JPH0691872B2 - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] An accessory for household vacuum cleaners is provided with a nozzle for a narrow gap of a suction port, a round brush, or a wide air suction port on the bottom surface. There is a floor brush for the floor. A so-called power brush in which a motor is built in the floor brush and the rotary brush is rotated by this motor is known.

By the way, as is well known, the surface of a board floor or a folding floor is flat and dense, and constitutes a hard floor surface (hereinafter, temporarily called a hard floor surface). On the other hand, the surface of the carpet floor made of fibers has irregularities, and is flexible and has a soft floor surface (hereinafter,
There is a physical difference that forms a soft floor surface).

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is used for a power brush of an electric vacuum cleaner, and a floor surface sensor for detecting a carpet floor by utilizing the physical soft floor property of the carpet floor described above, and a floor surface for lifting the power brush. The present invention relates to the structure of a floor surface detector provided with a lifting sensor that detects a distance from the vehicle.

[Prior Art] FIG. 8 is a structural explanatory view of a conventional power brush of this type,
FIG. 9 is a side sectional view thereof.

In both figures, (1) is the casing, (2) is the air inlet, (3) is the rotary brush, (3a) is the bristles of the brush,
(4) is a motor, (5) is a belt, (6) is an electric circuit section, (7) is a hose connection section, (8) and (9) are left and right rear wheels and front wheels, and (10) is a power source. The connector, (11), is the floor.

In the conventional power brush having the above structure, the motor (4)
Turn on the power of and rotate the rotary brush (3),
The dust accumulated between the legs of the carpet is knocked out and sucked together with the air. Therefore, according to such a power brush, it is possible to improve the cleaning effect particularly for cleaning the carpet floor. When the floor surface (11) is a flat floor or a folding floor, this power brush stops the rotation of the rotary brush (3) to allow dust and dust on the floor surface (11) together with air from the air intake port (2). Is being sucked in as is.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, when cleaning the floor using the power brush, the rotary brush is stopped when the floor is a flat floor or a folding floor and is rotated only when the floor is a carpet floor. Has become. For this reason, while using the vacuum cleaner, while constantly looking at the floor surface, when moving to the carpet, it is necessary to manually turn on the motor switch and turn it off when the floor or folding floor is used. It is troublesome. Further, since switching is troublesome, for example, during cleaning, while rotating the rotary brush, it may be necessary to move to cleaning the adjacent carpet floor with a narrow board floor sandwiched therebetween. However, idling the motor in this manner wastes power and is uneconomical. In addition, when the power brush is lifted, there is a problem that the rotary brush that rotates accidentally is injured when a finger is touched.

The present invention is made in order to solve the above conventional problems, when the floor surface is a carpet, the rotary brush automatically rotates, when the power brush is lifted away from the floor surface. It is intended to realize a floor detector which is simple and small in size, in which the rotation of the motor is automatically regulated, has no failure, and has high detection accuracy.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a floor brush main body internally having a rotating body that comes into contact with a floor surface and a drive motor that drives the rotating body, and a floor on the floor surface side of the floor brush main body with an elastic body. A floor sensor provided with a movable body that is pressed by a surface and is displaced in the vertical direction in response to a change in the floor surface, and has a contact at the lower end that comes into contact with the floor surface; and an elastic member on the floor surface side of the floor brush body. A lifting sensor provided with a movable body that is pressed against the floor surface by the body and vertically displaced according to the presence or absence of the floor surface and has a contactor at the lower end that contacts the floor surface; and a contactor and lifting of the floor surface sensor Sensor contactors are provided close to each other, and the detection units for detecting the displacement of each movable body are vertically adjacent to each other, and the movable body end portion of the floor surface sensor is above the detection unit and the lifting sensor is movable. The end of the body is equipped with a floor detector located below the detector The electric vacuum cleaner is configured to control so as to stop the driving of the rotating body when the detection information of the floor surface sensor is different from the detection information of the lifting sensor.

[Operation] The floor surface detector based on the first means of the present invention is attached to the bottom surface side of the casing, and the power brush equipped with the floor surface detector is assembled. When the power brush is placed on the floor surface, the movable body of the lifting sensor rises to prepare for rotation of the rotary brush. When the cleaning moves from the wooden floor or the folding floor to the carpet floor, the movable body of the floor surface sensor is displaced this time to detect that the floor surface is a carpet. Then, the drive motor of the rotary brush automatically rotates to knock out the dust on the carpet and start sucking it. When the floor becomes a flat floor, the floor sensor detects that it is not a carpet floor, and the rotation of the rotary brush automatically stops. Further, when the power brush is lifted and separated from the floor surface, the lifting sensor operates and the motor of the power brush is automatically switched to a non-rotatable state.

[Embodiment of the Invention] FIGS. 1 (a) to (e) are configuration explanatory views of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, (S) is a floor surface detector.
Reference numeral (21) is a vessel frame of the floor surface detector (S), which is made of synthetic resin and formed into a substantially rectangular box shape, and includes a lower frame (22), an inner frame (23), and an upper lid (24) covering these. Lower frame (22) and middle frame (23)
The inside of each is divided into two large and small chambers (22a), (22b) and (23a), (23b). Especially the lower frame (22)
As shown in (e), the bottom plate of the is exposed hole (22c) for restricting the lower limit position of the displacement range and the regulating claw (22d), or it is easy to accumulate inside the movable body as described below. A plurality of drop holes (22e) are provided to drop sand and dust.

(25) and (26) are two movable bodies, which are vertically movable in the small chamber (22b) and the large chamber (22a) of the lower frame (22). Both movable bodies (25) and (26) are both holders (25
a) and (26a) and contacts (25b) and (26b). The holders (25a) and (26a) and the lower frame (22) and the middle frame (23) are coated with a conductive material on their surfaces to be treated to prevent charging. The surface resistance is set to about 10 ⁶ ohms by coating the conductive material. (25c) and (26c) are frame-shaped holders of holders (25a) and (26a) for holding the contacts (25b) and (26b), (25d) and (26
The column d) extends upward and penetrates the middle frame (23). A plurality of semicircular ribs are vertically formed on the four side faces of the holding portions (25c) and (26c), and the ribs move vertically without contact with the inner surface of the lower frame (22) and have an appropriate space. It is made so that garbage is not collected. Further, the tip end of the pillar portion (26d) scrapes off the peripheral surfaces on both sides to form a flat surface, and this flat surface serves as the shielding portion (26e). Contact (2
5b) and (26b) have weak elasticity, for example hardness H
Soft synthetic resin material of S80-95 is used. One of the contacts (25b) is formed by using such a material into an inverted chevron shape having a U-shaped cross section and a rounded tip, and the inverted chevron portion is projected downward and bonded to the holding portion (25c). There is. The other contactor (26b) is composed of a wheel that rotates around a thin rotation shaft (26f) supported by the holding portion (26c). One of the contacts (25b) has a roundness of about 3R and has a width of about 8 in the paper surface direction (X direction in FIGS. 2 and 3) in FIG.
It is made wide in mm. In addition, a wheel-shaped contactor (26
b) is narrower, about 2 mm wide and about 14 mm in diameter. Depending on the quality and type of carpet, the width and diameter of the wheel range from 1 to
It is appropriately selected within the range of 3 mm and 5 to 25 mm.

(27) is a connecting piece (28) and (29) that is placed in the chamber (23a) of the middle frame (23) and is made of a dark (eg black) synthetic resin.
Is a coil spring. Cylindrical part (27a) of connecting piece (27)
The tip of the pillar part (25d) is fitted from below, the coil spring (28) is fitted on the outer periphery, the bent part (27b) extends horizontally and extends to the chamber (23b), and the tip part is the shield part. It constitutes (27c). The pressing force of the coil springs (28) and (29) is 50 ~
In the range of 300 g, the spring constant is largely selected on the (29) side, and it is configured to be sensitive to the flexibility of the floor surface.

(31) and (32) are non-contact type photodetectors that detect the displacements of the movable bodies (25) and (26), and are vertically stacked in two layers inside the chamber (23b) of the middle frame (23). It is arranged. Light detector (31)
Both (32) and (32) are formed in a substantially U-shape and have the same structure, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged at the open end so as to face each other in the horizontal direction. For example, a light emitting diode called an LED is used for the light emitting element, and a photodiode for converting light into an electric signal is used for the light receiving element. Further, a shield portion (27c) of the connecting piece (27) and a shield portion (26e) of the holder (26a) are interposed in the U-shaped gap between the photodetectors (31) and (32). The coil springs (28) and (29) allow the movable body (2
5) and (26) are constantly pressed downward, and when these movable bodies (25) and (26) move up and down, the optical paths (L1) and (L2) of both photodetectors (31) and (32) Is blocked or opened.
(33) is a printed board, (34) is its lead wire, (35) and (36) are connectors. Photodetectors (31) and (32) are soldered to the printed board (33), and two light receiving elements are connected in series here. This photodetector (31) and (3
The printed board (33) integrated with 2) is inserted into the chamber (23b) of the middle frame (23) from above and is detachably attached. In addition, the lead wire (34) is connected to the insertion hole (24
Derived out of a). A lifting sensor (S1) is configured by the left movable body (25), the connecting piece (27), the photodetector (31), etc., and the right movable body (25), the photodetector (32), etc. Is a floor sensor (S2). Further, (F1) is a hard floor surface and (F2) is a soft floor surface.

FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view of a power brush to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 4 is a right sectional view of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a bottom view of FIG. In FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, some components partially overlap with FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, but they will be described in a little more detail here.

3 to 5, (1) is a casing made of hard synthetic resin, and (2) is an air intake port provided in the axial direction of the lower surface of the casing (1). (3) is a rotary brush, (3a) is the bristles of the brush, and (3b) is the brush shaft. Spiral irregularities are formed on the outer periphery of the brush shaft (3b), and brush bristles (3a) are planted along the irregularities.
(4) is a motor, and (5) is a belt having a tooth profile, and the rotation of the motor (4) is transmitted to the rotary brush (3) via the belt (5). (6) is an electric circuit section composed of a printed board. The circuit section (6) controls the motor (4) based on the detection operation of the floor surface detector (S). (7)
Is a connecting portion having a loose taper at its tip, (8) and (9) are rear and front rollers attached to the left and right of the lower surface of the casing (1), and (10) is a power connector. An expandable pipe is connected to the taper of the pipe connecting portion (7) and is connected to the main body of the cleaner via a flexible hose. Then, the plug of the cord arranged along the hose is fitted into the power supply connector (10) to supply power to the motor (4) and the like. Further, the rear roller (8) and the front roller (9) form an air inflow path by keeping a constant floor space formed by the casing (1) and the floor surface, and slide on the floor surface of the power brush. It is for smoothing.

Thus, the illustrated floor detector (S) including both sensors (S1) and (S2) described above has a floor sensor (S2) inside the casing (1) of the power brush, slightly inside the bottom. It is mounted in advance in the sliding direction (X).

The operation of the power brush having the floor detector (S) of the present invention having such a structure will be described below with reference to FIG.

In a normal state, both movable bodies (25) and (26) are pushed downward by the coil springs (28) and (29), and the contacts (25b) and (26b) are at the lower limit position of the displacement range. (A) to (c) of FIG. 1 show the normal state, and the contactor (25b)
And (26b) keep the exposure length (H1) and (H2). In this state, the shield portion (27c) that is displaced integrally with the contactor (25b) is on the optical path (L1) of the photodetector (31) to block light. On the contrary, the shield (2b) of the contact (26b)
6e) is located below the optical path (L2) to release light.

When the power brush is placed on the floor surface (11), the floor surface (11)
Is a flat floor such as a wooden floor or a folding floor, and the above-mentioned hard floor surface (F1)
In the case of, the floor space is maintained at the space formed by the front and rear rollers (8) and (9). Therefore, the movable body (25) is higher than that in the normal state of FIG. 1 (a). The movable body (26) is slightly displaced upward. Figure 6 (b) shows the state at this time, and the two contacts (25b)
And (26b) contact the hard floor (F1) and have the same exposure length (H
3) has been set. Then, the optical path (L
1) is opened, but the optical path (L2) of the photodetector (32) is blocked. Therefore, one of the light receiving elements connected in series becomes non-conductive, and the rotary brush (3) stops rotating. In this state, the motor (4) is ready for rotation.

Here, when a hand switch of a hose (not shown) is turned on, the dust collecting motor of the main body rotates. When the dust collecting motor rotates, the dust is sucked together with the air from the air suction port (2) and is collected by the main body, and the floor and the folding floor are cleaned.

Next, when the floor surface (11) moves from a wooden floor or a folding floor to a carpet floor,
The soft floor surface (F2) of the carpet floor is detected by the floor surface detector (S) as follows.

The movable body (25) configured by the wide contactor (25b) which receives a weak spring pressure has a small vertical displacement and is held at an exposure length (H3) substantially the same as that of the hard floor surface (F1). On the other hand, the movable body (26) receives the strong spring pressure of the coil spring (29) and presses the soft floor surface (F2) from above. Moreover, the contact (26b) is made to smoothly rotate on a wheel having a narrow width. Therefore, the contact (26b) is
In step 2), the flexible carpet is pressed and penetrates between the legs to increase the exposed length. As a result, the exposed length of the contact (26b) becomes (H4), and the shield part (26e) has both exposed length (H4).
The optical path (L2) is opened by descending by the distance (ΔH) of − (H3). This state is shown in FIG.

As shown, when both optical paths (L1) and (L2) are opened,
The two light receiving elements of the photodetectors (31) and (32) connected in series are brought into conduction, and a drive signal is given to the electric circuit section (6). The drive signal causes the motor (4) to rotate and the rotary brush (3) to rotate via the belt (5). When the rotary brush (3) rotates, dust accumulated between the hair legs of the carpet is knocked out as in the conventional case, and the hammered dust is sucked together with air by the dust collecting motor of the main body. In this way, the carpet floor is detected by the floor detector (S), and the rotary brush (3) automatically rotates to clean the carpet floor.

When the floor surface moves from a carpet floor to a board floor or a folding floor, the floor surface sensor (S1) and lifting sensor (s2) return to the state of (b) in Fig. 6 and the rotary brush (3) automatically rotates. And the power brush is switched to the hard floor (F1).

When the power brush is lifted and released from the floor, the normal state shown in (c) of Fig. 1 is reached, the movable body (25) makes the photodetector (31) side non-conductive, and the motor (4) rotates. It becomes impossible. The relationship between the on / off operations of the floor surface sensor (S1), the lifting sensor (S2) and the rotary brush (3) corresponding to the arrangement state of the power brush according to the above description is displayed as follows.

Air Carpet Board Floor Sensor (S1) ON ON OFF Sensor (S2) OFF ON ON Brush (3) OFF ON OFF That is, the floor sensor (S1) has a relative height with the optical path (L2) that is high, medium or low. It operates in OFF, on, and ON in three stages, and the lifting sensor (S2) has two stages, the relative height of the optical path (L1) is high and low.
The operation of OFF, on is performed. Therefore, according to the floor surface detector of the present invention, an appropriate cleaning method is automatically selected to clean the floor surface F.

FIG. 7 is a configuration explanatory view of another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the power brush casing (1), the upper lid (24), and the middle frame (23) are provided with ventilation holes (1a), (24b). And (23c) are provided. Then, the clean air around the upper part of the casing (1) is sucked from the air suction port (2) through the air passage formed by these ventilation ports (1a), (24b) and (23c). It is a thing. According to the embodiment of FIG. 7, since the inside of the floor detector is always kept clean,
There is an advantage that malfunctions due to dust and the like can be prevented.

In the above embodiment, the contact of the lifting sensor is configured by a non-rotating block, and the contact on the floor sensor side has been described as an example in which it can be rotated by wheels, but both contacts are wheels or blocks. May be. Further, although the rotation of the rotary brush is controlled by the lifting sensor, the dust collecting motor of the cleaner body may be controlled simultaneously or independently. According to this structure, the motor with high power does not run idle, so that an energy-saving type cleaner can be realized. Also, the case where the floor is included in the hard floor and cleaning is performed by stopping the rotation of the rotary brush has been explained, but the width of the contactor, the spring constant of the coil spring, etc. are appropriately selected, and the floor sensor detects the floor. May be detected. With this, the dust collected between the eyes of the folding with the rotary brush,
It can be knocked out and cleaned. Also, by arranging a plurality of floor surface sensors in the floor surface detector, it is possible to discriminate and detect board floors, folding floors and carpet floors, or carpets with different physical properties due to different weaves and processing methods. It can also be configured to do so.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be expected.

(1) The present invention relates to a floor brush main body having a rotating body in contact with a floor surface and a drive motor for driving the rotating body, wherein the floor surface of the floor brush main body is pressed against the floor surface by an elastic body. A floor surface sensor provided with a movable body having a contactor which is displaced in the vertical direction in response to a change in surface state and comes into contact with the floor surface at the lower end; and an elastic body pressing the floor surface side of the floor brush main body against the floor surface. And a lifting sensor provided with a movable body having a contactor that is vertically displaced according to the presence or absence of the floor surface and comes into contact with the floor surface at the lower end, and the contactor of the floor surface sensor and the contactor of the lifting sensor are close to each other. And the detection units for detecting the displacement of each movable body are vertically adjacent to each other, the movable body end of the floor sensor is above the detection unit, and the movable body end of the lifting sensor is the detection unit. A floor surface detector disposed below the section, the floor surface sensor and the front When the detection information of the lifting sensor is different, the electric vacuum cleaner is configured to control so as to stop the driving of the rotating body. As a result, the rotary brush automatically rotates only when the power brush arrives at the carpet, and the rotary brush always stops rotating except during cleaning. Since the lifting sensor is provided close to the floor sensor and the lifting sensor, almost the same location can be detected.
More accurate information can be obtained.

(2) Since the contact of the lifting sensor is formed in an inverted mountain shape with a rounded tip, it is possible to prevent a detection malfunction due to wear of the contact. Also, since the lifting sensor is formed in an inverted mountain shape with the tip rounded, moving the power brush even when cleaning the carpet causes the contactor to move up and down smoothly according to the condition of the floor surface, and the operation during cleaning. Is reliably detected.

(3) Since the contactor of the floor sensor is composed of wheels made of soft synthetic resin material, the contactor can be flexibly dealt with even when it is caught in the groove of the board floor or the fiber of the carpet, so that the contactor is not damaged. Can be prevented. Also, even when the power brush is moved laterally, the surface of the floor is not scratched.

(4) Since the device frame of the floor surface detector is attached slightly inside the bottom surface of the casing of the power brush, the floor surface detector can be protected from external force due to cleaning and failure can be prevented.

(5) Since the sand and dust drop holes are provided on the bottom surface of the equipment frame, it is possible to prevent dust from accumulating inside the floor surface detector.
Further, it is possible to take out the invaded dust by utilizing the drop hole.

(6) Since the air above the casing is made to flow into the suction port of the power brush by the air passage formed by the device frame and the ventilation port provided in the casing, the inside of the floor detector is always kept clean and dust is removed. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a malfunction due to the above.

(7) Since the vicinity of the storage chamber of the vessel frame and the holder portion of the movable body are coated with a conductive material to prevent electrostatic charge, dust and dirt do not adhere. Therefore, the displacement of the movable body in the vertical direction is smooth, and no failure occurs.

(8) Since the displacement for both sensors is configured to be detected by the non-contact type detector, the fatal chattering generated at the mechanical contact can be eliminated.

(9) Two detectors for both sensors are fixed to one printed board and detachably attached to the device frame, so the electric circuit part is compactly packed, which is convenient for inspection and repair of parts. is there.

(10) Since a photodetector is used as a non-contact type detector, the detection sensitivity of the displacement of the movable body is high, and no failure occurs.

(11) The floor surface sensor and the shield portion of the lifting sensor, which is displaced following the movable body, are composed of a dark-colored member that absorbs or reflects light or a member that is coated with plating. As a result, the shielding portion passes through the "U-shaped" gap of the photodetector to block or open the optical path, so that the detection operation of the floor surface sensor and the lifting sensor is accurately performed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a floor surface detector for a vacuum cleaner which is convenient and compact, and which does not cause a failure. In particular, the floor surface detector of the present invention is provided with the contactors of the floor surface sensor and the contactors of the lifting sensor in close proximity to each other, and the detection units for detecting the displacement of each movable body are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, Since the movable body end of the sensor is arranged above the detection part and the movable body end of the lifting sensor is arranged below the detection part, not only the floor surface detector but also the floor brush main body is very compact. The configuration is improved and the usability is further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a side sectional view, (b) is a Y1-Y1 sectional view of (a), and (c) is of (a).
Y2-Y2 cross section, (d) is Y3-Y3 cross section of (a), (e)
Is a bottom view of (a), FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the structure of a power brush to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 4 is a right sectional view of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a bottom view of FIG. 3, and (a) and (b) of FIG. Is an operation explanatory diagram of the present invention,
FIG. 7 is a structural explanatory view of another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a structural explanatory view of a conventional power brush, and FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of FIG. In the figure, (1) is a casing and (2) is an air inlet. (3) is a rotary brush, (4) is a motor,
(5) is a belt, (6) is an electric circuit section, (7) is a connection section, (8) and (9) are rear rollers and front rollers, (11) and (S) are floor detectors, and (21) ) Is a frame, (25) and (26) are movable bodies, (25b) and (26b) are contacts, (26e) and (27c).
Is a shield, (27) is a connecting piece, (28) and (29) are coil springs, (31) and (32) are photodetectors, (34) is a printed board,
(35) is a lead wire, (36) and (37) are connectors, (S)
Is a floor detector, (S1) is a lifting sensor, (S2) is a floor sensor, (H1) and (H2) are exposed lengths, (F1) is a hard floor,
(F2) Soft floor, (L1) and (L2) are optical paths, and (X) is sliding direction. The same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same or corresponding parts.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Koji Yanagida 1728 Omaeda, Hanazono-cho, Osato-gun, Saitama 1 Mitsubishi Electric Home Equipment Co., Ltd. Mitsubishi Electric Home Equipment Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-54-63556 (JP, A) JP-A-63-9415 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A floor brush main body internally having a rotating body in contact with the floor surface and a drive motor for driving the rotating body, the floor brush main body being pressed against the floor surface side by an elastic body on the floor surface side of the floor brush main body. A floor surface sensor provided with a movable body having a contactor that is displaced in the vertical direction in response to a state change and contacts the floor surface at the lower end, and is pressed against the floor surface by an elastic body on the floor surface side of the floor brush main body, Lifting sensor provided with a movable body having a contactor that is vertically displaced according to the presence or absence of a floor surface and comes into contact with the floor surface at the lower end, and the contactor of the floor surface sensor and the contactor of the lifting sensor are placed close to each other. Provided, the detection units for detecting the displacement of each movable body are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, the movable body end of the floor sensor is above the detection unit, and the movable body end of the lifting sensor is the detection unit. A floor surface detector disposed below, the floor surface sensor and the lifting An electric vacuum cleaner, which controls to stop the driving of the rotating body when the detection information of the charge sensor is different.