control display section 2, as shown in FIG.
5 and a tick extermination display section 26. The garbage amount display section 24 includes three light emitting diodes [LED] D.
1 to D3 to display the amount of dust inside the paper bag filter 9 in five stages, and the display corresponds to the light emitting diode D2 with the green display SM1 corresponding to the light emitting diode D1 from the lowest amount of dust. The orange display SM2 corresponding to the light emitting diode D3 and the red display SM3 corresponding to the light emitting diode D3 are displayed in this order, so that the amount of dust can be confirmed at a glance. Furthermore, when it is time to replace the paper bag filter 9, the green indicator SM1, orange indicator SM2 and red indicator SM
3 blinks to let you know when it's time to replace it. That is, as the amount of trash increases, all lights are turned off, one light emitting diode D1 is lit, two light emitting diodes D1 and D2 are lit, three light emitting diodes D1, D2, D3 are lit, and three light emitting diodes D1, D2, D3 are lit. It blinks and changes. The power control display section 25 displays the suction power of the electric blower 7,
That is, the notch display section LL, L, M, H1, and H2 is used to display the output control state, and is composed of five stages of notch display sections LL, L, M, H1, and H2 corresponding to the five red light emitting diodes D4 to D8.

Further, the mite extermination display section 26 uses a green light emitting diode D9 to replace the first mite display section DH1, which is a ``vigorous mite'' display that shows healthy mites with a pictorial display, and a ``dead mite'' display that shows dead mites with a pictorial display. The second tick display body DH2 is a red light emitting diode D10.
The progress state of the mite extermination operation is displayed visually and realistically as the operation time elapses by irradiating the mites respectively. 1st tick display body
DH1 turns green → first tick indicator DH1 and second tick indicator DH2 blink alternately → second tick indicator
The progress state of the tick extermination operation is displayed by changing the lighting of the DH2 in red, and the effect of the tick extermination is clearly expressed by the visual display change.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a control board storage section formed above the blower storage chamber 6 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1, the top surface of which is covered with the panel board 23, and the control circuit elements 28...
..., the light emitting diodes D1 to D10 and a control circuit board 30 on which a reflection plate 29 is arranged are arranged. Further, the control circuit board 30 has a semiconductor pressure center 32 connected to the space on the intake side 7a of the electric blower 7 via a tube 31 to measure the pressure on the intake side 7a, and a heat sink 33 in the space on the intake side 7a. A located blower control triax 50 is attached.

Next, a description will be given based on the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 4 and the circuit block diagram shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a microcomputer element (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer), which has an arithmetic processing section, an input/output section, a storage section, etc. in one chip, and has a cleaning operation mode, a mite extermination operation mode, and an exhibition operation mode. I remember.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a cleaning/mite extermination switching section, which includes the mite switch SW1 and the shutter switch SW3.

36 is a temperature detection section, the temperature detection section 36 uses a thermistor element 37 as a temperature detection means,
The power supply voltage from the DC5V system voltage regulator 47 is connected to the resistor R25.
to obtain a temperature detection output, and the microcomputer 34
Enter. Thermistor element 37 is electric blower 7
(See Figure 1), which detects the bracket temperature of the electric blower 7 as well as the temperature of the circulating exhaust air from the electric blower 7. Detection of extermination operation stop temperature and detection of abnormal temperature of electric blower 7 are performed.

Reference numeral 38 denotes an operation notch setting section, which is provided at the hand operation section of the suction hose connected to the vacuum cleaner main body 1, and which controls the suction force control volume VR1 that controls the suction force of the electric blower 7, and the rotary brush drive of the floor suction tool. Brush switch for turning on and off the brush motor 39 for
It is equipped with SW2. The suction force control volume
VR1 changes the suction force of the electric blower 7 by changing the signal voltage input to the microcomputer 34 depending on the position of the slider. ”, the tank position (H notch), suction force “Medium”
The folding/folding position (M notch), the sofa position where the suction force is "weak" (L notch), the curtain position where the suction power is "weakest" (LL notch), and the auto position for automatic control (A notch) According to
The corresponding signal voltages are input to the microcomputer 34. The brush switch SW2 turns on and off the brush motor 39 when the suction force control volume VR1 is set to a notch other than the OFF notch.

40 is a pressure detection section, which is a semiconductor pressure sensor 32;
is used to detect changes in the pressure (negative pressure) in the space between the intake side 7a of the electric blower 7 and the intake filter 4, and obtain a detected output voltage.

Reference numeral 22 is the function display section described above, and 41 is a display section driving section. And power control display section 25
The five light emitting diodes D4 to D8 are turned off according to the signal voltage from the operation notch setting section 38.
Notches → all lights off, LL notches → 1 lights up, L notches → 2 lights up, M notches → 3 lights up, H notches →
The lighting state changes as 5 lights are turned on, and the A notch is turned on, and the number corresponding to the detected output voltage of the pressure sensing section 40 is turned on.

42 is a buzzer, 43 is a buzzer drive unit, and the buzzer 42 operates when the notch is changed, when abnormal heating is detected in the temperature detection unit 36, and when the three light emitting diodes D1 to D3 of the dust amount display unit 24 blink. The sound is generated when the tick switch SW1 is pressed, when the tick extermination operation ends, and when the thermistor element 37 fails (shot or disconnection).

Reference numeral 44 denotes a zero-crossing signal generating section, which shapes the waveform of the AC power voltage stepped down by the power transformer T1 of the power supply section 45 with a bridge diode D11, and generates a pulse signal at the zero-crossing point for every AC half cycle.

46 is a clock oscillation section, 42 is a 5V system constant voltage section provided with a microcomputer reset function, and 48 is a 15V system constant voltage section.

49 is a blower drive unit, and 50 is a blower control triac.

Reference numerals 51 and 52 are a brush motor drive section and a brush motor control triax for driving the brush motor 39 of the floor suction tool.

Furthermore, 53 is an overcurrent detection part of the floor suction tool, and the brush motor 3 is
The brush motor 39 is provided with a positive temperature characteristic thermistor 54 which limits current and stops energizing the brush motor 39 when the brush motor 9 is locked.

Then, the microcomputer 34 switches the shutter switch SW3 by opening the shutter plate 15.
When turned on, the cleaning operation mode is set, and in the cleaning operation mode, the operation notch setting section 3
The suction force of the electric blower 7 is changed in accordance with the notch set by the suction force control volume VR1 of 8, and the brush motor 34 is turned on and off by turning on and off the brush switch SW2.

In addition, the temperature detection output from the temperature detection unit 36 is input to the microcomputer 34, and when it is detected that the electric blower 7 has become abnormally heated and the bracket temperature has exceeded 100°C, all functions are turned off and power supply to the electric blower 7 is stopped. do.

Furthermore, when the suction port 13 is closed with the shutter plate 15, the shutter switch SW3 is turned off. When the shutter switch SW3 is off, the microcomputer 34 enters the mite extermination operation mode, and in this mite extermination operation mode, when the mite switch SW1 is turned on, the microcomputer 34 starts the mite extermination operation and drives the electric blower 7. When the inside of the dust collection chamber 3 is heated to 50℃ or higher, which is the temperature at which harmful microorganisms such as mites die due to the circulation of the exhaust flow, the corresponding bracket temperature reaches 70℃ or higher (mite extermination operation stop temperature). When the thermistor element 37 serving as the temperature detection means detects the temperature, the electric blower 7 is stopped. In the tick extermination driving mode,
The mite extermination display section 26 lights up the first mite indicator DH1 in green by lighting up the green light emitting diode D9 at the same time as the start of the mite extermination operation, and the first mite indicator DH1 is turned on for a predetermined period of time (10 seconds in this embodiment). lights up, the green light-emitting diode D9 and the red light-emitting diode D10 blink alternately for a certain period of time (20 seconds in this example), and the first and second tick display bodies DH
1, DH2 is made to blink alternately, and even after this certain period of time has elapsed, the blinking is continued until the bracket temperature reaches 70°C (mite extermination operation stop temperature), and when the bracket temperature reaches 70°C, the red light emitting diode D10 is turned on. The second tick indicator DH2 lights up.
lights up in red. That is, the mite extermination display section 2
6 shows the progress of the tick extermination operation as the driving time elapses: "Vigorous mites" lights up in green [lighting of the first mite display unit DH1] → "Vigorous mites" and "dead mites" flash alternately [No. 1. Second tick display body DH1,
Alternate flashing of DH2] → Red lighting of "dead tick" [lighting up of second tick indicator DH2], changes in pictorial display and color display, that is, visual display changes, to notify visually and realistically, and further Even after the mite extermination operation is completed, "dead mites" [Second mite indicator DH
2] is visually and realistically notified by the continuation of the red lighting. In addition, 10 days after the end of the above-mentioned tick extermination operation.
The buzzer 42 also makes a continuous sound for a second to notify the end of the tick extermination operation.

Even if the bracket temperature has reached 70°C or higher, which corresponds to the temperature at which the dust mites will die in the dust collection chamber 3, such as immediately after the end of the cleaning operation in the summer, the mite extermination may be performed. After the first tick indicator DH1 lights up for a predetermined period of time (10 seconds) from the start of operation, the first and second tick indicators DH1 and DH2 flash alternately for a certain period of time (for 20 seconds), and after a certain period of time, the second tick indicator DH1 lights up. Turn on the tick indicator DH2.

Furthermore, if the temperature of the thermistor element 37 does not reach 70°C within 8 minutes after starting the mite extermination operation when the ambient temperature (air temperature) of the vacuum cleaner is low such as in winter, the timer means constituted by the microcomputer 34 is activated. A certain period of time (8 minutes) is counted, and the mite extermination operation is stopped 8 minutes after the start of the mite extermination operation.

Further, the microcomputer 34 presses the mite extermination switch button 21 while inserting the power plug into the outlet while the shutter switch SW3 is off, that is, in the mite extermination operation mode, and continues to press the button for 2 seconds or more. By this, or by pressing the tick extermination switch button 21 within 2 seconds after plugging in the power plug and continuing the pressed state for 2 seconds or more, the display operation mode is set.

In this exhibition operation mode, the microcomputer 34 has a function of lighting and blinking the amount display section 24, the power control display section 25, and the mite extermination display section 26 in 60 different light emitting patterns in one cycle. . In the exhibition operation mode, the electric blower 7 is not energized, and the exhibition operation mode is canceled by pulling out the power plug from the outlet.

Next, the temperature detection operation of the temperature detection section 36 and the tick drive operation display will be explained based on a flowchart.

In the temperature detection routine, first, the temperature detection output from the temperature detection section 36 is read.

The temperature detection output value read next shows that the temperature is 100.
Determine whether the data is above ℃. If the temperature is below 100°C, then it is determined whether the data is below -20°C. At this time, if it is 100℃ or higher or -20℃ or lower, it is determined that there is a circuit abnormality or abnormal temperature, and all functions are turned off (stopping power to the electric blower, etc.), and a notch is displayed on the display to notify the abnormality. The light emitting diode D8 is made to blink and the buzzer 42 is made to sound, and this abnormality notification is continued until the time of initial reset.

When the thermistor element 37 is shorted, the resistance becomes 0 and the detected temperature corresponds to data of 100°C or higher, and when the thermistor element 37 is disconnected, the resistance becomes infinite and the detected temperature is -20°C or lower. Corresponding to the data, in either case, it is determined that there is a circuit abnormality (failure of the thermistor element 37), and all functions are turned off in the same manner as above, and the light emitting diode D8 is blinked and the buzzer 42 is sounded as a means to notify of the abnormality. to notify the abnormality.

If the detected temperature is below 100 degrees Celsius or above -20 degrees Celsius, it is determined to be normal, and then it is determined whether it is in tick extermination mode. (Determine whether SW3 is turned off).

If the operation mode is not mite extermination mode, the process returns to the beginning of the temperature detection routine.

If it is the mite extermination operation mode, it is determined whether the mite extermination operation is already in operation based on the operation flag. If the flag is 1, it is in operation, and if it is 0, it is not in operation. When the flag is 0, Dan switch SW1
It is determined whether the button has been pressed and turned on, and if it has not been pressed, the process returns to the beginning of the temperature detection routine.

When the tick switch SW1 is pressed, the operation flag is set to 1, the electric blower is operated, and the green light emitting diode D9 for the first tick display body DH1 is lit.

Next, a timer 1 (10 seconds) for setting the lighting time of the green light emitting diode D9 is started, and a timer (30 seconds) for temperature determination timing is started. Furthermore, when the ambient temperature (air temperature) is low and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 36 during the tick extermination operation does not reach 70°C, a timer for time limit (8 minutes) is started.

After starting each timer 1, 2, and 3, it is determined whether the first timer 1 has elapsed or not, and if it has not elapsed, the process returns to the beginning of the temperature detection routine and executes the temperature detection routine.

The temperature detection routine performs the same process after that, but since the operation flag is 1, it is determined that the flag is 1,
Next, it is determined whether the tick switch SW1 has been turned on again.

When it is on, the mite drive operation is manually canceled, so the flag is set to 0, the electric blower 7 is stopped, the green light emitting diode D9 and the red light emitting diode D10 of the mite extermination display section 26 are turned off, and the mite extermination display section 2 is turned off.
Turn off the display 6.

If the tick switch SW1 is in the OFF state, the operation continues, and the process returns to determining whether the timer 1 has elapsed.

When timer 1 elapses, that is, when a predetermined time (10 seconds) has elapsed after the start of the mite extermination operation, the green light emitting diode D9 and the red light emitting diode D10 of the mite extermination display section 26 start blinking alternately, and timer 2 starts. The blinking operation is performed until the predetermined time elapses, that is, until a certain period of time (20 seconds) elapses after the predetermined time.

When timer 2 elapses, the detected temperature is
Determine whether the temperature has reached 70℃ or higher, and
In the above case, the electric blower 7 is stopped to terminate the mite extermination operation, the red light emitting diode D10 for the second mite display body DH2 is turned on, the flag is set to 0, and the buzzer 42 is sounded for 10 seconds to notify the end. Timer 3 is not needed, so cancel it.

If the temperature is below 70℃ when timer 2 elapses,
The tick extermination operation continues until the temperature reaches 70°C, and the alternate blinking of the green light emitting diode D9 and the red light emitting diode D10 continues. Thereafter, when the detected temperature reaches 70° C. or higher, the mite extermination operation is completed, and the electric blower 7 is stopped, the red light emitting diode D10 is turned on, and the flag is set to 0, in the same manner as above.
The buzzer 42 sounds for 10 seconds and the timer 3 is released. However, if the ambient temperature (air temperature) of the vacuum cleaner body 1 is low, it may not reach 70℃.
At this time, the tick extermination operation is ended when timer 3 has elapsed (eight minutes have elapsed since the start of the tick extermination operation).

Harmful microorganisms such as mites captured together with dust by the paper bag filter 9 of the dust collection chamber 3 during the cleaning operation are removed by the electric blower 7 in the mite-driven operation state.
The dust is killed and exterminated by the heating inside the dust collection chamber 3 due to the circulation of the exhaust flow to the dust collection chamber 3.

In this mite extermination operation state, the mite extermination display unit 26 progresses in the following order: lighting of the first mite indicator DH1 → alternate blinking of the first and second mite indicators DH1 and DH2 → lighting of the second mite indicator DH2. Since the status is displayed sequentially, the mite extermination status can be visually and realistically displayed through visual display changes, and the user can be notified without getting bored until the end of the mite extermination operation. There is no sense of time. Moreover, by lighting the second mite indicator DH2, the user is clearly informed that harmful microorganisms such as mites have been exterminated, giving the user a sense of security.

Furthermore, if the ambient temperature (air temperature) is low and the bracket temperature detected by the thermistor element 37 does not reach 70°C (mite extermination operation stop temperature) for 8 minutes, the mite extermination operation will automatically end, making it safe. In addition, the tick extermination operation is not continued unnecessarily.

In addition, the tick extermination display section 26 can be used at any temperature.
Since the display always changes its lighting and blinking state in the above-mentioned fixed pattern, the tick extermination operation display does not become unstable depending on the temperature, and can give the user a sense of security (sense of stability).

In addition, after the mite extermination operation is completed, the second mite display
Since the user is clearly notified of the termination by lighting up DH2, there is no need to perform the tick extermination operation again due to misidentification.

Furthermore, if the thermistor element 37 malfunctions due to damage or the like (shooting, disconnection, etc.), all functions are turned off (stopping power to the electric blower, etc.), and an abnormality is notified by blinking the light emitting diode D8 and sounding the buzzer 42. Therefore, the failure of the thermistor element 37 can be clearly known by light and sound.
7 is not used without knowing that it is malfunctioning.

(H) Effects of the Invention The vacuum cleaner of the present invention is configured as described above, and in particular, the mite extermination operation that kills harmful microorganisms such as mites by heating is stopped by a two-stage configuration of temperature detection means and timer means. Normally, when the temperature detection means detects that the heating temperature has reached the temperature at which harmful microorganisms die, the mite extermination operation is stopped. When the killing temperature has not been reached, the mite extermination operation is stopped by the timer means, and therefore the mite extermination operation is reliably stopped regardless of the ambient temperature, so it is safe and the mite extermination operation is not continued unnecessarily. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings all relate to embodiments of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 2 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a function display section, FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram, and FIG. The figure is a circuit block diagram, and Figures 6A and 6B are flowcharts of the temperature detection routine. 3... Dust collection chamber (dust collection section), 37... Thermistor element (temperature detection means), 42... Buzzer, D8...
...Light emitting diode (indicator).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a vacuum cleaner that kills harmful microorganisms such as mites captured in the dust collection part during cleaning operation by circulating the exhaust flow of an electric blower to the dust collection part and heating it, The apparatus includes a temperature detection means for detecting that the heating temperature reaches a predetermined temperature and stops the operation of the electric blower, and a timer means for stopping the operation of the electric blower after a certain period of time from the start of operation of the electric blower. A vacuum cleaner, characterized in that when the temperature detection means does not stop the electric blower for the certain period of time, the timer means stops the electric blower.