Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide a vacuum cleaner capable of performing an optimum operation according to a residual battery amount and suppressing deterioration of a secondary battery due to abnormal discharge.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner 1 includes an electric blower 14 for generating suction force, a secondary battery 16 for supplying electric power to the electric blower 14, and a control device 100 for controlling the electric blower 14 and the secondary battery 16. The control device 100 allows a standard operation mode and an enhanced operation mode in which the number of revolutions of the electric blower 14 is larger than that of the standard operation mode to be set. When the enhanced operation mode is set, the mode is caused to be shifted to the enhanced operation mode according to a detected voltage of the secondary battery 16 after the electric blower is operated by the standard operation mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a rechargeable vacuum cleaner equipped with a plurality of operation modes such as strong, medium, and weak.

[0003] Patent Document 1 has a storage means for storing that the electric blower has been stopped at the discharge cut-off voltage of the secondary battery, does not permit the re-driving of the electric blower, and when the voltage of the secondary battery becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage, clears the stored data stored in the storage means and permits the re-driving of the electric blower.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When operating a vacuum cleaner using a secondary battery, when the battery voltage drops to a predetermined voltage, it is necessary to consider the remaining battery level as zero, stop the operation of the vacuum cleaner, and notify the charging of the secondary battery. When the battery voltage drops to a state of over-discharge where it is below the predetermined voltage, the battery life is shortened, but if too much margin is taken, the operation time of the vacuum cleaner becomes short. For this reason, control for accurately monitoring and stopping the battery voltage is generally performed.

[0006] On the one hand, as a way to use a vacuum cleaner, it is not always necessary to use up the battery until the battery level reaches zero. When the battery level is low, if an operation of supplying a large current such as strong operation to the electric blower is performed, a reaction distribution occurs at the electrodes inside the battery, and only some regions become overloaded. It has been found that over-discharge occurs in this region, and a reaction in which copper, which is the current collector foil, dissolves and precipitates occurs at the negative electrode in this region. In Patent Document 1, the operation mode when the battery level is low is not considered, so strong operation is possible even when the battery level is low. As a result, there has been a problem that copper dissolution and precipitation progress at the negative electrode and the secondary battery deteriorates.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, perform an optimal operation according to the battery level, and provide a vacuum cleaner that suppresses deterioration of a secondary battery due to abnormal discharge.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner including an electric blower that generates suction force, a secondary battery that supplies power to the electric blower, and a control device that controls the electric blower and the secondary battery. The control device can set a standard operation mode and a strong operation mode in which the rotation speed of the electric blower is higher than that in the standard operation mode. When the strong operation mode is set, after operating the electric blower in the standard operation mode, it is characterized in that the operation mode is shifted to the strong operation mode according to the voltage of the secondary battery detected.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vacuum cleaner that performs an optimal operation according to the battery level and suppresses deterioration of a secondary battery due to abnormal discharge.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, for the same elements, the same reference numerals are basically given in all the drawings. Also, the description of parts having the same function will be omitted. Note that the configurations described below are merely examples, and it is not intended that the embodiments according to the present invention be limited to the following specific forms.

[0012] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a vacuum cleaner showing a state of being stored in a stand according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a vacuum cleaner showing a state of being used as a stick type according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] In the first embodiment, as shown by the arrow indicating the direction, the front - rear, left - right, and up - down are defined from the perspective of the user performing cleaning.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vacuum cleaner 1 includes a cleaner main body 10 that constitutes the outer shell, an extension tube 20 having one end connected to the cleaner main body 10, and a suction port body 30 connected to the other end of the extension tube 20. Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a brush part 40 at the tip of the cleaner main body 10, and when the extension tube 20 is removed from the cleaner main body 10, it can be used as a handy - type vacuum cleaner.

[0015] In front of the vacuum cleaner main body 10, there is a dust collection chamber 12 covered by an openable and closable dust collection lid 11. Behind the dust collection chamber 12, there is an electric blower 14 that generates suction force. Behind the electric blower 14, there is a secondary battery 16 formed by packing a plurality of battery cells 160. The secondary battery 16 supplies power to the electric blower 14.

[0016] At the upper rear of the vacuum cleaner main body 10, there is a handle portion 13 that the user grips when performing cleaning. An operation switch 17 for turning the electric blower 14 on and off and adjusting the suction force is arranged on the handle portion 13. The operation switch 17 is provided with a standard operation mode and a strong operation mode in which the rotation speed of the electric blower 14 is higher and the suction force is stronger than in the standard operation mode.

[0017] When the operation switch of the operation switch 17 is operated and the electric blower 14 operates to generate suction force, dust is sucked in from the suction port body 30, passes through the extension pipe 20, and is collected in the dust collection chamber 12.

[0018] When not in use, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is placed on the stand 50 to charge the secondary battery 16.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vacuum cleaner main body 10 is provided with a control device 100 that controls the electric vacuum cleaner 1, such as an electric blower 14 and a secondary battery 16.

[0020] The control device 100 includes a voltage detection unit 110 that detects the voltage of the secondary battery 16, a determination unit 120 that calculates the remaining amount of the secondary battery 16 from the voltage of the secondary battery 16 detected by the voltage detection unit 110 and determines whether the electric blower 14 can operate according to the calculation result and an operation command from the operation switch 17, and a control unit 130 that controls the electric blower 14 based on the determination result of the determination unit 120. The voltage detection unit 110 preferably detects the voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells 160 constituting the secondary battery 16 and performs control using the voltage value of the battery cell 160 with the lowest voltage among the plurality of battery cells 160. By doing so, over-discharge of the battery cell 160 with the lowest voltage can be suppressed.

[0021] Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 is provided with a display unit 18 for displaying information. The display unit 18 is provided, for example, on the handle unit 13. The control device 100 can set a standard operation mode and a strong operation mode in which the rotation speed of the electric blower 14 is higher and the suction force is stronger than the standard operation mode.

[0022] As for how to use the vacuum cleaner, it is not always necessary to use up the battery until the remaining battery level is zero. When the remaining battery level is low and an operation of supplying a large current such as in strong operation to the electric blower is performed, a reaction distribution occurs at the electrodes inside the battery, and only a part of the region becomes overloaded, over-discharge occurs in this region, and a reaction in which copper, which is the current collector foil, dissolves and precipitates occurs at the negative electrode of this region. Means for suppressing this will be described below.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the operation switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] In the operation switch 17 of this embodiment, in addition to the stop switch, a standard operation switch and a strong operation switch are provided. When any of the switches is pressed, the electric blower 14 operates in the standard operation mode or the strong operation mode. Also, when the stop button is pressed, the operation of the electric blower 14 stops. Further, in this embodiment, a plurality of threshold values (E1 to E4) regarding the voltage of the secondary battery 16 are provided. Also, the voltage detection unit 110 of this embodiment is configured to detect the closed circuit voltage (CCV) of each of the plurality of battery cells 160, and use the detection value of the battery cell 160 having the lowest voltage among the plurality of battery cells 160.

[0025] When the switch of the operation switch 17 is pressed (step S401), the determination unit 120 detects that the switch has been pressed, and the control unit 130 obtains the detection result of the determination unit 120 and operates the electric blower 14 in the standard operation mode (step S402). Subsequently, the determination unit 120 determines whether the pressed switch is the standard operation switch (step S403). If the pressed switch is the standard operation switch (Yes in step S403), the control unit 130 obtains the determination result of the determination unit 120 and continues to operate the electric blower 14 in the standard operation mode (step S404). Also, the determination unit 120 sets the voltage threshold value to be determined as the low battery voltage E1 (first threshold value), for example, 3.2V.

[0026] The determination unit 120 determines whether the voltage E (CCV) of the battery cell 160 detected by the voltage detection unit 110 is less than or equal to the low battery voltage E1 (voltage E ≤ E1) (step S405). If the voltage E of the battery cell 160 is less than or equal to the low battery voltage E1 (Yes in step S405), the control unit 130 obtains the determination result of the determination unit 120 and operates the electric blower 14 in the low battery standard operation mode (step S406). In the low battery standard operation mode, the voltage threshold value determined by the determination unit 120 is changed from the low battery voltage E1 to the operable voltage E2 (second threshold value). The operable voltage E2 is set to a value smaller than the low battery voltage E1, for example, 3.0V. Further, in the low battery standard operation mode, the determination unit 120 uses the display unit 18 indicating that the remaining amount of the secondary battery 16 is low to give a notification.

[0027] When the voltage E of the battery cell 160 is greater than the low battery level voltage E1 (No in step S405), the control unit 130 obtains the determination result of the determination unit 120 and causes the electric blower 14 to be maintained in the standard operation mode (step S404).

[0028] In a state where the electric blower 14 is operating in the low battery level standard operation mode, the determination unit 120 determines whether the voltage E of the battery cell 160 detected by the voltage detection unit 110 is less than the operable voltage E2 (voltage E < E2) (step S407). When the voltage E of the battery cell 160 is less than the operable voltage E2 (Yes in step S407), the control unit 130 obtains the determination result of the determination unit 120 and stops the electric blower 14 (step S408). Thereafter, the determination unit 120 uses the display unit 18 to notify so as to promote the charging of the secondary battery 16.

[0029] When the voltage E of the battery cell 160 is greater than the operable voltage E2 (No in step S407), the control unit 130 obtains the determination result of the determination unit 120 and causes the electric blower 14 to be maintained in the low battery level standard operation mode (step S406).

[0030] In step S403, when the pressed switch is not the standard operation switch (No in step S403), the determination unit 120 determines that the strong operation switch has been pressed (step 409). Further, the determination unit 120 sets the voltage threshold value to be determined to the strong operation possible voltage E3 (third threshold value), and determines whether the voltage E of the battery cell 160 detected by the voltage detection unit 110 is greater than the strong operation possible voltage E3 (voltage E > E3) (step S410). The strong operation possible voltage E3 is set to a value greater than the low battery level voltage E1, for example, 3.5V.

[0031] When the voltage E of the battery cell 160 is greater than the strong operation possible voltage E3 (Yes in step S410), the control unit 130 obtains the determination result of the determination unit 120 and operates the electric blower 14 in the strong operation mode (step S411). That is, in this embodiment, when the strong operation mode is set, after operating the electric blower 14 in the standard operation mode, it is made to operate in the strong operation mode according to the detected voltage of the secondary battery.

[0032] Furthermore, the determination unit 120 changes the voltage threshold value to be determined from the strong operation possible voltage E3 to the strong operation possible lower limit voltage E4 (fourth threshold value). The strong operation possible lower limit voltage E4 is set to be smaller than the strong operation possible voltage E3, for example, 3.2V. In this embodiment, the operable voltage E2 and the strong operation possible lower limit voltage E4 are set to the same value.

[0033] When the voltage E of the battery cell 160 is smaller than the strong operation possible voltage E3 (No in step S410), the control unit 130 obtains the determination result of the determination unit 120 and operates the electric blower 14 in the standard operation mode with low battery remaining (step S406).

[0034] In a state where the electric blower 14 is operating in the strong operation mode, the determination unit 120 determines whether the voltage E of the battery cell 160 detected by the voltage detection unit 110 is less than or equal to the strong operation possible lower limit voltage E4 (voltage E ≤ E4) (step S412). When the voltage E of the battery cell 160 is less than or equal to the strong operation possible lower limit voltage E4 (Yes in step S412), the control unit 130 obtains the determination result of the determination unit 120 and operates the electric blower 14 in the standard operation mode with low battery remaining (step S406). When the voltage E of the battery cell 160 is greater than the strong operation possible lower limit voltage E4 (No in step S412), the control unit 130 obtains the determination result of the determination unit 120 and maintains the electric blower 14 in the strong operation mode (step S411).

[0035] In this embodiment, even when the strong operation mode is selected, first, it operates in the standard operation mode, and after confirming whether the voltage is suitable for strong operation, it shifts to the strong operation mode. Therefore, it is possible to execute an optimal operation according to the remaining battery level and suppress the deterioration of the secondary battery due to abnormal discharge.

[0036] Next, the comparative example will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the operation switch according to the comparative example. The comparative example shows the operation of a general vacuum cleaner.

[0037] In the comparative example, similar to the present embodiment, it has a standard operation mode and a strong operation mode as operation modes. And, in order to switch between these operation modes, in addition to the stop button, it is provided with a standard operation button and a strong operation button.

[0038] When performing cleaning, by pressing the standard operation button or the strong operation button from the stopped state, the electric blower is operated in the standard operation mode and the strong operation mode, respectively. When the voltage of the secondary battery becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 3.2 V) while the electric blower is operating in the standard operation mode or the strong operation mode, it shifts to the standard operation mode with low battery remaining. Further, when the voltage of the secondary battery becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 3.0 V), the operation of the electric blower is stopped.

[0039] In the comparative example, when the strong operation button is pressed from the stopped state in a state where the voltage of the secondary battery is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold value, as shown by the thick line in FIG. 6, the electric blower is operated in the strong operation mode, and then the voltage of the secondary battery is determined to be equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold value, and it shifts to the standard operation mode with low battery remaining. For this reason, in the comparative example, there is a problem that copper dissolution and precipitation progress at the negative electrode, and the secondary battery deteriorates.

[0040] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, even when the strong operation mode is selected, first, it is operated in the standard operation mode, and after confirming whether the voltage is suitable for strong operation, it shifts to the strong operation mode. Therefore, it is possible to execute an optimal operation according to the remaining battery level and suppress the deterioration of the secondary battery due to abnormal discharge.

[0041] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are included. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Also, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, or replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0042] 1... Vacuum cleaner, 10... Cleaner main body, 11... Dust collection lid, 12... Dust collection chamber, 13... Handle part, 14... Electric blower, 16... Secondary battery, 17... Operation switch, 18... Display part, 20... Extension tube, 30... Suction port body, 40... Brush part, 50... Stand, 100... Control device, 110... Voltage detection part, 120... Determination part, 130... Control part, 160... Battery cell

Claims

1. An electric sweeper comprising an electric blower that generates an attraction force, a secondary battery that supplies power to the electric blower, and a control device that controls the electric blower and the secondary battery, wherein the control device can set a standard operation mode and a strong operation mode in which the rotation speed of the electric blower is higher than that in the standard operation mode, and when the strong operation mode is set, after operating the electric blower in the standard operation mode, the electric blower is shifted to the strong operation mode according to the detected voltage of the secondary battery. An electric sweeper characterized by this.

2. In the electric sweeper according to Claim 1, when the standard operation mode is set, the control device operates the electric blower in the standard operation mode, and when the detected voltage of the secondary battery becomes equal to or lower than a first threshold value, the control device changes the voltage to a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value and operates the electric blower. An electric sweeper characterized by this.

3. In the electric sweeper according to Claim 2, when the detected voltage of the secondary battery becomes smaller than the second threshold value, the control device stops the operation of the electric blower. An electric sweeper characterized by this.

4. In the electric sweeper according to Claim 3, the control device has a third threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and when the strong operation mode is set and the detected voltage of the secondary battery is larger than the third threshold value, the control device shifts the electric blower from the standard operation mode to the strong operation mode. An electric sweeper characterized by this.

5. In the electric sweeper according to Claim 4, the control device has a fourth threshold value smaller than the third threshold value, and when the detected voltage of the secondary battery becomes equal to or lower than the fourth threshold value, the control device shifts the electric blower to the standard operation mode. An electric sweeper characterized by this.

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