US20160206161A1 - Self-propelled vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-propelled vacuum cleaner comprising: a self-propellable case having a suction opening provided on a bottom surface and an exhaust opening provided at a rear part; and a dust-collecting part provided between the suction opening and the exhaust opening through a ventilation channel, wherein

• • the dust-collecting part includes a dust box disposed at the suction-opening side and an electric fan disposed at the exhaust-opening side, and
  • the dust box and the electric fan are configured to be separable.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present invention relates to a self-propelled vacuum cleaner.
BACKGROUND ART
• As a self-propelled vacuum cleaner for cleaning dust on a floor surface,Patent Document 1 proposes a self-propelled vacuum cleaner including a housing that can be self-propelled and has a suction opening on its lower surface, a main brush mounted to the suction opening so as to be rotatable, and a side brush rotatably mounted anterior to the main brush on the lower surface of the housing.
• The self-propelled vacuum cleaner described above includes a rechargeable battery incorporated in the housing and a start/stop switch provided on its top surface. A dust collection unit is detachably mounted at the rear part of the housing.
• The dust collection unit includes a dust case having an inflow opening, an exhaust opening, a partition wall separating a space into an inflow side and an exhaust side, and a ventilation hole formed on a part of the partition wall; a filter provided to the ventilation hole; and an electric blower provided in the space of the dust case at the exhaust side.
• A pair of positive and negative terminals electrically connected to the rechargeable battery through a lead line is provided at the rear part of the housing, and a pair of metal terminals electrically connected to the electric blower through a lead line is provided to the dust case of the dust collection unit. The positive and negative terminals and the pair of metal terminals are electrically connected to each other in the state in which the dust collection unit is attached to the rear part of the housing.
• During driving of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner, dust on a floor surface is flown into the space in the dust case at the inflow side from the suction opening to be collected; and air passes through the filter, whereby the air from which dust is removed is exhausted to the outside from the exhaust opening through the electric blower.
• To discard the dust collected in a dust collection space in the dust collection unit, a user removes the dust collection unit from the housing, and throws the dust inside into a dust bin with the inflow opening facing downward. In this case, the dust collection space can be cleaned by use of an accessory brush.
CITATION LISTPatent Document
• Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-75932
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONProblem to be Solved by the Invention
• However, in the self-propelled vacuum cleaner described inPatent Document 1, the electric blower and a pair of metal terminals are provided in the dust collection unit, so that the dust case cannot be washed with water. Therefore, fine dust deposited on the dust case cannot completely be removed only with the brush, and it is impossible to sufficiently and perfectly clean the dust case. Since dust is likely to be deposited on the pair of metal terminals as well, there is concern that contact failure between the respective metal terminals and the positive and negative terminals at the housing occurs.
• In addition, the self-propelled vacuum cleaner inPatent Document 1 has the structure in which, when the dust case is removed from the housing on a floor surface, the dust in the dust case is likely to be scattered on the floor surface from the inflow opening. This might cause the cleaned floor surface dirty.
• The present invention is accomplished in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a self-propelled vacuum cleaner provided with a dust collecting part that can be washed with water and is difficult to cause electrical failure.
Means for Solving the Problems
• Accordingly, the present invention provides a self-propellable case having a suction opening provided on a bottom surface and an exhaust opening provided at a rear part; and a dust-collecting part provided between the suction opening and the exhaust opening through a ventilation channel, wherein
• the dust-collecting part includes a dust box disposed at the suction-opening side and an electric fan disposed at the exhaust-opening side, and
• the dust box and the electric fan are configured to be separable.
Effect of the Invention
• In the self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, the dust box and the electric fan in the dust collecting part is configured to be separable. With this, after the dust box is removed from the case and dust inside is thrown out, the dust box can be washed with water to completely remove fine dust. That is, the dust box can sufficiently be cleaned.
• In the configuration in which metal terminals at the dust box are connected to or separated from positive and negative terminals at the case as in the conventional case, dust is likely to be deposited on each terminal, and therefore, there is concern that contact failure between the metal terminals and the positive and negative terminals might occur. However, in the present invention, the configuration for electrically connecting the electric fan to a battery through a lead line can be provided in the case, whereby the above concern can be resolved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.
• FIG. 3 is a side sectional view illustrating a dust collecting part in the self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment, wherein (A) illustrates a state in which a dust box is mounted, and (B) illustrates a state in which the dust box is removed.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dust box in the self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.
• FIG. 5 is a back view of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner in the state in which the dust box is removed according to the first embodiment.
• FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the dust box in the self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.
• FIG. 7 is a side sectional view illustrating a dust collecting part in a self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment.
• FIG. 8 is a side sectional view illustrating a dust collecting part in a self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to a third embodiment.
• FIG. 9 is a side sectional view illustrating a dust collecting part in a self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to a fourth embodiment.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTIONFirst Embodiment<Overall Configuration of Self-Propelled Vacuum Cleaner>
• FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 2 is a bottom view of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.FIG. 3 is a side sectional view illustrating a dust collecting part in the self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment, wherein (A) illustrates a state in which a dust box is mounted, and (B) illustrates a state in which the dust box is removed.FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dust box in the self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment,FIG. 5 is a back view of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner in the state in which the dust box is removed according to the first embodiment, andFIG. 6 is an exploded view of the dust box in the self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.
• As illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 6, a self-propelled electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a self-propelledvacuum cleaner1 that sucks air including dust on a floor surface in a region where the cleaner is placed, while autonomously traveling on the floor surface, and exhausts air from which the dust is removed to thereby clean the floor surface.
• The self-propelledvacuum cleaner1 has a disc-like case2 provided with a suction opening6 on its lower surface and storing inside a battery E serving as a power source. Components, such as arotary brush9,side brushes10, adust collecting part30 including adust box31 and anelectric fan32, a pair of drive wheel units U each including adrive wheel29, a turnablefront wheel27, various sensors including a floorsurface detection sensor11, and a control board S electrically connected to various sensors, are provided inside and outside of thecase2.
• With the self-propelledvacuum cleaner1, the weight of the self-propelledvacuum cleaner1 is distributed in front-back direction with respect to thecase2 in order that the weight can be supported by a pair ofdrive wheels29, which is mounted to thecase2 at the middle position in the front-back direction, and thefront wheel27.
• Thecase2 has abottom plate2athat is approximately circular in a plan view and has asuction opening6 formed at the position backward from the middle position in the front-back direction, atop plate2bhaving a start/stop button3 on a central position, and aside plate2cthat is annular in a plan view and formed along outer peripheries of thebottom plate2aand thetop plate2b. Thebottom plate2ais provided with a plurality of holes from which a pair ofdrive wheels29 projects to the outside from thecase2, and anexhaust opening7 is formed at the rear part of theside plate2c. Notably, theside plate2cis split into two which are a front part and a rear part, and the front part of the side plate functions as a bumper.
• Thesuction opening6 is a recessed open surface formed on the bottom surface (lower surface of thebottom plate2a) of thecase2 so as to face a floor surface K. Therotary brush9 rotating about a shaft center parallel to the bottom surface of thecase2 is provided in the suction opening6.Side brushes10 rotating about a perpendicular rotation shaft center are provided at both of left and right sides of the suction opening6. Therotary brush9 is formed such that brushes are helically implanted on an outer peripheral surface of a roller serving as the rotation shaft. Each of theside brushes10 is formed such that a brush bundle is radially provided at a lower end of the rotation shaft. The rotation shaft of therotary brush9 and the rotation shafts of a pair ofside brushes10 are pivoted to a part of thebottom plate2aof thecase2, and coupled with a drive motor provided in the vicinity thereof through a power transmission mechanism including a pulley and a belt.
• As illustrated inFIG. 2, floorsurface detection sensors11 are disposed in front of thefront wheel27 and at a front side at the side of left andright drive wheels29 on the bottom surface of thecase2. When the floorsurface detection sensors11 sense descending stairs, the sensing signals from thesensors11 are transmitted to a control unit, and the control unit provided to the control board S controls to stop bothdrive wheels29.
• The control board S includes a control circuit that controls each of the components such as thedrive wheels29, therotary brush9, theside brushes10, and theelectric fan32 in the self-propelledvacuum cleaner1.
• The self-propelledvacuum cleaner1 moves forward by forward rotations of the left andright drive wheels29 in the same direction, moves backward by reverse rotations in the same direction, and turns with the rotations in the opposite direction. For example, the self-propelledvacuum cleaner1 stops thedrive wheels29, and changes its direction by rotating the left andright drive wheels29 in the opposite direction, in the case where the self-propelled vacuum cleaner1 reaches an edge of an area to be cleaned and in the case where the self-propelledvacuum cleaner1 collides against an obstacle on a traveling route. In this way, the self-propelled vacuum cleaner1 autonomously travels, while avoiding obstacles throughout the entire region where the self-propelledvacuum cleaner1 is placed or the entire desired range.
• <Dust Collecting Part>
• As illustrated inFIG. 3(A), thedust collecting part30 is provided between thesuction opening6 and theexhaust opening7 through a ventilation channel in thecase2. It is to be noted thatFIGS. 3(A) and (B) do not illustrate the structure anterior to thedust collecting part30.
• Thedust collecting part30 includes adust box31 disposed at the side of thesuction opening6 and anelectric fan32 disposed at the side of theexhaust opening7, thedust box31 and theelectric fan32 being configured to be separable. Specifically, theelectric fan32 is disposed in thecase2, and thedust box31 is detachably disposed at the rear part of thecase2.
• The structure of thedust collecting part30 and the ventilation channel will be specifically described. Firstly, thecase2 has arear opening5 formed by cutting a lower half of the rear part of theside plate2c. Therear opening5 is an opening into which thedust box31 is fitted, and the detail thereof will be described later.
• Thecase2 also includes anupstream ventilation channel6awhich allows thesuction opening6 and therear opening5 to communicate with each other, adownstream ventilation channel7awhich allows theexhaust opening7 and therear opening5 to communicate with each other, afirst packing8aprovided around a first connection opening5aof theupstream ventilation channel6aat the side of therear opening5, and asecond packing8bprovided around a second connection opening5bof thedownstream ventilation channel7aat the side of therear opening5.
• Thefirst packing8ais made of a rubber ring. For example, it is attached around the first connection opening5awith bonding by way of an adhesive agent, or with fitting around an annular projection part formed around the first connection opening5a.
• Thesecond packing8bis also made of a rubber ring. For example, it is also attached around the second connection opening5bby way of an adhesive agent, or with fitting around an annular projection part formed around the second connection opening5b.
• Theelectric fan32 is fixed in thedownstream ventilation channel7awhich defines an upper space of therear opening5 in thecase2. An inlet opening of theelectric fan32 is disposed close to the second connection opening5b, and a discharge opening of theelectric fan32 is disposed close to theexhaust opening7.
• As illustrated inFIG. 6, thedust box31 includes alower case31A, afilter case31B, afilter31C, and anupper case31D, wherein thefilter case31B storing thefilter31C is sandwiched between theupper case31D and thelower case31A.
• Thelower case31A is open at the top, and has a bottom wall31Aa in which one of a pair of long sides of a rectangle expands outward and a surrounding wall31Ab stands along an outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall31Aa. An inner step part31Ab₁exposed at the top side is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the surrounding wall31Ab, an outer step part31Ab₂(seeFIG. 3(B)) exposed at the bottom side is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the surrounding wall31Ab, and an inflow opening31Ab₃connectable to the first connection opening5athrough thefirst packing8ais formed on the front surface of the surrounding wall31Ab below the outer step part31Ab₂.
• Thefilter case31B includes a frame part31Ba that is supported by the inner step part31Ab₁when thefilter case31B is stored in thelower case31A, and a lattice part31Bb provided in the frame part31Ba to support thefilter31C.
• Thefilter31C is formed to have a size by which thefilter31C is tightly fitted into the frame part31Ba of thefilter case31B. For example, an HEPA filter can be used for thefilter31C. Notably, thefilter31C may be integrally formed with thefilter case31B.
• Theupper case31D is a lid covering an upper opening of thelower case31A, and includes an upper wall31Da, a surroundingwall31 Db, and an engagement member31Dc provided at the rear part of the upper wall31Da.
• The middle part of the upper wall31Da in the horizontal direction tilts downward from the rear side to the front side to be recessed, and a discharge opening31Da₂connectable to the second connection opening5bthrough thesecond packing8bis formed on a recessed tilt part31Da₁. The top surface of the tilt part31Da₁defines a tilt upper surface31Da₁₁.
• The engagement member31Dc is an elastically deformable member projecting to bend rearward from the rear part of the upper wall31Da. An engagement projection31Dc₁with a triangular cross-section is formed on its top surface.
• In thedust box31 thus configured, thefilter31C is disposed between the inflow opening31Ab₃and the discharge opening31Da₂, and a dust collecting chamber31Ac is formed between the inflow opening31Ab₃and thefilter31C.
• Therear opening5 is configured as described below in order to attach thedust box31 to therear opening5 of thecase2 without falling off.
• Therear opening5 has a tiltlower surface2dwhich tilts downward toward the front side and is formed on the ceiling part of therear opening5, that is, on the part where the second packing8 is provided; and horizontallower surfaces2eat both sides of the tiltlower surface2d.
• Therear opening5 also has aninner wall2fwhere thefirst packing8ais provided, and left andright side walls2gat the left and right of theinner wall2f. Left andright step parts2g₁supporting the outer step part31Ab₂of thedust box31 are formed on the left andright side walls2g. In addition, a space into which the engagement member31Dc of thedust box31 is stored is formed at the back of the tiltlower surface2dof therear opening5, and anengagement recess2d₁is formed on the ceiling part of the space, wherein the engagement projection31Dc₁of the engagement member31Dc can be engaged with or disengaged from theengagement recess2d₁.
• When thedust box31 removed from the case2 (seeFIG. 3(B)) is attached to therear opening5, the left and right outer step parts31Ab₂of thedust box31 slide on the left andright step parts2g₁of therear opening5. When thedust box31 is pushed all the way into therear opening5, the front surface of the surrounding wall31Ab of thedust box31 is in close contact with thefirst packing8a(seeFIG. 3(A)).
• Also in this case, the tilt upper surface31Da₁₁of thedust box31 is in close contact with thesecond packing8b, and the engagement projection31Dc₁rides over theside plate2cof thecase2 to be engaged with theengagement recess2d₁due to the elastic deformation of the engagement member31Dc. With this, thedust box31 is mounted into therear opening5 of thecase2 without falling off.
• In the self-propelledvacuum cleaner1 to which thedust box31 is mounted, theelectric fan32, thedrive wheels29, therotary brush9, and the side brushes10 are driven according to an instruction of a cleaning operation. With this, the self-propelledvacuum cleaner1 sucks air containing dust on the floor surface K from thesuction opening6 with the state in which therotary brush9, the side brushes10, thedrive wheels29, and thefront wheel27 are in contact with the floor surface K, while thecase2 autonomously travels within a predetermined range. In this case, dust on the floor surface K is swirled up with the rotation of therotary brush9, and guided to thesuction opening6. Further, dust at the side of thesuction opening6 is guided to thesuction opening6 with the rotation of the side brushes10.
• As illustrated inFIG. 3(A), air containing dust D sucked into thecase2 through thesuction opening6 passes through theupstream ventilation channel6ain thecase2 to flow into the dust collecting chamber31Ac of thedust collecting part30. Air flow going into the dust collecting chamber31Ac passes through the filter31c and theelectric fan32, and then, is discharged to the outside from theexhaust opening7 through thedownstream ventilation channel7a. In this case, the dust D contained in the air flow in the dust collecting chamber31Ac is caught by thefilter31C, whereby the dust D is accumulated in the dust collecting chamber31Ac.
• To discard the dust D in thedust box31, the user draws thedust box31 backward, while releasing the engagement projection31Dc₁from theengagement recess2d₁by pressing the engagement member31Dc₁. Then, the user removes theupper case31D and thefilter case31B storing thefilter31C from thelower case31A of thedust box31, and throws away the dust D in thelower case31A into a dust bin.
• According to the self-propelled vacuum cleaner of the present invention, theelectric fan32 in thedust collecting part30 is separated from thedust box31 in this case, whereby thedust box31 can be washed with water. Notably, thefilter31C may be cleaned with a brush, and further be washed with water in this case.
Second Embodiment
• FIG. 7 is a side sectional view illustrating a dust collecting part of a self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment. InFIG. 7, the components same as those inFIGS. 1 to 6 are identified by the same reference numerals.
• The self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except for the configuration of adust collecting part130.
• The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that adust box131 has a dust leak prevention member131Ab₄that is provided at the inflow opening31Ab₃for preventing the dust D in the dust collecting chamber31Ac of thedust box131 from leaking and falling from the inflow opening31Ab₃. In the second embodiment, the dust leak prevention member131Ab₄projecting obliquely upward from the lower end of the inflow opening31Ab₃to the inner side is provided.
• Since the dust leak prevention member131Ab₄is provided, the dust D accumulated in the dust collecting chamber31Ac is difficult to leak and fall from the inflow opening31Ab₃to the outside when thedust box131 is removed from thecase2. Therefore, mistake of causing the cleaned room dirty with scattering dust D can be reduced.
Third Embodiment
• FIG. 8 is a side sectional view illustrating a dust collecting part of a self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to a third embodiment. InFIG. 8, the components same as those inFIG. 7 are identified by the same reference numerals.
• The self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the third embodiment is similar to the first and second embodiments except for the configuration of adust collecting part230.
• In the third embodiment, a dust leak prevention member231Ab₄different from the dust leak prevention member131Ab₄in the second embodiment is provided to the inflow opening31Ab₃. The dust leak prevention member231Ab₄horizontally projects from the upper end of the inflow opening31Ab₃toward the inner side, and extends downward to form an inverted L shape.
• With the formation of the dust leak prevention member231Ab₄as well, leakage and falling of the dust D from the inflow opening31Ab₃upon removing thedust box131 from thecase2 can be prevented as in the second embodiment.
Fourth Embodiment
• FIG. 9 is a side sectional view illustrating a dust collecting part of a self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to a fourth embodiment. InFIG. 9, the components same as those inFIG. 7 are identified by the same reference numerals.
• The self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the fourth embodiment is similar to the first to third embodiments except for the configuration of adust collecting part330.
• In the fourth embodiment, a dust leak prevention member331Ab₄corresponding to the dust leak prevention member131Ab₄in the second embodiment is provided at the lower end of the inflow opening31Ab₃, and a dust leak prevention member331Ab₅corresponding to the dust leak prevention member231Ab₄is provided at the upper end of the inflow opening31Ab₃.
• As in the second and third embodiments, the fourth embodiment can also prevent the dust D from leaking and falling from the inflow opening31Ab₃upon removing thedust box131 from thecase2.
Fifth Embodiment
• In the self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, therotary brush9 and the side brushes10 described in the first embodiment are not required components, so that they may be eliminated.
• (Summary)
• A self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the present invention includes a self-propellable case having a suction opening provided on a bottom surface and an exhaust opening provided at a rear part; and a dust-collecting part provided between the suction opening and the exhaust opening through a ventilation channel, wherein
• the dust-collecting part includes a dust box disposed at the suction-opening side and an electric fan disposed at the exhaust-opening side, and
• the dust box and the electric fan are configured to be separable.
• The self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the present invention may be configured as described below.
• (1) In the dust collecting part, the electric fan may be disposed in the case, and the dust box may be detachably mounted to the rear part of the case.
• With this configuration, a battery that is a heavy load can be disposed at a front part of the case, whereby the center of gravity can be placed on the front part of the case. This results in supporting the case with a pair of left and right drive wheels and a front wheel, whereby a rear wheel can be eliminated.
• (2) The case may include a rear opening into which the dust box is fitted, an upstream ventilation channel that allows the suction opening and the rear opening to communicate with each other, a downstream ventilation channel that allows the exhaust opening and the rear opening to communicate with each other, a first packing provided around a first connection opening of the upstream ventilation channel at the rear-opening side, and a second packing provided around a second connection opening of the downstream ventilation channel at the rear-opening side,
• the electric fan may be disposed in the downstream ventilation channel, and
• the dust box may include an inflow opening connectable to the first connection opening through the first packing, a discharge opening connectable to the second connection opening through the second packing, a filter provided between the inflow opening and the discharge opening, and a dust collecting chamber provided between the inflow opening and the filter.
• With this configuration, the ventilation channel from the suction opening to the exhaust opening can be shortened, which is advantageous for suppressing a load on the electric fan.
• (3) The case may have a tilt lower surface tilting downward toward a front side at the portion where the second packing is provided, and
• the dust box may have a tilt upper surface tilting downward toward a front side at the portion where the discharge opening is formed.
• With this configuration, the surrounding of the discharge opening on the tilt upper surface of the dust box can easily be brought into close contact with the second packing upon mounting the dust box. In this case, with the configuration in which the tilt lower surface is formed on the case and the tilt upper surface is formed on the dust box, a problem of abrasion or falling of the second packing due to scrape of the other parts of the dust box with the second packing can be avoided.
• (4) The dust box may have a dust fall prevention member provided at the inflow opening for preventing dust in the dust box from leaking and falling from the inflow opening.
• With this configuration, dust in the dust box is difficult to leak and fall from the inflow opening onto a floor surface upon removing the dust box from the case on the floor surface. This can prevent mistake of causing the cleaned floor surface dirty.
• The embodiments of the present invention described above should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above description, but the accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.
EXPLANATION OF NUMERALS
• 2 Case
• 2dTilt lower surface
• 5 Rear opening
• 5aFirst connection opening
• 5bSecond connection opening
• 6 Suction opening
• 6aUpstream ventilation channel
• 7 Exhaust opening
• 7aDownstream ventilation channel
• 8aFirst packing
• 8bSecond packing
• 30,130,230,330 Dust collecting part
• 31,131,231,331 Dust box
• 31Ab₃Inflow opening
• 31Ac Dust collecting chamber
• 31C Filter
• 31Da₁₁Tilt upper surface
• 31Da₂Discharge opening
• 32 Electric fan
• 131Ab₄,231Ab₄,331Ab₄,331Ab₅Dust fall prevention member

Claims (5)

1. A self-propelled vacuum cleaner comprising: a self-propellable case having a suction opening provided on a bottom surface and an exhaust opening provided at a rear part; and a dust-collecting part provided between the suction opening and the exhaust opening through a ventilation channel, wherein

the dust-collecting part includes a dust box disposed at the suction-opening side and an electric fan disposed at the exhaust-opening side, and

the dust box and the electric fan are configured to be separable.

2. The self-propelled vacuum cleaner according toclaim 1, wherein

the electric fan is disposed in the case, and the dust box is detachably mounted to the rear part of the case in the dust collecting part.

3. The self-propelled vacuum cleaner according toclaim 2, wherein

the case includes a rear opening into which the dust box is fitted, an upstream ventilation channel that allows the suction opening and the rear opening to communicate with each other, a downstream ventilation channel that allows the exhaust opening and the rear opening to communicate with each other, a first packing provided around a first connection opening of the upstream ventilation channel at the rear-opening side, and a second packing provided around a second connection opening of the downstream ventilation channel at the rear-opening side,

the electric fan is disposed in the downstream ventilation channel, and

the dust box includes an inflow opening connectable to the first connection opening through the first packing, a discharge opening connectable to the second connection opening through the second packing, a filter provided between the inflow opening and the discharge opening, and a dust collecting chamber provided between the inflow opening and the filter.

4. The self-propelled vacuum cleaner according toclaim 3, wherein

the case has a tilt lower surface tilting downward toward a front side at the portion where the second packing is provided, and

the dust box has a tilt upper surface tilting downward toward a front side at the portion where the discharge opening is formed.

5. The self-propelled vacuum cleaner according toclaim 3, wherein

the dust box has a dust fall prevention member provided at the inflow opening for preventing dust in the dust box from leaking and falling from the inflow opening.

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