Recovery device and cleaning tool

The collection device and cleaning tool address the issue of improper debris canister fullness updates by using current flow to manage dust collection and notification, ensuring accurate and timely updates without sensors, thus reducing costs and preventing overflow.

JP2025143624APending Publication Date: 2025-10-02SHARP KK
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024042947
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-03-19
Publication Date
2025-10-02

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  • Figure 2025143624000001_ABST
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Abstract

To provide a recovery device and a cleaning tool capable of appropriately updating a notification indicating that an amount of collected dust has reached a set amount.SOLUTION: A recovery device comprises: a recovery part that recovers dust from a vacuum cleaner and collects the dust in a dust collection part; a detection part that detects an amount of collected dust collected in the dust collection part; and a control part. The control part does not start recovering dust into the recovery part when the vacuum cleaner is attached in a case where a setting is a first setting, starts recovering dust into the recovery part when the vacuum cleaner is attached in a case where the setting is a second setting, terminates dust recovery into the recovery part, starts performing a notification, switches the setting from the second setting to the first setting when the amount of dust reaches the set amount while dust is being recovered into the recovery part, and terminates the notification when an operation is performed during the notification.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to collection devices and cleaning tools. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a robotic floor cleaning system in which debris is drawn from a cleaning bin on the robot into a debris canister on the discharge station by an exhaust vacuum on the discharge station. The amount of debris in the debris canister is determined based on feedback from a debris sensor. The fullness of the debris canister is displayed on a display screen on a portable device (paragraphs 0033, 0057 and 0061). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-168428 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] To reduce the cost of the robotic floor cleaning system disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to omit the debris sensor and determine the amount of debris based on the current flowing through the exhaust vacuum. However, if the amount of debris is determined based on the current flowing through the exhaust vacuum, the displayed debris canister fullness cannot be properly updated when debris is discarded.

[0005] In view of this problem, an aspect of the present disclosure provides a collection device and a cleaning tool that can appropriately update a notification indicating, for example, that the amount of collected dust has reached a set amount. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A collection device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes an attachment / detachment unit to which a vacuum cleaner is attached / detached, an attachment detection unit that detects whether the vacuum cleaner is attached to the attachment / detachment unit, a dust collection unit, a collection unit that collects dust from the vacuum cleaner and collects it in the dust collection unit, a detection unit that detects the amount of dust collected in the dust collection unit, an operation unit, a notification unit, and a control unit, wherein the control unit, when set to a first setting, does not cause the collection unit to start collecting the dust when the attachment detection unit detects that the vacuum cleaner has been attached to the attachment / detachment unit, and when set to a second setting, In this case, when the attachment detection unit detects that the vacuum cleaner has been attached to the detachable unit, the collection unit starts collecting the dirt, and if the detection unit detects that the amount of dirt has reached a set amount while the collection unit is collecting the dirt, the collection unit stops collecting the dirt and the alarm unit starts making an alarm, the setting is switched from the second setting to the first setting, and if an operation is performed on the operation unit while the alarm unit is making the alarm, the alarm unit stops making the alarm.

[0007] A cleaning tool according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes the collection device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure and the vacuum cleaner. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a cleaning tool according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the internal structure of a collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a block diagram of a control system of a collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by a control unit of a collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by a control unit of a collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the first embodiment. [Figure 6]4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the state of a notification section of a collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the state of a notification section of a collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the state of a notification section of a collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by a control unit of a collection device provided in a cleaning tool of a first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by a control unit of a collection device provided in a cleaning tool of a second modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by a control unit of a collection device provided in a cleaning tool of a third modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 12] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the state of a notification section of a collection device provided in a cleaning tool according to a third modified example of the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0010] 1. First embodiment 1.1 Cleaning tools FIG. 1 is a perspective view that schematically illustrates a cleaning tool according to a first embodiment.

[0011] The cleaning tool 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a vacuum cleaner 11 and a collection device 12.

[0012] The vacuum cleaner 11 cleans a surface to be cleaned. When cleaning, the vacuum cleaner 11 sucks in air and dirt on the surface to be cleaned, separates the sucked dirt and air from each other, collects the separated dirt, and exhausts the separated air. The vacuum cleaner 11 is a stick-type vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner 11 may be a vacuum cleaner other than a stick-type vacuum cleaner. For example, the vacuum cleaner 11 may be a canister-type, handheld-type, robot-type vacuum cleaner, or the like. The vacuum cleaner 11 is a cordless vacuum cleaner. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 11 has a built-in rechargeable battery and operates on power discharged from the built-in rechargeable battery. The vacuum cleaner 11 may also be a corded vacuum cleaner.

[0013] The collection device 12 supports the vacuum cleaner 11 while the vacuum cleaner 11 is not cleaning a surface to be cleaned. While supporting the vacuum cleaner 11, the collection device 12 charges a rechargeable battery built into the vacuum cleaner 11 and collects dust collected by the vacuum cleaner 11. The collection device 12 is also called a station, base, dock, stand, etc.

[0014] 1.2 Appearance of the recovery device 1, the collection device 12 includes an attachment / detachment unit 21, an attachment detection unit 22, an operation unit 23, and a notification unit 24. A suction port 11a is formed in the vacuum cleaner 11. A suction port 61a is formed in the collection device 12.

[0015] The vacuum cleaner 11 is attached to and detached from the attachment / detachment part 21. When the vacuum cleaner 11 is attached to the attachment / detachment part 21, the suction port 61a of the collection device 12 is connected to the suctioned port 11a of the vacuum cleaner 11. The collection device 12 collects dust from the vacuum cleaner 11 via the suctioned port 11a and the suction port 61a.

[0016] The attachment detection unit 22 detects whether the vacuum cleaner 11 is attached to the attachment / detachment unit 21. The attachment detection unit 22 may be either a contact-type attachment detection unit or a non-contact-type attachment detection unit. The contact-type attachment detection unit is a physical switch or the like. When the vacuum cleaner 11 is attached to the attachment / detachment unit 21, the vacuum cleaner 11 acts on an operator of the physical switch, thereby changing the state to one of an on state and an off state, and when the vacuum cleaner 11 is detached from the attachment / detachment unit 21, the vacuum cleaner 11 no longer acts on the operator of the physical switch, thereby changing the state to the other of an on state and an off state. The physical switch is a momentary push button switch or the like. When the vacuum cleaner 11 is attached to the attachment / detachment unit 21, the vacuum cleaner 11 presses the push button of the momentary push button switch, thereby changing the state to one of an on state and an off state, and when the vacuum cleaner 11 is detached from the attachment / detachment unit 21, the vacuum cleaner 11 no longer presses the push button of the momentary push button switch, thereby changing the state to the other of an on state and an off state. The non-contact type attachment detection unit is an infrared photoelectric sensor, a distance sensor, etc. The infrared photoelectric sensor detects whether or not an object is present at the position where the vacuum cleaner 11 is placed when the vacuum cleaner 11 is attached to the attachment / detachment unit 21. The distance sensor is a distance sensor that detects the distance to an object near that position, etc. The distance sensor is a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor, etc.

[0017] The operation unit 23 is operated.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1 , the operation unit 23 includes a momentary push button switch 41. The momentary push button switch 41 includes an automatic garbage collection on / off button 42. The automatic garbage collection on / off button 42 is operated to switch the setting related to automatic garbage collection between a first setting that turns automatic garbage collection "off" and a second setting that turns automatic garbage collection "on." The operation unit 23 may include a switch other than the momentary push button switch 41. For example, the operation unit 23 may include an alternate push button switch, a toggle switch, a rocker switch, a rotary switch, or the like. The operation unit 23 may include a switch other than a physical switch. For example, the operation unit 23 may include a touch switch.

[0019] The notification unit 24 issues a notification.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the notification unit 24 includes a full-waste lamp 51 and an automatic collection off lamp 52.

[0021] The garbage full lamp 51 notifies whether the amount of garbage collected by the collection device 12 is full or not. The automatic collection off lamp 52 notifies whether the setting for automatic garbage collection is a first setting that turns automatic garbage collection "off" or a second setting that turns automatic garbage collection "on."

[0022] The full waste lamp 51 and the automatic collection off lamp 52 are light emitting diodes (LEDs). The full waste lamp 51 and the automatic collection off lamp 52 may be lamps other than LEDs.

[0023] The full waste lamp 51 and the automatic collection off lamp 52 may be replaced with a notification member other than a lamp. For example, the full waste lamp 51 and the automatic collection off lamp 52 may be replaced with a display, a speaker, a vibrator, or the like.

[0024] 1.3 Operating the vacuum cleaner When the user starts cleaning, he / she detaches the vacuum cleaner 11 from the attachment / detachment part 21 and performs an operation start operation on the vacuum cleaner 11 to cause the vacuum cleaner 11 to start operating. When the user finishes cleaning, he / she performs an operation end operation on the vacuum cleaner 11 to cause the vacuum cleaner 11 to stop operating, and then he / she attaches the vacuum cleaner 11 to the attachment / detachment part 21.

[0025] When an operation start operation is performed while vacuum cleaner 11 is detached from detachable unit 21 and not in operation, vacuum cleaner 11 starts operation. When an operation stop operation is performed while vacuum cleaner 11 is detached from detachable unit 21 and in operation, vacuum cleaner 11 stops operation. Note that even when vacuum cleaner 11 is attached to detachable unit 21, vacuum cleaner 11 starts operation when an operation start operation is performed, and even when vacuum cleaner 11 is attached to detachable unit 21 while in operation, vacuum cleaner 11 stops operation when an operation stop operation is performed.

[0026] 1.4 Internal structure of the recovery device FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view that schematically illustrates the internal structure of the collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the first embodiment.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the recovery device 12 includes a recovery section 25 and a dust collection section .

[0028] The collecting section 25 collects dust from the vacuum cleaner 11 and collects the collected dust in the dust collecting section 26.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the collection unit 25 includes a housing 61 and a blower 62.

[0030] An intake port 61a, an exhaust port 61b, and an air passage 61c are formed in the housing 61. The air passage 61c leads from the intake port 61a to the exhaust port 61b, and guides air from the intake port 61a to the exhaust port 61b.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 61 includes a housing body 71 and a door 72 .

[0032] An opening 71a is formed in the housing body 71. The door 72 can be opened and closed. When the door 72 is open, it does not cover the opening 71a. When the door 72 is closed, it covers the opening 71a.

[0033] The blower 62 is disposed in the air passage 61c. The blower 62 draws air from a section of the air passage 61c on the suction port 61a side of the blower 62, and exhausts the air to a section of the air passage 61c on the exhaust port 61b side of the blower 62. In this way, the blower 62 sends air that flows from the suction port 61a through the air passage 61c to the exhaust port 61b. In this way, the collection unit 25 sucks in air and dust.

[0034] The blower 62 includes a fan and a motor. The fan rotates to blow air. The motor rotates the fan.

[0035] Dust collection unit 26 is disposed in air passage 61c. Dust collection unit 26 allows the sucked air to pass through but prevents the sucked dust from passing through. In this way, dust collection unit 26 separates the sucked air and the dust from each other and holds the separated dust. Dust collection unit 26 is a paper bag, a dust case for a cyclone vacuum cleaner, or the like.

[0036] Dust collection unit 26 is detachably attached to housing 61. Dust collection unit 26 is arranged along opening 71a of housing 61. As a result, when door 72 is opened, dust collection unit 26 can be ejected from air passage 61c through opening 71a to the outside of housing 61, and can be inserted from the outside of housing 61 through opening 71a into air passage 61c. As a result, if dust collection unit 26 is a paper bag, the user can remove the paper bag containing dust from collection device 12, discard the removed paper bag, and attach a new paper bag that does not contain dust to collection device 12. If dust collection unit 26 is a dust case of a cyclone vacuum cleaner, the user can remove the dust case containing dust from collection device 12, discard the dust held in the removed dust case, empty the removed dust case, and attach the empty dust case to collection device 12. Therefore, if dust collection unit 26 is a dust case of a cyclone vacuum cleaner, dust collection unit 26 can be used repeatedly.

[0037] 1.5 Recovery device control system FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the first embodiment.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3, the collection device 12 includes the above-mentioned attachment detection unit 22, operation unit 23, notification unit 24, and collection unit 25, as well as a detection unit 27 and a control unit .

[0039] The detector 27 detects the amount of dust collected by the dust collector 26 .

[0040] The current flowing through blower 62 correlates with the amount of collected dust, and becomes significantly larger when the amount of collected dust reaches its maximum. Detector 27 utilizes this to detect the amount of collected dust based on the current flowing through blower 62, and detects when the amount of collected dust has reached its maximum. This reduces the cost of cleaning tool 1 and simplifies the structure of collection device 12 compared to when a sensor is provided that directly detects when the amount of collected dust has reached its maximum. Detector 27 may also detect the amount of collected dust based on the voltage generated by blower 62, the power consumed by blower 62, etc., and detect when the amount of collected dust has reached its maximum.

[0041] The control unit 28 causes the notification unit 24 to issue a notification and the collection unit 25 to collect the dust based on the detection result of the attachment detection unit 22, the operation performed on the operation unit 23, and the detection result of the detection unit 27.

[0042] The control unit 28 includes a microcontroller and peripheral circuits. The microcontroller includes a processor and memory. The processor executes a control program stored in the memory to cause the microcontroller and peripheral circuits to operate as the control unit 28. Some or all of the processing performed by the control unit 28 may be performed by dedicated electronic circuits.

[0043] 1.6 Automatic garbage collection As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 28 holds settings 81 relating to automatic collection of dust.

[0044] When setting 81 is the first setting, control unit 28 does not cause collection unit 25 to automatically collect dust. That is, when setting 81 is the first setting, control unit 28 does not cause collection unit 25 to start collecting dust when attachment detection unit 22 detects that vacuum cleaner 11 has been attached to attachment / detachment unit 21. When setting 81 is the second setting, control unit 28 causes collection unit 25 to automatically collect dust. That is, when setting 81 is the second setting, control unit 28 causes collection unit 25 to start collecting dust when attachment detection unit 22 detects that vacuum cleaner 11 has been attached to attachment / detachment unit 21.

[0045] The control unit 28 switches the setting 81 from the first setting to the second setting when the operation of pressing the automatic recovery / off button 42 is performed on the automatic recovery / off button 42 while the setting 81 is the first setting. The control unit 28 switches the setting 81 from the second setting to the first setting when the operation of pressing the automatic recovery / off button 42 is performed on the automatic recovery / off button 42 while the setting 81 is the second setting. Therefore, the control unit 28 switches the setting 81 between the first setting and the second setting when the operation of pressing the automatic recovery / off button 42 is performed on the automatic recovery / off button 42. The control unit 28 may switch the setting 81 from the first setting to the second setting when an operation other than the operation of pressing the automatic recovery / off button 42 is performed on the operation unit 23. The control unit 28 may switch the setting 81 from the second setting to the first setting when an operation other than the operation of pressing the automatic recovery / off button 42 is performed on the operation unit 23. The operation of switching the setting 81 from the second setting to the first setting may be different from the operation of switching the setting 81 from the first setting to the second setting. The operation of pressing the automatic recovery / off button 42 is an operation of briefly pressing the automatic recovery / off button 42.

[0046] While setting 81 is the first setting, control unit 28 turns on automatic collection off lamp 52 to indicate that setting 81 is the first setting, and while setting 81 is the second setting, control unit 28 turns off automatic collection off lamp 52 to indicate that setting 82 is the second setting. While setting 81 is the first setting, control unit 28 may turn off automatic collection off lamp 52 to indicate that setting 81 is the first setting, and while setting 81 is the second setting, control unit 28 may turn on automatic collection off lamp 52 to indicate that setting 82 is the second setting. Control unit 28 may also cause notification unit 24 to indicate whether setting 81 is the first setting or the second setting by a method other than turning on or off the lamp.

[0047] 1.7 Garbage full When detection unit 27 detects that the amount of collected dust has reached full while collection unit 25 is collecting dust, control unit 28 causes collection unit 25 to stop collecting dust and turns on full dust lamp 51 to indicate that the amount of collected dust has reached full. Control unit 28 may also cause notification unit 24 to indicate that the amount of collected dust has reached full by a method other than turning on a lamp. When detection unit 27 detects that the amount of collected dust has reached a set amount other than full, control unit 28 may cause collection unit 25 to stop collecting dust and turns on full dust lamp 51 to indicate that the amount of collected dust has reached the set amount. The set amount may be slightly less than full. When the set amount is slightly less than the full amount, dust that has not been collected in the dust collection section 26 can be prevented from overflowing into the air passage 61c of the housing 61, and the dust that has overflowed into the air passage 61c can be prevented from spilling out of the suction port 61a of the housing 61, thereby preventing the suction port 61a from becoming dirty with dust.

[0048] 1.8 Processing flow Figures 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the flow of processing performed by the control unit of the collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the first embodiment. Figures 6, 7 and 8 are diagrams schematically showing the states of the notification unit of the collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the first embodiment.

[0049] The control unit 28 executes steps S101 to S118 shown in FIGS.

[0050] When the user connects the power cord of the collection device 12 to a commercial power source and powers on the collection device 12, in step S101 the control unit 28 sets the setting 81 to the second setting, which is the initial setting. At that time, the control unit 28 turns off the automatic collection off lamp 52, as shown in Fig. 6. The initial setting may also be the first setting.

[0051] In the following step S102, the control unit 28 determines whether the setting 81 is the second setting. If the control unit 28 determines that the setting 81 is the second setting, it executes step S103. If the control unit 28 determines that the setting 81 is the first setting, it executes step S104.

[0052] In step S103, control unit 28 determines whether the operation of pressing automatic collection on / off button 42 has been performed on automatic collection on / off button 42. If control unit 28 determines that the operation has been performed on automatic collection on / off button 42, it executes step S105. If control unit 28 determines that the operation has not been performed on automatic collection on / off button 42, it executes step S107.

[0053] In step S105, the control unit 28 switches the setting 81 from the second setting to the first setting. At that time, the control unit 28 turns on the automatic collection off lamp 52 as shown in Fig. 7. After executing step S105, the control unit 28 executes step S115.

[0054] In step S104, control unit 28 determines whether the operation of pressing automatic collection on / off button 42 has been performed on automatic collection on / off button 42. If control unit 28 determines that the operation has been performed on automatic collection on / off button 42, it executes step S106. If control unit 28 determines that the operation has not been performed on automatic collection on / off button 42, it executes step S115.

[0055] In step S106, the control unit 28 switches the setting 81 from the first setting to the second setting. At that time, the control unit 28 turns off the automatic collection off lamp 52, as shown in Fig. 6. After executing step S106, the control unit 28 executes step S107.

[0056] Through steps S101 to S106, the control unit 28 switches the setting 81 between the first setting and the second setting and switches the state of the automatic collection off lamp 52 between the on state and the off state each time the automatic collection on / off button 42 is pressed.

[0057] If the setting 81 is the second setting, the control unit 28 executes steps S107 to S114 and then executes step S115. If the setting 81 is the first setting, the control unit 28 executes step S115 without executing steps S107 to S114.

[0058] In step S107, control unit 28 determines whether or not attachment detection unit 22 has detected that vacuum cleaner 11 has been attached to attachment / detachment unit 21. If control unit 28 determines that attachment detection unit 22 has detected that vacuum cleaner 11 has been attached to attachment / detachment unit 21, control unit 28 executes step S108. If control unit 28 determines that attachment detection unit 22 has not detected that vacuum cleaner 11 has been attached to attachment / detachment unit 21, control unit 28 executes step S115.

[0059] In step S108, control unit 28 starts collecting dust in collection unit 25. At this time, blower 62 sends air that flows from suction port 61a through air passage 61c to exhaust port 61b.

[0060] In steps S107 and S108, if the setting 81 is the second setting, the control unit 28 waits until the vacuum cleaner 11 is attached to the detachable unit 21 without causing the collection unit 25 to start collecting dust, and causes the collection unit 25 to start collecting dust in response to the vacuum cleaner 11 being attached to the detachable unit 21.

[0061] In the following step S109, control unit 28 determines whether detection unit 27 has detected that the amount of collected dust has reached its full capacity. If control unit 28 determines that detection unit 27 has detected that the amount of collected dust has reached its full capacity, control unit 28 executes step S110. If control unit 28 determines that detection unit 27 has not detected that the amount of collected dust has reached its full capacity, control unit 28 executes step S113.

[0062] In step S110, control unit 28 stops collecting dust in collection unit 25. At this time, blower 62 stops the operation of blowing air from suction port 61a through air passage 61c to exhaust port 61b.

[0063] In steps S109 and S110, control unit 28 causes collection unit 25 to stop collecting dust when detection unit 27 detects that the amount of collected dust has reached its full capacity.

[0064] In the next step S111, the control unit 28 turns on the dust full lamp 51 to start notifying the user, as shown in FIG.

[0065] In the following step S112, control unit 28 switches setting 81 from the second setting to the first setting. At that time, control unit 28 turns on automatic collection off lamp 52, as shown in FIG. 8. The state in which setting 81 is the first setting is maintained unless automatic collection on / off button 42 is pressed. Therefore, even if vacuum cleaner 11 is attached to detachable unit 21, automatic collection of dust will not start unless automatic collection on / off button 42 is pressed.

[0066] Through steps S109 to S112, if the amount of collected dust reaches its full capacity while collection unit 25 is collecting dust, control unit 28 causes collection unit 25 to stop collecting dust, causes full dust lamp 51 to start issuing a notification, and switches setting 81 from the second setting to the first setting. By causing collection unit 25 to stop collecting dust, dust that was not collected by dust collection unit 26 can be prevented from overflowing into air passage 61c of housing 61, and the dust that has overflowed into air passage 61c can be prevented from spilling out of suction port 61a of housing 61, thereby preventing suction port 61a from becoming dirty with dust. By causing notification unit 24 to start issuing a notification, the user can be made aware that the amount of collected dust has reached its full capacity and can be prompted to dispose of the collected dust. Furthermore, by switching setting 81 from the second setting to the first setting, automatic dust collection will not be performed even when vacuum cleaner 11 is attached to detachable unit 21, which can serve as a trigger to make the user aware that the amount of collected dust has reached full, and urge the user to dispose of the collected dust. In this way, by using the two-stage approach of making full dust lamp 51 provide a notification and not having collection unit 25 automatically collect dust, the user can be made to recognize that the amount of collected dust has reached full, and can be urged to dispose of the collected dust more effectively than if only the notification was made by full dust lamp 51. Note that S111 and S112 may be performed simultaneously, or the order in which S111 and S112 are performed may be reversed.

[0067] In step S113, control unit 28 determines whether a dust collection termination condition has been met. If control unit 28 determines that the termination condition has been met, it executes step S114. If control unit 28 determines that the termination condition has not been met, it executes step S109. The dust collection termination condition is, for example, a condition that the time elapsed since collection unit 25 started collecting dust is equal to or longer than a set time. The set time is, for example, 30 seconds. The set time is the time required for all dust accumulated in the cleaner-side dust collection unit inside vacuum cleaner 11 to be collected by dust collection unit 26 via suction opening 11a, suction opening 61a, and air passage 61c of vacuum cleaner 11. This prevents dust that does not reach dust collection unit 26 from remaining in suction opening 11a, suction opening 61a, and air passage 61c.

[0068] In step S114, control unit 28 causes collection unit 25 to end collection of dust. After executing step S114, control unit 28 executes step S115.

[0069] In steps S113 and S114, if the amount of collected dust has not reached full capacity, the control unit 28 causes the collection unit 25 to continue collecting dust until the dust collection termination condition is met, and causes the collection unit 25 to end collecting dust in synchronization with the dust collection termination condition being met.

[0070] In step S115, the control unit 28 determines whether or not the full dust lamp 51 is issuing a notification. If the control unit 28 determines that the full dust lamp 51 is issuing a notification, it executes step S116. If the control unit 28 determines that the full dust lamp 51 is not issuing a notification, it executes step S102.

[0071] In step S116, control unit 28 determines whether the operation of pressing automatic collection on / off button 42 has been performed on automatic collection on / off button 42. If control unit 28 determines that the operation has been performed on automatic collection on / off button 42, it executes step S117. If control unit 28 determines that the operation has not been performed on automatic collection on / off button 42, it executes step S102.

[0072] In step S117, the control unit 28 turns off the dust full lamp 51, as shown in FIG. 6, and ends the notification by the dust full lamp 51.

[0073] In the following step S118, the control unit 28 switches the setting 81 from the first setting to the second setting. At that time, the control unit 28 turns off the automatic collection off lamp 52, as shown in Fig. 6. After executing step S118, the control unit 28 executes step S102. S117 and S118 may be executed simultaneously, or the order in which S117 and S118 are executed may be reversed.

[0074] In steps S115 to S118, if the automatic collection on / off button 42 is pressed while the full garbage lamp 51 is turned on and the full garbage lamp 51 is issuing a notification, the control unit 28 turns off the full garbage lamp 51, terminates the notification by the full garbage lamp 51, and switches the setting 81 from the first setting to the second setting. This is because if the automatic collection on / off button 42 is pressed while the full garbage lamp 51 is issuing a notification, it is expected that the user recognizes that the amount of collected garbage has reached its full capacity and has disposed of the collected garbage. Therefore, by doing this, the notifications that are issued can be updated appropriately.

[0075] The automatic collection off lamp 52 may be turned off when an operation other than pressing the automatic collection on / off button 42 is performed. For example, the automatic collection off lamp 52 may be turned off when the user unplugs the power cord of the collection device 12 from the commercial power outlet to disconnect it from the commercial power source, putting the collection device 12 in a non-powered state, and then plugs the power cord of the collection device 12 into the commercial power outlet to connect it to the commercial power source, putting the collection device 12 in a powered state.

[0076] 1.9 Variations FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the control unit of the collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the first modified example of the first embodiment.

[0077] In the first variant of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, when the control unit 28 determines in step S109 that the detection unit 27 has detected that the amount of collected dust has reached full, the control unit 28 executes step S121.

[0078] In step S121, control unit 28 determines whether a set time has elapsed since detection unit 27 detected that the amount of collected dust has reached full. If control unit 28 determines that the set time has elapsed, it executes step S110. If control unit 28 determines that the set time has not elapsed, it executes step S121. The set time is, for example, 30 seconds, similar to step S113.

[0079] In steps S109, S121, and S110, when control unit 28 ends collection of dust in collection unit 25 as the amount of collected dust reaches full, control unit 28 causes collection unit 25 to continue collecting dust until a set time has elapsed since the amount of collected dust reached full, and ends collection of dust in collection unit 25 after the set time has elapsed since the amount of collected dust reached full. In this way, it is possible to prevent dust being sucked from remaining in suctioned port 11a, suction port 61a, and air passage 61c.

[0080] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the control unit of the collection device provided in the cleaning tool of the second modified example of the first embodiment.

[0081] In the second variant of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, when the control unit 28 determines in step S109 that the detection unit 27 has detected that the amount of collected dust has reached full, it executes step S122.

[0082] In step S122, control unit 28 determines whether a set time has elapsed since collection unit 25 started collecting dust. If control unit 28 determines that the set time has elapsed, it executes step S110. If control unit 28 determines that the set time has not elapsed, it executes step S122. The set time is, for example, 30 seconds, similar to step S113.

[0083] In steps S109, S122, and S110, when control unit 28 causes collection unit 25 to end collection of dust as the amount of collected dust reaches its full capacity, control unit 28 causes collection unit 25 to continue collecting dust until a set time has elapsed since collection unit 25 started collecting dust, and causes collection unit 25 to end collection of dust after the set time has elapsed since collection unit 25 started collecting dust. In this way, it is possible to prevent dust being sucked from remaining in suctioned port 11a, suction port 61a, and air passage 61c.

[0084] Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by a control unit of a collection device provided in a cleaning tool of a third modified example of embodiment 1. Fig. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating the state of a notification unit of a collection device provided in a cleaning tool of a third modified example of embodiment 1.

[0085] In the third modified example of the first embodiment, after executing step S111, control unit 28 executes step S115 without executing step S112. Therefore, setting 81 remains the second setting, and automatic collection off lamp 52 is not turned on, as shown in Fig. 12. Note that if automatic collection on / off button 42 is pressed while control unit 28 is turning on garbage full lamp 51 and causing notification unit 24 to issue a notification, control unit 28 changes the setting from the second setting to the first setting and turns on automatic collection off lamp 52.

[0086] In the third modified example of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, if the control unit 28 determines in step S115 that notification is to be performed, it executes step S123.

[0087] In step S122, control unit 28 determines whether or not attachment detection unit 22 has detected that vacuum cleaner 11 has been detached from attachment / detachment unit 21. If control unit 28 determines that attachment detection unit 22 has detected that vacuum cleaner 11 has been removed from attachment / detachment unit 21, control unit 28 executes step S117. If control unit 28 determines that attachment detection unit 22 has not detected that vacuum cleaner 11 has been removed from attachment / detachment unit 21, control unit 28 executes step S102.

[0088] In step S117, the control unit 28 turns off the dust full lamp 51, as shown in FIG. 6, and ends the notification by the dust full lamp 51.

[0089] In steps S115, S123 and S117, if the vacuum cleaner 11 is removed from the attachment / detachment section 21 while the control section 28 is turning on the full dust lamp 51 and causing the notification section 24 to issue a notification, the control section 28 turns off the full dust lamp 51 and causes the full dust lamp 51 to stop issuing the notification.

[0090] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be replaced with a configuration that is substantially the same as the configuration shown in the above-described embodiments, a configuration that has the same effect as the configuration shown in the above-described embodiments, or a configuration that can achieve the same purpose as the configuration shown in the above-described embodiments. Some or all of the embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in combination as long as there is no contradiction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 1 cleaning tool, 11 vacuum cleaner, 11a suction port, 12 collection device, 21 attachment / detachment part, 22 attachment detection part, 23 operation part, 24 notification part, 25 collection part, 26 dust collection part, 27 detection part, 28 control part, 41 momentary push button switch, 42 automatic collection on / off button, 51 garbage full lamp, 52 automatic collection off lamp, 61 housing, 61a suction port, 61b exhaust port, 61c air duct, 62 blower, 71 housing body, 71a opening, 72 door.

Claims

1. a detachable portion to which the vacuum cleaner is attached and detached; an attachment detection unit that detects whether the vacuum cleaner is attached to the attachment / detachment unit; A dust collection unit; a collecting unit that collects dust from the vacuum cleaner and collects the dust in the dust collecting unit; a detection unit that detects the amount of dust collected by the dust collecting unit; An operation unit; The notification department, A control unit; Equipped with The control unit When the setting is the first setting, when the attachment detection unit detects that the vacuum cleaner is attached to the attachment / detachment unit, the collection unit is not caused to start collecting the dust, When the setting is the second setting, when the attachment detection unit detects that the vacuum cleaner is attached to the attachment / detachment unit, the collection unit starts to collect the dust, when the detection unit detects that the amount of dust has reached a set amount while the collection unit is collecting the dust, the collection unit is caused to stop collecting the dust, the notification unit is caused to start issuing a notification, and the setting is switched from the second setting to the first setting; If an operation is performed on the operation unit while the notification unit is making the notification, the notification unit is made to stop making the notification. Recovery device.

2. the control unit switches the setting from the first setting to the second setting when the operation is performed on the operation unit while the setting is the first setting; Alternatively, when the operation is performed on the operation unit while the setting is the second setting, the control unit switches the setting from the second setting to the first setting. The recovery device according to claim 1 .

3. the operation unit includes a button, The operation is an operation of pressing the button. The recovery device according to claim 1 .

4. a detachable portion to which the vacuum cleaner is attached and detached; an attachment detection unit that detects whether the vacuum cleaner is attached to the attachment / detachment unit; A dust collection unit; a collecting unit that collects dust from the vacuum cleaner and collects the dust in the dust collecting unit; a detection unit that detects the amount of dust collected by the dust collecting unit; The notification department, A control unit; Equipped with The control unit When the setting is the first setting, when the attachment detection unit detects that the vacuum cleaner is attached to the attachment / detachment unit, the collection unit is not caused to start collecting the dust, When the setting is the second setting, when the attachment detection unit detects that the vacuum cleaner is attached to the attachment / detachment unit, the collection unit starts to collect the dust, when the detection unit detects that the amount of the dust has reached a set amount while the dust collection unit is collecting the dust, the collection unit is caused to stop collecting the dust, and the notification unit is caused to start issuing a notification; If the attachment detection unit detects that the vacuum cleaner has been detached from the detachable unit while the notification unit is making the notification, the notification unit stops making the notification. Recovery device.

5. Ending collection of the dust in the collection unit includes causing the collection unit to continue collecting the dust until a set time has elapsed since the detection unit detected that the amount has reached the set amount, and causing the collection unit to end collection of the dust after the set time has elapsed since the detection unit detected that the amount has reached the set amount. A recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. Ending the collection of the dust in the collection unit includes causing the collection unit to continue collecting the dust until a set time has elapsed since the collection unit started collecting the dust, and causing the collection unit to end the collection of the dust after the set time has elapsed since the collection unit started collecting the dust. A recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. Stopping collection of the dust in the collection unit includes stopping collection of the dust in the collection unit when the detection unit detects that the amount has reached the set amount. A recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

8. the notification unit includes a lamp, The notification is performed by turning on the lamp. A recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

9. A recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4; The vacuum cleaner; A cleaning tool equipped with:

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Debris evacuation for cleaning robots

    JP2020168428A