Work machine

Abstract

To provide a work machine whose convenience has been improved.SOLUTION: A work machine 1 includes: a motor 6; a fan 9 for generating an air flow by receiving driving force of the motor 6; a dust collection case 3 for forming a dust collection chamber 3c inside, which includes an inflow port 3a of the air flow in the dust collection chamber 3c; a body housing 2 for housing the motor 6 and the fan 9, which includes a suction port 2d, which serves as an air outflow port in the dust collection chamber 3c; and a bag-like filter 60 held in the dust collection chamber 3c, which includes an opening communicated with the suction port 2d. The filter 60 includes filter protrusions 62 and 63 protruding to a side opposite to the opening at end parts on the side opposite to the opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a work machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cleaner, which is an example of a work machine. In this cleaner, a filter is formed in a bag shape, and dust accumulates on the outer peripheral surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-45844 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a work machine such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, frequent maintenance due to clogged filters is inconvenient.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a work machine with improved convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a work machine. A drive unit; A fan that receives a driving force of the driving unit to generate an air flow; a housing defining a dust collection chamber therein and having an inlet and an outlet for the air flow in the dust collection chamber; A bag-shaped filter having an opening communicating with the outlet, The filter has a plurality of filter protrusions at an end opposite to the opening, the filter protruding in a direction opposite to the opening.

[0007] The present invention may be expressed as an "electric operating machine" or an "electrical device", and such expressions are also valid as aspects of the present invention. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a work machine with improved convenience can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1A is a side view of a working machine 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. [Diagram 2] (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1(B), and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 1(B). [Diagram 3] 1A is a side view of the working machine 1 with the dust collection case 3 removed, FIG. 1B is a plan view of the working machine 1 with the dust collection case 3 removed, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 1B. [Figure 4] 1A is a perspective view of the work machine 1 with the dust collection case 3 removed, FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the filter 60 and the holder 70 in an exploded state, FIG. 1C is a development view of the filter 60, and FIG. [Diagram 5] 10A is a perspective view of a filter 160 and a holder 170 in an exploded state in a work machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. [Figure 6] 10A is a perspective view of a filter 260 and a holder 270 in an exploded state in a work machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (Embodiment 1) 1 to 4 relate to a work machine 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The work machine 1 is a cordless, portable, non-cyclone cleaner. Figs. 1 and 2 define the mutually orthogonal front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions of the work machine 1. The front-rear direction is a direction parallel to the rotating shaft 6a of the motor 6. The left-right direction is defined based on a user looking forward.

[0011] The housing of the work machine 1 is composed of a main body housing 2 (main body) and a dust collection case 3 (dust case). Both the main body housing 2 and the dust collection case 3 are, for example, resin molded bodies. The main body housing 2 has a structure divided into two parts, left and right. The dust collection case 3 is detachably connected and fixed to the front of the main body housing 2 by rotating it relative to the main body housing 2.

[0012] The dust collection case 3 defines a dust collection chamber 3c therein. The dust collection case 3 is cylindrical and becomes thinner towards the front. The dust collection case 3 has an inlet 3a at the front end. An extension tube or flexible hose (not shown) can be attached to the inlet 3a. A holder 70 holding a filter 60 is detachably attached to the main housing 2 and is located inside the dust collection case 3. The filter 60 and the holder 70 will be described in detail later.

[0013] 3(C) and 4(D), etc., a dust-removing blade 3b is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the dust-collecting case 3, which scrapes the outer peripheral portion of the filter 60 when the dust-collecting case 3 is rotated relative to the main housing 2. The dust-removing blade 3b is an elastic body such as rubber.

[0014] A check valve 3d is provided at the inlet of the dust collection chamber 3c. The check valve 3d is an elastic body such as rubber, and can rotate backward with its upper end as a fulcrum. The check valve 3d allows air and dust to enter the dust collection chamber 3c through the inlet 3a, while preventing dust from flowing back from the dust collection chamber 3c through the inlet 3a.

[0015] The main body housing 2 has a storage section 2a, a handle section 2b, and a battery pack attachment section 2c. The storage section 2a is the front section of the main body housing 2, and stores and holds a motor 6 as a drive section, a fan 9 (dust collection fan), a fan guide 10, and a fan cover 20.

[0016] An air intake 2d is provided at the front of the housing 2a. The air intake 2d is a circular through-hole coaxial with the inlet 3a and the motor 6, and communicates with the space (dust collection chamber 3c) inside the dust collection case 3. The front of the air intake 2d is covered by a filter 60. The air intake 2d is an outlet for the air flow in the dust collection chamber 3c.

[0017] The handle portion 2b extends rearward from the upper end of the storage portion 2a. A user grips the handle portion 2b to handle the working machine 1. An operation panel (switch portion) 5 is provided on the upper surface of the handle portion 2b. Various switches provided on the operation panel 5 can be used to start and stop the working machine 1 and to change the airflow of the working machine 1.

[0018] The battery pack attachment section 2c is a lower rear section of the main housing 2, and is adapted to detachably attach a battery pack 4 that serves as a power source for the work machine 1. An exhaust port 2e is provided on each of the left and right side surfaces of the rear section of the main housing 2.

[0019] The motor 6 is configured as a unit including a motor case and a bearing. The motor 6 may be a brushless motor or a brushed motor. The motor 6 is operated by power supplied from the battery pack 4. A fan 9 is attached to the rotating shaft 6a of the motor 6.

[0020] The fan 9 receives driving force from the motor 6 and rotates integrally with the rotary shaft 6a, centering on the rotary shaft 6a, to generate an air flow. The fan 9 is a centrifugal fan. The fan 9 is housed in an internal space formed by a fan guide 10 and a fan cover 20. The fan guide 10 and the fan cover 20 are both made of, for example, a resin molded body. The gap between the main housing 2 and the fan cover 20 is sealed (airtightly closed) by a seal member 30.

[0021] The work machine 1 is characterized by the structures of the filter 60 and the holder 70. Hereinafter, the AA plane shown in Fig. 1(B), i.e., a virtual plane including the center of the inlet 3a, the center of the intake port 2d, and the central axis of the handle portion 2b, will be referred to as the "AA virtual plane."

[0022] The filter 60 is formed in a bag shape having an opening at its rear end that communicates with the air intake 2d of the main housing 2. When the filter 60 is attached to the holder 70 (filter frame), the outer circumferential surface is exposed inside the dust collection chamber 3c. The filter 60 has a filter base 61 (FIG. 4(B)) and filter protrusions 62, 63. The filter base 61 is a cylindrical portion at the rear of the filter 60.

[0023] The filter protrusions 62, 63 are bifurcated into left and right branches, and are present on both sides of the imaginary plane AA. The filter protrusions 62, 63 are symmetrical with respect to the imaginary plane AA. Each of the filter protrusions 62, 63 extends forward from the filter base 61 and protrudes forward to form a front end portion of the filter 60.

[0024] The filter protrusions 62, 63 each have a shape that tapers toward the tip. The filter protrusions 62, 63 each have a shape that separates from each other toward the tip. The mutually facing surfaces of the filter protrusions 62, 63 are inclined surfaces that are inclined so as to separate from the AA imaginary plane toward the tip, and are substantially flat in the illustrated example. As another example, the mutually facing surfaces of the filter protrusions 62, 63 may be inclined substantially curved surfaces.

[0025] The left surface of filter protrusion 62 (the surface opposite to filter protrusion 63) and the right surface of filter protrusion 63 (the surface opposite to filter protrusion 62) each have a shape that forms part of a cylindrical surface coaxial with intake port 2d. The shape that forms part of a cylindrical surface coaxial with intake port 2d may be changed to a shape that forms part of a conical surface that is coaxial with intake port 2d and tapers toward the tip.

[0026] 3(B), the filter 60 is configured such that the space between the filter protrusions 62, 63 communicates in the up-down direction. The up-down direction corresponds to a first direction that is perpendicular to an imaginary line connecting the center of the inlet 3a and the center of the intake port 2d and parallel to an imaginary plane.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2 (B), in the left-right direction (a second direction perpendicular to the AA imaginary plane), the existence range R1 of the inlet 3a falls between the tips of the filter protrusions 62, 63 (falls within the existence range R2 of the gap between the tips of the filter protrusions 62, 63).

[0028] Fig. 4(C) is a development view of filter 60. The pattern (hatching) in Fig. 4(C) does not indicate a cross section, but indicates an adhesive portion. As shown in Fig. 4(C), filter 60 is formed into a bag shape having filter protrusions 62, 63 by folding a piece of fabric having a predetermined shape (for example, a shape of four trapezoids arranged in a row) and adhesively bonding predetermined edges (parts having the same pattern in Fig. 4(C)) to each other.

[0029] The holder 70 is made of hard resin and supports the filter 60 from the inside. The holder 70 has a holder base 71 (FIG. 4(B)) and holder protrusions 72, 73. The holder base 71 is a cylindrical portion at the rear of the holder 70. The filter base 61 is fixed to the holder base 71 by, for example, sewing, whereby the filter 60 is supported by the holder 70 and the filter 60 is maintained in the shape described above. The holder base 71 is provided with a pair of rotational fitting portions 71a that rotate and fit into the front end portion of the main housing 2. The holder 70 with the filter 60 attached can be attached to and detached from the main housing 2 by rotating it relative to the main housing 2.

[0030] The holder protrusions 72, 73 are bifurcated, branching out to the left and right, and are present on both sides of the imaginary plane AA. The holder protrusions 72, 73 are shaped to be symmetrical to each other with respect to the imaginary plane AA. Each of the holder protrusions 72, 73 extends forward from the holder base 71 and protrudes forward to form the front end of the holder 70. The holder protrusions 72, 73 are shaped to become thinner toward the tip side. The holder protrusions 72, 73 support the filter protrusions 62, 63, respectively.

[0031] Each of the holder protrusions 72, 73 is configured by a plurality of pillars 74 (supports) that extend forward from the holder base 71 and are aligned in the vertical direction, and are connected to each other at their intermediate portions and front ends by intermediate connecting portions 75 and front end connecting portions 76. The pillars 74 are flat plates perpendicular to the vertical direction, and support the insides of the right and left faces of the filter protrusions 62, 63, respectively.

[0032] When a user operates a switch on the operation panel 5 to drive the motor 6, the fan 9 rotates due to the driving force of the motor 6. The airflow generated by the fan 9 is taken into the dust-collecting case 3 from the inlet 3a, passes through the filter 60, and is taken into the fan cover 20 from the intake port 2d. The airflow is sucked into the inside of the fan 9 and discharged to the outside, guided by the fan cover 20, and exits rearward from a vent hole (not shown) of the fan guide 10. The airflow is finally exhausted to the outside of the main body housing 2 from the exhaust port 2e. Dust that enters with the airflow from the inlet 3a is collected by the filter 60 and accumulates inside the dust-collecting case 3 and outside the filter 60.

[0033] To remove dust inside the dust collection case 3, rotate the dust collection case 3 in a predetermined direction by a predetermined angle relative to the main housing 2, pull the dust collection case 3 forward out of the main housing 2, and discard the dust accumulated inside the dust collection case 3 into a trash can or the like.

[0034] This embodiment provides the following advantages.

[0035] (1) The filter 60 is bifurcated to have filter protrusions 62, 63 protruding forward. Therefore, compared to a case where a cylindrical filter of the same outer diameter without a branch is used, the dust collection capacity in the dust collection chamber 3c is increased and the filter surface area is also increased. This reduces the frequency of removing dust from the dust collection case 3 and the frequency of maintenance associated with clogging of the filter 60, improving convenience.

[0036] (2) Since the cloth filter 60 is supported from the inside by the hard resin holder 70, the filter 60 is prevented from being assembled in an unintended shape.

[0037] (3) As shown in Fig. 4(C), the filter 60 is formed into a bag shape having filter protrusions 62, 63 by folding a single piece of cloth in a predetermined shape and bonding the same patterned portions together. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which multiple pieces of cloth are combined, the filter 60 can be constructed with a minimum amount of filter material, resulting in low cost.

[0038] (4) The filter protrusions 62, 63 and the holder protrusions 72, 73 are shaped to become thinner toward the tip end and to be spaced apart from each other toward the tip end. Therefore, unlike a case in which the filter protrusions 62, 63 and the holder protrusions 72, 73 have the same outer dimensions from the base end side to the tip end side, it is easy to pull out the dust collection case 3 from the main housing 2 (it is easy to pull out the filter 60 and the holder 70 from the dust collection case 3). In addition, dust is less likely to become caught between the filter protrusions 62, 63 even if it is compressed by the air flow.

[0039] (5) The space between the filter protrusions 62, 63 is disposed opposite the inlet 3a in the front-rear direction, and the inlet 3a, the space between the filter protrusions 62, 63, and the intake port 2d are aligned in a straight line in the front-rear direction. This forms a linear suction flow path, enhancing suction power. In particular, as shown in FIG. 2(B), by making the range R1 of the inlet 3a fall within the range R2 of the gap between the tips of the filter protrusions 62, 63 in the left-right direction, suction power is significantly enhanced.

[0040] (6) The filter protrusions 62, 63 are present on both sides (left and right sides) of the imaginary plane AA. Therefore, dust can fall downward (in the direction of gravity) from the space between the filter protrusions 62, 63 while holding the handle portion 2b. Therefore, dust is prevented from being trapped between the filter protrusions 62, 63, and dust can be easily removed, compared to a case in which the filter protrusions 62, 63 are present separately in the upper and lower directions. In addition, the space between the filter protrusions 62, 63 is prevented from being filled with dust early, and an early decrease in suction power is suppressed.

[0041] (7) The multiple pillars 74 of the holder 70 support the inside of each right surface and each left surface of the filter protrusions 62, 63. Therefore, the filter 60 is prevented from penetrating into the inside of the holder 70 together with the compressed dust due to the negative pressure from the fan 9, and the dust is easily allowed to fall smoothly from the surface of the filter 60. This makes it easy to remove the dust. In addition, the pillars 74 are flat and perpendicular to the up-down direction, and have high strength against forces from the left-right direction, so that they can firmly support the inside of each right surface and each left surface of the filter protrusions 62, 63. This reduces the risk of the holder 70 being plastically deformed or damaged.

[0042] (8) A dust removal blade 3b is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the dust collection case 3, which scrapes the outer peripheral portion of the filter 60 when the dust collection case 3 is rotated relative to the main housing 2. As a result, when the dust collection case 3 is removed from the main housing 2, the dust removal blade 3b scrapes the outer peripheral portion of the filter 60 to remove dust from the outer peripheral portion of the filter 60, thereby reducing the frequency of maintenance associated with clogging of the filter 60 and improving convenience.

[0043] (9) When the dust collection case 3 is rotated relative to the main housing 2, the tip of the dust removal blade 3b enters the space between the filter protrusions 62, 63 (particularly one or both of the upper and lower ends). Therefore, when the dust collection case 3 is removed from the main housing 2, the outer periphery of the dust compressed and accumulated in the space between the filter protrusions 62, 63 by the negative pressure of the fan 9 is loosened by the dust removal blade 3b, making it easier for the dust to fall from the space between the filter protrusions 62, 63. This improves the workability of dust removal.

[0044] (Embodiment 2) Fig. 5(A) is a perspective view of an exploded state of a filter 160 and a holder 170 in a work machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5(B) is a development view of the filter 160. In the work machine according to this embodiment, the filter 60 and the holder 70 of the work machine 1 according to the first embodiment are replaced with the filter 160 and the holder 170.

[0045] Filter 160 differs from filter 60 in that a filter protrusion 67 is added between filter protrusions 62, 63, but the two are identical in other respects. Holder 170 differs from holder 70 in that a holder protrusion 77 is added between holder protrusions 72, 73, but the two are identical in other respects. In other words, while filter 60 and holder 70 have a bifurcated shape, filter 160 and holder 170 have a trifurcated shape. Holder protrusion 77 supports filter protrusion 67 from the inside.

[0046] Each of the filter protrusion 67 and the holder protrusion 77 has a substantially rectangular cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction, and is shaped to become thinner toward the tip, with the width in the left-right direction decreasing toward the tip. The vertical width of the filter protrusion 67 and the holder protrusion 77 may be the same from the base end side to the tip side, or may become smaller toward the tip side. The forward protrusion length of the filter protrusion 67 and the holder protrusion 77 is shorter than the forward protrusion length of the filter protrusion 62 and the holder protrusion 72, respectively. This is in consideration of the balance between the dust collection capacity and the filter surface area.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 5(B), filter 160 is formed into a bag shape having filter protrusions 62, 63, and 67 by folding a piece of cloth in a predetermined shape (for example, a shape of six trapezoids arranged in a row) and bonding predetermined edges together (parts with the same pattern in FIG. 5(B)).

[0048] According to this embodiment, the dust collection capacity is lower than that of embodiment 1, but the filter surface area can be increased. Other points of this embodiment are the same as those of embodiment 1, and the same effects and advantages are achieved.

[0049] (Embodiment 3) Fig. 6(A) is a perspective view of an exploded state of a filter 260 and a holder 270 in a work machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6(B) is a development view of the filter 260. In the work machine according to this embodiment, the filter 60 and the holder 70 of the work machine 1 according to the first embodiment are replaced with the filter 260 and the holder 270.

[0050] The filter 260 is different from the filter 60 in that the filter protrusion 62 is divided into two parts, upper and lower, to become filter protrusions 62a and 62b, and the filter protrusion 63 is divided into two parts, upper and lower, to become filter protrusions 63a and 63b, but is the same in other respects. The holder 270 is different from the holder 70 in that the holder protrusion 72 is divided into two parts, upper and lower, to become holder protrusions 72a and 72b, and the holder protrusion 73 is divided into two parts, upper and lower, to become holder protrusions 73a and 73b, but is the same in other respects. That is, the filter 60 and the holder 70 have a bifurcated shape, while the filter 260 and the holder 270 have a four-branched shape. The holder protrusions 72a, 72b, 73a, and 73b support the filter protrusions 62a, 62b, 63a, and 63b from the inside, respectively.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 6(B), filter 260 is formed into a bag-like shape having filter protrusions 62a, 62b, 63a, and 63b by folding a piece of cloth in a predetermined shape (for example, a shape of four trapezoids arranged in a row) and gluing predetermined locations (parts with the same pattern in FIG. 6(B)) together.

[0052] According to this embodiment, it is possible to further increase the dust collection capacity and the filter surface area compared to embodiment 1. Other points of this embodiment are similar to those of embodiment 1, and similar functions and effects are achieved.

[0053] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiment as an example, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. Various modifications are possible to the items specifically described in the embodiment within the scope of the claims. The working machine of the present invention may be one that operates on power from a battery built into the main body housing, or may be a corded type that operates on power supplied from an external AC power source. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1...working machine (cleaner), 2...main body housing, 2a...storage section, 2b...handle section, 2c...battery pack mounting section, 2d...air intake, 2e...exhaust port, 3...dust collection case (dust case), 3a...inlet, 3b...dust removal blade (dust removal means), 3c...dust collection chamber, 3d...check valve, 4...battery pack, 5...operation panel (switch section), 6...motor (drive section), 6a...rotating shaft, 9...fan (dust collection fan), 10...fan guide, 20...fan cover, 30...sealing member, 60...filter, 61...filter base, 62, 63...filter protrusion, 67...holder protrusion, 70...holder (filter frame), 71...holder base, 71a...rotational fitting portion, 72, 73...holder protrusion, 74...pillar portion, 75...intermediate connecting portion, 76...front end connecting portion, 77...holder protrusion, 160...filter, 170...holder (filter frame), 260...filter, 270...holder (filter frame).

Claims

1. A drive unit; A fan that receives a driving force of the driving unit to generate an air flow; a housing defining a dust collection chamber therein and having an inlet and an outlet for the air flow in the dust collection chamber; A bag-shaped filter having an opening communicating with the outlet, The filter has a plurality of filter protrusions at an end opposite to the opening, the filter protruding in a direction opposite to the opening.

2. The work machine according to claim 1, A holder is made of hard resin and supports the filter from the inside. The holder has a plurality of holder protrusions, the number of which is the same as the number of the plurality of filter protrusions, and which support the plurality of filter protrusions, respectively.

3. The work machine according to claim 1, The plurality of filter protrusions are shaped to become thinner toward their tips.

4. The work machine according to claim 1, It has a handle portion that an operator grips, The plurality of filter protrusions are separated on both sides of an imaginary plane including a center of the inlet, a center of the outlet, and a central axis of the handle portion.

5. The working machine according to claim 4, A work machine, wherein the filter is configured such that spaces between the multiple filter protrusions communicate in a first direction perpendicular to an imaginary line connecting the center of the inlet and the center of the outlet and parallel to the imaginary plane.

6. The work machine according to claim 2, When the filter is attached to the holder, an outer peripheral surface of the filter is exposed within the dust collection chamber.

7. The work machine according to claim 1, the housing includes a main body that houses the drive unit and the fan, and a dust collection case that is detachable from the main body by rotating with respect to the main body and that forms the dust collection chamber therein; A work machine, wherein the dust collection case is provided with a blade that scrapes an outer periphery of the filter when the dust collection case is rotated relative to the main body.

8. The work machine according to claim 7, A work machine in which a tip of the blade enters a space between the multiple filter protrusions when the dust collection case is rotated relative to the main body.

9. The work machine according to claim 1, The filter is formed into a bag shape having the plurality of filter protrusions by folding a single piece of cloth having a predetermined shape and partially bonding the folded cloth.

10. The work machine according to claim 2, The holder to which the filter is attached can be attached and detached from the housing by rotating the holder relative to the housing.

11. A work machine according to claim 4 or 5, A work machine in which, in a second direction perpendicular to the imaginary plane, a range in which the inlet is present falls between the tips of the multiple filter protrusions.

12. The work machine according to claim 1, The plurality of filter protrusions are shaped so that they are spaced apart from each other as they approach the tip ends.

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