vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide a suction port body of a vacuum cleaner and the vacuum cleaner including the same, capable of preventing damage of LEDs, improving productivity, and also efficiently irradiating a floor surface with illumination light of the LEDs.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner includes: a fan motor for generating suction force; and a suction port body 400 for sucking dust sucked by the fan motor. In the vacuum cleaner, the suction port body 400 includes an upper case 22 and a lower case 21. The upper case 22 includes a lens member constituted by a plurality of lenses 23. The lower case 21 includes light sources.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

Background Art

[0002] For example, when cleaning with a vacuum cleaner, the user visually checks the cleaning target surfaces such as the floor and the shelf, and collects dust and other garbage. At this time, if the visibility of the garbage as seen from the user is low, there may be missed cleaning or a decrease in efficiency due to cleaning of a place without garbage. Therefore, as a technology related to improving the visibility of garbage on the cleaning target surface, the technology described in Patent Document 1 is known. Patent Document 1 describes a suction body having a suction port for sucking a gas containing dust, and a light-emitting diode disposed on the suction body. When the suction body is arranged so as to be in contact with the suction body or substantially parallel to the floor surface, the light-emitting diode is arranged on the suction body so that the irradiation range of the light emitted from the light-emitting diode and irradiated outside the suction body spreads in a downward direction from a direction substantially parallel to the floor surface. A vacuum cleaner is described.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, the irradiation range of the light-emitting diode with respect to the floor surface is not considered. For this reason, there is a problem that the irradiated light does not sufficiently spread over the cleaning surface and the garbage is overlooked.

[0005] Therefore, a lens is installed to efficiently illuminate the floor surface with light-emitting diode (LED) light. The closer the LED is to the lens, the more efficient the illumination becomes. However, if the distance between the LED and the lens is too short, a problem arises: the lens may come into contact with the LED during assembly, making it easy to damage the LED.

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the problems of the past and to provide a vacuum cleaner that can be assembled stably while preventing damage to the LED while keeping the distance between the LED and the lens close. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner comprising a fan motor that generates suction force and a suction nozzle that sucks up the dust sucked up by the fan motor, wherein the suction nozzle has an upper case and a lower case, the upper case has a lens member consisting of a plurality of lenses, and the lower case has a light source. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vacuum cleaner nozzle that prevents LED damage, improves productivity, and efficiently illuminates the floor surface with LED light, as well as a vacuum cleaner equipped with the same. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing an example of an electric vacuum cleaner. [Figure 2] A perspective view of the mouthpiece as seen from above. [Figure 3] Front view of the mouthpiece. [Figure 4] A perspective view of the mouthpiece as seen from the bottom. [Figure 5] The top view shows the mouthpiece with the upper case removed. [Figure 6] A perspective view showing the mouthpiece with the upper case removed. [Figure 7] A perspective view showing an LED circuit board. [Figure 8] The hue circle of the Munsell color system that explains the hue of the light to be irradiated. [Figure 9] Perspective view of the upper case. [Figure 10] Front view of the upper case. [Figure 11] Front view of the lens. [Figure 12] Top view of the lens. [Figure 13] Perspective view of the LED holder. [Figure 14] Front view of the LED holder. [Figure 15] Top view of the LED holder. [Figure 16] Cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG. 14. [Figure 17] Top view showing the state where the upper case is removed from the suction body. [Figure 18] Plan view showing the back side of the upper case. [Figure 19] Bottom view of the suction body. [Figure 20] Cross-sectional view taken along line XXXIX-XXXIX of FIG. 3.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a side view of a vacuum cleaner to which the suction body of the present embodiment is applied. The vacuum cleaner 1000 is a cyclone type and includes a cleaner main body 1, a dust case (dust collecting device) 2, and a rechargeable battery 3.

[0012] The cleaner main body 1 includes a main body portion 10, a motor case portion 11, and a handle portion 12. An electric blower (not shown) that generates a suction force is housed in the motor case portion 11. An operation switch SW for switching the suction force is provided on the handle portion 12.

[0013] One end of the extension tube 5 is connected to the connection port of the vacuum cleaner body 1 so as to communicate with the dust case 2 of the vacuum cleaner body 1. The other end of the extension tube 5 is connected to the suction nozzle 400. The extension tube 5 also has an air passage (not shown) formed therein and is equipped with wiring (not shown) that electrically connects the rechargeable battery 3 to the electric motor (not shown) for the brush of the suction nozzle 400. The extension tube in this embodiment is manufactured using a computational method called topology optimization, which is lightweight and strong, and as shown in the figure, the visible part of the extension tube has an irregular uneven shape.

[0014] Furthermore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1000 is not limited to the stick-type vacuum cleaner shown in the illustration, but can also be applied to corded and cordless electric vacuum cleaners such as handheld vacuum cleaners and canister (cylinder type) vacuum cleaners.

[0015] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the suction nozzle body from above. As shown in Figure 2, the suction nozzle body 400 is a power brush type in which the brush is rotated by a motor, and is composed of a suction nozzle body 20 and a joint 30 that is rotatably connected to the suction nozzle body 20.

[0016] The suction nozzle body 20 is composed of a lower case 21, an upper case 22, a lens 23, and a unit cover 24. The lower case 21, upper case 22, lens 23, and unit cover 24 are all made of synthetic resin. For example, the lower case 21 and upper case 22 are made of ABS resin. The lens 23 is made of acrylic resin. The unit cover 24 is made of a resin such as glass-filled nylon, which is harder than ABS resin. The lower case 21 is also provided with a bumper section 25. This bumper section 25 is made of elastomer resin and is constructed by double molding with the lower case 21. In this way, the unit cover 24 and the bumper section 25, which are parts that users are likely to hit against walls or other surfaces when cleaning, are made of strong materials.

[0017] Figure 3 is a front view of the suction nozzle. Figure 3 shows the suction nozzle 400 in the state shown in Figure 2, viewed from the front. As shown in Figure 3, the bumper portion 25 is provided on the front side of the lower case 21 and extends in the width direction (left-right direction). The lower part of the bumper portion 25 is shorter than the width dimension of the suction nozzle body 20. The upper part of the bumper portion 25 extends from the right end to the right end of the lower case 21 and from the left end to the unit cover 24.

[0018] The suction nozzle body 20 is formed such that the upper case 22 is shorter in the left-right direction (width direction) than the lower case 21. In other words, the suction nozzle body 20 is configured such that a part of the lower case 21 protrudes from the right end of the upper case 22, and the unit cover 24 protrudes from the left end of the upper case 22.

[0019] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the suction nozzle as seen from the bottom. As shown in Figure 4, the suction nozzle 400 is composed of a rotating brush (rotating cleaning body) 40 and a bearing cover 50. Details of the bearing cover 50 will be described later.

[0020] The rotating brush 40 is positioned along the left-right direction (width direction) of the suction nozzle body 20 and is rotatably supported within the brush chamber Q. Furthermore, the rotating brush 40 is continuously provided from one end to the other of the suction nozzle body 20 in the left-right direction (axial direction of the rotating brush 40).

[0021] Furthermore, the rotating brush 40 is equipped with multiple types of brushes, such as brushes of different hardness and height, and each brush is arranged in a spiral pattern. The joint section 30 is designed to be used in a stick configuration by connecting it to the extension pipe 5 (see Figure 1), or to be used in a handheld configuration by connecting it directly to the vacuum cleaner body 1. The joint section 30 is composed of a straight pipe section 31, a rotating joint section 32, and a rotating cover 33.

[0022] Furthermore, the lower case 21 has legs 25 formed on its back surface. These legs 25 are integrally molded with the lower case 21. The legs 25 also have extensions 25a, 25a that extend rearward from near both the left and right sides of the pivot joint 32, and a connecting portion 25b that connects the rear ends of the extensions 25a, and are configured to form a U-shape in plan view. A wheel 25c is rotatably supported on the connecting portion 25b.

[0023] Furthermore, the lower case 21 is provided with a brush 120 shaped to follow the rotation brush 40, located behind the rotation brush 40. By providing such a brush 120, dust and debris drawn in from the front by the rotation brush 40 are prevented from flying out the rear. The brush 120 also has a pivot axis (not shown) parallel to the rotation brush 40 and is configured to rotate in the front-rear direction.

[0024] Figure 5 is a top view showing the upper case 22 removed from the mouthpiece. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the upper case removed from the mouthpiece. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the LED substrate 60, which is the light source. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the lower case 21 houses an LED substrate 60 (wiring board) on which multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 61, 61 are mounted. The lens 23, which is fixed to the upper case 22, is positioned in front of the LED substrate 60, and the lower case 21 covers it from above. As shown in Figure 7, the LED substrate 60 is equipped with five LEDs, 6101G, 6102W, 6103G, 6104W, and 6015G, in that order from right to left. Note that 6101G, 6103G, and 6015G emit green light, while 6102W and 6104W emit white light. Specifically, the LEDs are arranged alternately in the order of green, white, green, white, and green from right to left in the left-right direction (width direction) of the suction nozzle 200. In Example 1, multiple colored LEDs, including green and white, are lit simultaneously, and the light is projected onto the floor surface in a mixed state of multiple colored LEDs. The reason for selecting multiple colored LEDs, including green and white, will now be explained.

[0025] Figure 8 shows the Munsell color system hue circle (hereinafter referred to as the Munsell color circle as appropriate) that explains the hue of the light being emitted. The Munsell color circle is an annular Munsell color chart with center P0, and in the example shown, it has 20 hues, with the circumference divided into 20 equal parts. The symbols on the circumference represent hues (synonymous with "color"), where R is red, Y is yellow, G is green, B is blue, and P is purple. For example, if light of an absorbing color, which is easily absorbed by the surface to be cleaned, is emitted from the illumination unit 202, the surface to be cleaned will absorb the light, making it easier for the user to see the light reflected by the dirt and thus easier to confirm the location of the dirt. Therefore, for example, the LED 61 emits light of a non-identical color as the light of the absorbing color of the surface to be cleaned, which, in the Munsell color circle shown in Figure 8, belongs to a region other than the region between two hues adjacent to the hue corresponding to the color of the surface to be cleaned. By irradiating the surface to be cleaned with light of a different color, the surface is made more likely to absorb light, suppressing reflection and making dirt more visible, thus improving the visibility of the dirt. For example, regarding the hue C1 of the surface to be cleaned, the hues adjacent to hue C1 among the 20 hues are hues 5YR and 10YR. If the region between hues 5YR and 10YR, which includes hue C1, is defined as being of the same color as hue C1 of the surface to be cleaned, then the irradiating unit 202 irradiates light of a different color, which is a hue belonging to a region other than that of the same color. When a single color of light is irradiated, any one color from the different colors can be selected, and when multiple colors of light L are irradiated, any two or more colors can be selected.

[0026] In Example 1, multiple colored LEDs, including green (5G) and white, are lit simultaneously, and the light from these mixed LEDs is projected onto the floor surface.

[0027] For example, if the surface to be cleaned is a wooden floor, the wood color is generally close to a color between yellow (5Y) and purple (5P). Therefore, by irradiating the surface with light of a hue outside the range between 5Y and 5P, specifically, light of a hue between yellow-green (7.5GY) and blue (5B), the color difference between the dirt and the surface to be cleaned can be increased, making the dirt more visible. For this reason, Example 1 is equipped with a green LED.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment 1, among the multiple colored LEDs arranged from right to left as 6101G (green), 6102W (white), 6103G (green), 6104W (white), and 6015G (green), the central 6103G (green) draws a current that is more than 30% greater than the 6101G (green) and 6015G (green) at either end. This increases the brightness of the central green light, while decreasing the brightness of the green lights at both ends, resulting in better mixing of the light on the floor surface when illuminated simultaneously with the white LEDs 6102W (white) and 6104W (white). For this purpose, the 6103G (green) is equipped with a resistor with a different resistance value than the 6101G (green) and 6015G (green).

[0029] Furthermore, a channel section 64 (a component that forms a channel) which constitutes part of the channel that communicates with the joint section 30 is integrally molded behind the LED substrate 60.

[0030] Furthermore, an electric motor 70, which serves as a drive source for driving the rotating brush 40, is located in the lower case 21. The electric motor 70 is located at one end (left side) in the left-right direction. Also located in the lower case 21, on the opposite side from the electric motor 70 in the left-right direction, is a control board 80 for controlling the rotating brush 40.

[0031] Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the upper case 22, and Figure 10 shows a front view of the upper case 22. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the upper case 22 holds the lens 63. The bottom surface of the upper case 22 is provided with protrusions 22a and 22b, which engage with protrusions on the lower case to fix the upper case and the lower case together.

[0032] Figure 11 shows a front view of the lens 63, and Figure 12 shows a top view of the lens 63. The lens 63 has a first protrusion 63e and a second protrusion 63d on both sides, and these protrusions engage with recesses in the upper case 22, fixing the lens 63 to the upper case 22. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, the lens 63 also has a third protrusion 63b and a fourth protrusion 63a on the LED side. These third protrusion 63b and fourth protrusion 63a prevent the LED 61 from touching the lens 63, thus preventing damage to the LED while keeping the distance between the LED and the lens short, and allowing for stable assembly.

[0033] Lens 63f is the green lens for 6101G, 63h is the central green lens for 6103G, and 63j is the lens for the side green LEDs of 6105G. Additionally, lens 63g is the white lens for 6102W, and 63i is the lens for 6104W. Therefore, white light is emitted from lenses 63g and 63i, while green light is emitted from lenses 63f, 63h, and 63j.

[0034] Lenses 63g, 63i, 63f, 63h, and 63j are formed in a conical shape such that their diameter increases from the light incident side (rear side) to the light irradiating side (front side). Furthermore, lenses 63f, 63h, and 63j have different diameters on the light irradiating side (front side) compared to lenses 63g and 63i. That is, the diameter D1 on the irradiating side (front side) of lenses 63f, 63h, and 63j is larger than the diameter D2 on the irradiating side (front side) of lenses 63g and 63i (D1 > D2).

[0035] Therefore, lenses that emit white light have a lower refractive index, resulting in a higher degree of light focusing. On the other hand, lenses that emit green light have a smaller radius of curvature than lenses that emit white light, resulting in a higher refractive index and a lower degree of light focusing. In other words, lenses 63f, 63h, and 63j, which emit green light, have a wider field of view than lenses 63g and 63i, which emit white light.

[0036] In Example 1, lenses with different angles of view are used in combination, which diffuses the green light absorbed by the surface being cleaned and focuses the white light to brighten it, improving the visibility of dust. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the brightness of the green light in the center is increased, making it easier to mix with the white light and suppressing color unevenness.

[0037] Figure 13 is a perspective view of the LED holder. As shown in Figure 13, the left and right ends 64b and 64c of the flow channel 64 are formed to extend downward along the mounting holes 21a of the lower case 21. Figure 14 is a front view of the LED holder. Figure 15 is a top view of the LED holder. Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII of Figure 14. Figure 16 shows a substrate holding portion 65b that holds the LED substrate 60. This substrate holding portion 65b is formed in a concave shape in cross-sectional view and extends in the left-right direction (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing). The width of the substrate holding portion 65b in the front-rear direction is long enough to fit the lower part of the LED substrate 60. This allows the LED substrate 60 to be held stably. In addition, a restricting projection 65d is formed to restrict the movement of the LED substrate 60 in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the ribs 65c of the LED holder are extended upward as far as structurally possible to firmly fix the LED substrate 60. The LED substrate 60 is fixed by being sandwiched between ribs 65c and rib 65e, and in this process, the notches 60d and 60e of the LED substrate fit into the ribs 63f and 63g of the LED holder 62.

[0038] As shown in Figure 17, when the joint 30 is attached to the lower case 21, the connecting part 32c is connected to the flow path 64. In addition, a gap S1 for taking in air is formed on the left side of the lower case 21. When the electric blower of the vacuum cleaner body 1 is driven and suction force is generated, air flows from the brush chamber Q (see Figure 4) through the joint 30, and at the same time, outside air is taken in through the gap S1. The air taken in through the gap S1 cools the electric motor 70 and is then taken into the joint 30 through the through holes 32d to 32g.

[0039] Figure 18 is a plan view showing the back side of the upper case. As shown in Figure 18, multiple recesses 22b, which serve as material-reducing sections, are formed on the back side of the upper case 22. By forming these recesses 22b, the weight of the upper case 22 can be reduced, thereby reducing the weight of the suction port 400. Furthermore, the recesses 22b are formed as elongated holes that are long in the front-to-back direction with a predetermined width, and are spaced apart in the left-to-right direction. This ensures strength against upward loads that are likely to be applied to the upper case, while also reducing weight.

[0040] Furthermore, screw bosses 22c, 22d, and 22e are formed on the back surface of the upper case 22.

[0041] Figure 19 is a bottom view of the mouthpiece. As shown in Figure 19, the mouthpiece 400 is fixed to the lower case 21 and the upper case 22 by screws. The lower case 21 has screw insertion holes (not shown) through which screws 121a, 121b, and 121c are inserted. The screw insertion holes are formed in positions that are vertically opposite to the aforementioned screw bosses 22c, 22d, and 22e.

[0042] Screws 121a, 121b, and 121c are inserted through the respective screw holes from the bottom of the lower case 21 and screwed into the screw bosses 22c, 22d, and 22e of the upper case 22, thereby securing them in place.

[0043] Furthermore, the lower case 21 is provided with a screw fixing section using screws 121d for fixing the unit cover 24 to the lower case 21.

[0044] Figure 20 shows a cross-sectional view of section XXXIX-XXXIX in Figure 3, where the suction port 400 is fixed to the lower case 21 and the upper case 22 by claw fitting in addition to the screw fixing described above. Specifically, a claw 22t is formed at the front edge of the upper case 22, and a claw 22u is formed at the rear edge of the upper case 22. A recess 21t into which the claw 22t fits is formed at the top of the lower case 21, and a hole 21u into which the claw 22u fits is formed at the rear of the lower case 21. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1. Vacuum cleaner body 20 Mouthpiece body 21 Lower case 22 Upper case

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising a fan motor that generates suction force and a suction nozzle that sucks up the dust sucked in by the fan motor, The mouthpiece has an upper case and a lower case, The aforementioned case has a lens member consisting of multiple lenses, The lower case mentioned above has a light source, The plurality of lenses include a lens that emits green light and a lens that emits white light. A vacuum cleaner characterized in that the lens emitting green light has a wider field of view than the lens emitting white light.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, The vacuum cleaner is characterized in that the lens member is fixed by a first fixing member on the side surface of the lens member and a second fixing member provided on the upper case.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, The aforementioned lens member has a convex portion, The vacuum cleaner is characterized in that the protrusions protrude in the same direction as each of the lenses and protrude more than each of the lenses.

Images