JP2004033628A - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner capable of preventing a suction port from colliding with an obstacle due to a forward moving force of a drive wheel even when an obstacle such as a wall is in a forward direction of a suction port.
The vacuum cleaner has a suction opening body (8) having a suction opening (16) on the lower surface, a drive wheel (19) attached to the suction opening body (8) and projecting downward from a lower surface of the suction opening body (8), and a drive wheel. A drive motor 22 for rotating the motor 19 forward or backward is provided. The vacuum cleaner has a moving direction detecting means 32 for detecting the forward / backward movement of the suction port body 8, and a non-contact detecting means provided on the suction port body for detecting an obstacle in the forward direction in a non-contact manner. (Obstacle sensors 41 to 43) and the drive motor to rotate the drive wheel 19 forward or backward when the forward or backward operation of the suction opening 8 is detected by the moving direction detecting means 32. A control means (control circuit 44) for controlling the rotation of the motor 22 and stopping the drive motor 22 when the non-contact detection means (obstacle sensors 41 to 43) detects an obstacle.
[Selection] Fig. 2

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner that assists a forward operation or a backward operation of a suction port body with driving wheels provided on the suction port body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional vacuum cleaners include a vacuum cleaner body provided with a dust collection chamber and an electric blower for applying suction negative pressure to the dust collection chamber, a dust collection hose connected to the dust collection chamber, and a dust collection hose. Some have a hand-operated pipe attached to the free end, an extension pipe connected to the hand-operated pipe, and a suction port connected to the extension pipe.
[0003]
In addition, as a vacuum cleaner of this type, a drive wheel that is rotationally driven by a drive motor is mounted on a bottom wall of the suction port body to assist movement of the suction port body when cleaning a carpet or the like, A moving direction detecting means for detecting a forward operation or a backward operation of the suction port body is provided, and the control means controls the rotation direction of the drive motor by a detection signal from the moving direction detecting means. Have been.
[0004]
Moreover, in this vacuum cleaner, when the user grips the operation pipe and pushes the suction port body forward through the extension pipe, the suction port body is moved forward, and the forward movement is detected by the movement direction detecting means. . The control means controls the drive motor to rotate the drive wheel forward when the forward operation of the suction port body is detected by the movement direction detection means, and the drive wheel advances the suction port body to the suction port body. By doing so, it assists the forward movement of the suction opening body by the hand operation pipe.
[0005]
On the other hand, when the suction port body is pulled backward through the extension pipe while grasping the hand operation pipe, the suction port body is moved backward, and the backward movement is detected by the movement direction detecting means. The control means controls the drive motor to rotate the drive wheel backward when the retraction operation of the suction port body is detected by the movement direction detection means, and the control means moves the suction wheel to the suction port body by the drive wheel. By doing so, it is possible to assist the backward movement of the suction port body by the operation pipe at hand.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a vacuum cleaner, when the suction port is moved to a position near an obstacle such as a wall to clean the suction port when the suction port is moved forward by the drive wheel, the suction port is driven by the drive wheel. May collide with the wall due to the forward movement force of the vehicle. In this case, the impact force is transmitted to the user's hand from the operation pipe at hand, causing discomfort to the user, damaging obstacles such as walls, and installing a PC board or the like of a control circuit in the suction port. In some cases, there is a possibility that an excessive force may act on legs (terminals) of electronic components such as resistors and capacitors attached to the PC board or the like.
[0007]
Therefore, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner that can prevent the suction port body from colliding with the obstacle due to the forward moving force of the drive wheel even when an obstacle such as a wall is in the forward direction of the suction port body. It is intended for that purpose.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes a suction opening body having a suction opening formed on a lower surface, a drive wheel attached to the suction opening body and projecting downward from a lower surface of the suction opening body, A drive motor for rotating the drive wheel forward or backward, a moving direction detecting means for detecting forward / backward movement of the suction port body, and detecting an obstacle provided in the suction port body in a forward direction in a non-contact manner. A non-contact detecting means. Further, the vacuum cleaner, when a forward operation or a backward operation of the suction port body is detected by the moving direction detecting means, controls the rotation of the drive motor to rotate the drive wheel forward or backward, A control unit for stopping the drive motor when the non-contact detection unit detects an obstacle.
[0009]
Further, the control means rotates the drive wheel backward when the movement direction detecting means detects a retreat operation of the suction port body for a predetermined time or more in a state where the non-contact detection means is detecting an obstacle. The operation of the drive motor may be controlled so as to cause the drive motor to operate.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Constitution]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a cleaner body. A dust collecting chamber 2 is formed in the main body 1 of the cleaner, and an electric blower 3 for applying a suction negative pressure to the dust collecting chamber 2 is built in the dust collecting chamber 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a paper pack filter as a dust collection bag (dust collection filter) provided in the dust collection chamber 2, and reference numeral 5 denotes a dust collection hose.
[0011]
One end of the dust collection hose 5 is connected to the cleaner body 1 and communicates with the paper pack filter 4. A hand operation pipe 6 is attached to the other end of the dust collection hose 5, and a suction port 8 is connected to the hand operation pipe 6 via an extension pipe 7. 6a is a grip for operating the operation pipe 6 at hand.
[0012]
Reference numeral 9 denotes an operation panel provided on the hand operation pipe 6, reference numerals 10 to 12 denote switches provided on the operation panel 9, and a switch 10 denotes a "OFF" switch for turning off the power. The switch 11 is a switch that turns on the power and switches the suction air volume between “medium” and “weak” each time the switch is pressed. Further, the switch 12 is a switch that turns on the power and sets the intake air volume to “strong”.
[0013]
The suction port body 8 includes a suction port main body 13 extending left and right, and a rotary tube (rotating ring, that is, an annular shape) that is rotatably mounted on a center of the rear edge of the suction port main body 13 in the left-right direction about an axis in the front-rear direction. And a connection pipe 15 rotatably held by the rotating pipe 14 about an axis orthogonal (intersecting) to the longitudinal axis. The connection pipe 15 of the suction opening 8 is connected to the extension pipe 7.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, a suction opening 16 of a suction chamber (not shown in detail) in the suction port main body 13 opens leftward and rightward on the lower surface of the bottom wall 13 a of the suction port main body 13. A rotary cleaning body 17 extending left and right along the suction opening 16 is provided in the suction chamber. The rotary cleaning body 17 is formed by spirally projecting a flexible blade 17b on a rotary shaft 17a.
[0015]
A rotation shaft 18 is provided at the center in the front-rear direction within the suction port main body 13 and extends left and right and is rotatably held on the bottom wall 13a. Driving wheels 19, 19 arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction are attached to the rotating shaft 18. The drive wheels 19, 19 project downward from drive wheel insertion holes 20, 20 formed in the left and right portions of the bottom wall 13 a adjacent to the suction opening 16.
[0016]
Further, a drive motor (drive means) 21 for driving the rotary cleaning body and a drive motor (drive means) 22 for driving the drive wheels are mounted in the suction port main body 13. The rotation of the drive motor 21 is transmitted to the rotary cleaning body 17 via the power transmission means 23, and the rotation of the drive motor 22 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 18 via the power transmission means 24. It has become.
[0017]
The power transmission means 23 includes a pulley 25 attached to the output shaft 21 a of the drive motor 21, a pulley 26 attached to the rotary shaft 17 a of the rotary cleaning body 17, and a belt 27 wrapped around the pulleys 25 and 26. Have. The rotation of the drive motor 21 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 17a of the rotary cleaning body 17 via the pulley 25, the belt 27, and the pulley 26, and the rotary cleaning body 17 is rotated.
[0018]
The power transmission means 24 has a pulley 28 attached to the output shaft 22 a of the drive motor 22, a pulley 29 attached to the end of the rotating shaft 18, and a belt 30 stretched over the pulleys 28, 29. . The rotation of the drive motor 22 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 18 via the pulley 28, the belt 30, and the pulley 29, and the drive wheels 19, 19 are rotated.
[0019]
Further, a concave portion 31 is formed in the bottom wall 13a of the suction port main body 13, and a movement direction detecting means 32 for detecting the forward / backward movement of the suction port body 8 is attached. The moving direction detecting means 32 is provided in the concave portion 31 toward the left and right and rotatably held on the bottom wall 13a, and provided integrally with the rotary shaft 33 and provided in the concave portion 31. It has a detection roller 34. One end of the rotating shaft 33 is disposed inside the suction port main body 13. Further, the detection roller 34 protrudes downward from the concave portion 31, that is, downward from the lower surface of the bottom wall 13a. The downwardly projecting amount of the detection roller 34 and the downwardly projecting amount of the drive wheel 19 are set to be substantially the same.
[0020]
In addition, the moving direction detecting means 32 includes a rotating disk 35 provided in the suction port main body 13 and fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 33, and a light emitting element 36 provided at a position sandwiching the rotating disk 35. And a light receiving element 37. The rotating disk 35 is provided with a number of slits (not shown) extending in the radial direction, and the light from the light emitting element 36 is received by the light receiving element 37 through the slit. The rotation direction of the rotating disk 35 can be detected from the light detection signal. Since a known configuration can be adopted for this configuration, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0021]
Reference numerals 38, 38 denote front wheels attached to both sides of the front edge of the suction port main body 13, and 39, 39 denote rear wheels mounted to the rear edge of the suction port main body 13. When the suction port body 13 is placed on a cleaning surface such as a tatami mat or a flooring via the front wheels 38, 38 and the rear wheels 39, 39, the driving wheel 19 and the detection roller 34 are slightly separated upward from the cleaning surface. It is in a state. When the suction port body 13 is placed on a cleaning surface such as a carpet, the drive wheel 19 and the detection roller 34 come into contact with the cleaning surface.
[0022]
Further, on the front surface of the suction port main body 13, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a non-contact detecting means 40 for detecting an obstacle in the forward direction in a non-contact manner is provided. As the non-contact detection means 40, a large number (three in this embodiment) of obstacle detection sensors (non-contact type sensors) 41, 42, 43 using laser light are used. The obstacle detection sensors 41 and 43 are provided on both sides of the front surface of the suction port main body 13, and the obstacle detection sensors 42 are provided at the center of the front surface of the suction port main body 13 in the left-right direction. In addition, as the obstacle detection sensors 41 to 43, non-contact sensors configured to detect obstacles using ultrasonic waves or the like can be used.
[0023]
4 includes ON / OFF signals from the switches 10 to 12 described above, a movement direction detection signal (rotation direction detection signal) from the light receiving element 37 of the movement direction detection means 32, and obstacle detection. Detection signals from the sensors 41 to 43 are input. The arithmetic and control circuit 44 controls the operation of the electric blower 3 and the drive motors 21 and 22. In addition, a PC board (not shown) of a control circuit including a power supply circuit of the drive motors 21 and 22 is provided in the suction port main body 13, but illustration thereof is omitted. The arithmetic control circuit 44 controls driving of the drive motors 21 and 22 via a control circuit (not shown) in the suction port main body 13. Since a well-known configuration can be adopted for this configuration, description thereof is omitted.
[Action]
Next, the operation of the vacuum cleaner having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Step S1
In such a configuration, when the switch 11 or the switch 12 is pressed, the electric blower 3 is operated in step S1, and the process proceeds to step S2. At this time, the suction negative pressure of the electric blower 3 acts on the suction port 8 via the dust collection chamber 2, the dust collection hose 5, the hand operation pipe 6 and the extension pipe 7.
[0024]
Then, due to the suction negative pressure, dust is sucked into the suction port body 13 of the suction port body 8 from the suction opening 16 together with the air. The sucked dust and air flow into the paper pack filter 4 in the dust collection chamber 2 via the extension pipe 7, the hand operation pipe 6, and the dust collection hose 5. The inflowing dust is captured by the paper pack filter 4, while the inflowing air passes through the paper pack filter 4 and is sucked into the electric blower 3 to cool the inside of the electric blower 3, and then an exhaust outlet (not shown) It is exhausted from.
[0025]
In such a state, the cleaning surface is cleaned by grasping the grip 6a of the operation pipe 6 at hand and moving the suction opening 8 back and forth. When the cleaning surface is a cleaning surface such as a tatami mat or a flooring, the rotating cleaning body 17 and the detection roller 34 do not contact the cleaning surface.
[0026]
When the cleaning surface is a cleaning surface such as a carpet, the front wheel 38 and the rear wheel 39 sink into the carpet, and the rotary cleaning body 17 and the detection roller 34 come into contact with the cleaning surface.
Step S2
In this step, the arithmetic and control circuit 44 causes the suction port body 8 to be placed on a cleaning surface such as a carpet and performs a forward operation, and causes the detection roller 34 of the movement direction detecting means 32 provided on the suction port body 8 to rotate forward. It is determined from the detection signal of the light receiving element 37 whether or not the detection is performed.
[0027]
That is, the arithmetic and control circuit 44 determines whether or not the light receiving element 37 detects a signal in a rotation direction that matches the rotation direction of the detection roller 34 when the suction opening 8 advances.
[0028]
In this determination, when the light receiving element 37 detects a signal in a rotation direction that coincides with the rotation direction of the detection roller 34 when the suction opening 8 advances, the arithmetic control circuit 44 causes the suction opening 8 to move forward. Then, the process proceeds to step S3.
[0029]
When the light receiving element 37 does not detect a signal in a rotation direction that matches the rotation direction of the detection roller 34 when the suction port body 8 moves forward, the arithmetic control circuit 44 causes the suction port body 8 to move forward. It is determined that it has not been performed, and the process proceeds to step S7.
Step S3
In this step, the arithmetic control circuit 44 controls the operation of the drive motor 21 to rotate the rotary cleaning body 17 so as to be in the same direction as the rotation direction of the detection roller 34, so that the dust on the cleaning surface faces rearward and upward. Then, the process proceeds to step S4.
Step S4
In this step, the arithmetic control circuit 44 controls the operation of the drive motor 22 to rotate the drive wheels 19, 19 so that the rotation of the drive wheel 19, 19 is the same as the rotation direction of the rotary cleaning body 17 and the detection roller 34, and step S5. Move to The drive wheels 19, 19 contact the carpet and drive the suction opening 8 in the forward direction. Accordingly, when the user performs the forward operation while grasping the grip portion 6a of the hand operation pipe 6, the forward operation force is very light, and cleaning becomes easy.
Step S5
In this step, the arithmetic and control circuit 44 determines from the detection signals from the obstacle sensors 41 to 43 whether or not the suction port body 8 has approached a predetermined distance (for example, 5 to 10 cm) with respect to an obstacle such as a wall. I do. At this time, the obstacle sensors 41 to 43 may output an obstacle detection signal when approaching a predetermined distance, for example, 5 to 10 cm, to an obstacle such as a wall. Further, the obstacle sensors 41 to 43 detect the distance to the obstacle, and the arithmetic and control circuit 44 causes the suction port 8 to move the predetermined distance from the obstacle based on the detection signals from the obstacle sensors 41 to 43. For example, it can be determined whether or not the vehicle approaches 5 to 10 cm.
[0030]
Then, the arithmetic control circuit 44 determines, based on the detection signals from the obstacle sensors 41 to 43, that the suction opening 8 has approached a predetermined distance (for example, 5 to 10 cm) with respect to an obstacle such as a wall. The process proceeds to step S6, and when the suction port 8 is not approaching a predetermined distance (for example, 5 to 10 cm) with respect to an obstacle such as a wall, the process returns to step S1 and loops.
[0031]
By providing the three obstacle sensors 41 and 43 on both sides of the front edge of the suction port main body 13, even if the front edge of the suction port main body 13 approaches the wall or the like in a state inclined with respect to the wall or the like. The closest one of the obstacle sensors 41 and 43 can detect a wall or the like.
Step S6
In this step, the arithmetic and control circuit 44 stops the operation of the drive motor 22, stops the rotation of the drive wheels 19, and proceeds to step S7. Due to the stop of the drive wheel 19, the forward operation force of the suction port body 8 suddenly becomes heavy, and the moving speed for moving the suction port body 8 forward with respect to an obstacle such as a wall is reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent the suction port body 8 from colliding with an obstacle such as a wall with a strong force.
[0032]
In this state, the dust on the carpet near the wall can be sucked by slightly moving the suction port body 8 back and forth. At this time, since the rotary cleaning body 17 is driven to rotate by the drive motor 21, dust on a cleaning surface such as a carpet is scraped up and sucked into the suction opening body 8.
[0033]
In addition, when the distance between the suction port body 8 and an obstacle such as a wall is within a predetermined distance (within a range of 5 cm or 10 cm), the suction port body 8 is spaced by about 1 second (the drive wheel 19 is activated). When the detection roller 34 is rotated back and forth at a time interval that is shorter than the time required for the detection, the detection signal from the light receiving element 37 changes even if the detection roller 34 is rotated back and forth. The arithmetic control circuit 44 that receives the signal maintains the state in which the drive motor 22 is stopped, and sets the state in which the rotation of the drive wheels 19 is stopped.
Step S7
In this step, the arithmetic and control circuit 44 operates the suction port body 8 to retreat for a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds or more) (or for a predetermined distance = for example, 10 cm or more), and the movement direction detection means 32 provided in the suction port body 8 It is determined from the detection signal of the light receiving element 37 whether or not the detection roller 34 is rotated backward.
[0034]
That is, the arithmetic and control circuit 44 outputs a signal in a rotation direction that coincides with the rotation direction of the detection roller 34 when the light receiving element 37 is retracted when the suction opening 8 moves backward for a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds or more) (or a predetermined rotation number). It is determined whether or not it has been detected.
[0035]
In this determination, the arithmetic and control circuit 44 detects the signal in the rotation direction in which the light receiving element 37 coincides with the rotation direction of the detection roller 34 when the suction opening 8 moves backward for a predetermined time (or a predetermined rotation speed = corresponding to a predetermined distance). If so, it is determined that the suction port body 8 has been retracted by the worker holding the grip 6a of the hand operation pipe 6, and the process proceeds to step S8.
[0036]
When the light receiving element 37 does not detect a signal in a rotation direction that matches the rotation direction of the detection roller 34 when the suction opening 8 moves backward for a predetermined period of time (or a predetermined number of rotations), It is determined that the suction port 8 has not been moved backward, and the process proceeds to step S1 to loop.
Step S8
In this step, the arithmetic and control circuit 44 causes the driving motor 21 to rotate in the reverse direction to rotate the rotary cleaning body 17 in the reverse direction, and then proceeds to step S9.
Step S9
In this step, the arithmetic and control circuit 44 causes the drive motor 22 to rotate in the reverse direction to rotate the drive wheel 19 in a reverse direction, and proceeds to step S10. As a result, the drive wheels 19, 19 drive the suction port body 8 to the retreating side, so that the operator can grasp the grip portion 6a and pull the suction port body 8 rearward with a small force.
Step S10
In this step, the arithmetic control circuit 44 determines whether or not the switch 10 has been pressed and the power-off operation has been performed. If the switch has not been pressed, the process returns to step S1 to loop. The electric blower 3 is stopped, and the process ends.
[0037]
As described above, the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention has the suction opening 8 having the suction opening 16 formed on the lower surface, and the suction opening 8 attached to the suction opening 8 and protruding downward from the lower surface of the suction opening 8. And a drive motor 22 for rotating the drive wheel 19 forward or backward. The vacuum cleaner has a moving direction detecting means 32 for detecting the forward / backward movement of the suction port body 8, and a non-contact detecting means provided on the suction port body for detecting an obstacle in the forward direction in a non-contact manner. (Obstacle sensors 41 to 43) and the drive motor to rotate the drive wheel 19 forward or backward when the forward or backward operation of the suction opening 8 is detected by the moving direction detecting means 32. A control means (control circuit 44) for controlling the rotation of the motor 22 and stopping the drive motor 22 when the non-contact detection means (obstacle sensors 41 to 43) detects an obstacle.
[0038]
According to the embodiment of the present invention, when the suction port 8 is moved forward by the driving wheel 19 to move the suction port 8 close to an obstacle such as a wall, for example, the suction port 8 is cleaned. When the suction port 8 is at a predetermined distance from the wall, for example, when the suction port body 8 approaches a range of 5 to 10 cm with respect to the wall, the forward drive of the drive wheel 19 is stopped. Collision with the wall can be avoided by the forward moving force of the vehicle.
[0039]
As a result, even if an obstacle such as a wall is in the forward direction of the suction port body 8, it is possible to prevent the suction port body 8 from colliding with the obstacle due to the forward moving force of the drive wheel 19. In this case, if the obstacle is a wall, damage to the wall can be avoided.
[0040]
In the case of the present embodiment, a PC board (not shown) of a control circuit having a power supply circuit for the drive motors 21 and 22 is provided in the suction port 8, and a resistor or a capacitor attached to the PC board or the like is provided. It is possible to prevent an unreasonable force from acting on a leg (terminal) of the electronic component or the like.
[0041]
Further, the control means (the arithmetic control circuit 44) of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention may be arranged such that the non-contact detection means (the obstacle sensors 41 to 43) detects the obstacle in the moving direction. When the detecting means 32 detects the retreat operation of the suction port body 8 for a predetermined time or more (for example, two seconds or more), the operation of the drive motor 22 is controlled to rotate the drive wheel 19 backward.
[0042]
Therefore, by operating the suction port body 8 back and forth in a shorter time than the predetermined time, it is possible to clean the vicinity of the obstacle while the driving wheel 19 is stopped. The control means (arithmetic control circuit 44) controls the drive motor 22 based on the detection signal from the movement direction detection means 32 by pulling the suction port body 8 backward for a predetermined time or more, for example, two seconds or more, and moving it backward. By controlling the operation, the drive wheel 19 is rotated backward.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, even if an obstacle such as a wall is in the forward direction of the suction port body, it is possible to prevent the suction port body from colliding with the obstacle due to the forward moving force of the driving wheel. . As a result, it is possible to prevent damage to obstacles such as walls, damage to the suction port body, and damage to a control circuit in the suction port body.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the suction port shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the suction port body of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a control circuit diagram of the vacuum cleaner of FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for drive control of the drive wheels of FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference numeral 8: suction opening 9: driving wheel 16: suction opening 22: driving motor 32: moving direction detecting means 41 to 43: obstacle sensor (non-contact detecting means)
44 ... Operation control circuit (control means)

Claims (2)

A suction opening body having a suction opening on the lower surface,
A drive wheel attached to the suction port body and protruding downward from a lower surface of the suction port body;
A drive motor for rotating the drive wheel forward or backward,
A moving direction detecting means for detecting forward / backward movement of the suction port body,
Non-contact detection means provided in the suction port body to detect an obstacle in the forward direction in a non-contact manner,
When a forward operation or a backward operation of the suction port body is detected by the moving direction detecting unit, the rotation of the drive motor is controlled so as to rotate the drive wheel forward or backward, and the non-contact detecting unit detects an obstacle. A controller for stopping the drive motor when detecting a vacuum. The control means, when the non-contact detection means is detecting an obstacle, when the movement direction detection means detects the retraction operation of the suction port body for a predetermined time or more, the control means rotates the drive wheel backward. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the drive motor is controlled.

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