Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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VACUUM CLEANER
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a
bagless
vacuum cleaner. The invention is intended for use particularly but not
exclusively in a
bagless vacuum cleaner comprising one or more dust separating steps wherein
the dust
separation takes place in one or more cyclone separation units.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, a vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle for sucking air and dust
while the
suction nozzle moves along a surface, a main body with a motor and a fan for
generating
air suctioning force through the suction nozzle and a dust collecting unit.
Particularly in bagless type vacuum cleaners gravity is used to drop dust and
other foreign
particles in the dust collecting unit. The space in the dust collecting unit
is rather limited
and is easily filled up by loosely compacted dust. The dust collecting unit
should therefore
be emptied frequently which may cause inconvenience to the user. However, if
the dust
container is not emptied often enough, the build up of dust in the dust
collecting unit will
disturb the air flow and cause lowered dust separation efficiency.
In W02009/01 1478A1 a vacuum cleaner of a cyclone type is disclosed. A dust
collector is
detachably attached to the main body of the vacuum cleaner and includes a
first cyclone
unit and a dust storage chamber receiving dust separated by the first cyclone.
A rotating
dust compressing arrangement is arranged in the dust storage chamber for
compressing
dust between a first and a second pressing member. A driving unit positioned
in the
bottom of the dust storage chamber rotates at least one of the pressing
members for
compressing dust in the dust storage chamber.
A drawback with the system described in W02009/01 1478A1 is that it requires a
further
driving unit to compact dust in the dust storage container in addition to the
driving unit or
motor for generating air suctioning force. Also, the system comprises many
constructional
parts, which makes it both expensive and sensitive for failure in one of the
parts.
Furthermore, when the dust storage chamber needs to be emptied it involves
several
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steps for the user as both a top cover as well as the first cyclone has to be
removed
before the dust can be removed through the top.
US2006/0123749A1 discloses a dust collecting unit of a bagless vacuum cleaner.
The
dust collecting unit is separated into a dust separating compartment provided
with a
separating filter and a dust storing compartment for receiving separated dust.
The two
compartments are divided by a plate having an opening through which dust or
foreign
substance may fall into the dust storing compartment. For compressing dust in
the storing
compartment, the dust collecting unit must be removed from the vacuum cleaner
and a
handle is then used for moving the plate downwards in the dust collecting unit
for
compressing the dust. It is a drawback with the described device that the dust
cannot be
compressed during operation of the vacuum cleaner.
As may be realized from the above there is a need for improvements in the area
of
bagless vacuum cleaners with aspect to the dust separating and dust collecting
units.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to overcome at least one of the above
mentioned
drawbacks.
A further object is to provide an effective and yet robust solution for dust
separation, dust
collection and compression of dust in a bagless vacuum cleaner.
A still further object is to provide an improved solution for emptying of dust
from a bagless
vacuum cleaner that is quick and at the same time easy and convenient for the
user to
perform.
According to an aspect of the invention, at least one of these objects is
achieved by a
vacuum cleaner comprising a dust separating device, provided with a dust
outlet, for
separating dust from an incoming air flow, and a dust collecting container
being arranged
at the dust separating device for receiving dust via the dust outlet from the
dust separating
device. The dust separating device comprises a first part and a second part
being
releasably connectable to each other, wherein the second part of the dust
separating
device is arranged to be movable in the dust collecting container after being
released from
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the first part of the dust separating device for compressing dust received in
the dust
collecting container.
Since the first and second part of the dust separating device are releasably
connectable
to each other, a both space saving and effective construction for dust
separation, dust
collection and compression of dust in a bagless vacuum cleaner may be
obtained. When
the first and second part of the dust separating device are disconnected from
each other,
they are divided in a point where dust separating device is relatively clean,
i.e. the dividing
point is selected to a place where a minimum of dust can or will be
accumulated.
Therefore, the risk that dust is present to disturb either the dust
compressing in the dust
collecting container or the sealing between the dust collecting container and
the dust
separating device is minimized.
In an embodiment, the second part of the dust separating device is attached to
a cover
plate providing a top cover in the dust collecting container.
In another embodiment, the second part of the dust separating device at least
partly
constitutes the cover plate.
Further, the cover plate has an outer periphery provided with a sealing member
for
sealing against an inner wall of the dust collecting container. A rim is
provided on the
inner wall of the dust collecting container that cooperates with the sealing
member during
operation of the vacuum cleaner.
In an embodiment, the sealing member comprises a first sealing portion sealing
against
the rim providing a vacuum seal for a vacuum produced in the dust collecting
container
during operation of the vacuum cleaner. Furthermore, the sealing member
comprises a
second sealing portion providing scraping against the inner wall of the dust
collecting
container when the cover plate together with the second part of the dust
separating device
moves in the dust collecting container in a direction away from the rim.
By providing scraping of the inner wall of the dust collecting container it is
provided an
efficient removal of dust from the container walls. All dust collected in the
dust collecting
container together with dust scraped from the walls is therefore readily
compressed.
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In an embodiment, an actuator is being arranged at the dust collecting
container and is
arranged for actuating the second part of the dust separating device to be
moved in the
dust collecting container for compressing dust received therein. Also, the
actuator is
arranged to be movable between a locked position and an actuating position by
pivoting
about a pivoting axis. The actuator comprises a handle comprising a handle bar
and at
least one arm being slidably arranged relatively a longitudinal side of the
dust collecting
container. The actuator comprises a locking arrangement for locking the dust
collecting
container and dust separating device to the vacuum cleaner in the locked
position.
The handle bar of the actuator is designed to be actuated by a user of the
vacuum
cleaner. Unlocking of the actuator and compression of dust in the dust
collecting container
may be done during operation of the vacuum cleaner. This is an advantage as
the dust
compression operation is booth easy and quickly performed. After the dust has
been
compressed in the dust collecting container, the actuator is brought back to
the locked
position and the user may continue the cleaning business.
In an embodiment, the dust collecting container together with the second part
of the dust
separating device is removable from the vacuum cleaner. Preferably, the
compression of
dust can also be made when the dust collecting container together with the
second part of
the dust separating device has been removed from the vacuum cleaner. It would
then be
advantageous if holding the dust collecting container together with the second
part of the
dust separating device and the compression of the dust were arranged to be
performable
with only one hand. In this way the dust collecting container may comfortably
be emptied
in a dust bin or the like without causing any spillage or swirling of dust to
the surrounding.
The compression movement as such would also facilitate the emptying of the
dust
collecting container (whether or not compression has been performed prior to
the
emptying procedure).
The dust collecting container comprises an openable bottom plate arranged to
be
hingedly connected to the dust collecting container. The bottom plate
comprises an
opening and closing arrangement attached to the outside wall of the dust
collecting
container at a distance from the bottom plate in a direction parallel to a
longitudinal axis of
the dust collecting container. Further, the opening and closing arrangement
comprises at
least one arm hingedly connected to the bottom plate and slidable arranged at
the outside
wall of the dust collecting container such that a controlled opening of the
bottom plate is
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obtained.
By using the actuator to move the second part of the dust separating device in
the dust
collecting container, the dust may be pushed out through the opening provided
by the
openable bottom plate. At the same time, the opening and closing of the bottom
plate is
controlled by the opening and closing arrangement. Accordingly, the user may
empty the
dust collecting container smoothly. The user does not need to touch the bottom
plate or
the dust itself during the procedure of emptying the dust collecting container
and reclosing
it again. It is therefore possible for a user to control how fast the dust is
leaving the
container by controlling the speed on the actuator that is pushing out the
dust and
controlling the opening angle on the bottom plate. Furthermore, the flying up
of dust
and/or dust spillage is prevented or at least minimized with the described
features of the
vacuum cleaner.
Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become
apparent
when studying the appended claims and the following description. Those skilled
in the art
realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to
create
embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing
from the
scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and
advantages, will
be readily understood from the following detailed description and the
accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig. la is a perspective front view of a vacuum cleaner according to an
embodiment of the
present invention,
Fig. lb is a perspective front view of a vacuum cleaner according to an
embodiment of the
present invention,
Fig. 2a shows a side view of a dust separating device and a dust collecting
container
according to an embodiment,
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Fig. 2b shows a perspective cross sectional view of the dust separating device
and the
dust collecting container of Fig. 2a,
Fig. 3a-3b show cross sectional views of the dust separating device and the
dust
collecting container when a second part of the dust separating device has been
released
from a first part of the dust separating device,
Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the dust collecting container and a
second part of
the dust separating device according an embodiment when the dust collecting
container is
removed from the vacuum cleaner,
Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the dust collecting container and a
second part of
the dust separating device according an embodiment when removed from the
vacuum
cleaner for ejecting dust,
Fig. 6a illustrates a dust separating device and a dust collecting container
according to
another embodiment, and
Figs. 6b-6c show cross sectional views of the dust collecting container
according to Fig.
6a removed from the vacuum cleaner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, this
invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth
herein.
Disclosed features of example embodiments may be combined as readily
understood by
one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Throughout
the following
description similar reference numerals have been used to denote similar
elements, parts,
items or features, when applicable.
In Fig. la and lb a vacuum cleaner 1 according to embodiments are shown. The
vacuum
cleaner comprises a main body 3, a dust separating device 5 and a dust
collecting
container 7. A suction motor (not shown) is disposed in the main body for
generating a
suction force at an air inlet 9. A hose system and nozzle can be connected to
the air inlet
9 for performing the cleaning. Basically, any known hose system and nozzle is
feasible.
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From the air inlet 9 a first air passage 11 leads incoming air to the dust
separating device
5. In the dust separating device 5, separation of dust from the incoming air
takes place. A
second air passage 13 then leads the incoming air out from the dust separating
device 5
after dust has been removed from the air. After the incoming air has passed
through the
second air passage 13, the incoming air leaves the vacuum cleaner through the
main
body via the suction motor, at least one filter and out to the surrounding
air.
It is for the description and performance of the invention not relevant
whether the vacuum
cleaner 1 comprises one or several stages of dust separation, whether each
stage
comprises one or multiple separation devices, and whether one or more dust
collecting
containers is utilised. The invention can thus be implemented in any type of
combination
of the above.
In accordance with Fig. la, the vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises a grip 17
such that
the vacuum cleaner may be lifted and/or carried by a user. The grip 17 is
arranged on an
extension member 18 of the dust collecting container 7. Alternatively, the
grip may be
formed as a separate member attached to the dust collecting container. The
grip 17 may
further be used for removing the dust collecting container 7 from the vacuum
cleaner for
emptying the dust collecting container. An actuator 19 is provided at an outer
side of the
dust collecting container. The dust separating device 5 and the dust
collecting container 7
are in use locked to the main body of the vacuum cleaner 1 by the actuator 19.
The
actuator 19 will be described in more detail further below.
In an embodiment showed in Fig. 1 b, the grip 17 is positioned below the dust
collecting
container and above the air inlet 9 and above the first air passage 11. The
grip 17
extends on both sides of the dust collecting container and is attached at the
sides of the
vacuum cleaner body 3. The tube of the first air passage 11 has been removed
as to view
the connection of the grip 17 to the body 3. However, the first air passage 11
is in this
embodiment arranged similar to the arrangement in Fig. la. The actuator 19 is
attached
onto the dust collecting container 7 as described herein below.
In Fig. 2a the dust separating device 5 is shown being engaged to the dust
collecting
container 7 in a locked position. The actuator 19 is locked to the main body
of the vacuum
cleaner when a locking groove 21 on the actuator is engaged to a corresponding
locking
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member (not shown) on the main body of the vacuum cleaner. In this state the
vacuum
cleaner is operable and dust is separated from the air coming in through the
first air
passage. The actuator 19 has the form of a handle, having two side arms 19a,
19b and a
handle bar 20. The side arms 19a, 19b are arranged to the extension member 18
of the
dust collecting container at two points arranged opposite each other. The two
side arms
each have a longitudinal opening 23. The longitudinal openings are each
coupled to a pin
member 25 or protrusion on the extension member of the dust collecting
container. The
actuator is further arranged to the extension member of the dust collecting
container via
two substantially parallel slots 27 arranged in the two points respectively on
the extension
member of the dust collecting container. The provision of the longitudinal
opening 23 in
each side arm 19a, 19b of the actuator together with each arm's connection to
the
extension member via the two substantially parallel slots 27 makes it possible
for the
actuator to move from the locked position to an actuating position. From the
actuating
position the actuator is moveable to compress dust in the dust collecting
container. The
compression sequence or performance is shown in Figs. 3a-b.
In addition to the locked position and the actuating position, the actuator
may also be
devised to be placed in an additional third position (not shown in the
figures). The third
position could be located next to the locked position (a small angular
distance about the
same pivot) and can carry the functionality of freeing the dust collecting
container and
second part of the dust separating device. Thus, in the first position the
dust container
structure is locked to the vacuum cleaner body (normal use), in the third
position the dust
container structure is un-locked (and can be removed from the vacuum cleaner
body if the
user wishes to do so) and in the second position, compression of dust inside
the dust
collection container and/or emptying of the container is possible (emptying is
only possible
if the dust container structure has been removed from the vacuum cleaner body,
whereas
compression can be made irrespective of this).
With reference to Fig. 2b, the dust separating device 5 comprises a first part
5a and a
second part 5b. In Fig. 2b the air flow in the first part 5a and the second
part 5b of the
dust separating device 5 is illustrated with block arrows. Via the first air
passage 11, the
incoming air flow enters the first part 5a of the dust separating device S.
The first part 5a
and second part 5b of the dust separating device 5 constitute a cyclone unit.
In the
cyclone unit the incoming air flow flows along the inner surfaces of the first
and second
part of the dust separating device. Due to the cyclone effect, the main
portion of the dust
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and other foreign particles that are present in the air flow are separated and
transferred
into the dust collecting container 7 through a dust outlet 29. The dust outlet
29 is provided
in the side wall of the second part 5b of the dust separating device 5. The
bottom of the
second part 5b of the dust separating device 5 is provided with a cone shape.
At the
bottom of the second part 5b of the dust separating device the air flow turns
around and
flows back towards the first part 5a of the dust separating device 5 and into
the second air
passage 13. This is illustrated by the arrow in the middle of the cyclone unit
with a
direction away from the cone shaped bottom.
The first and second parts 5a,b of the dust separating device 5 are releasable
connected
to each other and are sealed against each other in the locked position by a
sealed
connection 31 between the first and second part 5a,b of the dust separating
device 5. The
second part 5b of the dust separating device is attached to a cover plate 33.
The cover
plate 33 acts as a cover in the dust collecting container 7. The dust outlet
29 extends
through the cover plate 33 providing communication between the second part 5b
of the
dust separating device and the dust collecting container 7. In the actuating
position, the
sealed connection 31 is disconnected and the second part 5b of the dust
separating
device 5 and the cover plate 33 can together be moved in the dust collecting
container 7
to compress dust therein against a bottom plate 32 of the dust collecting
container 7. The
grey dotted arrow illustrates dust and other foreign particles that have been
separated
from the air being ejected through the dust outlet 29 into the dust collecting
container 7.
In Fig. 3a the actuator 19 has been unlocked from the main body of the vacuum
cleaner.
Unlocking the actuator 19 from the main body also releases the second part 5b
of the dust
separating device from the first part 5a of the dust separating device. By
moving the
actuator 19 away from the main body 3 about a pivot axis around the pin member
25 or
protrusion, the actuator 19 reaches an actuating position shown in Fig. 3b. As
the second
part 5b of the dust separating device has been released from the first part 5a
of the dust
separating device it is now possible to move the second part 5b into the dust
collecting
container 7. A joining member 35 connects the second part 5b and the actuator
19 such
that when the actuator 19 is moved downwards with respect to the dust
collecting
container the second part 5b and the cover plate 33 are moved downwards in the
dust
collecting container 7, see Fig. 4b.
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This process can be performed with the dust collecting container still in
place on the
vacuum cleaner and even with the vacuum cleaner switched on. The air flow
generated
by the motor will then mainly result in air flowing into the first part 5a at
the separation
point with the second part 5b. Thereby, any dust that may swirl upwards in the
dust
collecting container 7 will be sucked into the first part 5a instead of the
surrounding.
The cover plate 33 defines a cover for the dust collecting container. The
second part 5b of
the dust separating device is connected to the cover plate 33. The cover plate
33 has an
outer periphery provided with a sealing member 37. The sealing member 37 seals
against
the inner walls of the dust collecting container 7. The sealing member 37
comprises a first
sealing portion 37a and second sealing portion 37b. The first sealing portion
37a provides
a vacuum seal against a rim 39 arranged around the inner wall of the dust
collecting
container 7 when the second part 5b of the dust separating device is in the
locked position
connected to the first part 5a of the dust separating device. As soon as the
second part 5b
of the dust separating device has been released from the first part 5a of the
dust
separating device, the first sealing portion 37a is also released from sealing
against the
rim 39. The second sealing portion 37b provides scraping of the inner walls of
the dust
collecting container 7 as the cover plate 33 is moved in the dust collecting
container 7.
The second sealing portion 37b is always in contact with the inner walls of
the dust
collecting container 7. The provision of the second sealing portion 37b
prevents dust from
disturbing the first sealing portion 37a.
Figs. 4 and 5 show the dust collecting container 7 when it has been removed
from the
vacuum cleaner. The dust collecting container 7 is removed from the vacuum
cleaner
together with the second part 5b of the dust separating device and the
actuator 19. For
emptying the dust collected in the dust collecting container 7, the bottom
plate 32 has to
be opened to let the dust out. The bottom plate 32 is connected to the dust
collecting
container via at least one hinge 41. The bottom plate 32 is opened by
operating an
opening and closing arrangement 43, 45 positioned on the outside of the dust
collecting
container 7. The opening and closing arrangement 43,45 comprises a handle 43
and a
connecting bar 45, see Fig. 4. The connecting bar 45 connects the handle 43
with the
bottom plate 32. The connecting bar 45 is hingedly connected to the bottom
plate 32. The
handle 43 is connected to the connecting bar and the handle is slidably
arranged along a
flange 47 on the outside of the dust collecting container.
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In Fig. 5 the dust collecting container is shown with the bottom plate 32 in
an open
position. The actuator 19 has been pushed downwards such that the second part
5b of
the dust separating device together with the cover plate 33 has removed all
dust through
the open bottom of the dust collecting container. As already indicated
earlier, it is not
necessary to compress the dust before opening the bottom plate 32 for removal
of dust.
The function of the cover plate 33 and the second sealing portion 37b ensures
that a
complete emptying will take place anyway. The actuator 19 and extension member
18
(Fig. 4) are preferably configured to allow a user to hold the dust collecting
container in
one hand and with the same hand push the actuator towards the bottom opening
while
controlling the opening of the bottom plate 32 with the other hand. This
provides the user
with complete control over the emptying process in applying any suitable
compression/emptying pressure on the actuator 19 and at the same time control
the
degree of opening/closing of the bottom plate 32. In this way, a controlled
opening and
closing of the bottom plate 32 may be obtained and utilised.
By moving the handle 43 of the opening and closing arrangement 43,45 back
again along
the flange 47, the bottom plate 32 is closed and the dust collecting container
is ready to
be reinstalled in the vacuum cleaner.
Figs. 6a-c show another embodiment of the dust separating device 7, dust
collecting
container and actuator adapted to be arranged in a vacuum cleaner of the type
described
in Fig. la and lb. Also in this embodiment, a second part 5b of a dust
separating device 5
constitutes at least partly a cover plate. The dust outlet 29 is provided in
the bottom of the
second part 5b of the dust separating device S. The actuator 19 is arranged on
the inside
wall of the dust collecting container. In Fig. 6a the actuator is locked to
the main body of
the vacuum cleaner. The actuator may be unlocked and the second part of the
dust
separating device is released from the first part of the dust separating
device according to
the same principles as for the embodiment according to Figs. 3a-b. In Fig. 6b
the actuator
is positioned in the actuating position. The actuator comprises at least one
side arm
connected to the first part of the dust separating device and being arranged
within the
inner walls of the dust collecting container. By pressing the handle bar 20 on
the actuator
19 downwards, the second part 5b of the dust separating device is moved into
the dust
collecting container 7 for compressing dust therein, see Fig. 6c. The cover
plate 33, which
in this embodiment partly consists of the bottom of the second part of the
dust separating
device, has an outer periphery provided with a sealing member for sealing
against the
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inner walls of the dust collecting container. The first and second sealing
portion in this
embodiment works in the same way as described in relation to the embodiment of
Figs.
3a-b. The dust collecting container together with the second part of the dust
separating
device is removed from the vacuum cleaner by lifting in the handle bar of the
actuator. For
facilitating the emptying of dust from the dust collecting container a side
handle 49 is
provided on the outer wall of the dust collecting container.
An exemplary operation of the vacuum cleaner 1 will herein below be described
with
reference to Figs 1-6. During operation of the vacuum cleaner the suction
motor operates
to generate a suction force. Due to the generated suction force, air and dust
is sucked
through a suction nozzle (not shown) and into the main body 3 through the air
inlet 9. The
air inlet 9 is connected to the dust separating device 5 via the first air
passage 11. In the
dust separating device, separation of dust from the incoming air flow takes
place. The first
air passage 11 leads air and dust into the dust separating device 5 and dust
separated
here falls into the dust collection container 7. The air continues into a
second air passage
13 which leads the air via the suction motor and at least one filter out of
the vacuum
cleaner to the surrounding air. In another embodiment, the second air passage
13 leads
into a further dust separating step. In this further dust separating step, at
least a second
cyclone unit performs the further dust separation step before the air enters
the suction
motor and at least one filter on its way out of the vacuum cleaner.
At some point, dust collected in the dust collecting container may come close
to the dust
outlet 29. If collected dust comes too close to the dust outlet, the
separating efficiency of
the dust separating device in the vacuum cleaner declines. By compressing the
dust in
the dust collecting container 7, the density of the collected dust is
increased and free
space is provided in the dust collecting container. During operation of the
vacuum cleaner,
the actuator 19 may be unlocked from the main body and the second part 5b of
the dust
separating device is moved into the dust collecting container 7 for
compressing dust
received therein. Alternatively, the vacuum cleaner may be turned off and the
dust
collecting container removed from the vacuum cleaner for performing the dust
compression and thereafter emptying of the dust collecting container.
