Vacuum cleaner
By introducing a dirt compaction component and compaction sensing arrangement into the vacuum cleaner, and using proximity sensors and a processor to monitor the filling status of the dirt collection chamber, the problems of low dirt density and sensor fragility are solved, achieving precise dirt management and extending equipment life.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DYSON TECH LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-01
AI Technical Summary
Existing bagless vacuum cleaners have low dirt density during the dirt collection process, resulting in low space utilization efficiency of the collection chamber. Furthermore, sensor components are easily affected by dirt and dust, affecting the lifespan of the equipment and increasing assembly difficulty.
A waste compaction assembly is used, including a sliding compaction member and a compaction rod. The position of the compaction rod is determined by a compaction sensing arrangement, and the fill level of the waste collection chamber is monitored by a proximity sensor and a processor, avoiding the need to install sensors directly inside the waste collection chamber.
It improves the accuracy of determining the location of dirt in the dirt collection room, extends the equipment life, simplifies the assembly process, and provides dirt filling information through the display screen to avoid over-compaction and damage to the equipment.
Smart Images
Figure CN121969293A_ABST
Abstract
Description
vacuum cleaner Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to vacuum cleaners. In particular, this invention relates to a vacuum cleaner that includes a dirt compaction component. Background Technology
[0002] Bagless vacuum cleaners typically collect dirt, such as dust or other debris, in some form of container or dirt collection chamber. When the vacuum cleaner is running, dirt carried in the airflow is sucked into the dirt collection chamber, and the dirt remains trapped inside until the chamber is emptied. The dirt level in the collection chamber increases with continued use of the vacuum cleaner, but the dirt density in the collection chamber may be relatively low. Some vacuum cleaners may have a dirt compactor to compact the dirt in the collection chamber, making room for more dirt to accumulate. Summary of the Invention
[0003] In one aspect of the invention, a vacuum cleaner is provided, comprising a dirt collection chamber. The dirt collection chamber includes an inlet for receiving an airflow containing dirt and an outlet in fluid communication with a fan assembly configured to generate a vacuum pressure within the dirt collection chamber. The vacuum cleaner also includes a dirt compaction assembly comprising a compaction member slidably disposed within the dirt collection chamber and a compaction rod mechanically coupled to the compaction member to actuate the compaction member. The compaction rod is slidable along a rod axis, and the compaction member is slidable between the first and second positions depending on the position of the compaction rod along the rod axis. The vacuum cleaner further includes a compaction sensing arrangement including a processor. The compaction sensing arrangement is configured to determine the position of the compaction rod along the rod axis, thereby determining a corresponding position of the compaction member between the first and second positions.
[0004] When actuated to compact the dirt in the collection chamber, the compaction member slides linearly from a first position to a position between the first and second positions, where the now compacted dirt in the collection chamber impedes further movement of the compaction member. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner facilitates the measurement and / or monitoring of the dirt fill level in the dirt collection chamber based on the position to which the compaction member slides while compacting the dirt in the chamber.
[0005] A specific configuration of the vacuum cleaner, particularly the compaction sensing arrangement, facilitates the determination of the position of the compaction component within the dirt collection chamber without requiring sensor components inside the chamber. This improves the accuracy of determining the position of the compaction component, extends the vacuum cleaner's lifespan because the sensing arrangement is not exposed to dirt and dust in the collection chamber, and facilitates easy assembly of the vacuum cleaner.
[0006] In some examples, the first position may also be referred to as the parking position or the uncompacted position. This is because when the compaction member is in the first position, it does not compact the waste in the waste collection chamber, i.e., it does not apply pressure to the waste in the waste collection chamber. In some examples, the second position may be referred to as the maximum compaction position or the maximum travel position, because it is the farthest possible position from the first position that the compaction member can move away from as the compaction member slides to compact the waste in the waste collection chamber.
[0007] In some examples, the compaction member may be a compaction plate. For example, the compaction plate may be a continuous structure extending across the waste collection chamber, thereby forming a partition. Furthermore, in some examples, the compaction member may be a sub-assembly comprising multiple different components assembled together. In some examples, the waste compaction assembly may also include a sealing arrangement configured to form a seal between the compaction member and the inner wall of the waste collection chamber. This configuration can improve the compaction performance of the waste compaction assembly by ensuring that waste at or near the inner wall of the collection chamber is collected and compacted by the waste compaction assembly.
[0008] In some examples, the compaction sensing arrangement may include a proximity sensor. This proximity sensor can be connected to a processor, allowing the processor to determine the position of the compaction bar and the corresponding position of the compaction member based on measurement data from the proximity sensor. Using a proximity sensor may be advantageous for accurately determining the position of the compaction bar along its axis, and therefore may also be advantageous for accurately determining the corresponding position of the compaction member between a first position and a second position.
[0009] In some examples, the proximity sensor may include a stationary first component and a second component associated with the compaction bar and movable relative to the first component. For example, in some examples, the second component of the proximity sensor may move along the bar axis in response to movement of the compaction bar along the bar axis. Thus, in some examples, the second component may move relative to the first component along the bar axis.
[0010] In some examples, the first component (i.e., the stationary component) may include a sensor. The sensor may be connected to a processor. Configuring the proximity sensor such that the sensor component is stationary can be advantageous for the durability and ease of assembly of the vacuum cleaner. In some examples, depending on the type of sensor, the first component may additionally include an emitter, such as a laser or a light-emitting diode (LED).
[0011] For example, the proximity sensor may include an optical sensor. The first component may include an LED and a photodiode, and the second component may include a movable reflector configured to reflect light emitted by the LED back to the photodiode. Alternatively, one of the first or second components may include an LED, while the other may include a photodiode, such that movement of the second component relative to the first component causes a change in the relative distance between the LED and the photodiode, resulting in a measurable change in the signal output by the photodiode corresponding to movement of the compaction rod along its axis.
[0012] In some other examples, the proximity sensor may include a time-of-flight sensor. Thus, the first component may include a laser or infrared emitter and a corresponding laser or infrared detector, and the second component may include a movable reflector configured to reflect the emitted wavelength back to the detector. Alternatively, one of the first or second components may include a laser or infrared emitter, while the other may include a detector, such that movement of the second component relative to the first component causes a change in the relative distance between the emitter and the detector, resulting in a measurable change in the signal output by the detector corresponding to movement of the compaction rod along its axis.
[0013] Therefore, the second component may include a movable reflector or target. In some examples, such as when the proximity sensor includes an optical sensor or a time-of-flight sensor, the second component may include an optically reflective material, including an infrared-reflective material.
[0014] In some examples, the proximity sensor may include an ultrasonic proximity sensor. In such an example, the first component may include an ultrasonic wavelength transmitter and an ultrasonic wavelength receiver, and the second component may include a movable reflector configured to reflect the ultrasonic wavelength back to the receiver. Alternatively, one of the first or second components may include an ultrasonic wavelength transmitter, while the other of the first or second components may include an ultrasonic wavelength receiver, such that movement of the second component relative to the first component causes a change in the relative distance between the transmitter and the receiver, resulting in a measurable change in the signal output by the receiver corresponding to movement of the compaction rod along the rod axis.
[0015] In some examples, the second component may include a metal target configured to interact with the first component. For example, the second component may include a metal electrode. In such examples, the first component may include a capacitive sensor connected to another metal electrode. In such examples, the electrodes of the first and second components may be separated by a dielectric material. For example, one of the first or second components may include a metal rod electrode, and the other may include a metal tube electrode, with the rod electrode fitted inside the tube electrode such that the rod and tube are separated by a dielectric material. The overlapping area of the rod electrode inserted into the tube electrode can generate a capacitance measurable by the capacitive sensor. Changing the position of the electrodes relative to each other may cause a change in the overlapping area, resulting in a change in the capacitance measured by the capacitive sensor, corresponding to a change in the position of the compaction rod along its axis. Therefore, the change in capacitance may correspond to a change in the position of the compaction member.
[0016] In some examples, the second component (i.e., the component that is movable relative to the stationary first component) can generate a magnetic field. For example, the second component may include a magnet or an electromagnet. In such examples, the first component may include a Hall effect sensor. A Hall effect sensor can provide a simple and cost-effective means of detecting the proximity of the movable second component, thereby also detecting the position of the compaction rod along the compaction axis.
[0017] In examples that include a Hall effect sensor as part of a proximity sensor, in some preferred examples, this Hall effect sensor can output a linear signal to the processor. A linear signal enables the detection of the compaction bar position at a higher resolution than a digital signal.
[0018] In some other examples, the first component may include a magnetometer. The magnetometer can provide a more precise measurement of the position of the second component, and therefore a more precise measurement of the position of the compaction rod along its axis. Thus, the magnetometer can help to more accurately determine the corresponding position of the compaction member between the first and second positions.
[0019] In some examples where the second component generates the magnetic field, the first component may include an inductive sensor. Changing the position of the magnetic second component relative to the stationary inductive sensor may cause a change in the inductance measured by the inductive sensor, which corresponds to a change in the position of the compaction rod along its axis. Therefore, a change in inductance can correspond to a change in the position of the compaction member.
[0020] In some examples, the second component may be coupled to the compaction rod via a gear reducer arrangement, such that the movement of the compaction rod is converted into movement of the second component at a reduced rate. Examples of the gear reducer arrangement may include a rack and pinion system, wherein the compaction rod is coupled to the pinion and the second component is coupled to the rack. Another example of the gear reducer arrangement may include a cylindrical or helical cam arrangement. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the gear reducer arrangement may be configured to convert linear movement of the compaction rod into rotational movement of the second component. The gear reducer arrangement may be used with a proximity sensor having a relatively short sensing distance or range, such that the proximity sensor is still operable to determine the position of the compaction rod along its entire range along the rod axis, despite the short range. For example, the gear reducer arrangement may convert linear movement of the compaction rod into a correspondingly smaller linear movement of the second component, such that the second component remains within the detectable range of the first component throughout the entire range of movement of the compaction rod along the rod axis.
[0021] As described above, in another example, a gear reducer arrangement can convert the linear motion of the compaction rod into a corresponding rotational motion of the second component. In such an example, the second component may not move linearly relative to the first component along the rod axis, thus remaining within the detectable range of the first component throughout the entire range of movement of the compaction rod along the rod axis. The rotation of the second component relative to the first component may cause a change in the signal output of the proximity sensor, allowing the position of the compaction rod along the rod axis to be determined by analyzing the signal change.
[0022] In some examples, the vacuum cleaner may also include a display screen connected to the processor. The display screen is operable to show dirt compaction information based on measurement data from the compaction sensing arrangement. The processor and display screen can be configured to display information related to the fill level of the dirt collection chamber based on the position of the compaction rod along its axis. For example, if the movement of the compaction rod along its axis stops before the compaction member reaches a second position, the position of the rod can indicate that the amount of dirt in the dirt collection chamber has reached a given level, and this fill level information can be conveyed to the user via the display screen.
[0023] In some examples, the compaction bar can be mechanically connected to the compaction member via a compaction bar connector. Alternatively, the compaction bar can be pivotally connected to the compaction bar connector. In such examples, a compaction sensing arrangement can be additionally configured to detect the pivoting of the compaction bar relative to the compaction bar connector. For example, the sensing arrangement can be configured to detect and identify different patterns in the measurement data output from the proximity sensor, corresponding to pivoting and linear sliding movements of the bar, respectively.
[0024] As previously described, in some examples, the compaction sensing arrangement may include a proximity sensor comprising a first component and a second component. In some examples, the second component may be associated with a pivoting portion of the compaction rod. Therefore, the second component of the proximity sensor may be arranged to pivot relative to the first component in response to the pivoting movement of the compaction rod. Thus, in addition to being movable relative to the first component along the rod axis, the second component may also be arranged to pivot relative to the first component.
[0025] In some other examples, such as when the first component includes an inductive or capacitive sensor, the compaction sensing arrangement may include both a second and a third component. In some examples, the third component may be associated with a pivoting portion of the compaction rod. Thus, the third component of the proximity sensor may be arranged to pivot relative to the first component according to the pivoting movement of the compaction rod. In such an example, while the third component may pivot relative to the first component, the second component may be constrained to move linearly along the rod axis relative to the first component. The inductance or capacitance detected by the respective sensor may vary depending on the proximity of each of the second and third components to the stationary first component.
[0026] In some examples where the compaction sensing arrangement is configured to detect the pivoting of the compaction bar, the processor of the compaction sensing arrangement can be connected to the fan assembly of a vacuum cleaner, specifically to the motor of the fan assembly. In such examples, the processor can be configured to control the operation of the fan assembly based on data received from the compaction sensing arrangement. For example, the processor can be configured to stop or interrupt the operation of the fan assembly when pivoting of the compaction bar is detected. Therefore, when operation of the compaction bar is detected, the generation of vacuum pressure in the dirt collection chamber can be stopped or interrupted.
[0027] In some examples, the processor can be configured to count instances of compaction bar operation. For example, an instance of compaction bar operation can be defined as a sliding movement of the compaction bar along its axis beyond a predetermined bar position, i.e., a single distance threshold measurement. In some examples, instances of compaction bar operation can additionally or alternatively be defined as pivoting movements of the compaction bar. Counting instances of compaction bar operation can be beneficial in providing diagnostic data when servicing a vacuum cleaner, or in some examples, can be used to provide the user with an initial indication of a potential fill level. Additionally, the single distance threshold measurement used when counting compaction instances can also be used to provide timing data to the processor to help calibrate the sensor arrangement. Attached Figure Description
[0028] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner;
[0029] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the main unit of the vacuum cleaner;
[0030] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the main unit;
[0031] Figure 4 is a first perspective assembly view of the compaction assembly;
[0032] Figure 5 is a second perspective assembly view of the compaction assembly;
[0033] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the compaction component; and
[0034] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the components of a vacuum cleaner. Detailed Implementation
[0035] Figure 1 shows a vacuum cleaner 10. The vacuum cleaner 10 includes a main unit 12, a stick 14, and a cleaning head 16. The vacuum cleaner 10 can be referred to as a stick vacuum cleaner. The stick 14 and the cleaning head 16 can be removed from the main unit 12, and then the main unit 12 can be used as a stand-alone handheld vacuum cleaner 10, as shown in Figure 2.
[0036] The main unit 12 is shown separately in Figures 2 and 3 and includes a waste collection chamber 18 and a fan assembly 20. The waste collection chamber 18 includes an inlet 22 for receiving an airflow containing waste and an outlet 24 in fluid communication with the fan assembly 20. The fan assembly 20 is operable to generate a vacuum pressure in the waste collection chamber 18, which draws a stream of dirty air into the waste collection chamber 18 via the inlet 22. In some examples, the main unit 12 includes a primary separation assembly 26 that retains waste in the waste collection chamber 18 as the airflow passes through the collection chamber 18 toward the outlet 24. Thus, waste is trapped in the waste collection chamber 18.
[0037] Referring again to Figures 2 and 3, but also to Figures 4 through 6, the vacuum cleaner 10 further includes a dirt compaction assembly 28 configured to compact dirt trapped in the dirt collection chamber 18. The dirt compaction assembly 28 includes a compaction member 30 slidably disposed within the dirt collection chamber 18. The compaction member 30 is slidable between a first position where it does not compact dirt in the collection chamber 18 and a second position at a maximum slidable distance from the first position. Sliding the compaction member 30 from the first position to the second position collects and subsequently compacts dirt in the collection chamber 18, thereby contributing to continuous and more efficient dirt capture in the collection chamber 18.
[0038] The waste compaction assembly 28 also includes a compaction rod 32 mechanically coupled to the compaction member 30. The rod 32 is coupled to the compaction member 30 to facilitate actuation of the compaction member 30, i.e., to allow the compaction member 30 to slide within the waste collection chamber 18. Therefore, the compaction rod 32 can slide along a rod axis L. The position of the compaction member 30 within the waste collection chamber 18 corresponds to the position of the compaction rod 32 along the rod axis L. This relationship between the compaction rod 32 and the compaction member 30 means that the position of the compaction member 30 can be determined without directly monitoring or measuring the compaction member 30 itself. Instead, the position of the compaction rod 32 can be evaluated to determine the corresponding position of the compaction member 30. This is advantageous because it allows the position of the compaction member 30 to be determined without requiring sensing equipment within the waste collection chamber 18.
[0039] Therefore, in order to determine the position of the compaction member 30 between the first and second positions, the vacuum cleaner 10 also includes a compaction sensing arrangement 34 configured to determine the position of the compaction rod 32 along the rod axis L. The sensing arrangement 34 includes a processor 36 that can be connected (i.e., communicatively coupled) to various other components of the vacuum cleaner 10, as described in more detail later.
[0040] Referring again to Figures 3 through 6, and further to the schematic diagram in Figure 7, the compaction sensing arrangement 34 includes a proximity sensor configured to monitor movement of the compaction rod 32. Thus, the proximity sensor includes a first component 40 and a second component 42, the first component 40 being stationary relative to the waste collection chamber 18, and the second component 42 being associated with the compaction rod 32 and therefore movable relative to the first component 40.
[0041] The stationary first component 40 may include a sensor connected to the processor 36, and the second component 42 associated with the compaction rod 32 may interact detectably with the sensor, which can be analyzed to determine the position of the compaction rod 32 along the rod axis L. For example, in some examples, the first component 40 may include a Hall effect sensor or a magnetometer. In such examples, the second component 42 may generate a magnetic field detected or observed by the first component 40. In such examples, the position of the rod 32 can be determined by analyzing the intensity of the magnetic field detected by the first component 40.
[0042] The vacuum cleaner 10 configured as described herein has a compaction sensing arrangement 34, which is configured to determine the position of the compaction lever 32 along the lever axis L, advantageously enabling the measurement and monitoring of the fill level in the dirt collection chamber 18. For example, if the user can only slide the compaction lever 32 halfway along the lever axis L when it is operated, and further movement of the lever 32 is blocked by dirt, this indicates that the dirt collection chamber 18 is half full. It should be understood that other lever positions along the lever axis L can indicate other corresponding fill levels.
[0043] In some examples, the vacuum cleaner 10 may include a display screen 44 connected to the processor 36 to display dirt compaction information to the user of the vacuum cleaner 10 based on measurement data from the compaction sensing arrangement 34. This dirt compaction information may include fill level information as previously described. The dirt compaction information displayed to the user may also alert the user when the dirt in the dirt collection chamber 18 can no longer be compacted (i.e., chamber 18 is full), thereby preventing damage to the dirt compaction assembly 28.
[0044] In some examples, processor 36 can be configured to count instances of compaction rod operation, i.e., the number of times compaction rod 32 has slid beyond a predetermined rod position along rod axis L. Therefore, the waste compaction information displayed to the user can include an indication of the number of compactions since the last emptying of waste collection chamber 18.
[0045] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the dirt compaction rod 32 is mechanically connected to the compaction member 30 via a compaction rod connector 46. Therefore, the linear sliding force applied to the compaction rod 32 to actuate the compaction member 30 can be transmitted to the compaction member 30 via the compaction rod connector 46. In some examples, the compaction rod 32 is pivotally connected to the compaction rod connector 46. Thus, the compaction rod 32 can pivot relative to stationary parts of the vacuum cleaner 10, such as the dirt collection chamber 18 and the first component 40 of the proximity sensor.
[0046] In such an example, the compaction sensing arrangement 34 can be further configured to detect the pivoting of the compaction rod 32 relative to the compaction rod coupling 46. Detecting the pivoting of the compaction rod 32 may be advantageous because it indicates that the compaction rod 32 is in operation before the rod 32 actually slides linearly along the rod axis L to actuate the dirt compaction member 30. Therefore, the sensing arrangement 34 can be configured to both detect the pivoting of the compaction rod 32 relative to the compaction rod coupling 46 and determine the position of the compaction rod 32 along the rod axis L, as previously described.
[0047] In some examples, the processor 36 of the compaction sensing arrangement 34 may be connected to a fan assembly 20 that generates airflow through the dirt collection chamber 18. For example, the processor 36 may be connected to a motor of the fan assembly 36. Thus, the processor 36 may be configured to control the operation of the fan assembly 20 based on data received from the compaction sensing arrangement 34. This may be particularly advantageous in examples where the compaction sensing arrangement 34 is configured to detect pivoting movement of the compaction rod 32. For example, the processor 36 may be configured to stop the operation of the fan assembly 20 when pivoting of the compaction rod 32 is detected. This means that vacuum pressure can be stopped in the dirt collection chamber 18 before the compaction member 30 is actuated, thereby ensuring that when the compaction member 30 is in use and between a first and a second position, the dirt-containing airflow is not drawn into the collection chamber 18 and into the rear of the compaction member 30. Advantageously, in some examples, the same sensing arrangement 34 can thus be configured to both determine the position of the compaction bar 32 along the bar axis L, thereby determining the corresponding position of the compaction member 30 between the first and second positions, and to provide a signal to stop the operation of the fan assembly 20 when the compaction bar 32 is operated. Therefore, separate sensor integration may not be necessary to achieve these two advantages, thereby reducing the number of parts and operations required to manufacture the vacuum cleaner 10.
[0048] It should be understood that the description provided with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to provide non-exclusive examples of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, it should be understood that in some instances, other examples not shown in the drawings may form part of the invention.
[0049] For example, while a Hall effect sensor or magnetometer has been provided in the foregoing description through the example of the first component 40 of the proximity sensor, in some other examples, the proximity sensor may include a first component 40 and a second component 42 with different configurations. For example, the first component 40 may include a capacitive sensor or an inductive sensor. In such examples, the second component 42 may include a metal target or a magnet, respectively. Although not shown in the figures, in examples where the first component 40 includes a capacitive sensor, the second component 42 may include a metal electrode, and the first component 40 may additionally include another metal electrode connected to the capacitive sensor. The electrodes may be separated by a dielectric material. Changing the position of the electrodes relative to each other may cause a change in the capacitance measured by the capacitive sensor, corresponding to a change in the position of the compaction rod 32 along the rod axis L.
[0050] Although not shown in the accompanying drawings, in some examples, the vacuum cleaner 10 may additionally include a gear reducer arrangement via which the second component 42 of the proximity sensor is coupled to the compaction rod 32. The gear reducer arrangement can convert the movement of the compaction rod 32 into movement of the second component 42 of the proximity sensor at a reduced rate. For example, the gear reducer arrangement can convert linear movement of the compaction rod 32 into a correspondingly smaller linear movement of the second component 42. Furthermore, in some examples, the gear reducer arrangement can be configured to convert linear movement of the compaction rod 32 into rotational movement of the second component 42. In this way, relatively large movements of the compaction rod 32 can be converted into relatively small linear or rotational movements of the second component 42. Such a configuration can facilitate the use of sensors with shorter detection or monitoring ranges.
[0051] It should be understood that any feature associated with the various examples above can be readily combined with any other feature described with reference to the different examples without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, it should be understood that the above description and drawings are provided by way of example only. Therefore, many alternatives to the specific examples provided above are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A vacuum cleaner (10), comprising: A waste collection chamber (18) includes an inlet (22) for receiving an airflow containing waste and an outlet (24) in fluid communication with a fan assembly (20) configured to generate a vacuum pressure in the waste collection chamber (18); a waste compaction assembly (28) includes a compaction member (30) slidably disposed in the waste collection chamber (18) and a compaction rod (32) mechanically coupled to the compaction member (30) to actuate the compaction member (30), wherein the compaction rod (32) is slidable along a rod axis (L), and wherein the compaction member (30) slides between a first position and a second position depending on the position of the compaction rod (32) along the rod axis (L); and a compaction sensing arrangement (34) including a processor (36) configured to determine the position of the compaction rod (32) along the rod axis (L), thereby determining a corresponding position of the compaction member (30) between the first position and the second position.
2. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 1, wherein, The compaction sensing arrangement (34) includes a proximity sensor.
3. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 2, wherein, The proximity sensor includes a first component (40) and a second component (42), the first component (40) being stationary and the second component (42) being associated with the compaction rod (32) and being movable relative to the first component (40).
4. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 3, wherein, The first component (40) includes a sensor, and the sensor is connected to the processor (36).
5. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the second component (42) includes a metal target configured to interact with the first component (40).
6. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 5, wherein, The first component (40) includes a capacitive sensor.
7. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to claims 3 to 5, wherein, The second component (42) generates a magnetic field.
8. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 7, wherein, The first component (40) includes a Hall effect sensor.
9. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 7, wherein, The first component (40) includes a magnetometer.
10. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 7, wherein, The first component (40) includes a sensing sensor.
11. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The second component (42) is connected to the compaction rod (32) via a gear reducer, such that the movement of the compaction rod (32) is converted into the movement of the second component (42) at a reduced rate.
12. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to any one of the preceding claims further includes a display screen (44) connected to the processor (36), the display screen (44) being operable to display dirt compaction information based on measurement data from the compaction sensing arrangement (34).
13. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The sludge compaction bar (32) is mechanically connected to the compaction member (30) via a compaction bar connector (46), wherein the compaction bar (32) is pivotally connected to the compaction bar connector (46), and wherein the compaction sensing arrangement (34) is further configured to detect the pivoting of the compaction bar (32) relative to the compaction bar connector (46).
14. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 13, wherein, The processor (36) of the compaction sensing arrangement (34) is connected to the fan assembly (20), and wherein the processor (36) is configured to control the operation of the fan assembly (20) based on data received from the compaction sensing arrangement (34).
15. The vacuum cleaner (10) arrangement according to claim 14, wherein, The processor (36) is configured to stop the operation of the fan assembly (20) when the pivoting of the compaction bar (32) is detected, thereby stopping the generation of vacuum pressure in the waste collection chamber (18).
16. The vacuum cleaner (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The processor (36) is configured to count instances of compaction rod operation, wherein an instance of compaction rod operation is defined as the compaction rod (32) sliding along the rod axis (L) beyond a predetermined rod position.