TW201902408A - Vacuum cleaner with object detection function and operation method thereof capable of improving energy performance by automatically reducing suction power to a predetermined power - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, which comprises a main body, a suction unit, a suction fan disposed in the main body, and a control member disposed in the main body or the suction unit. In order to provide a vacuum cleaner for improving the energy performance, the proposed technical solution is to configure at least one detection member in the suction unit or on the suction unit. The control member is connected with the suction fan and the detection member. The detection member measures the distance from the suction unit to the object, and changes the power of the suction fan based on the distance measured by the detection member. The present invention also relates to a vacuum cleaner operation method.

Description

Vacuum cleaner with object detection function and operation method thereof

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a main body having a suction unit having a suction fan disposed in the main body and having a control member disposed in the main body or the suction unit. The invention also relates to a method of operating a vacuum cleaner, wherein the vacuum cleaner has a body and a suction unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A vacuum cleaner can be constructed, for example, as a hand-held vacuum cleaner, a horizontal vacuum cleaner, or a vacuum cleaner.

A hand-held vacuum cleaner generally refers to a vacuum cleaner in which a main body, a handle, and a suction unit are constructed as a unit, wherein the handle is disposed on the main body in such a manner as to be located on the other side of the suction unit. Therefore, it is moved by hand as a whole during use of the hand-held vacuum cleaner. In the case of a horizontal cleaner, the main body and the suction unit are connected through a hose and a tubular member, in particular a telescopic tubular member, wherein the handle is constructed on the tubular member and is disposed between the main body and the suction unit. In the case of a horizontal cleaner, the suction unit is moved on the floor by means of a pipe and the body is gradually pulled through the hose as the case may be. In the case of the vacuuming robot, the main body and the suction unit are disposed together in the basic housing of the cleaning robot.

The suction unit comprises a suction nozzle, a suction brush or a so-called suction polishing nozzle, wherein an adjustable spacer, a rotary brush, a wiping cylinder, a oscillating wiping unit or a oscillating polishing plate can be provided. A gas flow through the suction unit is generated by a suction fan provided in the body for extracting particles, in particular dust particles, coarse particles or coarse particles, from the surface. This gas stream is passed through a filter to separate the particles.

However, the vacuum cleaner can also be constructed as a vacuuming robot. In this case, both the main body and the suction unit are disposed together in the basic housing of the cleaning robot.

In terms of energy efficiency, it is important to adjust the power of the suction fan as accurately as possible according to the respective suction conditions, and to avoid unnecessary suction and/or excessive suction. In terms of ease of use, it is also important to adjust the power of the suction fan as automatically as possible according to the respective suction conditions, thereby providing sufficient suction power for each suction situation to achieve satisfactory cleaning efficiency.

For example, it is known that the suction fan is turned off in the case where the vacuum cleaner is fed into the predetermined parking position by the user. Thereby, in the case where the vacuum cleaner is not used temporarily, it is possible to save energy, and it is not necessary to turn off the entire cleaner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the technical problem of the present invention is basically to provide a vacuum cleaner and a method of operating the vacuum cleaner which have improved energy efficiency.

The present invention achieves the above technical problem by a vacuum cleaner of the type described in the opening paragraph: the suction unit has at least one detecting member connected to the suction fan and the detecting member, and the detecting member is measured The distance of the suction unit from an object such as a chair foot, a cabinet, a wall or a skirting board, and the control member changes the power of the suction fan based on the distance measured by the detecting member.

The present inventors have found that a large amount of dust, coarse or coarse particles are often accumulated particularly on objects such as walls, skirting boards, chair legs or cabinets. However, it is such areas that are difficult to reach for the vacuum cleaner because the suction unit is typically surrounded by the housing. It is therefore often difficult to reach the floor adjacent to the object by the suction opening that constitutes the floor side opening of the suction unit housing. In order to solve this problem, the power of the suction fan of the suction unit is changed in accordance with the distance from the object measured by the detecting member. Thereby the vacuum cleaner is automatically adjusted according to the suction situation, which contributes to an improvement in cleaning efficiency. Since the power of the suction fan is automatically adjusted according to the actual required power of the suction fan, the energy efficiency of the vacuum cleaner is improved. In particular, in the case where the vacuum cleaner is constructed as a vacuum cleaner or a hand-held vacuum cleaner having a battery provided in the hand-held vacuum cleaner, the above-described scheme is advantageous. The at least one detecting member is preferably disposed on the front/back side or the front/back side of the suction unit, or on the side or side of the suction unit.

The control member preferably increases the power of the suction fan below a defined critical distance. Thereby enhancing the cleaning efficiency of the vacuum cleaner in the vicinity of the object. The critical distance between the detecting member and the corresponding object can be, for example, 10 mm to 100 mm. Preferably, below this critical distance, the suction power is increased by at least 10%, preferably by at least 20%, and more preferably by at least 30%. This suction power is preferably doubled. For example, the suction power can be increased from a maximum of 300 watts to at least 400 watts. Through this technical solution, it is possible to reliably absorb dust located in the transition region from the floor to the object.

Further, preferably, the control member reduces the power of the suction fan to a predetermined set power beyond the critical distance. Thereby, once the suction unit is no longer in the vicinity of the object, the suction power of the cleaner is automatically reduced to a predetermined set power. The set power can represent, for example, the power set before the critical distance. Users of vacuum cleaners need to take action on this step. This increases the energy efficiency of the vacuum cleaner because it provides the correct suction fan power for different cleaning scenarios.

According to another preferred technical solution, the detecting component is constructed to constitute a sensor, in particular, an infrared sensor and an ultrasonic sensor are constructed, and a laser sensor is constructed, preferably forming a laser diode. A sensor, or a proximity sensor, in particular, is constructed as an inductive or capacitive proximity sensor. This makes it possible to determine whether the object is located near the suction unit in a contactless and wear-free manner. In addition to this, the presence of an object can also be determined by another means. In order to detect the distance of the nozzle from the object, a signal is generated which is a measure of the distance from the suction unit to the object. In the present invention, a plurality of detection members of the aforementioned sensors different in form may be provided on the suction unit.

Further preferably, an operating element is coupled to the control member and the user can adjust the critical distance through the operating member. The lower the frequency with which the user cleans with a vacuum cleaner, the greater the transition area between the floor and the object that accumulates dirt. Therefore, a user who performs cleaning more frequently can set a smaller critical distance, while a user who performs less vacuuming can set a larger critical distance. This helps increase customer satisfaction and reduce energy consumption.

According to another preferred technical solution, the user can adjust the percentage increase of the power of the suction fan below the critical distance through the operating element, and/or adjust the power of the suction fan beyond the critical distance. The percentage decrease in the case. This allows the vacuum cleaner to be adjusted to the user's unique preferences. The extra power required to pump the fan depends, for example, on the degree of contamination of the transition zone between the floor and the object to be cleaned. In the case where the user often uses the vacuum cleaner for cleaning, it is not necessary to increase the power of the suction fan as it is when dusting is rarely performed. Accordingly, customer satisfaction is improved through such a technical solution, and the energy efficiency of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention is improved.

Further preferably, the detecting member detects an object such as a chair foot, a wall, a cabinet or a skirting board through the outer shape, and the control member additionally changes the power of the suction fan according to the shape of the object. Here, the detecting member is preferably constructed as a camera. This technical solution is based on the recognition that not the same amount of dust accumulates on all objects. For example, it is only necessary to increase the power of the suction fan to a small extent at the leg, and the power of the suction fan needs to be increased to a large extent at the end plate or the sofa.

The present invention also achieves the above technical problem by a method of operating a vacuum cleaner, wherein the distance between the suction unit and an object such as a chair foot, a cabinet or a skirting board is determined, and wherein the suction fan provided in the main body is changed according to the measured distance Pumping power.

The foregoing description of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention has been largely described in connection with the method and advantages of the method.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the power of the suction fan is increased for at least a predetermined duration, and/or beyond the defined object, below a defined critical distance from the object. In the case of a critical distance, the power of the suction fan is reduced for at least a predetermined duration. Thereby, in the case where the suction unit moves along a critical distance and always exceeds or falls below this critical distance, it is avoided that the suction power is adjusted each time the threshold is crossed. This method can be carried out in the device of the invention, for example, by means of a time measuring member connected to the detecting member and/or the control member or by the control member itself.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 shows a hand-held vacuum cleaner 2 having a main body 4, a suction unit 6, and a handle 8. An electric feeder 10 for switching the hand-held vacuum cleaner 2 and an electrical switch 12 are provided on the handle 8. The handle 8 is coupled to the body 4 by a tubular member 14. A suction fan 16 is also provided in the body 4 for generating a suction airflow through the suction unit 6 and the connecting tube 18 until reaching the built-in dust bag 20. The sucked air exits the body 4 through the opening 22 in the cover portion 24.

A detection member 30 is provided in the suction unit 6 for measuring the distance of the suction unit 6 from an object such as a chair foot, a wall, a cabinet or a skirting board, and for generating a distance from the suction unit 6 to the object. Scale signal. Therefore, the detecting member 30 is adapted to measure the distance through the sensor and output an output signal that serves as a measure for the characteristics of the floor. To this end, the detecting member 30 is constructed to constitute a sensor, in particular an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a laser sensor, or an inductive or capacitive proximity sensor. Such sensors are known to us and actively emit radiation or sound waves that are reflected by an object. In this case, the distance is determined based on the received signal. The detecting member 30 is disposed on the front side and the side surface of the suction unit 6.

According to the invention, a line 32 is provided in the suction unit 6, and a line 34 for transmitting the signal of the detecting member 30 to the main body 4 is provided in the main body 4. Since the suction unit 6 is connected to the connecting tube 18 via the pipe joint 36, an interface 38 in the form of an electrical connector 40 is provided.

Furthermore, a control member 50 is provided for controlling the power of the suction fan 16 of the main body 4 in accordance with the signal of the detection member 30. Therefore, in particular, the suction fan 16 can be adjusted depending on the distance of the suction unit 6 from the object. Therefore, the suction power of the suction fan 16 provided in the main body 4 can be controlled by an electrical signal describing the characteristics of the distance.

The suction power may be adjusted to a first value if the electrical signal display distance is below a defined critical distance, and the suction may be performed if the electrical signal display distance exceeds a defined critical distance The power is adjusted to a second value, thereby improving overall energy efficiency. In this case, it is preferred to set the first value higher than the second value, thereby improving the suction result particularly in the transition region between the floor and the object, and in the case of a smooth floor without obstructing the object, A smaller suction force is sufficient to achieve a good suction result.

Preferably, the control member 50 increases the power of the suction fan 16 for at least a predetermined duration, and below a defined critical distance from the object, below a defined critical distance from the object. Next, the control member reduces the power of the suction fan 16 for at least a predetermined duration. Thereby, the control member 50 is prevented from constantly adjusting the power of the suction fan 16 when the user frequently falls below or exceeds the critical distance.

Furthermore, an operating element 52 is preferably connected to the control member 50 via a line 34. The user can adjust the critical distance of the suction unit 6 from the object by the operating element 52, and the power of the suction fan 16 is changed from the critical distance. The percentage increase in the power of the suction fan 16 below the critical distance can also be adjusted through the operating element 52, as well as the percentage decrease in the power of the suction fan 16 beyond the critical distance.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment as shown. In particular, the hand-held vacuum cleaner 2 can also be constructed as a horizontal vacuum cleaner or a vacuum cleaner. In the case where the vacuum cleaner 2 is constructed as a dust suction robot, the main body 4 and the suction unit 6 are disposed in the same casing.

2‧‧‧Handheld vacuum cleaners, vacuum cleaners

4‧‧‧ Subject

6‧‧‧sucking unit

8‧‧‧handle

10‧‧‧Electrical feeder

12‧‧‧Electrical switch

14‧‧‧ Pipe fittings

16‧‧‧ suction fan

18‧‧‧Connecting tube

20‧‧‧ dust bag

22‧‧‧ openings

24‧‧‧ 盖部

30‧‧‧Detection components

32, 34‧‧‧ lines

36‧‧‧ pipe joint

40‧‧‧Electrical connector

50‧‧‧Control components

52‧‧‧Operating components

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is an embodiment of a vacuum cleaner of the present invention.

Claims (12)

A vacuum cleaner having a main body, having a suction unit, having a suction fan disposed in the main body, and having a control member disposed in the main body or the suction unit, wherein the suction unit Having at least one detecting member coupled to the suction fan and the detecting member, the detecting member measuring a distance of the suction unit from an object, and the controlling member changing according to a distance measured by the detecting member The power of the suction fan. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterized in that the control member increases the power of the suction fan below a defined critical distance. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control member reduces the power of the suction fan to a predetermined set power beyond the critical distance. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the detecting member is constructed as a sensor, in particular, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a laser sensor. Preferably, the laser diode sensor is constructed or constructed as an inductive or capacitive proximity sensor. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an operating element is coupled to the control member, and a user can adjust the critical distance through the operating member. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the user can adjust the percentage increase of the power of the suction fan below the critical distance through the operating element, and/or exceed the The percentage decrease in power of the suction fan is adjusted with a critical distance. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the detecting member detects the object through the shape, and the control member additionally changes the power of the suction fan according to the shape of the object. A method of operating a vacuum cleaner, comprising determining a distance of a suction unit from an object such as a chair foot, a cabinet or a skirting board, and changing a suction power of a suction fan disposed in the main body according to the measured distance. The method of claim 8, wherein the power of the suction fan is increased below a defined critical distance from the object. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein the power of the suction fan is reduced to a predetermined set power if the defined critical distance is exceeded. The method of any one of clauses 7 to 10, wherein the power of the suction fan is increased for at least a predetermined time below a defined critical distance from the object, and/or the defined object is exceeded The power of the suction fan is reduced for at least a predetermined time in the case of a critical distance. The method of any one of clauses 7 to 11, wherein the object is detected by the shape, and the power of the suction fan is additionally changed according to the object.