Dust collection device and vacuum cleaner including the same

Abstract

To provide a dust collection device of a vacuum cleaner with improved dust collection performance.SOLUTION: A dust collection device of a vacuum cleaner includes: a dust collection container part having a peripheral wall part; an inner cylinder part arranged inside the dust collection container part; and a dust catch part 51 communicably connected to one end part of the inner cylinder part in an axial direction. The dust collection container part has: a communication port 32d provided in the peripheral wall part 32; and an introduction passage 35 communicating with the communication port 32d. The introduction passage 35 is formed by gradually swelling and bending outward from an outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall part 32 as going from a downstream side to an upstream side of an air flow inside the introduction passage 35 when viewed from an axial direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dust collecting device for a vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner equipped with the same, and more particularly to a dust collecting device for a cyclone-type vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner equipped with the same.

Background Art

[0002] As a dust collecting device for a conventional vacuum cleaner, Patent Document 1 proposes a dust collecting device including a first separation part as a centrifugal separation part having a cup part and a separation filter provided inside the cup part, and a second separation part as a downstream centrifugal separation part communicatively connected to the separation filter so as to cover an opening of the cup part. In this dust collecting device, a shade part is provided below the separation filter, a plurality of ventilation openings are provided in a top plate part of the shade part, and air flowing into an inner space of the shade part is passed through the plurality of ventilation openings and flowed to an outer peripheral space of the separation filter.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the dust collecting device of Patent Document 1, since the air in the inner space of the shade part passes through the plurality of ventilation openings in the top plate part and heads toward the outer peripheral space of the separation filter, turbulence is likely to occur in the outer peripheral space of the separation filter when the air passing through the plurality of ventilation openings merges into the swirling flow. As a result, a part of the dust in the swirling flow is likely to short-circuit (directly flow in) to the separation filter. Further, if dust is contained in the air passing through the plurality of ventilation openings, a part of the dust is likely to be blown toward the separation filter side by the swirling flow, and the opportunity for re-separation is reduced.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a dust collecting device for a vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner equipped with the same, taking into account the above circumstances.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a bottomed cylindrical dust collecting container portion having a peripheral wall portion, a bottom portion, and an opening portion, a bottomed inner cylinder portion having air permeability provided in the dust collecting container, and a dust capturing portion communicatively connected to one end portion in the axial direction of the inner cylinder portion so as to airtightly cover the opening portion of the dust collecting container portion. The dust collecting container portion has a communication port provided in the peripheral wall portion and an introduction path communicating with the communication port so as to introduce air containing external dust into the dust collecting container portion. The introduction path has an introduction port communicating with the communication port, and is formed to gradually bulge outward from the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion and curve as viewed from the axial direction, from the downstream side to the upstream side of the air flow in the introduction path. A dust collecting device for a vacuum cleaner is provided.

[0007] Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner including the dust collecting device and a driving device that incorporates an electric blower and sends air containing sucked external dust to the dust collecting device.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a dust collecting device for a vacuum cleaner with improved dust collecting performance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

[0010] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following description is illustrative in all respects and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0011] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention as viewed from the rear right side. FIG. 2 is a left cross-sectional view of the cleaner main body in the vacuum cleaner of the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cleaner main body of the first embodiment as viewed from the front right side, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drive device of the first embodiment as viewed from the front right side. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower directions of the vacuum cleaner as viewed by the user during use (cleaning) are indicated by arrows, and the following description of the vacuum cleaner is based on these front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower directions.

[0012] 〈Regarding the overall configuration of the vacuum cleaner〉 As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner 1 of the first embodiment is a stick-type vacuum cleaner including a cleaner main body 10, a suction port body 90, and an extension pipe 80 that airtightly connects the cleaner main body 10 and the suction port body 90. Note that the suction port body 90 can be directly connected to the cleaner main body 10 without passing through the extension pipe 80 and used as a handy-type vacuum cleaner.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the cleaner main body 10 includes a drive device 20, a dust collecting device 30 detachably provided on the drive device 20, and a battery 70 as a power source detachably provided on the drive device 20.

[0014] The drive device 20 includes an electrical component storage portion 21 that houses an electric blower M and a control board, etc., a handle 22 continuously provided at the rear end of the electrical component storage portion 21, an operation switch portion 23 provided on the upper portion of the handle 22, a battery mounting portion 24 provided on the lower portion of the electrical component storage portion 21, a pipe portion 25 continuously provided so as to protrude forward from the upper front end of the electrical component storage portion 21, and a dust collecting device mounting portion 26 provided along the lower end edge of the pipe portion 25 and the front edge of the electrical component storage portion 21. Note that the central axis of the dust collecting device 30 installed in the dust collecting device mounting portion 26 is parallel to the central axis of the pipe portion 25. Also, in the present embodiment, the positional relationship between the dust collecting device mounting portion 26 and the pipe portion 25 is such that the pipe portion 25 is above and the dust collecting device mounting portion 26 is below, but a structure with a positional relationship where the pipe portion 25 is below and the dust collecting device mounting portion 26 is above may also be used.

[0015] The electrical component storage section 21 has an air inlet 21a at its front edge and an exhaust port 21b on its right side. The air inlet 21a and the exhaust port 21b communicate with each other through a ventilation passage inside the electrical component storage section 21, and an electric blower M is provided in the ventilation passage. Further, a hook-shaped leg portion 21c is provided below the air inlet 21a of the electrical component storage section 21.

[0016] The battery mounting section 24 is formed in a concave shape that opens rearward and downward so that the battery 70 can be slid in and out, and a power receiving terminal (not shown) that can be electrically and mechanically connected to the charge and discharge terminals of the battery 70 is provided at the inner part thereof.

[0017] The pipe section 25 has a connection port 25a at its front end that can be connected to a connection pipe section 93 (described later) of an extension pipe 80 or a suction port body 90, and has a storage space below the connection port 25a. In this storage space, a pair of clip-shaped terminals 25b (see FIG. 2) that can be electrically and mechanically connected to a pair of pin-shaped terminals (not shown) that the extension pipe 80 or the suction port body 90 has when connected thereto are provided. Note that the pair of clip-shaped terminals 25b are electrically connected to a control circuit by a conductive wire (not shown).

[0018] The dust collector mounting section 26 has an outlet 26a that communicates with the connection port 25a at the rear lower end position of the pipe section 25, and has an engaging concave portion 26b that can engage with an engaging convex portion 32e (described later) of the dust collector 30 at a position in front of the outlet 26a at the lower end of the pipe section 25. Further, the dust collector mounting section 26 has a locking rib 26c at the right front end position of the electrical component storage section 21 where a locking claw 52b (described later) of the dust collector 30 can be detachably locked. Note that the portion of the dust collector mounting section 26 on the air inlet 21a side is formed in a shape into which a dust supply portion 51 (described later) of the dust collector 30 is fitted when the dust collector 30 is mounted.

[0019] The operation switch section 23 includes, for example, a stop switch, a weak / strong switch for the manual operation mode, and an automatic switch for the automatic operation mode. The weak / strong switch is a switch that, when pressed when the drive device 20 is stopped or in the automatic operation mode, switches to the manual weak operation mode with the minimum output, and when pressed in the manual weak operation mode, switches to the manual strong operation mode with the maximum output. The automatic switch is a switch that, when pressed when the drive device 20 is stopped, in the manual weak operation mode, or in the manual strong operation mode, switches to the automatic medium operation mode with the intermediate output. In the automatic operation mode, when the current value of the drive motor for the rotary brush, which will be described later, becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value in the automatic medium operation mode, it switches to the automatic strong operation mode with the maximum output, and when the current value of the drive motor for the rotary brush becomes less than the predetermined value in the automatic strong operation mode, it switches to the automatic medium operation mode.

[0020] The dust collecting device 30 includes a dust collecting container portion 31 and a dust replenishment unit 40 detachably attached to the dust collecting container portion 31. Details of the dust collecting device 30 will be described later.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the suction port body 90 includes a suction port main body 91 having a suction port at the bottom, a joint portion 92 rotatably provided on the suction port main body 91 about a first axis in the front-rear direction, a connection pipe portion 93 rotatably provided on the joint portion 92 about a second axis in the left-right direction, a rotary brush (not shown), a drive motor for the rotary brush, and a motor drive circuit housed in the suction port main body 91, and a pair of pin-shaped terminals (not shown) provided on the outer surface of the connection pipe portion 93. In the suction port body 90, the pair of pin-shaped terminals, the motor drive circuit, and the drive motor for the rotary brush are electrically connected by a conductive wire (not shown).

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the extension pipe 80 includes a pipe body 81 having one end detachable from the pipe portion 25 in the drive device 20 and the other end detachable from the connection pipe portion 93 in the suction port body 90, a conductive cable (not shown) provided along the outer surface of the pipe body 81, and a cover member 82 covering the conductive cable. In the conductive cable, a pair of pin-shaped terminals electrically and mechanically connectable to a pair of clip-shaped terminals 25b of the drive device 20 are provided on one end side, and a pair of clip-shaped terminals electrically and mechanically connectable to a pair of pin-shaped terminals of the suction port body 90 are provided on the other end side.

[0023] 〈Regarding the configuration of the dust collector〉 FIG. 5 shows the dust collector of the first embodiment, FIG. 5(A) is a right side view, and FIG. 5(B) is a front view. FIG. 6 shows the dust collector of the first embodiment, FIG. 6(A) is a plan view, and FIG. 6(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 5(B). FIG. 7 shows the dust collector of the first embodiment, FIG. 7(A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 6(A), and FIG. 7(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 6(A). FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the dust collector of the first embodiment, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the filter unit in the dust collector of the first embodiment, and FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the filter unit in the dust collector of the first embodiment.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 to 10, the dust collector 30 includes the dust collection container portion 31 and the dust supplement unit 40 detachably attached to the dust collection container portion 31.

[0025] [Dust collection container portion] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the dust collection container portion 31 is formed in a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape having a peripheral wall portion 32, a bottom portion 33, and an opening portion 34 (see FIG. 8).

[0026] The peripheral wall portion 32 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape (see Fig. 7) whose inner diameter gradually narrows from one end portion 32a on the opening portion 34 side and the other end portion 32c on the bottom portion 33 side toward the intermediate portion 32b therebetween (constricted at the intermediate portion 32b). Note that the peripheral wall portion 32 may have a structure in which the inner diameter is constant from the one end portion 32a to the intermediate portion 32b and gradually widens from the intermediate portion 32b to the other end portion 32c.

[0027] In the case of this embodiment, the peripheral wall portion 32 also has an opening at the other end portion 32c on the side opposite to the opening portion 34, and the bottom portion 33 is provided at the opening on the other end portion 32c side so as to be openable and closable via the hinge portion 31a and the opening and closing mechanism 31b. In other words, the bottom portion 33 serves as a lid portion that opens and closes the opening on the other end portion 32c side.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 7, the opening and closing mechanism 31b has a locking convex portion provided on the side of the bottom portion 33 opposite to the hinge portion 31a, and a locking lever provided in the vicinity of the locking convex portion on the peripheral wall portion 32 and biased by a spring in a direction to lock to the locking convex portion. By pressing the locking lever, the locking lever disengages from the locking convex portion and the bottom portion 33 opens. Note that the dust collection container portion 31 may be configured such that the bottom portion 33 does not open.

[0029] Also, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 7, on the opening portion 34 side of the peripheral wall portion 32, closer to the opening portion 34 than the opening and closing mechanism 31b, there is provided the hook-shaped engaging convex portion 32e that engages with the engaging concave portion 26b of the drive device 20 when the dust collection device 30 is attached to the dust collection device attachment portion 26 of the drive device 20.

[0030] Also, as shown in Figs. 6(B) and 7, the peripheral wall portion 32 has a communication port 32d provided between the one end portion 32a on the opening portion 34 side and the intermediate portion 32b, and an introduction path 35 communicating with the communication port 32d so as to introduce air containing external dust into the dust collection container portion 31. That is, a cyclone inlet is provided in the peripheral wall portion 32 in a spiral shape, forming an inlet shape that is variable from a large diameter to a small diameter and connected tangentially.

[0031] The introduction passage 35 has an inlet 35a that communicates with the communication port 32d. In a state where the dust collecting device 30 is attached to the dust collecting device attachment portion 26 of the drive device 20, the inlet 35a of the dust collecting device 30 is airtightly connected to the outlet 26a of the drive device 20 (see Fig. 2). In the case of this embodiment, the inlet 35a has a quadrangular shape with rounded corners at the four corners, and the cross-sectional shape of the introduction passage 35 is a shape in which this quadrangle is continuous. Note that by making the inlet 35a circular or elliptical, the cross-sectional shape of the introduction passage 35 may be such that a circle or an ellipse is continuous, so that the entire inner surface becomes a smooth curved surface.

[0032] When viewed from the axial center P direction of the peripheral wall portion 32, the introduction passage 35 is gradually expanded and curved outward from the outer peripheral surface 32x of the peripheral wall portion 32 from the downstream side to the upstream side of the air flow A (see Fig. 6(B)) in the introduction passage 35. That is, the introduction passage 35 is not linearly connected to the outer peripheral surface 32x of the peripheral wall portion 32 of the dust collecting container portion 31 in the tangential direction.

[0033] In other words, the introduction passage 35 is connected to the outer peripheral surface 32x of the peripheral wall portion 32 while gradually curving from a curvature larger than the curvature of the peripheral wall portion 32 to a smaller curvature (while curving in a logarithmic spiral). Alternatively, the introduction passage 35 is connected to the outer peripheral surface 32x of the peripheral wall portion 32 while curving with a curvature approximately the same as the curvature of the peripheral wall portion 32 around an eccentric axis at a position displaced from the axial center P of the peripheral wall portion 32.

[0034] The introduction passage 35 is provided on the outer peripheral surface 32x of the peripheral wall portion 32 within a range of a predetermined central angle θ1 centered on the axial center P of the peripheral wall portion 32. Note that the opening end portion 35b on the peripheral wall portion 32 side of the introduction passage 35 has a structure that slightly protrudes from the peripheral wall portion 32.

[0035] The predetermined central angle θ1, which is the range where the introduction passage 35 is provided, is the range from the downstream end portion in the direction of the air flow A at the communication port 32d to the opening end portion 35b in the introduction passage 35 (see Fig. 6(B)). From the viewpoint of suppressing the enlargement of the dust collecting container portion 31, it is preferable that the predetermined central angle θ1 is less than 180°, and in this embodiment, it is approximately 153°.

[0036] Further, the communication port 32d is provided in the peripheral wall portion 32 within a range of a predetermined central angle θ2 centered on the axis P of the peripheral wall portion 32 (see FIG. 6(B)). This predetermined central angle θ2 is the range from the downstream end portion to the upstream end portion in the direction of the air flow A at the communication port 32d. The predetermined central angle θ2 is equal to or less than the predetermined central angle θ1, and is approximately 120° in the present embodiment.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 6(B), when viewed from the direction of the axis P, the upstream end portion of the communication port 32d is located downstream of the connection position J (see FIG. 5(B)) between the portion on the opening end portion 35b side in the introduction path 35 and the peripheral wall portion 32. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5(B) and 6(B), when the introduction port 35a is viewed from the front side (the direction orthogonal to the axis P), a part 32y of the peripheral wall portion 32 (the portion on the upstream end portion side of the communication port 32d) protrudes into the introduction path 35.

[0038] This part 32y of the peripheral wall portion 32 hides the inner cylinder portion 41 so that the air containing dust does not directly hit the inner cylinder portion 41 described later of the dust supplement unit 40 when the air containing dust flows into the introduction path 35 from the introduction port 35a, and plays a role of a windbreak for guiding the air containing dust to the outer peripheral side of the inner cylinder portion 41. Details thereof will be described later.

[0039] [Dust Supplement Unit] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 to 10 (particularly FIG. 7), the dust supplement unit 40 includes a bottomed inner cylinder portion 41 having air permeability provided in the dust collection container portion 31, the dust capture portion 51 hermetically connected and communicated with one end portion (the opening portion 34 side) in the axial direction P of the inner cylinder portion 41 so as to hermetically cover the opening portion 34 of the dust collection container portion 31, and a dust partition portion 61 extending from the other end portion (the bottom portion 33 side) in the axial direction P of the inner cylinder portion 41 toward the bottom portion 33 of the dust collection container portion 31.

[0040] The inner cylinder part 41 includes a cylindrical frame body 41a having a bottom part 41aa and an outer peripheral part 41ab provided with a plurality of slits, and a mesh member (not shown) provided on the outer peripheral part 41ab so as to cover the plurality of slits, and is open on the side opposite to the bottom part 41aa.

[0041] The dust collection part 51 includes a cup part 52 airtightly and detachably fitted into the opening 34 of the dust collection container part 31, and a pleated filter part 53 airtightly and detachably fitted into the cup part 52.

[0042] The cup part 52 has a locking mechanism 52a on its outer peripheral surface (see Fig. 8). This locking mechanism 52a includes a lever having a locking claw 52b that locks to the locking rib 26c of the drive device 20 when the dust collection device 30 is mounted on the dust collection device mounting part 26 of the drive device 20. The locking mechanism 52a is configured to bias the lever in a direction in which the locking claw 52b is locked to the locking rib 26c by a spring, and when the lever is pushed, the locking claw 52b disengages from the locking rib 26c.

[0043] As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, in the vacuum cleaner 1 in which the dust collection device 30 is mounted on the drive device 20, the locking mechanism 52a and the introduction path 35 of the dust collection device 30 are arranged on the right side, the hinge part 31a of the dust collection device 30 is arranged on the lower side, and the opening / closing mechanism 31b of the dust collection device 30 is housed in a recess (dust collection device mounting part 26) below the pipe part 25 of the drive device 20. Also, although not shown, no protrusion due to the dust collection device 30 is arranged on the left side of the vacuum cleaner 1, resulting in a clean appearance. In this way, if the protrusions due to the dust collection device 30 are collectively arranged on either the left or right side of the vacuum cleaner 1, the appearance of the other side where no protrusion is arranged can be made clean. This also applies to a vacuum cleaner having a structure in which the dust collection device is arranged above the pipe part. Note that the vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment is assumed to be used by a user holding the handle with the right hand, and the left side of the vacuum cleaner 1 has a clean appearance without protrusions due to the dust collection device 30. In the case of this embodiment, the inner cylinder portion 41 and the cup portion 52 are formed of one integrally molded member, but the inner cylinder portion 41 and the cup portion 52 may be separately configured as detachable members.

[0044] The dust partition portion 61 includes a plurality of partition plate portions 62 that protrude radially from the axis P with a protruding dimension substantially equal to the radius from the axis P of the inner cylinder portion 41, and a cylindrical dust trap portion 63 that is coupled to the other end portion of the inner cylinder portion 41 so as to cover the portions of the plurality of partition plate portions 62 on the inner cylinder portion 41 side. That is, in this embodiment, the diameter of the inner cylinder portion 41 is enlarged so that the diameter of the inner cylinder portion 41 is approximately the same as the diameter of the dust partition portion 61. The plurality of partition plate portions 62 and the dust trap portion 63 are formed of an integrally molded member that is coupled to each other. In the case of this embodiment, there is a gap between the portion of three of the four partition plate portions 62b covered by the dust trap portion 63 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical peripheral wall of the dust trap portion 63, but there is no gap between the portion of the remaining one partition plate portion 62a covered by the dust trap portion 63 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical peripheral wall of the dust trap portion 63. Further, the four partition plate portions 62 (62a, 62b) are formed in a cross shape when viewed from the bottom portion 33 side (see FIGS. 8 to 10). In the case of this embodiment, the inner cylinder portion 41 and the dust partition portion 61 are each formed of a separate member, but the inner cylinder portion 41 and the dust partition portion 61 may be formed of one integrally molded member.

[0045] The plurality of partition plate portions 62 partition the central space on the bottom 33 side of the dust collection container portion 31. In the case of the present embodiment, four blade-shaped partition plate portions 62 are arranged at a central angle of 90° around the axis P. The plurality of partition plate portions 62 include one partition plate portion 62a that protrudes radially outward with a protruding dimension equal to or greater than the radius from the axis P of the inner cylinder portion 41, and a plurality of other partition plate portions 62b that protrude radially outward with a protruding dimension smaller than the radius. By protruding a part of the one partition plate portion 62a radially outward with a protruding dimension larger than the radius of the inner cylinder portion 41 and forming a shape that does not protrude radially outward of a flange 63b described later, it is possible to prevent the dust mass from swirling. Since a part of the partition plate portion 62a that protrudes radially outward with a protruding dimension larger than the radius of the inner cylinder portion 41 is provided on the hinge 31a side, dust tends to accumulate on the hinge side. With such a configuration, in a state where the dust collection device 30 is attached to the drive device 20, the hinge side is on the lower side, so that it becomes easier for the user to grasp how much dust has accumulated in the dust collection container portion 31 during cleaning. In addition, in a state where the dust catching unit 40 is attached in the dust collection container portion 31, each end portion of the plurality of partition plate portions 62 is in contact with or close to the bottom 33 of the dust collection container portion 31. Further, each side end portion of the plurality of partition plate portions 62 has a shape that approaches the axis P as it goes toward the bottom 33 of the dust collection container portion 31. With such a shape, dust tends to accumulate at the bottom.

[0046] The peripheral wall of the cylindrical dust trap portion 63 has a plurality of ventilation small holes 63a penetrating from the inner peripheral surface to the outer peripheral surface. In other words, a plurality of ventilation small holes 63a that communicate the inner peripheral surface side and the outer peripheral surface side of the cylindrical peripheral wall of the dust trap portion 63 are provided on the cylindrical peripheral wall of the dust trap portion 63. Further, the plurality of ventilation small holes 63a are provided at positions corresponding to the space between one partition plate portion 62 and another partition plate portion 62 adjacent in the circumferential direction among the plurality of partition plate portions 62 (see FIGS. 8 to 10). In the case of the present embodiment, two groups composed of a plurality of ventilation small holes 63a are provided at positions facing each other, but the plurality of ventilation small holes 63a may be provided on the entire circumference of the dust trap portion 63.

[0047] In addition, the dust trap portion 63 has an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the inner cylinder portion 41, and has a flange portion 63b that protrudes radially outward at the other end portion opposite to the one end portion coupled to the inner cylinder portion 41.

[0048] In a state where the dust collection unit 40 is mounted in the dust collection container portion 31, when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the axial center P direction, the flange portion 63b is located in the narrowed intermediate portion 32b of the dust collection container portion 31, and the introduction path 35 and the inner cylinder portion 41 are provided at positions overlapping each other.

[0049] 〈Regarding the operation of the vacuum cleaner〉 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, when cleaning is performed with the vacuum cleaner 1 configured as described above, when the weak / strong switch or the automatic switch of the operation switch portion 23 of the cleaner main body 10 is pressed, the electric blower M and the drive motor for the rotary brush are driven. Then, the rotary brush scrapes the dust on the floor surface toward the suction port side, and the dust is sucked into the suction port body 90 together with the air. The air containing the dust flows into the pipe portion 25 of the drive device 20 through the extension pipe 80, and flows into the introduction path 35 of the dust collection device 30 from the introduction port 35a through the outlet 26a of the pipe portion 25.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the airflow A (see FIG. 6(B)) containing dust that has flowed into the introduction path 35 of the dust collection container unit 31 advances along the curved outer inner surface 35c of the introduction path 35 and flows into the dust collection container unit 31 from the communication port 32d. At this time, a part 32y of the peripheral wall portion 32 protruding into the introduction path 35 serves as a windbreak so that the airflow A does not directly hit the inner cylinder portion 41. In addition, the part 32y of the peripheral wall portion 32 guides the airflow A to advance along the outer inner surface 35c of the introduction path 35. Further, a part 32y of the peripheral wall portion 32 protruding into the introduction path 35 has a tip portion that constitutes the upstream end portion in the swirling flow direction (the direction of the airflow A) of the communication port 32d. When viewed from the direction of the axis P, the tip portion is formed in a pointed shape having a surface S that inclines from the inner side to the outer side in the radial direction (see FIG. 6(B)). In other words, the tip portion of the part 32y of the peripheral wall portion 32 has a pointed shape with a slope (surface S) where the surface on the inner cylinder side of the peripheral wall portion 32 approaches the surface on the introduction path side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the swirling flow (the direction of the airflow A). Thereby, the turbulent flow at the tip portion of the part 32y of the peripheral wall portion 32 can be suppressed.

[0051] Therefore, the airflow A can smoothly flow into the dust collection container unit 31 while swirling, and the swirling speed of the airflow A increases, improving the centrifugal separation performance of the dust. In addition, since the direct collision of the airflow A against the inner cylinder portion 41 is effectively suppressed, the turbulent flow near the communication port 32d is suppressed and the pressure loss is reduced.

[0052] The airflow A that has flowed into the dust collection container unit 31 swirls around the inner cylinder portion 41 and then swirls around the dust trap portion 63 of the dust partition portion 61 as shown in FIG. 7(A). At this time, since the intermediate portion 32b of the peripheral wall portion 32 facing the dust trap portion 63 is thinner than the one end portion 32a, the swirling speed increases, enhancing the centrifugal separation performance of the dust.

[0053] Thereafter, the airflow A passes through the narrow space between the flange portion 63b and the peripheral wall portion 32 while swirling, and swirls around the plurality of partition plate portions 62. At this time, in addition to the wide space between the plurality of partition plate portions 62 and the peripheral wall portion 32, since the plurality of partition plate portions 62 prevent the swirling of the airflow A, the swirling speed of the airflow A decreases, and relatively large first dust accumulates on the bottom portion 33. In particular, since the direct collision of the airflow A with the inner cylinder portion 41 is avoided as described above, the winding of the fibrous first dust (such as hair, pet hair, fiber debris, etc.) around the inner cylinder portion 41 is suppressed, and the fibrous first dust is likely to accumulate in the space on the bottom portion 33. In addition, the swirling (dust turbulence) of the first dust on the bottom portion 33 is suppressed by the partition plate portion 62a having a large protruding dimension radially outward among the plurality of partition plate portions 62.

[0054] The airflow A that swirls around the plurality of partition plate portions 62 while decreasing its speed advances into the dust trap portion 63 along each partition plate portion 62, and the airflow B in the dust trap portion 63 flows into the outer peripheral space of the dust trap portion 63 through the plurality of ventilation small holes 63a. At this time, even if the fibrous first dust is contained in the airflow B, the fibrous first dust cannot pass through the ventilation small holes 63a and is captured by the dust trap portion 63.

[0055] The airflow B that has passed through the plurality of ventilation small holes 63a and flows into the outer peripheral space of the dust trap portion 63, a part of it flows into the inner cylinder portion 41, and the remaining part merges with the swirling airflow A. Note that when the airflow B merges with the airflow A, the dust in the airflow B will be re-separated. If the airflow C (see FIG. 7(A)) flowing into the inner cylinder portion 41 contains second dust smaller than the first dust, the second dust is captured when the airflow C passes through the filter portion 53. The air D from which the dust has been removed after passing through the filter portion 53 flows into the drive device 20 from the air inlet 21a and is discharged to the outside from the exhaust port 21b (see FIGS. 2 to 4).

[0056] After cleaning, unlock the locking mechanism 52a, remove the dust collector 30 from the drive device 20, and operate the opening / closing mechanism 31b of the dust collector 30 to open the bottom 33, thereby discarding the dust accumulated inside. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, by removing the dust replenishment unit 40 from the dust collection container unit 31, removing the filter unit 53 from the cup unit 52, and disassembling the dust collector 30, each disassembled part can be washed with water and kept clean.

[0057] (Modification of the First Embodiment) In the first embodiment, when the introduction path 35 of the dust collector 30 is connected to the outer peripheral surface 32x of the peripheral wall portion 32 while gradually curving from a curvature larger than that of the peripheral wall portion 32 to a smaller curvature (while curving in a logarithmic spiral), or when the introduction path 35 is connected to the outer peripheral surface 32x of the peripheral wall portion 32 while curving with a curvature approximately the same as that of the peripheral wall portion 32 around an eccentric axis at a position displaced from the axis P of the peripheral wall portion 32, the introduction path 35 may be configured as follows. That is, the introduction path 35 may be linearly connected to the outer peripheral surface 32x of the peripheral wall portion 32 of the dust collection container unit 31 in a tangential direction, and the introduction path 35 may be curved so as to gradually bulge outward from the outer peripheral surface 32x starting from a position slightly away from the connection point.

[0058] (Second Embodiment) FIG. 11 shows the dust collector of the second embodiment. FIG. 11(A) is a corresponding view to FIG. 7(A), and FIG. 11(B) is a corresponding view to FIG. 7(B). Further, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the dust collector of the second embodiment viewed from the bottom side, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the filter unit in the dust collector of the second embodiment. In FIGS. 11 to 13, the same elements as those in FIGS. 7 to 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The dust collector 130 of the second embodiment is generally the same as the first embodiment except that the configuration of the dust replenishment unit 40 in the dust collector 30 of the first embodiment is different. Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment in the second embodiment will be mainly described.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, in the dust collecting device 130 of the second embodiment, one partition plate portion 162a of the plurality of partition plate portions of the dust partition portion 161 protrudes radially outward with a protruding dimension about the radius from the axis P of the inner cylinder portion 41. That is, the protruding dimension of this one partition plate portion 162a in the radial outward direction is shorter than that of one partition plate portion 62a (see FIG. 7) in the first embodiment. By configuring in this way, it is possible to collect dust such as fibrous dust including hair without being easily clogged and without being biased between the radially outer tip portion of one partition plate portion 162a and the inner peripheral surface of the dust collecting container portion 31.

[0060] Further, in the dust collecting device 130 of the second embodiment, the outer diameter of the portion 163ba on the side of one partition plate portion 162a of the flange portion 163b of the dust catching unit 140 is smaller than the outer diameter of the other portion 163bb (see FIG. 12). By configuring in this way, the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 163b is partially formed in an elliptical arc shape on the side of one partition plate portion 162a. Thereby, it is possible to collect dust such as fibrous dust including hair without being easily clogged and without being biased between the elliptical arc portion 163ba of the flange portion 163b and the inner peripheral surface of the dust collecting container portion 31. Further, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which fibrous dust including hair is clogged between the elliptical arc portion 163ba of the flange portion 163b and the inner peripheral surface of the dust collecting container portion 31, and thereby the fibrous dust reaches out to the inner cylinder portion 41 (mesh portion) and wraps around it.

[0061] Also, in the dust collecting device 130 of the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, on one end side of the dust supplement unit 140 that is coupled to the inner cylinder portion 41 in the dust trap portion 163, a second flange portion 163c having an outer diameter substantially equal to that of the other portion 163bb of the flange portion 163b is provided. By configuring in this way, the air (airflow B) flowing from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side through the plurality of ventilation small holes 63a in the dust trap portion 163 can be forcibly converted into a downward airflow by the second flange portion 163b and easily taken into the large downward airflow A along the inner peripheral surface of the dust collection container portion 31. In addition, the second flange portion 163b functions as a guard when fibrous dust including hair that tries to flow from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side through the plurality of ventilation small holes 63a in the dust trap portion 163 reaches out to the inner cylinder portion 41 (mesh portion).

[0062] (Third Embodiment) In the dust collecting device 30 (see FIGS. 8 to 10) of the first embodiment and the dust collecting device 130 (see FIGS. 11 to 13) of the second embodiment, the dust supplement unit 40 included a dust supplement portion 51 having a cup portion 52 and a filter portion 53, but a second centrifugal separation portion may be used instead of the filter portion 53. That is, the dust supplement portion of the third embodiment has a cup portion 52 and a second centrifugal separation portion detachably attached to the cup portion 52, and this dust supplement portion may be connected to the inner cylinder portion 41.

[0063] In this case, the second centrifugal separation portion includes a plurality of small double cylinder portions on concentric circles of the axis P. The plurality of double cylinder portions each have a circular push cylinder portion and a cylinder portion inserted into the conical cylinder portion with a gap. According to this second centrifugal separation portion, the airflow from the inner cylinder portion 41 is introduced into each conical cylinder portion of the plurality of double cylinder portions to centrifugally separate the second dust, and the centrifugally separated second dust is stored in a groove portion provided on the outer peripheral portion of the cup portion, and the air from which the second dust has been removed can be introduced into each cylinder portion from each conical cylinder portion and then introduced into the drive device 20. Note that the second centrifugal separation portion may have a structure fixed to the cup portion 52 and not detachable.

[0064] (Fourth Embodiment) In the dust collecting device 30 (see FIGS. 8 to 10) of the first embodiment and the dust collecting device 130 (see FIGS. 11 to 13) of the second embodiment, the dust supplement unit 40 had the dust partition portion 61. However, only the dust trap portion 63 of the dust partition portion 61 may be omitted, or only three partition plate portions 62b out of the plurality of partition plate portions 62 of the dust partition portion 61 or only four partition plate portions 62a and 62b may be omitted, or the dust partition portion 61 itself (the plurality of partition plate portions 62a, 62b and the dust trap portion 63) may be omitted. When omitting the plurality of partition plate portions 62a and 62b, ribs may be provided on the bottom portion 33 of the dust collecting container portion 31 or on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 32, and the ribs may be used to suppress the swirling (dust fluttering) of the first dust.

[0065] (Other Embodiments) In the first embodiment, the stick-type vacuum cleaner 1 (see FIG. 1) was exemplified. However, the dust collecting devices of the first to fourth embodiments are also applicable to canister-type vacuum cleaners.

[0066] As described above, (1) The dust collecting device of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention includes a bottomed cylindrical dust collecting container portion having a peripheral wall portion, a bottom portion, and an opening, a bottomed inner cylinder portion having air permeability provided in the dust collecting container portion, and a dust capturing portion communicatively connected to one end portion in the axial direction of the inner cylinder portion so as to airtightly cover the opening of the dust collecting container portion. The dust collecting container portion has a communication port provided in the peripheral wall portion and an introduction path communicating with the communication port so as to introduce air containing external dust into the dust collecting container portion. The introduction path has an introduction port communicating with the communication port, and when viewed from the axial direction, it is gradually expanded outward from the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion and curved so as to go from the downstream side to the upstream side of the air flow in the introduction path. This is a feature.

[0067] According to this configuration, the introduction path is not linearly connected to the peripheral wall portion of the dust collection container portion in a tangential direction, but is connected to the peripheral wall portion while being curved. Therefore, it is easy to generate a swirling flow with less turbulent flow along the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion. Therefore, without increasing the diameter (inner diameter and outer diameter) of the peripheral wall portion of the dust collection container portion, the diameter of the inner cylinder portion can be increased, thereby reducing the pressure loss, suppressing the winding of fibrous dust around the inner cylinder portion, and improving the dust separation performance. In other words, according to this configuration, without increasing the diameter of the dust collection container portion, the diameter of the inner cylinder portion can be increased, thereby obtaining the effects of reducing the pressure loss, reducing the winding of hair, and improving the separation performance.

[0068] Further, the dust collection device of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention may be configured as follows, or they may be appropriately combined. (2) When viewed from a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, the introduction path and the inner cylinder portion are provided at positions overlapping each other. When viewed from the orthogonal direction, a part of the peripheral wall portion may protrude into the introduction path so as to hide the inner cylinder portion at the introduction port. According to this configuration, since a part of the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion protrudes into the introduction path and functions as a windbreak, a short circuit (direct inflow) of the air containing dust introduced into the introduction path into the inner cylinder portion is suppressed, and a swirling flow is easily generated.

[0069] (3) A part of the peripheral wall portion protruding into the introduction path has a tip portion that constitutes an upstream end portion in the swirling flow direction of the communication port. When viewed from the axial direction, the tip portion may be formed in a pointed shape having a surface inclined from the inner side to the outer side in the radial direction. According to this configuration, turbulent flow at the tip portion of a part of the peripheral wall portion can be suppressed.

[0070] (4) The introduction path may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion within a range of less than 180° of the central angle centered on the axis of the peripheral wall portion. According to this configuration, since the portion of the introduction path protruding outside the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion can be suppressed to be small, an increase in the size of the dust collection container portion can be suppressed.

[0071] (5) Further provided is a dust partition portion extending from the other end portion in the axial direction of the inner cylinder portion toward the bottom portion of the dust collection container portion. The dust partition portion may have a plurality of partition plate portions protruding radially from the axis. According to this configuration, the flow rate (or flow velocity) of the swirling flow on the bottom side in the dust collection container portion can be adjusted by the dust partition portion, and the turbulence of the dust accumulated on the bottom side in the dust collection container portion can be suppressed.

[0072] (6) The plurality of partition plate portions may include one partition plate portion protruding radially outward with a protruding dimension equal to or greater than the radius from the axis of the inner cylinder portion, and other plurality of partition plate portions protruding radially outward with a protruding dimension smaller than the radius. According to this configuration, when the protruding dimension of the one partition plate portion radially outward is about the radius from the axis of the inner cylinder portion, dust such as fibrous dust including hair is less likely to be clogged between the radially outer tip portion of the one partition plate portion and the inner peripheral surface of the dust collection container portion, and dust collection can be performed without being biased. When the protruding dimension of the one partition plate portion radially outward is larger than the radius from the axis of the inner cylinder portion, a lump of dust can be formed between the radially outer tip portion of the one partition plate portion and the inner peripheral surface of the dust collection container portion, and the swirling of the dust lump can be stopped.

[0073] (7) The dust partition portion further has a cylindrical dust trap portion coupled to the other end portion of the inner cylinder portion so as to cover a part of the plurality of partition plate portions. The dust trap portion may have a plurality of ventilation small holes communicating the inner peripheral surface side and the outer peripheral surface side of the cylindrical peripheral wall on the cylindrical peripheral wall. According to this configuration, fibrous dust such as hair can be captured in the inner space of the dust trap portion, and the air that has passed through a plurality of ventilation holes from the inner space of the dust trap portion can be made to flow out into the space between the cylindrical peripheral wall of the dust trap portion and the peripheral wall portion of the dust collection container portion and merged with the swirling flow. That is, the air that has passed through the plurality of ventilation holes does not directly merge into the swirling flow in the outer peripheral space of the inner cylinder portion. Therefore, a situation where a turbulent flow occurs as in the dust collection device of Patent Document 1 is suppressed. As a result, while suppressing the short circuit of the air containing dust to the inner cylinder portion, the re-separation of the dust in the air that has passed through the plurality of ventilation holes can be promoted.

[0074] (8) The plurality of partition plate portions are arranged at a central angle of 90° around the axis. The plurality of ventilation holes may be provided at positions corresponding to the space between one partition plate portion and another partition plate portion adjacent in the circumferential direction among the plurality of partition plate portions. According to this configuration, it becomes easier to capture fibrous dust in the space between two partition plate portions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, and the air that has flowed into the space between the two partition plate portions in the inner space of the dust trap portion can be allowed to escape from the plurality of ventilation holes to the outer periphery of the dust trap portion.

[0075] (9) The dust trap portion has an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the inner cylinder portion, and has a flange portion that protrudes radially outward at the other end portion on the side opposite to the one end portion that is coupled to the inner cylinder portion. The peripheral wall portion may be thinner on the intermediate portion side facing the flange portion than on the bottom side. According to this configuration, the swirling flow on the outer periphery of the flange portion becomes faster and the centrifugal separation effect becomes larger, and at the bottom side, the swirling flow becomes slower and the dust separated by centrifugation can be captured so as not to be agitated. Also, according to this configuration, by making the bottom of the dust collection container portion have an openable and closable structure, since the bottom side of the peripheral wall portion is thick, it is easy to open the bottom and discard the dust.

[0076] (10) A second flange portion having an outer diameter substantially equal to that of the flange portion may be provided on one end side that is coupled to the inner cylinder portion in the dust trap portion. According to this configuration, air flowing from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the dust trap portion through a plurality of ventilation small holes can be forcibly converted into a downward air flow by the second flange portion and easily taken into a large downward air flow along the inner peripheral surface of the dust collection container portion. In addition, the second flange portion functions as a guard when fibrous dust including hair that tries to flow from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the dust trap portion through a plurality of ventilation small holes reaches out to the inner cylinder portion (mesh portion).

[0077] (11) The outer diameter of the portion of the flange portion on the side of the one partition plate portion may be smaller than the outer diameter of the other portions. According to this configuration, the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion has a partial elliptical arc shape on the side of the one partition plate portion. Thereby, it becomes difficult for dust such as fibrous dust including hair to clog between the partial elliptical arc of the flange portion and the inner peripheral surface of the dust collection container portion, and dust collection can be performed without being biased. Further, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which fibrous dust including hair clogs between the partial elliptical arc of the flange portion and the inner peripheral surface of the dust collection container portion, and thereby the fibrous dust reaches out to the inner cylinder portion (mesh portion) and wraps around it.

[0078] Preferred embodiments of the present invention include those in which any of the above-described plurality of embodiments are combined. In addition to the above-described embodiments, various modifications can be made to the present invention. Those modifications should not be construed as not belonging to the scope of the present invention. The present invention should include the meaning equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope. [Explanation of Reference Numerals]

[0079] 1: Vacuum cleaner, 10: Cleaner main body, 20: Driving device, 21: Electrical component storage part, 21a: Air inlet, 21b: Exhaust port, 21c: Leg part, 22: Handle, 23: Operation switch part, 24: Battery mounting part, 25: Pipe part, 25a: Connection port, 25b: Clip-shaped terminal, 26: Dust collector mounting part, 26a: Outlet, 26b: Engaging recess, 26c: Lock rib, 30, 130: Dust collector, 31: Dust collection container part, 31a: Hinge part, 31b: Opening / closing mechanism, 32: Peripheral wall part, 32a: One end part, 32b: Intermediate part, 32c: Other end part, 32d: Communication port, 32e: Engaging convex part, 32x: Outer peripheral surface, 32y: Part, 33: Bottom part, 34: Opening, 35: Introduction path, 35a: Inlet, 35b: Opening end part, 35c: Outer inner surface, 40, 140: Dust supplement unit, 41: Inner cylinder part, 41a: Cylindrical frame body, 41aa: Bottom part, 41ab: Outer peripheral part, 51: Dust capture part, 52: Cup part, 52a: Lock mechanism, 52b: Locking claw, 53: Filter part, 61, 161: Dust partition part, 62, 62a, 62b: Partition plate part, 63, 163: Dust trap part, 63a: Ventilation small hole, 63b, 163b: Flange part, 70: Battery, 80: Extension pipe, 81: Pipe main body, 82: Cover member, 90: Suction port body, 91: Suction port main body, 92: Joint part, 93: Connection pipe part, 163ba: Elliptical arc part, 163bb: Other part, 163c: Second flange part, A, B: Airflow, J: Connection position, M: Electric blower, P: Axis center, S: Plane, θ1: Central angle

Claims

1. A dust collection container part having a bottom, An inner cylinder part provided in the dust collection container part and having air permeability, A dust trap part provided in the dust collection container part on the bottom side of the inner cylinder part and having a cylindrical peripheral wall with an open bottom side, and comprising: The dust trap part has a ventilation part for ventilating between the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the peripheral wall. A dust collection device.

2. The ventilation part includes a plurality of ventilation small holes penetrating the peripheral wall. The dust collection device according to Claim 1.

3. The dust trap part further has a partition plate part at least partially located within the peripheral wall and partitioning the space within the peripheral wall in the circumferential direction. The ventilation part is provided from one side to the other side of the partition plate part in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall. The dust collection device according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The partition plate part is formed to be continuous with the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall. The dust collection device according to Claim 3.

5. The dust trap part further has a first flange part protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall. The first flange part is provided on the bottom side with respect to the ventilation part. The dust collection device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

6. The dust trap part further has a second flange part protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall. The second flange part is provided on the side opposite to the bottom with respect to the ventilation part. The dust collection device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5.

7. A dust collection device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, and A driving device for sending air containing dust to the dust collection device. A vacuum cleaner.

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