JP2008173264A - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner that suppresses a decrease in suction force over time is provided.
A paper pack (31) is provided upstream of a suction air passage (25), which is a position where a second air passage (42) and a third air passage (52) of a first air passage (39) meet. An auxiliary pleat filter 43 is provided in the second air passage 42 upstream of the joining position. A fine dust filter 53 having a finer mesh than the pleated filter 43 is provided in the third air passage 52. It is possible to switch between a clogging detection state in which the main air passage W1 is formed, a suction state in which the sub air passage is formed, and a filter cleaning state in which the filter cleaning air passage is formed. When the clogging state detecting means 67 detects that the amount of dust collected in the paper pack 31 in the first air passage 39 increases and the paper pack 31 is clogged, the suction air sucked in the suction state. At the same time, dust can be branched from the second air passage 42 to the pleat filter 43, and the suction force over time can be suppressed.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting portion provided in a vacuum cleaner body.

  Conventionally, this type of vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum cleaner body that houses an electric blower. The vacuum cleaner main body is provided with a dust collecting portion in communication with the suction side of the electric blower. In addition, a main body suction port that communicates with the upstream side of the dust collecting portion is formed in the front portion of the cleaner body, and a hose body, an extension pipe, a floor brush, and the like are sequentially connected to the main body suction port. .

As a dust collection part of such a vacuum cleaner, for example, a cyclone separation type that separates dust from air by centrifugation is known. The dust collection unit includes a separation unit that centrifuges the sucked dust from the air, and a part of the suction air swirled by the separation unit flows into the first air passage together with the separated dust, The other part of the suction air flows from the central part of the separation part into the second air path. The suction air flowing into the dust collection chamber passes through the filter disposed in the dust collection chamber and merges with the suction air in the second air passage, and then the filter provided on the downstream side of the second air passage. And is sucked into the electric blower (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-135994 A (page 4, FIG. 7)

  However, in the above-described electric vacuum cleaner, although the suction air generated by the driving of the electric blower is branched by the separation unit, it finally passes through the common filter and is sucked into the electric blower. As a result, there is a problem that the suction force sequentially decreases in accordance with the degree of clogging.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the vacuum cleaner which suppressed the time-dependent fall of suction power.

  In the present invention, the dust collecting part provided in the vacuum cleaner main body sucks in through the main body suction port by driving the first air passage communicating with the suction side of the electric blower from the downstream side of the main body suction port. A second air passage branched from the first air passage on the downstream side of the main body inlet so as to inertially separate dust contained in the air, merged with the first air passage, and communicated with the suction side of the electric blower; A main filter that is provided upstream of the merging position of the first air passage with the second air passage and collects dust, and an auxiliary device that is provided upstream of the merging position of the second air passage and collects dust. And a clogging state detecting means for detecting a clogging state of the main filter, and forming a main air passage communicating from the main body suction port to the suction side of the electric blower via the first air passage. Electric transmission in a state where the downstream side of the second air passage is closed with respect to the suction side of the electric blower When the clogging detection state is detected by the clogging state detection means, and the clogging state detection means detects the clogging state of the main filter in the clogging detection state. The opening amount to the suction side of the electric blower on the downstream side of the two air passages can be switched to a suction state in which a sub air passage is formed.

  According to the present invention, the main filter is provided upstream of the merging position of the first air passage with the second air passage, the auxiliary filter is provided upstream of the merging position of the second air passage, and the main body suction The main air passage communicating with the suction side of the electric blower from the mouth via the first air passage is formed, and the downstream side of the second air passage is blocked with respect to the suction side of the electric blower and is clogged with the electric blower. A clogging detection state in which the state detection means is driven to detect the clogging state of the main filter, and when the clogging state detection means detects the clogging state of the main filter in this clogging detection state, By switching the opening amount to the suction side of the electric blower on the downstream side and switching the suction state in which the auxiliary air passage is formed, the amount of dust collected in the first air passage is increased and the first wind is increased. A clogging condition detection means that the road is clogged. There detects in the clogging detection state, in the suctioning state, dust can be made to branch to the auxiliary filter from the second air passage together with sucked air can be suppressed reduction in suction power over time.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the vacuum cleaner of the 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated with reference to drawings.

  1 to 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a cleaner body, and the cleaner body 1 is a so-called canister-type vacuum cleaner that can run on a floor surface. The vacuum cleaner main body 1 includes a main body case 4 having a lower case 2 whose upper side is opened to be inclined downward from the rear to the front, and a lid 3 that covers an upper portion of the lower case 2. In the case 4, the electric blower chamber 6 that houses the electric blower 5 is on the rear side, and the dust collection chamber 8 in which the upper part is opened and closed by the lid 3 and the dust collection unit 7 as a dust collection unit is disposed on the front side. Are partitioned by partition walls P. Further, the electric blower chamber 6 accommodates a control means 9 for controlling the operation of the electric blower 5 and the like.

  A main body suction port 11 that can communicate with the suction side of the electric blower 5 through the dust collecting unit 7 is formed at the front end of the main body case 4. A hose body 12 is attached to and detached from the main body suction port 11. A hand operating part 13 is provided at the tip of the hose body 12, and a gripping part 14 is provided on the hand operating part 13 to be gripped by an operator. A plurality of setting buttons 15 for setting an operation mode and the like of the electric blower 5 are provided by an operator. The extension pipe 16 and a floor brush 17 as a suction port body are sequentially connected to the distal end portion of the hand operation unit 13 in communication.

  Further, a cord reel around which a power cord (not shown) for supplying power to the electric blower 5 is wound is disposed in the main body case 4 so that the power cord can be taken in and out of the main body case 4.

  The electric blower 5 is disposed along a substantially central position in the left-right direction of the cleaner body 1, that is, along the central axis of the main body suction port 11 with the suction side as the front side and the exhaust side as the rear side. Further, the electric blower 5 is operated according to the operation mode set in the control means 9 by the setting button 15.

  The dust collection unit 7 includes a cylindrical communication pipe 21 that communicates with the downstream side of the main body suction port 11, and a main collection as a first dust collection section is provided at the rear end portion on the downstream side of the communication pipe 21. A dust chamber 22 is provided in communication with each other, and a first branch pipe 23 and a second branch pipe 24 are branched at a side portion of the communication pipe 21. In addition, the downstream side of the dust collection unit 7 is connected to the suction side of the electric blower 5 through the suction air passage 25.

  The communication pipe 21 is a pipe having a central axis along the opening direction of the main body suction port 11, and is opened and closed by, for example, the control means 9 between the main body suction port 11 and the downstream side of the main body suction port 11. An opening / closing valve 26 for opening / closing communication with the dust collection chamber 22 is provided. Further, on the downstream side of the communication pipe 21, a first branch opening 27 that is a branch part of the first branch pipe 23 and a second branch opening 28 that is a branch part of the second branch pipe 24 are disposed in the main dust collecting chamber 22. An opening is formed on the upstream side of each, and mesh filters 29 and 30 as branch filters are attached to the branch openings 27 and 28, respectively.

  The main dust collection chamber 22 is used mainly when cleaning the electric vacuum cleaner, and is coaxial with the communication pipe 21, that is, along the central axis of the main body suction port 11, and linear with respect to the communication pipe 21. It is connected. In the main dust collection chamber 22, a paper pack 31 as a dust collection bag as a main filter is detachably provided.

  The paper pack 31 is a filter separator that contains coarse dust D1 that is relatively heavy among the dust contained in the suction air and that collects the dust contained in the suction air through the suction air. A mouth frame 33 fixed to the dust collection chamber 22 and a bag body 34 attached to the mouth frame 33 are provided.

  The mouth frame 33 is formed of cardboard or the like, and an opening 36 into which the downstream end of the communication pipe 21 is inserted is formed at a substantially central portion.

  The bag body 34 is formed in a bag shape by laminating a plurality of layers of air permeable materials (not shown), and is folded in an unused state and configured to swell throughout the main dust collecting chamber 22 when used. Further, the bag body 34 is integrated with the mouth frame 33 by attaching the opening side to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 36 of the mouth frame 33. Further, the bag 34 has a fineness of the mesh filter 29 or more.

  The main dust collection chamber 22 has a communication opening 38 formed at the downstream end thereof and communicates with the suction air passage 25, and the suction of the electric blower 5 from the main body suction port 11 together with the communication pipe 21 and the suction air passage 25. A straight first air passage 39 communicating with the side is defined. The communication opening 38 may be provided with a filter that is about the same as a urethane filter.

  The first branch pipe 23 is partitioned along, for example, the outer wall portion of the main dust collection chamber 22, and the upstream end is connected to the first branch opening 27 of the communication pipe 21 via the mesh filter 29, and the downstream end The downstream opening 41 communicates with the suction air passage 25. For this reason, the first branch pipe 23, together with the communication pipe 21 and the suction air passage 25, is branched from the first air passage 39 to the side on the upstream side of the paper pack 31, and the first air passage is formed along the suction air passage 25. A second air passage 42 merging with 39 is defined. Therefore, the second air passage 42 has an inertia separation part that separates the dust sucked from the main body suction port 11 into the straight direction and the radial direction of the communication pipe 21 by the communication pipe 21 and the first branch pipe 23. It is composed. The downstream opening 41 of the first branch pipe 23 is provided with a pleated filter 43 as an auxiliary filter having a finer mesh than the paper pack 31.

  The pleated filter 43 collects fine dust D2, which is fine dust contained in the suction air that passes through, and collects the fine pleat D2 that is formed by a fold along the vertical direction. It is formed over. Further, on the downstream side of the pleated filter 43, dust removing means 45, which is a dust drop body for removing dust attached to the pleated filter 43, is attached.

  The dust removing means 45 is provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) of the cleaner body 1 with the tip portion fitted to the pleat portion on the downstream side of the pleat filter 43. As the portion repeatedly climbs over the peak portion of the pleated portion, vibration is applied to the pleated filter 43 and dust attached to the pleated filter 43 is dropped.

  The dust removing means 45 may be configured to be automatically operated by the control means 9 or the like at an arbitrary timing such as when the electric blower 5 is turned on or off, or may be manually operated by an operator. Is possible.

  The second branch pipe 24 is partitioned along, for example, the outer wall portion of the main dust collection chamber 22 opposite to the first branch pipe 23, and the upstream end is connected to the second branch opening 28 of the communication pipe 21. The downstream opening 51 at the downstream end communicates with the suction air passage 25. For this reason, the second branch pipe 24 is branched from the first air path 39 to the side separately from the second air path 42 together with the communication pipe 21 and the suction air path 25, and the first air flows in the suction air path 25. A third air passage 52 that merges with the passage 39 is defined. Therefore, the third air passage 52 is a dust collecting portion that is completely isolated from the first air passage 39 and the second air passage 42 used for normal cleaning by the communication pipe 21 and the second branch pipe 24. It is composed. Further, on the downstream side of the second branch pipe 24, a fine dust filter 53 is provided as a dust collecting filter having a finer mesh than the pleated filter 43. The downstream opening 51 of the second branch pipe 24 is provided with a main air passage switching valve 55 that selectively opens and closes one of the communication opening 38 of the main dust collecting chamber 22.

  The fine dust filter 53 attaches and collects fine dust D2 removed from the pleated filter 43.

  The main air passage switching valve 55 is controlled to open and close by, for example, the control means 9, and selectively selects one of the first air passage 39 and the third air passage 52 with respect to the suction side of the electric blower 5. It communicates.

  The suction air passage 25 is downstream of the main dust collection chamber 22 (first air passage 39) and downstream of the first branch pipe 23 (second air passage 42) and the second branch pipe 24 (third air passage 52). And are the parts where they merge. Therefore, the paper pack 31, the pleat filter 43, and the fine dust filter 53 are located upstream of the joining position of the first air passage 39, the second air passage 42, and the third air passage 52, respectively. Further, on the upper side of the suction air passage 25 in FIG. 1, that is, on the second air passage 42 side, a first outside air intake 61 as an opening communicating the electric blower chamber 6 and the suction air passage 25 is opened. Is formed. Accordingly, the first outside air intake 61 communicates the second air passage 42 with the outside air and is located on the suction side of the electric blower 5 that is downstream of the pleated filter 43 of the second air passage 42. . In the suction air passage 25 constituting a part of the second air passage 42, for example, an air passage switching valve 62 that is opened and closed by the control means 9 is provided.

  Further, on the lower side of the suction air passage 25 in FIG. 1, that is, on the third air passage 52 side, a second outside air intake port 64 as a communication opening communicating the electric blower chamber 6 and the suction air passage 25 is provided. Is formed as an opening. Therefore, the second outside air intake 64 communicates the third air passage 52 with the outside air and is located on the suction side of the electric blower 5 that is downstream of the fine dust filter 53 of the third air passage 52. Yes. In the suction air passage 25 constituting a part of the third air passage 52, for example, a return air passage switching valve 65 that is opened and closed by the control means 9 is provided.

  Further, clogged state detecting means 67 for detecting a clogged state of the paper pack 31 is disposed in the suction air passage 25.

  The first outside air intake 61 is an opening for taking in the outside air for backwashing the pleat filter 43, and is formed at a side portion near the downstream side surface so as to face the downstream side surface of the pleat filter 43, for example.

  The air path switching valve 62 opens and closes communication between the first valve body 62a that opens and closes the first outside air intake 61, and the suction air path 25 from the second air path 42 side and the suction side of the electric blower 5. For example, the controller 9 controls the opening / closing operation so that at least one of the valve bodies 62a and 62b is closed.

  Similarly, the second outside air intake 64 is an opening for taking in the outside air for back washing of the fine dust filter 53. For example, the second outside air inlet 64 is formed on a side portion near the downstream side so as to face the downstream side of the fine dust filter 53. Is formed.

  The return air path switching valve 65 opens and closes communication between the first valve body 65a that opens and closes the second outside air intake port 64, and the suction air path 25 from the third air path 52 side and the suction side of the electric blower 5. In other words, when one of the valve bodies 65a, 65b is in an open state, one of the valve bodies 65a, 65b is selectively closed. For example, the opening / closing operation is controlled by the control means 9 so as to be in the closed state.

  In addition, outside air means the air outside the dust collection unit 7, and does not necessarily mean the air outside the cleaner body 1.

  The clogging state detection means 67 is, for example, a current sensor or a pressure sensor. For example, two different threshold values are set in advance, and the bag of the paper pack 31 is determined depending on whether the detected value exceeds the smaller threshold value. The clogged state of the body 34 can be detected.

  The control means 9 controls the operations of the valve bodies 62a and 62b of the on-off valve 26, the main air path switching valve 55, the air path switching valve 62, and the valve bodies 65a and 65b of the return air path switching valve 65. Thus, the main air passage W1 communicating from the main body suction port 11 to the suction side of the electric blower 5 via the first air passage 39 is formed, and the electric blower 5 and the clogging state detecting means 67 are operated. A clogging detection state for detecting the clogging state of the paper pack 31 and a second air passage by the second valve body 62b of the air passage switching valve 62 according to the clogging state of the paper pack 31 detected in the clogging detection state. The suction state in which the opening amount to the suction side of the electric blower 5 on the downstream side of 42 is changed, and the third air passage 52 is communicated with the suction side of the electric blower 5 and the second wind from the first outside air inlet 61. A filter cleaning state that forms a filter cleaning air passage W3 communicating with the suction side of the electric blower 5 via the passage 42 and the third air passage 52 And a return state forming a return air passage W4 communicating with the suction side of the electric blower 5 from the second outside air intake 64 via the third air passage 52 and the first air passage 39 at a predetermined timing. Switching is possible. For example, the control means 9 selects the clogging detection state when the electric blower 5 is started during normal cleaning, selects the suction state when cleaning is started, and selects the filter cleaning state when cleaning is finished. When the clogging state of the paper pack 31 detected by the clogging state detection means 67 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, that is, when the detected value exceeds the larger threshold value, the return state is set to be selected. ing.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  First, the hose body 12, the extension pipe 16 and the floor brush 17 are sequentially connected to the main body suction port 11, the lid body 3 of the main body case 4 is opened, the dust collecting unit 7 is attached, and the lid body 3 is closed.

  Then, the power cord is pulled out from the main body case 4 and connected to an outlet such as a wall surface. When the operator grips the grip portion 14 and operates a predetermined setting button 15, the control means 9 drives the electric blower 5.

  At the same time, the control means 9 opens the on-off valve 26, and the main air passage switching valve 55 blocks the third air passage 52 side from the suction side of the electric blower 5, and the first air passage 39 side of the electric blower 5 is closed. The valve body 62a, 62b of the air path switching valve 62 is closed, the clogging state detecting means 67 is driven, and the clogging detection state is selected.

  At this time, the negative pressure of the electric blower 5 acts only on the paper pack 31 in the dust collection unit 7 and does not act on the pleat filter 43 and the fine dust filter 53. Therefore, the clogging detected by the clogging state detection means 67 is detected. The state accurately reflects the clogged state of the paper pack 31.

  Next, the control means 9 responds to the staged clogging state of the paper pack 31 detected in the clogging detection state, on the downstream side of the second air path 42 by the second valve body 62b of the air path switching valve 62. The opening amount to the suction side of the electric blower 5 is changed.

  That is, when the paper pack 31 is not clogged at all, the air path switching valve 62 is closed and the state shown in FIG. 1 is maintained, and the coarse dust D1 is collected in the paper pack 31 as shown in FIG. In the state, the second valve body 62b of the air path switching valve 62 is fully opened to form the auxiliary air path W2 (point A in FIG. 6).

  At this time, in the state shown in FIG. 1, all of the suction air passes through the main air passage W1 via the first air passage 39. In the state shown in FIG. 2, the suction air passing through the main air passage W1 decreases, and the suction air substantially equal to the reduced amount passes through the sub air passage W2 via the second air passage 42.

  As a result, the total amount of suction air passing through both air passages 39 and 42 hardly changes.

  Of the dust contained in the suction wind, coarse dust D1 having a relatively large weight travels straight through the communication pipe 21 along the suction wind passing through the main air passage W1, and the paper pack 31 of the main dust collection chamber 22 The bag 34 is accommodated. The coarse dust D1 collected in the bag body 34 of the paper pack 31 is compressed by the suction air passing through the main air passage W1.

  Further, in the state in which the auxiliary air passage W2 is formed, the suction air in which fine dust D2 having a relatively small weight out of the dust contained in the intake air is branched to the auxiliary air passage W2 through the first branch opening 27. Along the mesh filter 29, further travels through the first branch pipe 23 and is collected by the pleated filter 43.

  The suction air on the main air passage W1 side that has passed through the paper pack 31 and the suction air on the sub air passage W2 side that has passed through the pleat filter 43 are merged in the suction air passage 25 and sucked into the electric blower 5. It passes through the electric blower 5 to become exhaust air, and is exhausted from the exhaust hole (not shown) to the outside of the cleaner body 1.

  Further, when the operator operates the setting button 15 when cleaning is finished, the control means 9 operates the dust removal means 45 for a predetermined time, for example, to drop the fine dust D2 collected by the pleat filter 43, 3, the opening / closing valve 26 is closed, the first air passage 39 side is shut off from the suction side of the electric blower 5 by the main air passage switching valve 55, and the third air passage 52 side is closed to the electric blower 5. The first valve body 62a of the air path switching valve 62 is opened, the second valve body 62b is closed, the first valve body 65a of the return air path switching valve 65 is closed, and the second valve body 65b is opened. Then, the filter cleaning state is switched, and the filter cleaning air passage W3 in which the negative pressure of the electric blower 5 sequentially acts on the first outside air inlet 61, the first branch pipe 23, the second branch pipe 24, and the suction air path 25 is changed. Form. The electric blower 5 may be stopped while the dust removing means 45 is being driven.

  At this time, the air from the second air passage 42 side does not directly pass through the mesh filters 29 and 30 of the communication pipe 21, but passes from below the mesh filters 29 and 30 into the third air passage 52. .

  As a result, the pleat filter 43 is backwashed by the air passing through the pleat filter 43 from the downstream side to the upstream side, and is removed from the pleat filter 43 by the fine dust D2 removed from the pleat filter 43 and the dust removing means 45. The fine dust D2 is moved to the fine dust filter 53 via the first branch pipe 23 and the second branch pipe 24 and collected by the fine dust filter 53.

  Further, the control means 9 determines whether the clogged state detected by the clogged state detecting means 67 is predetermined when the amount of dust collected by the paper pack 31 or the fine dust filter 53 is a predetermined amount or more. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the first air passage 39 side and the third air passage 52 side are respectively connected to the suction side of the electric blower 5 by the main air passage switching valve 55 (not shown). The first valve body 62a of the air path switching valve 62 is closed, the second valve body 62b is opened, the first valve body 65a of the return air path switching valve 65 is opened, the second valve body 65b is closed and returned. Switching to the state, the negative pressure of the electric blower 5 forms a return air passage W4 that sequentially acts with the second outside air intake port 64, the second branch pipe 24, the main dust collecting chamber 22 and the suction air passage 25.

  As a result, the fine dust filter 53 is backwashed by the air passing through the fine dust filter 53 from the downstream side to the upstream side, and the fine dust D2 removed from the fine dust filter 53 is converted into the second branch pipe 24 and the mesh filter. It is moved to a paper pack 31 in the main dust collection chamber 22 via 30 and is collected in a bag 34 of this paper pack 31.

  Thereafter, when a predetermined time has elapsed, the control means 9 stops the electric blower 5 and stops the operation of the electric vacuum cleaner.

  If a predetermined amount or more of dust accumulates in the paper pack 31, the lid 3 is opened, the paper pack 31 is removed from the main dust collection chamber 22 and discarded together with the dust, and a new paper pack 31 is collected. Install in chamber 22.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the paper pack 31 is disposed on the upstream side of the suction air passage 25 that is the joining position of the second air passage 42 and the third air passage 52 of the first air passage 39. An auxiliary pleat filter 43 is provided in the second air passage 42 upstream from the suction air passage 25, and from the main body suction port 11 to the suction side of the electric blower 5 via the first air passage 39. A paper pack 31 is formed by driving the electric blower 5 and the clogging state detection means 67 in a state where the main air passage W1 that communicates is formed and the downstream side of the second air passage 42 is closed with respect to the suction side of the electric blower 5. When the clogging detection state for detecting the clogging state of the paper pack 31 and the clogging of the paper pack 31 are detected in the clogging detection state, the opening amount on the suction side of the electric blower 5 is switched downstream of the second air passage 42. Specifically, the suction state in which the downstream side of the second air passage 42 is fully opened with respect to the suction side of the electric blower 5 is turned off. It was configured to be replaceable.

  Therefore, the amount of dust collected in the paper pack 31 in the first air passage 39 is increased, and the paper pack 31 in the first air passage 39 is clogged in the clogging detection state. When the detection means 67 detects, dust can be branched from the second air passage 42 to the pleat filter 43 together with the sucked air in the suction state, and the reduction of the total amount of the suction air is suppressed, and the paper pack 31 is clogged. It is possible to suppress a decrease in suction force over time corresponding to the degree of.

  That is, in the conventional case, even if the air passage is divided into a plurality of air paths, there is only one filter that finally passes when sucked into the electric blower 5, as shown by the broken line in the graph of FIG. If the suction amount increases and this filter becomes clogged, the suction force (air flow rate) decreases. In the present embodiment, the first air passage 39 and the second air passage 42 are branched. If the paper pack 31 and the pleat filter 43 are provided upstream of the merging position of the air passages 39 and 42, the paper pack 31 of the first air passage 39 used as a main is gradually clogged. The suction air can be bypassed to the second air passage 42 side, and the decrease in the total amount of the suction air can be suppressed, so that the decrease in the suction force with time can be suppressed as shown by the solid line in the graph of FIG.

  In addition, when the clogging of the paper pack 31 is not detected in the clogging detection state, the airflow of the first air passage 39 is ensured by not bypassing the suction air to the second air passage 42 side. Coarse dust D1 collected in 31 can be reliably compressed by suction air, and the capacity of the paper pack 31 can be used effectively.

  In the filter cleaning state, the pleated filter 43 is back-washed with the outside air sucked from the first outside air intake 61, and the fine dust D2 collected in the pleated filter 43 is collected in the fine dust filter 53. The clogging of the pleat filter 43 is prevented, the air permeability of the second air passage 42 is ensured, and the air volume of the suction air bypassed to the second air passage 42 in the suction state can be secured.

  That is, the fine dust D2 collected by the pleated filter 43 in the suction state is completely isolated from the first air passage 39 and the second air passage 42, which are air passages used for normal cleaning, for normal cleaning. By collecting in the unused third air passage 52, fine dust D2 is not continuously collected in the first air passage 39 and the second air passage 42, and the suction force is surely reduced over time. Can be suppressed.

  Further, by switching from the second outside air intake 64 to the return state forming the return air passage W4 communicating with the suction side of the electric blower 5 via the third air passage 52 and the first air passage 39. In this return state, the fine dust filter 53 is back-washed by the outside air sucked from the second outside air intake port 64, and the fine dust D2 of the pleated filter 43 collected in the fine dust filter 53 is moved to the paper pack 31. Thus, the fine dust filter 53 can be prevented from being clogged, and the fine dust D2 moved from the pleated filter 43 in the filter cleaning state can be reliably collected by the fine dust filter 53.

  Further, the first air passage 39 is provided in a straight line from the main body suction port 11 and the second air passage 42 is branched from the first air passage 39 to the side, so that the paper pack 31 is accumulated in the suction state. Even if the amount of dust increases and the air volume of the suction air passing through the first air passage 39 decreases, the coarse dust D1 travels straight through the communication pipe 21 due to inertia and is collected from the opening 36 into the paper pack 31. A decrease in dust collection efficiency can be prevented.

  Then, by providing a mesh filter 29 having a coarser mesh than the bag 34 of the paper pack 31 at the branch portion between the first air passage 39 and the second air passage 42, the coarse dust D1 is moved to the second air passage 42 side. Inhalation is prevented by the mesh filter 29, and dust can be reliably inertially separated.

  In addition, by using a paper pack 31 that is detachable with respect to the main dust collection chamber 22 constituting the first air passage 39 as the main filter, the paper pack 31 is discarded when the coarse dust D1 is fully accumulated. By attaching a new paper pack 31 to the main dust collection chamber 22, the amount of the suction air passing through the first air passage 39 in the suction state or the like can be maintained.

  Further, since the fine dust D2 collected by the pleat filter 43 is removed by the dust removing means 45 before switching to the filter cleaning state, clogging of the pleat filter 43 can be more reliably suppressed.

  The air volume of the main air path W1 and the auxiliary air path W2 is automatically distributed in accordance with the clogged state of the paper pack 31, and is sucked by the control means 9 according to the cleaning operation of the operator. By automatically switching between the filter cleaning state and the return state, the suction force can be easily maintained by performing a normal cleaning operation without being particularly conscious of the operator, and the frequency of replacement of the paper pack 31 and The maintenance frequency of the pleated filter 43 and the like is reduced, and usability is improved.

  In the first embodiment, the second valve body 62b includes not only the fully opened when the paper pack 31 is clogged but also the one that opens with an opening amount larger than the fully closed state and less than the fully opened state.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the structure and effect | action similar to the said 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the second embodiment, a plurality of, for example, five different threshold values are preset in the clogging state detecting means 67, and the clogging of the bag body 34 of the paper pack 31 is made depending on whether or not the detected value exceeds these threshold values. The state can be detected step by step.

  Specifically, the control means 9 responds to the staged clogging state of the paper pack 31 detected in the clogging detection state shown in FIG. 7, and the second wind by the second valve body 62b of the air path switching valve 62. The opening amount to the suction side of the electric blower 5 on the downstream side of the path 42 is changed.

  That is, in a state where the paper pack 31 is not clogged at all, the air path switching valve 62 is closed and the state shown in FIG. 7 is maintained, and the coarse dust D1 is slightly collected in the paper pack 31 in FIG. In the first state shown, the second valve body 62b of the air path switching valve 62 is opened, for example, 25% to form a secondary air path W2 (point B in FIG. 12), and the coarse dust D1 is further trapped in the paper pack 31. In the collected second state shown in FIG. 9, the second valve body 62b of the air path switching valve 62 is opened by 50%, for example, to form the auxiliary air path W2 (point C in FIG. 12), and the paper pack 31 In the third state shown in FIG. 10 in which coarse dust D1 is further collected, the second valve body 62b of the air passage switching valve 62 is opened, for example, by 75% to form the auxiliary air passage W2 (see FIG. 12). In the fourth state shown in FIG. 11 in which the coarse dust D1 is fully collected in the paper pack 31, the second valve body 62b of the air path switching valve 62 is fully opened, for example, and the auxiliary air path W2 is opened. Form (point E in FIG. 12)

  At this time, in the state shown in FIG. 7, all of the suction air passes through the main air passage W1 through the first air passage 39. Further, in each state shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the intake air passing through the main air passage W1 is reduced, and the intake air substantially equal to the reduced amount passes through the auxiliary air passage W2 via the second air passage 42. To do.

  As a result, the total amount of suction air passing through both air passages 39 and 42 hardly changes.

  When the operator operates the setting button 15 when cleaning is finished, the control means 9 operates the dust removing means 45 for a predetermined time, for example, and captures it by the pleat filter 43, as in the first embodiment. The collected fine dust D2 is dropped, the filter cleaning state is switched to form the filter cleaning air passage W3, the pleated filter 43 is cleaned, the fine dust D2 is moved to the fine dust filter 53, and the paper pack 31, Alternatively, when the amount of dust collected by the fine dust filter 53 is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount set in advance, that is, when the clogged state detected by the clogged state detecting means 67 is greater than or equal to the predetermined amount, the state is switched to the return state. A return air passage W4 is formed, and the fine dust D2 collected by the fine dust filter 53 is moved to the paper pack 31.

  As a result, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the opening amount to the suction side of the electric blower 5 on the downstream side of the second air passage 42 is corresponding to the clogged state. Thus, the air volume on the main air path W1 side and the air volume on the sub air path W2 side can be finely set in a suitable state corresponding to the clogged state.

  In the second embodiment, the opening amount on the downstream side of the second air passage 42 in the suction state is not limited to four stages, and may be changed to three stages, or five stages or more. The amount of change in the opening amount between the stages may not be constant.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the dust removing means 45 may be configured not to be provided in order to simplify the configuration of the vacuum cleaner.

  Further, any filter separator other than the paper pack 31 can be used as the main filter.

  The mesh filters 29 and 30 are not necessarily provided.

  Further, a plurality of second air passages 42 and third air passages 52 may be provided.

  Furthermore, the timing of switching to the filter cleaning state and the return state by the control means 9 can be arbitrarily set, such as a configuration in which switching is performed when an operator makes a predetermined manual input.

  Each of the air path switching valves 62 and 65 includes the first valve bodies 62a and 65a and the second valve bodies 62b and 65b. However, the air path switching valves 62 and 65 have the second air path 42 in the clogging detection state and the suction state. The downstream side of the electric blower 5 and the electric blower 5 communicate with each other from the first outside air intake 61, and the first outside air intake 61 and the second air passage 42 are in a clogging detection state and a suction state in the filter cleaning state. In the suction state and the filter cleaning state, the downstream side of the electric blower 5 with respect to the second outside air intake port 64 of the third air passage 52 and the electric blower 5 are communicated with each other in the return state. If the 2nd external air intake 64 and the 3rd air path 52 are connected, those structures can be set arbitrarily.

  Each valve 26, 55, 62, 65 is configured to be automatically opened and closed by the control means 9, but may be configured such that the operator manually switches the opening and closing at an arbitrary timing.

  Furthermore, since the hose body 12, the extension pipe 16, and the floor brush 17 connected to the main body suction port 11 have air path resistance in the filter cleaning state, the first outside air removal is performed without closing the on-off valve 26. Since the outside air taken in from the inlet 61 does not flow backward from the main body inlet 11 to the upstream side which is the hose body 12 side, the same effect as each of the above embodiments can be achieved even if the on-off valve 26 is not provided. It is possible to play. In this case, the configuration and the control by the control means 9 can be simplified.

  The first outside air intake 61 is provided on the upstream side of the pleated filter 43 so that outside air is sucked along the upstream side surface of the pleated filter 43 in the filter cleaning state, and the upstream surface of the pleated filter 43 is cleaned. It may be configured. In this case, it is preferable to set the opening direction of the first outside air intake port 61 along the fold direction of the pleat filter 43, and the main air passage switching valve 55 is connected to the first air passage 39 and the third air passage. One of the passages 52 is selectively communicated with the suction side of the electric blower 5, and the first air passage 39 is communicated with the suction side of the electric blower 5 in the first state and the third state. In the two states, the third air passage 52 is communicated with the suction side of the electric blower 5.

  Similarly, the second outside air intake port 64 is provided on the upstream side of the fine dust filter 53, sucks outside air along the upstream side surface of the fine dust filter 53 in the returned state, and cleans the upstream surface of the fine dust filter 53. You may comprise.

  Further, the main air path switching valve 55 can be configured to close, for example, the upstream side of the paper pack 31 when the first air path 39 is shut off from the suction side of the electric blower 5. .

  Further, the control means 9 can be set not to select the return state. In this case, for example, by making the fine dust filter 53 a disposable filter that can be attached to and detached from the third air passage 52, the fine dust filter 53 is discarded when the fine dust filter 53 is clogged. By attaching a new fine dust filter 53, it is possible to secure a ventilation amount on the third air passage 52 side.

  Further, the third air passage 52, the fine dust filter 53, the main air passage switching valve 55, the return air passage switching valve 65 and the like may be omitted.

  Further, the clogging state may be detected by switching to the clogging detection state every predetermined time.

  The details of the vacuum cleaner are not limited to the above configuration, and the vacuum cleaner is not limited to the canister type, for example, self-propelled (running assist type) or autonomous running type (robot type) electric For example, a vacuum cleaner or the like may be used. For example, the floor brush 17 may be an upright type or a handy type directly formed on the lower surface of the vacuum cleaner body 1.

It is an explanatory top view which shows the clogging detection state of the vacuum cleaner of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an explanatory top view which shows the state where dust was collected by the main filter of the suction state of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is an explanatory top view which shows the filter washing | cleaning state of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is an explanatory top view which shows the return state of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the suction | inhalation amount and air volume of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which shows the clogging detection state of the vacuum cleaner of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is an explanatory top view which shows the 1st state of the suction state of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is an explanatory top view which shows the 2nd state of the suction state of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is an explanatory top view which shows the 3rd state of the suction state of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is an explanatory top view which shows the 4th state of the suction state of a vacuum cleaner same as the above. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the suction | inhalation amount and air volume of a vacuum cleaner same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vacuum Cleaner Body 5 Electric Blower 7 Dust Collection Unit as Dust Collection Unit
11 Main unit inlet
26 On-off valve
31 Paper pack as main filter
39 First airway
42 Second wind path
43 Pleated filter as auxiliary filter
52 3rd wind path
53 Fine dust filter as dust collecting filter
61 First outside air intake as an opening
62 Airway selector valve
64 Second outside air intake as a communication opening
67 Clogging state detection means
W1 Main wind path
W2 secondary air passage
W3 Filter cleaning air passage
W4 return air passage

Claims (7)

A vacuum cleaner body containing an electric blower,
A dust collector provided in the vacuum cleaner body;
A main body suction port provided in the vacuum cleaner main body in communication with the upstream side of the dust collecting portion,
The dust collecting part is
A first air passage communicating from the downstream side of the main body suction port to the suction side of the electric blower;
Branching from the first air path downstream of the main body suction port so as to inertially separate dust contained in the air sucked through the main body suction port by driving the electric blower, A second air passage joining and communicating with the suction side of the electric blower;
A main filter provided on the upstream side of the merging position of the first air passage with the second air passage, and collecting dust;
An auxiliary filter provided on the upstream side of the merging position of the second air path, and collecting dust;
Clogging state detection means for detecting a clogging state of the main filter,
A main air passage communicating with the suction side of the electric blower from the main body suction port via the first air passage is formed and a downstream side of the second air passage is closed with respect to the suction side of the electric blower The clogging detection state in which the electric blower and the clogging state detection means are driven in the state to detect the clogging state of the main filter, and the clogging state of the main filter is detected in the clogging detection state. When detected by the state detection means, it is possible to switch between the suction state in which the auxiliary air passage is formed by switching the opening amount to the suction side of the electric blower downstream of the second air passage. Machine. Each time the clogged state is detected by the clogged state detecting means, the opening amount to the suction side of the electric blower downstream of the second air passage is changed corresponding to the detected clogged state. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the electric blower is switched to a clogging detection state when the electric blower is started. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vacuum cleaner is switched to a clogging detection state every predetermined time. An air path switching valve for changing an opening amount with respect to the suction side of the electric blower downstream of the second air path;
The air passage switching valve closes the downstream side of the second air passage with respect to the suction side of the electric blower in the clogging detection state, and detects the clogging state in the clogging detection state in the suction state. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening amount is varied in accordance with a clogged state detected by the means. An opening that communicates the second air passage with outside air;
An on-off valve that opens and closes communication between the main body suction port and the dust collecting part,
The dust collector is
A third air passage that is branched separately from the second air passage with respect to the first air passage, merges with the first air passage, and communicates with a suction side of the electric blower;
A dust collecting filter provided in the third air path and having a finer mesh than the auxiliary filter;
A filter cleaning air passage that communicates the third air passage to the suction side of the electric blower and communicates from the opening to the suction side of the electric blower via the second air passage and the third air passage. It can be switched to the filter cleaning state to be formed,
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the on-off valve opens in a clogging detection state and a suction state and closes at least in a filter cleaning state. A communication opening that communicates the third air passage with the outside air;
The third air passage is communicated to the suction side of the electric blower via the first air passage, and the suction opening side of the electric blower is communicated from the communication opening through the third air passage and the first air passage. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the electric vacuum cleaner can be switched to a return state that forms a return air passage communicating therewith.

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