Optical Dust Bag Detection for Vacuum Blower Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum cleaners are vulnerable to damage when using unsuitable dust bags, which can lead to premature wear, unauthorized warranty claims, and environmental pollution due to improper dust bag change indicators.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a radiation source and receiving unit in the dust chamber to measure reflections from the dust bag, allowing the control unit to adjust the blower's operation based on the detected reflections, ensuring the vacuum cleaner operates safely with suitable dust bags and preventing damage from unsuitable ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If dust bags from other manufacturers are used, then cost savings are achieved, but filtration performance deteriorates and device reliability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of dust bag suitability before the vacuum cleaner operates. The radiation source irradiates the dust bag, and the receiving unit detects reflections from the identification surface to verify compatibility. This preliminary check prevents damage to the vacuum cleaner by identifying unsuitable dust bags before they can cause harm.
Solution Approach 2:
An identification surface with specific reflectance properties is introduced as an intermediary element on the dust bag. This surface acts as a mediator that enables the vacuum cleaner to recognize and verify dust bag compatibility through optical detection, ensuring only suitable dust bags are used.
2Ease of operation
If dust bag change indicators operate on differential pressure principle, then simple operation is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates leading to false readings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/differential pressure-based dust bag change indicator with an optical detection system. The radiation source and receiving unit use light reflection from the identification surface to detect dust bag fullness and compatibility, eliminating the inaccuracies of pressure-based sensing while maintaining ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If unsuitable dust bags are used, then device complexity is reduced, but harmful factors increase due to fan damage and pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting and preventing the use of unsuitable dust bags before they can cause harm. The optical verification system identifies incompatible dust bags through their identification surface reflectance properties, and the control unit prevents operation or alerts the user, thereby preventing fan damage and reducing environmental pollution from improper dust bag changes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively protects the vacuum cleaner from damage by identifying suitable dust bags and optimizing their use, preventing unnecessary waste and pollution by ensuring accurate dust bag changes.
Implementation Method 1
the radiation from the radiation source being configured to be reflected by dust bags accommodated in the dust chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner (1) for cleaning and maintaining floor surfaces, comprising a housing (2), a blower (3) for generating a negative pressure for collecting dust by means of an airflow, wherein a dust chamber (5) for receiving a dust bag (6) for cleaning the collected air of dust is arranged in the housing, wherein the vacuum cleaner (1) has a control unit (7) for controlling the blower (2), wherein at least one radiation emitting radiation source (9) is arranged in the dust chamber (5), wherein the radiation (8) of the radiation source (9) is configured to be reflected by dust bags (6) received in the dust chamber (5), wherein at least one receiving unit (11) for receiving the reflections (10) of the radiation (8) at the received dust bag (6) is arranged in the dust chamber (5), and wherein the control unit (7) is configured toto control the blower (3) depending on the reflections (10) of the radiation (8) received by the receiving unit (11). The invention also relates to a dust bag (1) for the vacuum cleaner (1), a system comprising such a vacuum cleaner (1) and such a dust bag (6), and a method for operating such a vacuum cleaner (1).