EP1836941B1

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Info

Publication number: EP1836941B1
Application number: EP07004691.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hitoshi c/o Int. Prop. Division Suzuki
Original assignee: Toshiba Tec Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Tec Corp
Priority date: 2006-03-14
Filing date: 2007-03-07
Publication date: 2014-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-07
Also published as: US20070214597A1; RU2359604C2; EP1836941A2; KR20070093850A; RU2007109267A; EP1836941A3

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner provided with a dust separating section for separating sucked dust from a suction opening to dust and air, and a dust-collecting chamber for accumulating the dust separated at the dust separating section.

Description of Related Art

Conventionally, it is known that an electric vacuum cleaner includes a hand operational section on which a dust sensor is provided for detecting dust passing through an air passage (for reference, seeJP-A-H7-322989).
The electric vacuum cleaner according toJP-A-H7-322989 is configured to control the electric blower based on an amount of the dust detected by the dust sensor.
In such an electric vacuum cleaner, the dust passing through the air passage is detected by the dust sensor, about whether or not the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber is full, i.e. equal to or more than a predetermined amount is determined based on an input of the electric blower.
However, in a cyclonic (inertia separation) electric vacuum cleaner, there is a problem that a suction power is not reduced even dust is accumulated in a dust-collecting chamber, so that it is impossible to determine whether or not the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber has reached to or more than a predetermined amount by an input of an electric blower.
A vacuum cleaner according to the preamble of the independent claim is disclosed inUS 2005/0183229 A1. A dust indication system for a vacuum cleaner that senses the dust intensity within air sucked into a floor nozzle pipe is disclosed inUS 5,815,884. A vacuum cleaner with an optical system for measuring the contamination of a filter is disclosed inEP 0 456 083 A1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric vacuum cleaner capable of alarming reliably whether or not dust accumulated in a dust-collecting chamber has reached to or more than a predetermined amount and alarming an amount of the dust through an air passage.
This object is achieved by a vacuum cleaner of claim 1. Further developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.
For example, an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a dust separating section to separate dust sucked from a suction opening to dust and air; a dust-collecting chamber to accumulate the dust separated at the dust separating section; a light emitting device to emit a light to the dust-collecting chamber; a light receiving device to receive the light passing through the dust-collecting chamber; a judging device to detect an amount of the dust passing through the suction opening /or judge whether or not the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber has reached to a predetermined amount based on a light receiving condition of the light receiving device; and a display unit to display the amount of the dust detected by the judging device.
To accomplish the above object, an electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention comprises a main body; an electric blower to suck dust from a suction opening; a dust-collecting container detachably provided in the main body, which includes a dust separating section to separate the dust sucked from the suction opening with air, a dust-collecting chamber to accumulate the dust separated at the dust separating section; a light emitting device to emit a light to the dust-collecting chamber; a light receiving device to receive the light passing through the dust-collecting chamber; a judging device to judge whether or not the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber has reached to a predetermined amount based on a light receiving condition of the light receiving device; and an alarm device to alarm an alarm in accordance with a detecting value detected by the judging device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outer shape of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating a structure of a main body of the electric vacuum cleaner illustrated inFIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the main body in which a dust-collecting unit is removed.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an outer shape of the dust-collecting unit.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the dust-collecting unit illustrated inFIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an outer shape of a dust separating unit.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a dust-collecting container.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the dust-collecting container illustrated inFIG 7, as viewed from another direction.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the dust-collecting container, with a cover removed.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the dust-collecting container, as viewed from backward.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating main parts of the electric vacuum cleaner main body, with the dust-collecting container removed.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory view illustrating structures of a hop up device and a lock device.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a lock release device.
FIG. 14 is a block view illustrating a structure of a control system of the electric vacuum cleaner.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory view illustrating the hop up device and the lock device when the dust-collecting container is hop upped.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory view illustrating the electric vacuum cleaner when the dust-collecting container is hop upped.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory view illustrating a condition of just before the dust-collecting container is locked.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a judging device of the electric vacuum cleaner.
FIG. 19 is a block view illustrating a structure of a control system of the electric vacuum cleaner.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a judging device of another example of the electric vacuum cleaner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below.
Anelectric vacuum cleaner 10 as illustrated inFIG.1 includes amain body 11, a dust-collecting hose 12 which is detachably connected at one end thereof to a connectingport 11A of themain body 11 and provided at the other end with anoperational tube 13 at hand, anextension tube 14 detachably connected to theoperational tube 13, and asuction body 15 detachably connected to a leading end of theextension tube 14. Provided on theoperational tube 13 is anoperational part 13A which is provided with anoperational switch 13a for stopping after mentioned operation of anelectric blower 24 or a strong andweak switch 13b for setting a power of theelectric blower 24.
A display unit (display device) 17 is adjacent provided to theoperational part 13A and displays an amount of dust passing through an air passage.
Thesuction body 15 is provided with a suction chamber (not illustrated) having a suction opening (suction inlet) (not illustrated) to introduce dust on a bottom surface. The suction chamber communicates with asuction connecting port 57a of a dust-collecting unit 50 (seeFIG. 6) provided in themain body 11 through theextension tube 14 and the dust-collectinghose 12 and the connectingport 11A.
Themain body 11 includes abody case 20, the dust-collecting unit 50 (seeFIG.4) mounted in thebody case 20, and the after mentionedelectric blower 24.
A front side of thebody case 20 is as illustrated inFIG. 2 andFIG 3, provided with a dust-collecting unit chamber 22. A dust separatingunit 400 and a dust-collectingcontainer 410 which are described hereinafter are detachably disposed in a dust-collectingunit 22.
Theelectric blower 24 is provided in a back side of thebody case 20. Acylindrical connecting passage 25 having a front opening 25B is provided in a front side (right side inFIG. 2) of theelectric blower 24. A sealingmember 27 is attached to the front opening 25B. Formed in aback wall 25A of the connectingpassage 25 is a connecting opening 25b which communicates with a suction opening 24A of theelectric blower 24.
As illustrated inFIG.3, the dust-collecting unit chamber 22 is provided with a drive gear Ga, and a drive motor M1 to rotate the drive gear Ga. The dust-collecting unit chamber 22 has a front side having aninner wall 22a which is provided with a light-emitting diode (light-emitting device) D1 for emitting an infrared light.
The dust-collectingunit 22 is provided with a hop up mechanism (alarm device) 1000 (seeFIG.11) for hop upping a dust-collectingpart 70 described hereinafter.
The dust-collecting unit chamber 22 has an upper opening 23 (seeFIG. 3) which is hermetically closed by acover case 21A, 21B, as illustrated inFIG. 2.
As illustrated inFIG.4 andFIG 5, the dust-collecting unit 50 includes a dust separatingunit 400 and a dust-collectingcontainer 410.
The dust separatingunit 400 includes a dust separating section 52 (inertia separating section), afilter part 80 formed integrally with the dust separatingsection 52, and thecover case 21A provided on thefilter part 80.
The dust-collectingcontainer 410 includes a dust-collectingpart 70 formed with transparent resin and acover case 21B provided on the dust-collectingpart 70.
As illustrated inFIG.6, the dust separatingsection 52 includes aseparation chamber portion 54 which is formed in a circular shape by an outerperipheral wall 53, adust separation device 55 which has a generally conical shape and is provided in theseparation chamber portion 54 along an axis of theseparation chamber portion 54, asuction air trunk 56 provided in an outer side of aright side wall 54A of theseparation chamber portion 54, and anair guide tube 57 to guide air from asuction connecting port 57a (dust suction inlet). Thesuction connecting port 57a is configured to communicate with the connectingport 11A of themain body 11 when the dust separatingunit 400 is mounted on the dust-collecting unit chamber 22.
As illustrated inFIG.5, an introduction opening 53A is formed on an upper portion of the outerperipheral wall 53 of theseparation chamber portion 54 to introduce dust separated from air into the dust-collectingpart 70.
As illustrated inFIGS. 6, theseparation chamber portion 54 has theright side wall 54A which is provided with acircular opening 154A and a sector opening 154B. Thedust separation device 55 is attached to the opening 154A and a net filter NF2 (not illustrated) is attached to the opening 154B. Provided in theright side wall 54A is a connecting opening 54Aa which is connected to theair guide tube 57 to communicate theseparation chamber portion 54 with theair guide tube 57.
Thedust separation device 55 includes a plurality offrames 55a and a net filter NF1 attached to circumferences of theframes 55a. Thesuction air trunk 56 communicates with theseparation chamber portion 54 through theopening 154A of theright side wall 54A and the net filter NF1 (seeFIG. 5), and with theseparation chamber portion 54 through the net filter NF2 of theopening 154B of theright side wall 54A (not illustrated).
Thesuction passage 56 communicates with a containingcase 81 of afilter part 80 mentioned hereinafter, and with a dust-collectingchamber 73 of a dust-collectingcase portion 74 as described hereinafter through a connectingport 56A formed on a right side wall portion 156 (seeFIG. 6).
As illustrated by arrow inFIG. 6, theair guide tube 57 is configured to rotate air introduced from the connecting opening 54Aa of theseparation chamber portion 54 into theseparation chamber portion 54 in counterclockwise direction.
As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and7, the dust-collectingpart 70 includes acommunication case portion 72 having acommunication passage 71 which is provided in an upper portion of thecommunication case portion 72 extending rightward and leftward, and the dust-collectingcase portion 74 which extends from a right end portion of thecommunication case portion 72 downwardly and forms the dust-collectingchamber 73 to collect the dust. As illustrated inFIG.8, a lower surface of abottom wall 72T of thecommunication case portion 72 is provided with afirst rib 72R projecting downward and asecond rib 72M extending downward, thesecond rib 72M is provided with an engaging part 72Ma projecting rightward on its lower part, as illustrated inFIG. 12.
Anopening 72A is provided on a lower surface of a left side of thecommunication case portion 72 as illustrated inFIG.5 andFIG.8, and theopening 72A is communicated with the introduction opening 53A of thedust separating section 52, as illustrated inFIG.5. In addition, as illustrated inFIG. 9, the dust-collectingcase portion 74 has aleft side wall 74A which is provided with a connectingopening 75. The connectingopening 75 is provided with a net filter NF3.
Acover plate 170 is attached to an outer wall portion of the dust-collectingcase portion 74 in an outer side of the net filter NF3 and at a potion remote from the net filter NF3 a predetermined interval. Anopening 170A is formed in a lower portion of the cover plate 170 (seeFIG. 8).
Theopening 170A of thecover plate 170 is connected to the connectingopening 56A of thesuction air trunk 56, as illustrated inFIG. 5.
Anopening 76 is provided on a right side surface of the dust-collectingcase portion 74, as illustrated inFIG.9. Acover plate 77 is attached to theopening 76 which is capable of opening and closing thereof (seeFIG.7). Thecover plate 77 is configured to open and close by rotating thecover plate 77 about ashaft 77J.
When the dust-collectingcontainer 410 is mounted in the dust-collectingunit chamber 22 of themain body 11 in which thedust separating unit 400 is mounted, as illustrated inFIG. 5, the introduction opening 53A of thedust separating section 52 is connected to theopening 72A of the dust-collectingcontainer 410, and theopening 170A of thecover plate 170 of the dust-collectingcontainer 410 is connected to the connectingopening 56A of thesuction air trunk 56 of thedust separating unit 400.
As illustrated inFIG. 10, thefilter part 80 includes a cylindrical containingcase 81 having a back surface which is opened, a pleated filter structure 100 (secondary filter) rotatably provided in the containingcase 81. Thedust separating section 52 is formed on a front surface of afront wall portion 84 of the containingcase 81 integrally (seeFIG. 5 andFIG6).
Formed in thefront wall portion 84 of the containingcase 81 is a connectingopening 84A. The connectingopening 84A is connected to the suction air trunk 56 (seeFIG. 5). Thesuction air trunk 56 communicates with the containingcase 81 through the connectingopening 84A.
An edge part of the connectingopening 84A of thefront wall portion 84 is provided with a projection T (seeFIG. 2) which projecting towards to thepleated filter structure 100. An end part of the projection is configured to contact with after mentioned a mountain part of apleated filter 104. In addition, a front surface of thefront wall portion 84 is provided with a light-receiving diode (light receiving device: first light-receiving part) D2 (seeFIG. 6).
As illustrated inFIG 10, thepleated filter structure 100 includes acylindrical frame 101, ashaft 101A provided at a central position of thecylindrical frame 101, thepleated filter 104 to form pleats radially extending from theshaft 101A.
As illustrated inFIG. 2, ashaft 84J provided on thefront wall portion 84 is relatively and rotatably inserted in a hole 101Aa of theshaft portion 101A, and thepleated filter structure 100 is configured to be rotated about theshaft 84J in the containingcase 81.
A back end surface of theframe 101 is provided with agear 107 which projects outwardly from the containingcase 81, and is engaged with a drive gear Ga of the dust-collectingunit chamber 22 of themain body 11. Thepleated filter structure 100 is rotated in the containingcase 81 by the driving of the motor M1.
When thedust separating unit 400 is disposed in the dust-collectingunit chamber 22 of themain body 11, through theseal member 27, the back end surface of the containingcase 81 of thedust separating unit 400 is jointed to thefront opening 25B of the connectingpassage 25 of themain body 11 to communicate thesuction opening 24A of theelectric blower 24 and the containingcase 81 through the connectingpassage 25.
As illustrated inFIG.3, the light-emitting diode D1 is configured to emit the infrared light toward the dust-collectingcase portion 74 of the dust-collectingpart 70 of thedust separating unit 400 which is mounted in the dust-collectingunit 22, and pass through the dust-collectingcontainer 74 along a level of a dust disposal line L1 (seeFIG.7) of the dust-collectingchamber 73. The infrared light passed through the dust-collectingcase portion 74 is configured to be received by the light-receiving diode D2 of thefront wall portion 84 of thedust separating unit 400. The light-emitting diode D1 and light-receiving diode D2A form a dust detecting device 1500 (seeFIG.5 andFIG.7).
As illustrated inFIG.11, the hop up mechanism (alarm device) 1000 includes a hop updevice 1100 for hop upping the dust-collectingcontainer 410, alock device 1200 for fixing the dust-collectingcontainer 410 to a mounting position, and a releasingdevice 1300 for releasing a lock of thelock device 1200.
The hop updevice 1100 includes acylindrical guide case 1101 which is provided on an upper wall surface of theair guide tube 57 of thedust separating unit 400 extending upwardly and downwardly and has a square-tube cross section, a movingboard 1102 which is provided in theguide case 1101 movably seesaw, aspring 1103 which is disposed in theguide case 1101 and for biases the movingboard 1102 upwardly. The hop updevice 1100 is configured to hop up the dust-collectingcontainer 410 by moving the movingboard 1102 upwardly by a biasing force of thespring 1103.
Theguide case 1101 includes anupper end board 1104 which is provided with anotch 1105. Anotch 1107 is formed on aside wall 1106 of theguide case 1101 extending upwardly and downwardly and continuing to thenotch 1105.
Thelock device 1200 includes anarm 1201 which is rotatably provided on an outer surface of theair guide tube 57 and extends upwardly, and a spring (not illustrated) biasing thearm 1201 in a counterclockwise direction. Thearm 1201 has an upper part which is provided with an engagingclaw 1202. The dust-collectingpart 70 has thesecond rib 72M having an engaging part 72Ma. The engagingclaw 1202 is engaged with the engaging part 72Ma to lock the dust-collectingcontainer 410, as illustrated inFIG. 12. The engagingclaw 1202 has an upper surface which is formed like circular arc. Thearm 1201 is not to be rotated in the counterclockwise direction from a position illustrated inFIG. 12 by thestopper 1204.
When the dust-collectingcontainer 410 is pushed from theopening 23 of themain body 11 into the dust-collectingunit chamber 22, thefirst rib 72R of the dust-collectingpart 70 of the dust-collectingcontainer 410 is entered into thenotches 1105, 1107 of theguide case 1101, and the movingboard 1102 is pushed downwardly against the biasing force of thespring 1103, as illustrated inFIG.17. Then, when the dust-collectingcontainer 410 is pushed further, as illustrated inFIG. 12, the engagingclaw 1202 of thearm 1201 is engaged with the engaging part 72Ma of thesecond rib 72M to lock the dust-collectingcontainer 410.
The releasingdevice 1300 includes a slidingmember 1301 which is movably provided on the upper surface of theair guide tube 57 in an anteroposterior direction (horizontal direction inFIG.11), a motor M2 arranged on the front part of themain body 11 and provided on an under side of an upper cover-case 11D, as illustrated inFIG.11 andFIG.13, and anarm member 1302 which is provided on a driving shaft of the motor M2.
As illustrated inFIG.11, the slidingmember 1301 includes a pair ofguide hole 1303 which extend backward and forward. Aguide pin 1304 disposed on the upper surface of theair guide tube 57 is inserted into theguide hole 1303. By theguide pin 1304 moving relatively along theguide hole 1303, thereby the slidingmember 1301 is guided in the forward and backward direction. The slidingmember 1301 has a back end which is contacted with the front part of the engagingclaw 1202 of thearm 1201 as illustrated inFIG.12. In addition, anabutting part 1301A is formed on the end part of the slidingmember 1301.
As illustrated inFIG.11, thearm member 1302 is formed in L shape, and has anend part 1302A which is contacted with theabutting part 1301A of theslide member 1301. Thearm member 1302 has an end part which is provided with ashaft receiving part 1302B mounted on the driving shaft M2a of the motor M2.
When the motor M2T is driven, thearm member 1302 is rotated in a clockwise direction illustrating inFIG. 11, and theslide member 1301 is moved backwardly (rightward inFIG.11). By the backward movement of theslide member 1301, the engagingclaw 1202 of thearm 1201 is released from the engaging part 72Ma of thesecond rib 72M of the dust-collectingpart 70 and the lock of the dust-collectingpart 70 is released.
FIG. 14 is a block view illustrating a structure of a control system of the electric vacuum cleaner. InFIG.14,reference number 200 presents a control device (judging device) which controls theelectric blower 24 or the motors M1, M2, based on operation of theoperational switches 13a (seeFIG. 1) of theoperational part 13A or a light receiving signal of the light receiving diode. In addition, thecontrol device 200 detects an amount of the dust passing through thecommunication case portion 72 of the dust-collectingpart 70 based on a light receiving condition of the light receiving diode D2 and displays the amount of the dust on thedisplay unit 17.
Thecontrol device 200 detects the amount of the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 based on a light receiving amount of the light receiving diode D2, when the amount of the dust reaches to the dust disposal line L1, the motor M2 is driven, and then hop ups the dust-collectingpart 70.

[Operation]

Next, operation of the electric vacuum cleaner structured as mentioned above will be explained.
As illustrated inFIG. 2, the dust-collectingunit 50 is mounted in the dust-collectingunit chamber 22 of themain body 11, and as illustrated inFIG.1, one end of the dust-collectinghose 12 is connected to theconnection port 11A of themain body 11 and theoperational tube 13 is connected to thesuction body 15 through theextension tube 14.
The light emitting diode D1 is emitted by thecontrol device 200 when a power plug (not illustrated) is connected to an outlet. The infrared light emitted from the light emitting diode D1 is received by the light receiving diode D2.
Theelectric blower 24 is driven when theoperational switch 13b of theoperational part 13A of theoperational tube 13 is operated. By the driving of theelectric blower 24, air is sucked from thesuction opening 24A of theelectric blower 24 to generate a negative pressure in the containingcase 81 of the dust-collectingunit 50 through the connectingpassage 25 and in the dust-collectingcase portion 74 and thesuction chamber portion 54 of thedust separating section 52 through thesuction passage portion 56. The negative pressure acts in the dust-collectinghose 12, theextension tube 14 and thesuction body 15 through theair guide tube 57, thereby the dust together with air are sucked into thesuction body 15.
The sucked dust and air are sucked into thesuction connecting port 57a of the dust-collectingunit 50 through theextension tube 14 and the dust-collectinghose 12. The dust and air sucked into thesuction connecting port 57a are guided into theseparation chamber portion 54 of thedust separating section 52 through theair guide tube 57 and rotated counterclockwise in theseparation chamber portion 54, as illustrated inFIG. 6.
This rotation causes the dust and air to be separated by inertia, the separated air passes through the net filter NF1 (seeFIG. 5) of thedust separation device 55 and the net filter NF2 of theopening 154B (not illustrated) and further passes through thesuction passage portion 56, and is sucked into the containingcase 81 of thefilter part 80.
On the other hand, the separated dust together with a part of air pass through the introduction opening 53A of theseparation chamber portion 54 and it is introduced into the communicatingcase portion 72 of the dust-collectingpart 70 by inertia. The introduced dust and air are sucked into the dust-collectingchamber 73 through thecommunication passage 71 of the communicatingcase portion 72, and the dust is collected in the dust-collectingchamber 73.
The air sucked into thedust collecting chamber 73 is sucked into thesuction passage portion 56 through the net filter NF3 and theopening 170A of the lower portion of thecover plate 170, and further into the containingcase 81 of thefilter part 80.
The air sucked into the containingcase 81 is sucked into the connectingpassage 25 of themain body 11 through thepleated filter 104 of thepleated filter structure 100, further into thesuction opening 24A of theelectric blower 24.
The air sucked into thesuction opening 24 A of theelectric blower 24 is exhausted from anexhaust port 20H of themain body 11 illustrated inFIG. 2 through theelectric blower 24.
On the other hand, when the dust is collected into the dust-collectingchamber 73, the dust shields the infrared light which is received by the light receiving diode D2, thereby the infrared light is intermittently received by the light receiving diode D2. When the dust collected in the dust-collectingchamber 73 is accumulated and reaches to the dust disposal line L1, the light receiving diode D2 does not receive the infrared light since the dust shields the infrared light continually.
Thecontrol device 200 calculates the amount of the dust passing through thecommunication passage 71 which is in thecommunication case portion 72 of the dust-collectingpart 70, i.e. the amount of the dust passing through the suction connecting port (dust suction port) 57a based on the light receiving condition of the light receiving diode D2 and displays the amount on thedisplay unit 17 of theoperational tube 13. Here, within a predetermined time, the amount of the passed dust is calculated based on a total of shielding time during which the light receiving diode D2 is shielded. That it to say, thecontrol device 200 judges that the amount of the passed dust will be big if a totaled shielding time is long and the amount of the passed dust will be small if a totaled shielding time is short in the predetermined time, and then displays the amount of passed dust on thedisplay unit 17.
Whether or not a subject surface which is being cleaned is still dirty or not, i.e. whether or not the dust is still attached to the subject surface are judged, by displaying the amount of the passed dust on thedisplay unit 17.
When the dust passing through thecommunication passage 71 of the dust-collectingportion 70 is collected in the dust-collectingchamber 73 and the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 reaches to the dust disposal line L1, the dust shields the infrared light continuously, thereby the light receiving diode D2 does not receive the infrared light.
When the light receiving diode D2 does not receive the infrared light more than the predetermined time continuously, thecontrol device 200 judges that the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 has reached to the predetermined amount, i.e. the dust disposal line L1. That it to say, thecontrol device 200 detects whether or not the amount of the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 has reached to the predetermined amount.
Like this, thecontrol device 200 is configured to detect the amount of the dust passing through thecommunication passage 71 of the dust-collectingportion 70 and judge whether or not the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 has reached to the predetermined amount, based on the light receiving condition of the one light receiving diode D2. Thereby, it is capable of providing a cheaper electric vacuum cleaner without individual special light receiving diode.
When theoperational switch 13a of theoperational part 13A is operated, thecontrol device 200 drives the motor M2 of the hop upmechanism 1000 for a predetermined time only, and stops the driving of theelectric blower 24. By the driving of the motor M2, thearm member 1302 is rotated in the clockwise direction in theFIG. 11, theslide member 1301 is moved backwardly from a position illustrated inFIG.12, and the engagingclaw 1202 of thearm 1201 is pushed backwardly. Thereby, thearm 1201 is rotated in the clockwise direction against a biasing force of a spring not shown, the engagingclaw 1202 of thearm 1201 is released from the engaging part 72Ma of thesecond rib 72M of the dust-collectingpart 70, and the lock of the dust-collectingcontainer 410 is released.
When the lock is released, the movingboard 1102 in theguide case 1101 is moved upwardly by a biasing force of thespring 1103, and as illustrated inFIG. 15, thefirst rib 72R is pushed upwardly with the dust-collectingcontainer 410. That it to say, the dust-collectingcontainer 410 is hop upped, as illustrated inFIG. 16. By the hop up, the user knows that in the dust-collectingchamber 73 of the dust-collectingcontainer 410 the dust is accumulated to the level of the dust disposal line L1 (seeFIG.7), and is capable of dumping the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 quickly, and thus it is possible to prevent that the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 is filled over.
After the amount of the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 has reached to the level of the dust disposal line L1, or theoperational switches 13a of theoperational part 13A is not operated even a preliminarily set time (a predetermined time) lapsed, the control device 2000 stops the driving of theelectric blower 24 forcibly and drives the motor M2 to hop up the dust-collectingcontainer 410.
Consequently, even theoperational switches 13a of theoperational part 13A is not operated, it is possible to prevent that the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 is filled over.
However, when the driving of theelectric blower 24 is stopped, the motor M1 is driven in a specified time. By the driving of the motor M1, the driving gear Ga is rotated, and thepleated filter structure 100 is rotated.
By the rotation of thepleated filter structure 100, the protrusion T (seeFIG.2) provided on thefront wall portion 84 of thedust separating unit 400 is in contact with the mountain portion of thepleated filter 104, to give vibrations to thepleated filter 104, thereby to remove the dust attached to thepleated filter 104.
In the above-mentioned embodiment, the alarm is carried out by hop upping the dust-collectingcontainer 410, to alarm that the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 has reached to the level of the dust disposal line L1. However, the present invention is not limited to those embodiments. For example, the alarm can be carried out by ringing a buzzer or lighting a lamp.
In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the alarm is carried out when the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 has reached to the level of the dust disposal line L1, however it is possible to arrange a plurality of light receiving diodes upwardly and downwardly to judge an amount of the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73, and carry out an alarm corresponding to the amount thereof. Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the electric vacuum cleaner separates the dust by inertia. However, it is not limited to this embodiment, it can be a type of trapping the dust with the filter or a type of sucking the dust into the dust-collectingchamber 73 directly without passing through the separating section.
Next, the electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a judgingdevice 1600 of the electric vacuum cleaner. InFIG.18, alight emitting device 1601 includes a light emitting diode D1 to emit an infrared light to thecommunication case portion 72 and the dust-collectingchamber 73 of the dust-collectingpart 70, and a projecting lens DL1 and so on. The infrared light emitted from thelight emitting device 1601 passes through a region illustrated by a dashed line, and passes through the dust-collectingcontainer portion 74 along the level of the dust disposal line L1 (seeFIG.7) of the dust-collectingchamber 73.
Alight receiving device 1602 receives the infrared light passed through thecommunication case portion 72. Thelight receiving device 1602 includes a light receiving diode (a first light receiving device) D3 and a collecting lens DL3, and so on. Alight receiving device 1603 receives the infrared light passed through thecommunication case portion 73. Thelight receiving device 1603 includes a light receiving diode (a second light receiving device) D4 and a collecting lens DL4, and so on. Thelight receiving device 1602 is then disposed on an upstream side than thelight receiving device 1603.
FIG. 19 is a block view illustrating a structure of a control system of the electric vacuum cleaner. As illustrated inFIG.19, thecontrol device 210 calculates the amount of the dust passing through thecommunication case portion 72 based on the light receiving condition of thelight receiving device 1602 and displays the amount on thedisplay unit 17. In addition, thecontrol device 210 judges that the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 reached to the position of the dust disposal line L1, and then drives the motor M2.
According to the invention, even the dust accumulated has reached to the position of the dust disposal line L1 of the dust-collectingchamber 73, it is possible to calculate the amount of the dust passing through thecommunication case portion 72, and since thelight emitting device 1601 is provided only one, the judgingdevice 1600 is made cheaper.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a judgingdevice 1610 of another example of the electric vacuum cleaner. Thelight receiving device 1602 is configured to receive an infrared light which is reflected by the dust passing through thecommunication case portion 72. It is possible to detect the dust passing through thecommunication case portion 72 in a broad range. In the embodiment, also thelight receiving device 1602 is disposed on the upstream side than thelight receiving device 1603.
According to the invention, even the electric vacuum cleaner is of the inertia separation type, it is possible to alarm certainly that whether or not the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 is reached to or more than the predetermined amount, and also to inform the amount of the dust passing through the dust suction inlet.
According to the invention, since the alarm device alarms corresponding to the detected amount of the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73, it is possible to prevent that the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber 73 is filled over.
It is explicitly stated that all features disclosed in the description and/or the claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently from each other for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed invention independent of the composition of the features in the embodiments and/or the claims. It is explicitly stated that all value ranges or indications of groups of entities disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed invention, in particular as limits of value ranges.

Claims

An electric vacuum cleaner, comprising
a dust separating section (52) for separating dust sucked from a suction opening with air;
a dust-collecting chamber (73) for accumulating the dust separated at the dust separating section (52);
a light emitting device (D1) for emitting light into the dust-collecting chamber (73);
a first light receiving device (D4) for receiving light passing through the dust-collecting chamber (73);
a judging device (200) for judging whether or not the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber (73) has reached a predetermined amount based on a light receiving condition of the first light receiving device (D4); and
a display unit (17) to display the amount of the dust detected by the judging device (200),
characterized in that
the light receiving device includes further a second light receiving device (D3) for detecting the amount of the dust passing through the suction opening and
the second light receiving device (D3) being provided at an upstream position with respect to the first light receiving device (D4), and
the judging device (200) is further configured for detecting an amount of the dust passing through the suction opening based on a light receiving condition of the second light receiving device (D3).
The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein
the first light receiving device (D3) is configured to receive a light reflected by the dust.
The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising
a main body (11);
a dust-collecting container (410) detachably provided on the main body;
an electric blower (24) to suck dust from the suction opening; and
an alarm device (1000) to alarm an alarm in accordance with a detected amount of the dust detected by the judging device.
The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein
the alarm device (1000) is configured to hop up the dust-collecting container as alarm.
The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein
the alarm device is configured to carry out the alarm when the amount of dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber (73) is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, or when the electric blower is switched on.
The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein
the alarm device is configured to carry out the alarm when the amount of dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber (73) is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, or when an operation of the electric blower stops after a predetermined time has lapsed.
The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising
a communication case portion (72) arranged between the dust separation section (52) and the dust collection chamber (73), and
wherein the light emitting device (D1) includes a light emitting diode for emitting infrared light into the communication case portion (72) and the second light receiving device (D3) is configured to receive light from within the communication case portion (72).