Cleaning device

Abstract

To provide a cleaning device capable of suppressing failure of an electric component due to wetting.SOLUTION: A cleaning device comprises a body part 11 including an electric blower for generating suction force, a tank part 12 for storing sucked liquid, a nozzle part including a suction port for sucking air and liquid, and a hose 8 for connecting the nozzle part and the body part 11. The body part 11 includes a connection part 331 for connecting with the hose 8, on one side in a horizontal direction, and a communication part for communicating the electric blower and the tank part 12, close to the connection part 331 side in the horizontal direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 19-(b)

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device that cleans a surface to be cleaned. [Background Art]

[0002] As a cleaning device that discharges liquid, there is disclosed a cleaning device comprising a device main body 2 that accommodates a suction unit 21, wherein a downstream end 222 at which sewage flows into a sewage tank 6 is located on a side to which a suction hose 8 is connected, and an upstream end 233 communicating with the suction port of the suction unit 21 is located on a side opposite to the side to which the suction hose 8 is connected (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-66532 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] The above cleaning device is a device capable of sucking liquid, so it is necessary to take measures to prevent electrical components from getting wet with liquid. However, if the device tips over, sewage may enter the suction unit. An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device capable of suppressing failure of electrical components due to wetting with liquid. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0005] A cleaning device according to the present invention comprises: a main body portion having an electric blower that generates suction force; a tank portion that stores sucked liquid; a nozzle portion having a suction port for sucking air and liquid; and a hose connecting the nozzle portion and the main body portion, wherein the main body portion includes a connection portion for connecting to the hose on one side in the left-right direction, and the electric blower is located closer to the connection portion side in the left-right direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the above configuration, failure of electrical components due to liquid wetting can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] These are perspective views of the cleaning device; (a) is a view from the front left upper side, and (b) is a view from the rear right upper side. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the device with the tank section extended from the main body; (a) is a view from the front right lower, and (b) is a view from the rear left lower. [Figure 3] (a) is a perspective view from the upper right rear of the main body with the rear case moved to the rear, and (b) is a perspective view from the upper right rear of the main body with the operating section, circuit section, power supply section, and discharge channel forming member moved to the rear from the front case. [Figure 4] (a) is a perspective view from the front upper right of the main body with the rear case moved to the rear, and (b) is a perspective view from the front upper right of the main body with the operating section, circuit section, power supply section, and discharge channel forming member moved to the rear from the front case. [Figure 5] These are perspective views of the disassembled case; (a) is a view from the front left lower, and (b) is a view from the rear left lower. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view from the right side of the device body, showing the cross-section passing through the central axis of the air blower section. [Figure 7] These are perspective views of the disassembled power supply unit; (a) is a view from the rear right lower, and (b) is a view from the front left lower. [Figure 8] These are perspective views of the suction channel morphological member, where (a) is a view from the rear left upper and (b) is a view from the front left upper. [Figure 9] These are perspective views of the disassembled discharge channel forming member, with (a) being a view from the front upper right and (b) being a view from the rear lower right. [Figure 10](a) is a perspective view of the hand tool attached, seen from the lower left, and (b) is a view of the device body from the rear, with the attached hand tool (excluding the hose) indicated by dashed lines. [Figure 11] These are perspective views of the suction tank in its disassembled state; (a) is a view from the front upper right, and (b) is a view from the rear lower right. [Figure 12] (a) is a view of the upper tank body from above, and (b) is a view of the lower tank body from above. [Figure 13] (a) is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the float housing section, (b) is a perspective view of the housing section forming member viewed from the front left lower, and (c) is a perspective view of the housing section forming member viewed from the rear left upper. [Figure 14] This is a cross-sectional view of the suction tank section of a cleaning device, seen from the front. [Figure 15] This is a cross-sectional view of a hand tool, seen from the left side. [Figure 16] This is a perspective view of the disassembled hand tool, seen from the rear left upper side. [Figure 17] This is a perspective view of the disassembled hand tool, seen from the front left and lower. [Figure 18] These diagrams illustrate the position of the center of gravity; (a) is a view from the rear, and (b) is a view from the left side. [Figure 19] (a) is a view from the right side showing the cleaning device tilted to the rear, and (b) is a view from the front side showing the cleaning device tilted to the left.

[0008] <Embodiment> 1. Overall Structure Cleaning device X is a so-called wet cleaning device capable of sucking up dirt, air, and liquid. As shown in Figure 1, the cleaning device X comprises a device body 1, a hand tool 7, and a hose 8. The cleaning device X discharges the liquid in the tank portion 75 from the discharge port 720a of the hand tool 7, sucks air and dust together with the discharged liquid (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "liquid or the like") through the suction port 736a of the hand tool 7, and stores the sucked liquid (including dust) passing through the hose 8 in the tank portion 12 of the device main body 1. The cleaning device X can also suck liquid or the like on the surface to be cleaned from the hand tool 7 without discharging liquid, and store the sucked liquid or the like in the tank portion 12 of the device main body 1. As the liquid, for example, water, which can reduce running costs, can be used; in addition, water containing a cleaning agent that enhances cleaning ability, organic solvents with high cleaning ability (e.g., alcohol), electrolyzed water generated by electrolysis of water, electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid, and the like can also be used.

[0009] Here, for convenience, in order to distinguish between the tank portion 12 that stores sucked liquid and the tank portion 75 that stores liquid to be discharged, the term "for suction" is added to the suction-side tank, and the term "for discharge" is added to the discharge-side tank. Furthermore, in the device main body 1, for convenience, the side where the suction tank portion 12 is located is defined as the front side, and the direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction is defined as the left-right direction. When the suction tank portion 12 is viewed from the front, the right side facing the viewer is defined as the right side in the left-right direction. Each part will be described in detail below.

[0010] 2. Device Main Body (1) Outline As shown in FIG. 2, the device main body 1 includes a main body portion 11 that sucks liquid or the like, and a suction tank portion 12 that stores the sucked liquid. As shown in FIG. 3, an electric blower, an operation switch 251, a battery, a circuit, a suction flow path, a discharge flow path, and the like are housed in the case 21 of the main body portion 11. Here, the electric blower is housed as the air blowing portion 23, the operation switch 251 is housed as the operation portion 25, the battery is housed as the power supply portion 27, and the circuit is housed as the circuit portion 29. The suction channel connecting the main body side connection part 331, which connects to the hose 8, to the suction tank part 12 is composed of the front case 51 and the suction channel forming member 33, and the discharge channel connecting the blower part 23 to the outside of the device is composed of the discharge channel forming member 35. For convenience, the connection part 331 with the hose 8 is labeled "main body side" to the connection part on the main body 1 of the device, and the connection part on the hand tool 7 side is labeled "tool side" to distinguish it from the connection part with the hose 8 on the hand tool 7 side. The following describes each part.

[0011] (2) Main body (2-1) Case Case 21 is composed of multiple components. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, Case 21 includes a front case 51 and a rear case 53. Case 21 has a suction tank housing section 47 at the front that houses the suction tank section 12 so that it can be inserted and removed from the front, a functional housing section 49 at the rear that houses the functional parts necessary for sucking up liquids, etc., and a handle section 43 at the top, and a holding section 39 for holding the hand tool 7 is provided on the rear surface. In Figure 2, the lead lines for the suction tank housing section 47 are indicated by arrows to distinguish them from the lead lines indicating the walls of the case 21, etc.

[0012] (2-1-1) Previous case As shown in Figure 5, the front case 51 has a partition wall 510 that separates the suction tank housing section 47 and the functional housing section 49 in the case 21, a front peripheral wall 511 that surrounds the partition wall 510, and a front handle section 512 formed on the upper part of the front peripheral wall 511. For convenience, the front case 51 is labeled "front" and the rear case 53 is labeled "rear" to distinguish it from the peripheral wall 531 and rear handle section 53 of the rear case 53.

[0013] (2-1-1-1) Partition wall The partition wall 510 is vertical (extending in the left-right and up-down directions). The partition wall 510 is rectangular in shape, elongated in the vertical direction. The partition wall 510 has a suction section 510a for drawing liquid or the like from the hand tool 7 towards the suction tank section 12, and a discharge section 510b for discharging air from the suction tank section 12. The suction section 510a and the discharge section 510b are composed of cylindrical sections that extend forward. The partition wall 510 is located above the circuit section 29 and has an extension portion 510c that extends behind the circuit section 29. The extension portion 510c is located below the abutting portion (joint portion) between the front case 51 and the rear case 53, and prevents liquid that has entered the case 21 from flowing towards the circuit section 29. The partition wall 510 has a support portion 510f that supports the upstream end of the suction channel forming member 33 from the front. The support portion 510f has a notched portion corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the front side of the suction channel forming member 33. This allows the upstream end of the suction channel forming member 33 to be supported in a positioned state.

[0014] The partition wall 510 has a liquid volume detection housing section 510d that houses a liquid volume detection unit 31 (see Figure 3(b)) for detecting the amount of liquid stored in the suction tank section 12, and a recess 510e to avoid interference with the connecting section 613 of the suction tank section 12 (see Figure 11). The liquid volume detection housing 510d is composed of a recessed portion that is recessed toward the front. This allows the liquid volume detection unit 31 to be brought closer to the suction tank 12, thereby improving detection performance. Furthermore, the liquid volume detection housing 510d is located between the air blower 23 and the upstream end of the suction flow path, making effective use of the space in the case 21. For convenience, the liquid volume detection unit 31 is labeled "liquid volume" to distinguish it from other detection units.

[0015] (2-1-1-2) Front peripheral wall As shown in Figure 5, the front perimeter wall 511 has an upper wall 513, a lower wall 514, a left side wall 515, and a right side wall 516, and when viewed from the front or back direction, it has a rectangular frame shape. Note that the left side wall 515 and the right side wall 516 are referred to as side walls 515 and 516 when there is no need to distinguish between them. As shown in Figures 4(a) and 5(a), the upper wall 513 has an upper inner wall portion 513a extending forward from the upper end of the partition wall 510, an upper front wall portion 513b extending upward from the front end of the upper inner wall portion 513a, and an upper outer wall portion 513c extending rearward from the upper end of the upper front wall portion 513b. The lower wall 514 has a lower wall portion 514a extending forward from the lower end of the partition wall 510, a lower front wall portion 514b extending downward from the front end of the lower wall portion 514a, and a rib portion 514c extending downward from the lower wall portion 514a. The side walls 515 and 516 have side inner wall portions 515a and 516a extending forward from the left and right ends of the partition wall 510, side front wall portions 515b and 516b extending outward to the left and right from the front ends of the side inner wall portions 515a and 516a, and side outer wall portions 515c and 516c extending rearward from the left and right outer ends of the side front wall portions 515b and 516b.

[0016] As shown in Figure 5(a), the upper wall 513 has a guide portion 513d for inserting and removing the suction tank portion 12, and a case-side locking portion 513e for locking the suction tank portion 12 in place. As shown in Figure 4(a), the lower wall 514 has a guide portion 514d for inserting and removing the suction tank portion 12, and a case-side locking portion 514e for locking the installed state of the suction tank portion 12. As shown in Figure 5, the left wall 515 has a notch 515d for the main body side connection part 331 for connecting the hose 8. The right wall 516 has a notch 516d for the power supply unit 27.

[0017] (2-1-2) Later Case As shown in Figure 5, the rear case 53 has a rear wall 530, a rear circumferential wall 531 surrounding the rear wall 530, and a rear handle portion 532 formed on the upper part of the rear circumferential wall 531.

[0018] (2-1-2-1) Back wall The rear wall 530 is vertical (extending in the left-right and up-down directions). The rear wall 530 is rectangular in shape, elongated in the vertical direction. The rear wall 530 has a terminal mounting portion 530a to which a connection terminal portion 28 (see Figure 4(a)) for charging the battery 271 of the power supply unit 27 via a charging jack (not shown) is attached. The terminal mounting portion 530a extends cylindrically forward from the periphery of the terminal hole in the rear wall 530. A cap body 283 (see Figure 1(b)) is removablely provided in the terminal hole. The rear wall 530 has a support portion 530b that supports the power supply unit 27 from the rear, and a support portion 530c that supports the main body side connection portion 331 of the suction flow path forming member 33. The support portions 530b and 530c have notches corresponding to the rear outer peripheral surfaces of the power supply unit 27 and the suction flow path forming member 33. This allows the power supply unit 27 and the suction flow path forming member 33 to be supported in a positioned state. The rear wall 530 has a projection 530f that protrudes in a stepped manner to the rear of the air blower 23, and a holding part (holding member) 39 (see Figure 3(a)) for holding the hand tool 7 is attached to the projection 530f from the rear.

[0019] (2-1-2-2) Rear peripheral wall As shown in Figure 5, the rear circumferential wall 531 has an upper wall 533, a lower wall 534, a left side wall 535, and a right side wall 536, and when viewed from the front or rear direction, it has a rectangular frame shape. Note that the left side wall 535 and the right side wall 536 are referred to as side walls 535 and 536 when there is no need to distinguish between them. The lower wall 534 is located above the lower ends of the side walls 535 and 536 and has one or more outlets 534a for discharging air discharged from the blower 23 to the outside of the case 21, and a rib portion 534b that extends downward. The left wall 535 has a notch 535a for the main body side connection part 331 for connecting the hose 8. The right wall 536 has a notch 536a for the power supply unit 27.

[0020] (2-1-3) Handle section As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the front handle portion 512 is provided along the rear of the upper wall 513 in the left-right direction. Here, it extends upward in an inverted "U" shape from both the left and right ends of the upper wall 513. The rear handle portion 532 is provided along the front part of the upper wall 533 in the left-right direction. Here, it extends upward in an inverted "U" shape from both the left and right ends of the upper wall 533. The front handle portion 512 and the rear handle portion 532 have notches 512a and 532a for the operating section 25. When the rear case 53 is fixed to the front case 51, the front handle portion 512 and the rear handle portion 532 form the handle portion 43 (see Figure 2), and also form a housing portion for housing the operating portion 25.

[0021] (2-2) Air blower As shown in Figure 3, the air blower 23 is located on the upper side of the case 21, on one side in the left-right direction (in this case, the left side). The air blower 23 is covered by the air blower cover portion 351 of the discharge channel forming member 35. As shown in Figure 6, the blower unit 23 includes an electric blower 235, a casing 230 that houses the electric blower 235, and a communication section that communicates with the suction tank unit 12. The casing 230 has a stepped cylindrical body 231 located at the front and a cover body 232 located at the rear. A through-hole is formed in the front portion 231a of the cylindrical body 231, and an on / off valve 233 is provided to open and close the through-hole. The communication portion is formed by the through-hole 231b of the front portion 231a. The on-off valve 233 opens when the electric blower 235 is driven and closes when the drive stops. The on-off valve 233 moves in the front-rear direction to open and close the through-hole. The cover body 232 has an outlet 232a for discharging the air drawn in by the electric blower 235 to the outside of the casing 230. The blower unit 23 is fixed to the partition wall 510 using screws or the like, with the front portion 231a of the casing 230 protruding forward from the discharge portion 510b of the partition wall 510, and the stepped portion of the cylindrical body 231 in contact with the partition wall 510. When the suction tank section 12 is installed, the front portion 231a of the casing 230 is positioned inside the suction tank section 12.

[0022] (2-3) Operation section As shown in Figure 4, the control unit 25 is equipped with an operation switch 251 for starting operation, notification means 253, etc. on the control board. The notification means 253 includes notification means for notifying when the suction tank 12 is full of water, notification means for notifying when the operation switch 251 is operated while the suction tank 12 is not installed in the correct position, notification means for notifying when the battery needs to be charged, etc. The control unit 25 is mounted with the control board fitted into the notches 512a of the front handle portion 512 and the notches 532a of the rear handle portion 532. The control board is covered with a protective sheet 256.

[0023] (2-4) Power supply section As shown in Figure 3, the power supply unit 27 is located in the middle of the vertical direction within the case 21 and on the other side in the horizontal direction (in this case, the right side). The power supply unit 27 extends in the horizontal direction, and its center of gravity G2 (see Figure 18(a)) is located on the other side of the center in the horizontal direction. The power supply unit 27 is located behind the suction channel forming member 33, and the center of gravity G2 of the power supply unit 27 (see Figure 18(b)) is located behind the partition wall 510. The power supply unit 27 is fixed to the partition wall 510 and the suction channel forming member 33 using screws or the like.

[0024] As shown in Figure 7, the power supply unit 27 includes a battery 271, a battery case 272 that houses the battery 271 so that it can be inserted and removed, a door 273 that opens and closes the entrance 272a of the battery case 272, a battery detection unit 274 that detects the insertion (installation) of the battery 271 into the battery case 272, and a connection terminal 275 that electrically connects to the battery 271 inside the battery case 272. The battery detection unit 274 is named "battery" to distinguish it from other detection units.

[0025] The battery 271 is elongated and has a stepped portion 271a that tapers at one end in the left-right direction, and has a connection hole 271b in the stepped portion 271a for connecting to the connection terminal 275 of the battery case 272. The battery case 272 is composed of multiple components. It includes an end case body 276 located on the rear side in the direction of battery 271 insertion, a lower case body 277 located on the lower side in the direction of insertion, and an upper case body 278 located on the upper side in the direction of insertion.

[0026] The end case body 276 is provided with connection terminals 275, and the lower case body 277 is provided with a cylindrical housing 277a for housing the battery detection unit 274. Since the housing 277a is open on the bottom side, it is difficult for liquid to enter the housing 277a. The lower case body 277 and the upper case body 278 have overhangs 277c and 278c that protrude outward in the circumferential direction at the ends opposite to the end case body 276, and the door body 273 is supported so as to be able to open and close by the shaft portions 277e and 278e of these overhangs 277c and 278c. The shaft portions 277e and 278e extend in the vertical direction. The door body 273 is supported at the front and opens and closes at the rear. This makes it difficult for the liquid from the suction tank 12 to enter the battery case 272.

[0027] (2-5) Circuit section As shown in Figure 3, the circuit section 29 is located on the upper side of the case 21, on the other side in the left-right direction (in this case, the right side). More specifically, the circuit section 29 is located below the extension section 510c and above the power supply section 27. The circuit section 29 is located behind the suction channel forming member 33. The circuit section 29 is fixed to the partition wall 510 using screws or the like, in a state where it is spaced apart from (not in contact with) the suction channel forming member 33. This makes it difficult for vibrations from the suction channel to be transmitted to the circuit section 29.

[0028] The circuit unit 29 generates drive power from the power supplied by the battery 271 and supplies it to the drive units such as the motor of the electric blower 235, the tilt detection unit 30, the liquid level detection unit 31, the battery detection unit 274, the operation unit 25, and the attachment / detachment detection unit 36. The circuit unit 29 drives each drive unit according to the user's operation of the control unit 25. During use, if the tilt detection unit 30 detects that the tilt of the main unit 11 exceeds a threshold, the circuit unit 29 stops driving the electric blower 235. During use, if the liquid level in the suction tank unit 12 exceeds a threshold, the circuit unit 29 stops driving the electric blower 235. When the control unit 25 is operated, if the attachment / detachment detection unit 36 ​​detects that the suction tank unit 12 is attached, the circuit unit 29 drives the electric blower 235, or if the attachment / detachment detection unit 36 ​​detects that the suction tank unit 12 becomes detached during use, the circuit unit 29 stops driving the electric blower 235. When the charge of the battery 279 falls below a threshold, the circuit unit 29 drives the notification means 253 of the control unit 25. Note that the functions of the circuit unit 29 may be performed by the control unit. The circuit section 29 performs the above functions by mounting multiple electronic components 291 on the circuit board 293. The tilt detection section 30 can utilize an acceleration sensor or the like and is mounted on the circuit board 293, and the attachment / detachment detection section 36 can utilize a contact-type switch or the like and is provided using a boss hole in the front case 51 (see Figure 2(a)).

[0029] (2-6) Liquid volume detection unit As shown in Figure 3(b), the liquid volume detection unit 31 is located in the middle of the vertical direction within the case 21 and on one side in the horizontal direction (in this case, the right side). More specifically, the liquid volume detection unit 31 is located below the air blower unit 23 and above the portion of the L-shaped suction channel forming member 33 that extends in the horizontal direction. As shown in Figure 6, the liquid volume is detected by detecting the float 63 in the suction tank section 12. More specifically, this is done by a magnetic sensor 311 that detects the magnet (or its magnetism) inside the float 63. The liquid volume detection unit 31 consists of a magnetic sensor 311 mounted on a detection substrate 313 and is housed in the liquid volume detection housing 510d of the partition wall 510.

[0030] (2-7) Suction channel forming member As shown in Figure 3(b), the suction channel forming member 33 is L-shaped when viewed from the rear and is positioned across the lower and right sides (the other side in the left-right direction) of the case 21. In other words, the air sucked in from the hand tool 7 enters the device body 1 from the lower part of the device body 1, from one side in the left-right direction (left side), proceeds to the other side in the left-right direction (right side), then moves towards the upper side, and enters the tank section 12 from the upper suction section 510a (see Figure 2(a)) (this channel is the "suction channel"). The suction channel forming member 33 is fixed to the partition wall 510 and forms a suction channel with the partition wall 510.

[0031] As shown in Figure 8, the suction channel forming member 33 has a main body side connection part 331 that connects to the hose 8, and a suction channel forming part 332 that connects to the main body side connection part 331 and forms a suction channel with the partition wall 510. The suction channel forming member 33 is fixed to the partition wall 510 using screws or the like. For convenience, the term "main body side" is used to distinguish it from the connection part (connector 83) on the hose 8 side. The main unit connection part 331 is located on the other end in the left-right direction, that is, on the side where the air blower part 23 is located, and on the lower side of the case 21. The main body side connection part 331 has a cylindrical portion 331a, a fitting portion 331b that fits into the suction port of the case 21 (the notched portion 515d of the front case 51 and the notched portion 535a of the rear case 53), a guide portion 331c that guides the connection of the hose side connector 83 of the hose 8, and a locking portion 331d for locking the connection state of the hose side connector 83. The fitting portion 331b is composed of a groove formed on the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion 331a. The guide portion 331c is composed of a groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 331a and extending along the direction of the cylindrical axis. The locking portion 331d is composed of an elongated hole extending circumferentially from the inner end of the guide portion 331c. The hose-side connector 83 of the hose 8 is pushed in from the other side in the left-right direction with the convex locking portion 88 on the outer circumference positioned in the guide portion 331c, and rotated circumferentially with the locking portion 88 positioned towards the back of the guide portion 331c. This locks the connection with the hose 8. The suction channel forming section 332 has a semi-cylindrical shape with a portion missing in a cross-section perpendicular to the cylindrical axis. The suction channel forming section 332 has a flat portion 332a at the opening end to enhance airtightness.

[0032] (2-8) Discharge channel forming member As shown in Figure 3, the discharge channel forming member 35 is L-shaped and is positioned across the left side (one side in the left-right direction) and bottom of the case 21. In other words, the air in the suction tank section 12 enters the device body 1 from the casing 230 of the blower section 23 on the upper part of the device body 1, on one side in the left-right direction (left side), moves downward, then moves toward the other side in the left-right direction (right side), and exits to the outside through the discharge port 534a of the case 21 (rear case 53) (this channel is the "discharge channel"). The discharge channel forming member 35 is fixed to the partition wall 510 using screws or the like. The discharge channel forming member 35 is installed in a state where it is spaced apart (not in contact with) the suction channel forming member 33. This suppresses vibration and noise. The discharge channel forming member 35 is installed in a state where it is spaced apart (not in contact with) the power supply unit 27. This suppresses the transmission of vibrations from the discharge channel forming member 35 to the power supply unit 27.

[0033] As shown in Figure 9, the discharge channel forming member 35 has a blower cover portion 351 that covers the rear side of the blower portion 23 and a discharge channel forming portion 353 that constitutes a flow path from the blower cover portion 351 to the discharge port 534a. The discharge channel forming section 353 is L-shaped. The discharge channel forming section 353 comprises a front channel forming body 355 located on the front side and a rear channel forming body 357 located on the rear side.

[0034] The air blower cover section 351 is composed of an air blower cover body. The air blower cover body may also be denoted as "351". The air blower cover body 351 has a bottomed cylindrical main body portion 351a with an opening at the front, a through hole 351b formed in the rear wall of the main body portion 351a, a cylindrical portion 351c extending rearward in a cylindrical shape from the periphery of the through hole 351b, a through hole 351d formed in the lower wall of the peripheral wall of the main body portion 351a, and a fitting portion 351e formed around the through hole 351d. The through-hole 351b in the rear wall is for routing the wiring of the blower unit 23 (electric blower 235), and the wiring is routed through the notched portion 351f of the cylindrical portion 351c. The cylindrical portion 351c fits with the rib 530g of the rear wall 530 of the rear case 53 shown in Figure 5(a). This improves the airtightness between the air blower 23 and the discharge passage. The through-hole 351d connects the air blower cover body 351 and the discharge channel forming section 353. The fitting portion 351e is U-shaped with an open rear edge, and its cross-sectional shape is groove-shaped.

[0035] The flow path front forming body 355 has a front main body portion 355a which is U-shaped with a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the central axis of the L-shape and opening to the rear, a fitting portion 355b which is formed at the upper end of the front main body portion 352a and fits into the fitting portion 351e of the air blower cover body 351, an exhaust through hole 355c which is formed at the end opposite to the air blower cover body 351 in the discharge flow path, and a front hood portion 355d which extends downward from around the through hole 355c. The fitting portion 355b has a protruding ridge that extends outward and is inserted from the rear into the groove-shaped fitting portion 351e of the air blower cover body 352. The pre-flow channel forming body 355 has an extended portion 355e that extends forward on the lower side of the fitting portion 355b. The extended portion 355e approaches or abuts against the battery case 272 of the power supply unit 27 from the left and right directions. As a result, the extended portion 355e can receive part of the load when inserting the battery 271 into the battery case 272. The pre-flow channel forming body 355 has a receiving portion 355f extending in the front-rear and left-right directions below the fitting portion 355b. This prevents moisture accumulated inside the air blower cover body 351 due to condensation, etc., from flowing to the connection terminal 275 side (battery 271 side) of the power supply unit 27.

[0036] The flow path rear forming body 357 has a rear main body portion 357a which is U-shaped with a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the central axis of the L-shape and opening to the front, a lid portion 357b which is formed at the upper end of the rear main body portion 357a and covers the rear side of the fitting portion 351e of the air blower cover body 351, and a rear hood portion 357c which extends downward in line with the front hood portion 355d.

[0037] The pre-flow channel forming body 355 and the post-flow channel forming body 357 are joined by the engagement of their engaging portions 355g and 357d. The front hood section 355d and the rear hood section 357c extend to the vicinity of the lower wall 534 of the rear case 53. As a result, much of the air flowing out from the through-hole 355c of the discharge channel forming section 353 is guided to the discharge port 534a of the rear case 53.

[0038] (2-9) Holding part The holding portion 39 holds the hand tool 7, as shown in Figure 10. The holding portion 39 is located on the upper part of the rear surface of the case 21, on one side in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 3(a), the holding portion 39 has a base portion 391 and holding portions 393 and 395 that hold the hand tool 7 provided on the base portion 391. The base portion 391 is a low-profile box shape and fits from the rear to the protruding portion 530f (see Figure 5(b)) of the rear case 53. The rear case 53 has a protruding portion 530f to secure space for housing the air blower 23, and the holding portion 39 is provided using this protruding portion 530f, thus improving the design.

[0039] As shown in Figure 10, the holding portion 39 consists of an engaging portion 393 into which the held portion (engaging portion) 734a of the hand tool 7 engages, and a holding portion (position restricting portion) 395 that holds (restricts the position of) the discharge tank portion 75 from the left and right. The symbol "393" is also used for the engaging portion. The engaging portion 393 is composed of a recessed portion of a convex portion that protrudes rearward from the base portion 391. The held portion (engaging portion) 734a of the hand tool 7 fits (enters) into the engaging portion 393 from above. Note that the engagement relationship between the engaging portion 393 and the held portion (engaging portion) 734a of the hand tool 7 may be reversed in terms of the convex and concave portions.

[0040] The holding portion 395 is composed of protruding portions 395a and 395b that extend from the base portion 391 to the left and right sides of the discharge tank portion 75. In this case, the holding portion 395 has a "U" shape when viewed from above. As shown in Figure 10(b), the protruding portion 395b is located between the operating portion 716 and the discharge tank portion 75 of the tool body 71. This prevents the operating portion 716 from being operated when the hand tool 7 is held in the device body 1, thus preventing malfunction due to interference with something. The protruding portion 395b is located between the operating portion 716 and the discharge tank portion 75 and functions as a partition separating the operating portion 716 and the discharge tank portion 75. Therefore, the holding portion 395 has the partition portion (395b) as part of the holding portion 395.

[0041] (3) Suction tank section As shown in Figure 2, the suction tank section 12 has at least a suction tank 60 for storing the liquid sucked up by the main body section 11, an inlet 60a for the inhaled liquid to flow in, and an outlet 60b for discharging the air inside the suction tank 60. When the suction tank 60 is attached to the main body 11, the suction section 510a of the main body 11 enters the inlet 60a, and the cylindrical body 231 of the blower section 23 enters the outlet 60b. The suction tank 60 is box-shaped and elongated in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and comprises an upper tank 61 and a lower tank 62. The aspirated liquid is mainly stored in the lower tank 62, which constitutes the storage section of the suction tank 60. The inlet 60a and outlet 60b are located on the rear surface of the upper tank 61, spaced apart to the left and right. This allows for an increase in the liquid storage capacity. The suction tank section 12 (lower tank 62) is equipped with a float 63 (see Figure 14) in a float housing section 65 that can move up and down to detect the liquid level of the suction tank 60.

[0042] As shown in Figure 11, the suction tank 60 has tank-side locking parts 612 and 622 on the upper tank 61 and lower tank 62 that lock the tank in place when it is mounted on the device body 1. The tank-side locking parts 612 and 622 are supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction and are biased outward in the vertical direction. When the suction tank 60 is mounted, the convex portions of the tank-side locking parts 612 and 622 engage with the recessed portions of the case-side locking parts 513e and 514e of the case 21 (see Figure 4(a) and Figure 5(a)). As shown in Figure 11, the suction tank 60 has connecting parts 613 and 623 on the upper tank 61 and the lower tank 62 that detachably connect the upper tank 61 and the lower tank 62. Here, the connecting part (engaging part) 613 of the upper tank 61 rotates around a rotation axis in the left-right direction and engages with the connecting part (engaging part) 623 of the lower tank 62. Note that the engagement relationship may be reversed.

[0043] The upper tank 61 comprises an upper tank body 610 and an upper front cover 611. The lower tank 62 comprises a lower tank body 620 and a lower front cover 621. The upper front cover 611 and the lower front cover 621 have notches 611a, 611b, 621a and through holes 621b for the tank-side locking parts 612, 622 and connecting parts 613, 623. The upper front cover 611 is attached to the upper tank body 610, and the lower front cover 621 is attached to the lower tank body 620, by engaging parts 614, 615, 624, and 625.

[0044] As shown in Figure 11(b), the upper tank body 610 has multiple upper partition plates 616 that extend in the vertical and front-to-back directions, spaced apart in the left-to-right direction and alternately. The upper partition plates 616 are located between the inlet 60a and the outlet 60b in the left-to-right direction. As shown in Figure 12(a), two upper partition plates 616a extend from the front wall of the upper tank body 610 to just before the rear wall, and one upper partition plate 616b extends from the rear wall between the two upper partition plates 616a to just before the front wall. This prevents the liquid flowing in from the inlet 60a from entering the blower unit 23 through the outlet 60b. In addition, it allows air to flow smoothly through the suction tank 60, reducing the load on the electric blower 235. The upper partition plate 616 is positioned so that its main surface is perpendicular to the direction (left-right direction) connecting the inlet 60a and the outlet 60b. This prevents splashes of liquid flowing in from the inlet 60a from reaching the inlet 60a side.

[0045] As shown in Figure 11(a), the lower tank body 620 has multiple lower partition plates 626 that extend in the vertical and front-to-back directions, spaced apart in the left-to-right direction, with a filter 64 between the left and right lower partition plates 626. The lower partition plates 626 are located between the inlet 60a and the outlet 60b in the left-to-right direction. As shown in Figure 12(b), two lower partition plates 626 extend from the front wall of the lower tank body 620 to just before the rear wall. The lower partition plates 626 and the filter 64 are positioned so that their main surfaces are perpendicular to the direction (left-right direction) connecting the inlet 60a and the outlet 60b. This reduces fluctuations in the liquid level.

[0046] The filter 64 is located upstream of the float housing 65 (on the inlet 60a side). This prevents debris from flowing into the float housing 65. The filter 64 is positioned downstream of the inlet 60a so that the liquid flowing into the suction tank 60 passes through it. As a result, when the liquid flowing downstream from the inlet 60a passes through the filter 64. As shown in Figure 13(a), the filter 64 is installed in an area extending from the bottom of the suction tank 60 (the bottom of the lower tank body 620) to above the highest liquid level of the stored liquid. As a result, most of the liquid stored downstream of the filter 64 passes through the filter 64. Therefore, there is less debris in the liquid that moves the float 63 up and down, and the float 63 moves up and down smoothly. The filter 64 divides the inside of the suction tank 60 into an area where liquid with a high debris content is stored and an area where liquid with a low debris content is stored. In other words, the filter 64 divides the downstream side of the inlet 60a and the upstream side of the float housing 65.

[0047] As shown in Figure 13(a), the filter 64 is held by a holding portion 627. The holding portion 627 has a front holding portion 627a that extends from the front wall toward the rear wall and a rear holding portion 627b provided on the rear wall. The front retaining portion 627a has a plate portion 627c that extends in the vertical and front-rear directions, and a groove portion 627d provided at the rear end of the plate portion 627c. The rear retaining portion 627b is composed of a groove portion (referred to as 627b). The groove portions 627d and 627b extend in the vertical direction. This allows the filter 64 to be inserted and removed in the vertical direction and to be attached detachably. This makes it easy to clean the filter 64. As shown in Figure 14, the upper partition plate 616 of the upper tank 61 and the lower partition plate 626 of the lower tank 62 and the filter 64 are close together in the vertical direction. This prevents the filter 64 from coming out upwards without the need for a dedicated fixing part to secure the filter 64 in the vertical direction.

[0048] As shown in Figure 12(b), the lower tank 62 (lower tank body 620) is provided with a housing-forming member 66 that forms a float housing 65 with the lower tank body 620. The float 63 is positioned on the side opposite to the inlet 60a in the left-right direction. More specifically, it is positioned below the outlet 60b. As a result, the inlet 60a and the float 63 are located at opposite ends of the liquid storage channel, increasing the degree of freedom in the placement of the filter 64.

[0049] As shown in Figure 13, the float housing section 65 is composed of the rear wall, left wall, and bottom wall of the lower tank body 620, an extended plate section 628 extending forward from the rear wall vertically, a front opposing section 661 of the housing section forming member 66 that faces the rear wall of the lower tank body 620, and an upper opposing section 662 of the housing section forming member 66 that extends rearward from the upper end of the front opposing section 661 and faces the bottom, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the vertical direction. The housing portion forming member 66 has at least a base portion 663, a front opposing portion (upright plate portion) 661 erected from the rear end of the base portion 663, and an upper opposing portion 662. The base portion 663 has a through hole 663a, and as shown in Figure 14, it is fixed to the bottom wall of the lower tank body 620 by a screw 69 that passes through the through hole 663a. The housing portion forming member 66 can be removed using a screwdriver or the like, making it easy to clean the float 63, the housing portion forming member 66, and the float housing portion 65. The housing portion forming member 66 has a rib portion 664 that spans the front opposing portion 661 and the base portion 663. This reinforces the housing portion forming member 66. The housing portion forming member 66 has a through groove 661a extending in the vertical direction in its front opposing portion 661. This allows liquid to flow into the float housing portion 65. The storage section forming member 66 has a contact portion 665 that abuts against the extended plate portion 628 of the lower tank body 620, a fitting portion 666 that fits onto the upper end of the extended plate portion 628, and a fitting portion 667 that is inserted into and fitted into the groove portion 629 on the left wall of the lower tank body 620. This positions the storage section forming member 66.

[0050] The float 63 comprises a case 630 and a magnet 635 (see Figure 6), which is a detection source housed within the case 630. The float 63 is the object to be detected by the liquid level detection unit 31. The case 630 is rectangular (box-shaped) and has protrusions 631 on its outer surface. There is one or more protrusions 631. The projection 631 is provided on at least one of the lower or upper surfaces of the case 630. The projection 631 is provided on at least one of the right and / or left surfaces. The projection 631 is provided on at least one of the front and / or rear surfaces. This prevents the float 63 from becoming stuck in close contact with the surface constituting the float housing 65 and becoming unable to move up and down. Preferably, there are two or more projections 631 on each surface, spaced apart in the vertical direction. If the surface is large, three or more projections are preferable. The tip is preferably hemispherical. The protrusions 631 are provided in each section obtained by dividing the surface into two or four equal parts. This allows the number of protrusions to be appropriately selected depending on the size of the surface.

[0051] 3. Hand Tools As shown in Figure 15, the hand tool 7 comprises a tool body 71 and a discharge tank 75. The discharge tank 75 is configured to be detachable from the tool body 71. The hand tool 7 discharges the liquid from the discharge tank 75 by operating the operating part 716 of the tool body 71, and the discharged liquid and air containing dust and other debris are sucked in by suction from the hose 8. In the description of the hand tool 7, the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and from which the liquid is discharged is sometimes defined as the front-to-back direction, the discharge side as the front, and the direction perpendicular to both the vertical and front-to-back directions as the width direction. When the hand tool 7 is attached to the device body 1, the front-to-back direction of the hand tool 7 coincides with the left-to-right direction of the device body 1, and the width direction of the hand tool 7 coincides with the front-to-back direction of the device body 1.

[0052] (1) Tool body As shown in Figure 15, the tool body 71 includes a nozzle section 700 having a suction port 736a communicating with the device body 1 (body section 11) and a discharge port 720a for discharging liquid, a handle section 739 provided on the nozzle section 700, and an operating section 716 that receives operations to discharge the liquid in the discharge tank section 75 from the discharge port 720a. Here, the side with the suction port 736a is designated as the cleaning surface, and when using the hand tool 7, the cleaning surface is positioned opposite the surface to be cleaned. The nozzle section 700 is located on the front side (one side) in the front-to-back direction (first direction), and the handle section 739 is also located on the front side (one side) in the front-to-back direction (first direction). As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the tool body 71 has a base body 710 and a cover body 730.

[0053] (1-1) Base As shown in Figure 16, the base body 710 has a base plate portion 712 and an upright plate portion 713 that is erected from the front of the base plate portion 712. A discharge portion 714 is attached to the base plate portion 712, and a brush portion 725 is attached to the upright plate portion 713. The discharge unit 714 can be electric or manual; in this case, it is manual, a so-called trigger spray. The discharge unit 714 has a pump unit 715, an operating unit 716, and a discharge nozzle unit 717. The discharge unit 714 here has a spray nozzle unit 720 for atomizing the liquid discharged from the discharge nozzle unit 717. As shown in Figure 15, the pump unit 715, when operated by the operating unit 716, moves the plunger 719 in the staging 718, pushing the liquid in the staging 718 to the discharge nozzle unit 717. The spray nozzle section 720 is a bottomed cylindrical shape supported so as to be movable in the discharge direction relative to the discharge nozzle section 717, and has a conical discharge opening 720a at its bottom that narrows outwards. A groove is formed at the tip of the discharge nozzle section 717 to impart rotational force to the discharged liquid. When the discharge opening 720a (spray nozzle section 720) is brought close to the tip of the discharge nozzle section 717, the liquid is discharged in a mist, and when the discharge opening 720a is moved away from the tip, the liquid is discharged in a liquid. The spray nozzle section 720 is screwed onto the outer circumference of the discharge nozzle section 717, and rotation causes the discharge opening 720a to move closer to or further away from the discharge nozzle section 717. The operating section 716 is positioned opposite the discharge tank section 75. The operating section 716 is located between the handle section 739 and the discharge tank section 75. The operating section 716 is tilted downwards towards the rear and is supported by the base body 710 so as to be rotatable at its intermediate portion (see Figure 16). The operating section 716 also serves as a reception section that receives commands to discharge the liquid from the discharge tank section 75. The liquid in the discharge tank section 75 is supplied via the tube 721. A weight 722 with a through hole is attached to the lower end of the tube 721.

[0054] (1-2) Cover body As shown in Figure 15, the cover body 730 is connected to the hose 8 and has a suction channel 736 inside. As shown in Figure 17, the cover body 730 comprises a cover body 731 that covers the discharge section 714 attached to the base body 710, an outer cover body 732 that covers the upper wall portion 731a (see Figure 15) on the front side of the cover body 731, an inner upper cover body 733 that is inside the cover body 731 and covers the discharge section 714, an inner right cover body 734 provided inside the right wall portion 731b of the cover body 731, and an inner left cover body 735 provided inside the left wall portion 731c of the cover body 731. The cover body 731 and the base body 710 together constitute a housing or enclosure that accommodates the discharge section 714.

[0055] As shown in Figure 17, the cover body 731 has a mounting portion 738 to which the base body 710 is attached, and a handle portion 739 for the user to grip when in use. The mounting portion 738 is located on the front part of the cover body 731, and the handle portion 739 is located on the rear part of the cover body 731. The mounting portion 738 has an upper wall portion 731a and a pair of side wall portions 731b and 731c, and the base body 710 is attached to the inner right cover body 734 and the inner left cover body 735 provided on the pair of side wall portions 731b and 731c by screws or the like.

[0056] As shown in Figure 15, the handle portion 739 is cylindrical, and its upper end opening 739b is exposed, connecting it to the lower end of the upper wall portion 731a of the mounting portion 738. This allows the inside of the handle portion 739 to communicate with the space formed between the upper wall portion 731a and the outer cover body 732, forming the suction channel 736 and the suction portion. The suction port 736a is provided on the front wall portion 732a of the outer cover body 732, as shown in Figure 17. The cylindrical shaft of the handle portion 739 is inclined downwards towards the rear, and the handle portion 739 is located behind the operating portion 716. This allows the user to easily operate the operating portion 716 while gripping the handle portion 739. In particular, when the cleaning surface with the suction port 736a is horizontal, the imaginary line A parallel to the cylindrical axis of the handle portion 739 extends at an acute angle C with respect to the horizontal (imaginary line B in Figure 15). The angle C is preferably within the range of 20 to 50 degrees. This improves operability when cleaning a horizontal surface to be cleaned. The operating unit 716 is located behind the discharge tank unit 75, and the gap between the operating unit 716 and the discharge tank unit 75 is configured to allow the user to operate the operating unit 716 while gripping the handle unit 739.

[0057] The handle portion 739 has a projection 739a that protrudes on the side opposite to the operating portion 716. This improves operability when the user grips the handle portion 739 and presses it against the surface to be cleaned or moves the hand tool 7 along the surface to be cleaned. The projection 739a is composed of a finger rest that protrudes in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the cylindrical shaft of the handle portion 739. Here, the projection 739a has a portion that extends in a direction perpendicular to the cylindrical shaft. As shown in Figure 15, a virtual line D perpendicular to the direction parallel to the cylindrical axis of the handle portion 739 (virtual line A) and passing through the protruding portion (finger rest portion) 739a intersects with the operating portion 716. This makes it easier to place the thumb on the finger rest portion.

[0058] As shown in Figure 17, the handle portion 739 has a tool-side connection portion 741 at its lower end for connecting to the hose 8. The tool-side connection portion 741 has an "L" shaped groove-shaped guide portion 741a for guiding the locking portion 88 of the connector 85 of the hose 8 into the interior, and a through-hole-shaped locking portion 741b for preventing the connector 85 from coming off. The guide portion 741a is formed along the cylindrical axis of the handle portion 739, and the locking portion 741b is formed along the circumferential direction.

[0059] The brush section 725 comprises a base section 725a and a brush 725b provided on the base section 725a. The brush section 725 is positioned below the discharge port 720a of the discharge section 714.

[0060] The inner right cover body 734 has a holding portion 734a for attaching (holding) the hand tool 7 to the device body 1. Here, the nozzle portion 700 is held so that the discharge port 720a faces forward (to the other side in the left-right direction of the device body 1). As shown in Figure 10(a), the holding portion 734a is composed of an engaging portion that is inserted from above into a recessed portion of the holding portion 393 of the device body 1 and engages with it. The part of the hand tool 7 that is held 734a and the holding part 393 of the device body 1 are configured such that when the hand tool 7 is held, the right wall portion 731b of the cover body 730 comes into contact with the base portion 391 of the holding part 39 of the device body 1 (see Figure 10(a)). This ensures that the mounting (holding) state of the hand tool 7 is stable.

[0061] (2) Discharge tank section As shown in Figure 16, the discharge tank section 75 has a tank section 751 and a mounting section 753 for attaching the tank section 751 to the base body 710. As shown in Figure 15, the front end of the discharge tank section 75 is flush with or behind the front surface (cleaning surface) of the nozzle section 700. The front end corresponds to the surface including the front edge of the cover body 730. As a result, when the cleaning surface is positioned facing the surface to be cleaned during use, the discharge tank section 75 is located on the opposite side of the surface to be cleaned, preventing the discharge tank section 75 from interfering with the cleaning work. The tank section 751 integrally comprises an upper section 751a located on the mounting section 753 side and a lower section 751b located below the upper section 751a. As shown in Figure 15, the upper portion 751a is cylindrical and extends vertically, with a space between it and the operating section 716. The lower end of the upper portion 751a is located at approximately the same position as the lower end of the operating section 716, or below the lower end of the operating section 716. This prevents the discharge tank section 75 from getting in the way when operating the operating section 716. The lower portion 751b bulges out towards the rear (handle portion 739) as it moves downward from the upper portion 751a. This allows the discharge tank portion 75 to be enlarged without impairing the user's operability. The upper and rear portion of the lower portion 751b is formed to secure an operating space between it and the operating portion 716. In other words, when viewed from the side (width direction) (Figure 15), the nozzle section 700 is located on the front side in the front-rear direction, and the handle section 739 is located on the rear side in the front-rear direction, and the distance between the handle section 739 and the discharge tank section 75 increases as it moves towards the rear. As a result, when the cylindrical shaft of the hose 8 is connected so that it lies on the extension of the cylindrical shaft of the handle section 739, the space at the connection point with the hose 8 is increased, making it easier to remove the hose 8. Since the lower end of the handle portion 379 (cover body 731) is located above the lower end of the discharge tank portion 7 5, interference with the discharge tank portion 75 is less likely to occur when removing the hose 8.

[0062] As shown in Figure 17, the lower portion 751b has a bottom portion 751c with a flat surface that rests on the mounting surface when the hand tool 7 is placed on it. This allows the hand tool 7 to be placed on it alone, improving convenience. In particular, the rear side of the lower portion 751b, where the handle portion 739 is located, is wider than the front side, which improves stability. The bottom portion 751c has a recessed central part, but the surrounding area is a flat surface that contacts the mounting surface. When the bottom (flat surface) 751c of the discharge tank section 75 is placed on a horizontal surface, the discharge section 714 of the nozzle section 700 and the discharge tank section 75 are aligned vertically, and the handle section 739 and the discharge tank section 75 are aligned horizontally.

[0063] The mounting portion 753 is attached to the mounting portion 712a of the base plate portion 712. The attachment is performed by the engagement of the groove portion of the mounting portion 753 of the discharge tank portion 75 with the protruding portion of the mounting portion 712a of the base body 710.

[0064] 4. Hose As shown in Figure 1, the hose 8 comprises a hose body 81 and hose-side connectors 83 and 85 provided at both ends of the hose body 81. The term "hose-side" is added for convenience to distinguish it from the connector on the other side to which the hose 8 connects. The hose-side connector 83 is detachably attached to the main body-side connection portion 331 of the suction flow path forming member 33 of the device body 1, and the hose-side connector 85 is detachably attached to the tool-side connection portion 741 of the hand tool 7. As shown in Figure 16, the hose-side connectors 83 and 85 have a connecting portion 86 that connects to the hose body 81, a fitting portion 87 that fits into the mating connecting portions 331 and 741, and a locking portion 88 provided on the fitting portion 87. The locking portion 88 is composed of a protrusion and moves within the guide portions 331c and 741a and the locking portions 331d and 741b of the mating connecting portions 337 and 741.

[0065] 5. Center of gravity position As shown in Figure 18, when the cleaning device X is empty of liquid in the discharge tank section 75 and the suction tank section 12 and the hand tool 7 is being held, the overall center of gravity G0 is located in the center in the vertical, front-back, and left-right directions. The handle section 43 is located approximately above or near the center of gravity G0, making it easy to carry. When liquid is stored, the center of gravity G0 moves downward. This stabilizes the device when it is placed on a surface. Furthermore, even when there is no liquid stored in the suction tank 12 and the hand tool 7 is not being held (i.e., when the user is holding the hand tool 7), the overall center of gravity G0 is located in the center in the vertical, front-back, and left-right directions. The handle 43 is located approximately above or near the center of gravity G0, making it easy to carry. The center of gravity G1 of the air blower unit 23 is located on one side (right side) in the left-right direction and above the center in the front-back direction. The center of gravity G2 of the power supply unit 27 is located on the other side (left side) in the left-right direction and below the center in the vertical direction on the rear side. As a result, the center of gravity positions of the air blower unit 23 and the power supply unit 27 are separated in the left-right direction, so the overall center of gravity G0 is located towards the center in the left-right direction.

[0066] The center of gravity G3 of the discharge tank section 75 is located in the center of the tank. When the discharge tank section 75 is attached and no liquid is stored, the center of gravity G4 of the hand tool 7 is located above the discharge tank section 75 and towards the front of the hand tool 7 in the front-to-back direction (left-to-right direction in the device body 1). The engaging portion 393 of the holding portion 39 of the main body 11 engages with the vicinity of the center of gravity G4 of the hand tool 7, allowing the hand tool 7 to be held in a stable state. When liquid is stored in the discharge tank section 75, the overall center of gravity G4 moves forward and approaches the engaging portion 393 of the holding portion 39. Furthermore, the center of gravity G4 of the hand tool 7 is located above the center of gravity G3 of the discharge tank section 75 in both the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. Therefore, even if liquid is stored in the discharge tank section 75 and the center of gravity G3 of the discharge tank section 75 moves downward, the weight balance does not change significantly, and a downward load is applied to the engaging portion 393 of the main body section 11, making it difficult for the hand tool 7 to come loose.

[0067] 6.Use The cleaning device X holds the hand tool 7 at the rear of the device body 1 with a holding part 39. In this state, the bottom surface of the discharge tank part 75 of the hand tool 7 faces the surface to be placed on with a gap between them. Therefore, as shown in Figure 19(a), when the cleaning device X or the main body 11 tilts to the rear with the left-right direction as the axis of rotation, the discharge tank part 75 and hose 8 (not shown) of the hand tool 7 come into contact with the surface to be placed on, making it difficult to tip over. In particular, since the main body of the device 1 has a suction tank section 12 located at the front, if it tips over backward, the liquid in the suction tank section 12 may flow towards the blower section 23, power supply section 27, and circuit section 29. Therefore, a structure that makes it difficult to tip over backward is especially preferable. The cleaning device X connects to the hose 8 on the lower side of the main body 11, on the other side (left side) in the left-right direction. Therefore, as shown in Figure 19(b), when the cleaning device X or the main body 11 tilts to the left with the front-rear direction as the axis of rotation, the hose 8 and the connection part come into contact with the mounting surface, making it less likely to tip over.

[0068] 7.Liquid The liquid to be discharged is preferably one that can remove dirt such as oil and causes the bubbles in the suction tank section 12 to quickly decrease in volume after suction. The following describes suitable detergents for use as liquids in the cleaning device (rinser cleaner) 1. Note that the liquid is a solution diluted with water.

[0069] (1) Antifoaming test The outline of the defoaming test is as follows: • Equipment used: Diaphragm pump DSA-2F-12W, manufactured by Denso Sangyo Co., Ltd. ... Graduated cylinders 100mL, 500mL ... Tube diameter 3mm ... Discharge nozzle, nozzle diameter 0.5mm • Test method (a) Prepare a washing solution by diluting the liquid agent 100 times. (b) Wet 100 mL and 500 mL graduated cylinders with distilled water. (c) Prepare 30 mL of washing solution in a 100 mL graduated cylinder. (d) The washing solution is continuously added dropwise from a height of 38.2 cm at a rate of 250 mL / min into a 500 mL graduated cylinder. ·evaluation The evaluation is based on the volume of bubbles generated after the drop is applied. The results are shown in Table 1. [Table 1] Table 1 shows that detergents A and B have a volume of 45 mL immediately after dropping (0 seconds) which is less than 50 mL, indicating that the amount of foam generated (initial foaming) is suppressed. Detergent A's volume decreases to half after about 3 seconds, to one-third after about 4 seconds, and to one-quarter after about 8 seconds compared to its volume immediately after dropping. Detergent B's volume decreased from its initial volume immediately after dropping to half after 8 seconds, to one-third after approximately 16 seconds, and to one-quarter after 21 seconds. Thus, compared to synthetic dishwashing detergents, detergents A and B produce less initial foam (anti-foaming properties), break down foam quickly, and suppress the amount of foam in the suction tank 12.

[0070] (2) Cleanability The details of the cleaning test are as follows: • Test subject: Tile carpet NT-367 manufactured by Sangetsu Co., Ltd. (50 x 50 cm Polypropylene) • Device • Rinser cleaner RNS-300 manufactured by Iris Ohyama Co., Ltd. • Test method (a) Drop 1 mL of the stain onto a 10 x 10 cm area of ​​the carpet tile. (b) Wipe off any excess dirt with Kimwipes (manufactured by Nippon Paper Crecia Co., Ltd.) and let it stand for 5 minutes. (c) Add 5 mL of detergent, scrub 20 times with the brush attached to the rinse cleaner, and then vacuum with the rinse cleaner. (d) Repeat the operation from dropping the detergent to suction (as described in (c) above) until the dirt is removed, and the number of repetitions will be the number of washes. The results are shown in Table 2. [Table 2] Table 2 shows that detergent A and sample A have high cleaning ability against oily stains from chili oil and meat sauce. From this perspective, detergent A has excellent cleaning and defoaming properties.

[0071] (3) Emulsification and dispersibility test The outline of the emulsification and dispersibility test is as follows: • Equipment used: Shaker (Yamato Scientific Co., Ltd. Shaker SA300) Chili oil... Manufactured by S&B Foods Co., Ltd. • Test method (a) Add 20 mL of pure water and 0.5 mL of chili oil to a screw-cap test tube and stir. (b) Add 0.5 mL of liquid (detergent), lay the screw-cap test tube on its side, and place it in the shaker. (c) Shake at a speed of 300 rpm for 90 seconds. (d) Evaluate the condition immediately after shaking and 60 seconds later. ·evaluation × ··· A state in which complete separation is in progress. △ ··· A state in which separation is in progress ○ ··· Almost completely separated ◎ ··· Completely dispersed The results are shown in Table 3. [Table 3] Table 3 shows that detergent A has performance equivalent to that of synthetic dishwashing detergent in terms of emulsification and dispersibility.

[0072] (4) Summary Based on the above, detergents A and B are preferred as detergents to be used in the cleaning device 1 from the viewpoint of defoaming properties. Furthermore, detergent A is preferred from the viewpoint of cleaning properties and emulsifying / dispersing properties.

[0073] Although embodiments have been described above, the invention is not limited to these embodiments, and may be modified in the following ways, for example. Furthermore, embodiments may be combined with modifications, or modifications may be combined with each other. Furthermore, examples not described in the embodiments or modifications, as well as design changes that do not depart from the gist of the invention, are also included in the invention related to the embodiments.

[0074] <Variation> 1. Main unit of the device (1) Main body (1-1) Case Case 21 was composed of two members, a front case 51 and a rear case 53, but it may be composed of three or more members, or of multiple members in the left-right or up-down direction. The handle portion 43 extends upward from both ends in the left-right direction of the case 21 so that a through portion is formed between it and the upper walls 513, 533 of the case 21, but a recessed portion may be formed instead of the through portion. The handle portion 43 is provided along the left-right direction, but it may also be provided along the front-back direction with the center in the left-right direction. The operating section 25 is provided on the handle section 43, but it may also be provided on the side wall or top wall of the case 21. In this case, the handle section 43 may be provided on a single component such as the front case 51 or the rear case 53. The position of the handle portion 43 may be formed at a position other than the center in the front-to-back direction, provided that the center of gravity of the device body 1 is not considered.

[0075] (1-2) Air blower The rotating shaft of the electric blower 235 extends in the front-to-back direction, but it may also extend in the left-to-right direction, the up-and-down direction, or in directions that intersect these directions. If the position of the air blower 23 is not considered in relation to other parts or the center of gravity, it may be located on one end in the left-right direction, but not on the upper side. The air blower unit 23 had an on-off valve 233 in the casing 230, but the on-off valve may be provided in a separate cylindrical body, resulting in a different structure. (1-3) Operation section The notification means 253 only needs to be able to notify the user of the suction tank section 12 being full, not installed, or the battery 271 being undercharged, etc. For example, it can utilize the illumination or flashing of an LED, a change in illumination color, a buzzer, voice, or other sound generation. The circuit section may also function as a notification section, as it is used to notify the notification means.

[0076] (1-4) Power supply section The power supply unit 27 is equipped with a battery 271, but if the issues associated with using an electrical cord are not considered, it may be equipped with an electrical cord instead of a battery 271. The power supply unit 27 may include a battery 271 and an electrical cord. In this case, the unit may be configured to charge the battery from the electrical cord, or the battery may be made non-removable (the battery is charged while permanently installed). If the position of the power supply unit 27 is not considered in relation to other parts or the center of gravity, it may be positioned in the middle in the vertical direction and not at the other end in the horizontal direction. Also, if the battery is elongated, its extension direction (longitudinal direction) may be positioned in a direction other than horizontal. Although the power supply unit 27 was located near the blower unit 23 and the circuit unit 29, if we do not focus on the wiring connecting them, it does not need to be located near the blower unit 23 and the circuit unit 29. The power supply unit 27 and the operation unit 25 may be configured on a single circuit board.

[0077] (1-5) Circuit section If the position of the circuit section 29 is not considered in relation to other parts or the center of gravity, it may be located on the upper side in the vertical direction and not on the other end side in the horizontal direction. Although the circuit unit 29 was located near the air blower unit 23 and the power supply unit 27, if we do not focus on the wiring connecting them, it does not need to be located near the air blower unit 23 and the power supply unit 27. The circuit section 29 may, for example, have a power generation circuit section and a control circuit section on separate boards. (1-6) Suction channel and discharge channel The suction channel and the discharge channel may be arranged in opposite directions in the front-to-back direction, and their arrangement and shape are not particularly limited.

[0078] (1-7) Holding part The holding part 39 may hold the hand tool 7 at other positions or at one point, provided that the method of holding the hand tool 7 and the position of the center of gravity of the held hand tool 7 are not considered. Case 21 had a protrusion 530f at the part to which the base portion 391 of the holding portion 39 was attached, but it does not have to have a protrusion, or it may have a recess. In the case of the protrusion 530f, the apparent front-to-back dimension of the device can be reduced. The retaining portion 39 has a base portion 391 and retaining portions 393 and 395. The base portion 391 is attached to the case 21, but the retaining portions may be directly attached to the case, or the retaining portions may be formed as a pair of molded parts with the case (rear case). The holding part 39 holds the hand tool 7 at two points, above and below, but it may also hold it at two points in other directions. For example, if the discharge tank part 75 is detachably attached to the nozzle part 700 in the front-to-back direction, it may also hold the hand tool at two points in the front-to-back direction. The holding part 39 holds the hand tool 7 at two points, above and below, but it may also hold it at three or more points, or if the stability of the holding state of the hand tool 7 is not a concern, it may hold it at one point. The holding portion 39 may be held in two places by the nozzle portion 700, or it may be held in two places by the discharge tank portion 75. The protruding portion 395b, which functions as a partition, may be located between the operating section 716 and the discharge tank section 75. The partition may be provided separately from the protruding portion 395b. Furthermore, if erroneous operation of the operating section 716 is prevented by a different structure, the partition may not be necessary.

[0079] (2) Suction tank section (2-1) Overall The suction tank section 12 was detachable from the main body section 11, but it may be provided independently of the main body section 11, or it may be fixedly attached to the main body section 11. If it is fixed to the main body section 11, this can be done by providing a drain plug. The suction tank section 12 is located on the front side of the main body section 11, but if the focus is not on locating the suction tank section 12 on the front side, it may be located on one side in the left-right or up-down direction. The suction tank 12 may be rectangular in shape when viewed from the front, or it may be a rectangle that is long vertically, or it may be a rectangle that is long horizontally or front to back. The suction tank section 12 is configured such that the center of gravity of the main body 1 is located towards the center in the front-to-back direction, taking into consideration its positional relationship with the blower section 23 and the power supply section 27. However, if positional relationships are not considered, the center of gravity may be configured so as not to be located in the center in the front-to-back direction.

[0080] (2-2) Filter The suction tank section 12 does not need to have a filter if it does not have a float 63, and if it does have a float 63, it does not need to have a filter if the problem of the float 63 not being able to move up and down smoothly due to debris is not considered. The single filter 64 may be provided downstream or upstream of the float housing 65, or some of the multiple filters may be provided upstream of the float housing 65 and the rest downstream of the float housing 65. The suction tank section 12 had a filter 64 between a pair of lower partition plates 626, but the filter 64 may be located on the upstream or downstream side of the lower partition plates 626, or there may be two filters 64, one on the upstream side and one on the downstream side. The lower partition plates 626 may be located downstream of the float housing section 65.

[0081] (2-3) Float The float 63 is housed in the float housing 65, but may be attached to the suction tank 12 via a string, for example. In this case, the float 63 may or may not have a projection 631. The float 63 is a rectangular parallelepiped with the smallest dimension in the front-to-back direction, but it may also be a rectangular parallelepiped with the smallest dimension in the up-down or left-to-right direction, or it may have any other shape. Furthermore, considering detection accuracy, it is preferable that the internal detection source has a large surface area facing the liquid volume detection unit.

[0082] 2. Hand Tools (2-1) Overall When the hand tool 7 is held in the main body 11, the handle 739, operating part 716, and discharge tank 75 of the hand tool 7 are arranged in the left-right direction on the main body 11, but they do not have to be aligned in the left-right direction. The hand tool 7 is equipped with a discharge tank section 75 on the nozzle section 700, but the liquid to be discharged may be supplied from a tank not attached to the nozzle section 700, or from a hose connected to a tap. The nozzle section 700 was provided with a handle section 739, but the handle section 739 is not required. In this case, for example, the handle section 739 can be provided on the discharge tank section 75.

[0083] (2-2) Nozzle section The nozzle section 700 has a discharge port 720a and a suction port 736a. However, if, for example, the discharge section 714 is constructed as a separate component, the nozzle section may not have a discharge section but only a suction port. In other words, in cases not related to the discharge section (the invention), the nozzle section does not need to have a discharge section. The nozzle section 700 may have suction ports 736a in the vertical, horizontal, front-to-back, or intersecting directions relative to the discharge port 720a. Furthermore, the suction ports 736a may be located on both sides of the discharge port 720a in the vertical, horizontal, front-to-back, or intersecting directions, or multiple suction ports may be provided surrounding the discharge port. In other words, there may be multiple suction ports. Alternatively, multiple communication ports formed in one location may constitute a single suction port. When the nozzle section 700 is held by the holding section 39, it is positioned on the rear side of the main body section 11. However, if the suction tank section 12 is positioned at a location other than the front, it may be positioned on the opposite side of the main body section 11 from the suction tank section 12, or the suction tank section 12 and the hand tool 7 may be provided on two adjacent sides.

[0084] (2-3) Operation section The operating section 716 was a lever type utilizing a lever, but it may be of other forms (types). For example, if the discharge mechanism is electric, it may have a switch. In this case, the operating section 716 may or may not be located between the handle section 739 and the discharge tank section 75. If there is no discharge tank section 75, it is preferable that the operating section 716 be located in front of the handle section 739 (towards the nozzle section).

[0085] (2-4) Handle section The handle portion 739 extends at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal direction when the virtual plane including the opening edge of the suction port 736a is made horizontal, preferably at an angle of 20 to 50 degrees. The handle portion 739 may also be parallel to the horizontal direction when the virtual plane is made horizontal. The protruding portion 739a of the handle portion 739 may protrude in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the cylindrical shaft of the handle portion 739, or it may protrude in a direction inclined with respect to the perpendicular direction. If the operability of the handle portion 739 is not a concern, the handle portion 739 may not have the protruding portion 739a. The handle portion 739 is cylindrical and has a suction channel formed inside, but it may be a separate structure from the member that forms the suction path.

[0086] (2-5) Discharge tank section The discharge tank section 75 was detachable from the nozzle section 700, but it may also be provided independently of the nozzle section 700 or fixedly. If provided independently, it can be connected by piping such as a tube. If provided fixedly, it can be provided with at least a refill port in the discharge tank section 75, and a cap to close the refill port may also be provided. The discharge tank section 75 had a large lower part, but this shape is not particularly limited. However, a larger lower part of the container provides better stability when placed on a mounting surface.

[0087] 3. Hose The detachable connection structure of the hose 8 to the hand tool 7 or the device body 1 may be, in addition to the embodiment described above, a screw-type structure, an engagement structure such as a coupler, or a fastening structure such as a band. The hose 8 may be constructed to connect directly to the hand tool 7 or the device body. In this case, the expandable hose body may simply be fitted into the connection part of the hand tool or the device body 1. The hose may be fixed to the hand tool 7 or the device body 1.

[0088] <<Invention>> Examples of embodiments and modifications include, at a minimum, the following inventions. <Invention 1> 1. Prior art Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-66532 discloses a cleaning device in which a main body 2 housing a suction unit 21 is located, with a downstream end 222 on the side to which the suction hose 8 is connected, where wastewater flows into the wastewater tank 6, and an upstream end 233 on the opposite side from the side to which the suction hose 8 is connected, which communicates with the suction port of the suction unit 21. However, since the cleaning device described above is capable of sucking up liquids, measures are needed to prevent electrical components from getting wet with liquid. However, there is a problem in that if the device tips over, there is a risk that contaminated water may enter the suction unit 21 (hereinafter referred to as "the first problem" for convenience). The cleaning device according to Invention 1 aims to realize a cleaning device that can suppress failure of electrical components due to liquid wetting.

[0089] 2. Invention 1 (1) First cleaning device The first cleaning device is A main body having an electric blower that generates suction force, A tank section for storing the aspirated liquid, A nozzle section having a suction port for drawing in air and liquid, A hose connecting the nozzle portion and the main body portion, Equipped with, The main body is provided with a connection part on one side in the left-right direction for connecting to the hose. The connecting portion that connects the electric blower and the tank section is located towards the connection portion side in the left-right direction. This prevents the main unit from tipping over to the left or right (rotating with the front-to-back axis as the pivot point) with the electric blower facing downwards, and makes it difficult for water from the tank to flow towards the connecting section. The connection point may be configured to allow the hose to be attached or not attached. The method of connection is not particularly limited. The tank section may be attached to the main body in a way that is detachable or non-detachable, attached to another component, or attached independently. An example of a tank section is a suction tank section. The position of the electric blower may be the same as the connection point or a different position in the vertical or horizontal direction. The nozzle section only needs to have a suction port, and may or may not have other components, such as a discharge port or a brush section. The communication portion may be located in the casing housing the electric blower, in a member attached to the casing and inserted into the tank portion, in the tank portion itself, in a member attached to the tank portion and inserted into the casing, or in a member attached to the tank portion and inserted into a member communicating with the casing. The liquid can be tap water or other water, water containing a detergent to enhance cleaning ability, an organic solvent with high cleaning ability (e.g., alcohol), electrolyzed water produced by the electrolysis of water, or electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid. Alternatively, a liquid containing the detergent of the embodiment may or may not be used.

[0090] (2) Second cleaning device The second cleaning device is provided in the first cleaning device, The aforementioned connection part is located on the lower side of the main body. As a result, when the main unit tilts from side to side, the connection part or the part of the hose that is attached to the main unit will come into contact with the mounting surface, thereby preventing the main unit from tilting from side to side or tipping over. The connection point can be either on the outside of the main body or on the inside. The lower side is below the vertical center of the main body, but it is sufficient if it is in a position where the main body can contact the installation surface in its tilted state before tipping over.

[0091] (3) Third cleaning device The third cleaning device is provided in the first or second cleaning device, The aforementioned tank section is positioned towards one side in the front-to-back direction. The nozzle portion has a discharge port for discharging liquid, A discharge tank section for storing the liquid to be discharged is provided in the nozzle section. At least one of the discharge tank section and the nozzle section is held on the other side of the main body in the front-rear direction, with the bottom surface of the discharge tank section facing the installation surface. This prevents the main unit from tipping over to the other side in the front-to-back direction. At least one of the discharge tank section and the nozzle section may be held on one side, the center, or the other side in the left-right direction. At least one of the discharge tank section and the nozzle section may be the discharge tank section, the nozzle section, or both the discharge tank section and the nozzle section. The holding method may be the same as in the embodiment or may be different. The discharge tank section may be held with its bottom surface in contact with or not in contact with the mounting surface. The bottom surface of the discharge tank section only needs to be in contact with the installation surface at least in part when the main body is tilted to the other side in the front-rear direction, and it may be a flat surface, a curved surface, or an inclined surface.

[0092] <Invention 2> 1. Prior art Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-66532 describes a cleaning device comprising a main body 2 for housing a suction unit 21, and a wastewater tank 6 having a suction port 601 into which wastewater flows into the wastewater tank 6, and a discharge port 603 that communicates with the suction port 601 of the suction unit 21. In this wastewater tank 6, when the liquid level inside the wastewater tank 6 rises, the float 61 rotates to block the outlet 603. However, since the cleaning device described above requires the float ball 613 to be positioned below the on-off valve 611, the amount of wastewater that can be contained in the wastewater tank 6 will decrease unless the distance between the inner bottom of the wastewater tank 6 and the float ball 613 is increased. Conversely, increasing the distance leads to the problem of increasing the size (hereinafter referred to as "the second problem" for convenience). The cleaning device according to Invention 2 aims to realize a cleaning device that can increase the amount of liquid that can be stored in the tank while keeping the size of the tank portion small.

[0093] 2. Invention 2 (1) First cleaning device The first cleaning device is A main body having an electric blower that generates suction force, A tank section for storing the aspirated liquid, A detection unit that detects an object to be detected that moves up and down according to the liquid level in the tank section, Equipped with, When the detection unit detects the object to be detected, the electric blower is stopped. This allows the suction to be stopped by detecting an object that moves up or down according to the liquid level, thus increasing the amount of liquid that can be stored in the tank compared to conventional systems. The detection unit only needs to be able to detect the object to be detected, and can utilize sensors that detect magnetic force, optical sensors that detect reflected light from the object to be detected while the tank is transparent, optical sensors that detect whether or not transmitted light is obstructed by the object to be detected while the tank is transparent, and so on. The object to be detected may be the detection source itself, or it may consist of a detection source (one example being a magnet) and a case that houses the detection source. The tank section may be attached to the main body in a manner that is either detachable or non-detachable. Furthermore, the tank section only needs to be able to store the aspirated liquid, and its shape, structure, etc., are not particularly limited. An example of a tank section is a suction tank section. The liquid can be tap water or other water, water containing a detergent to enhance cleaning ability, an organic solvent with high cleaning ability (e.g., alcohol), electrolyzed water produced by the electrolysis of water, or electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid. Alternatively, a liquid containing the detergent of the embodiment may or may not be used.

[0094] (2) Second cleaning device The second cleaning device is provided in the first cleaning device, The aforementioned tank section is The inlet into which the aspirated liquid flows, A housing section in which the object to be detected is housed, A filter is located downstream from the aforementioned inlet, through which the aspirated liquid passes, It holds. This allows for easy separation of debris from the incoming liquid. The filter may be positioned upstream or downstream of the object to be detected. The filter may be attached to the tank section in a manner that is either removable or non-removable, or it may be attached to a part of the main body located downstream of the inlet, in a manner that is either removable or non-removable.

[0095] (3) Third cleaning device The third cleaning device is provided in the first or second cleaning device, The filter separates the downstream side of the inlet from the upstream side of the object to be detected. This prevents the object being detected from having its vertical movement hindered by debris contained in the incoming liquid.

[0096] (4) Fourth cleaning device The fourth cleaning device is one of the first to third cleaning devices, One or more protrusions are provided on the outer surface of the object to be detected and / or on the inner wall of the housing. This prevents the movement of the object being detected from becoming restricted. In other words, since the incoming wastewater may contain various kinds of debris, this prevents the debris from getting caught and restricting the movement of the object being detected as it slides along the inner wall. It also prevents the object being detected from coming into close contact (surface contact) with the inner wall of the containment section. The number, shape, and placement of the protrusions are not particularly limited.

[0097] (5) Fifth cleaning device The fifth cleaning device is provided in the fourth cleaning device, The object to be detected is box-shaped, and the projection is provided on at least one of its top or bottom surface. This prevents the contents from sticking to the upper or lower wall of the storage compartment. The projections provided on at least one of the upper or lower surfaces may be one or multiple. The projections may also be provided on surfaces other than the upper or lower surfaces, or they may not be provided at all.

[0098] (6) Sixth cleaning device The sixth cleaning device is provided in the fourth or fifth cleaning device, The object to be detected is box-shaped and has protrusions on its sides. This prevents the contents from sticking to the side walls of the storage compartment. The side protrusions may be one or multiple. The protrusions are provided on at least one of the multiple side surfaces.

[0099] (7) The seventh cleaning device The seventh cleaning device is, in the sixth cleaning device, The aforementioned protrusions are provided in each of the two equally divided sections of the surface. This causes the protrusions to be spaced apart, making it easier for the surface in question and the surface of the housing to become parallel, and allowing the vertical movement of the object to be detected to be smoother. Protrusions may or may not be provided on the boundary line that divides the surface into two equal parts. However, if the protrusions are spaced apart vertically on the surface of the housing, there is a risk that the upper or lower surface of the object to be detected may get caught on the protrusions when the object is tilted in the vertical direction.

[0100] (8) Eighth cleaning device The aforementioned protrusions are provided in each of the four equally spaced sections of the surface. This causes the protrusions to be spaced apart, making it easier for the surface in question and the surface of the housing to become parallel, resulting in smoother vertical movement of the object to be detected. Protrusions may or may not be provided on the boundary lines dividing the area into four equal parts.

[0101] <Invention 3> 1. Prior art Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-66532 describes a cleaning device comprising a main body having a suction unit 21 for generating suction force, a hand tool 4 having a suction section 42 for sucking up air and liquid, and a wastewater tank 6 for storing the sucked-up wastewater. However, since the cleaning devices described above are capable of sucking up liquids, there is a problem in that measures must be taken to prevent electrical components from getting wet with liquid (hereinafter referred to as the "third problem" for convenience). The cleaning device according to Invention 3 aims to realize a cleaning device that can suppress the occurrence of abnormalities.

[0102] 2. Invention 3 (1) First cleaning device The first cleaning device is A main body capable of sucking up air and liquid, and having an electric blower that generates suction force, A tank section for storing the aspirated liquid, A detection unit that detects abnormalities, Equipped with, When the detection unit detects the abnormality, the electric blower is stopped. This can suppress the occurrence of problems caused by abnormalities. In this context, "abnormalities" include the main body tilting, the electric blower or power supply becoming hot, the liquid level in the tank rising, and the tank detaching from the main body during use. An example of a tank is the suction tank in the embodiment. If an abnormality is detected while the electric blower is not operating (not in use) and an operation to operate the electric blower is initiated, the electric blower may be operated briefly and then stopped, or it may be kept stopped without operating. In this case, the user may or may not be notified that it is stopped (the user will be aware that it is stopped). The liquid can be tap water or other water, water containing a detergent to enhance cleaning ability, an organic solvent with high cleaning ability (e.g., alcohol), electrolyzed water produced by the electrolysis of water, or electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid. Alternatively, a liquid containing the detergent of the embodiment may or may not be used.

[0103] (2) Second cleaning device The second cleaning device is provided in the first cleaning device, The detection unit has a tilt sensor that detects the tilt of the main body, When the tilt sensor detects a tilt in the main body, the electric blower is stopped. This prevents the electric blower from operating when the main unit is tilted. Furthermore, even if the unit continues to tilt and tips over, the electric blower will remain stopped.

[0104] (3) Third cleaning device The third cleaning device is provided in the first or second cleaning device, The detection unit has a detachable sensor that detects the state in which the tank is attached to the main body. If the attachment / detachment sensor does not detect that the tank is attached to the main body, the electric blower is stopped. This prevents the electric blower from operating if the tank unit becomes detached from the main unit during use (including when it is not properly attached without being separated from the main unit). Detection here includes cases where there is no signal indicating the device is attached, and cases where there is a signal indicating the device is detached.

[0105] (4) Fourth cleaning device The fourth cleaning device is one of the first to third cleaning devices, The system includes a notification unit that notifies the system when an abnormality is detected by the aforementioned detection unit. This makes it easier for the user to know that the device is in an abnormal state. The notification unit includes lighting or flashing LEDs, changing the color of the lights, and generating sounds such as buzzers and voices.

[0106] <Invention 4> 1. Prior art Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-66532 describes a cleaning device comprising a main body having a suction unit 21 that generates suction force, and a wastewater tank 6 for storing the collected wastewater. In this cleaning device, power is supplied from a power source using an electrical cord 26. However, the cleaning device described above has a problem in that it is difficult to carry because the range in which the user can carry it is limited by the electrical cord 26 (hereinafter referred to as "the fourth problem" for convenience). The cleaning device according to Invention 4 aims to realize a cleaning device that can be easily carried.

[0107] 2. Invention 4 (1) First cleaning device The first cleaning device is A main body having an electric blower that generates suction force, A tank section for storing the aspirated liquid, Equipped with, The main body has a handle portion on the upper side, The tank section is positioned on the front side of the main body section. The electric blower is positioned such that the center of gravity is located on one side of the main body in the left-right direction, and the battery is positioned such that the center of gravity is located on the other side in the left-right direction. This improves the weight balance, making it easier to carry. The electric blower and battery can be positioned on one side and the other side in the left-right direction, and there are no particular limitations regarding their position in the up-down direction. The battery only needs to have its center of gravity on one side in the left-right direction, and there are no particular limitations on its type, form, shape, etc. The electric blower is arranged so that its rotating shaft extends in one of the following directions: front-to-back, up-and-down, left-to-right, or in a direction intersecting these directions. The tank section may be attached to the main body in a way that is either detachable or non-detachable. The center of gravity of the tank section is not particularly limited. An example of the tank section is the suction tank section of the embodiment. The handle portion may be provided to extend in the left-right direction, the front-back direction, or in a direction intersecting these directions. If it extends in the front-back direction, it is preferable to provide it in an intermediate region between the left-right direction. The liquid can be tap water or other water, water containing a detergent to enhance cleaning ability, an organic solvent with high cleaning ability (e.g., alcohol), electrolyzed water produced by the electrolysis of water, or electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid. Alternatively, a liquid containing the detergent of the embodiment may or may not be used.

[0108] (2) Second cleaning device The second cleaning device is provided in the first cleaning device, The handle portion is provided to extend in the left-right direction. This makes it easier to grip the object in a position where the weight balance is optimal.

[0109] (3) Third cleaning device The third cleaning device is provided in the first or second cleaning device, In the left-right direction of the main body, on the side opposite to the position of the electric blower, a circuit section for driving the electric blower is arranged. This allows the circuit board and battery, and the circuit board and electric blower, to be placed close together. Furthermore, this proximity allows for shorter wiring.

[0110] (4) Fourth cleaning device The fourth cleaning device is provided in the third cleaning device, The aforementioned battery is located below the circuit section. This lowers the center of gravity of the device, stabilizing its mounting position.

[0111] (5) Fifth cleaning device The fifth cleaning device is one of the first to fourth cleaning devices, The direction in which the battery can be attached and detached is aligned with the left-right direction. This also helps to limit the size of the device in the front-to-back direction, even when using a long battery.

[0112] (6) Sixth cleaning device The sixth cleaning device is one of the first to fifth cleaning devices, The main body has an outlet for discharging the exhaust from the electric blower to the outside. Within the main body, there is an exhaust channel that guides the exhaust air toward the outlet. The exhaust passage supports the battery or the housing that houses the battery. This simplifies the structure compared to providing a separate support for the battery or its housing.

[0113] <Invention 5> 1. Prior art Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-66532 describes a cleaning device comprising a main body 2 for housing a suction unit 21, and a wastewater tank 6 having a suction port 601 into which wastewater flows into the wastewater tank 6, and a discharge port 603 that communicates with the suction port of the suction unit 21. In this wastewater tank 6, when the liquid level inside the wastewater tank 6 rises, the float 61 rotates to block the outlet 603. However, when using floats, there is a problem in that they adhere tightly to the inner wall of the tank (hereinafter referred to as "the fifth problem" for convenience). The cleaning device according to Invention 5 aims to realize a cleaning device that can smoothly move the float inside the tank.

[0114] 2. Invention 5 (1) First cleaning device The first cleaning device is A main body having an electric blower that generates suction force, A tank section for storing the aspirated liquid, A detection unit that detects an object to be detected that moves up and down according to the liquid level in the tank section, Equipped with, The object to be detected or the housing that houses the object to be detected has a protrusion. This prevents the object to be detected from coming into close contact with the containment area.

[0115] <Invention 6> 1. Prior art Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-66532 describes a cleaning device comprising a main body having a suction unit 21 that generates suction force, and a wastewater tank 6 for storing the collected wastewater. In this cleaning device, power is supplied from a power source using an electrical cord 26. However, the cleaning device described above has a problem in that the range in which the user can carry it is limited by the electrical cord 26 (hereinafter referred to as "the sixth problem" for convenience). The cleaning device according to Invention 6 aims to realize a cleaning device whose range of portability is not limited.

[0116] 2. Invention 6 (1) First cleaning device The first cleaning device is The main body is equipped with an electric blower that generates suction force and a battery for driving the electric blower, and the battery is rechargeable and dischargeable. This eliminates the need for power cords, expanding the range of portability.

[0117] <Other> The inventive features of each invention are not limited by the inventive features of other inventions. Furthermore, each invention may include the inventive features of other inventions, or it may include the configuration described in the embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0118] X Cleaning device 1. Main unit of the device 7 Hand Tools 8 hoses 11 Main body 12. Suction tank section (tank section) 235 Electric blower 331 Main unit side connection part (connection part) 700 Nozzle section

Claims

1. A main body having an electric blower that generates suction force, A tank section for storing the aspirated liquid, Equipped with, The main body has a handle portion on the upper side, The tank section is located in front of the main body, and in front of the electric blower and battery. The tank section has an inlet and an outlet located above the center in the vertical direction of the tank section. The inlet and outlet are arranged to be spaced apart in the left-right direction of the main body. The electric blower is positioned adjacent to the discharge port of the tank, with its rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction and its center of gravity located on one side of the main body in the left-right direction and above the center in the up-down direction. The battery is positioned such that its center of gravity is located on the other side in the left-right direction and below the center in the up-down direction. Cleaning equipment.

2. The handle portion extends in the left-right direction and is positioned in the center of the main body in the front-rear direction. The aforementioned battery is located on the rear side of the main body. The cleaning device according to claim 1.

3. In the left-right direction of the main body, a circuit section for driving the electric blower is arranged on the other side, which is opposite to the position of the electric blower. The main body is located above the circuit section and extends behind the circuit section, and has an extended portion that prevents liquid that has entered the main body from flowing towards the circuit section. The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The aforementioned battery is located below the circuit section. The cleaning device according to claim 3.

5. The direction in which the battery is inserted and removed is along the left-right direction. The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2.

Images