Vacuum cleaning device and cleaning system

Abstract

To provide a vacuum cleaning device in which a dust collection bag can be easily fitted to a regular position with respect to a housing chamber, and a cleaning system comprising the same.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaning device 1 comprises: a housing chamber 100 comprising an air intake port 1001 and a vent; an electric air blower of which a suction side communicates with the housing chamber 100 via the vent; a holder 11 for fitting a dust collection bag 2 comprising a mouth frame 21 comprising an opening part 210, to the housing chamber 100; and a positioning mechanism 12 for guiding the holder 11 holding the duct collection bag 2, to a predetermined fitting position in the housing chamber 100, and positioning the opening part 210 and the air intake port 1001 in association with the guiding.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an electric cleaning device that uses a dust collection bag having a mouth frame with an opening, and a cleaning system including the same. [Background technology]

[0002] In a conventional vacuum cleaner using a dust bag, a holder is used to attach the dust bag to a dust chamber. In such a vacuum cleaner, if the dust bag is not attached to the dust chamber while being held in the correct position relative to the holder, there is a risk of misalignment between the opening of the dust bag and the air intake. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 63-230134 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electric vacuum cleaner and a cleaning system including the same, in which a dust bag can be easily attached to a proper position in a storage chamber. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The electric vacuum cleaner of the embodiment comprises a storage chamber having an air intake port and an air vent port, an electric blower whose suction side communicates with the storage chamber via the air vent port, a holder for attaching a dust bag having a mouth frame with an opening to the storage chamber, and an alignment mechanism that guides the holder holding the dust bag to a predetermined installation position in the storage chamber and aligns the opening and the air intake port as it is guided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1]10A and 10B are vertical cross-sectional views showing a process of attaching the holder holding the dust bag to the storage chamber of the electric cleaning device of the embodiment. [Figure 2] 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a process of attaching the holder to the storage chamber when the dust collection bag of the electric vacuum cleaner is not held in a normal position relative to the holder. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the holder attached to a predetermined attachment position and the dust bag in its normal position. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the electric cleaning device in use. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the electric cleaning device with the cover removed from the insertion / removal opening. [Figure 6] 3A is a perspective view showing a state in which a dust bag is held in a holder of the electric vacuum cleaner, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the dust bag. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of a cleaning means used in the electric cleaning device. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a cleaning system including the electric cleaning device. [Figure 9] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0008] 8 and 9, reference numeral 1 denotes a cleaning device. The cleaning device 1 uses a separate dust bag 2 to collect dust. In this embodiment, the cleaning device 1 is a dust collection device that transfers dust collected by the cleaning means 3 as a result of cleaning with the cleaning means 3 to the dust bag 2, that is, a stationary cleaning device that is installed on an installation surface such as a floor. In the illustrated example, the cleaning device 1 and the cleaning means 3 form a cleaning system 4.

[0009] As shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), the dust bag 2 is also called a paper pack or a cloth pack. The dust bag 2 includes a bag-shaped filter medium 20. The filter medium 20 is formed into a bag shape by using a single piece of breathable paper or cloth material, or by overlapping multiple pieces of breathable paper or cloth material. Before use, the filter medium 20 is folded and flat, and when in use, it expands due to the airflow passing through it, allowing it to accommodate a predetermined amount of dust.

[0010] A mouth frame 21 is integrally attached to the filter medium 20. The mouth frame 21 is also called a mouth plate or the like and is formed of a harder material than the filter medium 20, for example, a non-breathable paper material such as hard paper. For example, the mouth frame 21 has a rectangular outer shape. The mouth frame 21 is formed in a frame shape with an opening 210. The opening 210 is opened in, for example, a circular shape. In this embodiment, the mouth frame 21 is arranged in a position offset from the center of the filter medium 20 in the folded state. In other words, the filter medium 20 is not arranged symmetrically with respect to the mouth frame 21 or the opening 210.

[0011] The cleaning means 3 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 is, for example, an electric vacuum cleaner. The cleaning means 3 includes a power supply means 30 and is driven by power supplied from the power supply means 30 to perform cleaning. The cleaning means 3 includes a suction means 31 such as an electric blower, and the suction means 31 collects dust in a dust collection section 32 by suction. The cleaning means 3 includes an attachment 35 attached to a main body 33 via a tube 34, and is operated by a user by holding a grip 36. The cleaning means 3 also includes an operation switch 37 that sets the operation of the suction means 31, and the main body control means controls the operation of the suction means 31 in response to the user's operation of the operation switch 37. The cleaning means 3 is detachable from the electric cleaning device 1, and is removed from the electric cleaning device 1 when in use, and is attached to the electric cleaning device 1 when cleaning is finished or when it is stored.

[0012] In this embodiment, the cleaning means 3 is exemplified as a stick-type vacuum cleaner, particularly a cordless vacuum cleaner in which the power supply means 30 is a DC power supply unit such as a secondary cell or battery. The power supply means 30 is disposed, for example, inside the grip portion 36. However, the power supply means 30 may also be disposed inside the main body portion 33, etc. The power supply means 30 may also be a cord reel device or the like that draws power from a commercial power source.

[0013] The dust collection unit 32 may use any dust separation method, but the illustrated example uses a cyclone separation or centrifugal separation type dust collection unit that separates dust from air by swirling the dust-containing air. The dust collection unit 32 is formed with a dust storage unit 320 that stores dust. In this embodiment, the dust storage unit 320 has a coarse dust storage unit that stores coarse dust and a fine dust storage unit that stores fine dust. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and both coarse dust and fine dust may be stored in a single dust storage unit 320.

[0014] The main body 33 is formed in an elongated shape. The suction means 31 and the dust collection unit 32 are built into the main body 33. For example, the suction means 31 and the dust collection unit 32 are arranged coaxially or approximately coaxially along the longitudinal direction of the main body 33. The main body 33 is formed with a main body suction port 330 that communicates with the suction side of the suction means 31 via the dust collection unit 32, and a main body exhaust port 331 for exhaust that communicates with the exhaust side of the suction means 31. In this embodiment, the main body 33 is also formed with a dust discharge port 332 that communicates with the dust storage unit 320. The dust discharge port 332 is a portion that discharges dust stored in the dust storage unit 320 so that it can be transferred to the dust bag 2 attached to the electric vacuum cleaner 1. The dust discharge port 332 can be opened and closed by an opening / closing means 333 such as an opening / closing valve, and is closed when the cleaning means 3 is used to collect dust in the dust collection unit 32, and is opened when the dust collected in the dust collection unit 32 is transferred from the dust storage unit 320 to the dust bag 2 attached to the vacuum cleaner 1. In this embodiment, the dust storage unit 320 is configured so that the coarse dust storage unit and the fine dust storage unit are opened and closed by a single opening / closing means 333. However, this is not limiting, and the coarse dust storage unit and the fine dust storage unit may be opened and closed separately by the opening / closing means 333. The opening and closing of such opening / closing means 333 may be controlled electrically, or may be controlled mechanically in response to the attachment of the cleaning means 3 to the vacuum cleaner 1, etc.

[0015] The pipe body 34 in this embodiment is an extension pipe formed in a straight pipe shape. However, depending on the form of the cleaning means 3, the pipe body 34 may have a flexible portion such as a hose body.

[0016] A suction mouth body is shown as an example of the attachment 35. The attachment 35 may be formed with a drive unit such as a rotating cleaning body to scrape off dust from the surface to be cleaned.

[0017] The grip portion 36 is formed integrally with the main body 33. However, depending on the configuration of the cleaning means 3, the grip portion 36 may be formed integrally with the tubular body 34.

[0018] The operation switch 37 is disposed on the main body 33 or the tube body 34 .

[0019] However, the cleaning means 3 may be a cleaning means that does not have a moving part that is driven by power supply, such as a mop or a broom.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 8, the vacuum cleaner 1 includes a vacuum cleaner body 10. The vacuum cleaner body 10 defines a storage chamber 100 into which the dust bag 2 is attached and detached via a holder 11. The storage chamber 100 defines an insertion / removal opening 1000 through which the dust bag 2 and the holder 11 are inserted and detached. The insertion / removal opening 1000 is openable and closable by a lid 101. The storage chamber 100 also defines an air intake opening 1001. The holder 11 holding the dust bag 2 is attached to a predetermined installation position in the storage chamber 100 by a positioning mechanism 12, and the opening 210 of the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2 is positioned in the correct position where it is airtightly connected to the air intake opening 1001. In other words, the correct position of the dust bag 2 is achieved by attaching and fixing the holder 11, which holds the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2 in the normal position, to the correct installation position in the storage chamber 100.

[0021] The vacuum cleaner body 10 also has a functional chamber 102 that houses functional components such as the electric blower 13 and the control means 14. The functional chamber 102 and the storage chamber 100 are formed adjacent to each other inside the vacuum cleaner body 10 and are in communication with each other via an air vent 1002. The suction side of the electric blower 13 is airtightly connected to the air vent 1002. The electric blower 13 is driven by power supplied from the power supply unit 15 and its operation is controlled by the control means 14, so that the negative pressure generated by the intake of the electric blower 13 causes dust to be trapped inside the filter medium 20 of the dust bag 2 from the air suction port 1001 through the opening 210. An exhaust port 1020 is formed in the functional chamber 102. Exhaust air from the electric blower 13 is discharged to the outside of the vacuum cleaner body 10 through the exhaust port 1020. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 15 is exemplified as a cord that draws power from a commercial power source, but the power supply unit 15 may also be a battery or the like.

[0022] In the present embodiment, three axial directions, a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction, which are orthogonal to each other, are defined below. In the drawings, one of the first directions is indicated by an arrow D1a, and the other opposite direction is indicated by an arrow D1b, one of the second directions is indicated by an arrow D2a, and the other opposite direction is indicated by an arrow D2b, and one of the third directions is indicated by an arrow D3a, and the other opposite direction is indicated by an arrow D3b. In the illustrated example, the arrow D1a direction is the forward direction, the arrow D1b direction is the backward direction, the arrow D2a direction is the leftward direction, the arrow D2b direction is the rightward direction, the arrow D3a direction is the upward direction, and the arrow D3b direction is the downward direction.

[0023] In this embodiment, the storage chamber 100 and the function chamber 102 are positioned adjacent to each other vertically inside the vacuum cleaner body 10. The electric blower 13 housed in the function chamber 102 is arranged with its suction side on top and its exhaust side on the bottom, with its axis aligned vertically. In the example shown, the electric blower 13 is arranged near the front of the function chamber 102. For example, the electric blower 13 is held inside a cylindrical holder 103 with a bottom, and is supported at the bottom of the vacuum cleaner body 10 via the holder 103. The holder 103 has an exhaust port that discharges exhaust air from the electric blower 13 into the function chamber 102.

[0024] The control means 14 housed in the functional chamber 102 is located behind the electric blower 13. In this embodiment, the control means 14 is located in the functional chamber 102 between the electric blower 13 and the exhaust port 1020.

[0025] In this embodiment, the vacuum cleaner main body 10 has a main body case 104 that partitions a space inside, and a partition body 105 that partitions the storage chamber 100 is fitted into the internal space of the main body case 104, so that the storage chamber 100 is partitioned inside the partition body 105, and a functional chamber 102 is partitioned inside the main body case 104 outside the partition body 105.

[0026] The main body case 104 has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The main body case 104 has a pair of first surfaces 1040, a pair of second surfaces 1041, and a pair of third surfaces 1042. In this embodiment, a support portion 1043 that supports the cleaning means 3 is provided to protrude forward from the lower portion of the first surfaces 1040.

[0027] In the illustrated example, the pair of first surfaces 1040 are located at the front and rear of the main body case 104, the pair of second surfaces 1041 are located at the left and right of the main body case 104, and the pair of third surfaces 1042 are located at the top and bottom of the main body case 104. An insertion / removal opening 1000 is opened in either the first surface 1040 or the second surface 1041, i.e., in the present embodiment, in the left second surface 1041. Furthermore, an exhaust opening 1020 is opened in either the first surface 1040 or the second surface 1041 of the main body case 104, i.e., in the present embodiment, in the left second surface 1041. That is, in the illustrated example, the insertion / removal opening 1000 and the exhaust opening 1020 are formed in the same second surface 1041. The insertion / removal opening 1000 is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape across the upper half of the second surface 1041. The insertion / removal opening 1000 is opened and closed by a cover 101 that constitutes a part of the second surface 1041 of the main body case 104. The exhaust opening 1020 is formed in the lower part of the second surface 1041 in the shape of a slit.

[0028] The partition 105, also referred to as a divider or the like, is smaller than the main case 104 and is entirely housed inside the main case 104. The partition 105 is formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the storage chamber 100, and in this embodiment, is a rectangular cylindrical shape. The partition 105 includes a partition portion 1050 that separates the storage chamber 100 from the function chamber 102. A vent 1002 is formed in the partition portion 1050. The partition 105 also includes side wall portions 1051 rising from both sides of the partition portion 1050. The side wall portions 1051 form both side walls of the storage chamber 100. In this embodiment, the side wall portions 1051 are overlapped inside the first surface portion 1040 of the main case 104. The partition 105 also includes opposing wall portions 1052 that are connected between the upper ends of the side wall portions 1051. The opposing wall 1052 is spaced upward from the partition 1050 and faces the partition 1050 in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the opposing wall 1052 is located downward from the third surface 1042 on the upper side of the main body case 104. The partition 105 also has an end wall 1053 that is continuous with the ends of the partition 1050, the side wall 1051, and the opposing wall 1052. The end wall 1053 is overlapped on the second surface 1041 on the right side of the main body case 104. The opening side of the partition 105 is located in a position facing the insertion / removal slot 1000.

[0029] In addition, the air intake 1001 of the storage chamber 100 may be a hole formed in the main body case 104 or the partition body 105, but in this embodiment it is formed at the end of the nozzle body 106, which is separate from the main body case 104 and the partition body 105.

[0030] Nozzle body 106 is inserted from the outside to the inside of vacuum cleaner body 10. In the example shown, nozzle body 106 is inserted through holes 1044, 1054 formed in upper third surface portion 1042 of main body case 104 and facing wall portion 1052 of partition body 105. Nozzle body 106 integrally has an upstream nozzle portion 1060 and a downstream nozzle portion 1061.

[0031] The upstream nozzle portion 1060 extends upward from the hole 1044 to the main body case 104 and the vacuum cleaner main body 10. The upstream nozzle portion 1060 is formed in a straight pipe shape. The upstream nozzle portion 1060 extends linearly in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, a cleaning means support portion 16 is attached around the upstream nozzle portion 1060. The lower end of the cleaning means support portion 16 is fitted into the hole 1044, and the upper end extends further upward than the upstream nozzle portion 1060. The cleaning means 3 is attached to the cleaning means support portion 16 when cleaning is completed or when the cleaning means 3 is stored. The dust discharge port 332 of the cleaning means 3 and the nozzle body 106, i.e., the air intake 1001, are airtightly connected via the cleaning means support portion 16.

[0032] Preferably, the cleaning device 1 has a function for charging the power supply means 30 of the cleaning means 3. In other words, the cleaning device 1 has a function for charging the power supply means 30, preferably when the cleaning means 3 is attached at the end of cleaning or when stored. For example, a terminal 160 for charging the cleaning means 3 is arranged on the cleaning means support part 16. The terminal 160 is electrically connected to a charging circuit provided in the cleaning device 1, and is electrically and mechanically connected to the charging terminal 38 of the cleaning means 3 attached to the cleaning means support part 16, so as to charge the power supply means 30 of the cleaning means 3.

[0033] The downstream nozzle portion 1061 is formed in a straight pipe shape with its axis inclined relative to the upstream nozzle portion 1060. Therefore, the nozzle body 106 has a bent pipe shape that is bent at the connection portion between the upstream nozzle portion 1060 and the downstream nozzle portion 1061. In this embodiment, the downstream nozzle portion 1061 is inclined rearward from the upper portion, which is the upstream side, to the lower portion, which is the downstream side. The downstream end side of the downstream nozzle portion 1061 is located extending downward beyond the opposing wall portion 1052, and an opening at the lower end, which is the downstream end of the downstream nozzle portion 1061, forms the intake port 1001 of the accommodation chamber 100. In this embodiment, the downstream end of the downstream nozzle portion 1061, i.e., the opening surface of the intake port 1001, is along a plane inclined at a predetermined angle in a non-orthogonal direction relative to the axis of the downstream nozzle portion 1061. The "opening surface of intake port 1001" refers to a plane including the entire or substantially the entire edge of intake port 1001, and in this embodiment refers to a plane including the downstream end surface of downstream nozzle portion 1061. In the illustrated example, the opening surface of intake port 1001 is inclined so as to protrude downward, i.e., inward into storage chamber 100, toward the front, i.e., the back side of storage chamber 100, which is the direction away from insertion / removal port 1000, when viewed from the insertion / removal port 1000 side.

[0034] Preferably, a seal member 17 is attached to the downstream end of the downstream nozzle portion 1061 around the suction port 1001. The seal member 17, also called a packing, contacts the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2 held by the holder 11 attached to the storage chamber 100 at a predetermined position to airtightly connect the opening 210 and the suction port 1001. The seal member 17 is formed of a flexible material and is continuous in a ring shape, which in this embodiment is a circular or elliptical ring shape, surrounding the suction port 1001. The seal member 17 is disposed along the opening surface of the suction port 1001. Therefore, like the opening surface of the suction port 1001, the contact surface of the seal member 17 with the mouth frame 21 is also inclined so as to protrude downward, i.e., toward the interior of the storage chamber 100, in a forward direction, i.e., away from the insertion / removal port 1000.

[0035] In this embodiment, the nozzle body 106 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 10 via an attachment portion 1062. In the illustrated example, the attachment portion 1062 is formed in a flange shape around the downstream nozzle portion 1061, and is attached and fixed to the upper part of the opposing wall portion 1052 of the partition body 105.

[0036] The holder 11 for attaching the dust bag 2 to the storage chamber 100 includes a holder main body 110. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6(a), the holder main body 110 is formed in a plate shape, and the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2 is placed on the back side. In this embodiment, the holder main body 110 has the same width as the storage chamber 100. The holder main body 110 is formed with a holder opening 111 that exposes the opening 210 and its peripheral edge in the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2.

[0037] In the illustrated example, the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2 can be slidably attached to the holder 11 along the back side of the holder main body 110. For example, the holder main body 110 is formed with a mouth frame restricting portion that restricts the position of the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2, and a holder locking portion 113 that locks the mouth frame 21 between the mouth frame restricting portion and the holder locking portion 113. The mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2 is slidably inserted from one end side of the holder main body 110 along the back side of the holder main body 110 between the mouth frame restricting portion and the holder locking portion 113, and the holder locking portion 113 is biased to abut against the mouth frame 21 in a direction intersecting the sliding direction (indicated by arrow S), thereby sandwiching the mouth frame 21 between the mouth frame restricting portion and the holder locking portion 113. The holder locking portion 113 can be operated by the user from the surface side of the holder main body 110, and in this embodiment, by elastically moving the holder locking portion 113 in a direction away from the mouth frame restricting portion, the distance between the mouth frame restricting portion and the holder locking portion 113 becomes wider than the width dimension of the mouth frame 21, thereby releasing the lock on the mouth frame 21. In the example shown in the figure, the holder main body 110 has a width dimension greater than that of the dust bag 2.

[0038] The holder 11 also includes a holder restricting portion 114 that restricts the position of the mouth frame 21 in the sliding direction when the holder 11 is slid in. The holder restricting portion 114 abuts against the end of the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2, thereby restricting the mouth frame 21 to a normal position relative to the holder 11. For example, the holder restricting portion 114 protrudes from the edge of one end of the holder opening 111. That is, in this embodiment, the holder restricting portion 114 cooperates with the mouth frame restricting portion and the holder locking portion 113 to restrict the mouth frame 21 to a normal position relative to the holder 11 when the dust bag 2 is inserted in the sliding direction past the holder restricting portion 114 and reaches the normal position, by abutting the rear end of the mouth frame 21 in the sliding direction. Note that hereinafter, the "normal position" refers to a position in which the dust bag 2 is not displaced in the sliding direction relative to the holder 11 and the opening 210 is exposed at the holder opening 111.

[0039] Preferably, holder 11 is formed with an attachment confirmation section 115 for confirming the attachment state of mouth frame 21 of dust bag 2 to holder 11. Attachment confirmation section 115 is a window opened near the other end of holder main body 110, and when mouth frame 21 is in the correct position relative to holder 11, a part of mouth frame 21 is exposed, making it possible to visually confirm whether dust bag 2 is attached to holder 11 in the correct position.

[0040] The holder 11 also includes a holder operating part 116 that allows the user to grip and operate the holder 11. The holder operating part 116 is formed at the other end of the holder main body 110, that is, on the opposite side to the side where the dust bag 2 is slidably inserted. The holder operating part 116 protrudes from the other end of the holder main body 110.

[0041] Furthermore, the holder 11 includes guided portions 117 that are guided when the holder 11 is attached to the storage chamber 100. For example, the guided portions 117 are formed on both side portions of the holder main body 110. In the illustrated example, the guided portions 117 are formed as plates that are connected to both side portions of the holder main body 110 and protrude toward the rear side of the holder main body 110. The guided portions 117 and the holder main body 110 form the holder 11 in a U-shape when viewed from the sliding direction of the mouth frame 21 of the dust collection bag 2. In this embodiment, the guided portions 117 regulate the width of the filter medium 20 of the dust collection bag 2. The guided portions 117 are formed in a triangular or trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side so that they gradually protrude more from the holder main body 110 in the sliding direction of the mouth frame 21 of the dust collection bag.

[0042] The guided portion 117 is formed with a locking and fixing portion 118 for locking and fixing the holder 11 at a predetermined mounting position in the accommodation chamber 100. The locking and fixing portion 118 is, for example, a tongue-shaped elastic claw, and elastically protrudes in the thickness direction of the guided portion 117.

[0043] The holder 11 is configured to mount and hold the dust bag 2 in the storage chamber 100 with the slide insertion side of the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2, i.e., one end side of the holder main body 110, as the front side and the opposite side as the rear side, with the dust bag 2 positioned downward relative to the holder 11.

[0044] 1 and 4, holder 11 is attached to a predetermined attachment position in storage chamber 100 by positioning mechanism 12. Positioning mechanism 12 includes guide portion 120 that guides guided portion 117 of holder 11, and restriction portion 121 that restricts the position of dust bag 2.

[0045] The guide portion 120 guides the holder 11 between the insertion / removal opening 1000 and a predetermined mounting position within the storage chamber 100. In this embodiment, the guide portion 120 guides the holder 11 in the front-to-rear direction. In the illustrated example, the guide portion 120 guides the holder 11 from the insertion / removal opening 1000 toward the predetermined mounting position, and upward and forward so as to approach the air intake 1001. That is, the guide direction of the guide portion 120 is inclined in a direction that intersects with the opening direction of the insertion / removal opening 1000, i.e., the front-to-rear direction that is the normal direction to the opening surface of the insertion / removal opening 1000. Therefore, the mounting direction of the dust bag 2 into the storage chamber 100 has a vertical component. Furthermore, the guide direction of the guide portion 120 gradually changes from the guide start position to the guide end position. In this embodiment, the guide portion 120 is configured so that the guide direction gradually changes between the guide direction toward the insertion / removal opening 1000 (indicated by arrow DG1) and the guide direction toward the predetermined mounting position (indicated by arrow DG2). Therefore, the guide direction by which the guide portion 120 moves the holder 11 toward the air intake port 1001 is inclined in a direction intersecting the direction of the opening surface of the air intake port 1001 and the abutting surface of the seal member 17. The guide portion 120 is configured so that the front-to-rear component of the guide direction gradually increases and the up-to-down component gradually decreases from the insertion / removal opening 1000 toward the predetermined mounting position. Therefore, the holder main body 110 of the holder 11 guided by the guide portion 120 and the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2 held by the holder 11 are mounted with the angle of their planar direction gradually changing.

[0046] In this embodiment, the guide portion 120 is formed as a continuous curved groove that abuts against the lower portion of the guided portion 117 of the holder 11. The front end of the guide portion 120, which is the end opposite the insertion / removal opening 1000, forms a wall that defines the predetermined mounting position of the holder 11. Therefore, the guide portion 120 of this embodiment has a positioning function for the predetermined mounting position of the holder 11. The guide portion 120 is recessed in the side wall portion 1051 of the partition body 105 and continues forward from the rear end of the side wall portion 1051. Therefore, the guiding start position of the guide portion 120 is located forward and away from the insertion / removal opening 1000. However, the guide portion 120 may be formed intermittently or as a convex portion, etc. For example, the guide portion 120 is arranged on both side walls of the storage chamber 100. In the illustrated example, the guide portion 120 is formed on each of the side wall portions 1051 of the partition body 105.

[0047] Further, a locking portion 122 for locking the holder 11 in a predetermined mounting position in the accommodation chamber 100 is formed near the guide portion 120. The locking portion 122 is located above and spaced apart from the guide portion 120, and in this embodiment, is formed as a recess that elastically receives the locking fixing portion 118 of the holder 11.

[0048] Holder 11 is guided by guide portion 120 from insertion / removal opening 1000 side to a predetermined mounting position, and restricting portion 121 sets mouth frame 21 of dust bag 2 to the normal position. In other words, when dust bag 2 is to be mounted in storage chamber 100 via holder 11 while mouth frame 21 of dust bag 2 is not in the normal position relative to holder 11, restricting portion 121 shifts the position of dust bag 2 relatively to holder 11 to the normal position, thereby positioning dust bag 2 so that opening 210 of mouth frame 21 of dust bag 2 held by holder 11 mounted and held in the predetermined mounting position is airtightly connected to intake port 1001.

[0049] The restricting portion 121 is located in the vicinity of the intake port 1001, and in this embodiment, at or near the inner edge of the seal member 17. In the example shown, the restricting portion 121 is a convex portion formed to protrude downward from the opening surface of the intake port 1001, i.e., from the lower end of the nozzle body 106 or the downstream nozzle portion 1061. The restricting portion 121 is located on the opposite side of the center of the intake port 1001 from the predetermined mounting position of the holder 11, i.e., on the rear side which is the guide start position side of the holder 11 or the insertion / removal port 1000 side. The restricting portion 121 extends in the opening direction of the intake port 1001. In other words, the restricting portion 121 extends in the axial direction of the nozzle body 106 or the downstream nozzle portion 1061, which is the extension direction of a part of the wall surface of the nozzle body 106 or the downstream nozzle portion 1061, which is the wall surface of the intake port 1001. The length of protrusion of restricting portion 121 from intake port 1001 is set so that it does not interfere with opening frame 21 when dust bag 2 is attached or detached, and is inserted at least into opening 210 when dust bag 2 is in the correct position, and preferably inserted from opening 210 into filter medium 20. Restricting portion 121 extends to a position beyond the contact surface of seal member 17.

[0050] In this embodiment, the extension direction of restricting portion 121 intersects with the opening surface of intake port 1001 and the abutting surface of seal member 17 at an angle θ less than 90°, i.e., an acute angle. Angle θ is defined as the angle between the direction from the base end of restricting portion 121 toward the tip end and the direction of the opening surface of intake port 1001 or the abutting surface of seal member 17 from the base end side of restricting portion 121 toward the outer edge of intake port 1001. In other words, angle θ is the angle formed by the exterior of restricting portion 121 with seal member 17.

[0051] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4 , the holder 11 is preferably regulated to a predetermined mounting position when the lid 101 closes the storage chamber 100, i.e., when the insertion / removal opening 1000 is closed so as to be hermetically closed. The lid 101 includes a plate-shaped lid main body 1010 that forms part of the second surface 1041 on the left side of the main case 104. The lid main body 1010 is sized to cover the insertion / removal opening 1000. The lid main body 1010 has a contact portion 1011 formed on the front side, which is the side facing the storage chamber 100, i.e., the inside, that can contact the holder 11 in the predetermined mounting position when the storage chamber 100 is closed. When the holder 11 mounted in the storage chamber 100 is not in the predetermined mounting position, i.e., when it is positioned rearward away from the predetermined mounting position, the contact portion 1011 contacts, for example, the holder operating portion 116 of the holder 11 from behind, thereby pushing the holder 11 into the predetermined mounting position. In this embodiment, the abutment portion 1011 has a thickness in the left-right direction and extends in the up-down direction, and also serves as a reinforcing rib for the lid main body portion 1010. The lid 101 can be engaged with and disengaged from the main body case 104 by a lid locking means 107. The lid locking means 107 is disposed on the top of the lid 101, for example.

[0052] It is preferable that the lid 101 cannot close the insertion / removal opening 1000 when the holder 11 or the dust bag 2 is not attached to the storage chamber 100. For this reason, in this embodiment, the storage chamber 100 is provided with a safety device 108, which serves as a holder attachment detection means. The safety device 108 is disposed, for example, at the top of the storage chamber 100, facing the lid locking means 107. In the illustrated example, the safety device 108 is disposed at the bottom of the opposing wall portion 1052 of the partition 105. In this embodiment, the safety device 108 is formed in a lever shape and is configured to move to a position that prevents the lid 101 from being locked by the lid locking means 107 when the holder 11 is not in the predetermined attachment position, and to a retracted position, for example, downward, relative to the lid locking means 107 when the holder 11 is in the predetermined attachment position, thereby switching between permission and prohibition of the lid 101 from closing the storage chamber 100, i.e., the insertion / removal opening 1000, in response to the attachment or detachment of the holder 11.

[0053] Next, the operation of one embodiment will be described.

[0054] When using the vacuum cleaner 1, first, the dust bag 2 is attached to the storage chamber 100. If the dust bag 2 is already attached to the storage chamber 100, this step is not necessary.

[0055] The mouth frame 21 of an unused, folded dust bag 2 is attached to a separate holder 11. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the mouth frame 21 is aligned with one end of the back side of the holder main body 110 of the holder 11, and the mouth frame 21 is slidably inserted between the mouth frame restricting portion and the holder locking portion 113. Preferably, the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2 is slidably inserted into the holder 11 to its normal position, i.e., the position where the mouth frame 21 abuts against the holder restricting portion 114.

[0056] Next, as shown in FIG. 1, holder 11 holding dust bag 2 is attached to storage chamber 100 through insertion / removal opening 1000 of vacuum cleaner body 10, from which cover 101 (shown in FIG. 4) has been removed. For clarity, dust bag 2 is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with filter medium 20 slightly open. Leaving filter medium 20 in dust bag 2 somewhat open at the time of attachment makes filter medium 20 more likely to expand when negative pressure from electric blower 13 acts, as described below. First, the user pushes holder 11 from a position below insertion / removal opening 1000 so that guided portions 117 abut against guide portions 120 on both sides of holder 11, and then tilts holder 11 upward and forward, following the guide of guide portions 120. At this time, guide portion 120 moves holder 11 and dust bag 2 toward air intake port 1001 in accordance with the guide direction at the start of guiding when holder 11 or dust bag 2 is attached. The guide direction gradually changes near air intake port 1001 to the guide direction at the end of guiding when holder 11 or dust bag 2 is attached. As a result, the angle of mouth frame 21 of dust bag 2 relative to the opening direction of air intake port 1001 gradually changes, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 . Therefore, holder 11 is inserted without mouth frame 21 of dust bag 2 essentially coming into sliding contact with seal member 17. When mouth frame 21 of dust bag 2 is in the normal position relative to holder 11, restricting portion 121 protruding from the opening surface of air intake port 1001 is inserted into filter medium 20 through opening 210, allowing holder 11 to move to the predetermined installation position without directly interfering with mouth frame 21. On the other hand, if the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2 is not in the normal position relative to the holder 11 but is shifted relatively forward of the holder 11, then, as shown in Figure 2, before the holder 11 reaches the specified mounting position, for example when it moves in the guide direction toward the specified mounting position, the regulating portion 121 will abut against the mouth frame 21 at the inner edge of the opening 210, preventing the dust bag 2 from moving.As the holder 11 is pushed in, the dust bag 2 will shift relatively backward relative to the holder 11, and the dust bag 2 will return to its normal position relative to the holder 11.

[0057] When holder 11 is in the predetermined mounting position, locking portion 118 is locked with locking portion 122, and holder 11 is held and fixed in storage chamber 100 as shown in Fig. 3. In this state, mouth frame 21 of dust bag 2 approaches parallel or approximately parallel to the abutting surface of seal member 17, thereby abutting annularly against the abutting surface of seal member 17 at a position around opening 210, thereby achieving the normal position where opening 210 and intake port 1001 are airtightly connected. Also, safety device 108 retracts downward.

[0058] Thereafter, as shown in Figure 4, the insertion / removal opening 1000 is closed by the lid body 101 and the lid body 101 is locked and fixed by the lid body locking means 107, thereby sealing the insertion / removal opening 1000 and causing the abutment portion 1011 to abut against the holder operating portion 116 of the holder 11 or to face the rear of the holder operating portion 116 with a small gap, thereby regulating the position of the holder 11 in the storage chamber 100, i.e., the position of the dust bag 2 held by the holder 11.

[0059] In this state, the electric cleaning device 1 can be powered by the power supply unit 15. For example, the power supply unit 15 may be powered simply by connecting it to an outlet on a wall or the like, or may be powered by a predetermined operation, such as turning on a power switch.

[0060] By performing the above steps, the electric cleaning device 1 is brought into a standby state where it can be used.

[0061] A user cleans a surface to be cleaned using the cleaning means 3 shown in Fig. 7. For example, when a user grips the handle 36 of the cleaning means 3 and removes it from the electric vacuum cleaner 1 (shown in Fig. 8), the opening / closing means 333 closes the dust discharge port 332. Then, when the user operates the operation switch 37 to set the operation of the suction means 31, the main body control means controls the suction means 31 in accordance with the setting, generating negative pressure. The user places the attachment 35 on the surface to be cleaned and uses the handle 36 to move the entire cleaning means 3 back and forth, sucking in dust and air using the negative pressure.

[0062] Dust-laden air sucked in from attachment 35 is introduced into dust collection unit 32 from main body suction port 330 via pipe body 34, where dust is separated from the air and collected in dust collection unit 320. The air from which the dust has been separated is discharged to the outside of main body 33 from main body exhaust port 331 (shown in FIG. 9 ) while cooling suction means 31.

[0063] When cleaning with the cleaning means 3 is completed, the user stops the suction means 31 or the cleaning means 3 by operating the operating switch 37, and as shown in Figure 8, places the attachment 35 of the cleaning means 3 on the support part 1043 of the electric cleaning device 1, while attaching the main body part 33 of the cleaning means 3 to the cleaning means support part 16 of the electric cleaning device 1.

[0064] After this attachment, the opening / closing means 333 of the cleaning means 3 opens the dust discharge port 332, thereby airtightly connecting the dust collection compartment 320 to the air intake port 1001 via the cleaning means support part 16. After the cleaning means 3 is attached to the electric cleaning device 1 and the opening / closing means 333 opens the dust discharge port 332, the control means 14 operates the electric blower 13 at an appropriate timing. The "appropriate timing" may be linked to the attachment of the cleaning means 3 to the electric cleaning device 1 or the operation of the opening / closing means 333 using a sensor or mechanical structure, or may be when the user performs a predetermined operation such as operating a switch, or when an operation start time set by the user, etc., arrives. In this embodiment, when the cleaning means 3 is attached to the cleaning means support part 16, the charging terminal part 38 is electrically and mechanically connected to the terminal part 160, and charging of the power supply part 30 begins at an appropriate timing.

[0065] 4 and 8, when electric blower 13 operates, a negative pressure is generated in chamber 100, causing filter material 20 in dust bag 2 to expand. This negative pressure acts on dust collection chamber 320 of cleaning means 3 through opening 210, air inlet 1001, and open dust outlet 332, causing dust trapped in dust collection chamber 320 to be sucked into filter material 20 in dust bag 2 along with air and transferred thereto. Control means 14 may operate electric blower 13 for a preset operating time, or may operate electric blower 13 until a predetermined condition related to dust transfer is met, such as detecting that a predetermined amount of dust has been transferred from inside dust collection chamber 320. The operating time of electric blower 13 may be a fixed time or may be a time set by the user.

[0066] When air containing dust, i.e., dust-laden air, flows into the inside of the filter medium 20, the dust is separated and collected by the filter medium 20, and the clean air that has passed through the filter medium 20 is sucked into the electric blower 13 in the functional chamber 102 through the vent 1002. The air sucked into the electric blower 13 cools the electric blower 13 and is discharged from the electric blower 13 to the outside of the holder 103, and then is discharged from the functional chamber 102 to the outside of the vacuum cleaner main body 10 or the main body case 104 through the exhaust port 1020.

[0067] Dust bag 2, into which dust has been transferred, can be removed from vacuum cleaner 1 and discarded as needed. First, cover locking means 107 is operated to remove cover 101 from main body case 104, thereby opening insertion / removal opening 1000. Holder operating part 116 is grasped and holder 11 is pulled rearward, thereby disengaging locking part 118 from locking part 122, and dust bag 2 moves rearward together with holder 11 in the guide direction at the start of guiding when removing holder 11 or dust bag 2. Next, the guide direction gradually changes to the rearward and downward, which is the guide direction at the end of guiding when removing holder 11 or dust bag 2, and mouth frame 21 moves while changing the angle of its surface direction so as not to interfere with restricting part 121. This prevents dust from spilling out of opening 210 due to an impact or the like caused by interference between restricting part 121 and mouth frame 21.

[0068] The user pulls the dust bag 2 together with the holder 11 rearward and downward from the storage chamber 100 through the insertion / removal opening 1000, carries it to a disposal location such as a trash can, and operates the holder locking part 113 at that location, whereby the dust bag 2 is released from the holder 11 and falls under its own weight to be discarded. Therefore, the user can discard the dust bag 2 without directly touching the dust bag 2 that has become soiled by collecting dust.

[0069] Thus, according to one embodiment, the alignment mechanism 12 guides the holder 11 holding the dust bag 2 to a predetermined mounting position in the storage chamber 100, and aligns the opening 210 with the air intake port 1001 as a result of this guidance. Therefore, by mounting the holder 11 holding the dust bag 2 in the storage chamber 100, the dust bag 2 can be easily mounted in the correct position relative to the storage chamber 100.

[0070] Furthermore, the alignment mechanism 12 regulates the position of the dust bag 2 by having the regulating portion 121 abut against the mouth frame 21 at the edge of the opening 210 of the dust bag 2 held in the holder 11, which is guided by the guide portion 120 to a predetermined mounting position in the storage chamber 100. Therefore, even if the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2 is not mounted in the correct position relative to the holder 11, the mouth frame 21 will come into contact with the regulating portion 121 at the inner edge of the opening 210 by inserting the holder 11 along the guide portion 120 of the storage chamber 100, and as the holder 11 moves to the correct mounting position, the regulating portion 121 will push the mouth frame 21 relatively, allowing it to be moved to the correct position relative to the holder 11.

[0071] The restricting portion 121 is long enough to not interfere with the attachment of the dust bag 2, so that the position of the dust bag 2 can be reliably restricted even if the mouth frame 21 is slightly deformed, and even if the tip of the restricting portion 121 enters the filter material 20, the suction of dust into the filter material 20 of the dust bag 2 is not significantly affected.

[0072] Furthermore, the lid 101 that opens and closes the storage chamber 100 is located in a position that restricts the holder 11 to a predetermined mounting position in the storage chamber 100 when the storage chamber 100 is closed, so even if the holder 11 is not inserted to the predetermined mounting position, the holder 11 can be moved to the predetermined mounting position by closing the lid 101.

[0073] Therefore, the dust bag 2 is basically positioned correctly relative to the storage chamber 100 simply by attaching it, so the user does not need to be overly concerned about aligning the dust bag 2 to the correct position.

[0074] Furthermore, the guide portion 120 guides the holder 11 in the direction of approaching the intake port 1001 toward the predetermined mounting position in the storage chamber 100, and the opening surface of the intake port 1001 and the contact surface of the sealing member 17 extend in a direction intersecting the guide direction of the guide portion 120 in approaching the intake port 1001. Therefore, when the holder 11 holding the dust bag 2 is inserted along the guide portion 120, the sealing member 17 and the mouth frame 21 do not easily slide against each other, resulting in little resistance, making mounting easier, and the restricting portion 121 is less likely to come into contact with the opening 210 of the mouth frame 21 of the dust bag 2 during insertion, making mounting easier and also improving the sealing performance of the sealing member 17.

[0075] In particular, when the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is a dust collection device in which the air intake 1001 is located at the top of the storage chamber 100 and the insertion / removal opening 1000 is located on the side of the storage chamber 100, the opening surface of the air intake 1001 and the abutting surface of the sealing member 17 are inclined downward toward the back of the storage chamber 100 when viewed from the insertion / removal opening 1000 side, so that an inclined component is generated in the opening surface of the air intake 1001 and the abutting surface of the sealing member 17 in a direction that intersects the direction in which the dust bag 2 held in the holder 11 is pushed from the insertion / removal opening 1000 side into the specified mounting position in the storage chamber 100. Therefore, compared to when, for example, the opening surface of the air intake 1001 and the abutting surface of the sealing member 17 are horizontal, the sealing member 17 can be pressed more reliably against the dust bag 2 side, ensuring sealing performance.

[0076] Since the restricting portion 121 extends to a position beyond the contact surface of the sealing member 17 at or near the inner edge of the annular sealing member 17, when the dust collection bag 2 is removed from the specified mounting position, dust near the opening 210 is less likely to get caught on the restricting portion 121, and spillage of dust when the dust collection bag 2 is removed can be suppressed.

[0077] In particular, since the regulating portion 121 extends in the extension direction of the wall surface of the air intake 1001, dust collected from the air intake 1001 into the dust collection bag 2 is less likely to get caught on the regulating portion 121, and when the dust collection bag 2 is removed from its designated mounting position, dust near the opening 210 is less likely to get caught on the regulating portion 121, which prevents dust from spilling when the dust collection bag 2 is removed, and the regulating portion 121 can be molded integrally with the nozzle body 106 that constitutes the air intake 1001.

[0078] The direction in which the restricting portion 121 extends intersects with the opening surface of the intake port 1001 and the contact surface of the sealing member 17 at an acute angle, so that as the holder 11 is pushed into the specified mounting position with the mouth frame 21 abutting against the restricting portion 121, a force acts on the mouth frame 21 in a direction that brings it closer to the sealing member 17 along the inclination, making it easier for the sealing member 17 to come into contact with the mouth frame 21.

[0079] The electric cleaning device 1 can be suitably used as a dust collection device that transfers dust collected by the cleaning means 3 into the dust collection bag 2 attached to the storage chamber 100 through the air intake 1001 and the opening 210 by driving the electric blower 13.

[0080] Furthermore, by configuring the cleaning system 4 in which the cleaning device 1 serves as a dust collection device and transfers the dust collected by the cleaning means 3 to the dust collection bag 2 attached to the cleaning device 1, the burden of maintenance work on the user for the cleaning means 3 can be reduced, for example by eliminating the need to discard the dust collected in the cleaning means 3 each time. In addition, when the cleaning means 3 is removed from the cleaning device 1 and used, it can be used without any accumulated dust. In particular, in the case of a cleaning means 3 that is a vacuum cleaner that uses the suction means 31 to suck and collect dust into the dust collection section 32, not only can it be used while maintaining the good suction power of the suction means 31, but because dust is transferred each time the cleaning means 3 is attached to the cleaning device 1, there is no need for the cleaning means 3 alone to be able to collect a large amount of dust in the dust collection section 32, and the size of the dust collection section 32 can be reduced, thereby making the cleaning means 3 more compact and lightweight.

[0081] In the above embodiment, cleaning device 1 is not limited to being used as a dust collection device, but may also be used as a floor-traveling vacuum cleaner in which a tube such as a hose or an attachment is connected to intake port 1001 or nozzle body 106, and vacuum cleaner main body 10 is moved over the floor to clean, or any other type of vacuum cleaner. In this case, the correspondence between the first direction through third direction and the up-down direction, left-right direction, and front-rear direction may be appropriately selected depending on the posture of use of cleaning device 1, for example, by setting the third direction to the front-rear direction, the second direction to the up-down direction, and the first direction to the left-right direction.

[0082] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these embodiments. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1 Electric vacuum cleaner 2 dust bags 3 Cleaning means 4. Cleaning System 11 Holder 12 Alignment mechanism 13 Electric blower 17 Sealing material 21 Mouth frame 100 Containment Rooms 101 Lid 120 Guide part 121 Regulatory Department 210 Opening 1000 Insertion / Removal Port 1001 Air intake 1002 Ventilation hole

Claims

1. a chamber having an intake port and a vent; an electric blower having a suction side communicating with the accommodation chamber through the vent; a holder for attaching a dust bag having a mouth frame with an opening to the storage chamber; an alignment mechanism that guides the holder holding the dust bag to a predetermined mounting position in the storage chamber and aligns the opening and the air intake port in accordance with the guide; An electric cleaning device comprising:

2. The alignment mechanism includes: a guide portion that guides the holder within the accommodation chamber; a restricting portion that is located at the intake port and restricts the position of the dust bag by coming into contact with an edge of the opening of the dust bag held by the holder that is guided to the predetermined mounting position in the storage chamber by the guide portion; 2. The electric cleaning device according to claim 1.

3. a sealing member that contacts the opening frame side of the dust bag attached to the predetermined attachment position of the storage chamber and airtightly seals the air intake port; the guide portion guides the holder in a direction toward the predetermined mounting position in the accommodation chamber and toward the intake port; The opening surface of the intake port and the contact surface of the seal member extend in a direction intersecting with the guide direction of the guide portion in approaching the intake port.

3. The electric cleaning device according to claim 2.

4. The sealing member is formed in an annular shape, The restricting portion extends to a position beyond the contact surface of the seal member at or near the inner edge of the seal member.

4. The electric cleaning device according to claim 3.

5. The restricting portion extends in the extension direction of the wall surface of the intake port.

5. The electric cleaning device according to claim 4.

6. The extending direction of the restricting portion intersects with the opening surface of the intake port and the contact surface of the seal member at an acute angle.

5. The electric cleaning device according to claim 4.

7. a lid for opening and closing the storage chamber; The cover restricts the holder to the predetermined mounting position in the storage chamber when the storage chamber is closed.

2. The electric cleaning device according to claim 1.

8. The dust collection device is configured to transfer the dust collected by the cleaning means into the dust collection bag attached to the storage chamber through the air intake and the opening by driving the electric blower.

8. The electric cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the electric cleaning device is a vacuum cleaner.

9. an insertion / removal opening for inserting and removing the dust collection bag held by the holder into and from the storage chamber; a sealing member that abuts against the opening frame side of the dust bag attached to the predetermined attachment position of the storage chamber and airtightly seals the air intake port, the air intake is located at an upper portion of the storage chamber, The insertion / removal opening is located on a side of the storage chamber, The opening surface of the intake port and the contact surface of the seal member are inclined downward toward the back side of the storage chamber when viewed from the insertion / removal opening side.

9. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 8.

10. cleaning means for collecting dust; The electric cleaning device according to claim 8; A cleaning system comprising:

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