vacuum cleaner head for vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide a cleaner head for a cleaner and also to provide a vacuum cleaner including the cleaner head.SOLUTION: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner includes a laser diode for illuminating dust on an area of a working surface in front of the cleaner head by green light.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner and to a vacuum cleaner including such a cleaner head. Regarding the machine. [Background technology]

[0002] A vacuum cleaner generally comprises a main body including a dust separating device and a cleaning device having an opening and connected to the main body. The vacuum head and the dust-laden air are drawn into the main body through the opening and the vacuum head. The opening faces downward so as to face the floor surface to be cleaned. The dust-laden air is conveyed to a separator that evacuates the dust before the air is exhausted to the atmosphere. The separation device may be one or more filters, filter bars, or the like. The device may include a filter, a filter bag, and a cyclone device.

[0003] A driven agitator, typically in the form of a brush bar, is rotatably mounted within the suction cavity of the cleaner head. The brush bar is typically an elongated cylindrical member carrying radially outwardly extending bristles. The opening is defined by a base plate located at the base of the cleaner head. The brush bar has a small opening, usually a long, rectangular shape. The bristles are slightly The nozzle may be mounted within the suction cavity so as to protrude outwards.

[0004] The brush bar is primarily driven when the vacuum cleaner is used to clean carpeted surfaces. The brush bar rotates by an electric motor powered by power from the body of the vacuum cleaner. driven by the airflow through or into the cleaner head The brush bar may be driven by a turbine that is driven by a motor via a drive belt. It may be driven by a motor or directly by a motor, thereby As the brush bar rotates, the bristles sweep across the carpet surface, removing any loose fibers. and any dust or other debris located on the surface of the carpet or between the carpet fibers. This causes a significant amount of energy to be released into the dust, stirring up both the dust and other detritus (dead organisms and excrement). The brush bar rotates in the direction that the bristles move from the leading edge of the opening to the trailing edge. The rotating bristles then sweep the debris back through the opening and into the suction chamber. Air suction forces air under the baseplate, around the brush bar, and away from the carpet surface. It helps lift and carry the dust from the opening through the cleaner head towards the separating device.

[0005] To make cleaning the floor easier, install a light on the vacuum head to illuminate the floor area. This allows for the visualization of dust, hair, and other objects on the floor. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for lighting a floor surface using a plurality of ultra-high A vacuum cleaner having a lighting system including high-intensity light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is described. . [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 6,672,735 Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner, the cleaner head comprising: The head includes an optical system for illuminating dust particles on an area of ​​the work surface located in front of the cleaner head. The optical system includes a laser diode that emits green light.

[0008] Using a laser diode to illuminate dust that has accumulated in the area of ​​the work surface allows the laser The power-to-light conversion efficiency of laser diodes is generally much higher than that of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). is so high that for a given optical output, less power needs to be supplied to the laser diode. This reduces the power consumption required to supply the laser diode. Due to the lower power consumption, laser diodes generate less heat than LEDs during use, and therefore To transfer the heat from the laser diode to the surrounding air, a fan or heat sink is used. There is no need to provide a heat dissipation device.

[0009] The term "green light" means light having a wavelength in the range of 495 to 570 nm. The human eye contains more green photoreceptor cone cells than red or blue photoreceptor cells. Therefore, green light appears brighter to the human eye than other colors of light of the same brightness. For example, For a given light intensity, green laser light appears approximately eight times brighter than red laser light. Therefore, with respect to the desired perceived intensity of illumination of the area of ​​the work surface located in front of the cleaner head, Therefore, the use of laser diodes that emit green light is advantageous compared to LEDs that emit white light. , which may allow power consumption to be further reduced.

[0010] The term "dust" refers to dust that accumulates on floors or raised surfaces such as countertops, tables, benches, shelves, etc. This includes dust, hair, detritus and other unwanted matter that may accumulate on work surfaces such as floors.

[0011] The cleaner head preferably has a leading edge, a trailing edge and two or so blades extending between the leading and trailing edges. The front edge of the cleaner head is usually at a right angle to the side walls. The floor cleaner includes or defines an intake opening through which airflow is drawn into the cleaner head during use of the vacuum cleaner. It may be defined by the leading edge of an engaging sole plate or other component; The leading edge of the vacuum cleaner head is agitated by an agitator such as a cylindrical or conical brush bar, may also be defined by the body or casing of the cleaner head.

[0012] The optics is preferably located adjacent to one of the side walls of the cleaner head, preferably in contact with the side wall. It is located in the housing between the vacuum head suction chamber or agitator. When placed on one side of the cleaner head, the optics can be moved to the side of the vacuum without increasing the height of the vacuum head excessively. The optical system can be housed within the vacuum head and positioned relatively close to the work surface. The optical system is preferably configured such that the central axis of the light beam emitted by the optical system is parallel to the axis of the vacuum cleaner. The angle of the head to the flat work surface is within the range of 0 to 10°, more preferably within the range of 0 to 5°. The optical system is positioned 10 m from the work surface on which the vacuum cleaner head is placed. The light beam is emitted from the cleaner head at a height of less than 100 mm, preferably less than 5 mm. Such shallow angle lighting reduces the user's visibility of debris on the work surface. Light scattered by such dust particles can be easily detected from the work surface. The dust particles appear brighter than the light reflected from them, casting relatively long shadows behind them and providing relatively bright illumination. This provides a significant contrast with the dust particles. This will greatly assist the user in identifying dust particles on the work surface and will allow the user to vacuum the work surface. The initial back and forth sweep of the head increases the chances of dust being trapped in the cleaner head, This reduces the time it takes to clean the surface and reduces power consumption.

[0013] Preferably, to provide dust illumination along the forward path of the cleaner head over the work surface, The majority (i.e., at least 50%) of the area of ​​the work surface illuminated by the optical system However, the boundary is defined by two planes that include each side wall of the cleaner head. However, one or more parts of this area of ​​the work surface are outside the bounded area. It is preferable to do this so that any debris just outside the forward path of the cleaner head is visible to the user. This determines how the cleaner head is repositioned at the end of its forward movement. This helps the user to determine the dust density, which is measured in the direction perpendicular to these two planes. The extent to which the illumination extends beyond either of these two planes is preferably determined by the Less than the maximum width, more preferably less than half the maximum width of the cleaner head.

[0014] The optical system preferably receives the light emitted from the laser diode and produces the light. The cleaner head includes a beam shaping means for directing the cleaner head toward the work surface, so that when the cleaner head is placed on a flat work surface, The optical system illuminates the dust particles on a sector-shaped area of ​​the work surface. This sector is made up of two radii that extend away from the optical system and an arc that connects their ends. Alternatively, these lines joining the ends of the two radii can be , may have a non-circular curvature or shape, and the optical system works in a triangular shape It can also be linear to illuminate dust in areas of the surface.

[0015] The sector preferably has a central angle in the range of 70 to 110 degrees. The central axis, which is located at an angle midway between the two radii, is preferably aligned with the leading edge of the cleaner head. The alignment angle is preferably within the range of 35 to 65 degrees, more preferably within the range of 40 to 50 degrees. One of the radii defining the boundary of the sector is preferably 2.0 mm to 1.5 mm from the front edge of the cleaner head. Located directly in front of the cleaner head, aligned at an acute angle of less than 0°, more preferably less than 10° Maximize dust illumination over the area of ​​the work surface. Another one of the radii that defines the boundary of the sector is preferred. or extending outward beyond a plane containing the sidewall adjacent the optical system, thereby It is preferable to illuminate the dust particles by aligning them at an obtuse angle with the leading edge of the head. Each preferably illuminates dust in an area of ​​the work surface on either side of the forward path of the cleaner head. so that it is longer than the maximum width of the vacuum cleaner head.

[0016] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner, the cleaner head comprising: The head includes an optical system positioned toward one side of the cleaner head, the optical system being configured to project from a flat work surface. a light source and a light source for receiving light emitted from the light source to illuminate the dust on the area; and beam shaping means for directing the cleaner head to a flat work surface on which the area is to be cleaned. A sector shape with a central axis aligned at an angle between 35 and 65 degrees relative to the leading edge of the machine head one of the radii defining the boundary of the sector is at an angle of less than 20° to the leading edge of the cleaner head The light source is preferably a laser diode.

[0017] In a third aspect, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner including a cleaner head as described above. The vacuum cleaner is preferably in the form of a handheld or stick vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner is preferably a battery-powered vacuum cleaner.

[0018] The optical system is preferably operated by a controller of the vacuum cleaner. Preferably, the suction source of the vacuum cleaner (usually a motor-driven fan unit) is switched on. Activates the optical system when turned on and airflow is drawn into the vacuum cleaner through the cleaner head The controller is configured to control the optical system while the suction source is switched on. A constant power can be supplied to the optical system so that the intensity of the light emitted from it does not change. Alternatively, the controller may vary the power supplied to the optical system over time to adjust the optical The output optical power of the optical system can also be varied over time.

[0019] The power supplied to the optical system can be changed in steps or gradually. In a preferred embodiment, the power supplied to the optical system is In a preferred embodiment, the suction source is turned on and the maximum power supply is increased gradually until it reaches the maximum power supply. The maximum optical output power of the laser diode is reached within 1 second, preferably within 0.5 seconds after the laser diode is turned on. The power supplied to the optical system increases at a rate of It may be constant or may vary over time. For example, when the suction source is turned on, The rate of increase in power is relatively low and can be increased gradually or in stages over time As a further alternative, the controller may be configured to turn on the optical system for a period of time after the suction source is turned on. This allows for a delay in power delivery to the optical system. During this period, the user places the cleaner head on the work surface after switching on the suction source. This corresponds to a period of time during which the optical system is not projecting light onto the work surface being cleaned. do.

[0020] In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner comprising a suction source and a vacuum pump configured to pump air into the vacuum pump. a vacuum cleaner head for passing the vacuum through the vacuum cleaner and a controller for controlling the suction source. A vacuum cleaner is provided, the cleaner head of which illuminates an area of ​​a work surface in front of the cleaner head. an optical system, wherein when the suction source is turned on, the controller supplies the optical system; The power is configured to vary over time.

[0021] When the suction source is turned off, the controller preferably immediately turns off power to the optical system. The controller is configured to stop the vacuum cleaner while the suction source is on. Adjusting the power supply to the optical system in response to changes in the condition of either the head or the vacuum cleaner For example, the controller may be configured to Pause, reduce, or adjust power to the optics depending on the aircraft's orientation The cleaner head or one of the vacuum cleaners can emit a signal that changes depending on its orientation. The controller may include a sensor that outputs the output from the sensor. As another example, the power supply to the optical system can be adjusted according to If the cleaner head is lifted off the work surface, the controller adjusts the power supply to the optics. The cleaner head will adjust automatically if it is lifted off the work surface. sensors such as a jockey wheel that detects the pressure of the air in the suction chamber The controller may include a sensor that outputs a signal in response to the signal received from the sensor. , the power supply to the optical system can be adjusted. This allows, for example, If there is a change in the behavior of the vacuum cleaner that indicates an interruption in the cleaning process, such as the vacuum cleaner moving In addition, the power consumption of the optical system can be reduced, thereby saving battery energy.

[0022] The features described above in relation to the first aspect of the present invention are the same as those of the second to fourth aspects of the present invention. is equally applicable to each and vice versa.

[0023] Preferred features of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner head of a vacuum cleaner showing an area of ​​a work surface onto which dust particles are illuminated by the optics of the cleaner head; [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a side view of the cleaner head with part of the side wall cut away to illustrate the components of the optical system; [Figure 4] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a control system for the optical system. [Figure 5] 1 is a graph showing the increase in output optical power of the optical system over time from when the suction source is switched on. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] One embodiment of a vacuum cleaner is shown in Figure 1. The vacuum cleaner 10 comprises a body 12. The body 12 is attached to the cleaner head 16 by a wand assembly 14, The dust-laden airflow is sucked into the vacuum cleaner 10 by the suction source 18 via 16. 18 is a fan unit, typically motor-driven. The vacuum cleaner 10 removes dust and other particles from the airflow. The various components of the vacuum cleaner 10, including a separation system 20 for separating other dust particles and a suction source 18, A power source 22 for driving the components, in this embodiment including a battery, and an air outlet 24 .

[0026] The cleaner head 16 is shown in more detail in Figures 2 and 3. The cleaner head 16 a casing 26 defining substantially parallel opposed side walls 28, 30 of the cleaner head; The casing 26 comprises a suction chamber through which the airflow is drawn into the cleaner head. The suction chamber can be formed by combining several different sections. The air conditioner houses an agitator 32 for agitating the dust particles and other particles and mixing them into the airflow. The agitator 32 is rotatable relative to the casing 26 about an axis collinear with the longitudinal axis of the agitator 32. , and in this embodiment this axis is approximately perpendicular to the side walls 28, 30 of the cleaner head 16. In this embodiment, the agitator 32 has a cylindrical shape and includes an array of bristles 34 that engage the work surface. The front of the agitator 32 is exposed by the casing 26. The front edge 36 of the cleaner head 16 The casing 26 defines a leading edge 36 extending between the side walls 26, 28. 6, 28. Alternatively, the leading edge 36 may be defined by the agitator 32. The rotation of the agitator 32 is accommodated either inside the casing 26 or inside the agitator 32. The motor is driven by a motor that drives the bristles 34 to suck dirt and dust backwards into a vacuum chamber. The agitator is configured to rotate in a direction that sweeps the air into the suction chamber. into the neck 38 of the cleaner head 16, where the air flows through the outlet of the cleaner head 16. The neck 38 is adapted to connect the cleaner head 16 to the wand assembly. and a connector 42 for connecting the motor and optics 46 of the cleaner head 16 to the power supply 22 of the vacuum cleaner 10. The electrical connector 44 is for connecting to the

[0027] In Figures 2 and 3, the cleaner head 16 is placed on a planar work surface W, such as a horizontal floor surface. The optical system 46 of the cleaner head 16 is shown as being a housing 48 located between one of the side walls 28, 30 and the agitator 32; The optical system 46 is positioned on one side of the area 50 of the work surface located in front of the cleaner head 16. and emitting light through a window 49 in the housing 48 to illuminate any dust particles on the surface. The optical system 46 includes a light source 52 for emitting light, a light source 52 for receiving the emitted light, and a light source 52 for receiving the emitted light. and a lens 54 for directing the light beam onto a work surface. The light source 52 and lens 54 are The light source 52 may be attached to a module connected to the housing 48. is a laser diode. A suitable laser diode is the Osram PLT5 510 green laser diode, which has a maximum optical output of 10 mW at 25°C. , emitting green light with a wavelength of 515 nm. Referring also to FIG. 4, the light source 52 is 6, preferably connected to a controller 56 mounted within the housing 48. The controller 56 is connected to one or more wires disposed in the neck 38. The neck 38 is connected to a plurality of electrical connectors 44. The neck 38 is connected to the wand assembly 14. 1. When the wand assembly 14 is in place, the wires in the wand assembly 14 will connect the electrical connector 44 to the body 12 of the vacuum cleaner 10. The controller 58 is connected to the

[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, optical system 46 produces a beam of light B, which in this embodiment is a beam of green light. Beam B is preferably relatively shallow with a vertical beam spread of less than 5°. The optical system 46 has a center axis A of the light beam B in the range of 0 to 10 degrees, more preferably or disposed in the housing 48 so as to contact the work surface W at an acute angle a2 within the range of 0 to 5°. In this embodiment, the optical system 46 is arranged to contact the workpiece at an angle of 2°. Preferably, ray B is less than 10 mm from the working surface, more preferably less than 5 mm. The vacuum cleaner head 16 is positioned so that it is emitted from the vacuum cleaner head 16 at a height of less than 100 mm.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 2, the optical system 46 is disposed within a housing 48 and a lens 54 is disposed on a work surface 48. A beam of light is directed onto the work surface W so that the area 50 onto which the dust is illuminated is in the shape of a fan. The sector is formed as follows. The sector is divided into two parts that define the boundary of the sector and define the central angle Z1 of the sector. The central angle Z1 is preferably in the range of 70 to 110°.

[0030] The central axis A, which is located at the angular position midway between the two radii R1 and R2, is preferably located on the work surface W. is aligned at an angle Z2 to the direction D of forward movement of the cleaner head 16, which direction D is generally It is parallel to the side walls 26, 28 and perpendicular to the leading edge 36 of the cleaner head 16. The angle Z2 is The angle is preferably in the range of 25° to 45°, and in this embodiment it is 35°. The axle is preferably at an angle in the range of 35 to 65 degrees relative to the leading edge 36 of the cleaner head 16. In this embodiment, the alignment is at a 45° angle.

[0031] The radii R1 and R2 are the areas of the work surface on either side of the path of forward movement of the cleaner head. In this example, the length is longer than the maximum width of the cleaner head 16 so as to illuminate the dust on the area. The area is located between two planes that contain the side walls 26, 28 of the cleaner head 16. In order to illuminate the dust particles on the area of ​​the work surface W immediately in front of the door 16, the radius R1 is relatively small. angle of the cleaner head 16, preferably less than 20°, more preferably less than 10°. The other radius R2 is preferably aligned with the leading edge 36 of the cleaner head 16 during forward travel. on the leading edge 36 of the cleaner head 16 to illuminate areas of the work surface that are outside the path. Aligned at an obtuse angle.

[0032] The optical system 46 detects when the suction source 18 of the vacuum cleaner 10 is switched on by a user. The controller 58 of the vacuum cleaner 10 communicates with the controller 56 of the cleaner head 16. The controller 56 controls the supply of power to the light source 52 of the optical system. The controller 56 controls the power supplied to the light source 18. The output optical power is set to the maximum (10 mW in this embodiment) immediately after the power is switched on. In this embodiment, the controller 56 controls the power supplied to the light source. The output optical power is gradually increased to a maximum value over a period of time from when the suction source 18 is turned on. This reduces power consumption at the beginning of the cleaning process and Also, while the user is still positioning the cleaner head 16 to begin the cleaning process, This reduces the risk of exposure to the full output optical power of the light source 52. Therefore, this period is preferably a few seconds or less, and in this embodiment is 0.25 seconds.

[0033] The controller 58 detects when the suction source 18 is turned off by the user or when the battery is depleted. When the power supply is turned off, the controller 56 is configured to turn off the power to the light source 52. Turn off.

[0034] The controller 56 also varies the output optical power of the light source 52 from the maximum value during the cleaning process. As shown in Figure 4, the cleaner head 16 and outputs a signal to the controller 56 in response to the monitored condition. In response to the signal, the controller 56 varies the output optical power of the light source 52. For example, the sensor 60 may be located in the suction cavity or neck of the cleaner head 16. The controller 56 may be arranged to detect the pressure within the and reducing or neutralizing the supply of power to the optical system 46 in response to a signal received from the sensor 60 indicating For example, the pressure in the cleaner head 16 can be configured to The cleaner head 16 is lifted off the work surface to reposition the cleaner head 16 on the work surface. may change when the vacuum cleaner 10 is moved to another part of the room or during movement of the vacuum cleaner 10 to another environment. However, the output optical power of the light source 52 is reduced while the cleaner head 16 is away from the work surface. A signal received from the sensor 60 indicates that the cleaner head 16 has returned to the work surface. Upon receiving this signal, the controller 56 increases the power supplied to the optical system 46 to increase the power of the light source 52. As another example, the sensor 60 may be configured to orient the cleaner head 16 to It can also be configured to detect when the cleaner head 16 is lifted off the work surface. The IFRS 11.1.1 protocol may also provide an indication of what has happened.

Claims

1. 1. A cleaner head for a floor cleaner, comprising: the cleaner head having opposed side walls; the cleaner head further comprising optics for illuminating dust on an area of ​​a work surface in front of the cleaner head, the optics comprising a light source emitting green light; the optical system is located adjacent one of the side walls of the cleaner head; the cleaner head comprises a suction chamber, the optical system being located between one of the side walls and the suction chamber; each said side wall and said suction chamber being defined by a casing of said cleaner head; the cleaner head comprising an agitator housed within the suction chamber; the casing or the agitator defines a front edge of the cleaner head extending between the side walls; a front portion of the agitator is exposed by the casing; The optical system is located below the leading edge. Vacuum cleaner head.

2. A vacuum cleaner head as described in claim 1, wherein the optical system is positioned on one side of the agitator.

3. 3. A cleaner head as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the optical system is arranged so that a central axis of a light beam emitted by the optical system contacts a horizontal work surface on which the cleaner head is placed at an acute angle in the range of 0 to 10 degrees.

4. A cleaner head according to claim 3, wherein the acute angle is in the range 0 to 5 degrees.

5. A cleaner head according to any preceding claim, wherein the optical system is arranged so that the light beam is emitted from the cleaner head at a height of less than 10 mm above a work surface on which the cleaner head is placed.

6. 6. A cleaner head according to any preceding claim, wherein the majority of the area of ​​the work surface onto which dust particles are illuminated by the optical system is bounded by two planes comprising respective side walls of the cleaner head.

7. 7. A cleaner head according to any preceding claim, wherein the optical system includes beam shaping means for receiving light emitted from the light source and directing the light towards a flat work surface such that when the cleaner head is placed on the work surface, the optical system illuminates dust particles on a sector shaped area of ​​the work surface.

8. A cleaner head according to claim 7, wherein the beam shaping means comprises a lens.

9. A cleaner head according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the central axis of the sector is aligned at an angle in the range of 35 to 65 degrees relative to the leading edge of the cleaner head.

10. A cleaner head according to any preceding claim, wherein the light source is a laser diode.

11. A vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner head according to any preceding claim and a suction source for drawing a flow of air through the cleaner head and into the vacuum cleaner.

12. 12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 in the form of a handheld vacuum cleaner.

13. 13. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 11 or claim 12 in the form of a battery-powered vacuum cleaner.

14. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 11 to 13, including a controller for controlling the optical system.

15. 15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to activate the optical system when the suction source of the vacuum cleaner is turned on.

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