Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide a vacuum cleaner for improving convenience by suppressing adhesion of a suction port body onto a floor surface while keeping efficiency to scrape dust from the floor surface.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner includes: a front cleaning body 28F and rear cleaning body 28R rotatably supported by a suction port body 31; a front motor for driving the front cleaning body 28F and a rear motor for driving the rear cleaning body 28R; and a suction port body control section 42 for controlling the rotation of the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R. The suction port body control section 42 rotates the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R in a direction Rf to assist a forward movement of a suction port body 16 when detection results indicate a pre-set first condition. The suction port body control section 42 rotates the front cleaning body 28F in the direction Rf to assist the forward movement when detection results of various kinds of detection sections indicate a pre-set second condition and also rotates the rear cleaning body 28R in a direction Rr to assist a backward movement of the suction port body 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an electric vacuum cleaner that has a vacuum cleaner main body, an extension tube connected to the vacuum cleaner main body, and a suction inlet body connected to the extension tube.

[0003] The suction head of the vacuum cleaner is disposed parallel to the floor surface and is provided with a plurality of rotating brushes that rotate in different directions and at different speeds. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-111449 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventional vacuum cleaners can efficiently sweep dust off the floor by rotating two rotating brushes on the suction mouth body in different directions, but there is a risk that the suction mouth body will stick to the floor or a carpet placed on the floor.

[0006] Therefore, if the suction mouth body sticks to the floor surface (including a carpet or the like placed on the floor surface), it becomes difficult for the suction mouth body to move forward, reducing operability and increasing the burden on the user during cleaning work, resulting in a problem of reduced usability.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention proposes a vacuum cleaner that can maintain the efficiency of scraping dust off a floor surface while preventing the suction mouth body from sticking to the floor surface, thereby improving usability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a suction port that opens toward a bottom surface, a suction chamber connected to the suction port, a suction flow path that connects the suction port to the suction chamber, at least two cleaning body chambers including a first cleaning body chamber at the front in the traveling direction and a second cleaning body chamber at the rear in the traveling direction that are partitioned by the suction flow path in between, a first rotating cleaning member that is disposed in the first cleaning body chamber and rotatably supported on the suction port body, and a second rotating cleaning member that is disposed in the second cleaning body chamber and rotatably supported on the suction port body, and includes at least two rotating cleaning members that are disposed in each of the cleaning body chambers, a first electric motor that drives the first rotating cleaning member, and a second electric motor that drives the second rotating cleaning member. The cleaning device comprises a suction mouth body having at least two electric motors, a detection unit that detects the cleaning status, and a control unit that controls the rotation of each of the rotating cleaning members separately by controlling each of the electric motors based on the detection result of the detection unit, and when the detection result of the detection unit satisfies a predetermined first condition, the control unit drives each of the electric motors to rotate the first rotating cleaning member and the second rotating cleaning member in a forward direction that assists the progress of the suction mouth body, and when the detection result of the detection unit satisfies a predetermined second condition, the control unit drives the first electric motor to rotate the first rotating cleaning member in the forward rotation direction and drives the second electric motor to rotate the second rotating cleaning member in a reverse direction opposite to the forward rotation direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention from the right front. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a suction port body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a suction port body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a suction port body according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from below. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a suction port body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a suction port body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a suction mouth unit and a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner 1 of this embodiment is, for example, a stick type. The vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a vacuum cleaner body 12 having a handle 11 that allows it to be handheld, a secondary battery 13 (also called a storage battery, rechargeable battery, or rechargeable battery) that is detachable from the vacuum cleaner body 12, an extension tube 15 connected to the vacuum cleaner body 12, and a suction port body 16 connected to the extension tube 15.

[0013] The vacuum cleaner 1 may be a canister type, an upright type, or a handheld type. The vacuum cleaner 1 may be a cordless type having a secondary battery 13 as a power source, or may be a wired type that obtains power from a commercial AC power source via a power cord.

[0014] The vacuum cleaner body 12 includes a main body case 17 having a handle 11, an electric blower 18 housed in the main body case 17 and generating negative suction pressure, a dust separation and collection unit 19 removably provided on the main body case 17, and a main body control unit 21 which mainly controls the electric blower 18.

[0015] Vacuum cleaner body 12 drives electric blower 18 using power stored in secondary battery 13, and causes negative pressure generated by driving electric blower 18 to act on extension tube 15. Vacuum cleaner 1 sucks in air containing dust (hereinafter referred to as "dust-containing air") from the floor surface through suction port body 16 and extension tube 15, separates the dust from the dust-containing air, collects and accumulates the separated dust, and exhausts the separated air.

[0016] The main body case 17 has a cylindrical front half 17a that is disposed on the extension line of the extension tube 15 in a side view, and a rear half 17b that is bent from the front half 17a and gradually moves away from the extension line of the extension tube 15. A dust separation and collection unit 19 is provided above the front half 17a of the main body case 17. The rear half 17b of the main body case 17 extends rearward in a usage state (FIG. 2) in which the suction port body 16 is placed on the floor.

[0017] A main body connection port 23 is provided on the front portion of the main body case 17.

[0018] The main body connection port 23 is a joint to which the extension tube 15 can be detachably attached. The main body connection port 23 protrudes toward the front from the cylindrical front half 17a of the main body case 17. The main body connection port 23 is a fluid inlet of the vacuum cleaner main body 12, and fluidly connects the extension tube 15 and the dust separation and collection unit 19. By removing the extension tube 15 from the vacuum cleaner main body 12, the main body connection port 23 also functions as a suction port when the vacuum cleaner main body 12 is used by itself.

[0019] Handle 11 is provided integrally with main body case 17. Handle 11 is a part that a user holds with his / her hand in order to clean a floor surface with vacuum cleaner 1. Handle 11 spans in an arch shape from near the rear end of dust separating and collecting unit 19 to the rear end of main body case 17. Handle 11 is also disposed so as to intersect with an extension line of the center line of extension tube 15.

[0020] An input unit 26 is provided near the handle 11 and is arranged within a range where a user holding the handle 11 can move his or her fingers.

[0021] The input unit 26 includes an operation start switch 26a that receives an operation to start the electric blower 18, an operation stop switch 26b that receives an operation to stop the electric blower 18, and a brush switch 26c that receives an operation to start and stop the power supply to the suction port body 16. The operation start switch 26a and the operation stop switch 26b are electrically connected to the main body control unit 21. The user of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can select one of the operation modes of the electric blower 18 by operating the input unit 26. The operation start switch 26a also functions as a changeover switch for the operation mode during the operation of the electric blower 18. In this case, the main body control unit 21 switches the operation mode in the following order every time it receives an operation signal from the operation start switch 26a. Note that the input unit 26 may include a strong operation switch (not shown), a medium operation switch (not shown), and a weak operation switch (not shown) separately instead of the operation start switch 26a.

[0022] Dust separation and collection unit 19 is disposed on the upper surface side of vacuum cleaner body 12, and can be attached to and detached from vacuum cleaner body 12. Dust separation and collection unit 19 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from the dust-laden air that flows into vacuum cleaner body 12, while sending clean air from which dust has been removed to electric blower 18. Dust separation and collection unit 19 may be of a centrifugal separation type that centrifugally separates dust and air by utilizing the difference in mass between the dust and air sucked into vacuum cleaner 1, or may be of a filtration separation type that has a filter that filters out dust from the dust-laden air.

[0023] The electric blower 18 sucks air from the dust separating and collecting section 19 to generate a negative pressure (suction negative pressure).

[0024] The main body control unit 21 includes a microprocessor and a storage device that stores various calculation programs executed by the microprocessor, parameters, and the like. The storage device stores various settings (arguments) related to a plurality of pre-set operation modes. The plurality of operation modes are associated with the output of the electric blower 18. A mutually different input value (input value of the electric blower 18, target value of the current flowing through the electric blower 18) is set for each operation mode. Each operation mode is associated with an operation input received by the input unit 26. The main body control unit 21 selects an arbitrary operation mode corresponding to the operation input to the input unit 26 from among the plurality of pre-set operation modes. The main body control unit 21 also reads out the setting of the selected operation mode from the storage device, and operates the electric blower 18 according to the setting of the read operation mode.

[0025] Secondary battery 13 stores power consumed by electric blower 18 and main body control unit 21. Secondary battery 13 may be fixed to main body case 17, or may be detachable from main body case 17. In other words, vacuum cleaner 1 may or may not be capable of using a plurality of secondary batteries 13 by replacing them as appropriate. When the charging rate of secondary battery 13 detachably attached to vacuum cleaner 1 decreases, vacuum cleaner 1 can continue to operate by replacing this secondary battery 13 with a charged secondary battery 13.

[0026] The extension tube 15 and the suction port body 16 suck in dust on the floor surface together with air by the negative pressure applied by the electric blower 18 and guide it to the vacuum cleaner body 12 .

[0027] The extension pipe 15 is fluidly connected to the suction side of the electric blower 18 via the main body connection port 23 of the main body case 17 and the dust separation and collection unit 19. The extension pipe 15 has a length that substantially reaches the floor surface when the user is holding the handle 11 of the vacuum cleaner main body 12. One end of the extension pipe 15 is provided with a joint structure that can be detachably attached to the main body connection port 23 of the vacuum cleaner main body 12. The other end of the extension pipe 15 is provided with a joint structure that can be detachably attached to the suction port body 16 of the vacuum cleaner main body 12. The extension pipe 15 may or may not be extendable.

[0028] The suction port body 16 can run or slide on a floor surface such as a wooden floor or a carpet, and has a suction port 27 on the bottom surface that faces the floor surface when running or sliding. The suction port body 16 also includes a rotatable rotary cleaning member 28 and an electric motor 29 as a drive source for driving the rotary cleaning member 28. One end of the suction port body 16 is provided with a detachable joint structure on the other end of the extension tube 15. The suction port body 16 is fluidly connected to the suction side of the electric blower 18 via the extension tube 15. The suction port body 16, the extension tube 15, and the dust separation and collection unit 19 form an intake air passage that runs from the electric blower 18 to the suction port 27.

[0029] When the operation start switch 26a is operated, the vacuum cleaner 1 starts the electric blower 18. For example, when the operation start switch 26a is operated while the electric blower 18 is stopped, the vacuum cleaner 1 first starts the electric blower 18 in a strong operation mode, and when the operation start switch 26a is operated again, the operation mode of the electric blower 18 is changed to a medium operation mode, and when the operation start switch 26a is operated a third time, the operation mode of the electric blower 18 is changed to a weak operation mode, and the same process is repeated. The strong operation mode, the medium operation mode, and the weak operation mode are a plurality of operation modes that are set in advance. The input value of the electric blower 18 in the strong operation mode is the largest, and the input value of the electric blower 18 in the weak operation mode is the smallest. The started electric blower 18 sucks air from the dust separation and collection unit 19, creating a negative pressure inside the dust separation and collection unit 19.

[0030] The negative pressure in dust separation and collection unit 19 acts on suction port 27 through main body connection port 23, extension tube 15, and suction port body 16 in that order. The vacuum cleaner 1 cleans the surface to be cleaned by sucking in dust on the surface to be cleaned together with air using the negative pressure acting on suction port 27. Dust separation and collection unit 19 separates dust from the dust-containing air sucked into vacuum cleaner 1 and accumulates it, while sending the air separated from the dust-containing air to electric blower 18. Electric blower 18 exhausts the air sucked in from dust separation and collection unit 19 to the outside of vacuum cleaner main body 12.

[0031] Next, the suction port body 16 will be described in detail.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the right front.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the suction port body 16 according to this embodiment includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped suction port main body 31 and a connection pipe 32 provided at the rear of the suction port main body 31.

[0034] The front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions of the suction port body 16 are described with reference to the user of the vacuum cleaner 1. The direction of the solid arrow X in FIG. 2 is the forward or forward direction of the suction port body 16 (forward in the traveling direction), and the opposite direction is the backward or backward direction (rear in the traveling direction). The direction of the solid arrow Y in FIG. 2 is the left side of the suction port body 16 (left in the traveling direction), and the opposite direction is the right side (right in the traveling direction). In other words, the front-rear direction of the suction port body 16 is the traveling direction of the suction port body 16. The left-right direction of the suction port body 16 is horizontally orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the traveling direction. Furthermore, the direction of the solid arrow Z in FIG. 2 is above the suction port body 16 (upward in the traveling direction), and the opposite direction is downward (downward in the traveling direction). In other words, the up-down direction of the suction port body 16 is the up-down direction of the traveling direction, and is vertically orthogonal to the front-rear and left-right directions of the suction port body 16.

[0035] The shape of the suction port body 31 in a plan view is a rectangle with short sides in the front-rear direction and long sides in the left-right direction. In other words, the left-right dimension of the suction port body 31, i.e., the width dimension, is greater than the front-rear dimension of the suction port body 31, i.e., the depth dimension. The suction port body 31 includes a lower case 35 and an upper case 36 that covers the lower case 35.

[0036] Contact sensors 33 are provided at the front of the upper case 36 and on both the left and right ends thereof, as detection units for detecting an obstacle ahead in the traveling direction of the suction inlet body 16 as a measure for the cleaning status of the vacuum cleaner 1. Examples of obstacles include walls and household goods.

[0037] The connecting pipe 32 is provided at the rear of the suction port body 31 and approximately at the center in the width direction. The connecting pipe 32 includes a rotating connecting pipe 38 that is rotatable with respect to the suction port body 31, and a swinging connecting pipe 39 that is swingable with respect to the rotating connecting pipe 38.

[0038] The rotary connecting pipe 38 rotates around a center line (a line segment coinciding with the X-axis or a line segment parallel to the X-axis) extending in the front-rear direction of the suction port body 16. This center line divides the suction port body 31 into left and right halves.

[0039] The swing connecting pipe 39 swings about a line segment perpendicular to the rotation center line of the rotating connecting pipe 38 or a line segment parallel to this line segment. The free end of the swing connecting pipe 39 is a joint that can be detachably attached to the free end of the extension pipe 15.

[0040] 3 and 4 are plan views of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from below.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention taken along line VII-VII in FIG.

[0044] FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.

[0045] In FIG. 4, the upper case 36 has been removed.

[0046] As shown in Figures 3 to 7, the suction port body 16 of this embodiment includes a suction port main body 31, a rotating cleaning member 28 rotatably supported by the suction port main body 31, an electric motor 29 housed in the suction port main body 31 and serving as a driving source for generating a rotational driving force for the rotating cleaning member 28, a power transmission mechanism 41 that transmits the driving force from the electric motor 29 to the rotating cleaning member 28, and a suction port body control unit 42 which is a control unit that controls the operation of the electric motor 29.

[0047] The suction port body 31 also has a suction port 27 that opens toward the bottom surface 31a, a suction chamber 45 that is connected to the suction port 27, and a cleaning body chamber 46 in which the rotating cleaning member 28 is housed.

[0048] Furthermore, the suction port body 31 is provided with a transparent wall 47 that defines a part of the cleaning body chamber 46 and visually covers at least a part of the outer circumferential surface of the rotary cleaning member 28 .

[0049] The cleaning body chamber 46 is defined outside the suction chamber 45. The cleaning body chamber 46 is open toward the bottom surface of the suction port body 31.

[0050] The suction chamber 45 is defined by the lower case 35, an air passage cover 48 that is housed inside the upper case 36 and covers part of the lower case 35, and an air passage narrowing body 49 that narrows the suction port 27, which is wide in the left-right direction of the suction port main body 31, toward the center. In other words, the lower case 35, the air passage cover 48, and the air passage narrowing body 49 cooperate to define the suction chamber 45.

[0051] A plurality of rollers 50 are provided on the bottom surface 31a of the suction port body 31, which contact the surface to be cleaned f and support the suction port body 31. The plurality of rollers 50 include rollers 50 disposed at the left and right ends of the suction port body 31, and rollers 50 disposed at the rear center of the suction port body 31. At least one of these rollers 50 is provided with an encoder 54, which is a detector that detects the movement of the suction port body 16 as the cleaning state.

[0052] A space is defined between the lower case 35 and the upper case 36 of the suction port body 31. This space includes an electric motor chamber 51 that houses the electric motor 29, a machine chamber 52 that houses the power transmission mechanism 41, and a control chamber 53 that houses the suction port body control unit 42. The electric motor chamber 51, the machine chamber 52, and the control chamber 53 may be connected or separated.

[0053] The control chamber 53 is disposed in the center of the suction port body 31 in the front-rear and left-right directions in a plan view.

[0054] The suction port body 31 is provided with a pair of rotating cleaning members 28 that sandwich the suction port 27 from the front and rear of the suction port body 16 .

[0055] The electric motors 29 and the power transmission mechanisms 41 are also provided in pairs and are individually associated with the respective rotary cleaning members 28. The pair of electric motors 29 includes an electric motor 29 provided at one end of the suction port body 31 in the width direction, and an electric motor 29 provided at the other end of the suction port body 31 in the width direction. The pair of electric motors 29 are preferably disposed at positions substantially the same distance away from a center line that divides the suction port body 31 into left and right halves. The pair of power transmission mechanisms 41 include a power transmission mechanism 41 provided at one end of the suction port body 31 in the width direction, and a power transmission mechanism 41 provided at the other end of the suction port body 31 in the width direction. The pair of power transmission mechanisms 41 are preferably disposed at positions substantially the same distance away from a center line that divides the suction port body 31 into left and right halves.

[0056] The rotating cleaning member 28 forward of the suction port 27 is referred to as the front cleaning body 28F (first rotating cleaning member). The cleaning body chamber 46 in which the front cleaning body 28F is housed is referred to as the front cleaning body chamber 46F (first rotating cleaning member chamber). The electric motor 29 corresponding to the front cleaning body 28F is referred to as the front electric motor 29F, and the power transmission mechanism 41 corresponding to the front cleaning body 28F is referred to as the front transmission mechanism 41F. The electric motor chamber 51 in which the front motor 29F is housed is referred to as the front electric motor chamber 51F, and the machine chamber 52 in which the front transmission mechanism 41F is housed is referred to as the front machine chamber 52F.

[0057] The rotating cleaning member 28 rearward of the suction port 27 is referred to as the rear cleaning body 28R (second rotating cleaning member). The cleaning body chamber 46 in which the rear cleaning body 28R is housed is referred to as the rear cleaning body chamber 46R (second rotating cleaning member chamber). The electric motor 29 corresponding to the rear cleaning body 28R is referred to as the rear electric motor 29R, and the power transmission mechanism 41 corresponding to the rear cleaning body 28R is referred to as the rear transmission mechanism 41R. The electric motor chamber 51 in which the rear electric motor 29R is housed is referred to as the rear electric motor chamber 51R, and the machine chamber 52 in which the rear transmission mechanism 41R is housed is referred to as the rear machine chamber 52R.

[0058] That is, the suction port body 16 has at least two cleaning body chambers 46 including a front cleaning body chamber 46F (first rotating cleaning member chamber) at the front in the traveling direction and a rear cleaning body chamber 46R (second rotating cleaning member chamber) at the rear in the traveling direction, which are partitioned by a suction flow path 34 that connects from the suction port 27 to the suction chamber 45. The suction flow path 34 is a part of the suction air passage that leads from the electric blower 18 to the suction port 27. The suction flow path 34 further has a main air passage 34a that connects from a suction opening 16a that opens on the bottom surface of the suction port body 16 facing the surface to be cleaned to the suction chamber 45.

[0059] The suction port body 16 includes a front cleaning body 28F (first rotating cleaning member) disposed in the front cleaning body chamber 46F and rotatably supported by the suction port body 16, and a rear cleaning body 28R (second rotating cleaning member) disposed in the rear cleaning body chamber 46R and rotatably supported by the suction port body 16, and is equipped with at least two rotating cleaning members 28 disposed in each cleaning body chamber 46. The front cleaning body 28F and rear cleaning body 28R are disposed with the main air passage 34a sandwiched therebetween.

[0060] Furthermore, suction port body 16 is provided with dust sensors 37 on both the left and right sides of suction chamber 45 in the suction air passage leading from electric blower 18 to suction port 27. Dust sensor 37 detects the amount of dust contained in the dust-containing air sucked in from suction port 27 as the cleaning status. Dust sensor 37 may be located in suction port body 16, extension tube 15, or vacuum cleaner body 1.

[0061] The front cleaning body chamber 46F, the suction port 27, and the rear cleaning body chamber 46R are aligned in the moving direction of the suction port body 16. In other words, the front cleaning body 28F, the suction port 27, and the rear cleaning body 28R are aligned in the moving direction of the suction port body 16. The front cleaning body 28F, the suction port 27, and the rear cleaning body 28R are aligned from the front side to the rear side of the suction port body 16. Furthermore, the front cleaning body 28F, the air passage narrowing body 49, and the rear cleaning body 28R are aligned in the moving direction of the suction port body 16. The front cleaning body chamber 46F, the suction port 27, and the rear cleaning body chamber 46R have substantially the same width dimension. Note that the "rotary cleaning member 28 located in front of the suction port 27 during the process in which the suction port body 16 moves" refers to the front cleaning body 28F during the process in which the suction port body 16 moves forward, and refers to the rear cleaning body 28R during the process in which the suction port body 16 moves backward. In addition, "the rotating cleaning member 28 located behind the suction port 27 while the suction port body 16 is moving" is the rear cleaning body 28R while the suction port body 16 is moving forward, and is the front cleaning body 28F while the suction port body 16 is moving backward.

[0062] With the suction port body 31 placed on the surface f to be cleaned, the motor 29 rotates the rotary cleaning member 28 in a direction to sweep dust from the surface f to be cleaned toward the suction port 27. That is, the front motor 29F rotates the front cleaning body 28F in a direction Rf that assists the forward movement of the suction port body 16, and the rear motor 29R rotates the rear cleaning body 28R in a direction Rf that assists the forward movement of the suction port body 16 or in a direction Rr that assists the backward movement of the suction port body 16 depending on the cleaning state. The rear motor 29R may be configured to follow the forward or backward movement of the suction port body 16 without rotating the rear cleaning body 28R depending on the cleaning state. The rotation of the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R by the motor 29 is controlled by the suction port body control unit 42, as will be described in detail later.

[0063] The transparent wall 47 defines a part of each cleaning element chamber 46 and visually covers at least a part of the outer circumferential surface of each rotating cleaning member 28. Therefore, the suction port body 31 has at least one window portion 55 that is blocked by the transparent wall 47. This window portion 55 may be provided in each cleaning element chamber 46, or may be provided across adjacent cleaning element chambers 46. The window portion 55 according to this embodiment includes a front cleaning element window 55F provided in the upper case 36 so that the front cleaning element 28F can be visually observed, and a rear cleaning element window 55R provided in the lower case 35 so that the rear cleaning element 28R can be visually observed.

[0064] The front cleaning body window 55F is located above the front cleaning body 28F and is open over the entire length of the front cleaning body 28F.

[0065] The rear cleaning body window 55R is located above the rear cleaning body 28R to avoid the suction chamber 45 that passes above the rear cleaning body chamber 46R and reaches the connecting pipe 32, and is divided and opened in two places, left and right, of the rear cleaning body 28R. In other words, the rear cleaning body window 55R includes a plurality of split windows 55RL, 55RR that are split in the direction along the rotation center line of the rear cleaning body 28R.

[0066] The permeable wall 47 includes a first permeable wall 47A that closes the front cleaning element window 55F and visually covers the front cleaning element window 55F, and a second permeable wall 47B that closes the rear cleaning element window 55R and visually covers the rear cleaning element window 55R. The second permeable wall 47B may be divided in a direction along the rotation center line of the rear cleaning element 28R. That is, the second permeable wall 47B may include a plurality of divided permeable walls 47BL, 47BR that are divided in a direction along the rotation center line of the rear cleaning element 28R. In other words, at least one permeable wall 47 includes a plurality of divided permeable walls 47BL, 47BR that are divided in a direction along the rotation center line of at least one rotating cleaning member 28.

[0067] The first permeable wall 47A is fixed to the upper case 36. The first permeable wall 47A extends from the part of the front cleaning body 28F that is the furthest from the surface to be cleaned f, i.e., the top part 28Fa, along the rotation direction Rf of the front cleaning body 28F when the suction port body 31 is disposed on the surface to be cleaned f. The second permeable wall 47B is fixed to the lower case 35. The second permeable wall 47B extends from the part of the rear cleaning body 28R that is the furthest from the surface to be cleaned f, i.e., the top part 28Ra, along the rotation direction Rr of the rear cleaning body 28R when the suction port body 31 is disposed on the surface to be cleaned f. In other words, the permeable wall 47 extends from the part 28Fa, 28Ra that is the furthest from the surface to be cleaned f of the corresponding rotating cleaning member 28 along the rotation direction of the rotating cleaning member 28 when the suction port body 31 is disposed on the surface to be cleaned f.

[0068] The first permeable wall 47A covers the upper part of the front cleaning body 28F and defines the front opening edge (the opening edge farthest from the suction port 27) of the front cleaning body chamber 46F. The first permeable wall 47A is a permeable member 56 that also serves as a part of the outer shell of the suction port body 31. In other words, the lower case 35, the upper case 36, and the permeable member 56 cooperate to form the outer shell of the suction port body 31. The permeable member 56 may be an integrated member of the first permeable wall 47A and the second permeable wall 47B. In other words, the permeable member 56 may be all or a part of the multiple permeable walls 47.

[0069] The transparent member 56 covers the upper case 36, straddles the upper part of the rear cleaning element chamber 46R, and is connected to the lower case 35 behind the rear cleaning element window 55R. In other words, the transparent member 56 cooperates with the second transparent wall 47B to doubly cover the rear cleaning element window 55R. The transparent member 56 is a molded or formed product made of transparent or semi-transparent resin.

[0070] The suction port 27 is disposed between the front cleaning body chamber 46F and the rear cleaning body chamber 46R. In other words, the suction port 27 is disposed between the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R. The suction port 27 faces the surface to be cleaned f without being blocked by the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R, and looks directly at the surface to be cleaned f.

[0071] The suction chamber 45 curves toward the rear of the suction port main body 31 along the lower case 35 so as to cover the rear cleaning body chamber 46R, and is connected to the connecting pipe 32. A relay pipe 57 is provided between the suction chamber 45 and the connecting pipe 32. The relay pipe 57 serves as a base that supports the connecting pipe 32. The relay pipe 57 is integrally formed with the air passage cover 48.

[0072] The front cleaning body chamber 46F is defined by the upper case 36, the lower case 35, the first permeable wall 47A of the permeable wall 47, and the air passage narrowing body 49. In other words, the upper case 36, the lower case 35, the first permeable wall 47A of the permeable wall 47, and the air passage narrowing body 49 cooperate to define the front cleaning body chamber 46F. The front cleaning body chamber 46F can be seen from the outside of the suction port body 31 through the first permeable wall 47A.

[0073] The rear cleaning body chamber 46R is defined by the lower case 35, the second permeable wall 47B of the permeable wall 47, and the air passage narrowing body 49. In other words, the lower case 35, the second permeable wall 47B of the permeable wall 47, and the air passage narrowing body 49 cooperate to define the rear cleaning body chamber 46R. The rear cleaning body chamber 46R can be seen from the outside of the suction port body 31 through the second permeable wall 47B.

[0074] The machine chambers 52 are located at the left and right ends of the suction port body 31, and are partitioned into areas where the front cleaning body chamber 46F, the suction port 27, and the rear cleaning body chamber 46R are not present. The machine chamber 52 houses the axial end of the front cleaning body 28F and the axial end of the rear cleaning body 28R. A roller 50 is provided at the bottom of the machine chamber 52.

[0075] The front machine chamber 52F is the left end of the suction port body 31, and is partitioned into a portion where the front cleaning body chamber 46F, the suction port 27, and the rear cleaning body chamber 46R are not present. The front machine chamber 52F accommodates the axial end of the front cleaning body 28F and the axial end of the rear cleaning body 28R.

[0076] The rear machine chamber 52R is a right end portion of the suction port body 31, and is defined as a portion where the front cleaning body chamber 46F, the suction port 27, and the rear cleaning body chamber 46R are not present. The rear machine chamber 52R accommodates the axial end of the front cleaning body 28F and the axial end of the rear cleaning body 28R.

[0077] The motor chamber 51 overlaps with the front cleaning body chamber 46F, the suction port 27, and the rear cleaning body chamber 46R in a plan view, and is disposed between the control chamber 53 and the machine chamber 52. In a side view, the rotation center line of the front cleaning body 28F, the rotation center line of the rear cleaning body 28R, and the rotation center line of the motor 29 are located at the vertices of a triangle. The motor chamber 51 houses the cylindrical motor 29 as close as possible to the front cleaning body chamber 46F and the rear cleaning body chamber 46R. In other words, the bottom of the motor 29 is disposed below the top 28Fa of the front cleaning body 28F and the top 28Ra of the rear cleaning body 28R. In other words, the motor 29 has a portion closer to the surface to be cleaned f than a line connecting the portion 28Fa of the front cleaning body 28F that is farthest from the surface to be cleaned f, and the portion 28Ra of the rear cleaning body 28R that is farthest from the surface to be cleaned f, and is disposed between the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R. This arrangement of the motor 29 and the configuration of the motor chamber 51 keep the height of the suction port body 31 lower than the sum of the height (diameter) of the rotary cleaning member 28 and the height (diameter) of the motor 29, even when the motor 29 is disposed above the rotary cleaning member 28.

[0078] The front motor chamber 51F is disposed on the left side of the suction port body 31, and is arranged next to the front machine chamber 52F.

[0079] The rear motor chamber 51R is disposed on the right side of the suction port body 31, and is arranged next to the rear machine chamber 52R.

[0080] If the front motor chamber 51F and the front machine chamber 52F are provided together, the front motor chamber 51F and the front machine chamber 52F may be disposed on the right side of the suction port body 31. In this case, the front transmission mechanism 41F is also disposed on the right side of the suction port body 31. The rear motor chamber 51R, the rear machine chamber 52R, and the rear transmission mechanism 41R are disposed on the left side of the suction port body 31.

[0081] The rotation center line of the rotary cleaning member 28 is oriented in the width direction of the suction port body 31. The rotary cleaning member 28 has radially extending brush bristles 59. The brush bristles 59 are a plurality of bristles extending in the longitudinal direction of the rotary cleaning member 28 and are arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning member 28.

[0082] The electric motor 29 has an output shaft 29a that protrudes into the machine chamber 52. The rotation center line of the output shaft 29a is substantially parallel to the rotation center line of the rotary cleaning member 28. The suction port body 16 may be provided with a drive source for the rotary cleaning member 28 instead of the electric motor 29, such as a fan or turbine that rotates by air sucked in by the suction negative pressure.

[0083] The power transmission mechanism 41 includes a driving gear 61 fixed to the output shaft 29a of the electric motor 29, a driven gear 62 provided on the rotating cleaning member 28, and an endless belt 63 that is wound around the driving gear 61 and the driven gear 62 to transmit driving force from the electric motor 29 to the rotating cleaning member 28.

[0084] The suction port body control section 42 operates the electric motor 29 with power supplied from the vacuum cleaner body 12 via the extension tube 15 .

[0085] The suction port body control unit 42 controls the rotation of the rotatable cleaning member 28 (i.e., the rotation of the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R by the electric motor 29) based on the cleaning state detection results by the various detection units. Note that the suction port body control unit 42 controls the rotation of the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R independently. Note also that the rotation here includes the rotation direction, rotation speed, stopping, etc.

[0086] Here, detection of the cleaning state includes detection of obstacles around the suction inlet body 16 by the contact sensor 33, detection of the amount of dust by the dust sensor 37, detection of the movement of the suction inlet body 16 by the encoder 54, detection of the floor contact surface based on the distance between the suction inlet body 16 and the floor surface using infrared reflection (not shown), or discrimination of the floor surface such as hardwood or carpet based on the rotation load state of the rotating cleaning member 28 (i.e., overload state of the electric motor 29) or the load state of the electric blower 18. Furthermore, detection of obstacles around the suction inlet body 16 is not limited to the contact sensor 33, and non-contact sensors such as infrared or ultrasonic sensors may also be used.

[0087] Specifically, when the detection results of the various detection sections satisfy a predetermined first condition, the suction port body control section 42 rotates the front cleaning body 28F of each rotating cleaning member 28 in a forward direction that assists forward movement (direction Rf that assists forward movement of the suction port body 16) or in a reverse direction opposite to the direction Rf that assists forward movement (direction Rr that assists backward movement of the suction port body 16), and switches the rotation direction of each rotating cleaning member 28 so that the rear cleaning body 28R of each rotating cleaning member 28 follows the forward or backward movement of the suction port body 16 without rotating, or rotates in the direction Rf that assists forward movement or the direction Rr that assists backward movement.

[0088] In addition, when the detection results of the various detection units satisfy a predetermined second condition, the suction port body control unit 42 switches the rotation direction of each rotating cleaning member 28 so that the front cleaning body 28F of each rotating cleaning member 28 rotates in a direction Rf that assists forward movement or a direction Rr that assists backward movement, and the rear cleaning body 28R of each rotating cleaning member rotates in a direction Rr that assists backward movement or a direction Rf that assists forward movement.

[0089] Of the various detection sections, dust sensor 37 detects, as the cleaning state, the amount of dust contained in the dust-laden air sucked in from suction port 27. In this case, the preset first condition includes a case where the detected amount of dust is equal to or less than a preset threshold, and the preset second condition includes a case where the detected amount of dust exceeds a preset threshold.

[0090] At this time, when the detection result of the dust sensor 37 satisfies the first condition, the suction port body control section 42 may set the rotation speeds of the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R to be the same.

[0091] When the detection result of the dust sensor 37 satisfies the second condition, the suction port body control section 42 may be configured to increase the rotation speed of the front cleaning body 28F more than the rotation speed of the rear cleaning body 28R.

[0092] When the detection result of the dust sensor 37 satisfies the second condition, the suction port body control section 42 may increase the rotation speed of the rear cleaning body 28R in accordance with the amount of dust.

[0093] Among the various detection units, the encoder 54 detects the movement of the suction port body 16 as the cleaning state. In this case, the first condition includes a case where the movement of the suction port body 16 is detected, and the second condition includes a case where the stop of the suction port body 16 is detected.

[0094] Furthermore, when the encoder 54 detects the movement of the suction port body 16, the first condition includes detection of movement in the front-to-back direction (X direction) in the traveling direction of the suction port body 16, and the second condition includes detection of movement in the left-to-right direction (Y direction) perpendicular to the front-to-back direction in the traveling direction of the suction port body 16.

[0095] Of the various detection units, contact sensor 33 detects, as the cleaning state, an obstacle (not shown) ahead in the traveling direction of suction port body 16. In this case, the first condition includes a case where no obstacle is detected, and the second condition includes a case where an obstacle is detected.

[0096] Among the various detection sections, switching element 83, which will be described later, detects the type of surface to be cleaned (i.e., flooring, carpet, etc.) as the cleaning state from the load state of rotation of rotary cleaning member 28 (i.e., overload state of motor 29) based on the current value of motor 29. The first condition includes a case where a surface to be cleaned with high rolling resistance for suction mouth body 16 (e.g., carpet) is detected, and the second condition includes a case where a surface to be cleaned with low rolling resistance for suction mouth body 16 (e.g., flooring) is detected.

[0097] In addition, when the switching element 83 detects an overload state of the motor 29, the first condition includes a case where the detected load exceeds a preset threshold, and the second condition includes a case where the detected load is equal to or less than the preset threshold.

[0098] The various detection sections may detect the type of surface to be cleaned (i.e., flooring, carpet, etc.) as the cleaning state from the load state of electric blower 18 based on the current value of electric blower 18.

[0099] In addition, it is preferable that the suction port body control unit 42 prioritizes detection results other than the detection result of the amount of dust contained in the dust-laden air sucked in from the suction port 27 as the cleaning state detected by the various detection units mentioned above.

[0100] The air path narrowing body 49 is provided with a partition wall 65 that separates the suction chamber 45 from the cleaning body chamber 46, divides the suction chamber 45 from the cleaning body chamber 46, and defines part of the edge of the suction port 27, and a dust removal protrusion 66 that protrudes from the edge of the partition wall 65 and contacts the rotating cleaning member 28.

[0101] The partition 65 that separates the suction chamber 45 and the front cleaning body chamber 46F is called a front partition 65F (first partition). The front partition 65F defines the front edge of the suction port 27. The dust removal protrusion 66 that protrudes from the edge of the front partition 65F and contacts the front cleaning body 28F is called a front protrusion 66F (first dust removal protrusion).

[0102] The partition 65 that separates the suction chamber 45 and the rear cleaning body chamber 46R is called the rear partition 65R (second partition). The rear partition 65R defines the rear edge of the suction port 27. The dust removal protrusion 66 that protrudes from the edge of the rear partition 65R and contacts the rear cleaning body 28R is called the rear protrusion 66R (second dust removal protrusion).

[0103] A part of the inner surface of the suction chamber 45 (here, the inner surface on the rear side of the suction chamber 45, the first remaining part of the inner surface of the suction chamber 45) faces the front partition wall 65F and has a curved surface 68 in the shape of an arc convex toward the front partition wall 65F. The curved surface 68 includes the inner surface of the rear partition wall 65R and a surface of the lower case 35 that is continuous with the inner surface of the rear partition wall 65R. The lower case 35 has an arc-shaped wall that defines a part of the rear cleaning body chamber 46R. This wall has a substantially uniform thickness, concentrically surrounds the rear cleaning body 28R, and smoothly continues with the inner surface of the rear partition wall 65R.

[0104] Dust swept up from the surface to be cleaned f by the rotation of the front cleaning body 28F heads toward the curved surface 68 of the suction chamber 45. The curved surface 68 smoothly guides the approaching dust to the inner side of the suction chamber 45 (downstream side).

[0105] In addition, a part of the inner surface of the suction chamber 45 (here, the inner surface on each of the left and right sides of the suction chamber 45, the second remaining part of the inner surface of the suction chamber 45) is connected to the partition wall 65 and has a funnel-shaped inclined surface 71 that narrows the air passage width toward the back side (downstream side) of the suction chamber 45. The inclined surface 71 is connected to the front partition wall 65F and the rear partition wall 65R. In other words, the inclined surface 71 is bridged between the front partition wall 65F and the rear partition wall 65R. There is a pair of inclined surfaces 71 on the left and right of the air passage narrowing body 49. The left and right inclined surfaces 71 are inclined so as to move away from the corresponding end of the air passage narrowing body 49 and to enter the back side of the suction chamber 45 as they approach the center. The left and right inclined surfaces 71 are separated without merging. The gap between the left and right inclined surfaces 71 is connected to the suction chamber 45 on the back side of the inclined surface 71. The inclined surface 71 smoothly guides the air sucked through the suction port 27 that is elongated and spreads in the width direction of the suction port body 16 to the rear side of the suction chamber 45 that is connected to the connecting pipe 32.

[0106] The inclined surface 71 has a step shape including a guide surface 72 facing the partition wall 65 in a vertical cross-sectional view of the suction port main body 31. The guide surface 72 faces the front partition wall 65F. This step-shaped portion may be a single step as shown in FIG. 7, or may be multiple steps. The step shape preferably reaches the entire width of the inclined surface 71. The bottom shape of each step may be flat or may be recessed. The guide surface 72 is preferably parallel to the front partition wall 65F. The guide surface 72 captures dust swept up by the front cleaning body 28F and guides it to the back side of the suction chamber 45. In addition, the guide surface 72 guides the end of the thread-like dust to the back side of the suction chamber 45 so that the middle part of the thread-like dust is sandwiched between the front cleaning body 28F and the surface to be cleaned f, and one or both ends of the thread-like dust float up toward the suction port 27 does not go over the rear partition wall 65R and approach the rear cleaning body 28R side.

[0107] The dust removal projection 66 is positioned inside the rotation path of the rotary cleaning member 28. The dust removal projection 66 repels the brush bristles 59 of the rotary cleaning member 28 as the rotary cleaning member 28 rotates. At this time, the dust removal projection 66 repels thread-like dust that has adhered to the rotary cleaning member 28 and is attempting to enter the cleaning body chamber 46 from the brush bristles 59, causing the thread-like dust to separate from the rotary cleaning member 28. The thread-like dust that has separated from the rotary cleaning member 28 is easily sucked into the suction port 27. In other words, the dust removal projection 66 can prevent the thread-like dust that has adhered to the rotary cleaning member 28 from entering the cleaning body chamber 46.

[0108] The dust removal protrusions 66 are preferably provided across the entire width of the partition wall 65. It is sufficient that the dust removal protrusions 66 are able to deflect the brush bristles 59 of the rotary cleaning member 28. For this reason, the shape of the dust removal protrusions 66 may be a comb shape as shown in Figures 5 and 6, or may be a plate shape with a uniform protruding length across the entire width. Since the contact of the dust removal protrusions 66 increases the rotational resistance of the rotary cleaning member 28, the shape of the dust removal protrusions 66 is appropriately set according to the output of the electric motor 29.

[0109] If the ground contact surface of the suction port body 16 is taken as a reference plane, the front protrusion 66F is substantially parallel to the reference plane. The rear protrusion 66R protrudes at an angle in a direction away from the reference plane. If the main air passage 34a is disposed between the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R, dust is guided to the main air passage 34a by the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R, so that the partitions 65 (front partitions 65F and rear partitions 65R) do not need to be provided.

[0110] Generally, a user advances the suction port body 16 to make it enter an uncleaned surface f to be cleaned. At this time, thread-like dust on the surface f to be cleaned moves from the front to the rear of the suction port body 16. The inventor discovered that by making the front protrusion 66F substantially parallel to the reference plane while inclining the rear protrusion 66R in a direction away from the reference plane, thread-like dust becomes less likely to enter both the front cleaning body chamber 46F and the rear cleaning body chamber 46R.

[0111] The rear partition 65R also has a hole 73 connecting the suction chamber 45 and the rear cleaning body chamber 46R. The hole 73 is disposed in a range sandwiched between the left and right inclined surfaces 71. There may be a plurality of holes 73. The hole 73 discharges dust that has entered the rear cleaning body chamber 46R to the suction chamber 45 so that it does not remain in the rear cleaning body chamber 46R.

[0112] Dust that has entered the front cleaning body chamber 46F is discharged to the front of the suction port body 16 as the front cleaning body 28F rotates. That is, dust that has entered the front cleaning body chamber 46F has a higher chance of being sucked into the suction port 27 during the forward movement of the suction port body 16 than dust that has entered the rear cleaning body chamber 46R. Therefore, the front partition 65F does not need to have holes 73 like the rear partition 65R.

[0113] Moreover, if dust gets into the cleaning body chamber 46, the user can visually check it through the permeable wall 47. That is, the user can visually check whether dust has got into the front cleaning body chamber 46F through the first permeable wall 47A, and can visually check whether dust has got into the rear cleaning body chamber 46R through the second permeable wall 47B.

[0114] A protrusion 75 having an acute cross-sectional shape toward the rear cleaning body 28R is provided at a portion of the opening edge of the rear cleaning body chamber 46R facing the rear projection 66R. The protrusion 75 is provided at the rear part of the opening edge of the rear cleaning body chamber 46R. When the suction port body 16 is used on a soft surface f to be cleaned such as a carpet, the suction port body 31 sinks into the surface f to be cleaned. In such a case, the protrusion 75 scrapes up the surface f to be cleaned like the blade of a bulldozer, and scrapes out the dust that has gotten into the carpet.

[0115] The protruding portion 75 preferably spans the entire width of the rear cleaning body chamber 46R. When the suction port body 16 is used on a hard surface f to be cleaned such as a wooden floor, the protruding portion 75 may protrude downward from the bottom surface of the suction port body 31 without coming into contact with the surface f to be cleaned.

[0116] The suction port body 16 may have three or more rotating cleaning members 28 including the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R sandwiching the suction port 27 therebetween. That is, the suction port body 16 may have three or more cleaning body chambers 46 including the front cleaning body chamber 46F and the rear cleaning body chamber 46R partitioned outside the suction chamber 45 and sandwiching the suction port 27 therebetween, and three or more rotating cleaning members 28 including the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R and arranged in each cleaning body chamber 46. In this case, it is preferable that the cleaning body chambers 46 and the rotating cleaning members 28 are provided in the same number. The electric motors 29, the electric motor chambers 51, the power transmission mechanism 41, and the machine chambers 52 may be provided in the same number as the cleaning body chambers 46 and the rotating cleaning members 28, or may be fewer than the cleaning body chambers 46 and the rotating cleaning members 28 as long as the multiple rotating cleaning members 28 can be driven simultaneously. For example, the driving force of one electric motor 29 may be distributed by a power transmission mechanism 41 to drive a plurality of rotary cleaning members 28 simultaneously.

[0117] The suction port body 16 may also include three or more permeable walls 47, including a first permeable wall 47A that visibly covers the front cleaning body 28F and a second permeable wall 47B that visibly covers the rear cleaning body 28R. In this case, each permeable wall 47 is provided in each cleaning body chamber 46. The permeable member 56 may be all or a part of the three or more permeable walls 47.

[0118] FIG. 9 is a control block diagram of the suction port unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0119] As shown in FIG. 9, the suction port body 16 according to this embodiment drives the electric motor 29 with power supplied from the secondary battery 13 attached to the cleaner body 12.

[0120] The suction port body control unit 42 of the suction port body 16 includes a control power supply generating unit 81 that steps down the power supplied from the secondary battery 13 and outputs a power supply for control, a plurality of switching elements 83 that open and close an electric circuit 82 that supplies driving power from the secondary battery 13 to each electric motor 29, a reference voltage generating unit 85 that generates a reference voltage for pulse width modulation (PWM) control using the power supplied from the control power supply generating unit 81, and a plurality of PWM control units 86 that individually control the opening and closing of each switching element 83.

[0121] The switching element 83 is an element such as a bidirectional thyristor (Triode AC Switch, TRIAC), a reverse blocking three-terminal thyristor (Silicon Controlled Rectifier, SCR), or a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor). The switching element 83 has a gate 83a connected to the PWM control unit 86. The switching element 83 changes the input (drive current) of the motor 29 in response to a change in the gate current or gate voltage.

[0122] When at least one of the multiple electric motors 29 is in an overloaded state, the suction port body control unit 42 stops the overloaded electric motor 29 and allows the other non-overloaded electric motors 29 to continue operating. That is, each PWM control unit 86 detects the value of the current flowing through the corresponding electric motor 29, for example, with a current sensor (not shown), and stops the electric motor 29 when the current value becomes excessive.

[0123] The suction port body control unit 42 may be configured to stop all of the electric motors 29 when at least one of the electric motors 29 is in an overload state. In this case, only one PWM control unit 86 is required.

[0124] As described above, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment includes various detectors that detect the cleaning state, and the suction port body control unit 42 that controls the rotation of each of the rotating cleaning members 28 (front cleaning body 28F and rear cleaning body 28R) based on the detection results of the detectors. The suction port body control unit 42 controls the rotation of the front cleaning body 28F and rear cleaning body 28R based on the detection results of the detectors. Specifically, when the detection results of the various detection sections satisfy a predetermined first condition, the suction port body control section 42 rotates the front cleaning body 28F of each rotating cleaning member 28 in a forward direction that assists forward movement (direction Rf that assists forward movement of the suction port body 16) or in a reverse direction opposite to the direction Rf that assists forward movement (direction Rr that assists backward movement of the suction port body 16), and switches the rotation direction of each rotating cleaning member 28 so that the rear cleaning body 28R of each rotating cleaning member 28 follows the forward or backward movement of the suction port body 16 without rotating, or rotates in the direction Rf that assists forward movement or the direction Rr that assists backward movement. In addition, when the detection results of the various detection units satisfy a predetermined second condition, the suction port body control unit 42 switches the rotation direction of each rotating cleaning member 28 so that the front cleaning body 28F of each rotating cleaning member 28 rotates in a direction Rf that assists forward movement or a direction Rr that assists backward movement, and the rear cleaning body 28R of each rotating cleaning member rotates in a direction Rr that assists backward movement or a direction Rf that assists forward movement.

[0125] Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can clean with a light operating force by switching the rotation of the rotary cleaning member 28 in a direction that assists the user's operation according to the cleaning state. Also, when there is a large amount of dust, the dust collection performance can be improved by switching the rotation of the rotary cleaning member 28 in a direction that increases the force that rakes up the dust. In other words, the dust collection can be improved without increasing the suction force (the input of the electric blower 18). This optimizes the conflict between assisting the advancement of the suction port body 16 and collecting dust. In other words, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can maintain the efficiency of scraping out dust from the floor surface while suppressing the adhesion of the suction port body 16 to the floor surface, thereby avoiding the suction port body 16 from becoming difficult to advance and improving operability. Thus, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can reduce the burden on the user, such as increased fatigue during cleaning work, by improving the operability of the suction port body 16, and improve usability.

[0126] Furthermore, the suction port body control unit 42 independently controls the rotation of the rotary cleaning member 28, i.e., the rotation of the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R by the electric motor 29, based on the cleaning state detection results from the various detection units. This makes it easy to optimize the conflicting objectives of assisting the advancement of the suction port body 16 and collecting dust.

[0127] Detection of the cleaning status includes detection of obstacles around the suction port body 16 using the contact sensor 33, detection of the amount of dust using the dust sensor 37, detection of movement of the suction port body 16 using the encoder 54, detection of the floor contact surface based on the distance between the suction port body 16 and the floor surface using infrared reflection (not shown), and discrimination of the floor surface, such as whether it is wood flooring or carpet, based on the rotational load state of the rotating cleaning member 28 (i.e., an overload state of the motor 29) or the load state of the electric blower 18.

[0128] Of the various detection units, dust sensor 37 detects the amount of dust contained in the dust-laden air sucked from suction port 27 as the cleaning state. In this case, the preset first condition includes a case where the detected amount of dust is equal to or less than a preset threshold, and the preset second condition includes a case where the detected amount of dust exceeds a preset threshold. In this way, when a large amount of dust is sucked in, the traveling assistance is reduced, the traveling speed is slowed down, and the scraping up is strengthened, thereby optimizing the conflict between assisting the progress of suction port body 16 and collecting dust.

[0129] Furthermore, when the detection result of the dust sensor 37 satisfies the first condition, the suction port body control unit 42 may set the rotation speeds of the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R to be the same. This makes it possible to minimize the current output and thus save energy.

[0130] Furthermore, when the detection result of the dust sensor 37 satisfies the second condition, the suction port body control unit 42 may increase the rotation speed of the front cleaning body 28F more than the rotation speed of the rear cleaning body 28R. This makes it possible to improve the assisting ability for assisting the advancement of the suction port body 16 while maintaining the dust collecting power.

[0131] Furthermore, when the detection result of the dust sensor 37 satisfies the second condition, the suction port body control unit 42 may increase the rotation speed of the rear cleaning body 28R according to the amount of dust. This makes it possible to improve the dust collection power according to the amount of dust. In particular, when combined with an increase in the rotation speed of the front cleaning body 28F, the increased rotation speed of the rear cleaning body 28R improves dust collection performance, while the increased rotation speed of the front cleaning body 28F ensures an auxiliary function of assisting forward movement by increasing the rotation speed.

[0132] Furthermore, it is preferable that the cleaning state includes the detection of movement of the suction port body 16 by the encoder 54, the first condition includes the detection of movement of the suction port body 16, and the second condition includes the detection of stop of the suction port body 16. This makes it possible to assist the movement of the suction port body 16 when it is moved, and to stop the suction port body 16 when it is stopped, while instantly switching between the same direction as the direction of movement immediately before the stop or the opposite direction, improving the dust collection power and optimizing the conflict between assisting the movement of the suction port body 16 and dust collection.

[0133] Furthermore, when the movement of the suction port body 16 is detected by the encoder 54, a first condition includes the detection of movement in the front-rear direction (X direction) in the traveling direction of the suction port body 16, and a second condition includes the detection of movement in the left-right direction (Y direction) perpendicular to the front-rear direction in the traveling direction of the suction port body 16. This assists the movement in the front-rear direction (X direction) in the traveling direction of the suction port body 16, while preventing misalignment in the front-rear direction when the suction port body 16 moves in the left-right direction (Y direction), and allows the suction port body 16 to easily move in the left-right direction without sticking to the floor surface.

[0134] Furthermore, when contact sensor 33 detects an obstacle (not shown) ahead in the traveling direction of suction inlet body 16 as the cleaning state, the first condition includes a case where no obstacle is detected, and the second condition includes a case where an obstacle is detected. Thus, when there is no obstacle in the traveling direction of suction inlet body 16, the movement can be assisted, and when an obstacle is detected, for example, when a wall is detected as the obstacle, dust from the wall is scraped out to improve dust collection power, and the movement can be smoothly switched to assisting in the next operation, which is reverse movement.

[0135] In addition, when the switching element 83 detects the type of surface to be cleaned (i.e., flooring, carpet, etc.) as the cleaning state based on the current value of the motor 29, the first condition includes a case where the detected load exceeds a preset threshold, that is, a case where a surface to be cleaned with a large running resistance for the suction mouth body 16 (e.g., carpet) is detected. Furthermore, the second condition includes a case where the detected load is equal to or less than a preset threshold, that is, a case where a surface to be cleaned with a small running resistance for the suction mouth body 16 (e.g., flooring) is detected. This makes it possible to optimize the conflict between assisting the advancement of the suction mouth body 16 and collecting dust according to the condition of the floor surface. When the surface to be cleaned is a carpet with long pile or a material that is easily sticky, such as linoleum, the movement of the suction mouth body 16 becomes easier, and when the surface is flooring, the polishing effect of the floor surface (surface to be cleaned) is improved.

[0136] The various detection sections may detect the type of surface to be cleaned (i.e., flooring, carpet, etc.) as the cleaning state from the load state of electric blower 18 based on the current value of electric blower 18.

[0137] Furthermore, it is preferable that suction port body control unit 42 prioritizes, as the cleaning state detected by the various detectors described above, other detection results over the detection result of the amount of dust contained in the dust-laden air sucked through suction port 27. This allows the next movement of suction port body 16 to be prioritized regardless of the amount of dust.

[0138] Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of rotating cleaning members 28 that rotate in a direction to sweep and collect dust on the surface f to be cleaned toward the suction port 27 when the suction port body 31 is placed on the surface f to be cleaned. Therefore, the suction port body 16 and the vacuum cleaner 1 can more reliably capture dust on the surface f to be cleaned by the rotating cleaning members 28 located in front of the suction port 27 and the rotating cleaning members 28 located behind the suction port 27 as the suction port body 16 moves.

[0139] Moreover, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment includes a motor 29 that has a portion closer to the surface to be cleaned f than a line segment connecting a portion 28Fa of the front cleaning body 28F that is the furthest from the surface to be cleaned f and a portion Fb of the rear cleaning body 28R that is the furthest from the surface to be cleaned f, and is disposed between the front cleaning body 28F and the rear cleaning body 28R. Therefore, the suction port body 16 and the vacuum cleaner 1 can minimize the height of the suction port body 31. Moreover, the suction port body 16 and the vacuum cleaner 1 lower the ridgeline of the suction port body 16, preventing the transparent wall 47 from being hidden from the line of sight of the user of the vacuum cleaner 1, and improving the visibility of the rotating cleaning member 28.

[0140] Furthermore, in the suction port body 16 and the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment, when at least one of the plurality of electric motors 29 is in an overloaded state, only the overloaded electric motor 29 may be stopped, or all of the plurality of electric motors 29 may be stopped. In either case, the suction port body 16 and the vacuum cleaner 1 allow the user to easily visually check whether the operating status of the plurality of rotating cleaning members 28 is normal or not by using the permeable wall 47.

[0141] Therefore, the suction port body 16 and the vacuum cleaner 1 of this embodiment can prevent thread-like dust from wrapping around the rotating cleaning member 28, and if thread-like dust does wrap around the rotating cleaning member 28, this can be easily detected.

[0142] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0143] 1...electric vacuum cleaner, 11...handle, 12...vacuum cleaner body, 13...secondary battery, 15...extension tube, 16...suction port body, 16a...suction opening, 17...main body case, 17a...front half, 17b...rear half, 18...electric blower, 19...dust separation and collection section, 21...main body control section, 23...main body connection port, 26...input section, 26a...operation start switch, 26b...operation stop switch, 26c...brush switch, 27...suction port, 28...rotating cleaning member, 28F...front cleaning body, 28Fa...front cleaning body 28R... rear cleaning body, 28Ra... top of rear cleaning body, 29... motor, 29F... front motor, 29R... rear motor, 29a... output shaft, 31... suction port body, 31a... bottom, 32... connecting pipe, 33... contact sensor, 34... suction flow path, 34a... main air path, 35... lower case, 36... upper case, 37... dust sensor, 38... rotating connecting pipe, 39... swinging connecting pipe, 41... power transmission mechanism, 41F... front transmission mechanism, 41R... rear transmission mechanism, 42... suction port body control section, 45 ...suction chamber, 46...cleaning body chamber, 46F...front cleaning body chamber, 46R...rear cleaning body chamber, 47...transparent wall, 47A...first transparent wall, 47B...second transparent wall, 47BL, 47BR...split transparent wall, 48...air duct cover, 49...air duct narrowing body, 50...rotor, 51...motor chamber, 51F...front motor chamber, 51R...rear motor chamber, 52...machine chamber, 52F...front machine chamber, 52R...rear machine chamber, 53...control chamber, 54...encoder, 55...window section, 55F...front cleaning body window, 55R...rear cleaning body window , 55RL, 55RR...dividing window, 56...transparent member, 57...relay pipe, 59...brush bristles, 61...main gear, 62...driven gear, 63...belt, 65...partition, 65F...front partition, 65R...rear partition, 66...dust removal protrusion, 66F...front protrusion, 66R...rear protrusion, 68...curved surface, 71...inclined surface, 72...guide surface, 73...hole, 75...protrusion, 81...control power supply generating unit, 82...electrical circuit, 83...switching element, 83a...gate, 85...reference voltage generating unit, 86...PWM control unit.

Claims

1. a suction port body having a suction port, a suction chamber connected to the suction port, a main air passage connecting a suction opening opened in a bottom surface facing a surface to be cleaned to the suction chamber, at least two rotary cleaning members arranged on either side of the main air passage, the first rotary cleaning member rotatably supported forward in the traveling direction, and a second rotary cleaning member rotatably supported backward in the traveling direction, and at least two electric motors including a first electric motor for driving the first rotary cleaning member, and a second electric motor for driving the second rotary cleaning member; A detection unit that detects the cleaning state; a control unit that controls the electric motors based on a detection result of the detection unit to individually control rotation of each of the rotary cleaning members; Equipped with The control unit is When the detection result of the detection unit satisfies a preset first condition, The electric motors are driven to rotate the first rotary cleaning member and the second rotary cleaning member in a forward direction that assists the advancement of the suction port body, When the detection result of the detection unit satisfies a second condition set in advance, the first motor is driven to rotate the first rotatable cleaning member in the forward rotation direction, and the second motor is driven to rotate the second rotatable cleaning member in a reverse direction opposite to the forward rotation direction.

2. The detection unit is detecting an amount of dust contained in the dust-containing air sucked through the suction port as the cleaning status; the first condition includes a case where the detected amount of dust is equal to or less than a preset threshold value, The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the second condition includes a case where the detected amount of dust exceeds a preset threshold value.

3. The control unit is The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein, when a detection result from the detection unit satisfies the first condition, the first and second rotating cleaning members are caused to rotate at the same speed.

4. The control unit is The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, when a detection result from the detection unit satisfies the second condition, a rotation speed of the first rotating cleaning member is made higher than a rotation speed of the second rotating cleaning member.

5. The control unit is The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein when a detection result of the detection unit satisfies the second condition, a rotation speed of the second rotating cleaning member is increased in accordance with the amount of dust.

6. The detection unit is Detecting the movement of the suction mouth body as the cleaning state, The first condition includes a case where movement of the suction port body is detected, The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the second condition includes a case where a stop of the suction mouth body is detected.

7. The detection unit is Detecting the movement of the suction mouth body as the cleaning state, The first condition includes a case where movement in a forward / backward direction in a traveling direction of the suction port body is detected, The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the second condition includes a case where movement in a left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction in a traveling direction of the suction mouth body is detected.

8. The detection unit is As the cleaning state, an obstacle is detected in front of the suction mouth body in a moving direction, the first condition includes a case where the obstacle is not detected, The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the second condition includes a case where the obstacle is detected.

9. The detection unit is Detecting the type of surface to be cleaned as the cleaning status; The first condition includes a case where a cleaning surface having a large running resistance of the suction mouth body is detected, The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the second condition includes a case where a surface to be cleaned having a small running resistance of the suction mouth body is detected.

10. The detection unit is Detecting the load of each of the rotary cleaning members as the cleaning state; the first condition includes a case where the detected load exceeds a preset threshold; The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the second condition includes a case where the detected load is equal to or less than a preset threshold value.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit prioritizes a detection result other than a detection result of an amount of dust contained in the dust-laden air sucked through the suction port as the cleaning state detected by the detection unit.

Images