Suction nozzle and vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide a suction port body, when thread-like dust begins to wrap around rotary cleaning bodies, capable of discharging the thread-like dust so as not to be entangled in the rotary cleaning bodies, and a vacuum cleaner.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner 1 includes: rotary cleaning bodies 32 capable of scraping up dust on a cleaning object surface by rotating; a motor 33 as a drive source, for outputting drive force to rotate the rotary cleaning bodies 32; a support 52 sandwiched between the rotary cleaning bodies 32 and rotatably supporting the rotary cleaning bodies 32 in a cantilever manner; a power transmission mechanism 53 for transmitting the drive force from the motor 33 to the support 52 to rotate the rotary cleaning bodies 32; and a suction port body 41 for supporting the rotary cleaning bodies 32 via the support 52. Each of the rotary cleaning bodies 32 has a cleaning member 82 disposed such that a support end 32r side precedes a free end 32t side in a rotation direction, and the suction port body 41 has an inner-wall surface 32t that is located on an extension line of the rotation center line of the rotary cleaning bodies 32 and faces away from a free end 83i.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a suction head body and an electric vacuum cleaner. [Background technology]

[0002] A known suction tool for a vacuum cleaner includes an agitator having a generally cylindrical central member and a strip-shaped blade for sweeping up dust, which is arranged in a generally V-shape along the longitudinal direction of the surface of the central member. The V-shaped valley of the blade is located in the center of the agitator, close to the suction port. This suction tool for a vacuum cleaner rotates the agitator so that both ends of the blade approach the suction port before the V-shaped valley. In this way, the suction tool for a vacuum cleaner sequentially sweeps dust from the floor surface from both ends of the strip-shaped blade toward the V-shaped valley of the blade. The gathered dust is efficiently sucked through the suction port. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-033424 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The agitator of a conventional suction nozzle guides thread-like dust, such as hair, into the V-shaped valleys of the blade. Thread-like dust guided into the V-shaped valleys of the blade is likely to get tangled in the agitator, and the thread-like dust that gets tangled in the V-shaped valleys of the blade becomes tangled in the agitator. Thread-like dust that gets tangled in the agitator does not naturally remove from the agitator. To remove it, the user has no choice but to cut and remove the thread-like dust with a tool like scissors. In other words, conventional suction nozzles are prone to tangled thread-like dust in the agitator, making them inconvenient.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to propose a suction port body and an electric vacuum cleaner that can discharge thread-like dust without entangling it around the rotating cleaning body when the thread-like dust begins to wrap around the rotating cleaning body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a vacuum cleaner body, an electric blower housed in the vacuum cleaner body and generating a negative pressure, and a suction port body fluidly connected to the electric blower, wherein the suction port body comprises a rotary cleaning body capable of rotating to scrape up dust on a surface to be cleaned, a drive source that outputs a drive force to rotate the rotary cleaning body, a support part that rotatably and detachably supports the rotary cleaning body in a cantilevered manner, and the suction port body that supports the rotary cleaning body via the support part, and the rotary cleaning body has a cleaning member that is arranged so that a support end side closer to the support part leads a free end side farther from the support part in the direction of rotation. The suction port body is disposed behind the rotary cleaning body in a bottom view, and is disposed along the rotary cleaning body, and extends to the vicinity of the free end of the rotary cleaning body. The suction port body has a dust suction recess in which a negative pressure acts to suck in the dust picked up by the rotary cleaning body and the discharged dust that moves from the support end side to the free end side due to the rotation of the rotary cleaning body and is discharged from the free end. is doing.

[0007] Furthermore, a suction port body according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a rotary cleaning body that can rotate to scrape up dust on a surface to be cleaned, a drive source that outputs a drive force to rotate the rotary cleaning body, a support part that rotatably and detachably supports the rotary cleaning body in a cantilevered manner, and a suction port body that supports the rotary cleaning body via the support part, and the rotary cleaning body has a cleaning member that is arranged so that a support end side closer to the support part precedes a free end side farther from the support part in the direction of rotation. The suction port body is disposed behind the rotary cleaning body in a bottom view, and is disposed along the rotary cleaning body, and extends to the vicinity of the free end of the rotary cleaning body. The suction port body has a dust suction recess in which a negative pressure acts to suck in the dust picked up by the rotary cleaning body and the discharged dust that moves from the support end side to the free end side due to the rotation of the rotary cleaning body and is discharged from the free end. is doing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a suction mouth body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a suction mouth body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from below. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a suction port body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a rotary cleaning body and a connecting mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connecting mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a protrusion of a connecting mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a recess of the connecting mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a disconnecting body of the connecting mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a front view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 10 is a perspective view of another example of the suction port body of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another example of the suction port body ... according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a second example of a suction port body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a third example of a suction port body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a fourth example of an air inlet body according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A suction mouth unit and an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment includes a load, such as an electric blower 12, that is driven by power stored in a secondary battery 11. The secondary battery 11 is also called a storage battery, a rechargeable battery, or a rechargeable battery. The electric vacuum cleaner 1 is, for example, a stick-type electric vacuum cleaner 1.

[0012] The electric vacuum cleaner 1 may be a canister type, an upright type, or a handheld type. The electric vacuum cleaner 1 may be a cordless type that uses a secondary battery 11 as a power source, or may be a wired type that obtains power from a commercial AC power source via a power cord.

[0013] The electric vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a main body 16 having a handle 15 for hand-held operation, a secondary battery 11 detachable from the main body 16, an extension tube 17 connected to the main body 16, and a suction mouth body 18 connected to the extension tube 17.

[0014] The main body 16 includes a main body case 21 having a handle 15, an electric blower 12 housed in the main body case 21 to generate negative suction pressure, a dust separation and collection unit 22 detachably mounted on the main body case 21, and a main body control unit 23 that mainly controls the operation of the electric blower 12 and the charging and discharging of the secondary battery 11.

[0015] Main body 16 drives electric blower 12 using power stored in secondary battery 11, which generates negative pressure and applies the generated negative suction pressure to dust separation and collecting unit 22. The negative suction pressure acting on dust separation and collecting unit 22 acts sequentially on extension tube 17 and suction port body 18. The negative suction pressure that reaches suction port body 18 acts on suction port 25 of suction port body 18. The negative suction pressure acting on suction port 25 sucks air containing dust (hereinafter referred to as "dust-containing air") from the floor surface into suction port 25. The dust-containing air sucked into suction port 25 flows into dust separation and collecting unit 22 through suction port body 18 and extension tube 17. Dust separation and collection unit 22 separates dust from the dust-laden air sucked in by the negative suction pressure, captures and accumulates the separated dust, and sends the air from which the dust has been separated to electric blower 12. Electric blower 12 exhausts the air from which the dust has been separated to the outside of main body case 21.

[0016] Furthermore, the main body 16 is provided with an input unit 26 that is arranged within a range where a user gripping the handle 15 can move their fingers.

[0017] The main body case 21 is arranged on the extension line of the extension tube 17 and comprises a columnar front portion 21a extending along the extension line of the extension tube 17, a central portion 21b hanging diagonally downward and rearward from the front portion 21a, a cylindrical rear portion 21c extending rearward from the lower half of the back surface of the central portion 21b, and a handle 15 extending rearward from the upper half of the back surface of the central portion 21b, curving in an arc shape and connecting to the rear end of the upper surface of the rear portion 21c.

[0018] The front portion 21a and the central portion 21b of the main body case 21 cooperate to detachably hold the dust separating dust collecting unit 22. The dust separating dust collecting unit 22 has a cylindrical appearance overall. The front portion 21a and the central portion 21b hold the dust separating dust collecting unit 22 with the center line C of the dust separating dust collecting unit 22, in other words, with the longitudinal direction parallel to the extension line of the center line of the extension tube 17. When the extension tube 17 and the dust separating dust collecting unit 22 are attached to the main body case 21, the extension line of the center line of the extension tube 17 and the center line C of the dust separating dust collecting unit 22 are positioned on a central vertical cross section that divides the main body case 21 substantially equally into left and right halves. In other words, the longitudinal front portion 21a and the cylindrical dust separating dust collecting unit 22 are arranged side by side with their center lines parallel to each other.

[0019] The front part 21a of the main body case 21 extends in a tubular shape and is disposed on the extension of the longitudinal direction of the extension tube 17, i.e., the extension direction. The front part 21a has a joint structure to which the extension tube 17 can be attached and detached. The front part 21a has a main body connection port 28, which is the fluid inlet of the main body 16, and fluidly connects the extension tube 17 and the dust separation and collection unit 22. By removing the extension tube 17 from the main body 16, the main body connection port 28 also functions as an intake port when the main body 16 is used alone.

[0020] Rear portion 21c of main body case 21 houses electric blower 12 and main body control unit 23. Rear portion 21c has exhaust port 29 through which exhaust air from electric blower 12 is discharged from inside main body case 21. A battery mounting portion 31 to which secondary battery 11 can be attached and detached is provided at the bottom of rear portion 21c.

[0021] The central portion 21b of the main body case 21 covers and holds a part of the rear end portion of the dust separating and collecting unit 22 that is provided next to the front portion 21a, and houses an air passage that connects the dust separating and collecting unit 22 and the electric blower 12. The central portion 21b is connected to the rear end portion of the front portion 21a, which extends substantially linearly, and bulges diagonally downward and toward the rear of the main body case 21. The central portion 21b has an appearance that slopes downward toward the rear of the main body case 21.

[0022] Handle 15 is provided integrally with main body case 21. Handle 15 is the part that a user holds with their hand in order to clean a floor surface with vacuum cleaner 1. Therefore, handle 15 preferably has an appropriate shape that makes it easy to hold with human fingers.

[0023] The handle 15 is installed between the front portion 21a and the rear portion 21c of the main body case 21. The handle 15 extends from the rear end of the front portion 21a in the extension direction of the extension tube 17, and curves in an arc to connect to the rear end of the rear portion 21c. A continuous space penetrates the main body case 21 in the left-right direction (width direction) between the handle 15 and the back surface of the central portion 21b of the main body case 21, and between the handle 15 and the top surface of the rear portion 21c of the main body case 21. The fingers of the user gripping the handle 15, primarily four fingers including the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger, are positioned in this space.

[0024] Input unit 26 is provided near handle 15, within a range where a user gripping handle 15 can move their fingers. Input unit 26 includes a switch that receives a request to operate electric blower 12. This switch is electrically connected to main body control unit 23. A user of vacuum cleaner 1 can operate input unit 26 to alternately switch electric blower 12 between operation and stop.

[0025] Input unit 26 may include a switch for switching the operation mode of electric blower 12. In this case, main body control unit 23 switches the operation mode in the following order each time it receives an operation signal from the operation mode selector switch: strong → medium → weak → strong → medium → weak → .... Note that input unit 26 may include a strong operation switch, a medium operation switch, and a weak operation switch individually instead of the operation mode selector switch.

[0026] Dust separation and collection unit 22 is disposed in an L-shaped storage space formed by front portion 21a and center portion 21b of main body case 21. Dust separation and collection unit 22 separates, captures, and accumulates dust from the dust-laden air flowing into main body 16, while sending clean air from which the dust has been removed to electric blower 12. Dust separation and collection unit 22 is of a centrifugal separation type that separates dust and air by centrifugal separation using the difference in mass between the dust and air. A filtration and separation type filter that filters out dust from the dust-laden air may be provided downstream of dust separation and collection unit 22.

[0027] The dust separating and collecting unit 22 extends cylindrically along the front-rear direction of the main body case 21. In other words, the dust separating and collecting unit 22 is a cylindrical container having a center line C extending in the front-rear direction of the main body case 21. The direction along the center line C of the dust separating and collecting unit 22, the extension direction of the dust separating and collecting unit 22, and the longitudinal direction of the dust separating and collecting unit 22 are substantially the same and substantially coincide with the front-rear direction of the main body case 21. Therefore, the center line C of the dust separating and collecting unit 22 is substantially parallel to the center line of the extension tube 17. The dust separating and collecting unit 22 is also provided adjacent to the front part 21a of the main body case 21. In other words, the longitudinal direction of the dust separating and collecting unit 22 follows the longitudinal direction of the front part 21a of the main body case 21. The diameter of the dust separating and collecting unit 22 is larger than the width dimension of the front part 21a of the main body case 21, and the dust separating and collecting unit 22 protrudes in the left-right direction (width direction) of the main body 16 beyond the front part 21a of the main body case 21. The left-right direction (width direction) of the main body 16 corresponds to the normal direction of the central vertical cross section of the main body 16. The center line C of the cylindrical dust separating and collecting unit 22 is substantially included in the central vertical cross section of the main body 16.

[0028] The central portion 21b of the main body case 21 is provided with a connecting port that is fluidly connected to the exhaust side of the dust separation and collection unit 22, and a separation unit downstream air duct that fluidly connects the connecting port to the electric blower 12. The central portion 21b includes a portion that is sandwiched between the dust separation and collection unit 22 and the rear portion 21c of the main body case 21. The connecting port and the separation unit downstream air duct are arranged in this portion.

[0029] The connecting port is disposed at a position facing the front of central portion 21b. When dust separation collecting unit 22 is attached to main body case 21, the connecting port faces the rear end face of dust separation collecting unit 22. Therefore, when dust separation collecting unit 22 is attached to main body case 21, the connecting port is disposed on an extension of center line C of dust separation collecting unit 22.

[0030] The suction side of electric blower 12 is connected to dust separation and collection unit 22 via a connecting port and a separation unit downstream air duct. Electric blower 12 generates suction negative pressure by drawing air from dust separation and collection unit 22. Electric blower 12 includes an impeller, an electric motor that generates rotational driving force for the impeller, and a rotating shaft that transmits the rotational driving force from the electric motor to the impeller.

[0031] The impeller, such as a turbofan, is equipped with multiple blades. Each blade has a twisted shape that gradually rises in the radial direction of the hub from the center toward the outer edge of the conical hub. In other words, each blade is a so-called three-dimensional blade, in which the airfoil or wing section changes from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The impeller is enclosed in a case with an intake port.

[0032] Electric blower 12 has a cylindrical or columnar shape with a rotation axis as its center. It is housed in main body case 21 with the center line of the rotation axis facing the front-to-rear direction of main body case 21 and with the suction port facing forward. The center line of the rotation axis of electric blower 12 is substantially aligned with the center line C of dust separation and collection unit 22.

[0033] The main body control unit 23 is located directly behind the electric blower 12. The main body control unit 23 includes a microprocessor and a storage device that stores various calculation programs executed by the microprocessor, parameters, and the like. When implementing control that allows the operation mode of the electric blower 12 to be selected from multiple operation modes, the storage device stores various settings (arguments) related to multiple pre-set operation modes. The multiple operation modes are associated with the output of the electric blower 12. Different input values ​​(input values ​​of the electric blower 12, target values ​​of the current flowing through the electric blower 12) are set for each operation mode. Each operation mode is associated with an operation request received by the input unit 26. The main body control unit 23 selects an operation mode corresponding to the operation request from the input unit 26 from multiple pre-set operation modes, reads the settings for the selected operation mode from the storage device, and operates the electric blower 12 according to the read setting for the operation mode.

[0034] The input value of electric blower 12 corresponds to the discharge amount of secondary battery 11. The discharge amount of secondary battery 11 is controlled by the level of the discharge current or discharge voltage of secondary battery 11. It is simple and preferable to control the discharge amount of secondary battery 11 by the level of the discharge current of secondary battery 11.

[0035] Secondary battery 11 is a so-called battery pack. By discharging the power stored in secondary battery 11, electric blower 12 and main body control unit 23 are driven, and by charging power to secondary battery 11, the power consumed by electric blower 12 and main body control unit 23 is stored in secondary battery 11. Secondary battery 11 is detachable from main body case 21. In other words, multiple secondary batteries 11 can be replaced as needed in vacuum cleaner 1. If the charge rate of secondary battery 11 installed in vacuum cleaner 1 becomes low, this secondary battery 11 can be replaced with a charged secondary battery 11, allowing vacuum cleaner 1 to continue operating. In other words, secondary battery 11 can be charged while installed in main body case 21, or it can be removed from main body case 21, installed in a charger different from that of vacuum cleaner 1, and then re-installed in main body case 21 after charging. The electric vacuum cleaner 1 may be one in which the secondary battery 11 can be easily replaced, or one in which the secondary battery 11 can be replaced such that the main body 16 must be disassembled to replace the secondary battery 11.

[0036] The extension pipe 17 and the suction port body 18 suck in dust on the floor surface together with air by the negative pressure applied by the electric blower 12 and guide it to the main body 16.

[0037] The extension pipe 17 is fluidly connected to the suction side of the electric blower 12 via the main body connection port 28 of the main body case 21 and the dust separation and collection unit 22. The extension pipe 17 has a length that allows the user to substantially reach the floor when holding the handle 15 of the main body 16. One end of the extension pipe 17 has a joint structure that allows it to be detachably attached to the main body connection port 28 of the main body 16. The other end of the extension pipe 17 has a joint structure that allows it to be detachably attached to the suction port body 18 of the main body 16. The extension pipe 17 may be extendable or may have a fixed length that is not extendable.

[0038] Suction port body 18 is capable of running or gliding on floor surfaces such as wooden floors or carpets, and has suction port 25 on its bottom surface that faces the floor surface when running or gliding. Suction port body 18 also includes a rotatable cleaning body 32 disposed at suction port 25 and an electric motor 33 that drives rotary cleaning body 32. One end of suction port body 18 has a detachable coupling structure that is connected to the other end of extension tube 17. Suction port body 18 is fluidly connected to the suction side of electric blower 12 via extension tube 17. Suction port body 18, extension tube 17, and dust separation and collection unit 22 form an intake air passage that runs from electric blower 12 to suction port 25.

[0039] The suction port body 18 may be provided with a windmill or turbine that drives the rotary cleaning body 32 instead of the electric motor 33. The windmill or turbine rotates due to the flow of air sucked into the vacuum cleaner 1, thereby driving the rotary cleaning body 32.

[0040] When input unit 26 is operated while electric blower 12 is stopped, vacuum cleaner 1 starts electric blower 12. If an operation mode selector switch is installed, vacuum cleaner 1 first starts electric blower 12 in high operation mode, and when the operation mode selector switch is operated, changes the operation mode of electric blower 12 to medium operation mode. When the operation mode selector switch is operated again, changes the operation mode of electric blower 12 to low operation mode, and so on. High, medium, and low operation modes are multiple operation modes that are set in advance. The input value for electric blower 12 is greatest in high operation mode and smallest in low operation mode. When started, electric blower 12 draws air from dust separation and collection unit 22, creating a negative pressure inside dust separation and collection unit 22.

[0041] The negative pressure in dust separating and collecting unit 22 acts on suction port 25 via main body connection port 28, extension pipe 17, and suction port body 18 in that order. Vacuum cleaner 1 uses the negative pressure acting on suction port 25 to suck in dust on the surface to be cleaned together with air, thereby cleaning the surface. Dust separating and collecting unit 22 separates and accumulates dust from the dust-laden air sucked into vacuum cleaner 1, while sending the air separated from the dust-laden air to electric blower 12. Electric blower 12 exhausts the air sucked in from dust separating and collecting unit 22 to the outside of main body 16.

[0042] Next, the suction port body 18 will be described in detail.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, the suction port body 18 according to this embodiment includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped suction port main body 41 and a connecting pipe 42 provided at the rear of the suction port main body 41.

[0045] Note that the front, back, left, right, and up and down of suction port body 18 will be described with reference to the user of vacuum cleaner 1. The direction of solid arrow X in Fig. 2 is the forward or forward direction of suction port body 18, and the opposite direction is the rear or backward direction. The direction of solid arrow Y in Fig. 2 is to the left of suction port body 18, and the opposite direction is to the right. Furthermore, the direction of solid arrow Z in Fig. 2 is above suction port body 18, and the opposite direction is below. In other words, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of suction port body 18 as seen from the front left of the user of vacuum cleaner 1.

[0046] In a plan view, the shape of suction port body 41 is a rectangle with short sides in the front-to-rear direction and long sides in the left-to-right direction. In other words, the left-to-right dimension of suction port body 41, i.e., the width dimension, is greater than the front-to-rear dimension of suction port body 41, i.e., the depth dimension. Generally, a user moves suction port body 18 forward to enter suction port body 18 onto an uncleaned surface f. Therefore, the horizontally long suction port body 18 can remove dust from a wider area of ​​surface f in a single movement.

[0047] The suction port body 41 includes a lower case 45 and an upper case 46 that covers the lower case 45.

[0048] The connecting pipe 42 is provided at the rear of the suction port body 41 and approximately in the center in the width direction. The connecting pipe 42 is a so-called universal joint. The connecting pipe 42 includes a rotating connecting pipe 48 that is rotatable relative to the suction port body 41, and a swinging connecting pipe 49 that is swingable relative to the rotating connecting pipe 48.

[0049] The rotary connecting pipe 48 rotates around a center line (a line segment coinciding with the X-axis or a line segment parallel to the X-axis) extending in the front-rear direction of the suction port body 18. This center line is preferably disposed so as to divide the suction port body 41 into two halves, left and right.

[0050] The swingable connecting pipe 49 swings about a line segment perpendicular to the rotation center line of the rotating connecting pipe 48 or a line segment parallel to a line segment perpendicular to the rotation center line of the rotating connecting pipe 48. The free end of the swingable connecting pipe 49 is a joint that can be detachably attached to the free end of the extension pipe 17.

[0051] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from below.

[0055] 7 is a cross-sectional view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention taken along line VII-VII in FIG.

[0056] 3, the upper case 46 has been removed from the suction port body 18. In FIG. 6, the left-rotating cleaning body 32L has been removed from the suction port body 18.

[0057] As shown in Figures 3 to 7, the suction port body 18 of this embodiment includes a suction port main body 41, a pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 that can rotate to scrape up dust on the surface f to be cleaned, an electric motor 33 as a drive source that outputs a drive force to rotate the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32, a support part 52 that is sandwiched between the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 and supports the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 in a cantilevered manner so that they can rotate on the same rotation center line Cr, a power transmission mechanism 53 that transmits the drive force from the electric motor 33 to the support part 52 to rotate the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32, and a suction port body control part 55 that controls the operation of the electric motor 33.

[0058] The suction port body 41 has a cleaning body accommodating recess 61 in which a pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 are arranged, and a dust suction recess 62 that can apply negative pressure to suck in dust scraped up by the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 from the surface to be cleaned f.

[0059] The cleaning element accommodating recess 61 is disposed along the front edge of the suction port body 41 and spans the entire width of the suction port body 41. The cleaning element accommodating recess 61 defines a cleaning element chamber 63 in which the rotary cleaning element 32 can be placed. The cleaning element chamber 63 is open toward the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41. The cleaning element chamber 63 accommodates the rotary cleaning element 32 with a portion of the rotary cleaning element 32 exposed at the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41. When the suction port body 41 is placed on the ground with the bottom surface 41b facing the surface f to be cleaned, the portion of the rotary cleaning element 32 exposed outside the cleaning element chamber 63 is pressed against the surface f to be cleaned.

[0060] In a bottom view of the suction port body 41, the dust suction recess 62 is disposed behind the cleaning body accommodating recess 61 and is aligned with the cleaning body accommodating recess 61. Therefore, in a bottom view of the suction port body 41, the dust suction recess 62 is disposed behind the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 and the support part 52 and is aligned with the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 and the support part 52. The dust suction recess 62 defines a suction chamber 65 to which negative pressure can be applied via the connecting pipe 42. The suction chamber 65 is open toward the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41. The projection plane of the dust suction recess 62 onto the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41 corresponds to the suction port 25 of the suction port body 18. The suction port 25 faces the surface to be cleaned f without being obstructed by the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. In other words, the suction chamber 65 is an open space having the suction port 25. The dust collection recess 62 is connected to the connecting pipe 42 at the center of the suction port body 41 in the width direction.

[0061] Furthermore, the dust suction recess 62 extends across the entire width of the suction port body 41, reaching both the left and right side surfaces of the suction port body 41. In other words, the dust suction recess 62 extends close to the free ends 32t of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. That is, the suction port 25 opens to both the left and right side surfaces of the suction port body 41. The suction port 25 opens continuously across the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41 and both the left and right side surfaces. Therefore, the suction port body 18 can use the negative pressure to suck in dust on the surface to be cleaned f that faces the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41 across the entire width of the suction port body 41.

[0062] Furthermore, the dust suction recess 62 is shallower nearer the left and right sides of the suction port body 41 and deeper nearer the center in the width direction of the suction port body 41. In other words, the dust suction recess 62 is inclined so that it is deeper nearer the center of the suction port body 41. This inclination narrows the cross-sectional area of ​​the air passage of the dust suction recess 62 from the center of the suction port body 41 to the left and right sides. This inclination smoothly guides the air sucked into the suction chamber 65, which extends narrowly in the width direction of the suction port body 18, to the center of the suction chamber 65 that connects to the connecting pipe 42. This inclination also increases the wind speed of the air sucked into the suction chamber 65 nearer the left and right sides of the suction port body 41.

[0063] Furthermore, the suction port body 41 is provided with a partition 68 that is located between the cleaning element accommodating recess 61 and the dust suction recess 62 and extends downward toward the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41. The partition 68 does not completely separate the cleaning element accommodating recess 61 and the dust suction recess 62, but separates the two chambers to the extent that the cleaning element chamber 63 and the suction chamber 65 are connected even when the suction port body 41 is placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned f with the bottom surface 41b facing that surface. Therefore, when the rotating cleaning body 32 is rotated so as to scrape up dust on the surface to be cleaned f toward the rear of the suction port body 41, the scraped up dust is efficiently thrown into the suction chamber 65.

[0064] The cleaning body accommodating recess 61 and the dust collection recess 62 are provided in the lower case 45. The suction port main body 41 also includes an air path narrowing pipe 72 that is fixed to the lower case 45 and smoothly connects the shape of the suction chamber 65 with the shape of the air path inside the connecting pipe 42. The air path narrowing pipe 72 defines the air path that connects the suction chamber 65 with the air path inside the connecting pipe 42.

[0065] Furthermore, the suction port body 41 is provided with a plurality of rollers 75 that come into contact with the surface to be cleaned f and support the suction port body 41. The plurality of rollers 75 are arranged on the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41. The plurality of rollers 75 include a pair of rollers 75 arranged near the rear of the dust collection recess 62 and at each of the left and right ends of the suction port body 41, and a roller 75 arranged in the rear center of the suction port body 41.

[0066] The suction port body 41 is also provided with a linear cleaning element 76 that is disposed behind the dust collection recess 62 and extends continuously along the dust collection recess 62. The linear cleaning element 76 may be, for example, a raised nap or a rubber blade. The linear cleaning element 76 increases the negative pressure at the suction port 25 by blocking the airflow from the rear of the suction port body 41 toward the suction port 25. The linear cleaning element 76 is sandwiched between a pair of rollers 75 disposed at each end of the suction port body 41 and is disposed along the axles of the pair of rollers 75. Therefore, even when the suction port body 41 is in contact with the surface to be cleaned f, the multiple rollers 75 ensure a distance between the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41 and the surface to be cleaned f. In other words, the linear cleaning element 76 is not crushed by the suction port body 18.

[0067] A space is defined between the lower case 45 and the upper case 46 of the suction port body 41. This space includes an electric motor chamber 77 that houses the electric motor 33, a machine chamber 78 that houses the power transmission mechanism 53, and a control chamber 79 that houses the suction port body control unit 55. The electric motor chamber 77, the machine chamber 78, and the control chamber 79 may be connected or separated. The electric motor chamber 77, the machine chamber 78, and the control chamber 79 are located behind the cleaning body accommodating recess 61 in a plan view of the suction port body 41.

[0068] In a plan view of the suction port body 41, the machine chamber 78 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the connecting pipe 42 and the cleaning element accommodating recess 61.

[0069] In a plan view of the suction port body 41, the motor chamber 77 is disposed on either the left or right side of the machine chamber 78. The motor chamber 77 houses the cylindrical motor 33 as close as possible to the cleaning body accommodating recess 61. In other words, the bottom of the motor 33 is disposed below the top of the cleaning body accommodating recess 61. This arrangement of the motor 33 and the configuration of the motor chamber 77 keep the height of the suction port body 41 lower than the sum of the height (diameter) of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 and the height (diameter) of the motor 33, even when the motor 33 is disposed above the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32.

[0070] In a plan view of the suction port body 41, the control chamber 79 is disposed on either the left or right side of the connecting pipe 42. The motor chamber 77 and the control chamber 79 may be disposed together on either the left or right side of the suction port body 41, or may be disposed dispersedly on both the left and right sides.

[0071] The pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 are rotatably mounted on the suction port body 41 via a support portion 52. The pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 includes a left-handed rotating cleaning body 32L disposed on either the left or right side of the suction port body 41, for example, the left half, and a right-handed rotating cleaning body 32R disposed on the other side of the suction port body 41, for example, the right half. The left-handed rotating cleaning body 32L is disposed on the left side of the support portion 52 (the right side in a front view of the suction port body 41), and the right-handed rotating cleaning body 32R is disposed on the right side of the support portion 52 (the left side in a front view of the suction port body 41). In other words, the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 sandwich the support portion 52 between them. Each of the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 is supported by the support portion 52 so as to be rotatable about the same rotation center line Cr extending in the left-right direction of the suction port body 41. In other words, the rotation center line Cr of the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 is oriented in the width direction of the suction port body 41.

[0072] Each of the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 has a support end 32r close to the support portion 52 and a free end 32t far from the support portion 52. The support end 32r of the left rotating cleaning body 32L and the support end 32r of the right rotating cleaning body 32R sandwich the support portion 52 between them. The distance between the free end 32t of the left rotating cleaning body 32L and the free end 32t of the right rotating cleaning body 32R essentially corresponds to the overall width of the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32. The overall width of the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 essentially spans the entire width of the suction port body 41. In other words, the free end 32t of the left rotating cleaning body 32L is located at the left end of the suction port body 41, and the free end 32t of the right rotating cleaning body 32R is located at the right end of the suction port body 41. The overall width of the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 may exceed the width dimension of the suction port body 41. The free end 32t of the left-rotating cleaning body 32L may protrude outside the left side wall of the suction port body 41, and the free end 32t of the right-rotating cleaning body 32R may protrude outside the right side wall of the suction port body 41.

[0073] Each of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 includes a shaft core portion 81 that extends from the support end 32r to the free end 32t, and a cleaning member 82 that is provided on the outer periphery of the shaft core portion 81.

[0074] The cleaning member 82 is arranged so that the support end 32r of the rotary cleaning body 32 precedes the free end 32t in the direction of rotation of the rotary cleaning body 32. The cleaning member 82 is arranged in a spiral shape, winding in accordance with the rotation of the rotary cleaning body 32 from the support end 32r of the rotary cleaning body 32 toward the free end 32t. When the rotary cleaning body 32 is rotated, the cleaning member 82 is wound around the rotary cleaning body 32 in a spiral shape from the support end 32r to the free end 32t of the rotary cleaning body 32. In other words, the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 has spiral cleaning members 82 extending in different directions. The cleaning member 82 may be wound around the shaft core portion 81 more than once, i.e., 360 degrees or more, when viewed in the axial direction, or may be wound over a range less than one time.

[0075] The cleaning member 82 is a brush bristles. The cleaning member 82 radially surrounds the outer periphery of the shaft core 81 and forms multiple spirals. For example, the cleaning member 82 forms eight spirals that spirally surround the shaft core 81. The multiple spirals formed by the cleaning member 82 may all protrude from the shaft core 81 by the same length, or may have different protruding lengths. The multiple spirals formed by the cleaning member 82 may have the same rigidity or different rigidities. The rigidity of the cleaning member 82 is also referred to as bristle stiffness. Furthermore, the multiple spirals formed by the cleaning member 82 may surround the shaft core 81 without any gaps. In this case, the multiple spirals may be distinguished by at least one of the bristle stiffness, density, and protruding length of the cleaning member 82.

[0076] When the free end 32t is viewed from the support end 32r, the cleaning member 82 of the left-rotating cleaning body 32L is wound around the shaft core portion 81 counterclockwise from the support end 32r toward the free end 32t, while when the free end 32t is viewed from the support end 32r, the cleaning member 82 of the right-rotating cleaning body 32R is wound around the shaft core portion 81 clockwise from the support end 32r toward the free end 32t. Therefore, when the left side of the suction port body 41 is viewed from the support portion 52, the cleaning member 82 of the left-rotating cleaning body 32L is wound around the shaft core portion 81 counterclockwise from the support end 32r toward the free end 32t, while when the right side of the suction port body 41 is viewed from the support portion 52, the cleaning member 82 of the right-rotating cleaning body 32R is wound around the shaft core portion 81 clockwise from the support end 32r toward the free end 32t.

[0077] Therefore, when the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 are rotated so as to scrape up dust on the surface to be cleaned f toward the rear of the suction port main body 41, the contact point between the cleaning member 82, whose support end 32r side is ahead of the free end 32t side in the rotational direction, and the surface to be cleaned f moves continuously from the part close to the support end 32r of the cleaning member 82 to the part close to the free end 32t.

[0078] The pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 may be mostly housed in the cleaning body chamber 63, or most of the cleaning members 82 may be exposed to the outside of the cleaning body chamber 63. The exposed portion of the rotary cleaning bodies 32 is preferably part of the front surface of the suction port body 41.

[0079] The left and right side walls 83 of the cleaning element accommodating recess 61 that define the cleaning element chamber 63 may expose or cover the free ends 32t of the pair of rotary cleaning elements 32. The side walls 83 that expose the free ends 32t may have an arc-shaped edge 83e that conforms to the external shape of the rotary cleaning elements 32. The side walls 83 that cover the free ends 32t (the hatched area in FIG. 6) are located on an extension of the rotation center line Cr of the rotary cleaning elements 32 and have an inner wall surface 83i that faces the free ends 32t. The inner wall surface 83i of the cleaning element accommodating recess 61 may be in contact with the free ends 32t of the rotary cleaning elements 32 or may be separated from the free ends 32t of the rotary cleaning elements 32 by a gap. The thinner the side walls 83, the thinner they are, as long as they have a thickness that prevents obstacles from coming into contact with the free ends 32t.

[0080] The gap between the suction port body 41 and the free ends 32t of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 is preferably narrower than the gap between the suction port body 41 and portions of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 other than the free ends 32t. At least one of the rotary cleaning bodies 32 and the side wall 83 preferably has a seal 84 provided between the free ends 32t of the rotary cleaning bodies 32 and the side wall 83. The seal 84 is provided between the suction port body 41 and the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. The seal 84 does not completely seal the gap between the rotary cleaning bodies 32 and the side wall 83, but rather is formed by a raised surface, for example, that does not impede the discharge of thread-like dust that escapes through the free ends 32t of the rotary cleaning bodies 32. When the seal 84 is provided at the free ends 32t of the rotary cleaning bodies 32, the seal 84 rotates integrally with the rotary cleaning bodies 32 and rotates at the same rotational speed as the cleaning members 82. The seal 84 may also be provided on the side wall 83 of the suction port body 41. The seal portion 84 provided on the rotary cleaning body 32 may or may not be in contact with the side wall 83. The seal portion 84 provided on the side wall 83 of the suction port body 41 may or may not be in contact with the rotary cleaning body 32.

[0081] In a plan view of the suction port body 41, the electric motor 33 is preferably arranged so that its output shaft 33a is parallel to the rotation center line Cr of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. The electric motor 33 is arranged away from each of the left and right ends of the suction port body 41 and near the center in the width direction of the suction port body 41. The electric motor 33 is heavier than the other components of the suction port body 18. Therefore, if the electric motor 33 is arranged at either the left or right end of the suction port body 41, the center of gravity of the suction port body 18 will be far from the connecting pipe 42, making the suction port body 18 less easy to handle. By arranging the electric motor 33 near the center in the width direction of the suction port body 41, as in the suction port body 18 of this embodiment, the center of gravity of the suction port body 18 will be closer to the connecting pipe 42, improving the handleability of the suction port body 18.

[0082] With the suction port body 41 placed on the surface to be cleaned f, the electric motor 33 rotates the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 in a direction that sweeps up dust on the surface to be cleaned f toward the suction port 25. The electric motor 33 rotates the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 in a rotation direction that assists the forward movement of the suction port body 18.

[0083] The support part 52 is sandwiched between the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. The support part 52 includes a bearing housing 85 fixed to the lower case 45 of the suction port main body 41. The support part 52 may be disposed within the cleaning body chamber 63, or may divide the cleaning body chamber 63 into left and right halves. In other words, the cleaning body accommodating recess 61 may define the cleaning body chamber 63 in which the support part 52 and the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 are disposed together, or may define a pair of left and right cleaning body chambers 63 in which each of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 is disposed individually.

[0084] The bottom surface of the bearing housing 85 is part of the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41. A nonwoven fabric is preferably provided on the bottom surface of the bearing housing 85. The nonwoven fabric preferably has pile long enough to come into contact with the surface to be cleaned f when the suction port body 41 is placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned f with the bottom surface 41b facing that surface. This nonwoven fabric inhibits the flow of air in the gap between the bearing housing 85 and the surface to be cleaned f, increasing the negative pressure in the suction chamber 65 and improving the dust removal performance in the area between the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32, which are separated into left and right halves. When the bottom surface of the bearing housing 85 is away from the surface to be cleaned f, the cleaning body accommodating recess 61 defines a cleaning body chamber 63 in which the support part 52 and the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 are collectively arranged. When the bottom surface of the bearing housing 85 or the nonwoven fabric provided on the bottom surface of the bearing housing 85 is close to the surface to be cleaned f, the cleaning body accommodating recess 61 defines a pair of left and right cleaning body chambers 63 in which each of the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 is individually positioned.

[0085] The power transmission mechanism 53 includes a drive pulley 86 that is provided on the output shaft 33a of the electric motor 33 so as to rotate integrally with it, a driven pulley 87 that is connected to the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 so as to rotate integrally with it, and a belt 88 that transmits the driving force output by the electric motor 33 from the drive pulley 86 to the driven pulley 87. The reduction ratio of the power transmission mechanism 53 is set so that the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 can be rotated with the torque that the electric motor 33 can output. The power transmission mechanism 53 transmits the driving force of the electric motor 33 to the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 so that the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 rotate in a rotational direction that assists the suction port body 18 in moving forward.

[0086] The electric motor 33 and the power transmission mechanism 53 may be housed inside the rotary cleaning body 32, that is, inside the shaft core portion 81.

[0087] Alternatively, the support portion 52 may support the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 so that they can rotate independently, and the power transmission mechanism 53 may transmit driving force independently to the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. In other words, the support portion 52 and the power transmission mechanism 53 may be separated into left and right portions.

[0088] The suction port body control unit 55 operates the electric motor 33 using power supplied from the main body 16 via the extension pipe 17 .

[0089] When the suction port body 18 is moved forward over the surface f to be cleaned, the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32, which rotate in a direction that assists the forward movement of the suction port body 18, sweep up dust on the surface f to be cleaned in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the suction port body 18. In other words, the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32, which rotate in a direction that assists the forward movement of the suction port body 18, sweep up dust on the surface f to be cleaned toward the dust suction recess 62 located behind the cleaning body accommodating recess 61. The dust that has been sweep up is sucked into the air path narrowing pipe 72 by the negative pressure acting on the dust suction recess 62, and is collected in the dust separating and collecting section 22.

[0090] Here, if the dust on the surface to be cleaned f includes thread-like dust such as hair, the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 press a portion of the thread-like dust, for example, a midpoint, against the surface to be cleaned f, and send the portion of the thread-like dust behind the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. The portion of the thread-like dust sent behind the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 is sucked in by the negative pressure acting on the dust suction recess 62. In other words, the suction port body 18 according to this embodiment presses the midpoint of the thread-like dust against the surface to be cleaned f with the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32, and then attempts to suck in the portion of the thread-like dust that is behind the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 and not pressed down by the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 by the negative pressure acting on the dust suction recess 62. In this way, the suction port body 18 according to this embodiment prevents the thread-like dust from becoming entangled around the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32.

[0091] However, some of the thread-like dust particles that are not pressed down by the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 may miss the air flow generated by the negative pressure acting on the dust collection recess 62 and become entangled around the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32.

[0092] Therefore, the suction port body 18 according to this embodiment has spiral cleaning members 82 arranged so that the contact points between the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 and the surface to be cleaned f move continuously from the portion close to the support end 32r to the portion close to the free end 32t. The contact points between the spiral cleaning members 82 and the surface to be cleaned always move continuously from the support portion 52 toward the free ends 32t of the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32. When viewed from the perspective of the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32, the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 rotate in directions that give the illusion that the spirals drawn by the cleaning members 82 of the left-handed rotating cleaning body 32L and the right-handed rotating cleaning body 32R are moving away from each other around the support portion 52. Therefore, the contact points between the spiral cleaning members 82 of the left-handed rotating cleaning body 32L and the surface to be cleaned and the contact points between the spiral cleaning members 82 of the right-handed rotating cleaning body 32R and the surface to be cleaned move away from each other around the support portion 52 as the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 rotate.

[0093] Therefore, the thread-like dust wrapped around the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 is constantly exposed to a force that pushes it from the support parts 52 to the free ends 32t of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. Although it is common knowledge, for example, when trying to pull out a thread wrapped around a finger toward the tip of the finger, a force similar to the force acting on the thread wrapped around the finger acts on the thread-like dust wrapped around the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. Due to this force, even if some of the thread-like dust does wrap around the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32, the thread-like dust will break away and slip out of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32.

[0094] If thread-like dust wrapped around the rotary cleaning body 32 were to gather at the support end 32r of the rotary cleaning body 32, it could become caught between the support part 52 and the rotary cleaning body 32, hindering the rotation of the rotary cleaning body 32. The rotary cleaning body 32 of the suction port body 18 according to this embodiment sends the wrapped thread-like dust out to the free end 32t, so that rotation is not hindered by the wrapped thread-like dust.

[0095] Then, the thread-like dust that has broken away from each rotary cleaning body 32 is quickly sucked into the dust collection recess 62 extending near the free end 32t of each rotary cleaning body 32. In other words, the suction port body 18 according to this embodiment not only discharges thread-like dust wrapped around the rotary cleaning body 32 from the free end 32t of the rotary cleaning body 32, but also quickly sucks it in and collects it.

[0096] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.

[0097] FIG. 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0098] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary cleaning body and the connecting mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0099] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a coupling mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0100] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a protrusion of a connecting mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0101] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a recess of a coupling mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0102] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a decoupling body of the coupling mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0103] 8 to 14, the suction port body 18 according to this embodiment includes a pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32, a support part 52 that rotatably supports the rotary cleaning bodies 32 in a cantilevered manner, and a connecting mechanism 89 that detachably connects the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 to the support part 52. Therefore, the user can remove the rotary cleaning bodies 32 from the suction port body 18 for maintenance, and then attach the maintained rotary cleaning body 32 to the suction port body 18.

[0104] Each of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 has a cylindrical axial core portion 81 having a cavity 32c. The support end of the axial core portion 81 is also the support end 32r of the rotary cleaning body 32, the free end of the axial core portion 81 is also the free end 32t of the rotary cleaning body 32, and the cavity 32c of the axial core portion 81 is also the cavity 32c of the rotary cleaning body 32.

[0105] The support portion 52 includes a bearing housing 85, a bearing 91 held by the bearing housing 85 and the lower case 45, a support shaft base 92 supported by the bearing 91 which is rotatably supported by the bearing 91, and a pair of support shaft portions 93 which rotate integrally with the support shaft base 92 and which are connected to each of the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 in a rotatable integral manner.

[0106] The bearing 91 is held by being sandwiched between the bearing housing 85 and the lower case 45 .

[0107] Each of the pair of support shafts 93 is inserted into the cavity 32c of the shaft core 81 from the support end 32r side and connected to the rotary cleaning body 32. The pair of support shafts 93 extends in a straight line along the rotational center line Cr of the rotary cleaning body 32. The pair of support shafts 93 includes a left support shaft 93L inserted into the shaft core 81 of the left rotating cleaning body 32L and a right support shaft 93R inserted into the shaft core 81 of the right rotating cleaning body 32R. The left support shaft 93L and the right support shaft 93R rotate integrally in the same direction. The pair of support shafts 93 and the support shaft base 92 are preferably integrally molded, and preferably have a metal shaft core or are integrally molded from metal to easily obtain sufficient strength to cantilever support the rotary cleaning body 32.

[0108] The connecting mechanism 89 detachably connects each of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 to the support part 52. The connecting mechanism 89 includes a recess 95 that is integrally formed with the support part 52 and a protrusion 96 that is provided in the cavity 32c of the shaft core part 81. The protrusion 96 and the recess 95 engage with each other in a manner that allows the engagement to be released, thereby preventing the rotary cleaning bodies 32 from separating from the support part 52, that is, preventing the support shaft part 93 from slipping out of the cavity 32c of the shaft core part 81.

[0109] The recess 95 is provided at the tip of the support shaft 93. The recess 95 is a step that appears due to an umbrella-shaped portion provided at the free end of the support shaft 93, and has an appropriate shape that catches the protrusion 96 so that it does not slip out in a direction away from the support shaft 93. The recess 95 is disposed from the support end 32r into the cavity 32c.

[0110] The protrusion 96 is provided at the tip of a cantilever-like arm 98 that extends from a sleeve-like base 97 disposed on the support end 32r side of the cavity 32c of the axial core portion 81 toward the back of the cavity 32c, i.e., toward the free end 32t. The protrusion 96 protrudes radially inward from the base 97. The arm 98 can bend at least radially outward from the base 97. By bending the arm 98 radially outward from the base 97, the protrusion 96 that has become caught in the recess 95 can move closer to the inner circumferential surface of the axial core portion 81 and escape from the recess 95. Furthermore, by bending the arm 98 radially outward from the base 97, the protrusion 96 moving toward the recess 95 within the cavity 32c of the axial core portion 81 can be caught in the recess 95. When the protrusion 96 and the recess 95 engage with each other, the arm 98 can be bent radially outward from the base 97, so that the recess 95 and the protrusion 96 have inclined surfaces that, when they come into contact with each other, bend the arm 98 radially outward from the base 97. The inclined surface of the protrusion 96 faces the base side of the arm 98, and the inclined surface of the recess 95 faces the protruding end of the support shaft 93.

[0111] It is preferable that there are a plurality of protrusions 96. In other words, it is preferable that there are a plurality of arms 98 on which the protrusions 96 are provided. It is preferable that the plurality of arms 98 are arranged in a ring. The ring-shaped arranged arms 98 hook the plurality of ring-shaped arranged protrusions 96 into the recesses 95. The ring-shaped arranged plurality of protrusions 96 hooked into the recesses 95 can evenly distribute and firmly receive the force acting on the support shaft portion 93 in a direction that causes it to come out of the shaft core portion 81.

[0112] The recess 95 may be provided in the cavity 32c of the axial core portion 81, and the protrusion 96 may be provided integrally with the support portion 52. In other words, the connecting mechanism 89 may include a recess 95 and a protrusion 96, one of which is provided integrally with the support portion 52 and the other of which is provided in the cavity 32c of the axial core portion 81, that engage with each other so as to be able to release the engagement and prevent the rotary cleaning body 32 from separating from the support portion 52. Furthermore, it is sufficient that either the recess 95 or the protrusion 96 provided integrally with the support portion 52 can be positioned from the support end 32r into the cavity 32c of the axial core portion 81.

[0113] The connecting mechanism 89 is also provided with a disconnecting body 101 that is disposed in the cavity 32c of the axial core portion 81 and that, when pushed from the free end 32t toward the support end 32r, releases the engagement between the recess 95 and the protrusion 96, and a holding force generating portion 102 that generates a force that moves the disconnecting body 101 in the direction from the support end 32r toward the free end 32t, thereby maintaining the engagement between the recess 95 and the protrusion 96.

[0114] The decoupling body 101 is positioned inside the cavity 32c and further back than the free end 32t. The rotary cleaning body 32 can be used near a wall connected to the surface to be cleaned f or near furniture placed on the surface to be cleaned f. Because the free end 32t is close to each of the left and right ends of the suction port body 18, if the decoupling body 101 is exposed to the outside of the rotary cleaning body 32, there is a risk that the decoupling body 101 may come into contact with an obstacle such as a wall or furniture. If the decoupling body 101 comes into contact with an obstacle and is pushed in, the connection between the rotary cleaning body 32 and the support part 52 via the connecting mechanism 89 is unexpectedly released. This may result in the rotary cleaning body 32 falling off. Therefore, by positioning the decoupling body 101 inside the cavity 32c and further back than the free end 32t, unexpected decoupling between the rotary cleaning body 32 and the support part 52 can be prevented. In other words, unexpected detachment of the rotary cleaning body 32 is prevented.

[0115] The decoupling body 101 has an inclined surface 105 that can bend the arm 98 having the convex portion 96 in a direction that brings it closer to the inner surface of the axial core portion 81, and a rod portion 106 of an appropriate length that extends from the free end 32t to the tip of the arm 98.

[0116] When the decoupling body 101 is pushed from the free end 32t toward the support end 32r, the inclined surface 105 comes into contact with the tip of the arm 98 and guides it in a direction approaching the inner circumferential surface of the shaft core portion 81. There are multiple inclined surfaces 105, and they are arranged in a taper that narrows toward the tip of the decoupling body 101 so that multiple arms 98 can be deflected substantially simultaneously.

[0117] The rod portion 106 has an appropriate buckling strength so that the inclined surface 105 can be pressed against the arm 98 to bend it.

[0118] Furthermore, the connecting mechanism 89 includes a guide rod 107 and a guide hole 108, one of which is provided on the disconnecting body 101 and the other of which is provided on the support shaft portion 93, and which fit together along the rotation center line Cr of the rotating cleaning body 32. The guide rod 107 and the guide hole 108 guide the movement of the disconnecting body 101.

[0119] The holding force generating unit 102 includes a coil spring 109 sandwiched between the decoupling body 101 and a sleeve-shaped base 97 having a protrusion 96, and a sleeve-shaped spring receiving portion 111 integral with the decoupling body 101 and in contact with the coil spring 109. The spring receiving portion 111 is disposed to surround the protrusion 96 and the recess 95. The spring receiving portion 111 has slit-shaped openings 112 that prevent the arms 98 having the protrusions 96 from bending. The number of openings 112 is the same as the number of arms 98. The arms 98 preferably extend into the openings 112 to an extent that bending is not hindered. The overlap between the arms 98 and the openings 112 prevents the decoupling body 101 from rotating around the rotation center line Cr of the rotating cleaning body 32, and positions the decoupling body 101 so that the arms 98 do not overlap with the open portions of the spring receiving portion 111, thereby preventing bending of the arms 98.

[0120] Furthermore, the connecting mechanism 89 has a second recess 115 and a second protrusion 116, one of which is integral with the support portion 52 and the other of which is provided in the cavity 32c of the shaft portion 81. These second recesses 115 and second protrusions 116 engage with each other so as to release the engagement and rotate the rotary cleaning body 32 and the support portion 52 together. There are multiple second recesses 115 and multiple second protrusions 116, each arranged in an annular shape. The second recesses 115 and the second protrusions 116 engage with each other in a key-like manner to transmit torque from the support portion 52 to the rotary cleaning body 32. The second recesses 115 and the second protrusions 116 are also called spline shafts, spline holes, serration shafts, or serration holes. One of the second recesses 115 and second protrusions 116, which corresponds to the spline shaft or serration shaft, is located closer to the base of the support shaft portion 93 than the recesses 95 and protrusions 96. The so-called keyway-shaped portion recessed toward the center line of the support shaft 93 may reach the tip of the support shaft 93 and connect to the recess 95. Therefore, the connecting mechanism 89 supports the force that attempts to separate the rotary cleaning body 32 from the support part 52 by the engagement between the recess 95 and the protrusion 96, and supports the torque transmitted from the support part 52 to the rotary cleaning body 32 by the engagement between the second recess 115 and the second protrusion 116. The division of roles makes the structures of both simple and easy to use, and allows the connecting mechanism 89 to be housed in the cavity 32c of the rotary cleaning body 32.

[0121] FIG. 15 is a front view of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0122] As shown in Figure 15, the rear wall of the cleaning body accommodating recess 61 that defines the cleaning body chamber 63 of the suction port body 18 in this embodiment is connected to a partition section 68 that separates the cleaning body accommodating recess 61 and the dust collection recess 62.

[0123] The lower edge of partition 68, i.e., edge 68e of partition 68 separating cleaning body chamber 63 from suction chamber 65, may be parallel to bottom surface 41b of suction port body 41 and linear, or may be close to bottom surface 41b at the widthwise center of suction port body 41 and far from bottom surface 41b at both left and right ends of suction port body 41, or may be far from bottom surface 41b at the widthwise center of suction port body 41 and close to bottom surface 41b at both left and right ends of suction port body 41. Partition 68 having edges 68e (edges 68e shown by dashed lines) farther from bottom surface 41b at both left and right ends than at the widthwise center restricts the air flow at the center near connecting pipe 42 where the negative pressure is strong and increases the air flow at both left and right ends far from connecting pipe 42 where the negative pressure is weak, thereby improving the dust removal stress at both widthwise ends of suction port body 41, which generally tends to decrease. The partition 68 has edges 68e (edges 68e shown by solid lines) that are closer to the bottom surface 41b at both left and right ends than at the center in the width direction, allowing more air to flow in the center, which is close to the connecting pipe 42 and where the negative pressure is strong, and restricting the air flow at both left and right ends, which are far from the connecting pipe 42 and where the negative pressure is weak, thereby maximizing the dust removal capacity of the center in the width direction of the suction port body 18.

[0124] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another example of the suction port main body of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0125] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of another example of the suction port main body of the suction port body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0126] 16 and 17, the suction port body 18 according to this embodiment may have a side wall 83 that covers the free ends 32t of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. The side wall 83 (hatched area in FIG. 6) that covers the free ends 32t is located on an extension of the rotation center line Cr of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 and has an inner wall surface 83i that faces the free ends 32t. In the example of FIG. 17, the inner wall surface 83i of the cleaning body accommodating recess 61 is separated from the free ends 32t of the rotary cleaning bodies 32 by a gap.

[0127] Side wall 83 includes lid portion 117 that is detachably attached to suction port body 41. When lid portion 117 is removed from side wall 83 of suction port body 41, an arc-shaped edge 83e appears that conforms to the external shape of rotary cleaning body 32, as shown in Figure 6. In other words, when lid portion 117 is removed from side wall 83 of suction port body 41, rotary cleaning body 32 can be easily attached to and detached from suction port body 41.

[0128] Suction port body 41 is provided with holding portion 118 that holds lid portion 117 in a detachable or openable manner. Holding portion 118 is preferably arranged on the top or back surface of suction port body 41, avoiding the side and front surfaces of suction port body 41. Holding portion 118 may have a recess and a protrusion that are provided on lid portion 117 and suction port body 41 and that hook together. Lid portion 117 may be removable by releasing the engagement between the recess and protrusion of holding portion 118, or may be opened and closed like a hinge, with the engagement between the recess and protrusion of holding portion 118 as a fulcrum.

[0129] Next, other examples of suction port body 18 according to this embodiment will be described. In suction port bodies 18A, 18B, and 18C described in each example, the same components as those in suction port body 18 of the first example will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0130] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a second example of the suction port body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0131] 18, a suction port body 18A of a second example according to this embodiment includes a pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32A in which, when the suction port body 41 is placed on the surface to be cleaned f with the bottom surface 41b facing the surface to be cleaned, the free end 32t side is pressed more strongly against the surface to be cleaned f than the support end 32r side. Each cleaning member 82A of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32A protrudes a long distance from the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41 at a location closer to the free end 32t than to the support end 32r of the rotary cleaning body 32A.

[0132] Similar to the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 of the suction port body 18 of the first example, the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32A of the suction port body 18A have a rotation center line Cr that extends in a straight line in the left-right direction of the suction port main body 41. In other words, similar to the support part 52 of the suction port body 18 of the first example, the support part 52 of the suction port body 18A supports the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32A on the same rotation center line Cr.

[0133] Each of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32A has an inverse taper such that the outer diameter on the free end 32t side is larger than the outer diameter on the support end 32r side. Each of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32A includes a frustum-shaped shaft core portion 81A and a cleaning member 82A provided on the outer periphery of the shaft core portion 81A.

[0134] Cleaning member 82A preferably has brush bristles with a uniform bristle length. That is, shaft core 81A preferably has a reverse taper similar to that of rotary cleaning body 32A, and the taper angle and taper ratio of shaft core 81A are preferably the same as those of rotary cleaning body 32A.

[0135] The rotary cleaning body 32A, which is pressed more strongly against the surface to be cleaned at the free end 32t than at the support end 32r, experiences a greater force acting between the cleaning member 82A and the surface to be cleaned f as it approaches the free end 32t from the support end 32r. Therefore, the force acting on the thread-like dust wrapped around the rotary cleaning body 32A, sending it toward the free end 32t, increases the closer it gets to the free end 32t. Even if some of the thread-like dust does wind around the rotary cleaning body 32A, the thread-like dust will be guided toward the free end 32t with a greater force than in the suction port body 18 of the first example and will be released from the rotary cleaning body 32A.

[0136] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a third example of the suction port body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0137] 19, a suction port body 18B of a third example according to this embodiment includes a pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32B in which, when the suction port body 41 is placed on the surface to be cleaned f with the bottom surface 41b facing the surface to be cleaned, the free end 32t side is pressed more strongly against the surface to be cleaned f than the support end 32r side. Each cleaning member 82B of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32B protrudes a long distance from the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41 at a position closer to the free end 32t than to the support end 32r.

[0138] Similar to the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 of the suction port body 18 of the first example, the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32B of the suction port body 18B have a rotation center line Cr that extends in a straight line in the left-right direction of the suction port main body 41. In other words, similar to the support part 52 of the suction port body 18 of the first example, the support part 52 of the suction port body 18B supports the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32B on the same rotation center line Cr.

[0139] Each of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32B has a reverse taper such that the outer diameter on the free end 32t side is larger than the outer diameter on the support end 32r side. Each of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32B includes a cylindrical axial core portion 81B and a cleaning member 82B provided on the outer periphery of the axial core portion 81B.

[0140] The axial core portion 81B preferably has a cylindrical shape with a uniform outer diameter, similar to the axial core portion 81 of the first example. In other words, the cleaning member 82B has short brush bristles on the support end 32r side and long brush bristles on the free end 32t side, forming an inverse taper of the rotating cleaning body 32B. Therefore, the taper angle and taper ratio of the cleaning member 82B are the same as those of the rotating cleaning body 32A. The taper of the cleaning member 82B can be adjusted by previously implanting long brush bristles into the axial core portion 81B and then cutting them.

[0141] The rotary cleaning body 32B, which is pressed more strongly against the surface to be cleaned at the free end 32t than at the support end 32r, experiences a greater force acting between the cleaning member 82B and the surface to be cleaned f as it approaches the free end 32t from the support end 32r. Therefore, the force acting on the thread-like dust wrapped around the rotary cleaning body 32B, pushing it toward the free end 32t, increases the closer it gets to the free end 32t. Even if some of the thread-like dust does wind around the rotary cleaning body 32B, the thread-like dust will be guided toward the free end 32t with a greater force than in the suction port body 18 of the first example and will be released from the rotary cleaning body 32B.

[0142] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a fourth example of a suction port body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0143] 20, a suction port body 18C of a fourth example according to this embodiment includes a pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 in which, when the suction port body 41 is placed on the surface to be cleaned f with the bottom surface 41b facing the surface to be cleaned, the free end 32t side is pressed more strongly against the surface to be cleaned f than the support end 32r side. The cleaning member 82 of each of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 protrudes a long distance from the bottom surface 41b of the suction port body 41 at a position closer to the free end 32t than to the support end 32r.

[0144] Unlike the support part 52 of the suction port body 18 of the first example, the support part 52C of the suction port body 18C supports the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 at an angle. The support part 52C supports the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 so that the free ends 32t of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 are closer to the surface to be cleaned f than the support ends 32r of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32.

[0145] Therefore, the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32A of suction port body 18C have a pair of intersecting rotation center lines Cr, unlike the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 of suction port body 18 of the first example. In other words, the support portion 52C of suction port body 18C supports the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 on a pair of intersecting rotation center lines Cr, unlike the support portion 52 of suction port body 18 of the first example.

[0146] The support portion 52C includes a universal joint 121 that connects the pair of support shaft portions 93 so that the pair of support shaft portions 93 can rotate together even when the pair of support shaft portions 93 are tilted relative to each other. Instead of the universal joint 121, the support portion 52C may include a bellows or a coil spring that can follow the tilt of the pair of support shaft portions 93.

[0147] The support portion 52C also includes a pair of support shaft bases 92 provided on the pair of support shaft portions 93, respectively, and a pair of bearings 91 that rotatably support the pair of support shaft bases 92, respectively.

[0148] Since the suction port body 18C is provided with a pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32 arranged in an inverted V shape, it is preferable to provide a cleaning body accommodating recess 61C that defines an inverted V-shaped cleaning body chamber 63 similar to the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32.

[0149] The rotary cleaning body 32, which is pressed more strongly against the surface to be cleaned f at the free end 32t than at the support end 32r, increases the force acting between the cleaning member 82 and the surface to be cleaned f as it approaches the free end 32t from the support end 32r. Therefore, the force acting on thread-like dust wrapped around the rotary cleaning body 32, sending it out toward the free end 32t of the rotary cleaning body 32, increases the closer it gets to the free end 32t. Even if some of the thread-like dust does wrap around the rotary cleaning body 32, the thread-like dust will be guided to the free end 32t of the rotary cleaning body 32 with a greater force than in the suction port body 18 of the first example, and will be released from the rotary cleaning body 32.

[0150] As described above, the suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment include the rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B having cleaning members 82, 82A, 82B arranged such that the support end 32r precedes the free end 32t in the direction of rotation. Therefore, when thread-like dust becomes wrapped around the rotary cleaning body 32, the suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and the vacuum cleaner 1 can guide the dust to the free end 32t of the rotary cleaning body 32 and discharge it. Therefore, the suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and the vacuum cleaner 1 do not require the user to manually remove dust wrapped around the rotary cleaning body 32, and the rotation of the rotary cleaning body 32 is not hindered by the wrapped dust, providing high convenience to the user. Furthermore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and electric vacuum cleaner 1 do not require a structure for supporting rotating cleaning body 32 outside free end 32t of left-hand rotating cleaning body 32L and free end 32t of right-hand rotating cleaning body 32R in the left-right direction of suction port body 41, nor a mechanism for rotating rotating cleaning body 32. Therefore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and electric vacuum cleaner 1 can sweep up dust with rotating cleaning body 32 across the entire width of suction port body 41.

[0151] Furthermore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment are provided with a coupling mechanism 89 that detachably couples rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B to support parts 52, 52C. Therefore, in the event that thread-like dust accidentally gets into the boundary between rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B and support part 52 and becomes entangled around support shaft part 93, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and electric vacuum cleaner 1 can easily remove the thread-like dust that has become entangled around support shaft part 93 by detaching rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B from support parts 52, 52C.

[0152] Furthermore, the suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, and 18C and the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment include a suction port body 41 having an inner wall surface 83i that is located on an extension of the rotation center line Cr of the rotary cleaning body 32, 32A, and 32B and faces away from the free ends 32t of the rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, and 32B. The side wall 83 of the suction port body 41 having this inner wall surface 83i may be as thin as long as it is thick enough to prevent obstacles from coming into contact with the free ends 32t. Therefore, the suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, and 18C and the vacuum cleaner 1 allow the rotary cleaning body 32 to sweep up dust across the entire width of the suction port body 41.

[0153] In addition, the suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment may have a suction port body 41 having a cleaning body chamber 63 in which the support parts 52, 52C and the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B are arranged together, or may have a suction port body 41 having a pair of cleaning body chambers 63 in which each of the pair of rotating cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B is arranged individually.

[0154] Furthermore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment are provided with suction port main body 41 that is disposed behind and along rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B and has dust suction recess 62 that can apply negative pressure to suck in dust stirred up by rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B. As a result, thread-like dust attempting to wrap around rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B is sent to dust suction recess 62 in a direction close to the tangent at the point where rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B are installed and cleaned surface f is installed. Therefore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and vacuum cleaner 1 can prevent thread-like dust from wrapping around rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B.

[0155] Furthermore, suction mouth bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment have dust collection recesses 62 that extend to the vicinity of free ends 32t of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. Therefore, suction mouth bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and electric vacuum cleaner 1 can quickly suck up thread-like dust discharged from free ends 32t of rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B.

[0156] Furthermore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment include suction port body 41 having partition 68 that is located between cleaning element accommodating recess 61, 61C and dust suction recess 62 and extends so as to hang down toward the bottom surface of suction port body 41. Therefore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and vacuum cleaner 1 can appropriately adjust the distribution of negative pressure acting on dust suction recess 62 in the width direction of suction port body 41.

[0157] Furthermore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment are provided with partition portions 68 in which both left and right ends are farther from bottom surface 41b of suction port body 41 than the center in the width direction of suction port body 41. Therefore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and vacuum cleaner 1 can improve dust removal stress at both width direction ends of suction port body 41, which generally tends to decrease.

[0158] Furthermore, suction port bodies 18A, 18B, 18C and vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment are provided with rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B that, when placed on the surface to be cleaned f with bottom surface 41b facing the surface f, press free end 32t against the surface f more strongly than support end 32r. Therefore, suction port bodies 18A, 18B, 18C and vacuum cleaner 1 can guide thread-like dust to free end 32t of rotary cleaning body 32, 32A, 32B with a greater force and release it than when rotary cleaning body 32 is pressed against surface f with a substantially uniform force from support end 32r to free end 32t.

[0159] Furthermore, suction port bodies 18A, 18B and vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment include rotary cleaning bodies 32A, 32B that have a reverse taper such that the outer diameter of free end 32t is larger than the outer diameter of support end 32r. Therefore, suction port bodies 18A, 18B and vacuum cleaner 1 can easily press free end 32t of rotary cleaning bodies 32A, 32B more strongly against surface f to be cleaned than support end 32r.

[0160] Furthermore, suction port body 18A and vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment include rotary cleaning body 32A having a frustum-shaped shaft core portion 81 and a cleaning member 82A provided on the outer periphery of shaft core portion 81. Therefore, suction port body 18A and vacuum cleaner 1 can use cleaning member 82A with a certain amount of bristles to easily press free end 32t of rotary cleaning body 32A more strongly against surface f to be cleaned than support end 32r.

[0161] Furthermore, suction port body 18B and vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment include rotary cleaning body 32B having a cylindrical axial core portion 81 and cleaning member 82B provided on the outer periphery of axial core portion 81. Therefore, by additionally processing cleaning member 82B having a bristled pile, suction port body 18B and vacuum cleaner 1 can easily press free end 32t of rotary cleaning body 32B more strongly against surface f to be cleaned than support end 32r.

[0162] Furthermore, the suction port body 18C and the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment include support parts 52C that support the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 so that the free ends 32t are closer to the surface to be cleaned than the support ends 32r. Therefore, the suction port body 18C and the vacuum cleaner 1 can easily press the free ends 32t of the rotary cleaning bodies 32 more strongly against the surface to be cleaned than the support ends 32r of the rotary cleaning bodies 32 using a typical rotary cleaning body 32 having a cylindrical outer shape.

[0163] Furthermore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment include seal portions 84 provided between suction port main body 41 and free ends 32t of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. Therefore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and electric vacuum cleaner 1 can discharge thread-like dust that is about to wrap around rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B, while preventing a decrease in negative suction pressure via cleaning body accommodating recesses 61, 61C, thereby maintaining suction performance.

[0164] Furthermore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment have a gap between suction port body 41 and free ends 32t of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32 that is narrower than the gap between suction port body 41 and portions other than free ends 32t of the pair of rotary cleaning bodies 32. Therefore, suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and vacuum cleaner 1 can discharge thread-like dust that is about to wrap around rotary cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B, while preventing a decrease in negative suction pressure via cleaning body accommodating recesses 61, 61C, thereby maintaining suction performance.

[0165] Therefore, with the suction port bodies 18, 18A, 18B, 18C and electric vacuum cleaner 1 of this embodiment, when thread-like dust begins to wrap around the rotating cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B, the thread-like dust can be discharged without becoming entangled with the rotating cleaning bodies 32, 32A, 32B.

[0166] 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. 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]

[0167] 1...electric vacuum cleaner, 11...secondary battery, 12...electric blower, 15...handle, 16...main body, 17...extension tube, 18, 18A, 18B, 18C...suction port body, 21...main body case, 21a...front part, 21b...central part, 21c...rear part, 22...dust separation and collection part, 23...main body control part, 25...suction port, 26...input part, 28...main body connection port, 29...exhaust port, 31...battery mounting part, 32, 32A, 32B...rotating cleaning body, 32L...left-rotating cleaning body, 32R...right-rotating cleaning body, 32r...support end, 32t...free end, 32c...cavity, 33...motor, 33a...output shaft, 41...suction port body, 41b...bottom surface, 41b...bottom surface, 42...connecting pipe, 45...lower case, 46...upper case, 48...rotating connecting pipe, 49...oscillating connecting pipe, 52, 52C...support part, 53...power transmission mechanism, 55...suction port body control part, 61, 61C...cleaning body accommodating recess, 62...dust collection recess, 63...cleaning body chamber, 65 ...Suction chamber, 68...Partition section, 72...Air path narrowing pipe, 75...Rotor, 76...Linear cleaning body, 77...Motor room, 78...Machine room, 79...Control room, 81, 81A, 81B...Axis core section, 82, 82A, 82B...Cleaning member, 83...Side wall, 83i...Inner wall surface, 83e...Arc-shaped edge, 84...Seal section, 85...Bearing housing, 86...Drive pulley, 87...Driven pulley, 88...Belt, 89...Connecting mechanism, 91...Bearing, 92...Support Support shaft base, 93...support shaft portion, 93L...left support shaft portion, 93R...right support shaft portion, 95...recess, 96...convex portion, 97...base, 98...arm, 101...disconnecting body, 102...holding force generating portion, 105...inclined surface, 106...rod body portion, 107...guide rod, 108...guide hole, 109...coil spring, 111...spring receiving portion, 112...opening, 115...second recess, 116...second convex portion, 117...cover portion, 118...holding portion, 121...universal joint.

Claims

1. The vacuum cleaner body and an electric blower housed in the vacuum cleaner body to generate negative pressure; an intake body fluidly connected to the electric blower, The suction port body is a rotating cleaning body that can scrape up dust on a surface to be cleaned by rotating; a drive source that outputs a drive force for rotating the rotary cleaning body; a support part that rotatably and detachably supports the rotary cleaning body in a cantilevered manner; a suction port body that supports the rotary cleaning body via the support portion, the rotary cleaning body has a cleaning member arranged such that a support end side closer to the support portion precedes a free end side farther from the support portion in a rotational direction, The suction port body is positioned behind the rotary cleaning body when viewed from the bottom, and is positioned along the rotary cleaning body, extending to the vicinity of the free end of the rotary cleaning body, and has a dust suction recess through which negative pressure acts to suck in the dust picked up by the rotary cleaning body and the discharged dust that moves from the support end side to the free end side as the rotary cleaning body rotates and is discharged from the free end.

2. 2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the suction port body has inner wall surfaces that are located on an extension of a rotational centerline of the rotary cleaning body and that face each other and are spaced apart from the free end.

3. 3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the suction mouth body has a cleaning element accommodating recess that defines a cleaning element chamber in which the support portion and the rotary cleaning element are disposed.

4. 3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the suction mouth body has a cleaning element accommodating recess that defines a cleaning element chamber in which the rotary cleaning element is disposed.

5. The suction port body is a cleaning element accommodating recess in which the rotary cleaning element is disposed; 3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising: a partition portion disposed between the dust collection recess and the cleaning element accommodating recess and extending downward toward the bottom surface of the suction port body.

6. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 , wherein the partition portion is arranged such that both left and right ends of the partition portion are farther from the bottom surface of the suction port body than the center portion in the width direction of the suction port body.

7. 3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein when the bottom surface of the suction mouth body is placed against the surface to be cleaned, the free end side of the rotary cleaning body is pressed more strongly against the surface to be cleaned than the support end side.

8. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the rotary cleaning element has an inverse taper such that the outer diameter of the free end side is larger than the outer diameter of the support end side.

9. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the rotary cleaning element comprises a frustum-shaped shaft core portion, and the cleaning member is provided on an outer periphery of the shaft core portion.

10. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the rotary cleaning element comprises a cylindrical axial core portion and the cleaning member provided on an outer periphery of the axial core portion.

11. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 , wherein the support portion supports the rotary cleaning body so that the free end side of the rotary cleaning body is closer to the surface to be cleaned than the support end side of the rotary cleaning body.

12. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a seal portion provided between the suction port body and the free end of the rotary cleaning body.

13. 3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a gap between the suction port body and the free end of the rotary cleaning body is narrower than a gap between the suction port body and a portion of the rotary cleaning body other than the free end.

14. a rotating cleaning body that can scrape up dust on a surface to be cleaned by rotating; a drive source that outputs a drive force for rotating the rotary cleaning body; a support part that rotatably and detachably supports the rotary cleaning body in a cantilevered manner; a suction port body that supports the rotary cleaning body via the support portion, the rotary cleaning body has a cleaning member arranged such that a support end side closer to the support portion precedes a free end side farther from the support portion in a rotational direction, The suction port body is positioned behind the rotary cleaning body when viewed from the bottom, and is positioned along the rotary cleaning body, extending to the vicinity of the free end of the rotary cleaning body, and has a dust collection recess through which negative pressure acts to suck in the dust picked up by the rotary cleaning body and the discharged dust that moves from the support end side to the free end side as the rotary cleaning body rotates and is discharged from the free end.

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