An electrically controlled hose automatic winding machine for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

The present application relates to dust catcher accessory technical field, specifically to a kind of automatic winding machine of electric control hose for dust catcher, it includes: support, roll shaft, identification component and electric control component.Identification component is by first coupling, second coupling and the optical grating disc, light emitting tube and light receiving tube being arranged on it, and elastic member is arranged between two couplings;Electric control component includes motor and speed reducer.When user pulls hose, elastic coupling makes two optical grating discs produce angle difference, and light signal change triggers control circuit to start motor and releases pipe;When stopping pulling, optical grating restores synchronization, and motor is automatically stopped;When recycling, motor is reversed and pipe is collected by button control.The device realizes that hose is released along with pulling, automatic stop and one-key recycling, easy to operate, stable operation, effectively solve the problem that traditional winding mode is laborious and prone to jam.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vacuum cleaner accessory technology, and more specifically, to an automatic hose winding machine for vacuum cleaners with electrical control. Background Technology

[0002] Vacuum cleaners typically come with long hoses (approximately 8–15 meters), making their storage and management a major challenge. Traditional storage methods rely heavily on manual operation, such as manually winding the hose with the handle. This is not only time-consuming and laborious but also results in the hose easily piling up haphazardly and taking up space. While spring-powered retraction devices offer some degree of automatic retraction, they still require manual pulling and spring pre-tensioning, making operation cumbersome and prone to jamming or uneven force during retraction. If a motor-driven winding system is used directly, the hose can easily become blocked during unwinding due to motor lag or sudden changes in resistance, affecting normal use. Therefore, achieving easy hose extension, automatic stopping, and reliable retraction has become a key technical issue for improving the vacuum cleaner user experience. This invention aims to provide a structurally sound and responsive electronically controlled automatic hose winding solution to address the aforementioned technical shortcomings. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention addresses the shortcomings of the prior art by proposing an automatic hose winding machine for vacuum cleaners with electronic control, aiming to solve at least one of the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0004] This invention provides an automatic hose winding machine for vacuum cleaners, comprising: a bracket with rotating shafts at both ends; A roller is disposed inside the bracket, and both sides of the roller are fixedly connected to the rotating ends of the two rotating shafts respectively. An identification component is disposed at one end of the bracket, and one end of the identification component is fixedly connected to the rotating end of the rotating shaft; An electronic control component is disposed at one end of the identification component away from the bracket, and the output end of the electronic control component is fixedly connected to the other end of the identification component.

[0005] In some embodiments, the axial cross-section of the bracket is a U-shaped structure.

[0006] In some embodiments, annular baffles are fixedly connected to both sides of the roller.

[0007] In some embodiments, the identification component includes: The first coupling has one end fixedly connected to the rotating end of the rotating shaft; The second coupling has one end engaged with the other end of the first coupling.

[0008] In some embodiments, the identification component further includes a light emitting tube and a light receiving tube, which are disposed on top of the first coupling and the second coupling.

[0009] In some embodiments, both the first coupling and the second coupling are provided with grating disks, and the light emitting tube and the light receiving tube are respectively disposed on both sides of the two grating disks.

[0010] In some embodiments, the corresponding ends of the first coupling and the second coupling are provided with coupling elastic elements.

[0011] In some embodiments, the electronic control component includes: The output end of the speed reducer is fixedly connected to the other end of the second coupling. The motor has its output end fixedly connected to the input end of the reducer.

[0012] In some embodiments, the motor is electrically connected to a motor control component.

[0013] In some embodiments, a connecting channel is provided at the bottom of the roller, a hose is wound around the outside of the roller, and the hose is connected to the output end of the vacuum cleaner through the connecting channel.

[0014] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: A light pull on the hose triggers the motor to release synchronously; the motor automatically stops when pulling ceases; and automatic winding is completed simply by pressing a button during retraction, achieving intelligent operation of "pull and stop, one-button retraction," completely replacing traditional manual or semi-automatic hose winding methods, saving time and effort. Through a combination of a flexible coupling and dual optical discs, the system can sensitively identify the hose's pulling and stopping states and control the motor's start and stop in real time, effectively avoiding the blockage, over-pulling, or poor rebound problems that easily occur with pure motor drives, ensuring a smooth and stable hose retraction process. The U-shaped bracket and integrated electronic control design result in a simple and stable overall structure, facilitating installation and maintenance. The annular baffle prevents the hose from detaching, and the connection channel ensures seamless integration with the vacuuming system, making it suitable for various household and commercial vacuuming scenarios, significantly optimizing the user experience and space utilization.

[0015] The above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0016] Other features and aspects of this disclosure will become clearer from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 An isometric view of an automatic hose winding machine for vacuum cleaners provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 An isometric view of an automatic hose winding machine for vacuum cleaners provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 An isometric view of an automatic hose winding machine for vacuum cleaners provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 An isometric view of an automatic hose winding machine for vacuum cleaners provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 An isometric view of an automatic hose winding machine for vacuum cleaners provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] The components include: 1. support frame; 2. roller; 3. annular baffle; 4. first coupling; 5. second coupling; 6. light emitting tube; 7. light receiving tube; 8. grating disk; 9. coupling elastic element; 10. reducer; 11. motor; 12. connecting channel; 13. hose; and 14. motor control components. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0021] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0022] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0023] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0024] See Figures 1-5 As shown, an automatic hose winding machine for a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of this application includes: Support 1, with rotating shafts at both ends; Roller 2 is disposed inside the bracket 1, and both sides of roller 2 are fixedly connected to the rotating ends of the two rotating shafts respectively; An identification component is disposed at one end of the bracket 1, and one end of the identification component is fixedly connected to the rotating end of the rotating shaft; An electronic control component is disposed at one end of the identification component away from the bracket 1, and the output end of the electronic control component is fixedly connected to the other end of the identification component.

[0025] In some specific embodiments, the axial cross-section of the bracket 1 is a U-shaped structure.

[0026] In some specific embodiments, annular baffles 3 are fixedly connected to both sides of the roller 2.

[0027] In some specific embodiments, the identification component includes: The first coupling 4 has one end fixedly connected to the rotating end of the rotating shaft; The second coupling 5 has one end engaged with the other end of the first coupling 4.

[0028] The use of a U-shaped structure typically means that the support 1 is integrally formed by a horizontal base plate and two vertical or inclined upward side plates (e.g., through sheet metal bending, casting, or welding). The U-shaped structure itself does not directly participate in the movement, but its structural characteristics serve the overall function. Its base plate provides a stable and flat foundation for mounting heavier electrical control components such as the motor 11 and the reducer 10. The tops of its two side plates are used to install and support the bearing seats of the rotating shafts at both ends, thereby suspending the roller 2 above the internal space of the U-shaped channel.

[0029] The annular baffle 3 can be a flange integrally formed with the roller 2, or it can be an independent part fixed to both ends of the roller 2 by welding, bolting, or other means. Its diameter is significantly larger than the diameter of the roller 2 cylinder.

[0030] The baffles 3 continuously function during the rotation of the roller 2 to wind up and unwind the hose 13. When the hose 13 is wound around the roller 2, the baffles 3 on both sides form a "groove," restricting the hose 13 to be wound in an orderly manner layer by layer within this width, preventing it from slipping off to the sides or scattering. When releasing the hose 13, the baffles 3 also guide the hose 13 to exit in an orderly manner along the axial direction.

[0031] The mechanical body of the identification component consists of two couplings. The first coupling 4, acting as the "driven coupling," directly receives rotation from the roller 2 and hose 13. The second coupling 5, acting as the "drive coupling," is connected to the output of the electronic control component. These two couplings form a signal generation mechanical interface. The force exerted by the user pulling the hose 13 is transmitted to the first coupling 4 through the roller 2 and the rotating shaft, causing it to tend to rotate. Because the second coupling 5 is connected to the inertial motor 11 reduction mechanism, it does not immediately follow the rotation. At this time, a slight relative movement or deformation occurs between the two couplings; this physical change is the source of the "action signal" that the subsequent photoelectric sensor needs to detect.

[0032] In some specific embodiments, the identification component further includes a light emitting tube 6 and a light receiving tube 7, which are disposed on top of the first coupling 4 and the second coupling 5.

[0033] In some specific embodiments, both the first coupling 4 and the second coupling 5 are provided with grating disks 8, and the light emitting tube 6 and the light receiving tube 7 are respectively disposed on both sides of the two grating disks 8.

[0034] In some specific embodiments, the corresponding ends of the first coupling 4 and the second coupling 5 are provided with coupling elastic elements 9.

[0035] In some specific embodiments, the electronic control component includes: The output end of the speed reducer 10 is fixedly connected to the other end of the second coupling 5; The motor 11 has its output end fixedly connected to the input end of the reducer 10.

[0036] In some specific embodiments, the motor 11 is electrically connected to the motor control component 14.

[0037] In some specific embodiments, a connecting channel 12 is provided at the bottom of the roller 2, and a hose 13 is wrapped around the outside of the roller 2, and the hose 13 is connected to the output end of the vacuum cleaner through the connecting channel 12.

[0038] It should be understood that the support 1, as a load-bearing platform, has its two rotating shafts forming the rotational support for the roller 2. The roller 2 is the load-bearing reel of the hose 13. The recognition component is the system's "sensory nerve," responsible for converting the user's physical pulling action into an electrical signal. The electronic control component is the system's "muscles and brain," receiving the signal and driving the roller 2 to move. The entire system operates based on the principle of "follow-up control." When the user pulls the hose 13 outward, the hose 13 drives the roller 2 and the connected rotating shaft to rotate. This rotation is detected in real time by the recognition component, which then generates a "release request" signal. Upon receiving this signal, the electronic control component immediately starts, driving the recognition component and the rotating shaft to make the roller 2 rotate synchronously in the direction the user pulls, thus smoothly releasing the hose 13. When the user stops pulling, the recognition component detects the cessation of action, the signal disappears, and the electronic control component stops working. When it is necessary to retract the hose 13, the user directly activates the electronic control component to rotate in the opposite direction via an external command (such as a button), winding the hose 13 back onto the roller 2. In a home vacuum system, this hose reel is installed on a wall or inside a cabinet. When cleaning is needed, the user simply grasps the nozzle of the vacuum hose 13 and pulls it outwards. The machine automatically releases the required length of hose 13, providing a smooth and effortless experience without any mechanical resistance. After cleaning, pressing the retract button automatically and neatly retracts the hose 13.

[0039] The light emitting tube 6 is typically a photodiode that emits invisible infrared light. The light receiving tube 7 is a photosensitive receiver (such as a phototransistor) for the corresponding wavelength. They are fixed on a bracket that does not rotate with the coupling (e.g., mounted on the side plate of bracket 1 or a separate sensor bracket) and precisely positioned above, below, or to the sides of the two coupling areas. This pair of components constitutes a photoelectric switch. The light emitting tube 6 continuously emits a beam of light, which is received by the light receiving tube 7. When the light path is unobstructed, the receiving tube 7 outputs a voltage level signal (e.g., high level); when the light path is blocked, it outputs a voltage level signal (e.g., low level). This on / off signal directly reflects the relative position between the two couplings.

[0040] Each grating disk 8 is a disc-shaped component with regularly distributed light-transmitting grooves and opaque grids engraved on its circumference or end face. The grating disk 8 on the first coupling 4 and the grating disk 8 on the second coupling 5 have the same structure and are usually aligned during initial installation. The two grating disks 8 rotate synchronously with their respective couplings. In the initial stationary state, the light-transmitting grooves of the two grating disks 8 are aligned, and the light emitted by the light emitting tube 6 can pass through the grooves on the two disks and be received by the light receiving tube 7 (defined by the system as the "light path connected" state). When the user pulls the hose 13, the first coupling 4 causes its grating disk 8 to rotate through a small angle first, while the second coupling 5 and its grating disk 8 lag behind due to inertia. The light-transmitting grooves of the two grating disks 8 are thus misaligned, and the light beam is blocked by the opaque area of ​​one of the disks, cutting off the light path (becoming the "light path blocked" state). This signal transition from "on" to "off" is the trigger signal for starting the motor.

[0041] The coupling elastic element 9 can be a torsion spring, a rubber elastomer, a set of disc springs, or any mechanical element that provides controllable torsional elasticity. It is either built-in or externally located at the connection between the two couplings.

[0042] When the user pulls the hose 13, the torque acts on the elastic element 9 first through the first coupling 4, causing it to undergo torsional deformation. This deformation process absorbs energy and allows the first coupling 4 to rotate relative to the second coupling 5 by an angle (i.e., a hysteresis angle). It is this angle difference that causes the misalignment of the two grating disks 8. When the motor 11 starts, the output torque acts on the elastic element 9 through the second coupling 5, causing it to recover its deformation, driving the first coupling 4 and the roller 2 to rotate synchronously, the two grating disks 8 to realign, the optical path to be restored, and the motor 11 to stop.

[0043] Motor 11 is the power source, typically a DC brushed motor, brushless motor, or AC induction motor. Reducer 10 is a gear transmission mechanism used to convert the high-speed, low-torque output of motor 11 into the low-speed, high-torque output required to drive the hose winding. When the identification component sends a "release hose" signal, motor 11 is driven to rotate forward by the control circuit. The power, after being reduced in speed and increased in torque by reducer 10, is transmitted to roller 2 through second coupling 5, first coupling 4, and rotating shaft, causing it to rotate in the same direction as the user's pull, releasing the hose 13. When retraction is required, the control circuit drives motor 11 to rotate in reverse, transmitting power in the opposite direction to rewind the hose 13.

[0044] The control unit 14 is typically a printed circuit board (PCB) that integrates a microcontroller (MCU), a motor driver chip (such as an H-bridge circuit), a power management module, and signal input interfaces. It is connected to input devices such as the photodetector 7 and the recycle button, as well as to the power supply line of the motor 11.

[0045] Tube-laying mode: Continuously monitor the signal of the optical receiver tube 7. When the signal changes from "on" to "off" (indicating the start of pulling), immediately turn on the motor drive circuit to make the motor 11 rotate forward. When the signal returns to "on" (indicating the stop of pulling), immediately cut off the motor power supply to stop the motor 11.

[0046] Retraction mode: Monitors the retraction button. When the button is pressed, motor 11 is controlled to reverse, regardless of the photoelectric signal. When the button is released, motor 11 stops.

[0047] The connecting channel 12 is an opening or a section of hollow shaft on the body of the roller 2, and may be equipped with a rotary sealing joint (slip ring) inside to ensure that the airflow channel in the hose 13 remains sealed and unobstructed when the roller 2 rotates continuously. The hose 13 is a standard hollow flexible tube.

[0048] Roller 2 is responsible for the storage and extension / retraction management of hose 13. Through the connecting channel 12 and the built-in slip ring, the suction force generated by the vacuum cleaner main unit can be continuously and uninterruptedly transmitted to the suction head at the end of hose 13, whether roller 2 is rotating or stationary. During the extension and retraction process, the connection part of hose 13 to the main unit is fixed (through the stationary end of the slip ring), and only the extension part is wound in or released.

[0049] First, in standby mode, the system is in static equilibrium. The flexible hose 13 is neatly wound around the roller 2, and is kept aligned by the first coupling 4 and the second coupling 5 in the identification assembly through the coupling elastic element 9. The light-transmitting slots of the fixed grating disk 8 are completely aligned. At this time, the light beam emitted by the light emitting tube 6 can pass through the dual disks and be continuously received by the light receiving tube 7. Based on this, the control unit 14 determines that there is no operation command, and the motor 11 remains de-energized and stationary.

[0050] When the user begins to pull the hose 13 to release the hose, the system enters the dynamic detection and response phase. The user's pulling force is transmitted through the hose 13, driving the roller 2, rotating shaft, and first coupling 4 to rotate. Due to the inertia of the motor 11 and reducer 10 system connected to the rear end of the second coupling 5, its rotational response lags, causing the coupling elastic element 9 (such as a rubber body or spring) to undergo torsional deformation, resulting in a slight lag angle between the first coupling 4 and the second coupling 5. This mechanical angle difference directly causes the light-transmitting slots of the two grating disks 8 to misalign, the light path is momentarily blocked, and the output signal of the light receiving tube 7 jumps. The control unit 14 captures this photoelectric signal change in real time, identifies it as a "release request" command, and immediately starts the motor 11 to rotate forward. The power of the motor 11, after being adjusted by the reducer 10, drives the second coupling 5 and the entire transmission chain to rotate. On the one hand, the restoring force of the elastic element 9 eliminates the angle difference, restoring the system to synchronization; on the other hand, it drives the roller 2 to rotate in the direction of the user's pull, smoothly releasing the hose 13. Once the user stops pulling, the external force disappears, and under the combined action of the motor driving force and the restoring force of the elastic element 9, the two grating disks 8 quickly realign, the optical path is restored, and the control component 14 immediately cuts off the power to the motor 11, achieving precise stopping.

[0051] When it is necessary to retract the hose 13, the system switches to active drive mode. The user presses the retraction button to send a command to the control unit 14. At this time, the control unit 14 ignores the current state of the photoelectric sensor and directly controls the motor 11 to reverse. The reverse power is transmitted to the roller 2 through the reducer 10 and the coupling assembly, which orderly rewinds the hose 13 and uses the annular baffles 3 on both sides of the roller 2 for regularization and limiting. Releasing the button immediately stops the motor 11, realizing manual control of the hose retraction length.

[0052] Throughout the entire operation, the system's functionality was fully guaranteed. The hose 13 was connected to the vacuuming system via the connecting channel 12 at the bottom of the roller 2. The rotary sealing joint in this channel ensured the continuity and sealing of the vacuuming air path in any rotational state of the roller 2, thus perfectly unifying the convenience of storage with the core function of vacuuming.

[0053] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this invention and their equivalents, this invention also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. An automatic hose winding machine for vacuum cleaners, characterized in that, include: The bracket has rotating shafts at both ends; A roller is disposed inside the bracket, and both sides of the roller are fixedly connected to the rotating ends of the two rotating shafts respectively. An identification component is disposed at one end of the bracket, and one end of the identification component is fixedly connected to the rotating end of the rotating shaft; An electronic control component is disposed at one end of the identification component away from the bracket, and the output end of the electronic control component is fixedly connected to the other end of the identification component.

2. The automatic hose winding machine for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The axial cross-section of the bracket is a U-shaped structure.

3. The automatic hose winding machine for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both sides of the roller are fixedly connected to annular baffles.

4. The automatic hose winding machine for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, characterized in that, The identification component includes: The first coupling has one end fixedly connected to the rotating end of the rotating shaft; The second coupling has one end engaged with the other end of the first coupling.

5. An automatic hose winding machine for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, characterized in that, The identification component further includes a light emitting tube and a light receiving tube, which are disposed on the top of the first coupling and the second coupling.

6. An automatic hose winding machine for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, characterized in that, Both the first coupling and the second coupling are provided with grating disks, and the light emitting tube and the light receiving tube are respectively disposed on both sides of the two grating disks.

7. An automatic hose winding machine for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, characterized in that, The corresponding ends of the first coupling and the second coupling are provided with coupling elastic elements.

8. An automatic hose winding machine for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, characterized in that, The electronic control component includes: The output end of the speed reducer is fixedly connected to the other end of the second coupling. The motor has its output end fixedly connected to the input end of the reducer.

9. An automatic hose winding machine for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, characterized in that, The motor is electrically connected to the motor control component.

10. An automatic hose winding machine for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, characterized in that, The bottom of the roller is provided with a connecting channel, the hose is wrapped around the outside of the roller, and the hose is connected to the output end of the vacuum cleaner through the connecting channel.

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