Suction port part, suction port body, and vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide a suction port part improved in dust removal at the end of a rotary cleaning body, a suction port body having the suction port part, and a vacuum cleaner including the suction port part and the suction port body.SOLUTION: The rotary cleaning body 11 includes the main cleaning part 110 and the sub-cleaning part 111 disposed at the end in the axial direction, the sub-cleaning part 111 includes the sub-cleaning part base 1110 and the sub-cleaning member 1111 protruding from the sub-cleaning part base 1110, and the distal end of the sub-cleaning member 1111 is positioned a plurality of times at different positions in the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 over the entire arrangement width W.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a suction port part including a rotary cleaning body rotated by an electric motor, a suction port body having the same, and an electric vacuum cleaner including the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, suction nozzles used in vacuum cleaners include a rotary cleaning body driven by a driving source such as an electric motor. The rotary cleaning body scrapes and removes dust from the floor surface by rotating, assisting in suction cleaning. An auxiliary cleaning unit is provided near the end of the rotary cleaning body so that it can be used on floor surfaces such as corners of a room. For example, the base end of the cleaning unit is located at a fixed position in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body, and the tip end is inclined at a fixed angle relative to the axis of the rotary cleaning body. Therefore, when the suction nozzle is moved over the floor surface, the cleaning unit can only make linear contact with the floor surface. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a rotary cleaning body with a cleaning unit that improves dust removal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2-104322 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a suction port part that improves dust collection at the end of a rotary cleaning body, a suction port body having the same, and an electric vacuum cleaner equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The suction port portion of the embodiment includes an electric motor, a rotary cleaning body, and a transmission part that transmits the power of the electric motor to the rotary cleaning body so as to rotate the rotary cleaning body. The rotary cleaning body has a main cleaning part and a sub-cleaning part arranged at the axial end. The sub-cleaning part includes a base and a cleaning member protruding from the base, and the tip of the cleaning member is positioned at multiple different locations around the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning body over its entire width. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a rotary cleaning body of a suction port according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an enlarged portion of the rotary cleaning body. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing an end portion of the rotary cleaning body. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a side view of the same rotary cleaning body as viewed from the axial direction. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the suction port body having the same suction port portion with a portion thereof omitted. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the same suction port body with a portion thereof omitted. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an electric vacuum cleaner equipped with the same suction mouth body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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

[0008] 6 and 7, reference numeral 1 denotes a suction port. The suction port 1 includes an electric motor 10, a rotary cleaning body 11, and a transmission unit 12, and is configured so that the power of the electric motor 10 is transmitted to the rotary cleaning body 11 by the transmission unit 12, thereby driving the rotary cleaning body 11 to rotate. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the suction port 1 is applied to the suction port body 2 shown in FIG. 9. Hereinafter, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions are defined based on the state in which the suction port body 2 is used on a horizontal object to be cleaned. In the figures, the direction of arrow FR is the forward direction, the direction of arrow RR is the rearward direction, the direction of arrow L is the leftward direction, the direction of arrow R is the rightward direction, the direction of arrow U is the upward direction, and the direction of arrow D is the downward direction.

[0009] The suction port body 2 is also referred to as a floor brush, a cleaning head, or the like. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 , the suction port body 2 includes a case body 20. The case body 20 is formed of a synthetic resin or the like and is elongated in the left-right direction, i.e., horizontally elongated, in this embodiment. The case body 20 includes a motor chamber 200 that houses the motor 10 and a cleaning body chamber 201, which is a rotary cleaning body housing section that houses the rotary cleaning body 11. In this embodiment, the case body 20 also includes a control chamber 202 that houses a control unit 13 that controls the operation of the motor 10. The control unit 13 may have a function to switch between allowing and disallowing operation of the motor 10 depending on whether the suction port body 2 is grounded to the surface to be cleaned. In the illustrated example, the control chamber 202 and the motor chamber 200 are arranged side by side, and the cleaning body chamber 201 is arranged adjacent to them in front of them via a partition wall 203.

[0010] In this embodiment, the cleaning element chamber 201 is located at the front of the case body 20. An opening 2010 is formed in the bottom of the cleaning element chamber 201, and the entire bottom of the rotating cleaning element 11 is exposed through this opening 2010, making it possible to contact the part to be cleaned. In the example shown in the figure, a front opening 2011 is formed in the front of the cleaning element chamber 201, communicating with the opening 2010. The front opening 2011 is formed by cutting out the lower end of the front end of the cleaning element chamber 201, which is the front wall of the case body 20, and extends in the left-right direction.

[0011] Furthermore, the case body 20 is formed with a rotary cleaning element support part 204 that houses the transmission part 12 and supports the rotary cleaning element 11. The rotary cleaning element support part 204 is in communication with the motor chamber 200 and the cleaning element chamber 201. In this embodiment, the rotary cleaning element support part 204 protrudes forward from the partition wall 203 between the motor chamber 200 and the control chamber 202. Therefore, cleaning element chambers 201 are disposed on both the left and right sides of the rotary cleaning element support part 204, and both sides of the rotary cleaning element support part 204 are open facing these cleaning element chambers 201. In the illustrated example, the rotary cleaning element support part 204 is located between the cleaning element chambers 201, 201, and serves as a wall part that separates the cleaning element chambers 201, 201. However, the rotary cleaning element support part 204 may protrude into the interior of a single cleaning element chamber 201 that is connected in the left-right direction.

[0012] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the case body 20 is formed with a suction chamber 205, which is a dust collection groove. The suction chamber 205 is located below the control chamber 202 and the motor chamber 200, adjacent to the rear of the cleaning element chamber 201 via a partition wall 203, and communicates with the cleaning element chamber 201 via a communication opening 2030 formed in the lower part of the partition wall 203. An suction port 2050 is opened at the bottom of the suction chamber 205. The suction port 2050 is formed in the shape of a slit that extends in the left-right direction and has a small width in the front-to-rear direction. The suction port 2050 is continuous over the entire or substantially entire rear part of the cleaning element chamber 201. In this embodiment, the cleaning body chamber 201 and the suction chamber 205 are formed independently as separate chambers, but this is not limited to this. The cleaning body chamber 201 may also serve as the suction chamber, that is, the opening 2010 may also serve as the suction port, or the cleaning body chamber and the suction chamber 205 or the suction port 2050 may be partitioned within a single opening.

[0013] A wiping unit 206 is disposed at the rear of the suction chamber 205. The wiping unit 206 comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned, such as a wooden floor, to wipe off and polish the dust from the surface, and also functions as a sealing member to ensure a high degree of vacuum at the suction port 2050. The wiping unit 206 is disposed adjacent to or close to the rear of the suction port 2050, and is elongated in the left-right direction with a length equal to or greater than that of the suction port 2050. In this embodiment, the wiping unit 206 is positioned in the form of a wall extending between the ends of the rotating cleaning body 11 or across the ranges on both sides of the case body 20. For example, a raised cloth or the like is used as the wiping unit 206.

[0014] A connecting pipe 21 is connected to the case body 20. The connecting pipe 21 is also called a rotating pipe or the like, and is connected to the case body 20 so as to be rotatable relative to the case body 20. The connecting pipe 21 communicates between the suction source and the suction port 2050 of the case body 20. The connecting pipe 21 communicates with the suction chamber 205. The connecting pipe 21 protrudes from the upper rear side of the case body 20.

[0015] The electric motor 10 of the suction port portion 1 arranged in the suction port body 2 has an output shaft 101 protruding from an electric motor main body 100 that houses a rotor, a stator, etc. The output shaft 101 is the rotating shaft of the electric motor 10 that rotates integrally with the rotor, and outputs power to the rotary cleaning body 11. In this embodiment, the electric motor 10 is arranged in the electric motor chamber 200 with the output shaft 101 aligned in the left-right direction. A pulley 102 is attached to the output shaft 101. The pulley 102 is, for example, an output gear whose circumferential surface is formed in a gear-tooth shape, and rotates integrally with the output shaft 101.

[0016] The transmission unit 12 is located relative to the electric motor 10 in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the electric motor 10 or the output shaft 101. The transmission unit 12 is located forward of the electric motor 10 and disposed on the rotary cleaning body support part 204. The transmission unit 12 has a transmission unit main body 120. The transmission unit main body 120 is rotatably supported on the case body 20 at the rotary cleaning body support part 204. The transmission unit main body 120 is, for example, a passive gear formed in a disk shape. An endless timing belt, which serves as a transmission member, is wound between the transmission unit main body 120 and the pulley 102 of the electric motor 10, and the transmission unit 12 rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the output shaft 101 of the electric motor 10. The transmission unit main body 120 is formed with a holding shaft part 122 for holding the rotary cleaning body 11. The holding shaft 122 is formed coaxially with the transmission unit main body 120 and protrudes in the axial direction of the holding shaft 122, extending into the cleaning body chamber 201. The axial direction of the holding shaft 122 is parallel or approximately parallel to the output shaft 101, and in this embodiment, is the left-right direction. The rotary cleaning body 11 is held by the holding shaft 122, and the transmission unit 12 or the transmission unit main body 120 and the rotary cleaning body 11 are arranged coaxially or approximately coaxially. In this embodiment, the holding shafts 122 protrude from both ends of the transmission unit main body 120, and the rotary cleaning bodies 11 are locked and held to each of these holding shafts 122 via a locking mechanism. That is, in the illustrated example, the rotary cleaning bodies 11 are arranged in pairs relative to one transmission unit 12, and one end of each of the two left and right rotary cleaning bodies 11 is supported in a cantilever support structure, and these rotary cleaning bodies 11 rotate integrally in the same direction.

[0017] Rotary cleaning body 11, driven by electric motor 10 via transmission unit 12, assists in suction cleaning by rotating to scrape and / or scrape out dust from the surface to be cleaned. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6, rotary cleaning body 11 has a main cleaning part 110 and a sub-cleaning part 111 located at the end in the axial direction.

[0018] The main cleaning unit 110 constitutes the main cleaning area, which constitutes the majority of the cleaning area of ​​the rotating cleaning body 11. The main cleaning unit 110 is provided on the cleaning body main body 112. The cleaning body main body 112 is a main cleaning unit support base on which the main cleaning unit 110 is attached. The cleaning body main body 112 is formed in a longitudinal cylindrical shape that is long in the axial direction, and is attached integrally to the holding shaft 122 of the transmission unit 12. In this embodiment, the holding shaft 122 of the transmission unit 12 is inserted into the inner periphery of the cleaning body main body 112, and the rotary cleaning body 11 is held by the transmission unit 12. The axis of the cleaning body main body 112 coincides or nearly coincides with the axis A of the rotary cleaning body 11. The cleaning body main body 112 is attached in a position where the end on the transmission unit 12 side is close to or in contact with the transmission unit 12.

[0019] The main cleaning unit 110 is disposed in the axial direction of the cleaning element main body 112. The main cleaning unit 110 has a cleaning range that extends across the entire axial length between both ends of the cleaning element main body 112. In this embodiment, the main cleaning unit 110 is a separate body from the cleaning element main body 112 and includes a main cleaning unit base 1100 formed contiguous with the cleaning element main body 112, and a main cleaning member 1101 such as a brush or blade that protrudes from the main cleaning unit base 1100 and whose tip end is capable of contacting the surface to be cleaned. The main cleaning unit base 1100 is disposed axially on the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning element main body 112, so that the main cleaning member 1101 is disposed in a continuous wall-like manner between both ends of the cleaning element main body 112. In the illustrated example, the main cleaning unit 110 is disposed in a spiral shape twisted in the circumferential direction of the cleaning element main body 112. The main cleaning units 110 are disposed at multiple locations around the cleaning element main body 112 at intervals. The multiple main cleaning units 110 may be identical, or the main cleaning member 1101 of at least one of the main cleaning units 110 may be different from the main cleaning members 1101 of the remaining main cleaning units 110. Alternatively, the main cleaning unit base 1100 may be formed integrally with the cleaning element main body 112. Furthermore, the main cleaning unit 110 may be disposed so as to cover the entire outer circumferential surface of the cleaning element main body 112, for example.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 6, the auxiliary cleaning unit 111 is attached to an end of the cleaning element main body 112 via an attachment unit 113. The attachment unit 113, together with the cleaning element main body 112, constitutes at least a part of the base unit B. The auxiliary cleaning unit 111 constitutes the end of the cleaning range of the rotating cleaning element 11, i.e., the corner cleaning range. The auxiliary cleaning unit 111 has a narrower cleaning range in the left-right direction than the main cleaning unit 110, and functions to mainly remove dust from areas to be cleaned, such as corners of a room. In this embodiment, the auxiliary cleaning unit 111 is located at the end of the rotating cleaning element 11 that does not face the transmission unit 12, i.e., the free end, which is the other end of the rotating cleaning element 11. In the illustrated example, the auxiliary cleaning unit 111 is located at the left end of the left rotating cleaning element 11 and the right end of the right rotating cleaning element 11. Therefore, both auxiliary cleaning units 111 are located close to both left and right side edges of the case body 20 of the suction port body 2.

[0021] The sub-cleaning unit 111 has a sub-cleaning unit base 1110, which is a base, and a sub-cleaning member 1111, which is a cleaning member that protrudes from the sub-cleaning unit base 1110 and has at least a tip end side that can come into contact with the part to be cleaned. The sub-cleaning unit 111 is arranged such that the sub-cleaning unit base 1110 is attached to an attachment part 113 located at the end of the cleaning element main body 112.

[0022] The sub-cleaning unit base 1110 is formed from a flexible material such as cloth. Preferably, the sub-cleaning unit base 1110 is formed in a continuous shape. The sub-cleaning unit base 1110 has a constant or approximately constant width. In the illustrated example, the sub-cleaning unit base 1110 is formed in advance in a circular ring shape along a direction perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the axial direction when the sub-cleaning unit 111 is not attached to the mounting portion 113, i.e., in its natural state. However, the sub-cleaning unit base 1110 may be formed in a linear shape or the like when the sub-cleaning unit 111 is not attached to the mounting portion 113, and may be formed in a circular ring shape by arranging the sub-cleaning unit base 1110 on the mounting portion 113 so that both ends are in close contact or close to each other.

[0023] The auxiliary cleaning member 1111 is formed of a material such as an elastic synthetic resin. The base of the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 is integral with the auxiliary cleaning unit base 1110, and the tip protrudes radially from the auxiliary cleaning unit base 1110. The auxiliary cleaning member 1111 is arranged over the entire auxiliary cleaning unit base 1110. In this embodiment, the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 is a brush portion consisting of linear bristles implanted in the auxiliary cleaning unit base 1110. In the drawing, multiple bristles are arranged in cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped bristle bundles at equal or approximately equal intervals on the auxiliary cleaning unit base 1110. The auxiliary cleaning members 1111 may be arranged in a single row across the width of the auxiliary cleaning unit base 1110, or in multiple rows. Furthermore, the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 may not be arranged in multiple bristle bundles, but may be implanted individually on the auxiliary cleaning unit base 1110.

[0024] Preferably, the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 is designed to be less prone to deformation than the main cleaning member 1101 by adjusting the material, composition, length, etc. thereof.

[0025] 1, 2, and 4, when attached to the mounting portion 113, the axes of the main cleaning unit 110 and the sub-cleaning unit 111 coincide or nearly coincide, and the sub-cleaning members 1111 are positioned in a circular ring shape surrounding the axis A of the rotary cleaning body 11. Furthermore, at least the positions or trajectories of the tips of the sub-cleaning members 1111 have a width in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 (the left-right direction in the drawings). Furthermore, the positions or trajectories of the tips of the sub-cleaning members 1111 are distributed so that they overlap multiple times at different locations around the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 across the entire arrangement width W. For example, the positions of the sub-cleaning members 1111 are the same in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 at multiple phases within 360° of the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning body 11, and these same positions are distributed, preferably evenly or nearly evenly, around the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 from one end to the other end of the arrangement width W of the sub-cleaning members 1111. For example, there are multiple sub-cleaning members 1111 each having at least one tip located at one end of the arrangement width W of the sub-cleaning member 1111, multiple sub-cleaning members 1111 each having at least one tip located at the other end of the arrangement width W of the sub-cleaning member 1111, and multiple sub-cleaning members 1111 each having at least one tip located midway between one end and the other end of the arrangement width W of the sub-cleaning member 1111.

[0026] In this embodiment, the axial position of the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 gradually or continuously changes in the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 so that at least the tip thereof traces a substantially reciprocating, serpentine or zigzag trajectory between one end and the other end of its arrangement width W multiple times, for example, four times, per revolution of the rotary cleaning body 11. However, the axial position does not have to be continuous in the circumferential direction. In other words, the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 is arranged so that its tip traces a trajectory that reciprocates across the arrangement width W multiple times, four times in this embodiment, per revolution of the rotary cleaning body 11. Note that hereinafter, the term "trajectory" refers to the trajectory when the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 is not in contact with the part to be cleaned, etc.

[0027] In the illustrated example, the angle of inclination of the sub-cleaning members 1111 gradually changes circumferentially around the rotary cleaning body 11 so that the inclination toward the end of the rotary cleaning body 11 relative to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cleaning body 11 increases toward the end of the rotary cleaning body 11 within the arrangement width W. Note that, hereinafter, the inclination of the sub-cleaning members 1111 is defined as the inclination of the central axis of the base end of the bristle bundle when multiple sub-cleaning members 1111 are grouped together to form a bristle bundle. That is, when multiple sub-cleaning members 1111 are grouped together in a bristle bundle, each bristle bundle has a truncated cone shape, and the sub-cleaning members 1111 may radiate from the base end, which is the sub-cleaning unit base 1110, to the tip. Therefore, the direction of the central axis of the base end of the bristle bundle is defined as the direction of the sub-cleaning member 1111. When the sub-cleaning members 1111 are not grouped together in bristle bundles, the inclination of each sub-cleaning member 1111 is defined as the inclination of the sub-cleaning member 1111.

[0028] In the illustrated example, the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 whose tips are located to the left of the rotary cleaning body 11 in the figure are more inclined to the left. In the illustrated example, the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 located farthest from the end of the rotary cleaning body 11 in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 is not substantially inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cleaning body 11, but may be slightly inclined toward the end of the rotary cleaning body 11. Furthermore, it is preferable that the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 are not basically inclined toward the side opposite the end with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cleaning body 11, but they may be slightly inclined toward the side opposite the end with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cleaning body 11.

[0029] Furthermore, some of the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 are inclined relative to the axis of the rotary cleaning body 11, and their tips protrude from the end of the base B in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11. In this embodiment, the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 with the greatest inclination and the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 located nearby in the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 protrude from the end of the rotary cleaning body 11 in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11. Therefore, the part of the tip of the auxiliary cleaning member 111 that is located at the outer end in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 is located multiple times at different positions around the circumference of the rotary cleaning body 11. Furthermore, the part of the tip of the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 that protrudes from the base B in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 is located multiple times at different positions around the circumference of the rotary cleaning body 11.

[0030] Preferably, as shown in Fig. 5, the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the axis A of the rotary cleaning body 11. That is, when viewed in the direction along the axis A, the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 that are positioned point-symmetrically with respect to the axis A have the same or substantially the same axial position within the arrangement width W (shown in Fig. 4) of the auxiliary cleaning member 11 and / or the same inclination relative to the direction perpendicular to the axis. In the example shown, the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 make four round trips within the arrangement width W (shown in Fig. 4) per revolution of the rotary cleaning body 11, and therefore the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 that are 90° apart in the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 have the same or substantially the same axial position within the arrangement width W (shown in Fig. 4) of the auxiliary cleaning member 11 or the same inclination relative to the direction perpendicular to the axis.

[0031] 1 to 4 are realized by restricting the position of the sub-cleaning unit 111 and maintaining it in a deformed state. In this embodiment, the arrangement, inclination, etc. of the sub-cleaning unit 111 are realized at least by the shape and / or structure of the mounting portion 113 to which the sub-cleaning unit 111 is attached.

[0032] The attachment part 113 serves as an auxiliary cleaning part support base to which the auxiliary cleaning part 111 is attached, and in this embodiment, also functions as a retaining part that prevents the main cleaning part base 1100 of the main cleaning part 110 from coming off in the axial direction relative to the cleaning element main body 112. The attachment part 113 may be formed integrally with the cleaning element main body 112, or may be formed separately from the cleaning element main body 112 and attached integrally thereto. The attachment part 113 is formed in an annular shape coaxial with the cleaning element main body 112, and in this embodiment, in an annular shape. That is, the axis of the cleaning element main body 112 and the axis of the attachment part 113 coincide or nearly coincide. The space inside the attachment part 113 and the space inside the cleaning element main body 112 are in communication with each other. The diameter of the attachment part 113 is larger than that of the cleaning element main body 112. The mounting portion 113 has an opening at the center, and a holding wall portion 1130 is formed around the periphery thereof to hold the inner periphery of the auxiliary cleaning unit base portion 1110. The holding wall portion 1130 has a cylindrical shape that is discontinuous or continuous in the circumferential direction.

[0033] The mounting portion 113 also has a receiving portion 1131 formed on the outer periphery of the holding wall portion 1130. The receiving portion 1131 biases the auxiliary cleaning unit 111 into an axially deformed state and maintains that deformed state. The receiving portion 1131 is formed in a circular ring shape that is continuous in the circumferential direction. The receiving portion 1131 has multiple portions in the circumferential direction that have different axial widths, and maintains a state in which at least a portion of the auxiliary cleaning unit base 1110 and / or auxiliary cleaning member 1111 is pressed in the axial direction. In other words, due to the shape of the receiving portion 1131, the auxiliary cleaning unit 111 is pressed in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11, and the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 of the auxiliary cleaning unit 111 is inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cleaning body 11.

[0034] For example, the receiving portion 1131 has multiple first portions 11310 with a larger axial width and multiple second portions 11311 with a smaller axial width, alternately arranged in the circumferential direction, with a smooth transition between them. Therefore, the tip of the receiving portion 1131 is gently curved in a wave-like shape, reciprocating multiple times in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 during one revolution of the rotary cleaning body 11. In this embodiment, the receiving portion 1131 has a wave-like shape, reciprocating continuously in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 four times during one revolution of the rotary cleaning body 11. These portions are positioned point-symmetrically or approximately point-symmetrically with respect to the axis of the mounting portion 113 or the axis A of the rotary cleaning body 11. Therefore, the arrangement of the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 is point-symmetrical with respect to the axis A of the rotary cleaning body 11.

[0035] Preferably, the mounting part 113 is formed with a receiving portion 1132 that receives the end of the main cleaning part 110 in the receiving portion 1131. The receiving portion 1132 extends, for example, in the axial direction from the end of the mounting part 113 that faces the cleaning element main body 112. In the example shown, the receiving portion 1132 is formed in a recessed or hole-like shape from the first portion 11310 of the receiving portion 1131 to the holding wall 1130. The receiving portion 1132 extends to a position closer to the end of the mounting part 113 on the opposite side from the cleaning element main body 112 than the second portion 11311 of the receiving portion 1131. Therefore, the end of the main cleaning part 110 located at the receiving portion 1132 is in a range (indicated by arrow OL) that overlaps with the arrangement width W of the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning element 11. In this embodiment, the main cleaning member 1101 at the end of the main cleaning section 110, which faces the rotary cleaning body 11 in the axial direction relative to the portion of the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 closest to the axial end side of the rotary cleaning body 11 or the range with the greatest inclination, overlaps in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 relative to the portion of the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 farthest from the axial end side of the rotary cleaning body 11 or the range with the smallest inclination.

[0036] In other words, among the multiple main cleaning parts 110, only the ends of the main cleaning members 1101 of some of the main cleaning parts 110 overlap in the axial direction of the rotating cleaning body 11 relative to the arrangement width W of the sub-cleaning member 1111, and the ends of the remaining main cleaning parts 110 are restricted to the position of, for example, the end face of the mounting part 113 on the cleaning body main body part 112 side.

[0037] In this embodiment, the mounting portion 113 has a holding groove 1133 between the receiving portion 1131 and the holding wall 1130, with the receiving portion 1131 forming the outer wall of the holding groove 1133 and the outer shell of the mounting portion 113, and the holding wall 1130 forming the inner wall of the holding groove 1133. The holding groove 1133 is recessed in the axial direction of the mounting portion 113, and is designed to receive the auxiliary cleaning unit base 1110 of the auxiliary cleaning unit 111. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the receiving portion 1131 may form the bottom of the holding groove 1133.

[0038] Preferably, the rotary cleaning body 11 has a cap portion 114. When the rotary cleaning body 11 has the cap portion 114 in this manner, the cap portion 114 forms part of the base portion B. The cap portion 114 axially covers the mounting portion 113 to prevent dust from becoming entangled or entering the mounting portion 113. In this embodiment, the cap portion 114, together with the mounting portion 113, axially sandwiches and presses at least a portion of the sub-cleaning unit base 1110 and / or sub-cleaning member 1111 of the sub-cleaning unit 111 attached to the placement receiving portion 1131 or the holding groove portion 1133. The cap portion 114 is disposed coaxially with the mounting portion 113. The cap portion 114 has a cap portion main body 1140 that covers an opening in the center of the mounting portion 113. The cap portion main body 1140 is formed in a disk shape. In this embodiment, the diameter of the cap body 1140 or the cap 114 is set smaller than the diameter of the attachment portion 113 .

[0039] The cap part 114 is also formed with a locking part 1141 for locking the cap part 114 to the attachment part 113 or the cleaning element main body part 112. In this embodiment, the locking part 1141 protrudes in the axial direction from the cap part main body part 1140. The locking part 1142 is formed to be hook-fitted into a lock receiving part 115 formed inside the attachment part 113 or inside the cleaning element main body part 112.

[0040] Furthermore, the cap 114 has an opposing restricting portion 1142 formed on the outer edge of the cap body 1140. When the cap 114 is engaged with the attachment 113 or the cleaning element body 112, the opposing restricting portion 1142 faces the receiving portion 1131 of the attachment 113 at an axial distance. The opposing restricting portion 1142 has multiple portions with different axial widths in the circumferential direction, and in this embodiment, cooperates with the receiving portions 1131 to maintain a state in which at least a portion of the sub-cleaning base 1110 and / or the sub-cleaning member 1111 is pressed in the axial direction. For example, the opposing restricting portion 1142 has multiple first portions 11420 with a larger axial width and multiple second portions 11421 with a smaller axial width, alternately arranged in the circumferential direction, with a smooth transition between them. Therefore, the tip of the opposing regulating portion 1142 is formed to be gently curved in a wave-like manner, going back and forth multiple times in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 during one revolution of the rotary cleaning body 11. In this embodiment, the first portion 11420 and the second portion 11421 of the opposing regulating portion 1142 face the second portion 11311 and the first portion 11310 of the receiving portion 1131, respectively, with a gap in the axial direction, and the sub-cleaning portion base 1110 and / or sub-cleaning member 1111 of the sub-cleaning portion 111 is sandwiched between them in the axial direction, thereby setting the inclination of the sub-cleaning member 1111. That is, due to the shapes of the opposing regulating portion 1142 or the cap portion 114 and the receiving portion 1131 or the mounting portion 113, the sub-cleaning unit base 1110 and / or the sub-cleaning member 1111 are sandwiched between the opposing regulating portion 1142 and the receiving portion 1131 in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11, so that the sub-cleaning member 1111 is inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cleaning body 11. For example, the distance between the opposing regulating portion 1142 and the receiving portion 1131 is constant or approximately constant in the circumferential direction of the mounting portion 113 and / or the cap portion 114.

[0041] Like the receiving portion 1131, the opposing regulating portion 1142 has a wave-like shape that continuously moves back and forth in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11 four times per revolution of the rotary cleaning body 11. These are positioned point-symmetrically or approximately point-symmetrically with respect to the axis of the cap portion 114 or the axis A of the rotary cleaning body 11. Therefore, the arrangement of the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 is point-symmetrical with respect to the axis A of the rotary cleaning body 11.

[0042] The suction inlet body 2 is applied to a vacuum cleaner 3 shown in FIG. 9 . In this embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 3 is a suction-type vacuum cleaner 3 in which an electric blower 31, which serves as a suction source, is disposed in a vacuum cleaner body 30. Negative pressure generated by the operation of the electric blower 31 sucks dust and air from the suction inlet body 2 into a separation section 32. The vacuum cleaner 3 may be any type, such as a floor-traveling type, a canister type, a stick type, an upright type, a handheld type, or a self-propelled vacuum cleaner. In the illustrated example, the vacuum cleaner 3 is a stick-type vacuum cleaner. In the illustrated example, the suction inlet body 2 is mechanically and fluidically connected to the vacuum cleaner body 30 by a connecting pipe 21, either directly or indirectly via a tube 33 such as an extension pipe. The operation of the electric blower 3 and the operation of the rotary cleaning body 11 or the electric motor 10 are set by a user by operating an operation switch 34. Operation switch 34 is provided on vacuum cleaner body 30 or grip portion 35 for gripping operation. Also, vacuum cleaner body 30 is provided with a main body control unit 36 ​​that operates electric blower 31 in accordance with the operation set by operation switch 34. Main body control unit 36 ​​is electrically connected to control unit 13 of suction port 1. Note that some or all of the functions of control unit 13 may be integrated into main body control unit 36. Furthermore, vacuum cleaner 3 is provided with a power supply unit 37. In this embodiment, power supply unit 37 is a battery or a secondary battery, but is not limited to this and may also be an AC-DC adapter that draws power from an external power source such as a commercial power source, a cord reel device, or the like.

[0043] Next, the operation of one embodiment will be described.

[0044] When cleaning, the user holds the grip portion 35 and operates the operation switch 34, which causes the main body control portion 36 to start the electric blower 31, and with the suction port body 2 placed on the area to be cleaned, the control portion 13 starts the rotary cleaning body 11 via the electric motor 10. The negative pressure generated by the operation of the electric blower 31 acts on the tubular body 33 and the suction port 2050 of the suction port body 2 via the separation portion 32. When the user uses the grip portion 35 to alternately move the suction port body 2 back and forth over the area to be cleaned, dust on the area to be cleaned is sequentially sucked together with air through the suction port 2050, via the connecting pipe 21 and the tubular body 33, and into the separation portion 32. Furthermore, as the rotary cleaning body 11 rotates, the main cleaning members 1101 of the main cleaning unit 110 and the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 of the auxiliary cleaning unit 111 come into contact with the area to be cleaned, and the dust scraped off or scraped out from the area to be cleaned is sucked in through the suction port 2050 located behind them. Dust is separated and collected from the dust-containing air sucked into the separation unit 32. The air from which dust has been separated cools the electric blower 31 and is then discharged to the outside of the vacuum cleaner body 30.

[0045] To explain the operation of the rotary cleaning body 11 in more detail, the rotation of the electric motor 10 is transmitted via the transmission unit 12 to the rotary cleaning body 11, causing it to rotate integrally with the transmission unit 12. The main cleaning unit 110, which accounts for more than half of the axial length of the rotary cleaning body 11, is twisted spirally in the circumferential direction, so that the main cleaning members 1101 of the main cleaning unit 110, which contact the area to be cleaned, continuously come into contact with the area to be cleaned as the rotary cleaning body 11 rotates, removing dust from the area to be cleaned in the left-right range in which the main cleaning unit 110 is disposed. The auxiliary cleaning units 1111 are located close to both sides of the case body 20 of the suction port body 2. Therefore, for example, by bringing the side of the suction port body 2 to the area to be cleaned, which is located in a corner of a room, the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 of the auxiliary cleaning unit 111 come into contact with the area to be cleaned and remove dust from the area to be cleaned near the corner.

[0046] In this case, the tip of the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 of the auxiliary cleaning unit 111 is positioned multiple times at different locations circumferentially around the rotary cleaning body 11 throughout its width W, so that with each rotation of the rotary cleaning body 11, the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 cleans the entire area from one end of the width W to the other multiple times. This improves dust removal at the ends of the rotary cleaning body 11 compared to, for example, a conventional example in which the auxiliary cleaning member cleans the same or approximately the same position in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11, and ensures dust removal even when using auxiliary cleaning members 1111 that have little resistance to the area to be cleaned. Therefore, by combining the main cleaning unit 110, which performs main dust removal, and the auxiliary cleaning unit 111, which removes dust from the ends, excellent dust removal can be achieved over a wide area. This allows the auxiliary cleaning unit 111 to be used on areas to be cleaned, such as corners of a room where dust tends to accumulate, reducing the amount of dust left behind. Furthermore, by restricting the position of the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 and maintaining it in a deformed state, the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 is positioned across the placement width W. Therefore, compared to conventional configurations in which the auxiliary cleaning member is crushed to expand the placement width, for example, the contact resistance between the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 and the surface to be cleaned, such as a carpet, is reduced, resulting in good operability, a small current load on the electric motor 10, and energy-saving operation.

[0047] Moreover, in this embodiment, the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 clean the same area within the arrangement width W multiple times per rotation of the rotary cleaning body 11, which further improves dust removal, and even if some of the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 become bent or damaged over time, the dust removal performance is not significantly impaired.

[0048] Furthermore, the angle of inclination of the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 gradually changes around the circumference of the rotary cleaning body 11 so that the inclination toward the ends of the rotary cleaning body 11 relative to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cleaning body 11 becomes greater as the ends of the rotary cleaning body 11 approach within the arrangement width W. As a result, the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 trace a trajectory in which they make contact with the part to be cleaned by smoothly and continuously moving back and forth multiple times with each revolution of the rotary cleaning body 11. This allows the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 to come into continuous and smooth contact with the part to be cleaned, achieving good dust removal.

[0049] Furthermore, some of the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 are inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cleaning body 11, with their tips protruding from the end of the base part B, or in this embodiment, from the mounting part 113 and the cap part 114, in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11, so that the range over which dust is removed by the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 can be expanded in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11, i.e., in the left-right direction. This allows dust to be removed right up to the very edge of the side of the suction port body 2, making it possible for the auxiliary cleaning members 111 to act on areas to be cleaned, such as room corners where dust tends to accumulate, and further reducing the amount of dust left behind.

[0050] Furthermore, because the end of main cleaning unit 110 is located in a range that overlaps with width W of auxiliary cleaning member 111 in the axial direction of rotary cleaning body 11, the cleaning areas of main cleaning unit 110 and auxiliary cleaning unit 111 overlap in the axial direction of rotary cleaning body 11. Therefore, one auxiliary cleaning unit 111 can be used to fill the gap between the main cleaning area of ​​main cleaning unit 110 and the cleaning area of ​​auxiliary cleaning unit 111, which is used to remove corners at the end. In other words, it is possible to prevent areas that cannot be cleaned between main cleaning unit 110 and auxiliary cleaning unit 111 in the axial direction of rotary cleaning body 11, thereby achieving good dirt removal.

[0051] At least some of the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 are pressed in the axial direction of the rotating cleaning body 11 by the mounting portion 113, and therefore at least some of the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 are inclined relative to the axial direction of the rotating cleaning body 11. This not only makes it possible to restrict the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 to a predetermined angle without crushing them, but also makes it possible to easily set the inclination angle of the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 according to the shape of the mounting portion 113 or the positioning receiving portion 1131.

[0052] In particular, this embodiment includes, in addition to the mounting portion 113, a cap portion 114 that sandwiches the auxiliary cleaning member 111 between the mounting portion 113 and the cap portion 114 in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 11. At least a portion of the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 is inclined relative to the axis of the rotary cleaning body 11 due to sandwiching between the mounting portion 113 and the cap portion 114. This allows the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 to be restricted to a predetermined angle without being crushed, and the angle of inclination of the auxiliary cleaning member 1111 can be adjusted depending on the degree of sandwiching between the mounting portion 113 and the cap portion 114. Furthermore, because the cap portion 114 covers the end of the mounting portion 113, tangling of hair is less likely to occur. Furthermore, because the mounting portion 113, auxiliary cleaning member 111, and cap portion 114 are on the same or approximately the same axis, the configuration can be simplified compared to a configuration in which any one of these axes is inclined.

[0053] Furthermore, since the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the axis A of the rotary cleaning body 11, the auxiliary cleaning members 1111 can perform cleaning in a balanced manner as the rotary cleaning body 11 rotates.

[0054] Since the auxiliary cleaning part 111 is located at the free end of the rotary cleaning body 11, which has a cantilevered support structure with one end supported, there is no need to provide a bearing or the like for the rotary cleaning body 11 on the other end side where the auxiliary cleaning part 111 is located. This means that the auxiliary cleaning part 111 can be positioned as close as possible to the side of the suction port body 2, and the auxiliary cleaning part 111 can be used to clean areas such as corners of a room where dust tends to accumulate, thereby further improving dust removal.

[0055] By providing the above-mentioned suction port portion 1 in the suction port body 2, a suction port body 2 that can clean areas to be cleaned, such as corners of a room, can be realized, and by providing this suction port body 2 in an electric vacuum cleaner 3, an electric vacuum cleaner 3 with good cleaning performance can be realized.

[0056] In the embodiment, the suction port 1 has been shown as an example in which a pair of rotary cleaning bodies 11 are cantilevered by the transmission unit 12, but this is not limiting, and a configuration is also possible in which both axial ends of one rotary cleaning body 11 are held by bearing units on both sides of the case body 20, and the central part of the rotary cleaning body 11 is connected to the transmission unit 12. In this case, by providing auxiliary cleaning units 111 at both ends of the cleaning body main body 112 of the rotary cleaning body 11, it is possible to achieve the same effects as in the above embodiment, such as improving dirt removal at the ends of the rotary cleaning body 11.

[0057] The suction port 1 can also be applied to a self-propelled electric vacuum cleaner 3 that does not have a suction port body, such as a robot vacuum cleaner. In that case, the suction port 1 can be arranged on the vacuum cleaner body of the electric vacuum cleaner 3 instead of the case body 20.

[0058] 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]

[0059] 1 Intake port 2. Suction port body 3. Vacuum cleaner 10 Electric motor 11 Rotating cleaning body 12 Transmission section 110 Main cleaning section 111 Sub-cleaning department 113 Mounting part 114 Cap part 1110 Sub-cleaning unit base, which is the base 1111 Cleaning member, auxiliary cleaning member A axis B Base W placement width

Claims

1. An electric motor, A rotating cleaning body; a transmission unit that transmits the power of the electric motor to the rotary cleaning body so as to rotate the rotary cleaning body, The rotary cleaning body is A main cleaning section; a secondary cleaning unit disposed at an end in the axial direction, The auxiliary cleaning unit includes a base and a cleaning member protruding from the base, The tip of the cleaning member is positioned multiple times at different positions in the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning body over the entire arrangement width. A suction port portion characterized by:

2. An electric motor, A rotating cleaning body; a transmission unit that transmits the power of the electric motor to the rotary cleaning body so as to rotate the rotary cleaning body, The rotary cleaning body is A main cleaning section; a secondary cleaning unit disposed at an end in the axial direction, The auxiliary cleaning unit includes a base and a cleaning member protruding from the base, The cleaning member has a tip end portion located at an outer end in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body, the tip end portion being located at different positions in the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning body a plurality of times. A suction port portion characterized by:

3. An electric motor, A rotating cleaning body; a transmission unit that transmits the power of the electric motor to the rotary cleaning body so as to rotate the rotary cleaning body, The rotary cleaning body is A main cleaning section; a secondary cleaning unit disposed at an end in the axial direction; a base portion on which the main cleaning portion and the sub-cleaning portion are disposed, The auxiliary cleaning unit includes a base and a cleaning member protruding from the base, The cleaning member has a tip end portion that protrudes from the base portion in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body and is located at different positions in the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning body. A suction port portion characterized by:

4. The cleaning members are arranged such that the angle of inclination gradually changes in the circumferential direction of the rotary cleaning body so that the angle of inclination toward the end of the rotary cleaning body with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cleaning body becomes larger as the cleaning members are closer to the end of the rotary cleaning body in the arrangement width.

4. The suction mouth portion according to claim 1, wherein the suction mouth portion is a suction port.

5. the rotary cleaning body has a base portion on which the main cleaning unit and the sub-cleaning unit are disposed, A part of the cleaning members is inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cleaning body, so that the tip ends thereof protrude from the end of the base part in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body.

3. The suction port according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The end of the main cleaning part is in a range that overlaps the arrangement width of the cleaning member in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body.

4. The suction mouth portion according to claim 1, wherein the suction mouth portion is a suction port.

7. the rotary cleaning body has an attachment portion to which the base portion of the sub-cleaning unit is attached, At least a portion of the cleaning members is pressed in the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body by the mounting portion, so that at least a portion of the cleaning members is inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cleaning body.

4. The suction mouth portion according to claim 1, wherein the suction mouth portion is a suction port.

8. The rotary cleaning body is a mounting portion to which the base portion of the auxiliary cleaning unit is attached; a cap portion that sandwiches the auxiliary cleaning portion between the attachment portion and the rotary cleaning body in the axial direction, At least a part of the cleaning member is inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotary cleaning body due to being sandwiched between the attachment portion and the cap portion.

4. The suction mouth portion according to claim 1, wherein the suction mouth portion is a suction port.

9. The cleaning members are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the axis of the rotary cleaning body.

4. The suction mouth portion according to claim 1, wherein the suction mouth portion is a suction port.

10. The rotary cleaning body has a cantilever support structure in which one end is supported and the other end is a free end, The auxiliary cleaning unit is disposed at the other end of the rotary cleaning body.

4. The suction mouth portion according to claim 1, wherein the suction mouth portion is a suction port.

11. The air intake portion according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is provided. A suction mouth body characterized by:

12. The suction mouth body according to claim 11 is provided. A vacuum cleaner characterized by:

13. The air intake portion according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is provided. A vacuum cleaner characterized by:

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