Rotating cleaning body, cleaning unit, and vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide a cleaner brush, rotary cleaning body including the same, cleaning part including the same, and vacuum cleaner including the same capable of suppressing entangling of threadlike dust.SOLUTION: A cleaner brush 1 includes: a base part 12 having a long shape in a predetermined direction; a plurality of bristle parts 10 whose base end parts are held in the base part 12; and connection parts 11 for connecting the bristle parts 10 at positions closer to tip sides than the base part 12 in the length direction of the bristle parts 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention is a vacuum cleaner brush having a plurality of bristles arranged in a predetermined direction. Shi The present invention relates to a rotary cleaning body equipped with the same, a cleaning unit having the same, and an electric vacuum cleaner equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a rotary cleaning element used in the suction port of an electric vacuum cleaner has bristles arranged on the outer periphery of a rotatably supported brush base. The bristles are brought into sliding contact with the surface to be cleaned to catch dust, which is then carried to the suction port and sucked up, removing the dust from the surface to be cleaned.

[0003] When the dust contains lint, if the lint remains tangled in the bristles and cannot be sucked up through the suction port, the lint can become intricately tangled in the rotating cleaning body as the rotating cleaning body rotates. If the lint-tangled bristles are knocked over by the lint, the dust removal ability of the area being cleaned decreases, so it is preferable to remove the tangled lint, which increases the user's maintenance efforts. Furthermore, intricately tangled lint must be cut and removed with scissors or the like, which can accidentally cut the lint. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-125811 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner brush that can prevent entanglement of thread-like debris. Shi To provide a rotary cleaning body equipped with the cleaning unit, a cleaning unit having the same, and an electric vacuum cleaner having the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The rotary cleaning body of the embodiment is Vacuum cleaner brush and Extends in the axial direction Vacuum cleaner brush can be attached a shaft-shaped base portion having a mounting portion on its outer surface; 、 The vacuum cleaner brush has a plurality of bristle portions made up of a plurality of bristles, and a connecting portion that groups the plurality of bristles together to form the bristle portions, and the connecting portion is a sewing portion having a linear body that connects the bristles to each other at a position between the attachment portion and the tip of the bristles, and the linear body curves and protrudes toward one side of the bristles, which is the front side in the rotation direction, so as to surround the side of the plurality of bristles that make up the bristles, and is positioned along the other side of the bristles and is entangled with the other side of the bristles, thereby grouping the bristles together. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is an enlarged side view showing a vacuum cleaner brush according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line corresponding to the line II-II in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the rotary cleaning body provided with the same vacuum cleaner brush. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the cleaning unit having the same rotary cleaning body. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cleaning unit having the same rotary cleaning body from above. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cleaning unit having the same rotary cleaning body from below. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an electric vacuum cleaner equipped with the same cleaning unit. [Figure 10] 10 is an end view showing a state in which thread-like debris has adhered to a cleaning brush of a rotary cleaning body in the cleaning unit of the same. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view showing a vacuum cleaner brush according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line corresponding to the line III-III in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view showing the cleaner brush of the third embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing an electric vacuum cleaner provided with a cleaning unit having a rotary cleaning body equipped with a vacuum cleaner brush of a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (First embodiment) The first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0009] 1 to 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a vacuum cleaner brush. Vacuum cleaner brush 1 is formed by a plurality of bristles 10 connected by connecting portions 11 and gathered together by a base portion 12, and is formed into a wall or strip shape that continues longitudinally in a predetermined direction indicated by arrow X in the drawings.

[0010] In this embodiment, the bristle portion 10 is a bundle of multiple bristles 100, the base ends of which are held by the base portion 12, bundled together by the connecting portion 11. That is, the bristle portion 10 is configured by bundling multiple bristles 100 positioned in a row along the base portion 12 together by the connecting portion 11. The bristles 10 are bundled so that they have a circular or elliptical shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the bristles 10. In the illustrated example, the bristles 10 are bundled in an elliptical shape with the major axis in a predetermined direction. The bristles 10 are arranged sequentially in a predetermined direction. In the illustrated example, adjacent bristles 10, 10 are arranged in a predetermined direction, at least at the root portions protruding from the base portion 12. Preferably, the tips of adjacent bristles 10, 10, i.e., the bristle tips, are close to or in contact with each other in the predetermined direction, and the bristles 10, 10 are connected in the predetermined direction.

[0011] The bristles 100 are made of natural yarn such as cotton or synthetic resin fiber yarn. Each bristles 100 is formed into a thin, elastic fiber. In this embodiment, each bristles 100 has a constant or approximately constant length. The bristles 100 may be made of a plurality of strands of material twisted together. Although the bristles 100 are densely arranged in the bristles 100 in the bristles 10 to form a substantially dust-tight wall, they are thinned out in the drawings for clarity of explanation.

[0012] The base ends of the multiple bristles 10 are integrally held by the base 12. In this embodiment, the base ends of all the bristles 10 are held by a single base 12. The base 12 is formed elongated in a predetermined direction. The base 12 is molded integrally with the base ends of the multiple bristles 10 by, for example, insert molding or double molding. The base 12 is formed from, for example, a flexible synthetic resin such as elastomer.

[0013] The connecting portion 11 is a fraying suppression portion that suppresses the fraying of the bristles 100 in the bristles 10, and also a prevention portion that prevents thread-like debris such as hair from entering or becoming entangled at the base end of the bristles 10. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 11 is a restraining or defining portion that restrains the outside of the bristles 10 to define the range of the bristles 10. The connecting portion 11 is formed by connecting the bristles 10 in a predetermined direction closer to the tip end of the bristles 10 in the longitudinal direction than the base 12, i.e., on the upper side in Figure 1, and extends in a predetermined direction. The connecting portion 11 connects a portion of the bristles 10 in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the connecting portion 11 connects the bristles 10 at a position between both ends of the portion of the bristles 10 that protrudes from the base 12 in the longitudinal direction.

[0014] In the illustrated example, the connecting portion 11 is disposed at a position away from the base portion 12 toward the tip end in the length direction of the bristles 10. Preferably, the connecting portion 11 connects the bristles 10 between both ends of the portions of the bristles 10 protruding from the base portion 12. That is, in the portions of the bristles 10 protruding from the base portion 12, non-connecting portions that are not connected to the connecting portion 11 are formed on both the tip end side and the base end side. In the illustrated example, the bristles 10 have a first portion 101, which is a tip-side non-connecting portion, located closer to the tip end than the connecting portion 11, and a second portion 102, which is a base-end non-connecting portion, located closer to the base end than the connecting portion 11, i.e., between the connecting portion 11 and the base portion 12.

[0015] The first part 101 is a dust collection part that scrapes off dust from the part to be cleaned. In the first part 101, the bristles 10 are constrained within the connecting part 11 at the base end, and the bristles 100 at the tip end are free and can be scattered freely.

[0016] The second portion 102 is a flexible portion that allows the bristles 10 to bend relative to the base portion 12. Although the bristles 10 are constrained at the base end side and the tip end side of the second portion 102, the bristles 100 can be separated within the connecting portion 11 between the base end and the tip end.

[0017] The lengths of the first portion 101 and the second portion 102 are set according to the position and range of the connecting portion 11 in the longitudinal direction of the bristles 10. The vacuum cleaner brush 1's ability to remove dirt and its ability to prevent entanglement of thread-like debris are in a trade-off relationship, whereby pursuing one is at the expense of the other. Therefore, the closer the connecting portion 11 is to the base end and the base 12 of the bristles 10, and the narrower the connecting portion 11, the longer the first portion 101, improving dirt removal. The closer the connecting portion 11 is to the tip end and the wider the connecting portion 11, the shorter the first portion 101, reducing the likelihood of entanglement of thread-like debris. Therefore, the position and range of the connecting portion 11 in the longitudinal direction of the bristles 10 are set to achieve a desired balance. For example, the upper end of the connecting portion 11 is located in the center of the bristles 10 protruding from the base 12 in the longitudinal direction.

[0018] The connecting portion 11 may take any form as long as it can connect adjacent bristles 10, 10 in a predetermined direction. In this embodiment, however, it is a sewn portion consisting of one linear body 110, which is one thread-like member, and another linear body 111, which is another thread-like member. In the example shown in the figure, adjacent bristles 10, 10 in a predetermined direction are connected by sewing together with the connecting portion 11. Also, for example, the connecting portions 11 are set at multiple locations in the length direction of the bristles 10. In this embodiment, the connecting portions 11 are set at two locations in the length direction of the bristles 10. These connecting portions 11 are located close to each other in the length direction of the bristles 10. In other words, the range of the connecting portions 11 in the length direction of the bristles 10 is set depending on the thickness of the one linear body 110 or the other linear body 111 and the number of connecting portions 11 in the length direction of the bristles 10.

[0019] The first linear body 110 and the other linear body 111 are each made of natural yarn or synthetic resin fiber yarn. The first linear body 110 and the other linear body 111 are thicker than the bristles 100 and are made of a stronger material. The first linear body 110 and the other linear body 111 may each be made of a plurality of strands of material twisted together. The first linear body 110 and the other linear body 111 may be made of the same material, thickness, etc. as the first linear body 110 or the other linear body 111. The first linear body 110 is located on one side of the bristles 10, and the other linear body 111 is located on the other side of the bristles 10. The first and other sides of the bristles 10 refer to the first and other sides in a direction intersecting or perpendicular to a predetermined direction and the height direction of the bristles 10. The upper side in FIG. 2 is one side of the bristles 10, and the lower side is the other side of the bristles 10. The first linear body 110 and the second linear body 111 are located on opposite sides of the bristle portion 10 in a direction intersecting or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bristle portion 10. The first linear body 110 and the second linear body 111 are entangled with each other between the bristle portions 10, 10, and are tied together at their ends, surrounding the sides of the bristle portion 10.

[0020] Preferably, one linear body 110 is arranged in a serpentine manner on one side of the bristles 10. One linear body 110 is arranged in a curved manner along one side surface of the bristles 10, and is formed in a loop shape at a position on the other side of the bristles 10 between the bristles 10, 10, and is entangled with another linear body 111. Also, preferably, at least one linear body 110 is formed from a material of a different color from that of the bristles 10. Thus, the one linear body 110 presents a continuous or intermittent stitch-like design extending in a predetermined direction in a part of the length direction of the bristles 10. In this case, the other linear body 111 is preferably stronger than the one linear body 110.

[0021] At the position of the connecting portion 11 shown in Figures 1 to 3, the bristles 10 are harder than the first portion 101 and the second portion 102. The hardness of the connecting portion 11 is set according to the desired degree of dispersion of the bristles 100 within the bristles 10. In this embodiment, the hardness of the connecting portion 11 is set according to the squeezing or clamping of the bristles 10 by the one linear body 110 and the other linear body 111. The greater the squeezing or clamping of the bristles 10 by the one linear body 110 and the other linear body 111, the harder the connecting portion 11 is formed. The harder the connecting portion 11 is, the less the bristles 100 of the bristles 100 of the second portion 102 will disperse within the connecting portion 11, and the stronger the contact of the bristles 10 with the object to be cleaned.

[0022] 5, the vacuum cleaner brush 1 is used in a rotary cleaning body 2. The rotary cleaning body 2 is also called a rotary brush, and is rotated to scrape off dust from an area to be cleaned by the vacuum cleaner brush 1.

[0023] The rotary cleaning body 2 has a shaft-shaped base 20. The base 20 constitutes the rotation shaft of the rotary cleaning body 2. In other words, the rotary cleaning body 2 rotates around the central axis of the base 20. In this embodiment, the base 20 is formed in a columnar or cylindrical shape that is long in the axial direction. The base 20 is formed from synthetic resin, metal, or the like.

[0024] The vacuum cleaner brush 1 is attached to the base 20. In this embodiment, the vacuum cleaner brush 1, which is a first vacuum cleaner brush, and the vacuum cleaner brush 21, which is a second vacuum cleaner brush, are attached to the base 20. The vacuum cleaner brush 21 is formed in a wall or strip shape extending in a predetermined direction, with the base ends of multiple bristles 211 held by a base 210. The vacuum cleaner brush 21 does not have a structure equivalent to the connecting portion 11 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1, that is, the bristles 211 are of a non-connected type. The base 210 and bristles 211 of the vacuum cleaner brush 21 are configured in the same way as the base 12 and bristles 10 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1, so detailed description will be omitted. The material, shape such as length and thickness of the bristles 2110 of the base part 210 and bristles 211 of the vacuum cleaner brush 21, the arrangement density of the bristles 2110, i.e., the number of bristles 2110 per unit area, and color, etc. may be the same as or approximately the same as the bristles 100 of the base part 12 and bristles 10 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1, or may be different.

[0025] In this embodiment, the vacuum cleaner brush 21 and the vacuum cleaner brush 1 are different in the types of dust to be removed from the surface to be cleaned. The bristles 211 of the vacuum cleaner brush 21 are designed to remove, for example, cotton dust and thread-like debris, while the bristles 10 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1 are designed to remove, for example, solid debris such as sand and powder. For example, the vacuum cleaner brush 1 is suitable for cleaning hard, flat surfaces such as flooring (i.e., wooden floors), but is particularly suitable for cleaning thick or deep surfaces such as carpets. The vacuum cleaner brush 21 is also suitable for cleaning thick or deep surfaces such as carpets, but is particularly suitable for cleaning hard, flat surfaces such as flooring (i.e., wooden floors). In the illustrated example, the same number of vacuum cleaner brushes 1 and 21 are used to form a rotating cleaning body 2 suitable for cleaning surfaces such as flooring (i.e., wooden floors) and carpets.

[0026] The base portion 20 has recesses 200 formed on its outer surface. The recesses 200 are formed at multiple locations on the outer surface of the base portion 20. In the illustrated example, the recesses 200 are evenly or approximately evenly distributed in the circumferential direction of the base portion 20. The recesses 200 are recessed in the radial direction of the base portion 20 and extend in the axial direction of the base portion 20. Preferably, the recesses 200 are continuous across both ends of the base portion 20. That is, the recesses 200 are open at both ends of the base portion 20 and communicate with the outside of the base portion 20. In this embodiment, the recesses 200 are formed in a spiral shape twisted in the circumferential direction of the base portion 20 from one end to the other end. The twist angle of the recesses 200 may be set arbitrarily, for example, to 180°. The vacuum cleaner brush 1 and the vacuum cleaner brush 21 are both flexible and can be easily attached by inserting the base part 12, 210 from the end of the base part 20 along the twisted spiral recess 200.

[0027] The recess 200 is formed as a narrow slit-like opening 2000 on the outer surface of the base 20, and the portion deeper than this opening 2000, i.e., the portion closer to the axis of the base 20, is an enlarged portion 2001 that is wider than the opening 2000. When viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the base 20, the recess 200 is formed as a space with a convex outer shape. Therefore, both edges of the opening 2000 are formed as holding portions 2002 that hold the vacuum cleaner brush 1 and the vacuum cleaner brush 21 in the recess 200. The holding portions 2002 are claw-shaped flanges that form both edges of the opening 2000. The protrusion 120 formed on the base part 12 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1 and the protrusion 2100 formed on the base part 210 of the vacuum cleaner brush 21 are positioned in the enlarged part 2001 and are engaged by the holding part 2002, so that the vacuum cleaner brushes 1, 21 are held in the recess 200 and do not come off.

[0028] In this embodiment, the recess 200 is provided with a first recess 200a to which the cleaner brush 1 is attached and a second recess 200b to which the cleaner brush 21 is attached. The first recess 200a and the second recess 200b may be identical or approximately identical in shape, distance from the axis of the base 20 to the expanded portion 2001, depth, etc., or may be different in shape, distance from the axis of the base 20 to the expanded portion 2001, depth, etc., depending on the shape, length, material, etc. of the bases 12, 210 of the cleaner brush 1 and the cleaner brush 21. In this embodiment, the first recess 200a and the second recess 200b are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the base 20. Therefore, the cleaner brush 1 and the cleaner brush 21 are alternately positioned in the circumferential direction of the base 20.

[0029] In the vacuum cleaner brush 1 attached to the first recess 200a, the base 12 is located within the first recess 200a, and the tip ends of the bristles 10 are positioned radially outward from the opening 2000 beyond the outer surface of the base 20. At least a portion of the connecting portion 11 is located outside the edge of the first recess 200a of the base 20. That is, at least a portion of the connecting portion 11 extends closer to the tip than the outer surface of the base 20 relative to the opening 2000 of the first recess 200a in the length direction of the bristles 10. Therefore, at least a portion of the connecting portion 11 is positioned so that it can be seen from outside the rotary cleaning body 2. Preferably, the entire connecting portion 11 is located outward from the edge of the first recess 200a of the base 20. In the illustrated example, the connecting portion 11 is located closer to the tip than the opening 2000 of the first recess 200a and the outer surface of the base 20 in the length direction of the bristles 10. Therefore, at least the tip end side of the second portion 102 of the bristles 10 is exposed outward from the outer surface of the base 20. Preferably, both ends of the bristles 10 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1 in a predetermined direction are positioned equal to or close to both ends of the base 20.

[0030] The cleaner brush 21 attached to the second recess 200b has its base 210 positioned within the second recess 200b, and the tips of the bristles 211 positioned radially, protruding outward from the opening 2000 beyond the outer surface of the base 20. In this embodiment, the distance from the axis of the base 20 to the tips of the bristles 211 of the cleaner brush 21 attached to the second recess 200b is set to be equal to or shorter than the distance to the tips of the bristles 10 of the cleaner brush 1 attached to the first recess 200a. Preferably, the bristles 211 of the cleaner brush 21 are positioned at both ends in a predetermined direction equal to or close to both ends of the base 20.

[0031] The rotating cleaning body 2 is used in the cleaning unit 3 shown in Figures 6 to 8. In this embodiment, the cleaning unit 3 is a cleaning tool or a cleaning head. Preferably, the cleaning unit 3 is a suction inlet or floor brush for suction cleaning, which uses negative pressure to suck in dust and air for cleaning. The up / down, left / right, and front / rear directions of the cleaning unit 3 will be described based on the directions as seen by a user when the cleaning unit 3 is placed on a horizontal object to be cleaned CL. In the figures, the up direction is indicated by arrow U, the down direction by arrow D, the front direction by arrow FR, the rear direction by arrow RR, the left direction by arrow L, and the right direction by arrow R.

[0032] The cleaning unit 3 has a case body 30 that rotatably holds the rotary cleaning body 2. The case body 30 is long in the width direction, which is the left-right direction, that is, formed horizontally. Both axial ends of the base part 20 of the rotary cleaning body 2 are rotatably supported by the case body 30. The rotary cleaning body 2 is arranged in the case body 30 so that the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 2 is aligned with the width direction of the case body 30. The rotary cleaning body 2 is arranged in at least the lower part of the case body 30 that faces the part to be cleaned.

[0033] A drive unit 31 that rotates the rotary cleaning body 2 is disposed in the case body 30. The drive unit 31 is, for example, an actuator such as an electric motor. The drive unit 31 is connected to the rotary cleaning body 2 via a transmission means such as a belt or pulley, and is configured to rotate the rotary cleaning body 2. In this embodiment, the drive unit 31 is configured to rotate the rotary cleaning body 2 forward, as shown by arrow A in FIGS. 5 and 6. Preferably, the rotary cleaning body 2 is disposed in the case body 30 so that one side of the vacuum cleaner brush 1, i.e., one linear body 110 of the connecting portion 11, is located forward in the direction of rotation, and the other side of the vacuum cleaner brush 1, i.e., the other linear body 111 of the connecting portion 11, is located rearward in the direction of rotation.

[0034] The operation of the drive unit 31 is controlled by a control unit 32 disposed in the case body 30. The control unit 32 generates and outputs signals that control the on / off, rotation direction, rotation speed, etc. of the operation of the drive unit 31. A control board or the like having a processing device such as a microcomputer is preferably used as the control unit 32.

[0035] In this embodiment, the case body 30 is separately formed with a rotary cleaning body chamber 300 in which the rotary cleaning body 2 is rotatably disposed, and a suction chamber 301 that sucks in dust. In the illustrated example, the rotary cleaning body chamber 300 is located at the front end of the case body 30, and the suction chamber 301 is adjacent to the rear of the rotary cleaning body chamber 300 via a partition wall 302. The rotary cleaning body chamber 300 and the suction chamber 301 are connected to each other via a communication part 3020 at the bottom of the partition wall 302. The bottom of the suction chamber 301 is opened as a suction port 3010 that applies negative pressure to the part to be cleaned. The suction port 3010 is opened longitudinally in the width direction of the case body 30. However, the case body 30 may not have a rotary cleaning body chamber separate from the suction chamber, and the rotary cleaning body 2 may be rotatably disposed in the suction chamber 301 or the suction port 3010.

[0036] The suction chamber 301 is connected to the connecting portion 33 in communication therewith. The connecting portion 33 protrudes from the case body 30. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 33 is a pipe body or a connecting pipe. Preferably, the connecting portion 33 is connected to the case body 30 so as to be rotatable.

[0037] The cleaning unit 3 is used in a vacuum cleaner 4 shown in Fig. 9. The vacuum cleaner 4 is a suction vacuum cleaner having a suction source 40 such as an electric blower that generates negative pressure, and a dust collecting unit 41 that collects dust. The vacuum cleaner 4 may have any configuration, but in this embodiment, a stick-type vacuum cleaner will be described as an example.

[0038] The vacuum cleaner 4 has a vacuum cleaner body 42 that houses the suction source 40. The vacuum cleaner 4 also has a grip 43 that a user holds to perform cleaning operations. In this embodiment, the grip 43 is disposed on the vacuum cleaner body 42. The grip 43 is provided with a setting means 44 that sets the operation of the suction source 40 and the operation of the rotating cleaning body 2. The setting means 44 is, for example, a button or a switch, and can be operated by a user holding the grip 43 with the hand that holds the grip 43.

[0039] A signal corresponding to the setting made by operating the setting means 44 is input to the main body control unit 45. In response to the input signal, the main body control unit 45 generates and outputs a signal to control the on / off and strength of the operation of the suction source 40, and outputs a signal for controlling the drive unit 31 to the control unit 32. A control board having a processing device such as a microcomputer is preferably used as the main body control unit 45. The main body control unit 45 is disposed in the vacuum cleaner main body 42. The main body control unit 45 is electrically connected to the control unit 32 of the cleaning unit 3. The main body control unit 45 and the suction source 40 are powered by a power supply unit 46. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 46 also supplies power to the drive unit 31 and the control unit 32. In the illustrated example, a cordless electric vacuum cleaner 4 is shown that uses a battery such as a secondary battery as the power supply unit 46. However, the power supply unit 46 is not limited to this, and a cord reel device around which a power cord is wound to draw power from a commercial power source may also be used as the power supply unit 46.

[0040] The dust collecting section 41 may be a dust collecting device that separates dust by centrifugal separation, or may be a dust collecting bag, a filter, or the like.

[0041] In this embodiment, the dust collection unit 41 is disposed in the vacuum cleaner body 42, and the suction side of the suction source 40 is connected to the dust collection unit 41. A main body suction port 420 is formed in the vacuum cleaner body 42 and communicates with the dust collection unit 41. Negative pressure generated by the suction source 40 acts on the main body suction port 420 via the dust collection unit 41. One end of an air duct 47 is connected to the main body suction port 420. The other end of the air duct 47 serves as a connecting portion that connects to the connecting portion 33 of the cleaning unit 3. The air duct 47 and the cleaning unit 3 form an air duct that carries dust-laden air to the dust collection unit 41. Alternatively, the main body suction port 420 may serve as the connecting portion. In the illustrated example, the air duct 47 is an extension pipe such as a hard pipe or a straight pipe, but it may also be an air duct consisting of an extension pipe and a flexible hose or the like.

[0042] The electric vacuum cleaner 4 may be a floor-traveling or canister-type electric vacuum cleaner that cleans by moving the cleaner body 42 over the floor surface.

[0043] Then, when the cleaning unit 3 having the rotating cleaning body 2 with the vacuum cleaner brush 1 attached is connected to a connecting part such as the tip of the air duct 47, in this embodiment, the drive unit 31 and control unit 32 of the cleaning unit 3 are electrically connected to the main body control unit 45 and power supply unit 46, etc. via wiring arranged inside the air duct 47.

[0044] When the user grasps the gripping portion 43 and operates the setting means 44, the suction source 40 of the electric vacuum cleaner 4 operates in response to a signal generated by the main body control unit 45 in response to the operation of the setting means 44, thereby generating negative pressure, and the drive unit 31 operates in response to a signal generated by the control unit 32 which has received the signal from the main body control unit 45, thereby rotating the rotating cleaning body 2.

[0045] The negative pressure generated by the operation of suction source 40 acts on air duct 47 and cleaning unit 3 from main body suction port 420 via dust collection unit 41, and sucks dust from the area to be cleaned together with air from suction port 3010 of cleaning unit 3.

[0046] In the cleaning unit 3, the rotation of the rotary cleaning body 2 stirs up dust on the area to be cleaned. At this time, the bristles 100, 2110 of the first portion 101, which is closer to the tip than the connecting portion 11 of the bristles 10 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1, and the bristles 211 of the vacuum cleaner brush 21, become loose, effectively stirring up dust that has entered the area to be cleaned, such as a carpet, and carrying it to the suction port 3010.

[0047] Dust sucked in through the suction port 3010 is separated from the air in the dust collecting section 41 and accumulated in the dust collecting section 41.

[0048] As described above, in the present embodiment, the vacuum cleaner brush 1 has a plurality of bristles 10 arranged in a predetermined direction with their base ends held by the base 12, and these bristles are connected in the longitudinal direction by the connecting portions 11 closer to the tip end than the base 12. Therefore, the range in which the bristles 100 of the bristles 10 unfold is limited to a narrow range closer to the tip end than the connecting portions 11, which is the first portion 101 in this embodiment. This means that dust on the cleaning area, including thread-like debris such as hair, is removed by adhering to the bristles 100 and lifting it up, rather than being entangled by the bristles 100 of the bristles 10. This significantly reduces the chance of thread-like debris becoming entangled in the bristles 100. Therefore, thread-like debris is less likely to penetrate to the base of the bristles 100 of the bristles 10, making it less likely for the thread-like debris to become entangled. In a typical vacuum cleaner brush, the bristles tend to unravel near the base, causing tangled thread-like debris to penetrate deep into the bristles and making them difficult to remove once tangled, whereas in the vacuum cleaner brush 1 of this embodiment, bristles 10 have connecting portions 11, so even if thread-like debris does get trapped, it remains in a shallow area up to connecting portions 11, i.e., within first portion 101, allowing the user to easily untangle it with their fingers, etc., significantly reducing the hassle of maintenance. Also, because bristles 10 do not remain in a collapsed state due to tangled thread-like debris, the ability to pick up dust from the surface being cleaned, i.e., dust removal, is not reduced.

[0049] In this regard, because the vacuum cleaner brush 21 does not have a connecting part 11 like the vacuum cleaner brush 1, thread-like debris is more likely to get into the base of the bristles 211 than the vacuum cleaner brush 1. However, in the rotary cleaning body 2, the vacuum cleaner brushes 1 and 21 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction, so even if one end of the thread-like debris S gets into the base of the bristles 211 of the vacuum cleaner brush 21 near the base part 210 as shown in Figure 10, when the other end of the thread-like debris S extends toward the vacuum cleaner brush 1 adjacent to the vacuum cleaner brush 21 due to the rotation of the rotary cleaning body 2, it will not get into the base of the bristles 10 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1 near the base part 12. Therefore, the thread-like dust S is suspended between the bristle part 211 of the vacuum cleaner brush 21 and the bristle part 10 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1 and floats from the base part 20 between the vacuum cleaner brushes 21, 1, so that cutting means such as scissors can be inserted into the floating part to cut the thread-like dust S and easily untie it.

[0050] A plurality of bristles 100 are bundled together to form a plurality of bristle parts 10, and the bristle parts 10 are connected by the connecting parts 11, thereby suppressing entanglement of thread-like dust, and the bristles 100 are spread apart within the connecting parts 11, thereby maintaining the ability to pick up dust from the part to be cleaned.

[0051] By arranging the connecting portion 11 between both longitudinal ends of the bristles 10 protruding from the base portion 12, a second portion 102 is formed between the base portion 12 and the base end of the connecting portion 11, where the bristles 100 of the bristles 10 are separated within the connecting portion 11, so that the bristles 100 can bend softly at this second portion 102, reducing the force with which they contact the part to be cleaned. The stronger the contact of the bristles 10 with the part to be cleaned, the greater the load for rotating the rotary cleaning body 2 and the greater the current consumption of the drive unit 31. Therefore, by having the bristles 10 bend softly at the second portion 102, it is possible to suppress an increase in the current consumption of the drive unit 31, which correlates with the force with which the bristles 10 contact the part to be cleaned, and at the tip end of the bristles 10, the first portion 101 can be separated, effectively sweeping up dust.

[0052] By configuring the connecting portion 11 as a sewing portion having one linear body 110 located on one side of the bristles portion 10 and another linear body 111 located on the other side of the bristles portion 10 and entangled with the first linear body 110, the connecting portion 11 can be easily and stably formed using a manufacturing device such as a sewing machine.

[0053] Furthermore, since the first linear body 110 and the second linear body 111 can be made of separate components, it is possible to appropriately select the material, thickness, etc. that is suitable for each of the first linear body 110 and the second linear body 111.

[0054] By positioning one linear body 110 of the connecting part 11 in a serpentine manner on one side of the bristles 10, the degree to which the connecting part 11 squeezes or tightens the bristles 10 can be adjusted according to the degree of serpentine of the one linear body 110, i.e., the pitch of the serpentine and the width in a predetermined direction. The looser the squeezing or tightening of the bristles 10 by the connecting part 11, the easier it is for the bristles 100 of the bristles 10 to unravel within the connecting part 11, allowing the bristles 10 to soften and bend at the second part 102 between the connecting part 11 and the base part 12, thereby reducing the force with which the bristles 10 contact the part to be cleaned. Therefore, the force with which the bristles 10 contact the part to be cleaned can be adjusted according to the force with which the bristles 10 contact the part to be cleaned, and the current consumption value of the drive part 31, which correlates with the force with which the bristles 10 contact the part to be cleaned, can be adjusted.

[0055] By making the color of the one linear body 110 of the connecting part 11 different from the color of the bristles 10, the one linear body 110 can be made to stand out against the bristles 10, and therefore, the meandering of the one linear body 110 can create a stitch-like design in the bristles 10, improving the design.

[0056] By holding the base end side of the bristles 10 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1, in this embodiment the base part 12, in a recess 200 extending in the axial direction on the outer surface of the axial base part 20 to form a rotary cleaning body 2, it is possible to provide a rotary cleaning body 2 that is less likely to cause thread-like debris to become entangled in the bristles 10 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1.

[0057] Because at least a part of the connecting portion 11 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1 is located outside the edge of the recess 200 of the base portion 20, the bristles 10 that come into contact with the part to be cleaned due to the rotation of the rotary cleaning body 2 tend to bend at the part that protrudes from the base portion 12. This allows the tips of the bristles 10 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1 to come into elastic contact with the part to be cleaned, making it possible to efficiently scrape up dust from the part to be cleaned and less likely to damage the bristles 10 and the part to be cleaned.

[0058] In this embodiment, the connecting portion 11 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1 is positioned outwardly away from the edge of the recess 200 of the base portion 20, so that the second portion 102 between the connecting portion 11 of the bristles 10 and the base portion 12 is exposed outwardly beyond the outer surface of the base portion 20, making it easier for the bristles 10 to bend when they come into contact with the part to be cleaned due to the rotation of the rotating cleaning body 2 at the second portion 102.

[0059] By providing the above-described rotary cleaning body 2 in the cleaning unit 3, it is possible to provide a cleaning unit 3 that is easy to maintain and has excellent ability to scrape up dust from the area to be cleaned.

[0060] By using the above-described cleaning unit 3 in a vacuum cleaner 4, it is possible to provide a vacuum cleaner 4 that is easy to maintain and has high cleaning performance.

[0061] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 11 and 12. Note that the same components and functions as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0062] In the vacuum cleaner brush 1 of this embodiment, the connecting portions 11 that connect the bristles 10 or bristles 100 arranged in a predetermined direction are formed from a strip-shaped sheet 112.

[0063] The sheets 112 are formed into thin films from synthetic resin or the like, and are arranged on one side and the other side of the bristles 10 or bristles 100, and are joined to each other at predetermined positions such as both ends in a predetermined direction of the vacuum cleaner brush 1. The sheets 112 have a width in the length direction of the bristles 10, and are arranged with their main surface in the thickness direction facing the bristles 10. The sheets 112, 112 fasten the bristles 10 or bristles 100 and connect them in a predetermined direction.

[0064] In this way, even if the connecting portion 11 is formed from a strip-shaped sheet 112, it is possible to achieve the same effects as the first embodiment described above, such as making it difficult for thread-like debris to penetrate to the base of the bristles 100 of the bristles 10 and making it difficult for thread-like debris to become entangled.

[0065] (Third embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 13 and 14. Note that the same configurations and operations as those in the respective embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0066] In the vacuum cleaner brush 1 of this embodiment, the connecting portions 11 that connect the bristles 10 or bristles 100 arranged in a predetermined direction are formed by welding.

[0067] The connecting portion 11 is formed by, for example, welded portions 113 formed by welding a separate material, such as synthetic resin, to the bristles 100 that make up the bristles 10. The welded portions 113 are arranged on one side and the other side of the bristles 10 or the bristles 100, and are welded to each other at predetermined positions, such as both ends of the vacuum cleaner brush 1 in a predetermined direction. The welded portions 113 fasten the bristles 10 or the bristles 100 and connect them in a predetermined direction. The welded portions 113 may be welded to the bristles 100 of the bristles 10. The welded portions 113 may be formed by vibration welding or the like, or may be integrally molded with the bristles 100 by insert molding, double molding or the like.

[0068] In this way, even if the connecting portion 11 is formed by welding, it is possible to achieve the same effects as the above-mentioned embodiments, such as making it difficult for thread-like debris to penetrate to the base of the bristles 100 of the bristles 10 and making it difficult for thread-like debris to become tangled.

[0069] Furthermore, by appropriately selecting a separate material such as synthetic resin to be used as the welded portion 113, it becomes possible to form the welded portion 113 in the same process as forming the base portion 12 by insert molding or the like.

[0070] In the third embodiment, the connecting portion 11 has the welded portion 113 formed from a synthetic resin or the like that is a separate material from the hair material 100, but this is not limited to this, and the welded portion 113 may also be formed by melting and solidifying the hair material 100 itself by welding.

[0071] Furthermore, the sheet 112 of the second embodiment or the welded portion 113 of the third embodiment may be applied to the first embodiment, and multiple hair materials 100 may be connected together as a hair portion 10 by the sheet 112 or the welded portion 113.

[0072] (Fourth embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 15. Note that the same components and functions as those in the other embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0073] The cleaning unit 3 of this embodiment is mounted on an autonomously traveling electric vacuum cleaner 4.

[0074] The autonomously traveling electric vacuum cleaner 4 is also called a cleaning robot or the like. The electric vacuum cleaner 4 is configured such that the vacuum cleaner main body 42 can travel using a traveling unit 48 such as drive wheels. The traveling unit 48 is driven by an actuator such as a motor. Preferably, the vacuum cleaner main body 42 is provided with a sensor that detects obstacles to travel such as obstacles and steps. The operation of the traveling unit 48 is controlled according to a program or the like installed in the main body control unit 45. The main body control unit 45 controls the operation of the traveling unit 48 according to information on obstacles to travel detected by the sensor and / or information such as a stored map of the cleaning area.

[0075] The cleaning unit 3 is integrally incorporated into the vacuum cleaner body 42. In this embodiment, the rotary cleaning body 2 is rotatably disposed in a body suction port 420 that is opened at the bottom or the like of the vacuum cleaner body 42, and the rotary cleaning body 2 is driven by a drive unit 31.

[0076] In this way, even when the cleaning unit 3 and the rotating cleaning body 2 are used in an autonomously traveling electric vacuum cleaner 4, it is possible to achieve the same effects as in each of the above embodiments, such as preventing thread-like debris from getting into the base of the bristles 100 of the bristle unit 10 and preventing thread-like debris from becoming tangled.

[0077] In each of the above-described embodiments, the connecting portion 11 of the vacuum cleaner brush 1 may be disposed at the tip of the bristles 10. In this case, although the ability to pick up dust from the surface to be cleaned is slightly reduced, it is possible to almost completely prevent entanglement of thread-like debris.

[0078] The connecting portion 11 is not limited to connecting all the bristles 10 integrally as long as it connects multiple bristles 10 in a predetermined direction, and multiple connecting portions 11 connecting multiple bristles 10 may be provided intermittently in a predetermined direction. In other words, even if multiple bundles of bristles 10 connected by connecting portions 11 are arranged in a predetermined direction, it is possible to achieve the same effects as the above-mentioned embodiments, such as making it difficult for thread-like debris to get into the base of the bristles 100 of the bristles 10 and making it difficult for thread-like debris to become entangled.

[0079] Furthermore, each bristle portion 10 connected by the connecting portion 11 may be made up of a single bristle material 100. In other words, the bristle portion 10 is not limited to a bristle bundle made up of a plurality of bristle materials 100, but may also represent a single bristle material 100. In this case, the connecting portion 11 connects bristle materials 100 adjacent to each other in a predetermined direction. In this way, even if the connecting portion 11 is configured to connect bristle materials 100 adjacent to each other in a predetermined direction, it is possible to achieve the same effects as the above-mentioned embodiments, such as making it difficult for thread-like debris to penetrate to the base of the bristle material 100 of the bristle portion 10 and preventing tangles of thread-like debris.

[0080] Three or more different types of cleaner brushes including the cleaner brush 1 may be attached to the base part 20 of the rotary cleaning body 2, or only the cleaner brush 1 may be attached.

[0081] Furthermore, the electric vacuum cleaner 4 is not limited to a suction vacuum cleaner having a suction source 40, but may also be one that uses the vacuum cleaner brush 1 and / or vacuum cleaner brush 21 of the rotating cleaning body 2 to scrape up dust from the area to be cleaned and carry it to the dust collection section 41.

[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 vacuum cleaner brush 2 Rotating cleaning body 3 Cleaning Department 4. Vacuum cleaner 10 hair part 11 Connecting part 12 Base 20 units 100 Hair material 110 One linear body 111 Other striatum 112 seats 200 recess

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner brush, a shaft-shaped base portion extending in the axial direction and having an attachment portion on its outer surface to which the vacuum cleaner brush is attached; The vacuum cleaner brush is A plurality of bristle portions each consisting of a plurality of bristle materials; a connecting portion that connects the plurality of bristles together to form the bristle portion, the connecting portion is a sewn portion having a linear body, and connects the bristles to each other at a position between the attachment portion and the tip end of the bristles; The linear body protrudes in a curved shape toward one side of the bristle portion, which is the front side in the rotation direction, so as to surround the side surfaces of the plurality of bristles that make up the bristle portion, and is positioned along the other side of the bristle portion and entangled with the other side of the bristle portion, thereby gathering the bristles together. A rotating cleaning body characterized by:

2. The linear body has a color different from that of the hair portion.

2. The rotary cleaning body according to claim 1.

3. The connecting portion is positioned outwardly and apart from the mounting portion.

2. The rotary cleaning body according to claim 1.

4. A cleaning device comprising the rotary cleaning body according to claim 1. A cleaning unit characterized by:

5. The cleaning unit according to claim 4 is provided. A vacuum cleaner characterized by:

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