JP2002291668A - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an electric vacuum cleaner which reliably holds the temperature of exhaust air from a circulating electric blower for a predetermined time. SOLUTION: A shutter is opened to open a main body suction port,
Connect and clean the hose, extension tube and suction port body. The first exhaust port is opened by the exhaust circulation control valve to exhaust a part of the exhaust air from the electric blower 23, circulate the remaining part, and generate a negative pressure on the lower surface of the intake body to efficiently suck the dust. The temperature sensor prevents overheating of the electric blower 23. At the end of cleaning, the shutter is closed, the first exhaust port is closed by the exhaust circulation control valve, and the electric blower is driven to circulate the exhaust air with hot air. When the electric blower 23 is driven at a high speed and the temperature sensor detects a temperature at which microorganisms such as mites die, the speed is controlled to a low speed and maintained for a predetermined time. The temperature of the exhaust air circulating with the hot air can be reliably maintained for a predetermined time, and the microorganisms can be surely killed. Different control can be performed with one temperature sensor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner for circulating exhaust air discharged from an electric blower to a dust collection chamber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vacuum cleaner for circulating exhaust air of an electric blower to an intake side, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-173 is known.
A configuration described in JP-A-349-349 is known.

[0003] The vacuum cleaner described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-173349 has a main body case capable of traveling on the floor, and an electric blower is provided in the main body case at a rear side in the traveling direction. An electric blower room to be housed is defined, and a dust collection chamber communicating with the electric blower room is defined on the intake side of the electric blower of the electric blower room. Further, the main body case has a main body suction opening which is located forward of the traveling direction and is opened forward, and the dust collecting portion communicates with the outside through the main body suction port. Further, inside the main body case, one end is opened to the electric blower chamber, and the other end is opened to the main body suction port, and a circulation air passage communicating with the dust collection chamber is provided. The circulation air passage is provided with temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of exhaust air exhausted from the electric blower and flowing through the circulation air passage, and an exhaust port is formed in the main body case so as to communicate with the electric blower room. Have been.

[0004] On the other hand, a connecting pipe of a hose detachably connected to the main body suction port is provided with a communication hole communicating with the circulating air passage, and the connecting pipe of the hose is connected to the main body suction port in a connected state. To communicate with the circulating air path and the circulating air path with the dust collection chamber.

By connecting a hose connecting pipe to the main body suction port and closing the end of the hose, the negative pressure with respect to the atmospheric pressure in the circulating air passage increases, and the inside of the circulating air passage becomes a predetermined pressure. When the pressure reaches the negative pressure, the pressure valve body of the circulation air passage opens to connect the circulation air passage to the electric blower room. When the pressure valve body is opened, a part of the exhaust air exhausted from the electric blower into the electric blower chamber is not exhausted from the exhaust port, but is again passed through the circulation air passage, the communication hole, the connection pipe, and the dust collection chamber. The exhaust air is circulated by being sucked into the electric blower. Then, the circulating exhaust air gradually rises in temperature to become hot air, and becomes a hot air circulation for killing microorganisms such as mites trapped in the dust collecting chamber until the temperature of the exhaust air reaches a predetermined temperature by the temperature detecting means.

[0006]

However, in the vacuum cleaner described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-173349,
When the temperature detected by the temperature detection means reaches a predetermined value, the rotation of the electric blower is stopped, so that a high temperature cannot be maintained for a predetermined time, and there is a possibility that microorganisms such as trapped mites may remain without dying. Have.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an electric vacuum cleaner that reliably maintains the temperature of exhaust air from a circulating electric blower for a predetermined time.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric vacuum cleaner having an electric blower chamber accommodating an electric blower, and a main body suction opening communicating with an intake side of the electric blower of the electric blower chamber. A main body case provided with a dust chamber and having an exhaust opening communicating with the exhaust side of the electric blower; a circulating air passage provided in the main body case and communicating the exhaust side of the electric blower with the dust collection chamber; Temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of at least one of the blower chamber, the dust collection chamber and the circulation air passage, and the exhaust air exhausted from the exhaust side of the electric blower is directly sent from the circulation air passage to the dust collection chamber. Control means for reducing the rotation of the electric blower when the temperature detected by the temperature detection means in the circulation state is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the temperature detection means in the electric blower room,
The temperature of at least one of the dust collection chamber and the circulation air passage is detected, and the temperature is detected by the temperature detection means in a state where the exhaust air discharged from the exhaust side of the electric blower flows directly from the circulation air passage to the dust collection chamber. When the temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the control means reduces the rotation speed of the electric blower, and the state in which the temperature of the circulating exhaust air has reached the predetermined temperature is maintained. Since the microorganisms can be kept in a high temperature state for a predetermined time or more, they can be reliably killed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric vacuum cleaner, comprising: an electric blower chamber for accommodating an electric blower; and a dust collection chamber communicating with an intake side of the electric blower of the electric blower chamber and having a main body suction opening opened. A main body case having an exhaust opening communicating with the exhaust side of the electric blower, a circulation air passage provided in the main body case for communicating the exhaust side of the electric blower with the dust collection chamber, the electric blower chamber, Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of at least one of the chamber and the circulating air path; and temperature detecting means in a state where exhaust air discharged from the exhaust side of the electric blower flows directly from the circulating air path to the dust collection chamber. When the temperature detected in step 1 becomes equal to or higher than a first threshold value corresponding to the temperature at which the microorganisms trapped in the dust collection chamber are killed, the rotation of the electric blower is reduced, and the air is exhausted from the exhaust side of the electric blower. In a state where the air does not flow directly from the circulating air stove to the dust collection chamber, the electric blower is turned on when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means becomes equal to or higher than a second threshold value corresponding to a temperature that does not cause damage due to overheating of the electric blower. Control means for reducing the rotation of the air blower, the temperature detection means detects the temperature of at least one of the electric blower chamber, the dust collection chamber and the circulation air passage, and the exhaust air exhausted from the exhaust side of the electric blower In a state where the wind flows directly from the circulation air duct to the dust collecting chamber, when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means becomes equal to or higher than the first threshold value corresponding to the temperature at which the microorganisms trapped in the dust collecting chamber are killed, the electric blower When the rotation is reduced and the exhaust air exhausted from the exhaust side of the electric blower does not flow directly from the circulating air stove to the dust collection chamber, the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means may be damaged by overheating of the electric blower. When the temperature becomes equal to or higher than a second threshold value corresponding to a temperature at which no air is generated, the rotation of the electric blower is reduced, and the state in which the temperature of the circulating exhaust air has reached a predetermined temperature is maintained. Because the microorganisms can be in a high temperature state for more than a predetermined time,
In addition to being able to reliably die, the control means controls in two operating states based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means,
A common configuration is used to improve manufacturability.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vacuum cleaner of the first aspect, the control means reduces the rotation speed of the electric blower and stops the rotation of the electric blower when a predetermined time or more has elapsed. Then, when the rotation speed of the electric blower is reduced and a predetermined time or more has elapsed, the rotation of the electric blower is stopped, so that there is no need to separately stop the rotation of the electric blower, and the operability is improved.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a cleaner main body, which has a main body case 2 having an open front upper surface. The main body case 2 is made of, for example, acrylonitrile having an open upper surface. -Butadiene-styrene (A
BS) and the lower case 2
a Upper case 2b of the same material that closes and joins the rear upper surface
And In the main body case 2, a bumper 3 is sandwiched and fixed between the lower case 2a and the upper case 2b around the periphery including the front surface, and a lid 4 that opens and closes the opening on the front upper surface of the lower case 2a is rotated. It is formed to be freely pivotally supported.

A swivelable swivel wheel 5 is mounted on the front lower surface of the main body case 2 in the traveling direction, and large-diameter driven rear wheels 6, 6 are rotatably provided on the rear side surface. In addition, the main body case 2 allows the cleaner main body 1 to travel on a floor surface (not shown) with the turning wheel 5 and the driven rear wheels 6 and 6. Further, a handle 8 which is rotatable in the vertical direction is provided on an upper portion of the main body case 2.

On the other hand, a partition 11 having communication holes 10 in a lattice shape is provided in the cleaner body 1. In the cleaner main body 1, a dust collection chamber 13 is defined and formed on the front side of the partition wall 11 in the traveling direction of the cleaner main body 1. In the dust collecting chamber 13, a dust collecting bag 15 is detachably mounted by a holder 14 pivotally mounted in the dust collecting chamber 13. The lid 4
Has a rear end pivotally attached to the upper case 2b,
Is formed so as to be openable and closable from above.

An inducer 16 is attached to the rear of the partition 11 in the cleaner body 1, and the inducer 16 is a wall that expands like a trumpet toward the dust collecting chamber 13 on the front side. It has a shape 17. A substantially circular flow hole 18 is formed in the wall 17 at a position deviated from the center to one side. Further, a seal member 19 that is in close contact with the peripheral edge of the partition wall 11 is attached to the peripheral edge of the wall-shaped portion 17.

The inducer 16 in the cleaner body 1 is also provided.
Is located behind the dust collection chamber 13 behind the electric blower room.
A motor case 22 for partitioning 21 is provided. Also,
An electric blower 23 is housed in an electric blower room 21 in the motor case 22. And, in the motor case 22,
An inflow port 24 communicating with the flow hole 18 of the inducer section 16 is formed in an opening. The motor case 22 has a first discharge port (not shown) and a second discharge port 22a (not shown) communicating with an exhaust port (not shown) of the electric blower 23. Are respectively formed in the openings. Further, the motor case 22 is provided with a substantially cylindrical holding rib 25 substantially coaxial with the inflow port 24.

The electric blower 23 includes, for example, an electric unit 27 as an electric motor for rotationally driving a fan (not shown),
An umbrella-shaped truncated cone-shaped fan cover 28 that covers the fan is provided. A substantially circular intake port (not shown) is formed at the center of the front surface of the fan cover 28.
The electric blower 23 is provided with a holding rib in the motor case 22.
The fan cover 28 is fitted to and held by 25. By disposing the electric blower 23 in the motor case 22, the air intake of the electric blower 23 is collected through the inflow port 24 of the motor case 22, the flow hole 18 of the inducer 16, and the communication hole 10 of the partition 11. It communicates with the chamber 13 in a substantially airtight manner.

Further, an exhaust chamber 31 is formed in the cleaner main body 1 so as to be located on the outer surface side of the motor case 22.

In the cleaner body 1, a motor case is provided.
A drum chamber 32 is provided behind the nozzle 22 and communicates with the exhaust chamber 31. In the drum chamber 32, a winding drum 34 for winding a power cord 33 for supplying electric power to the electric blower 23 is provided. Further, above the drum chamber 32,
A cord port 36 having a function as an exhaust port from which the plug 35 of the power cord 33 is led out is formed. The cord port 36 communicates with the first discharge port of the motor case 22 via the drum chamber 32 and the exhaust chamber 31.

At approximately the center of the front side of the cleaner body 1,
A suction unit 39 having a substantially cylindrical main body suction opening 38 is provided. The main body suction port 38 is provided with a large-diameter suction large cylindrical portion 38a having a front portion opened forward of the cleaner main body 1 and a coaxially smaller diameter than the suction cylindrical portion 38a. And a small-diameter suction small-cylindrical portion 38b that opens in communication. The main body suction port 38 is formed in a stepped shape with a large suction cylinder portion 38a and a small suction cylinder portion 38b, and a circulation hole 40 is formed in the stepped portion. Further, a shutter 41 that slidably closes the main body suction port 38 so as to be able to open and close is slidably supported by the suction section 39. Further, the suction unit 39 is provided with a mode switch (not shown) that opens and closes when the shutter 41 opens and closes the main body suction port 38. The mode changeover switch is closed by closing the main body suction port 38 by the shutter 41 to be in the hot air circulation mode, and is opened by the shutter 41 being opened by the main body suction port 38 to be in the cleaning mode.

Further, a circulation duct 43 as a circulation air passage is provided in the cleaner body 1. This circulation duct 43
One end communicates with the second discharge port 22 a of the motor case 22, and the other end communicates with the circulation hole 40 of the main body suction port 38 of the suction part 39. When the shutter 41 of the suction section 39 closes the main body suction port 38, the exhaust side of the electric blower 23 is moved to the electric blower chamber 21, the circulation duct 43, and the main body suction port 38.
The dust collection chamber is communicated via the. Further, the circulation duct 43 is provided with an exhaust circulation control valve (not shown) for opening and closing the first discharge port.

On the other hand, the hose 45 has a hose portion 46. The hose portion 46 has a flexible hose inner tube (not shown) and a flexible hose outer tube 47 for coaxially enclosing the hose inner tube via a gap. Is formed. Also, at the proximal end of the hose portion 46,
A connection pipe 48 fitted and connected to the suction portion 39 of the cleaner body 1 is provided integrally. Further, a grip portion 49 is integrally provided at the tip of the hose portion 46.

The connecting pipe 48 includes a connecting outer pipe 51 having a hose outer pipe 47 fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the base end. Large cylindrical part 38
Mates with a. Further, a mounting rib 52 protruding inward is provided on the inner peripheral surface on the distal end side of the connection outer tube 51. Further, inside the connection outer tube 51, there is provided a connection inner tube 53 fitted and fixed to the distal end portion of the mounting rib 52 and coaxially included through a gap. The connection inner tube 53 has a hose inner tube fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the base end, and a distal end protruding from the connection outer tube 51 to fit into the small suction cylindrical portion 38b of the main body suction port 38 of the suction portion 39. The connection pipe 48 has a connection circulation hole 54 formed between the distal end of the connection outer pipe 51 and the outer peripheral surface of the connection inner pipe 53. When the connection pipe 48 is connected to the suction portion 39, the connection circulation hole 54 faces the circulation hole 40 of the suction portion 39 and communicates substantially airtightly.

Further, the grip portion 49 has a communication tube portion 56 and a grip portion 57 that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the communication tube portion 56 toward the rear. The communication pipe portion 56 includes a gripping inner pipe (not shown) connected to the hose inner pipe, and a gripping outer pipe 58 connected to the hose outer pipe 47 and coaxially including the gripping inner pipe via a gap. It is formed in a double tube structure.
An operating portion 59 is provided at the base end of the grip portion 57, and the operating portion 59 is disposed in the suction opening body 60 connected to the driving state of the electric blower 23 in the cleaner body 1 and the distal end. Rotary cleaning body 61
There are provided various switches 59a for setting a driving state of a driving source 62 which is an electric motor for rotating the motor and a driving state of an electric motor (not shown) for moving an exhaust circulation control valve. The operation section 59 is a hose outer tube of the hose 45.
47 is connected to a circuit board (not shown) provided on the cleaner body 1 via a transmission line (not shown) provided in a spiral shape.

The proximal end of the extension tube 63 is detachably connected to the distal end of the grip 49. This extension tube 63 is
An extension tube inner tube (not shown) detachably connected to the gripping inner tube of the communication tube portion 49 and an extension tube outer tube 64 detachably connected to the gripping outer tube 58 of the communication tube portion 56 via a gap. It is formed in a double tube structure provided coaxially.

A suction port body 60 for the floor surface is detachably connected to the end of the extension pipe 63. The suction port body 60 has a nozzle case 66 as a rectangular body in the left-right direction. I have. In addition, not only the extension tube 63 but also accessories such as the suction port body 60, a furniture brush 68 as a suction port body, and a gap nozzle can be attached to the tip of the grip portion 49.

A longitudinal suction chamber (not shown) is formed in the nozzle case 66 in the left and right direction, and the suction chamber has a floor suction port (not shown) formed on the lower surface thereof.
Is rotatably accommodated. In the nozzle case 66,
A drive chamber (not shown) for accommodating a drive source 62 which is an electric motor for rotatingly driving the rotary cleaning body 61 is defined, and a blowout hole (not shown) is opened in the suction chamber in the nozzle case 66 toward the substantially floor suction port. An outlet duct chamber is defined.

Also, approximately in the center of the rear part of the nozzle case 66,
There is provided a communication pipe 70 whose base end is pivotally supported, and whose distal end is detachably connected to the extension tube 63 and the grip portion 49 of the hose 45, and whose top end is vertically rotatable and rotatable. The communication pipe 70 has a communication inner pipe (not shown) whose distal end is connected to the extension inner pipe of the extension pipe 63 and whose base end communicates with the suction chamber. A communication outer tube 71 communicating with the chamber is formed in a double tube structure provided substantially coaxially.

The extension pipe 63 is connected to the communication pipe 70 of the suction port body 60.
The hose 45 is connected via the
Floor suction port, suction chamber, communication inner pipe of communication pipe 70, extension pipe
63, the inner tube of the hose 49, the inner tube of the hose 46, the inner tube 53 of the connecting tube 48, and the intake side of the electric blower 23 via the dust collecting chamber 13. An intake air passage 75 communicating with the intake port and sucking air is formed. Also,
The electric blower chamber 21 in which an exhaust hole (not shown) of the electric blower 23 on the exhaust side of the electric blower 23 is opened communicates with a cord port 36 through a first exhaust port, an exhaust chamber 31 and a drum chamber 32, and is electrically operated. An exhaust air passage 76 that exhausts exhaust air exhausted from the blower 23 to the outside is formed. In addition, the electric blower room
Reference numeral 21 denotes a second outlet 22a, a circulation duct 43, a circulation hole 40 of a suction portion 39, a connection outer tube 51 of a connection tube 48, a hose outer tube 47 of a hose portion 46, a grip outer tube 58 of a grip portion 49, and an extension. Extension 63 of tube 63,
An exhaust circulation air passage 77 is formed by communicating with a communication outer pipe 71 of a communication pipe 70 of the suction port body 60 and a blowout hole opened to the suction chamber via a blowout duct chamber.

When both the first exhaust port communicating with the exhaust air passage 76 and the second exhaust port 22a communicating with the exhaust circulation air passage 77 are open, the air is exhausted into the electric blower chamber 21. A part of the exhaust air is exhausted from the cord port 36 through the exhaust air path 76.

Next, the internal configuration of the above embodiment is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The electric blower 23 disposed in the cleaner body 1
Are connected in series to a power control triac Tr.The electric blower 23 and the triac Tr are connected to a power cord 33.
To the commercial AC power supply e. The control means 81 provided in the cleaner main body 1 is connected to the gate of the triac Tr. The control means 81 is provided with a timer (not shown) as a time measuring means for measuring time, and the control means 81 is provided with a storage means (not shown) for storing various setting items.

The control means 81 has a temperature detecting means disposed in the electric blower room 21 for detecting at least one of the electric blower room 21, the dust collection chamber 13 and the circulation air passage 43. The sensor 82 is connected, and the control unit 81 is detachably connected to the operation unit 59 of the grip unit 49 via the transmission line of the hose 45.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
5 and a graph showing the relationship between the temperature sensor and the driving state of the electric blower shown in FIG. 5.

First, the cover 4 is closed, and the power cord 33
And supply a commercial AC power supply e. Further, the main body suction port 38 is opened by sliding the shutter 41, and the hose 45, the extension pipe 63, and the suction port body 60 are sequentially connected to the main body suction port 38, and a cleaning standby state is set. In the cleaning standby state, the control unit 81 recognizes that the main body suction port 38 is opened and the mode changeover switch is opened, and enters the cleaning mode. In this cleaning mode, the control means 81 moves the exhaust circulation control valve to open the first discharge port.

Then, in this cleaning standby state, the electric blower 23 or the suction port body is operated by the operation portion 59 of the grip portion 49 of the hose 45.
The control unit 81 sets the drive state of the drive source 62 of the
Drive control of the electric blower 23 and the drive source 62 is performed in a predetermined drive state in accordance with the setting input of 59. In the state of the cleaning mode in which the electric blower 23 is driven, the gripper 49 is pushed and pulled in the front-rear direction to move the suction opening body 60 on the floor surface for cleaning.

By driving the electric blower 23, the suction opening
Dust is sucked into the suction chamber together with air from the floor suction port 60, the communication inner pipe of the communication pipe 70 of the suction port body 60, the extension inner pipe of the extension pipe 63, the gripping inner pipe of the gripping portion 49 of the hose 45, and the hose. The hose inner tube of the hose part 46 of 45 and the connection inner tube 53 of the connection tube 48
Is trapped in the dust collection bag 15 mounted in the dust collection chamber 13. Further, the air filtered by the dust bag 15 is sucked from the inlet of the electric blower 23 through the communication hole 10 and the inflow port 24 of the motor case 22, passes through the inside of the electric blower 23, and exhausts the air from the electric blower 23. Air is exhausted from the holes into the electric blower room 21 as exhaust air.

The exhaust air discharged into the electric blower chamber 21 by the driving of the electric blower 23 is mainly partially discharged from the first blower.
The air is exhausted to the outside from the cord port 36 through the exhaust port 31, the exhaust chamber 31, and the drum chamber 32, and the remainder flows out from the second exhaust port 22a. The exhaust air flowing out of the second outlet 22a is
Circulation duct 43, circulation hole 40 of suction part 41, connection outer pipe 51 of connection pipe 48, hose outer pipe 46 of hose part 45, gripping outer pipe of gripper 49
56, through the extension outer tube 64 of the extension tube 63, the communication outer tube 71 of the communication tube 70 of the suction opening body 60, and the blow-out duct room, while being muffled and absorbed, from the blow-out hole toward the floor suction opening into the suction room. Be blown out. The exhaust air blown out from the outlet blows up dust from the floor facing the floor suction port. Note that the gripper
When the driving source 62 of the suction opening body 60 is driven by the setting operation of the operation section 59 of 49 to rotate the rotary cleaning body 61, the rotary cleaning body 61 scrapes dust from the floor surface. The blown-up or scraped-out dust sucks in the air exhausted from the cord port 36 together with the exhaust air from the blow-out hole from the floor suction port and captures the dust in the dust-collecting bag 15 in the dust-collecting chamber 13. And the exhaust air circulates.

By the circulation of the exhaust air, the suction port body 60 does not stick to the floor surface and the running performance is not reduced. In addition, since a part of the exhaust air is exhausted to the outside and a negative pressure is generated on the lower surface of the suction port body 60, dust on the floor located around the suction port body 60 can be absorbed, and the efficiency is improved. Can be cleaned.

At the time of cleaning in the cleaning mode, the control means 81 recognizes a signal corresponding to the temperature x in the electric blower room 21 detected by the temperature sensor 82. Then, the recognized signal is compared with a second threshold value preset in the storage unit of the control unit 81. That is, the predetermined temperature T ₂
That is, a second temperature corresponding to a temperature at which the electric blower 23 or the main body case 2 may be damaged due to overheating of the electric blower 23.
Is compared with the temperature signal from the temperature sensor 82.
When the control means 81 determines that the temperature x in the electric blower chamber 21 has reached the predetermined temperature T ₂ , the control means 81 performs control to reduce the driving state of the electric blower 23 so as to reduce the rotation speed or stop the electric blower 23. Control to prevent overheating.

Although air is circulated in this cleaning mode, the air is circulated. However, the air is circulated from the suction port 61 and the heat is radiated through a long air path such as an extension pipe or a hose. If not, the temperature will not rise much.

When the cleaning is completed, the hose 45, the extension pipe 63 and the suction port body 60 are removed from the main body suction port 38, and the shutter 41 is slid to close the main body suction port 38.
When the shutter 41 closes the main body suction port 38, the mode changeover switch is closed, and the mode changeover is detected.
Then, the control means 81 recognizes that the mode changeover switch is closed, determines that the cleaning has been completed, and enters the hot air circulation mode. Further, the control means 81 closes the first discharge port by moving the exhaust gas circulation control valve by closing the mode changeover switch. Then, the control means 81 appropriately controls the driving of the electric blower 21 in the hot air circulation mode.

That is, when the control means 81 enters the hot air circulation mode in which the draft air flows mainly through the circulation air passage 43, the time t = 0 measured by a timer, which is a not-shown timer means, provided in the control means 81. Is set, that is, the timer is reset (step 1). Thereafter, the control means 81 recognizes the temperature x in the electric blower room 21 detected by the temperature sensor 82 (Step 2). Then, the control means 81 determines that the recognized temperature x in the electric blower room 21 is a tick killing temperature preset in the storage means, for example, a temperature T _{1 of} about 50 ° C. to 60 ° C.
It is determined whether it is lower (step 3). That is, a signal corresponding to the temperature x of the electric blower chamber 21 from the temperature sensor 82 is compared with a preset first threshold corresponding to a low predetermined temperature T ₁ of than the second threshold value.

Then, in this step 3, the electric blower room
If the temperature x in 21 is judged to be lower than the predetermined temperatures T ₁ is not enough air of the electric blower chamber 21 is warmed up, i.e., killing microorganisms such as e.g. tick 50
It is determined that the temperature has not reached about 60 ° C. to 60 ° C., and the electric blower 23 is driven by normal rotation (step 4), and the process returns to step 2. That is, as shown in FIG.
The electric blower 23 is driven by a normal input or a maximum input until the temperature x in the 21 reaches a predetermined temperature T.

On the other hand, in step 3, the temperature x of the electric blower chamber 21 is not lower than the predetermined temperatures T _1, i.e. the air in the electric blower 21 is warmed, such as microorganisms to a predetermined temperature above T ₁ kill mites Is determined, the electric blower 23 is driven at a low rotation (step 5). The low rotation of the electric blower 23, as shown in FIG. 5, the temperature x of the electric blower chamber 21, i.e. the temperature of the exhaust air circulating without increasing, is held substantially at a predetermined temperature T _1.

Thereafter, it is determined whether the time t counted by the timer is t = 0, that is, whether the time is counted by the timer (step 6). Then, in this step 6, t = 0
, That is, if it is determined that the time has not been measured, the timer starts counting time (step 7). When it is determined in step 6 that t = 0 is not satisfied, that is, when it is determined that time measurement is being performed, t = t + 1 is set and counting is continued (step 8).

Then, the control means 81 determines whether or not the time measured by the timer has reached a predetermined time (step 9). If it is determined that the predetermined time has not been reached, the process returns to step 5. That is, the control means 81 causes the electric blower 23 to continue the low rotation for a predetermined time.

If the control means 81 determines that the time measured by the timer has reached a predetermined time, the control means 81
Is stopped (step 10), and the hot air circulation mode is ended. That is, the hot air circulation is continued for a predetermined time at a temperature at which microorganisms such as mites are killed by driving the electric blower 23, and the drive of the electric blower 23 is stopped after the microorganisms are surely killed. After that, the power cord 33 is wound around the winding drum 34,
Cleaning is completed by clearing a predetermined place. In addition, when the electric blower 23 stops, the temperature in the electric blower room 21 gradually decreases due to cooling.

When the hot air circulation mode is immediately after the cleaning mode, the temperature in the electric blower room 21 is in a somewhat high state. For this reason, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 5, the time required to reach the predetermined temperature T ₁ is shortened,
The loop time from step 3 to step 4 becomes shorter, and the time during which the electric blower 23 rotates at a high speed becomes shorter. When a certain period of time has passed from the cleaning mode to the hot air circulation mode, the temperature inside the electric blower room 21 has cooled down to some extent as shown by the solid line in FIG.
The time to reach ₁ is relatively long. That is, regardless of the temperature in the electric blower room 21, the hot air circulation mode is processed according to the same control law.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the control unit 81 allows the exhaust air exhausted from the exhaust side of the electric blower 23 to flow directly through the circulation duct 43, ie,
Electric blower room 21 detected by temperature sensor 82 in the state of hot air circulation mode that circulates through the dust collection chamber without passing through the extension pipe and the suction port body
By recognizing that the internal temperature has reached the predetermined temperature T, the rotation speed of the electric blower is reduced to a low rotation. For this reason, the state where the temperature of the circulating exhaust air has reached the predetermined temperature T is maintained, and for example, microorganisms such as mites trapped in the dust collection chamber 13 can be reliably killed.

When the control means 81 performs the control for reducing the rotation speed of the electric blower 23 for a predetermined time,
The rotation of the electric blower 23 is stopped. For this reason, the electric blower 23
Is stopped, so that an operation for separately stopping the rotation of the electric blower 23 is not required, and workability can be improved.

The electric blower 23 is controlled by the control means 81.
In the hot air circulation mode in which exhaust air discharged from the exhaust side of the air flows through the circulation duct 43 and directly circulates to the dust collection chamber, the temperature x of the exhaust air detected by the temperature sensor 82 is captured by the dust collection chamber 13. microorganisms is determined based on a first threshold value corresponding to the temperature T ₁ of killing, controlling the temperature of the exhaust air circulating by controlling the rotational state of the electric blower 23. The control means 81
As a result, a state in which the exhaust air exhausted from the exhaust side of the electric blower 23 is exhausted from the cord port 36, that is, the temperature of the exhaust air detected by the temperature sensor 82 is set to a temperature T _{2 at} which the electric blower 23 is not damaged by abnormal overheating. Is determined on the basis of the second threshold value corresponding to, and the rotation state of the electric blower 23 is controlled to perform control to prevent overheating of the electric blower. Therefore, two different operating states can be controlled by one temperature sensor, the configuration can be simplified, and manufacturability can be improved.

Further, since a mode changeover switch is provided in the suction section 39 to switch between the cleaning mode and the hot air circulation mode by opening and closing the main body suction port 38 of the shutter 41, the main body suction port 38 is closed for efficient hot air circulation. Since the opening / closing operation is performed in such a configuration, an operation for separately switching between the cleaning mode and the hot air circulation mode is not required, and the cleaning mode and the hot air circulation mode can be easily switched, thereby improving workability.

In the above embodiment, the canister type vacuum cleaner for cleaning by connecting the hose 45, the extension pipe 63 and the suction port body 60 to the cleaner body 1 has been described. An upright type in which the suction port body 60 is connected via the pipe 63 and a stick-shaped handle is attached to the cleaner body 1 for cleaning, or a handy type in which the suction port body 60 can be directly connected to the cleaner body 1. Also applicable to

In the cleaning mode, the circulation type vacuum cleaner for circulating a part of the exhaust air from the electric blower 23 to the suction port body 60 for cleaning has been described. However, a configuration in which the exhaust air is not circulated in the same mode can also be adopted. . That is, for example, exhaust air is exhausted from an exhaust port such as the cord port 41 for cleaning, and in the hot air circulation mode, the exhaust port is closed so that the entire amount of exhaust air is sucked into the main body of the circulation duct 43 and the suction section 39. A configuration in which the dust is circulated to the dust collection chamber 13 through the port 38 is also applicable.

In the cleaning mode, a part of the exhaust air is exhausted to the outside. However, for example, a silent mode or the like is provided in the operation unit 59 so that the entire amount of the exhaust air is circulated to the suction port of the suction port body 60. It is also possible to provide a configuration for performing cleaning.

Further, the exhaust gas circulation control means 55 not only opens and closes the first exhaust port with the exhaust valve, but also, for example, the operation section 59.
By performing the setting operation described above, the exhaust valve can be moved so that the opening area of the first outlet can be changed, and the amount of exhaust air exhausted from the cord port 36 to the outside can be changed. According to this configuration, cleaning can be appropriately performed in accordance with the cleaning environment such as the surrounding environment to be cleaned, the amount of dust to be absorbed, and the floor surface condition.

Although a temperature sensor is used as the temperature detecting means, any means can be used as long as it detects the temperature of flowing exhaust air.

Although the temperature detecting means is provided in the electric blower room 21, the temperature detecting means may be provided in the circulation duct 43 or the dust collecting chamber 13, and may be provided not only in one place but also in a plurality of places. Can respond. In other words, it is also possible to provide one or more temperature detecting means at any position in the air passage through which the exhaust air flows in the hot air circulation mode.

The hot air circulating mode operates when the hose 45 is unplugged and the shutter 41 closes the main body suction port 38. In addition, after cleaning is completed, a lid is attached to the suction port body 60 and floor suction is performed. The mouth can be closed. That is, when the floor suction port of the suction port body 60 is closed by the lid, a suction port switch (not shown) is closed. Then, the control means 81 determines that cleaning has been completed by closing the suction port switch, enters the hot air circulation mode, moves the exhaust circulation control valve to close the first discharge port, and switches the electric blower 23 to hot air. Drive appropriately in circulation mode. In the hot air circulation mode, the air flows in the same manner as the exhaust air circulation path 77 through which the exhaust air in the cleaning mode flows. As a result, microorganisms such as mites existing in the exhaust circulation air passage 77 can also be killed.

Although the mode changeover switch is configured to be opened and closed by opening and closing the shutter 41, the mode changeover switch may be provided on the upper surface of the main body case 2 or provided on the operation section 59, for example, to be opened and closed after cleaning is completed. May be switched between the cleaning mode and the hot air circulation mode.

The cleaning mode and the hot air circulation mode may be switched not only by opening and closing the shutter 41 but also by connecting and disconnecting a hose.

That is, as shown in the internal configuration of the block diagram of FIG. 6, the electric blower 23
Are connected in series with a power control triac Tr, and are connected to a commercial AC power supply e via a power cord 33. The control means 81 provided in the cleaner main body 1 is connected to the gate of the triac Tr. This control means 81
Is provided with a timer (not shown) as time measuring means for measuring time. Further, the control means 81 is provided with a storage means (not shown) for storing various setting items.

The control means 81 includes the electric blower room 21
A temperature sensor 82 as a temperature detecting means disposed inside is connected. Further, an operation section 59 of the grip section 49 is detachably connected to the control means 81 via a transmission line of the hose 45. Further, a hose connection determining means 85 for detecting a connection state of the hose 45 is connected to the control means 81. Further, the control means 81 is provided with a tick operation control switch 86 provided on the upper surface of the main body case 2.

As shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 6, the hose connection discriminating means 85 includes a pair of terminals 87 provided in the suction portion 39.
a and 87b. A hose is connected to these terminals 87a and 87b.
When the connection pipe 48 of 45 is connected to the main body suction port 38, the connection pipe
A pair of terminal pins 88a and 88b arranged at 48 are connected.

The one terminal 87a is connected to a constant voltage power supply Vc of, for example, 5 V via a resistor R1. Also,
The other terminal 87b is connected to a port of a microcomputer 89 constituting the control means 81 and is grounded via a resistor R2.

On the other hand, a resistor R3 is connected between the terminal pins 88a and 88b of the hose 45. Also, terminal pins 88a, 88b
A series circuit of the resistor R4 and the switch SW1 for stopping the operation unit 59 and a series circuit of the resistor R5 and the switch SW2 for driving the electric blower of the operation unit 59 are connected in parallel with the resistor R3.

Next, the operation of the structure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 8 and the input voltage value detected by the microcomputer 89 of the control means 81 shown in FIG. A description will be given with reference to the operation chart of the relationship.

First, the cover 4 is closed, and the power cord 33
To supply commercial AC power. When the commercial AC power is supplied, the control means 81 determines whether or not the hose is disconnected (step 11). In this state, since the hose 45 has not been connected yet, the control means 81
Enters an input permission state by operating the tick operation control switch 86, that is, a setting standby state of the hot air circulation mode in which the tick operation is performed (step 12). That is, if the hose 45 is not connected at the start of cleaning, the terminals 87a and 87b of the hose connection determining means 85 are opened, and as shown in FIG.
No voltage is applied to the microcomputer 89 from the constant voltage power supply Vc. From this, the control means 81 does not detect the input voltage by the hose connection determination means 85,
Judge that 45 is disconnected hose not connected.

Then, the shutter 41 is slid to slide the main body suction port.
38, open a hose 45 and an extension
And the suction port body 60 are sequentially connected, and a cleaning standby state is set.
In the cleaning standby state, the control means 81 determines that the terminal pins 88a and 88b of the hose 45 are connected to the terminals 87a and 87b of the hose connection determination means 85, respectively, and the resistance R3 of the hose is connected between the terminals 87a and 87b. Becomes As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, a voltage is applied from the constant voltage power supply Vc to the microcomputer 89 via the resistors R1 and R3. Then, the control unit 81 detects the input voltage from the hose connection determination unit 85, and determines that the hose 45 is in the connected hose state.

The control means 81 recognizing the hose insertion state
Determines whether or not hot air circulation has already been performed in the hot air circulation mode of tick operation (step 13). That is, it is determined whether the drive of the electric blower 23 has already been controlled in the hot air circulation mode. In the cleaning standby state at the start of cleaning, since the tick operation control switch 86 is not operated, the normal cleaning mode is set, and the operation unit 59 enters an input standby state.
(Step 14) Return to Step 11. Step 13
Before the start of cleaning, if the tick operation control switch 86 is operated to control the drive of the electric blower 23 in the hot air circulation mode and determine that hot air is circulating, the electric motor in this hot air circulation mode The driving of the blower 23 is stopped to stop the hot air circulation mode (step 15), and the process proceeds to step 14, where the normal cleaning mode is set.

Then, in the cleaning standby state in the cleaning mode, the driving state of the electric blower 23 or the driving source 62 of the suction port body 60 is set by the operation section 59 of the grip section 49 of the hose 45, and the electric blower 23 and the drive source 62 are driven in a predetermined drive state. In the state of the cleaning mode in which the electric blower 23 is driven, the gripper 49 is pushed and pulled in the front-rear direction to move the suction opening body 60 on the floor surface for cleaning. At the time of cleaning in this cleaning mode, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5,
The exhaust gas circulation control valve is moved to open the first exhaust port, and the exhaust air is cleaned while the exhaust air is partially exhausted from the cord port.

If the hose 45 is removed when the cleaning is interrupted or stopped, a hot air circulation mode is set in step 12 to permit input by operating the tick operation control switch 86, that is, hot air circulation which is a tick operation. The mode setting wait state is set. Then, the control means 81 determines whether or not the setting operation of the tick operation control switch 86 has been performed in the standby state for setting the hot air circulation mode (step 16). This step 16
If it is determined that the setting operation of the tick operation control switch 86 has not been performed, the process returns to step 11 to continue the hot air circulation mode setting standby state. On the other hand, when the setting operation of the tick operation control switch 86 is recognized in step 16, it is determined whether or not the tick operation is not stopped immediately before the setting operation of the tick operation control switch 86 without hot air circulation (step 1).
7). When the tick operation is not in the hot air circulation mode, the main body suction port 38 is closed by the shutter 41 and the first discharge port is closed, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. The electric blower 23 is drive-controlled in the hot air circulation mode in which the circulation air passage is closed by the exhaust circulation control valve and the exhaust air is not exhausted (Step 18), and Step 11
Return to In addition, when it is determined that the tick operation is not stopped, that is, when it is determined that the hot air is circulating, the drive of the electric blower 23 in the hot air circulation mode is stopped (step 19).
Return to step 11.

Thereafter, the power cord 33 is wound around the winding drum 34, and is cleared at a predetermined place to complete the cleaning.

Similarly, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the state where the temperature of the circulating exhaust air has reached the predetermined temperature T is maintained for at least the predetermined time. Microorganisms can be reliably killed. Also,
Since the electric blower 23 is automatically stopped after microorganisms such as ticks have been reliably killed, an operation for separately stopping the rotation of the electric blower 23 is not required, and workability can be improved. Furthermore, two different operating states can be controlled by one temperature sensor, the configuration can be simplified, and manufacturability can be improved. Also,
Since the cleaning mode and the hot air circulation mode are switched according to the connection state of the hose, an operation for separately switching the cleaning mode and the hot air circulation mode is not required, and the cleaning mode and the hot air circulation mode can be easily switched to improve operability.

[0076]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, at least one of the temperature of the electric blower chamber, the dust collection chamber, and the circulation air passage is detected by the temperature detecting means, and the air is exhausted from the exhaust side of the electric blower. When the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined value in a state where the exhaust air flowing directly from the circulation air passage to the dust collection chamber, the control unit reduces the rotation speed of the electric blower and circulates the exhaust air. Since the state where the temperature has reached the predetermined temperature is maintained, for example, microorganisms such as mites caught in the dust collection chamber can be in a high temperature state for a predetermined time or more,
Can be killed reliably.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the temperature detecting means detects the temperature of at least one of the electric blower chamber, the dust collecting chamber, and the circulation air passage, and the air is exhausted from the exhaust side of the electric blower. In a state where the exhaust air flows directly from the circulation air passage to the dust collecting chamber, the electric blower is used when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means becomes equal to or higher than a first threshold value corresponding to the temperature at which the microorganisms trapped in the dust collecting chamber are killed. When the exhaust air exhausted from the exhaust side of the electric blower does not flow directly from the circulation air passage to the dust collection chamber, the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means does not cause damage due to overheating of the electric blower. When the temperature exceeds the second threshold value corresponding to the temperature, the rotation of the electric blower is reduced, and the state in which the temperature of the circulating exhaust air has reached a predetermined temperature is maintained. Place Since it to the state of the time or high temperature conditions, it is possible to reliably kill, since the control means based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means be controlled in two operating conditions, thereby improving the manufacturability and common configuration.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the vacuum cleaner of the first or second aspect, the rotation speed of the electric blower is reduced, and when a predetermined time or more has elapsed, the rotation of the electric blower is stopped. Therefore, an operation for separately stopping the rotation of the electric blower is not required, and operability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the main body of the cleaner.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cleaner body to which the hose, the extension pipe, and the suction port are connected.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation in a hot air circulation mode according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between the temperature sensor and a driving state of the electric blower.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a hose connection state according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing control according to the connection state of the hose.

9 is an operation chart showing a relationship between an input voltage value detected by a microcomputer 89 of the control means 81 and a connection state of a hose 45. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Body case 13 Dust collection chamber 21 Electric blower room 23 Electric blower 41 First exhaust port as exhaust port 43 Circulation duct as circulation air passage 45 Body suction port 82 Temperature sensor as temperature detecting means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electric blower room accommodating an electric blower, a dust collecting chamber communicating with an intake side of the electric blower of the electric blower room and having a main body suction port opened, and communicating with an exhaust side of the electric blower. A main body case having an exhaust port opened, a circulating air passage provided in the main body case for communicating an exhaust side of the electric blower with the dust collection chamber, and at least one of the electric blower room, the dust collection chamber, and the circulating air passage. A temperature detection unit that detects any one of the temperatures, and a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit in a state where the exhaust air exhausted from the exhaust side of the electric blower flows directly from the circulation wind path to the dust collection chamber. Control means for reducing the rotation of the electric blower when the value exceeds a predetermined value. 2. An electric blower chamber for accommodating an electric blower, a dust collecting chamber communicating with an intake side of the electric blower of the electric blower chamber and having a main body suction opening, and communicating with an exhaust side of the electric blower. A main body case having an exhaust opening, a circulation air passage provided in the main body case for communicating an exhaust side of the electric blower with the dust collection chamber, and at least one of the electric blower room, the dust collection chamber, and the circulation air passage. Temperature detection means for detecting any one of the temperatures, and in a state where the exhaust air exhausted from the exhaust side of the electric blower flows directly from the circulation air passage to the dust collection chamber, the temperature detected by the temperature detection means is When the temperature becomes equal to or higher than a first threshold value corresponding to the temperature at which the microorganisms trapped in the dust collection chamber are killed, the rotation of the electric blower is reduced, and the exhaust air discharged from the exhaust side of the electric blower passes through the circulation air passage. When the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means is not higher than a second threshold value corresponding to a temperature at which no damage is caused by overheating of the electric blower in a state where the electric blower does not directly flow into the dust collection chamber, the rotation of the electric blower is reduced. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a control unit. 3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control means stops the rotation of the electric blower when a predetermined time or more elapses after reducing the rotation speed of the electric blower.