JP2003164399A - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To determine the state of a floor suction tool by a current value, it is not known whether the rotating brush is rotating as the state of the floor suction tool, and the electric blower or floor of the main body is not known. There is a problem that it is difficult to finely control the electric motor of the suction tool for the floor according to the state of the suction tool for the floor. An electric motor (10) for rotating a rotating brush (9).
A floor suction device connection detection unit 13, a floor suction device leaving detection unit 14, a temperature protection unit 16, and a temperature protection operation detection unit 1.
7, the state of the floor suction tool is determined from these information, and fine control of the electric blower 6 and the electric motor 10 can be performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner used in general households.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electric vacuum cleaners have become more sophisticated in recent years and not only control electric blowers that generate suction power, but also install a motor in the floor suction tool to rotate a rotating brush to scrape up dust. The control for increasing the suction performance is also complicated. Conventionally, the control of this kind of floor suction tool is shown in FIG.
There was something like that shown in 7. The configuration will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, 101 is a vacuum cleaner body, 102 is a hose, 103 is a hand operation part, and 104 is a hand operation part.
Is an extension pipe, and 105 is a floor suction tool. Inside the main body 101, there is an electric blower 106 for suctioning, and a dust collection chamber 107 for collecting the sucked dust, and 108 is an electric blower driving means for driving the electric blower 106. Also,
In the floor suction tool 105, there are a rotating brush 109 that rotates to scrape up dust and an electric motor 110 that rotates the rotating brush 109. Reference numeral 111 is an electric motor drive means for driving the electric motor 110, and 112 is an electric motor current detection means for detecting a current flowing through the electric motor 110. Reference numeral 113 is a floor suction tool state determination means for determining the state of the floor suction tool from the detection current of the electric motor current detection means 112.

The operation of the above configuration is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the hose 102, the extension pipe 104, and the floor suction tool 105 are connected to the electric vacuum cleaner body 101, the power source (not shown) is connected, and the hand operation unit 103 is operated, the electric blower driving means 108 is connected. Signal is output to the electric blower 10
At the same time that 6 starts operating, a signal is also output to the electric motor drive means 111, the electric motor 110 operates, and the rotating brush 109 rotates to scrape up dust. After that, the dust is sucked by the electric blower 106 by the floor suction device 105.
Is conveyed to the dust collecting chamber 107 in the electric vacuum cleaner body 101 via the extension pipe 104 and the hose 102. Here, when the floor suction tool 105 moves away from the floor, the current changes to the electric motor 110, and the floor suction tool state determination means 113 causes the floor suction tool 105 to move away from the floor due to the current change from the electric motor current detection means 112. It is determined that the electric blower 106 is present, and the input supplied to the electric blower 106 is lowered to perform operation control such as suppressing unnecessary power consumption.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional electric vacuum cleaner, the operation control of the electric blower 106 is judged by the electric current flowing through the electric motor 110 of the electric motor 110, so that the floor suction device 105 of the floor suction device 105 is controlled. Although it is possible to determine whether the rotating brush is rotating or whether the extension pipe 104 is connected to the floor suction tool 105 as a state, the temperature state of the electric motor 110 is unknown, and for example, the temperature of the electric motor 110 is Even when the driving of the electric motor 110 is stopped to a high level, no current is flowing through the electric motor 110, so it is determined that cleaning is not in progress, and the input supplied to the electric blower 106 is lowered, so that the electric motor is However, there is a problem that the durability of 110 is reduced.

The present invention solves the above problems and improves the durability of a motor for driving a rotary brush for scraping up dust contained in a floor suction tool, and also improves safety and usability. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric vacuum cleaner that can realize a low running cost.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has a cleaner body containing an electric blower for generating suction air, a rotary brush for scraping dust and an electric motor for rotating the rotary brush. Floor suction device, a floor suction device connection detection unit that determines a communication state between the floor suction device and the electric blower, and a floor suction device that determines a grounding state of the floor suction device and a surface to be cleaned. A tool leaving detection unit, a temperature protection unit that shuts off power supply to the electric motor when the temperature of the electric motor exceeds a predetermined value, and a temperature protection operation detection unit that detects that the temperature protection unit has operated. An electric vacuum cleaner that controls the driving operation of the electric blower or the electric motor based on information from the floor suction tool connection detection section, the floor suction tool leaving detection section, and the temperature protection operation detection means, and the floor suction tool connection. In the detector Detecting the connection state of the floor suction tool. For example, when the floor suction device is not connected,
It is determined that cleaning is not in progress, and the rotation speed of the electric blower is reduced below the reference value to reduce noise. In addition, the floor suction tool leaving detection unit detects the contact state between the floor suction tool and the surface to be cleaned. Therefore, for example, when it is determined that the floor suction tool is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned, it is determined that cleaning is not being performed, and the rotation speed of the electric blower is reduced below the reference value to reduce noise. Further, the temperature protection operation detecting means detects the driving state of the electric motor, and for example, when the electric motor is not driven,
It is determined that the temperature of the electric motor is high, and the rotation speed of the electric blower is increased above the reference value to reduce the temperature of the electric motor. From the above, when the temperature of the electric motor is high as in the conventional example, it is possible to solve the problem of lowering the input supplied to the electric blower, impairing the durability of the electric motor, and depending on the actual usage of the floor suction tool. By controlling the driving operation of the electric blower or the electric motor, it is possible to provide an electric vacuum cleaner that can realize low noise and low running cost.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is
A cleaner main body having a built-in electric blower that emits suction air, a floor suction tool having a rotary brush that scrapes up dust and an electric motor that rotates the rotary brush, and a communication state between the floor suction tool and the electric blower. Floor suction tool connection detection section to determine, floor suction tool leaving detection section to determine the grounding state of the floor suction tool and the surface to be cleaned, and when the temperature of the electric motor is higher than a predetermined value A temperature protection means for cutting off power supply to the electric motor; and a temperature protection operation detection means for detecting that the temperature protection means has operated, the floor suction tool connection detection section and the floor suction tool leaving detection section. An electric vacuum cleaner that controls the operation of the electric blower or the electric motor based on the information from the temperature protection operation detection means detects the connection state of the floor suction tool by the floor suction tool connection detection unit. For example, when the floor suction tool is not connected, it is determined that cleaning is not being performed, the rotation speed of the electric blower is reduced below the reference value, and noise is reduced. In addition, the floor suction tool leaving detection unit detects the contact state between the floor suction tool and the surface to be cleaned. Therefore, for example, when it is determined that the floor suction tool is not in contact with the surface to be cleaned, it is determined that cleaning is not being performed, and the rotation speed of the electric blower is reduced below the reference value to reduce noise. Further, the temperature protection operation detecting means detects the driving state of the electric motor. For example, when the electric motor is not driven, it is determined that the temperature of the electric motor is high, and the rotation speed of the electric blower is increased above the reference value to change the electric motor Try to reduce the temperature. From the above, when the temperature of the electric motor is high as in the conventional example, it is possible to solve the problem of lowering the input supplied to the electric blower, impairing the durability of the electric motor, and depending on the actual usage of the floor suction tool. By controlling the operation of the electric blower or electric motor,
An electric vacuum cleaner that can realize low noise and low running cost can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the temperature protection operation detection means detects that the temperature protection means has operated, the power supply to the electric motor is stopped, so that the durability of the electric motor can be improved. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the temperature protection means operates once and the temperature drops after the electric motor is stopped, the rotating brush is automatically rotated. The electric power is supplied so as to start the rotation of the rotary brush again by operating the operating means for driving operation, and thus the safety of the electric vacuum cleaner can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a floor suction tool rotation informing means for informing a user of a power supply state of the floor suction tool to the electric motor, which is in a normal state or an abnormal stop state. This informs the user of this fact and can improve the safety of the electric vacuum cleaner.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided load detection means for detecting the load of the electric motor of the floor suction tool, and the operation of the temperature protection means of the floor suction tool is detected based on the detection result of the load detection means. The decision is made.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided temperature protection means return detection means for detecting that the operation of the temperature protection means of the floor suction tool has been released, and the temperature protection means is released. After the detection, the electric power is supplied to the electric motor so as to start the rotation of the rotary brush again by operating the operation means for driving operation, so that the safety of the electric vacuum cleaner can be improved.

In the invention according to claim 7 of the present invention, after the operation of the temperature protection means of the floor suction tool is canceled by the temperature protection means return detection means, the user is informed that the state has returned, The electric power is supplied to start the rotation of the rotary brush again, and the usability and safety of the electric vacuum cleaner can be improved.

In the invention according to claim 8 of the present invention, when the temperature protection means of the floor suction tool is operated, cooling switching means is provided so as to increase the cooling efficiency until the temperature protection means is released. Is.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the judgment value of the state of the floor suction device is stored in the external storage means.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the time for judging the state of the floor suction tool is stored in the external storage means.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The overall structure of the electric vacuum cleaner of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 shows a simplified configuration diagram of the floor suction tool. A system block diagram is shown in FIG. 1 and a circuit block diagram is shown in FIG. Here, 1 is a main body of an electric vacuum cleaner, 2 is a hose, 3 is a hand operation part, 4 is an extension pipe, and 5 is a floor suction tool. Body 1
An electric blower 6 for sucking and a dust collection chamber 7 for collecting the sucked dust are provided inside, and 8 is an electric blower driving means for driving the electric blower 6. Also, the floor suction tool 5
Inside, there are a rotating brush 9 that rotates to scrape up dust, and an electric motor 10 that rotates the rotating brush 9. Reference numeral 11 is an electric motor driving means for driving the electric motor 10, and 12 is a leaving-bed stopping means for stopping the rotation of the rotary brush by shutting off the electric power constituted by, for example, a switch when the floor suction tool floats from the floor surface. is there. Reference numeral 13 denotes a floor suction device connection detection unit configured by a resistance that detects connection of the floor suction device, and 14 denotes a floor suction device removal detection unit configured by a resistance that detects removal of the floor suction device.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a floor suction device state determination means for determining the state of the floor suction device from the outputs of the floor suction device connection detection unit 13 and the floor suction device leaving detection unit 14. Reference numeral 16 denotes a temperature protection unit configured by a thermostat or the like, which detects the temperature and shuts off the electric power supply to the electric motor 10 for protection when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. Reference numeral 17 denotes a temperature protection operation detection means for detecting that the temperature protection means 16 has operated, and 1
Reference numeral 8 is a floor suction tool rotation informing means for informing the user that the rotating brush 9 is in a rotating state. 19 is an electric motor 10
Is a load detecting means for detecting the load state, and 20 is a temperature protecting means return detecting means for detecting that the temperature protecting means 16 is in a returning state due to a temperature decrease. Reference numeral 21 is a cooling switching means for switching the flow of air in the floor suction device 5 to increase the cooling efficiency. Reference numeral 22 is an external storage means composed of an EEPROM or the like.

The operation of the above configuration is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 5, the vacuum cleaner body 1 has a hose 2, an extension tube 4,
When the floor suction device 5 is connected, a power source (not shown) is connected and the hand operation unit 3 is operated, a signal is output to the electric blower drive means 8 and the electric blower 6 starts operating, and at the same time,
A signal is also output to the electric motor driving means 11 to operate the electric motor 10, and the rotating brush 9 rotates to scrape up dust. After that, the dust is carried by the intake air generated by the electric blower 6 from the floor suction tool 5 through the extension pipe 4 and the hose 2 to the dust collection chamber 7 in the electric vacuum cleaner body 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, here, when the floor suction device 5 is removed, the fact that the floor suction device 5 is removed by the floor suction device connection detection unit 13 is The power setting of the main body 1 can be set to the nozzleless mode by the detection by the floor suction tool state determination means 15. In this case, it is conceivable to connect an attachment other than the floor suction tool 5 to perform cleaning, and by determining the power of the electric blower 6, it is possible to perform convenient control. Further, it is also possible to cut off the power supply to the electric motor 10 and suppress the extra energy consumption. Next, when the floor suction tool 5 is connected and is separated from the surface to be cleaned, the motor 10 side is shut off by the wake-up stop means, and only the floor suction tool connection detection unit 13 is connected. In this state, the floor suction tool state determination means 15
Is detected, the power setting of the electric blower 6 can be set as the nozzle leaving mode. In this state, it can be basically determined that cleaning is not performed, and the power of the electric blower 6 can be reduced to reduce unnecessary energy consumption. Next, in a normal use state, when the rotating brush 9 is rotating, the floor suction tool connection detection unit 13 and the floor suction tool leaving detection unit 14 are connected in a parallel relationship, and
The electric motor 10 itself is also connected in parallel at the same time. Here, under some conditions such as overload operation, the electric motor 1
When the temperature protection means 16 for protecting when the temperature of 0 rises and becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature operates, the electric motor 1
Since 0 is cut off, the temperature protection operation detecting means 17 can detect the operation of the temperature protection means 16 because the impedance of the electric motor 10 has disappeared.
As a result, when the temperature protection means 16 operates, the power supply to the electric motor 10 can be cut off, and extra energy consumption can be suppressed. The relationship between the voltages input to the floor suction device state determination means 15 and the temperature protection operation detection means 17 due to the difference in impedance is as shown in FIG. When the floor suction device 5 is not connected, the impedance becomes high and the result becomes d in FIG. At this time, the floor suction tool connection detection unit 13
The floor suction tool leaving detection unit 14 and the floor suction tool leaving detection unit 14 may be configured to include a capacitor, a coil, and the like, and may be distinguished from each other based on a difference in voltage waveform due to impedance or on / off of power supply.

When the temperature is lowered and the temperature protection means 16 is automatically restored and is restored to the conductive state, the electric power supply from the electric motor drive means 11 is cut off so that the rotation does not start suddenly. The safety can be further improved by inputting the driving operation from the hand-side operation unit 3 and restarting the rotation of the rotary brush 9, that is, the power supply to the electric motor 10. Further, the floor suction tool rotation notification means 1 for the user that the rotating brush 9 is rotating or not rotating.
By notifying by 8, the user can be informed whether the cleaning is performed according to the user's intention, and the cause of the abnormal stop in the locked state can be removed. The floor suction tool rotation notification means 18 may be configured to display by LED or the like, or may be notified by sound such as a buzzer. Further, since the return from the operation of the temperature protection means 16 can be similarly detected from the change of the impedance, it is possible to make sure the input of the hand operation section 3 which is rotated after the return is made effective, or if the user is notified at the time of the return, it is sure. It is possible to provide a user-friendly electric vacuum cleaner. Further, as the means for detecting the operation of the temperature protection means 16, the load detection means 19 for detecting the load of the electric motor 10 may be used. The load may be detected by detecting the current on the power supply line to the electric motor 10, or by detecting the voltage drop with respect to a predetermined resistance component on the power supply line such as a hose. From the floor suction tool state determination means 15, the fact that the floor suction tool connection detection unit 13 and the floor suction tool leaving detection unit 14 are connected in parallel with each other in a state where no load is applied from the load detection unit 19 You can also judge by receiving it.

When the temperature protection means 16 operates, the cooling switching means 21 shown in FIG. 5 switches the suction path by using, for example, a solenoid so as to give priority to cooling in order to perform cooling quickly. By increasing the amount of air flowing through the cooling path and allowing the rotating brush 9 to rotate more quickly, it is possible to provide an electric vacuum cleaner with high usability.

Further, the set values for making these judgments are provided in the external storage means 22 composed of EEPROM, flash memory or the like, so that the floor suction device 5 can be operated without changing many of the parts to be detected or judged. Of course, a simple and quick detailed setting change can be performed for a small-scale specification change of the vacuum cleaner body 1, the hose 2, and the like.

[0025]

According to the invention described in claims 1 to 7, the state of the floor suction device is detected in detail, and then the control of the electric blower of the main body according to the state or the floor suction device is performed. Can be controlled.

According to the ninth and tenth aspects of the present invention, the setting of the judgment value can be easily changed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of an electric vacuum cleaner showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of an electric vacuum cleaner showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between detected voltages of a floor suction tool of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a simplified configuration diagram of a floor suction tool of an electric vacuum cleaner showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a system block diagram of a conventional electric vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of a conventional vacuum cleaner.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Vacuum cleaner body 2 hose 3 Hand control section 4 extension pipe 5 Floor suction tool 6 electric blower 7 Dust collection chamber 8 Electric blower drive means 9 rotating brush 10 electric motor 11 Electric motor driving means 12 Stopping means when leaving the bed 13 Floor suction device connection detector 14 Floor suction tool leaving detector 15 Floor suction tool status determination means 16 Temperature protection means 17 Temperature protection operation detection means 18 Floor suction tool rotation notification means 19 Load detection means 20 Temperature protection means Recovery detection means 21 Cooling switching means 22 External storage means

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A vacuum cleaner body containing an electric blower for generating suction air, a floor suction tool having a rotary brush for scraping dust and an electric motor for rotating the rotary brush, the floor suction tool, and the electric blower. A floor suction tool connection detection unit that determines the communication state with the floor suction tool leaving detection unit that determines the grounding state of the floor suction tool and the surface to be cleaned, and the temperature of the electric motor from a predetermined value. When the temperature rises, the temperature protection means for shutting off the power supply to the electric motor and the temperature protection operation detection means for detecting the operation of the temperature protection means are provided, and the floor suction tool connection detection section and the floor suction An electric vacuum cleaner that controls the operation of the electric blower or the electric motor based on information from the tool leaving detection section and the temperature protection operation detection means. 2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein when the temperature protection operation detection means detects that the temperature protection means has operated, the electric power supply to the electric motor is stopped. 3. When the temperature protection means operates once and the motor goes into a stopped state and then the temperature drops to an operable state, the rotation operation of the rotating brush is not started automatically, but the driving operation is performed. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein electric power is supplied so as to start the rotation of the rotary brush again by operating the operating means for use. 4. A floor suction tool rotation notifying means for notifying a user of a power supply state of the floor suction tool to the electric motor, and notifying the user of a normal state or an abnormal stop state. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. The electricity according to claim 2, further comprising load detection means for detecting a load of an electric motor of the floor suction tool, and determining an operation of the temperature protection means of the floor suction tool from a detection result of the load detection means. Vacuum cleaner. 6. A temperature protection means return detection means for detecting that the operation of the temperature protection means of the floor suction tool has been released, and an operation for driving operation after detecting that the temperature protection means has been released. The electric power is supplied to the electric motor so as to restart the rotation of the rotary brush by operating the means.
Vacuum cleaner as described. 7. After the operation of the temperature protection means of the floor suction device is canceled by the temperature protection means return detection means, the user is informed of the return of the state and the electric power is supplied to start the rotation of the rotary brush again. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the electric vacuum cleaner supplies the electric power. 8. The cooling switching means for increasing the cooling efficiency until the temperature protection means is released when the temperature protection means of the floor suction tool is activated. Vacuum cleaner as described. 9. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the judgment value of the state of the floor suction tool is stored in an external storage means. 10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the determination time of the state of the floor suction tool is stored in an external storage means.