US20070214597A1 - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric vacuum cleaner, including: a dust separating section to separate a dust sucked from a suction opening with air; a dust-collecting chamber to collect the dust separated at the dust separating section; a light emitting diode D1 to emit a light into the dust-collecting chamber; a light receiving diode D2 to receive the light through the dust-collecting chamber; a control device200 to judge an amount of the dust through the suction opening/or judging whether or not the dust collected in the dust-collecting chamber reached to a predetermined amount based on a light receiving condition of the light receiving device; a display unit17 to display the amount of the dust judged with the judging device and a alarm device1000 to alarm in response with the judging amount detected by the control device200.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is based on and claims the priority from each of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-68898, filed on Mar. 14, 2006, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-73826, filed on Mar. 17, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. 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.
• 2. 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, see JP-A-H7-322989).
• The electric vacuum cleaner according to JP-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.
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.
• To accomplish the above object, an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a dust separating section for separating dust sucked from a suction opening to dust and air; a dust-collecting chamber for accumulating the dust separated at the dust separating section; a light emitting device for emitting a light to the dust-collecting chamber; a light receiving device for receiving the light passing through the dust-collecting chamber; a judging device for detecting an amount of the dust passing through the suction opening/or judging 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 for displaying the amount of the dust detected by the judging device.
• To accomplish the above object, an electric vacuum cleaner according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises: a main body; an electric blower for sucking dust from a suction opening; a dust-collecting container detachably provided in the main body, which includes a dust separating section for separating the dust sucked from the suction opening with air, a dust-collecting chamber for accumulating the dust separated at the dust separating section; a light emitting device for emitting a light to the dust-collecting chamber; a light receiving device for receiving the light passing through the dust-collecting chamber; a judging device for judging 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 for alarming 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 according to a second embodiment.
• FIG. 19 is a block view illustrating a structure of a control system of the electric vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment.
• FIG. 20 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a judging device of another example of the electric vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below.
First Embodiment
• Anelectric vacuum cleaner10 as illustrated inFIG. 1 includes amain body11, a dust-collecting hose12 which is detachably connected at one end thereof to a connectingport11A of themain body11 and provided at the other end with anoperational tube13 at hand, anextension tube14 detachably connected to theoperational tube13, and asuction body15 detachably connected to a leading end of theextension tube14. Provided on theoperational tube13 is anoperational part13A which is provided with anoperational switch13afor stopping after mentioned operation of anelectric blower24 or a strong andweak switch13bfor setting a power of theelectric blower24.
• A display unit (display device)17 is adjacent provided to theoperational part13A and displays an amount of dust passing through an air passage.
• Thesuction body15 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 port57aof a dust-collecting unit50 (seeFIG. 6) provided in themain body11 through theextension tube14 and the dust-collectinghose12 and the connectingport11A.
• Themain body11 includes abody case20, the dust-collecting unit50 (seeFIG. 4) mounted in thebody case20, and the after mentionedelectric blower24.
• A front side of thebody case20 is as illustrated inFIG. 2 andFIG. 3, provided with a dust-collecting unit chamber22. A dust separatingunit400 and a dust-collectingcontainer410 which are described hereinafter are detachably disposed in a dust-collectingunit22.
• Theelectric blower24 is provided in a back side of thebody case20. Acylindrical connecting passage25 having a front opening25B is provided in a front side (right side inFIG. 2) of theelectric blower24. A sealingmember27 is attached to the front opening25B. Formed in aback wall25A of the connectingpassage25 is a connecting opening25bwhich communicates with a suction opening24A of theelectric blower24.
• As illustrated inFIG. 3, the dust-collecting unit chamber22 is provided with a drive gear Ga, and a drive motor Ml to rotate the drive gear Ga. The dust-collecting unit chamber22 has a front side having aninner wall22awhich is provided with a light-emitting diode (light-emitting device) D1 for emitting an infrared light.
• The dust-collectingunit22 is provided with a hop up mechanism (alarm device)1000 (seeFIG. 11) for hop upping a dust-collectingpart70 described hereinafter.
• The dust-collecting unit chamber22 has an upper opening23 (seeFIG. 3) which is hermetically closed by acover case21A,21B, as illustrated inFIG. 2.
• As illustrated inFIG. 4 andFIG. 5, the dust-collecting unit50 includes a dust separatingunit400 and a dust-collectingcontainer410.
• The dust separatingunit400 includes a dust separating section52 (inertia separating section), afilter part80 formed integrally with the dust separatingsection52, and thecover case21A provided on thefilter part80.
• The dust-collectingcontainer410 includes a dust-collectingpart70 formed with transparent resin and acover case21B provided on the dust-collectingpart70.
• As illustrated inFIG. 6, the dust separatingsection52 includes aseparation chamber portion54 which is formed in a circular shape by an outerperipheral wall53, adust separation device55 which has a generally conical shape and is provided in theseparation chamber portion54 along an axis of theseparation chamber portion54, asuction air trunk56 provided in an outer side of aright side wall54A of theseparation chamber portion54, and anair guide tube57 to guide air from asuction connecting port57a(dust suction inlet). Thesuction connecting port57ais configured to communicate with the connectingport11A of themain body11 when the dust separatingunit400 is mounted on the dust-collecting unit chamber22.
• As illustrated inFIG. 5, an introduction opening53A is formed on an upper portion of the outerperipheral wall53 of theseparation chamber portion54 to introduce dust separated from air into the dust-collectingpart70.
• As illustrated inFIG. 6, theseparation chamber portion54 has theright side wall54A which is provided with acircular opening154A and a sector opening154B. Thedust separation device55 is attached to the opening154A and a net filter NF2 (not illustrated) is attached to the opening154B. Provided in theright side wall54A is a connecting opening54Aa which is connected to theair guide tube57 to communicate theseparation chamber portion54 with theair guide tube57.
• Thedust separation device55 includes a plurality offrames55aand a net filter NF1 attached to circumferences of theframes55a.Thesuction air trunk56 communicates with theseparation chamber portion54 through theopening154A of theright side wall54A and the net filter NF1 (seeFIG. 5), and with theseparation chamber portion54 through the net filter NF2 of theopening154B of theright side wall54A (not illustrated).
• Thesuction passage56 communicates with a containingcase81 of afilter part80 mentioned hereinafter, and with a dust-collectingchamber73 of a dust-collectingcase portion74 as described hereinafter through a connectingport56A formed on a right side wall portion156 (seeFIG. 6).
• As illustrated by arrow inFIG. 6, theair guide tube57 is configured to rotate air introduced from the connecting opening54Aa of theseparation chamber portion54 into theseparation chamber portion54 in counterclockwise direction.
• As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 7, the dust-collectingpart70 includes acommunication case portion72 having acommunication passage71 which is provided in an upper portion of thecommunication case portion72 extending rightward and leftward, and the dust-collectingcase portion74 which extends from a right end portion of thecommunication case portion72 downwardly and forms the dust-collectingchamber73 to collect the dust. As illustrated inFIG. 8, a lower surface of abottom wall72T of thecommunication case portion72 is provided with afirst rib72R projecting downward and asecond rib72M extending downward, thesecond rib72M is provided with an engaging part72Ma projecting rightward on its lower part, as illustrated inFIG. 12.
• Anopening72A is provided on a lower surface of a left side of thecommunication case portion72 as illustrated inFIG. 5 andFIG. 8, and theopening72A is communicated with the introduction opening53A of thedust separating section52, as illustrated inFIG. 5. In addition, as illustrated inFIG. 9, the dust-collectingcase portion74 has aleft side wall74A which is provided with a connectingopening75. The connectingopening75 is provided with a net filter NF3.
• Acover plate170 is attached to an outer wall portion of the dust-collectingcase portion74 in an outer side of the net filter NF3 and at a potion remote from the net filter NF3 a predetermined interval. Anopening170A is formed in a lower portion of the cover plate170 (seeFIG. 8).
• Theopening170A of thecover plate170 is connected to the connectingopening56A of thesuction air trunk56, as illustrated inFIG. 5.
• Anopening76 is provided on a right side surface of the dust-collectingcase portion74, as illustrated inFIG. 9. Acover plate77 is attached to theopening76 which is capable of opening and closing thereof (seeFIG. 7). Thecover plate77 is configured to open and close by rotating thecover plate77 about ashaft77J.
• When the dust-collectingcontainer410 is mounted in the dust-collectingunit chamber22 of themain body11 in which thedust separating unit400 is mounted, as illustrated inFIG. 5, the introduction opening53A of thedust separating section52 is connected to theopening72A of the dust-collectingcontainer410, and theopening170A of thecover plate170 of the dust-collectingcontainer410 is connected to the connectingopening56A of thesuction air trunk56 of thedust separating unit400.
• As illustrated inFIG. 10, thefilter part80 includes a cylindrical containingcase81 having a back surface which is opened, a pleated filter structure100 (secondary filter) rotatably provided in the containingcase81. Thedust separating section52 is formed on a front surface of afront wall portion84 of the containingcase81 integrally (seeFIG. 5 andFIG. 6).
• Formed in thefront wall portion84 of the containingcase81 is a connectingopening84A. The connectingopening84A is connected to the suction air trunk56 (seeFIG. 5). Thesuction air trunk56 communicates with the containingcase81 through the connectingopening84A.
• An edge part of the connectingopening84A of thefront wall portion84 is provided with a projection T (seeFIG. 2) which projecting towards to thepleated filter structure100. An end part of the projection is configured to contact with after mentioned a mountain part of apleated filter104. In addition, a front surface of thefront wall portion84 is provided with a light-receiving diode (light receiving device: first light-receiving part) D2 (seeFIG. 6).
• As illustrated inFIG. 10, thepleated filter structure100 includes acylindrical frame101, ashaft101A provided at a central position of thecylindrical frame101, thepleated filter104 to form pleats radially extending from theshaft101A.
• As illustrated inFIG. 2, ashaft84J provided on thefront wall portion84 is relatively and rotatably inserted in a hole101Aa of theshaft portion101A, and thepleated filter structure100 is configured to be rotated about theshaft84J in the containingcase81.
• A back end surface of theframe101 is provided with agear107 which projects outwardly from the containingcase81, and is engaged with a drive gear Ga of the dust-collectingunit chamber22 of themain body11. Thepleated filter structure100 is rotated in the containingcase81 by the driving of the motor M1.
• When thedust separating unit400 is mounted in the dust-collectingunit chamber22 of themain body11, through theseal member27, the back end surface of the containingcase81 of thedust separating unit400 is jointed to thefront opening25B of the connectingpassage25 of themain body11 to communicate thesuction opening24A of theelectric blower24 and the containingcase81 through the connectingpassage25.
• As illustrated inFIG. 3, the light-emitting diode D1 is configured to emit the infrared light toward the dust-collectingcase portion74 of the dust-collectingpart70 of thedust separating unit400 which is mounted in the dust-collectingunit22, and pass through the dust-collectingcontainer74 along a level of a dust disposal line L1 (seeFIG. 7) of the dust-collectingchamber73. The infrared light passed through the dust-collectingcase portion74 is configured to be received by the light-receiving diode D2 of thefront wall portion84 of thedust separating unit400. The light-emitting diode D1 and light-receiving diode D2A form a dust detecting device1500 (seeFIG. 5 andFIG. 7).
• As illustrated inFIG. 11, the hop up mechanism (alarm device)1000 includes a hop updevice1100 for hop upping the dust-collectingcontainer410, alock device1200 for fixing the dust-collectingcontainer410 to a mounting position, and a releasingdevice1300 for releasing a lock of thelock device1200.
• The hop updevice1100 includes acylindrical guide case1101 which is provided on an upper wall surface of theair guide tube57 of thedust separating unit400 extending upwardly and downwardly and has a square-tube cross section, a movingboard1102 which is provided in theguide case1101 movably seesaw, aspring1103 which is disposed in theguide case1101 and for biases the movingboard1102 upwardly. The hop updevice1100 is configured to hop up the dust-collectingcontainer410 by moving the movingboard1102 upwardly by a biasing force of thespring1103.
• Theguide case1101 includes anupper end board1104 which is provided with anotch1105. Anotch1107 is formed on aside wall1106 of theguide case1101 extending upwardly and downwardly and continuing to thenotch1105.
• Thelock device1200 includes anarm1201 which is rotatably provided on an outer surface of theair guide tube57 and extends upwardly, and a spring (not illustrated) biasing thearm1201 in a counterclockwise direction. Thearm1201 has an upper part which is provided with an engagingclaw1202. The dust-collectingpart70 has thesecond rib72M having an engaging part72Ma. The engagingclaw1202 is engaged with the engaging part72Ma to lock the dust-collectingcontainer410, as illustrated inFIG. 12. The engagingclaw1202 has an upper surface which is formed like circular arc. Thearm1201 is not to be rotated in the counterclockwise direction from a position illustrated inFIG. 12 by thestopper1204.
• When the dust-collectingcontainer410 is pushed from theopening23 of themain body11 into the dust-collectingunit chamber22, thefirst rib72R of the dust-collectingpart70 of the dust-collectingcontainer410 is entered into thenotches1105,1107 of theguide case1101, and the movingboard1102 is pushed downwardly against the biasing force of thespring1103, as illustrated inFIG. 17. Then, when the dust-collectingcontainer410 is pushed further, as illustrated inFIG. 12, the engagingclaw1202 of thearm1201 is engaged with the engaging part72Ma of thesecond rib72M to lock the dust-collectingcontainer410.
• The releasingdevice1300 includes a slidingmember1301 which is movably provided on the upper surface of theair guide tube57 in an anteroposterior direction (horizontal direction inFIG. 11), a motor M2 arranged on the front part of themain body11 and provided on an under side of an upper cover-case11D, as illustrated inFIG. 11 andFIG. 13, and anarm member1302 which is provided on a driving shaft of the motor M2.
• As illustrated inFIG. 11, the slidingmember1301 includes a pair ofguide hole1303 which extend backward and forward. Aguide pin1304 disposed on the upper surface of theair guide tube57 is inserted into theguide hole1303. By theguide pin1304 moving relatively along theguide hole1303, thereby the slidingmember1301 is guided in the forward and backward direction. The slidingmember1301 has a back end which is contacted with the front part of the engagingclaw1202 of thearm1201 as illustrated inFIG. 12. In addition, anabutting part1301A is formed on the end part of the slidingmember1301.
• As illustrated inFIG. 11, thearm member1302 is formed in L shape, and has anend part1302A which is contacted with theabutting part1301A of theslide member1301. Thearm member1302 has an end part which is provided with ashaft receiving part1302B mounted on the driving shaft M2aof the motor M2.
• When the motor M2T is driven, thearm member1302 is rotated in a clockwise direction illustrating inFIG. 11, and theslide member1301 is moved backwardly (rightward inFIG. 11). By the backward movement of theslide member1301, the engagingclaw1202 of thearm1201 is released from the engaging part72Ma of thesecond rib72M of the dust-collectingpart70 and the lock of the dust-collectingpart70 is released.
• FIG. 14 is a block view illustrating a structure of a control system of the electric vacuum cleaner. InFIG. 14,reference number200 presents a control device (judging device) which controls theelectric blower24 or the motors M1, M2, based on operation of theoperational switches13a(seeFIG. 1) of theoperational part13A or a light receiving signal of the light receiving diode. In addition, thecontrol device200 detects an amount of the dust passing through thecommunication case portion72 of the dust-collectingpart70 based on a light receiving condition of the light receiving diode D2 and displays the amount of the dust on thedisplay unit17.
• Thecontrol device200 detects the amount of the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber73 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-collectingpart70.
[Operation]
• Next, operation of the electric vacuum cleaner structured as mentioned above will be explained.
• As illustrated inFIG. 2, the dust-collectingunit50 is mounted in the dust-collectingunit chamber22 of themain body11, and as illustrated inFIG. 1, one end of the dust-collectinghose12 is connected to theconnection port11A of themain body11 and theoperational tube13 is connected to thesuction body15 through theextension tube14.
• The light emitting diode D1 is emitted by thecontrol device200 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 blower24 is driven when theoperational switch13bof theoperational part13A of theoperational tube13 is operated. By the driving of theelectric blower24, air is sucked from thesuction opening24A of theelectric blower24 to generate a negative pressure in the containingcase81 of the dust-collectingunit50 through the connectingpassage25 and in the dust-collectingcase portion74 and thesuction chamber portion54 of thedust separating section52 through thesuction passage portion56. The negative pressure acts in the dust-collectinghose12, theextension tube14 and thesuction body15 through theair guide tube57, thereby the dust together with air are sucked into thesuction body15.
• The sucked dust and air are sucked into thesuction connecting port57aof the dust-collectingunit50 through theextension tube14 and the dust-collectinghose12. The dust and air sucked into thesuction connecting port57aare guided into theseparation chamber portion54 of thedust separating section52 through theair guide tube57 and rotated counterclockwise in theseparation chamber portion54, 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 device55 and the net filter NF2 of theopening154B (not illustrated) and further passes through thesuction passage portion56, and is sucked into the containingcase81 of thefilter part80.
• On the other hand, the separated dust together with a part of air passing through the introduction opening53A of theseparation chamber portion54 and it is introduced into the communicatingcase portion72 of the dust-collectingpart70 by inertia. The introduced dust and air are sucked into the dust-collectingchamber73 through thecommunication passage71 of the communicatingcase portion72, and the dust is collected in the dust-collectingchamber73.
• The air sucked into the dust-collectingchamber73 is sucked into thesuction passage portion56 through the net filter NF3 and theopening170A of the lower portion of thecover plate170, and further into the containingcase81 of thefilter part80.
• The air sucked into the containingcase81 is sucked into the connectingpassage25 of themain body11 through thepleated filter104 of thepleated filter structure100, further into thesuction opening24A of theelectric blower24.
• The air sucked into thesuction opening24A of theelectric blower24 is exhausted from anexhaust port20H of themain body11 illustrated inFIG. 2 through theelectric blower24.
• On the other hand, when the dust is collected into the dust-collectingchamber73, 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-collectingchamber73 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 device200 calculates the amount of the dust passing through thecommunication passage71 which is in thecommunication case portion72 of the dust-collectingpart70, i.e. the amount of the dust passing through the suction connecting port (dust suction port)57abased on the light receiving condition of the light receiving diode D2 and displays the amount on thedisplay unit17 of theoperational tube13. 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 device200 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 unit17.
• 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 unit17.
• When the dust passing through thecommunication passage71 of the dust-collectingportion70 is collected in the dust-collectingchamber73 and the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber73 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 device200 judges that the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber73 has reached to the predetermined amount, i.e. the dust disposal line L1. That it to say, thecontrol device200 detects whether or not the amount of the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber73 has reached to the predetermined amount.
• Like this, thecontrol device200 is configured to detect the amount of the dust passing through thecommunication passage71 of the dust-collectingportion70 and judge whether or not the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber73 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 switch13aof theoperational part13A is operated, thecontrol device200 drives the motor M2 of the hop upmechanism1000 for a predetermined time only, and stops the driving of theelectric blower24. By the driving of the motor M2, thearm member1302 is rotated in the clockwise direction in theFIG. 11, theslide member1301 is moved backwardly from a position illustrated inFIG. 12, and the engagingclaw1202 of thearm1201 is pushed backwardly. Thereby, thearm1201 is rotated in the clockwise direction against a biasing force of a spring not shown, the engagingclaw1202 of thearm1201 is released from the engaging part72Ma of thesecond rib72M of the dust-collectingpart70, and the lock of the dust-collectingcontainer410 is released.
• When the lock is released, the movingboard1102 in theguide case1101 is moved upwardly by a biasing force of thespring1103, and as illustrated inFIG. 15, thefirst rib72R is pushed upwardly with the dust-collectingcontainer410. That it to say, the dust-collectingcontainer410 is hop upped, as illustrated inFIG. 16. By the hop up, the user knows that in the dust-collectingchamber73 of the dust-collectingcontainer410 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-collectingchamber73 quickly, and thus it is possible to prevent that the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber73 is filled over.
• After the amount of the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber73 has reached to the level of the dust disposal line L1, or theoperational switches13aof theoperational part13A is not operated even a preliminarily set time (a predetermined time) lapsed, the control device2000 stops the driving of theelectric blower24 forcibly and drives the motor M2 to hop up the dust-collectingcontainer410.
• Consequently, even theoperational switches13aof theoperational part13A is not operated, it is possible to prevent that the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber73 is filled over.
• However, when the driving of theelectric blower24 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 structure100 is rotated.
• By the rotation of thepleated filter structure100, the protrusion T (seeFIG. 2) provided on thefront wall portion84 of thedust separating unit400 is in contact with the mountain portion of thepleated filter104, to give vibrations to thepleated filter104, thereby to remove the dust attached to thepleated filter104.
• In the above-mentioned embodiment, the alarm is carried out by hop upping the dust-collectingcontainer410, to alarm that the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber73 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-collectingchamber73 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-collectingchamber73, 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-collectingchamber73 directly without passing through the separating section.
Second Embodiment
• Next, a second embodiment of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention will be described.
• FIG. 18 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a judgingdevice1600 of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the second embodiment. InFIG. 18, alight emitting device1601 includes a light emitting diode D1 for emitting an infrared light to thecommunication case portion72 and the dust-collectingchamber73 of the dust-collectingpart70, and a projecting lens DL1 and so on. The infrared light emitted from thelight emitting device1601 passes through a region illustrated by a dashed line, and passes through the dust-collectingcontainer portion74 along the level of the dust disposal line L1 (seeFIG. 7) of the dust-collectingchamber73.
• Alight receiving device1602 receives the infrared light passed through thecommunication case portion72. Thelight receiving device1602 includes a light receiving diode (a first light receiving device) D3 and a collecting lens DL3, and so on. Alight receiving device1603 receives the infrared light passed through thecommunication case portion73. Thelight receiving device1603 includes a light receiving diode (the second light receiving device) D4 and a collecting lens DL4, and so on. Thelight receiving device1602 is then disposed on an upstream side than thelight receiving device1603.
• FIG. 19 is a block view illustrating a structure of a control system of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the second embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 19, thecontrol device210 calculates the amount of the dust passing through thecommunication case portion72 based on the light receiving condition of thelight receiving device1602 and displays the amount on thedisplay unit17. In addition, thecontrol device210 judges that the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber73 reached to the position of the dust disposal line L1, and then drives the motor M2.
• According to the second embodiment, even the dust accumulated has reached to the position of the dust disposal line L1 of the dust-collectingchamber73, it is possible to calculate the amount of the dust passing through thecommunication case portion72, and since thelight emitting device1601 is provided only one, the judgingdevice1600 is made cheaper.
• FIG. 20 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a judgingdevice1610 of another example of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the second embodiment. In the embodiment, thelight receiving device1602 is configured to receive an infrared light which is reflected by the dust passing through thecommunication case portion72. According to the embodiment, it is possible to detect the dust passing through thecommunication case portion72 in a broad range. In the embodiment, also thelight receiving device1602 is disposed on the upstream side than thelight receiving device1603.
• 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-collectingchamber73 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-collectingchamber73, it is possible to prevent that the dust accumulated in the dust-collectingchamber73 is filled over.
• Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been mentioned, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, various modifications and changes can be made to the embodiments.

Claims (7)

1. An electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a dust separating section to separate dust sucked from a suction opening with air;

a dust-collecting chamber to accumulate the dust separated at the dust separating section;

an 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.

2. The electric vacuum cleaner according toclaim 1, wherein

the light receiving device includes: a first light receiving device to detect the amount of the dust passing through the suction opening; and

a second light receiving device to judge whether or not the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber has reached to the predetermined amount,

the first light receiving device being provided at an upstream side than the second light receiving device.

3. The electric vacuum cleaner according toclaim 1, wherein

the first light receiving device receives a light reflected by the dust.

4. The electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body;

a dust-collecting container detachably provided on the main body including:

an electric blower to suck dust from a suction opening;

a dust separating section to separate 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 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;

an alarm device to alarm an alarm in accordance with a detected amount of the dust detected by the judging device.

5. The electric vacuum cleaner according toclaim 4, wherein

the alarm device hop ups the dust-collecting device to alarm.

6. The electric vacuum cleaner according toclaim 5, wherein

the alarm device carries out the alarm when the amount of the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, or when the electric blower is switched on.

7. The electric vacuum cleaner according toclaim 4, wherein

the alarm device carries out the alarm when the amount of the dust accumulated in the dust-collecting chamber is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, or when stops an operation of the electric blower after a predetermined time lapsed.

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