Suction port body of vacuum cleaner, and vacuum cleaner comprising the same

Abstract

To illuminate a surface to be cleaned from a short distance to a long distance in front of a suction port body so as to increase brightness, and improve visibility of dust on the surface to be cleaned over a wide range.SOLUTION: A suction port body 6 of a vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present invention comprises an illuminating part for illuminating a floor surface M. The illuminating part comprises a plurality of light emitting parts (LEDs 2221-2227), and a plurality of lenses 2211-2217 on which light of the plurality of light emitting parts (LEDs 2221-2227) is incident, and for directly illuminating toward the floor surface M. The plurality of light emitting parts (LEDs 2221-2227) comprise first light emitting parts (LEDs 2223-2225) for illuminating a long-distance region in front of the suction port body 6, and second light emitting parts (LEDs 2221, 2222, 2226, and 2227) for illuminating a short-distance region closer to the side of the suction port body 6 than an illuminating region of the first light emitting parts (LEDs 2223-2225) and in front of the suction port body 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a suction port body of a vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner including the same.

Background Art

[0002] As background art in this technical field, there is the technology described in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

[0003] The suction tool for a vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1 includes a suction port that opens facing the surface to be cleaned, left irradiation means and right irradiation means for irradiating the surface to be cleaned, dust detection means disposed in an intake passage communicating with the vacuum cleaner for detecting dust to be sucked, and lighting control means for controlling the irradiation by the left irradiation means and the right irradiation means according to the detection result of the dust detection means. The optical axes of the left irradiation means and the right irradiation means are each inclined in a direction forward of the center of the suction tool for a vacuum cleaner from the side portion of the suction tool for a vacuum cleaner. In Patent Document 1, by configuring as described above, the surface to be cleaned in the vicinity of the front of the suction tool for a vacuum cleaner can be irradiated widely, and the irradiation can be controlled according to the distribution state of the dust by the dust detection means. Therefore, the irradiation amount can be changed in consideration of the visibility of the dust, and the detection state of the dust can be notified to the user.

[0004] Further, in Patent Document 2, a total of four LED light irradiation units are provided on the suction tool main body, and are arranged in parallel, two on each of the left and right sides with the longitudinal center of the suction tool main body in between, so as to irradiate light onto the surface to be cleaned in front. There are two windows provided on the front surface of the suction tool main body so as to irradiate the light from the two LED light irradiation units arranged on each of the left and right sides forward. It is formed from an inclined surface A on which the two LED light irradiation units are arranged and an inclined surface B that is connected to the inclined surface A and formed in front of the inclined surface A and has a depression angle larger than that of the inclined surface A. The depression angle of the inclined surface A is set to be 15 degrees or more and 25 degrees or less, and the depression angle of the inclined surface B is set to be 25 degrees or more and 35 degrees or less. Further, at the joint between the upper surface diffusing portion and the front surface diffusing portion of the diffusing window, an R shape is formed toward the lower front direction of the suction tool main body. The light irradiated from the LED light irradiation unit first enters the R shape and refracts in the diffusing direction. The refracted light is reflected by the inner surface of the ceiling of the suction tool main body and refracts downward, so that the area directly below the suction tool main body can be illuminated, and the surface to be cleaned is illuminated up to a location 50 to 60 mm away from directly below the front surface of the suction tool main body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, the suction tool for a vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1 is configured to widely irradiate the surface to be cleaned in the vicinity in front of the suction tool for a vacuum cleaner, and there is no idea of widely irradiating the surface to be cleaned in the forward direction near the suction tool.

[0007] In addition, the suction tool for a vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 2 is configured to irradiate the surface to be cleaned at a long distance in front of the suction tool with direct light from an LED, and irradiate the surface to be cleaned at a short distance in front of the suction tool with reflected light. Therefore, the surface to be cleaned at a long distance in front of the suction tool is inevitably bright, and the surface to be cleaned at a short distance in front of the suction tool is dark. It has been difficult to uniformly brighten the surface to be cleaned in front of the suction tool from a short distance to a long distance. In particular, since the light shifted from the optical axis is reflected at a short distance in front of the suction tool, the irradiation light tends to be weak.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a suction port body of a vacuum cleaner that irradiates the surface to be cleaned from a short distance to a long distance in front of the suction port body so as to be bright, and improves the visibility of dust on the surface to be cleaned over a wide range, and a vacuum cleaner equipped with the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a suction port body of a vacuum cleaner including an irradiation unit that irradiates a surface to be cleaned, wherein the irradiation unit includes a plurality of light emitting units and a plurality of lenses that receive light from the light emitting units and directly irradiate the surface to be cleaned. The plurality of light emitting units include a first light emitting unit that irradiates a long distance region in front of the suction port body, and a second light emitting unit that irradiates a short distance region in front of the suction port body on the suction port body side with respect to the irradiation region of the first light emitting unit.

Effects of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a suction port body of a vacuum cleaner that irradiates the surface to be cleaned from a short distance to a long distance in front of the suction port body so as to be bright, and improves the visibility of dust on the surface to be cleaned over a wide range, and a vacuum cleaner equipped with the same.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] 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 generally used in all the drawings. Also, the description of the parts having the same function will be omitted. Note that the configurations described below are merely examples, and the embodiments of the present invention are not intended to be limited to the following specific forms.

Example

[0013] FIG. 1 is a view showing an external view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the front-rear and left-right directions are defined from the perspective of the user operating the vacuum cleaner 1, and the ceiling direction is defined as up and the direction of the surface to be cleaned is defined as down.

[0014] The vacuum cleaner 1 of this embodiment is composed of a cleaner main body 2 provided with a hand-operated switch SW and the like, an extension pipe 5, and a suction port body 6.

[0015] The cleaner main body 2 includes an electric blower 21 that generates a suction force, a dust collection unit 22 that stores dust collected by the suction force generated by the electric blower 21, and the like. Note that, in this embodiment, a so-called cyclone type vacuum cleaner will be described as an example, but it may also be applied to a so-called paper pack type vacuum cleaner.

[0016] One end of the extension tube 5 is connected to the connection port 23 of the vacuum cleaner body 2 so as to be in fluid communication with the dust collection part 22 of the vacuum cleaner body 2. Also, the other end of the extension tube 5 is connected to the suction port body 6. Further, the extension tube 5 has a ventilation path (not shown) communicating therewith and includes a power supply wiring (not shown) that is powered from the vacuum cleaner body 2. The dust collection part 22 and the suction port body 6 are in fluid communication via the extension tube 5.

[0017] By operating the hand-operated switch SW, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can operate and stop the electric blower 21, switch between strong, medium, and weak modes, and operate and stop the motor provided in the suction port body 6. Also, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a rechargeable battery 24 that supplies power to the electric blower 21 and the suction port body 6.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the suction port body according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the suction port body 6 includes a suction port case 10 having a substantially T-shaped configuration in a top view and a suction port joint 13 connected to the suction port case 10.

[0019] The suction port case 10 includes a suction port main body 11 that is elongated in the left-right direction (width direction) in a top view and a connecting portion 12 that is connected to the suction port joint 13 at the central portion of the suction port main body 11 in the left-right direction. A flow path R (see FIG. 4) that communicates the suction port main body 11 and the suction port joint 13 is formed in the connecting portion 12.

[0020] Bumpers 11a are provided on the suction port main body 11 from the front end face to the left and right side faces. The bumpers 11a are formed of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, ensure airtightness inside the suction port main body 11 during use, and serve as a buffer material that prevents damage to furniture or the like and absorbs the impact on the suction port main body 11 when the suction port main body 11 collides with furniture or the like during use of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 (see FIG. 1).

[0021] The suction port joint 13 includes a first connecting portion 14 that is rotatably connected to the connecting portion 12 and a second connecting portion 15 that is rotatably connected to the first connecting portion 14.

[0022] In addition, the second connecting portion 15 is provided with a power supply terminal 15a for power supply. In the vacuum cleaner 1 (see FIG. 1) of this embodiment, the power supplied to the suction port body 6 is configured to be supplied from the cleaner main body 2 through the extension pipe 5. On the front surface of the suction port main body 11, a plurality of lenses 2211 to 2217 are provided for directly incident light emitted from a plurality of LEDs and directly irradiating the floor surface M (surface to be cleaned).

[0023] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the suction port body according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the suction port body 6 includes a rotary cleaning body (rotary brush) 20. In the suction port case 10 (suction port main body 11), a brush chamber Q having an opening on the bottom surface (surface facing the surface to be cleaned) is formed.

[0024] The rotary cleaning body 20 is disposed on the front side in the front-rear direction along the left-right direction of the suction port main body 11 and is rotatably supported in the brush chamber Q. Further, the rotary cleaning body 20 is continuously provided from one end side to the other end side in the left-right direction of the suction port main body 11.

[0025] In addition, the rotary cleaning body 20 includes a plurality of types of brushes 20a, 20b such as brushes having different hardnesses, heights, etc., and each brush 20a, 20b is arranged in a spiral shape.

[0026] The brush drive switch 16 is a switch for detecting whether or not the bottom surface of the suction port body 6 is in contact with the floor surface M (surface to be cleaned), and is configured together with a wheel 16a. This wheel 16a is provided so that a part thereof always protrudes from the bottom surface of the suction port case 10 by a biasing means such as a spring. When it is detected that the wheel 16a has jumped out of the suction port case 10 and is not in contact with the floor surface M, the drive of the electric motor 40 (see FIG. 4) is stopped under the control of the circuit board 50 (control board) (see FIG. 4), and the rotation of the rotary cleaning body 20 stops. When it is detected that the wheel 16a is pushed in and is in contact with the floor surface M, the electric motor 40 is driven under the control of the circuit board 50, and the rotary cleaning body 20 rotates.

[0027] The wheel 17 is subjected to the stress of the forward and backward movement and rotation operation operated by the user, and makes the bottom surface of the suction port body 6 adhere to the floor surface M, thereby having the role of improving the operation performance of the suction port body 6.

[0028] The rear brush 30 is provided so as to be in contact with the floor surface M (the surface to be cleaned) from the bottom surface of the suction port case 10. It improves the airtightness of the brush chamber Q and the dust collection performance of fine dust, and also serves to prevent the dust repelled by the rotary cleaning body 20 from passing through the gap between the bottom surface of the suction port case 10 and the floor surface M (the surface to be cleaned) and coming out to the rear of the suction port body 6.

[0029] Also, the side fixed brush 31 is provided so as to be in contact with the floor surface M (the surface to be cleaned) from the bottom surface of the suction port case 10, and is continuously provided from the front to the rear of the suction port case 10 near the left and right ends of the bottom surface of the suction port case 10. Thereby, the airtightness of the brush chamber Q is improved and the dust collection performance of fine dust is improved.

[0030] Also, the side fixed brush 31 is made of a flexible non-woven fabric or the like, and prevents the floor surface M from being damaged by the bottom surface of the suction port case 10.

[0031] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the suction port body according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the suction port body 6 includes an electric motor 40 that drives the rotary cleaning body 20 (see FIG. 3) behind the rotary cleaning body 20, and a circuit board 50 that controls the electric motor 40 and a plurality of LEDs 2221 to 2227 for floor surface irradiation. Among the LEDs 2221 to 2227, the LEDs 2223 to 2225 arranged at the central portion of the suction port body 6 function as a first light emitting portion that irradiates a far-distance region in front of the suction port body 6, and the LEDs 2221, 2222, 2226, 2227 arranged on the left and right sides of the suction port body 6 function as a second light emitting portion that irradiates a near-distance region in front of the suction port body 6 on the suction port body 6 side rather than the first light emitting portion. In the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 6, the second light emitting portions (LEDs 2221, 2222, 2226, 2227) are arranged separately on the left and right so as to sandwich the first light emitting portion (LEDs 2223 to 2225). The light emitted from the LEDs 2221 to 2227 is incident on the lenses 2211 to 2217 respectively, and directly irradiates the floor surface M (the surface to be cleaned) through the lenses 2211 to 2217. In this embodiment, the irradiation unit is constituted by the LEDs 2221 to 2227 and the lenses 2211 to 2217.

[0032] The electric motor 40 is attached to one end side in the left-right direction of the suction port main body 11. Further, the output shaft of the electric motor 40 is arranged parallel to the left-right direction of the suction port main body 11. Further, the output shaft of the electric motor 40 extends toward one end side in the left-right direction, and is connected to the rotary cleaning body 20 via a toothed belt (not shown) at one end portion (the left end portion in the drawing) in the suction port main body 11. The circuit board 50 is attached to the side opposite to the electric motor 40 in the left-right direction of the suction port main body 11. Further, the circuit board 50 has a rectangular substrate, and is arranged in the suction port main body 11 with the mounting surface in the vertical direction. The lenses 2211 to 2217 are integrally formed by a lens fixing member 220. The LEDs 2221 to 2227 for floor surface irradiation are mounted on an LED substrate 222.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a side view of the upper part of the suction port case of the suction port body according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention removed. As shown in FIG. 5, the LED substrate 222 is arranged so as to be inclined by a predetermined angle θ1 such that the upper part is located in front of the suction port body 6 with respect to the lower part. Accordingly, the lens fixing member 220 is also arranged to be inclined by a predetermined angle θ2 with respect to the horizontal line.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a front view of the lens fixing member according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a rear view of the lens fixing member according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6. The lenses 2211 to 2217 are formed in a conical shape such that the diameter expands from the light incident side (rear side) toward the light irradiation side (front side). Further, the lenses 2211 to 2217 are concave lenses, 2231 is the radius of curvature of the lens 2211, 2232 is the radius of curvature of the lens 2212, 2233 is the radius of curvature of the lens 2213, 2234 is the radius of curvature of the lens 2214, 2235 is the radius of curvature of the lens 2215, 2236 is the radius of curvature of the lens 2216, and 2237 is the radius of curvature of the lens 2217.

[0035] The radii of curvature 2233 to 2235 are larger than the radii of curvature 2231, 2232, 2236, and 2237. In other words, the lenses 2213 to 2215 (first lenses) are set to have a longer focal length than the lenses 2211, 2212, 2216, and 2217 (second lenses). For this reason, the lenses 2211, 2212, 2216, and 2217 (second lenses) diffuse light over a wider range than the lenses 2213 to 2215 (first lenses).

[0036] FIG. 9 is a top view of the lens fixing member according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2241 to 2247 are the optical axes of the lenses 2211 to 2217. The optical axes 2243 to 2245 are the same as the front-rear direction of the suction port body 6, the optical axes 2241 and 2247 are inclined by a predetermined angle θ3 with respect to the front-rear direction of the suction port body 6, and the optical axes 2242 and 2246 are inclined so as to face the outside in the left-right direction of the suction port body 6 by a predetermined angle θ4 with respect to the front-rear direction of the suction port body 6. In Embodiment 1, the angles θ3 and θ4 are set to 15 degrees.

[0037] FIG. 10 is a side view of the lens fixing member according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The optical axes 2241, 2242, 2246, and 2247 are inclined so as to face the lower front side of the suction port body 6 at a predetermined angle θ5 with respect to the left and right horizontal directions of the suction port body 6, and the optical axes 2243 to 2245 are inclined so as to face the lower front side of the suction port body 6 at a predetermined angle θ6 with respect to the left and right horizontal directions of the suction port body 6. At this time, the angle θ6 < the angle θ5. That is, the angle θ6 formed by the optical axes 2243 to 2245 of the lenses 2213 to 2215 (first lenses) and the horizontal plane is set to be smaller than the angle θ5 formed by the optical axes of the lenses 2211, 2212, 2216, and 2217 (second lenses) and the horizontal plane. Then, the light irradiated from the lenses 2213 to 2215 (first lenses) irradiates a farther floor surface M in front of the suction port body 6 than the light irradiated from the lenses 2211, 2212, 2216, and 2217 (second lenses).

[0038] FIG. 11 is a side view of the suction port body during the cleaning operation according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. D1 is the front and rear range where the light irradiated from the lenses 2211, 2212, 2216, and 2217 illuminates the floor surface, and D2 is the front and rear range where the light irradiated from the lenses 2213 to 2215 illuminates the floor surface.

[0039] FIG. 12 is a top view of the suction port body during the cleaning operation according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. A1 to A7 are the horizontal ranges where the light irradiated from the lenses 2211 to 2217 illuminates the floor surface. In this embodiment, the half-value angles of the light irradiated from the lenses 2211, 2212, 2216, and 2217 (horizontal ranges A1, A2, A6, and A7) in the left-right direction of the suction port body 6 are set to be larger than the half-value angles of the light irradiated from the lenses 2213 to 2215 (horizontal ranges A3, A4, and A5) in the left-right direction of the suction port body 6.

[0040] FIG. 13 is a hue circle of the Munsell color system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Hereinafter, it is referred to as the Munsell color circle as appropriate. The Munsell color circle is an annular Munsell color chip having a center P0. In the illustrated example, it has 20 hues obtained by equally dividing the circumference into 20 parts. The symbols on the circumference represent hues (synonymous with "colors"), where R means red, Y means yellow, G means green, B means blue, and P means purple.

[0041] FIG. 14 is a graph showing the relationship between the forward distance and the floor surface illuminance according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 14, the horizontal axis represents the forward distance from the suction body, and the vertical axis represents the floor surface illuminance. L1 is the floor surface illuminance curve of the prior art, and the closer the forward distance, the greater the illuminance. L2 is the floor surface illuminance curve when illuminating a farther distance in the prior art. The illuminance at a position with a far forward distance is improved, but the illuminance at a close position is decreased. L3 is the floor surface illuminance curve in this embodiment, and the floor surface can be illuminated with substantially the same illuminance from a position close to the forward distance to a far position.

[0042] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the suction body according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The power supplied to the suction body 6 is supplied to the LED substrate 222. The LEDs 2223 to 2225 (first light emitting part) emit light with appropriate inputs from the input control circuit 2228, and the LEDs 2221, 2222, 2226, 2227 (second light emitting part) emit light with appropriate inputs from the input control circuit 2229. In this embodiment, the inputs of the LEDs 2223 to 2225 for long-distance irradiation are made larger than the inputs of the LEDs 2221, 2222, 2226, 2227 for short-distance use.

[0043] Next, the operation during cleaning will be described. When the user operates the hand operation switch SW to start the operation, the electric blower 21 operates to suck air from the suction body 6. At the same time, the motor 40 provided in the suction body 6 is driven to drive the rotary cleaning body 20 via a toothed belt (not shown).

[0044] Furthermore, the LEDs 2221 to 2227 emit light by the power supplied to the LED substrate 222. The LEDs 2223 to 2225 can illuminate the floor surface M at a short distance in front of the suction body 6, and the LEDs 2221, 2222, 2226, 2227 can illuminate the floor surface M at a long distance in front of the suction body 6. The user can easily notice the presence of dust on the floor surface M at a long distance in front of the suction body 6, and the escape of dust can be reduced. In addition, since the light is irradiated up to the floor surface M at a short distance in front of the suction body 6, when the suction body 6 is advanced toward the discovered dust, it is possible to visually confirm that the discovered dust is surely sucked into the suction body 6.

[0045] Then, the dust 80 discovered by the user is scraped up by the rotary cleaning body 20, flows from the brush chamber Q through the flow path R, passes through the extension pipe 5, and is stored in the dust collection part 22.

[0046] In this embodiment, the emission colors of the LEDs 2223 to 2225 are green. For example, if light of an absorption color, which is a color that the surface to be cleaned easily absorbs, is irradiated, since the surface to be cleaned absorbs the light, the light reflected by the dust can be more easily visually recognized by the user, and the position of the dust can be easily confirmed. Therefore, for example, as the light of the absorption color of the surface to be cleaned, among the 20 hues in the Munsell color circle shown in FIG. 13, non-homologous color light having a hue belonging to a region other than the region between two hues adjacent to the hue corresponding to the color of the surface to be cleaned is irradiated. By irradiating non-homologous color light, the surface to be cleaned is made to easily absorb light and reflection is suppressed, making it easier to make the dust stand out, so that the visibility of the dust can be improved.

[0047] For example, regarding the hue C1 of the surface to be cleaned, the hues adjacent to the hue C1 among the 20 hues are the hue 5YR and the hue 10YR. If the region between the hue 5YR including the hue C1 and the hue 10YR is defined as the same color system as the hue C1 of the surface to be cleaned, the LEDs 2223 to 2225 irradiate non-homologous color light having a hue belonging to a region other than the said same color system region. When single-color light is irradiated, any one color can be selected from non-homologous colors, and when a plurality of colors of light are irradiated, any two or more colors can be selected.

[0048] For example, when the surface to be cleaned is a wooden floor covering, generally, it is close to the color of wood between yellow (5Y) and purple (5P). Therefore, if light of a hue in a region other than the region between the hue 5Y and the hue 5P, specifically, for example, light of a hue between yellow-green (7.5GY) and blue (5B) is irradiated, the color difference between the dust and the surface to be cleaned can be increased, and the dust can be made to stand out easily. Therefore, in Embodiment 1, the emission colors of the LEDs 2223 to 2225 that irradiate the far distance in front of the suction body where dust is more difficult to find are green. Also, the emission colors of the LEDs 2221, 2222, 2226, and 2227 that irradiate the near distance in front of the suction body are white, which is different from the emission colors of the LEDs 2223 to 2225.

[0049] Also, in this embodiment, the luminous intensity of the light irradiated from the lenses 2213 to 2215 (first lenses) is made greater than the luminous intensity of the light irradiated from the lenses 2211, 2212, 2216, and 2217 (second lenses), so as to illuminate the floor surface M with a more uniform illuminance from a short distance to a long distance in front of the suction body 6.

[0050] And the dust discovered by the user is scraped up by the rotary cleaning body 20, flows through the flow path R from the brush chamber Q, passes through the extension pipe 5, and is stored in the dust collection part 22.

[0051] FIG. 16 is a top view of another example of the suction body during the cleaning operation. As shown in FIG. 16, by arranging the lenses 2211 to 2217 in order as for short-distance use (A11), short- and long-distance use (A12), short-distance use (A13), short- and long-distance use (A14), short-distance use (A15), short- and long-distance use (A16), and short-distance use (A17), a wider range of the floor surface can be irradiated.

[0052] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to uniformly brighten the surface to be cleaned in front of the suction body from a short distance to a long distance, improve the visibility of dust on a wide range of surfaces to be cleaned, visualize dust that is difficult to see with the eyes, and reduce the escape of dust.

Embodiment

[0053] Hereinafter, Embodiment 2 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 17, 18, and 19. Note that the same components as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0054] FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of the suction port body according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 17, the light emitted from an LED (not shown) is irradiated toward the floor surface M (the surface to be cleaned) through the lenses 2213 to 2215, 2511, and 2512. The lenses 2213 to 2215 are arranged at the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 6, and the lenses 2511 and 2512 are arranged on the left and right sides in the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 6, respectively. Although not shown, the LEDs that emit the light incident on the lenses 2213 to 2215 are arranged at the central portion of the suction port body 6, and the LEDs that emit the light incident on the lenses 2511 and 2512 are arranged on the left and right sides in the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 6, respectively.

[0055] The lenses 2213 to 2215, 2511, and 2512 of this embodiment are concave lenses, and the radius of curvature thereof is made smaller than the radius of curvature of the lenses 2213 to 2315. For this reason, the lenses 2511 and 2512 diffuse light over a wider range than the lenses 2213 to 2215. Further, the lenses 2511 and 2512 are installed at a lower position (on the floor surface M side) than the lenses 2213 to 2215.

[0056] FIG. 18 is a side view of the suction port body during the cleaning operation according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. D3 is the front and rear range where the light irradiated from the lenses 2511 and 2512 illuminates the floor surface, and D4 is the front and rear range where the light irradiated from the lenses 2213 to 2215 illuminates the floor surface. The light emitted from the LED (first light emitting portion) is irradiated through the lenses 2213 to 2215 (first lenses) to the front long-distance region (D4) of the suction port body 6, and the light emitted from the LED (second light emitting portion) is irradiated through the lenses 2511 and 2512 (second lenses) to the front short-distance region (D3) of the suction port body 6. Further, in the vertical direction of the suction port body 6, the LED (first light emitting portion) and the lenses 2213 to 2215 (first lenses) are arranged above the LED (second light emitting portion) and the lenses 2511 and 2512 (second lenses).

[0057] FIG. 19 is a top view of the suction port body during the cleaning operation according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. A21 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2511, A22 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2213, A23 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2214, A24 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2215, and A25 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2512 illuminates the floor surface. In this embodiment, the half-value angle of the light irradiated from the lenses 2511 and 2512 is made larger than the half-value angle of the light irradiated from the lenses 2213 to 2215. Therefore, the light irradiated from the lenses 2511 and 2512 can irradiate a wide range of positions close to the suction port body 6, and the light irradiated from the lenses 2213 to 2215 can irradiate positions far from the suction port body 6.

[0058] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to uniformly brighten the cleaning surface in front of the suction port body from a short distance to a long distance, improve the visibility of dust on a wide cleaning surface, visualize dust that is difficult to see with the naked eye, and reduce the escape of dust.

[0059] In addition, since the lenses 2511 and 2512 that irradiate the short distance of the cleaning surface in front of the suction port body are located at a lower position in the vertical direction than the lenses 2213 to 2215 that irradiate the long distance of the cleaning surface in front of the suction port body, they can irradiate at an angle closer to parallel to the floor surface M, so that the shadow of the dust is longer and the visibility of the dust on the cleaning surface is further improved.

Embodiment

[0060] Hereinafter, Embodiment 3 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21. The same components as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0061] FIG. 20 is a top perspective view of the suction port body according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In FIG. 20, the light emitted from an LED (not shown) is irradiated toward the floor surface M (cleaning surface) through the lenses 2611 and 2612. The lenses 2611 and 2612 are respectively arranged on the left and right sides in the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 6. Although not shown, the LEDs that emit the light incident on the lenses 2611 and 2612 are also respectively arranged on the left and right sides in the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 6.

[0062] The lenses 2611 and 2612 of this embodiment are concave lenses, and are inclined so as to face the lower front side of the suction port body 6 at a predetermined angle with respect to the left and right horizontal directions of the suction port body 6. The inclination angle of the lens 2611 is larger than that of the lens 2612. Therefore, the lens 2611 diffuses light in a range closer to the front direction of the suction port body 6 than the lens 2612.

[0063] FIG. 21 is a top view of the suction port body during the cleaning operation according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. A31 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2611 and A32 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2612 illuminates the floor surface. The light irradiated from the lens 2612 irradiates a long-distance range of the floor surface M (the surface to be cleaned) from the left side (one end) in the left-right direction of the suction port body 6 toward the central portion, and the light irradiated from the lens 2611 irradiates a short-distance range of the floor surface M (the surface to be cleaned) from the right side (the other end) in the left-right direction of the suction port body 6 toward the central portion. That is, in this embodiment, the LED (first light-emitting portion) and the lens 2612 (first lens) are arranged at one end in the left-right direction of the suction port body 6, and the LED (second light-emitting portion) and the lens 2611 (second lens) are arranged at the other end in the left-right direction of the suction port body 6.

[0064] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to uniformly brighten the surface to be cleaned in front of the suction port body from a short distance to a long distance, improve the visibility of dust on a wide range of surfaces to be cleaned, visualize dust that is difficult to see with the naked eye, and reduce the escape of dust.

[0065] In addition, since the lenses 2611 and 2612 that irradiate the short-distance range of the surface to be cleaned in front of the suction port body are located at a low position in the up-down direction of the suction port body, they can irradiate at an angle closer to parallel to the floor surface M, so that the shadow of the garbage becomes longer and the visibility of dust on the surface to be cleaned is further improved.

Embodiment

[0066] Hereinafter, Example 4 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23. The same components as those in Example 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0067] FIG. 22 is a top perspective view of the suction port body according to Example 4 of the present invention. In FIG. 22, the light emitted from an LED (not shown) is irradiated toward the floor surface M (surface to be cleaned) through the lenses 2711 and 2712. The lenses 2711 and 2712 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction of the suction port body 6 at the right side (one end) in the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 6. Although not shown, the LEDs that emit the light incident on the lenses 2711 and 2712 are also arranged side by side in the vertical direction of the suction port body 6. The light emitted from an LED (not shown) is irradiated toward the floor surface M (surface to be cleaned) through the lenses 2711 and 2712.

[0068] The lenses 2711 and 2712 of this embodiment are concave lenses, and are inclined so as to face the lower front side of the suction port body 6 at a predetermined angle with respect to the left-right horizontal direction of the suction port body 6, and the inclination angle of the lens 2711 is larger than that of the lens 2712. For this reason, the lens 2711 diffuses light at a closer distance in the front direction of the suction port body 6 than the lens 2712. Also, in the vertical direction of the suction port body 6, the LED (first light emitting part) and the lens 2712 (first lens) are arranged above the LED (second light emitting part) and the lens 2711 (second lens). In other words, the LED (second light emitting part) and the lens 2711 (second lens) are arranged closer to the floor surface M than the LED (first light emitting part) and the lens 2712 (first lens).

[0069] FIG. 23 is a top view of the suction port body 6 during the cleaning operation. A41 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2711 and A42 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2712 illuminates the floor surface. The light irradiated from the lens 2711 irradiates the short-distance range of the floor surface M (surface to be cleaned) from the lower right side (one lower end) in the left-right direction of the suction port body 6 toward the central part, and the light irradiated from the lens 2712 irradiates the long-distance range of the floor surface M (surface to be cleaned) from the upper right (one upper end) in the left-right direction of the suction port body 6 toward the central part.

[0070] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to uniformly brighten the surface to be cleaned in front of the suction port body from a short distance to a long distance, improve the visibility of dust on a wide range of surfaces to be cleaned, visualize dust that is difficult to see with the naked eye, and reduce the escape of dust.

[0071] In addition, since the lenses 2711 and 2712 that irradiate the short distance of the surface to be cleaned in front of the suction port body are installed at a position lower (closer to the floor surface M) than the lens 2712 in the vertical horizontal direction of the suction port body 6, the short distance of the surface to be cleaned can also be irradiated at an angle closer to being parallel to the floor surface M. As a result, the shadow of the dust becomes longer, and the visibility of the dust on the surface to be cleaned is further improved.

[0072] In addition, since the lenses 2711 and 2712 are at a short distance from each other, the wiring of the two LEDs also becomes closer, and there is an effect that the assemblability is improved.

Embodiment

[0073] Hereinafter, Example 5 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25. The same components as those in Example 1 are given the same numbers.

[0074] FIG. 24 is a top view of the upper part of the suction port case of the suction port body according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention in a state where the upper part is removed. In FIG. 24, light emitted from LEDs (not shown) disposed substantially on the left and right sides of the suction port body 6 is irradiated through lenses 2811 and 2813 toward the floor surface M (surface to be cleaned) in the substantially left-right direction of the suction port body 6. Light emitted from LEDs (not shown) disposed obliquely forward to the left and right of the suction port body 6 is irradiated through lenses 2812 and 2814 toward the floor surface M (surface to be cleaned) in the left-right obliquely forward direction at approximately 45 degrees from the front-rear direction of the suction port body. The lenses 2811 to 2814 are concave lenses and are inclined so as to face the lower side of the suction port body 6 at a predetermined angle with respect to the left-right horizontal direction of the suction port body 6. The lenses 2211 to 2217 disposed in front of the suction port body 6 are the same as those in Embodiment 1. In this embodiment, the LEDs 2221 to 2227 incident on the lenses 2211 to 2217 constitute the front light emitting part, and the LEDs incident on the lenses 2811 to 2814 constitute the side light emitting part.

[0075] FIG. 25 is a top view of the suction port body during the cleaning operation according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. A51 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2811, A52 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2812, A53 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2813, and A54 is the horizontal range in which the light irradiated from the lens 2814 illuminate the floor surface. A1 to A7 are the horizontal ranges in which the light irradiated from the lenses 2211 to 2217 illuminate the floor surface.

[0076] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to uniformly brighten from the short distance to the long distance of the surface to be cleaned in front of the suction port body, improve the visibility of dust on a wide range of surfaces to be cleaned, visualize dust that is difficult to see with the naked eye, and reduce the escape of dust.

[0077] In addition, since the lenses 2811 to 2814 can irradiate light onto the floor surface M in the range of approximately 45 degrees to approximately 90 degrees with respect to the front-rear direction of the suction port body 6 in the horizontal direction of the suction port body 6, in addition to the front-rear direction of the suction port body 6, there is an effect that the visibility of dust on the surface to be cleaned in the left-right direction is improved.

[0078] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. 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

[0079] 1... Vacuum cleaner, 2... Cleaner main body, 5... Extension tube, 6... Suction port body, 10... Suction port case, 11... Suction port main body, 21... Electric blower, 220... Lens fixing member, 222... LED substrate, 2211 - 2217... Lenses, 2221 - 2227... LEDs, 2228... Input control circuit, 2229... Input control circuit, 2231 - 2237... Radius of curvature, 2241 - 2247... Optical axis, 2315... Lens, 2511... Lens, 2512... Lens, 2611... Lens, 2612... Lens, 2711... Lens, 2712... Lens, 2811 - 2814... Lenses, M... Floor surface

Claims

1. In a suction inlet body of a vacuum cleaner including an irradiation unit that irradiates a surface to be cleaned, the irradiation unit includes a plurality of light emitting units and a plurality of lenses that receive light from the light emitting units and directly irradiate the surface to be cleaned, the plurality of light emitting units include a first light emitting unit that irradiates a front long-distance region of the suction inlet body and a second light emitting unit that is on the suction inlet body side of the irradiation region of the first light emitting unit and irradiates a front short-distance region of the suction inlet body, and a suction inlet body of a vacuum cleaner characterized by this.

2. In the suction inlet body of the vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1, the plurality of lenses are concave lenses, and include a first lens that receives light from the first light emitting unit and a second lens that receives light from the second light emitting unit, and an angle formed by an optical axis of the first lens and a horizontal plane is set smaller than an angle formed by an optical axis of the second lens and the horizontal plane, and a suction inlet body of a vacuum cleaner characterized by this.

3. In the suction inlet body of the vacuum cleaner according to Claim 2, the first lens has a longer focal length than the second lens, and a suction inlet body of a vacuum cleaner characterized by this.

4. In the suction inlet body of the vacuum cleaner according to Claim 2, luminance of light irradiated from the first lens is made larger than luminance of light irradiated from the second lens, and a suction inlet body of a vacuum cleaner characterized by this.

5. In the suction inlet body of the vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1, a light emitting color of the first light emitting unit and a light emitting color of the second light emitting unit are different, and a suction inlet body of a vacuum cleaner characterized by this.

6. In the suction inlet body of the vacuum cleaner according to Claim 5, the light emitting color of the first light emitting unit is green, and the light emitting color of the second light emitting unit is white, and a suction inlet body of a vacuum cleaner characterized by this.

7. In the suction inlet body of the vacuum cleaner according to Claim 2, a half-value angle of light irradiated from the second lens in a left-right direction of the suction inlet body is made larger than a half-value angle of light irradiated from the first lens in the left-right direction of the suction inlet body, and a suction inlet body of a vacuum cleaner characterized by this.

8. In the suction inlet body of the vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1, in a longitudinal direction of the suction inlet body, the second light emitting unit is arranged to be divided left and right so as to sandwich the first light emitting unit, and a suction inlet body of a vacuum cleaner characterized by this.

9. In the suction inlet body of the vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1, in an up-down direction of the suction inlet body, the first light emitting unit is arranged above the second light emitting unit, and a suction inlet body of a vacuum cleaner characterized by this.

10. In Claim 1, The first light-emitting part is arranged at one end of the suction body in the left-right direction, The second light-emitting part is arranged at the other end of the suction body in the left-right direction, and the suction body of the vacuum cleaner is characterized in that.

11. In a vacuum cleaner comprising an electric blower that generates suction force, a dust collection part that stores dust sucked by the electric blower, and a suction body that is fluidly connected to the dust collection part, A vacuum cleaner characterized by comprising the suction body according to any one of Claims 1 to 10.

12. Comprising an electric blower that generates suction force, a dust collection part that stores dust sucked by the electric blower, and a suction body that is fluidly connected to the dust collection part, The suction body is provided with an irradiation part that irradiates the surface to be cleaned, The irradiation part is provided with a plurality of light-emitting parts and a plurality of lenses that receive the light of the light-emitting parts and irradiate the surface to be cleaned, The plurality of light-emitting parts include a front light-emitting part that irradiates the front of the suction body and a side light-emitting part that irradiates the left-right direction of the suction body, and the vacuum cleaner is characterized in that.

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