JP2001169982A - Vacuum cleaner and its suction port body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suction port body for a vacuum cleaner capable of easily turning a communication pipe with little force. SOLUTION: A case body 24 is provided with a connection pipe part 42 communicating with a suction chamber 31 where a suction port 30 is opened on a lower surface and provided with a pivoting pipe part 43 projecting to a rear part on the almost center of the rear part. A joint part 52 provided with a cylindrical part 71 freely turnably pivoted to the pivoting pipe part 43 is provided. The joint part 52 is provided with a communication pipe part 53 for which a rotary shaft 60 pivoted almost horizontally along the radial direction of the cylindrical part 71 and positioned at an upper part is provided and a tip side is vertically turnable and communicating with the cylindrical part 71 and the communication pipe 51 is constituted. A the time of turning the communication pipe 51 from a first cleaning form along the front-to-back direction of the case body 24 to a second cleaning form along a longitudinal direction, a position for making turning force from the center axis of the cylindrical part 71 act becomes far and the force to be made to act becomes small. The gravity of the communication pipe part 53 acts in the same direction as the turning force, the turning force becomes small further and turning is easily performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner provided with a rotatable communication pipe and a suction port body thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a suction port body of this kind of a vacuum cleaner, for example, a case body which has wheels at approximately four corners and has a suction port on a lower surface and which is horizontally long in the front-rear direction is communicated with the suction port. There is known a configuration in which a communication pipe is rotatably supported so as to be selectable between a position along an axial direction of the case body in a front-rear direction and a position along a longitudinal direction. The communication pipe is a rotating pipe that is rotatably fitted to a shaft support pipe that is cylindrically formed substantially in the center of the rear portion of the case body and has an axial direction integrally provided in the front-rear direction of the case body and communicates with the suction port. A communication pipe portion having an end rotatably supported by a rotation shaft having an axial direction in a radial direction of the rotation tube and connected to an extension tube, the rotation tube and the communication pipe portion; By rotating the shaft, the axial direction of the communication pipe portion can be selected between a position along the front-back direction of the case body and a position along the longitudinal direction.

[0003] When cleaning the normal floor surface, the suction port body is caused to travel so that the axial direction of the communication pipe portion is substantially along the front-rear direction and the case body is elongated in the left-right direction. When cleaning a narrow place such as between furniture, the axial direction is made to run along the longitudinal direction of the case body so as to be elongated in the running direction, and the cleaning form can be changed. Is adopted.

[0004]

However, a conventional vacuum cleaner having the above-mentioned rotary pipe and communication pipe section and having a communication pipe selectable between a position along the front-rear direction and a position along the longitudinal direction of the case body. In the suction port body, since the axial direction of the rotation axis of the communication pipe portion passes through the center of the rotating pipe, when the communication pipe is rotated to change the cleaning mode, the communication pipe portion is moved in the axial direction of the shaft support pipe. Since it is necessary to apply a force to twist the rotating tube to rotate the rotating tube, it is difficult to smoothly rotate the communication tube.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a vacuum cleaner capable of easily rotating a communication pipe with a small force, and a suction port body thereof.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner having a suction port body having a suction port opened on a surface facing a surface to be cleaned and having a longitudinal direction in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction. A body, a rotating tube having an axial direction along the front-rear direction, and a rotating shaft rotatably supported at a position along the radial direction of the rotating tube and displaced from the center of the rotating tube. A communication pipe portion that communicates with the suction port through the rotation pipe, and a position in which an axial direction of the communication pipe portion is along a front-rear direction of the case body by the rotation of the rotation pipe and the communication pipe portion. And a communication pipe provided rotatably in communication with the suction port in the case body so as to be selectively rotatable at a position along the longitudinal direction.

[0007] The case body having a longitudinal direction in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction has a communication pipe rotatable so that the axial direction can be selectively selected between a position along the front-rear direction and a position along the longitudinal direction of the case body. A rotating pipe which is communicated with the suction port and is provided on the case body so that the axial direction is rotatable along the longitudinal direction of the case body, and a position along the radial direction of the rotating pipe and displaced from the center of the rotating pipe And a communication pipe portion rotatably supported by the rotation tube and having an axial direction so as to be rotatably supported by the rotation tube and communicating with the suction port via the rotation tube. When rotating the pipe, the operating force of the user acting on the rotating shaft of the communication pipe portion acts as a moment, and the force for rotating the rotating pipe is moved from the center axis of the rotating pipe to the support of the rotating shaft. The distance becomes smaller by the displaced distance to the position, and as a whole, the communication pipe rotates smoothly with a small force.

The suction body of the vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 is
2. The suction port body of a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a rotation axis of the communication pipe portion is supported by the rotation pipe at a position displaced upward from a center of the rotation pipe.

[0009] Since the rotating shaft of the communicating pipe is supported by the rotating pipe at a position displaced upward from the center of the rotating pipe, the weight of the communicating pipe rotates when the rotating pipe is rotated. It is in the same direction as the moment for rotating the pipe, the moment force acting on the rotating pipe is reduced by the weight of the communicating pipe part, and the force for rotating the communicating pipe becomes smaller as a whole, and the communicating pipe is easily rotated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner having a vacuum cleaner main body and a suction port of the vacuum cleaner according to the first or second aspect connected to the vacuum cleaner main body.

Further, since the communication pipe is easily rotated with a small force, the suction port of the vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2 is provided, so that the operation of rotating the communication pipe to change the cleaning mode becomes easy. , The cleaning performance is improved.

[0012]

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 FIG. 12, reference numeral 1 denotes a cleaner main body. The cleaner main body 1 includes a lower body case 2a having an open upper surface, and an upper body case 2b for closing the rear upper surface of the lower body case 2a. And a main body case 2 having a front upper surface opened by being joined to and sandwiching a bumper 3 at a peripheral edge including the above. The cleaner body 1 rotatably supports a lid 4 that closes the upper surface of the front side of the body case 2 so as to be openable and closable.

The main body case 2 is provided with a rotatable swivel wheel (not shown) on the front lower surface in the traveling direction, and a large-diameter driven wheel 6 is rotatably provided on the rear side surface of the main body case 2. The main body 1 can travel on a floor surface to be cleaned with the turning wheel and the driven wheel 6. Further, a handle 7 slidable in a vertical direction is provided at an upper portion of the main body case 2.

An electric blower chamber for accommodating an electric blower (not shown) is formed in the rear side of the cleaner body 1, and communicates with the suction side of the electric blower and is open at the top to open the lid 4. A dust collecting chamber (not shown) which is opened / closed and accommodates a dust collecting filter is defined on the front side. Further, on the front side of the cleaner body 1, there is formed a connection port 9 which opens toward the dust collection chamber and to which a hose 8 is detachably connected.

The hose 8 has a flexible hose body 11.
A connection pipe 12 provided at one end of the hose body 11 and removably inserted and connected to the connection port 9 of the cleaner body 1;
A grip 15 is provided at the other end of the hose body 11 and is connected to a suction port body 14 via an extension pipe 13. The grip 15 is provided with operating means 17 having various switches 16, 16 for setting and operating the driving state of the electric blower.

On the other hand, the suction port main body 14 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (A
BS) A lower case 21 having an open upper surface made of a synthetic resin such as a resin, and an upper case 22 which covers an upper surface of the lower case 21 and opens a lower surface of the same material.
A soft case buffer 23 is sandwiched and fixed along the peripheral surface including the front surface of the upper case 22, and a convex case body 24 having a substantially central rear portion protruding rearward is provided.

The lower case 21 has a rib lower portion 25a substantially vertically on the upper surface, the upper case 22 has a rib upper portion 25b substantially vertically on the lower surface, the lower edge of which is joined to the rib lower portion 25a. The rib lower part 25a and the rib upper part 25b are formed in a convex shape with a horizontally long rectangular suction part 26 and a pair of housing parts 27, 27 projecting rearward substantially at the center of the rear part of the suction part 26. Further, in the suction portion 26, a suction chamber 31 which is horizontally long on the front side and has a suction port 30 formed in the lower surface of the lower case 21 by a rib lower part 25a and a rib upper part 25b, and a rear part of the suction chamber 31 substantially. An airway chamber 32 partitioned and formed in communication with the center
A drive chamber 33 defined on one end side of the suction chamber 31 in the longitudinal direction, and one housing portion 27 on the drive chamber 33 side of the air passage chamber 32.
And a floor detection chamber 35 formed on the other side of the air passage chamber 32 over the other housing portion 27. And the suction chamber of the case body 24
The lower surface of the end of the drive chamber 33 opposite to the drive chamber 33 is opened downward, and a closing plate 36 is detachably attached to the opening with a mounting tool 37. In addition, the lower rib 25a and the upper rib
At substantially the center of 25b, notch holding recesses 38a and 38b formed in a concave shape facing each other are provided, respectively.

The lower case 21 has a suction lower portion 21a forming the lower surface of the suction portion 26, and a pair of housing lower portions 21b provided integrally with the rear portion of the suction lower portion 21a and forming the lower surfaces of the housing portions 27, 27. , 21b are formed in a convex shape.

The upper case 22 is a case cover having an arc-shaped cross section in which a substantially semi-circular cutout recess 39 is provided at the rear substantially center of the lower case 21 so as to cover a substantially upper surface of the suction portion 26 and to be detachably attached to the lower case 21. Body 22a and a case cover 22b which is provided on both sides of the cutout recess 39 at the rear of the case lid 22a and is integrally provided in a flange shape to cover the housing lower part 21b of the lower case 21 and constitute the housing part 27. It is formed in a convex shape. At the top of the case lid 22a, an air inlet 40 that opens forward and also functions as a leak port is provided.
A plurality, for example, two openings are formed along the longitudinal direction of.

Further, the case body 24 is provided between the lower case 21 and the upper case 22 with a connecting pipe portion 42 which is sandwiched and fixed between the housing portions 27 and 27 and partitions the air passage chamber 32. The connecting pipe portion 42 has a cylindrical support tube portion 43 whose one end in the axial direction gradually increases in diameter in a trumpet shape, and a flange-like protruding outward at one end edge of the shaft support tube portion 43 in the axial direction. The peripheral edges are the notch holding recesses 38a of the lower rib 25a and the upper rib 25b of the lower case 21 and the upper case 22, respectively.
38b. The connecting pipe part 42 has one end side of the shaft supporting pipe part 43 expanding in a trumpet shape toward the suction chamber 31 and the other end side projecting rearward from the case body 24 in a substantially cylindrical shape. The direction is arranged in the case body 24 along the front-back direction and the horizontal direction.

A pair of annular terminals 46 are disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft support 43 of the connecting tube 42 so as to be coaxial with the shaft support 43. Further, the other end of the lead wire whose one end is introduced into the circuit chamber 34 is connected to the terminal portion 46.

A driven front wheel chamber 48 in which a driven front wheel 48a is rotatably supported is formed at both front ends of the suction lower portion 21a of the lower case 21. A driven rear wheel chamber 49 in which a driven rear wheel 49a is rotatably supported is formed in a pair of rear wheel housing lower portions 21b, 21b of the lower case 21. The driven rear wheel 49a is provided with a protection sheet (not shown) which is a flexible member such as cloth or an elastic member such as rubber on the outer peripheral surface. And, the case body 24 is a driven front wheel.
48a and the driven rear wheel 49a can travel on the floor surface to be cleaned.

In the center of the rear part of the case body 24, a communication pipe 51 is disposed between the pair of shaft supports 27, 27.
The communication pipe 51 has a joint part 52 as a rotating pipe rotatably fitted to the shaft support pipe part 43 of the connecting pipe part 42, and one end pivotally connected to the joint part 52 so that the other end is rotatable vertically. And a communication pipe portion 53 that is supported.

The communication pipe 53 has a substantially cylindrical shape.
And a communication rotating portion 55 provided at one end of the cylindrical portion 54. On the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 54, a cover portion 56 which is long in the axial direction defines a wiring chamber 57 therein, and is attached and fixed with screws 58 or the like. On the other hand, the communication rotating portion 55 has a substantially fan-shaped cylindrical shape in a side view having an axial direction in the left-right direction that is a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 54, and the inner circumferential side is on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 54. It is formed in a continuous cylindrical shape.
The communication rotating part 55 is provided integrally with a substantially cylindrical rotating shaft 60 located at the center of the fan shape.

Also, on the upper edge of the opening of the communication rotating portion 55,
Along the wall along the axial direction, the joint protrudes outward to the wall
A rotation restricting upper part (not shown) for restricting the rotation by contacting with the projection 52 protrudes. Further, a lower part 61 of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical part 54 is provided with a rotation restricting lower part 61 projecting downward in a wall shape and abutting against the lower part of the joint part 52 to restrict the rotation. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 54, a pair of wall-shaped locking claws 62 is provided along the axial direction at a radial position along the horizontal direction with the axial direction being located along the front-rear direction. It is protruding. The locking claw portions 62 are arranged such that the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 54 of the communication pipe portion 53 is positioned along the longitudinal direction of the case body 24,
The hooking claw portions 63 projecting upward from the upper surfaces of the distal ends of the housing portions 27, 27 of the 24 can be respectively engaged with the hooking claw portions 63.

Further, the communication rotating part 55 of the communication pipe part 53 includes:
A swing closure 65 is provided. This swing closure 65
A curved closed bottom plate 66, a pair of substantially closed fan-shaped closed side plate portions 67, 67 in a side view in which an arc edge is continuous with a pair of opposed edges of the closed bottom plate 66, and a sector shape of the closed side plate portions 67, 67. Are provided at the center positions of the shafts, and have cylindrical axial support cylinder portions 68, 68 having an axial direction along the opposing direction of the closed side plate portions 67, and rotatably fitting the rotary shaft 60. . The swing closing member 65 is rotated relative to the communication rotating portion 55 by the shaft support portions 68, 68 being fitted to the rotating shafts 60, 60, respectively. Is supported so as to cover from the side to below.

On the other hand, the joint part 52 is fitted in the connecting pipe part 42 and rotatably held therein, and is provided in a substantially hemispherical shape on a half circumference of one end edge of the cylindrical part 71. A lower joint 72 and a substantially hemispherical upper joint 73 that covers the upper surface of the lower joint 72 and is integrally attached by screws or the like.

The lower joint portion 72 and the upper joint portion 73 are provided with a pair of substantially parallel partition ribs 74, 74 protruding in a vertical wall shape and opposed to each other and joined at the tip. An air passage space portion 75 for accommodating the communication rotating portion 55 of the communication pipe portion 53 by the partition ribs 74, 74;
A pair of inner chambers 76, 76 defined in the left and right directions, respectively.
Are sectioned. Also, the partition ribs 74, 74
A notch 77 is formed in a substantially semicircular shape at the joining edge so as to oppose each other. Bearing hole 78,
Make up 78. The partition rib 74 is formed such that the central axes of the bearing holes 78 and 78 are substantially horizontal along the radial direction orthogonal to the central axis of the cylindrical portion 71 and are located above the central axis of the cylindrical portion 71. Have been.

The lower joint 72 and the upper joint 73 include
Notch escape portions 79, 79 are provided in a substantially U-shaped notch at opposing positions in a portion located in the air passage space portion 75, and the rotation control upper portion and the rotation control lower portion 61 abut, respectively. Portions 79, 79 form a relief portion for the communication pipe portion 53 to rotate in the vertical direction.

Further, a pair of ring-shaped contacts 80 are formed coaxially on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 71 of the joint portion 52 so as to be in annular contact with the terminal portions 46 of the connecting pipe portion 42, respectively.
A sliding contact 81 is constituted by the ring contact 80.

A terminal pin 82 connected to a connector (not shown) provided at an end of the extension tube 13 is provided at one end of the communication tube 51 so as to protrude from the cover 56 of the communication tube 53 at one end thereof. A lead wire (not shown) provided with the other end is connected to the ring-shaped contact 80 of the cylindrical portion 71 from the inner chamber 76 of the joint portion 52 through the inside of the rotary shaft 60 from within the wiring chamber 57 and disposed. ing.

Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting pipe portion 42, the sliding contact 81 is provided on both sides of the sliding contact 81 so as to be slidable on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 71 of the joint portion 52. The connecting pipe part 42
And a sealing member which is a soft member surrounded by the cylindrical portion 71
83 are provided.

The communication pipe 51 is a cylindrical part of the communication pipe 53.
54 is detachably connected to the cleaner main body 1 via the extension pipe 13 and the hose 8, and the suction port 30 is connected to the connection port 9 of the cleaner main body 1.
Communicate with

Further, in the case body 24, a rotary cleaning body 85 as a rotary body rotatably supported by bearings 84a and 84b provided at both ends of the suction chamber 31 in the left-right direction.
Are arranged. This rotary cleaning body 85 is provided with a shaft 86
A shaft support member 87 rotatably provided at one end of the shaft 86 and removably attached to a bearing; a pulley 88 integrally provided at the other end of the shaft 86; As a cleaning member, a concave groove-shaped blade mounting groove 89 provided in a shape, one edge is attached to the blade mounting groove 89, a wall-shaped spiral is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 86, and the tip side is curved to one side. The cleaning apparatus includes a blade 90 and a cloth blade 91 as a cleaning member having a raised surface provided on one surface of the rotating cleaning body 85 in the direction in which the rotating cleaning body 85 rotates. For convenience of explanation, the blade 90 and the cloth blade 91 are shown in a straight line.

The lower end of the rotary cleaning body 85 facing the suction port 30 is located above a plane formed by the driven front wheel 48a and the driven rear wheel 49a, and is brought into contact with a flat floor plate. The blade 90 comes into contact with the carpet, which is a floor surface with irregularities that enters the suction port 30 without entering, and the cloth blade 91 is driven by the driven front wheel 48a.
It is located below a plane formed by the driven rear wheels 49a, and is disposed so as to contact between the plates and to floor.

In the drive chamber 33 of the case body 24, a drive source (not shown) which constitutes a drive means for rotating the rotary cleaning body 85 by detachably engaging an output shaft with the pulley 88 of the rotary cleaning body 85. An electric motor 93 is provided. The electric motor 93 rotates the rotary cleaning body 85 to the side opposite to the side where the blade 90 is curved, that is, to the side on which the raised surface of the cloth blade 91 is provided, and makes the rotation reverse to the forward movement of the case body 24. .

On the other hand, a control circuit (not shown) for controlling a driving state of the electric motor 93 by connecting an electric motor 93 through a power supply line 94 is mounted in the circuit chamber 34 of the case body 24, and a lead wire is connected thereto. A circuit board 95 is provided.

In the floor detection chamber 35, a floor detection means 97 connected to the circuit board 95 by a lead wire (not shown) is provided. The floor detecting means 97 is a rotatable wheel.
A wheel bearing 100 having a shaft member 99 and rotatably supported on a side that supports the wheel with a shaft member 99, and constantly urges the wheel bearing 100 downward so that the wheel 98 is pushed from the lower surface of the case body 24. A biasing means (not shown) such as a torsion spring or a leaf spring that protrudes forward and backward, and a lower end of the wheel 98 is positioned at a predetermined position, for example, the driven front wheel 48a.
And a detection switch 101 for detecting that it has protruded below a plane formed by the driven rear wheel 49a.
The floor detecting means 97 detects that the lower end of the wheel 98 is
When the detection switch 101 detects that the electric motor 93 has protruded below the plane formed by the a and the driven rear wheel 49a, the control circuit of the circuit board 95 controls to stop driving the electric motor 93.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

At the time of cleaning, the suction port main body 14 is connected to the cleaner main body 1 via the extension pipe 13 and the hose 8. By this connection, the terminal pin 82 of the suction port main body 14 is connected to a connector (not shown) of the extension pipe 13, and the electric motor in the suction port main body 14 is connected.
93 is electrically connected to the cleaner body 1 via a circuit board 95, lead wires 43, sliding contacts 81 and terminal pins 82, and a power supply line (not shown) provided on the extension tube 13 and the hose 8. , Power is supplied. In this state, by operating the switch 16 of the operating means 17 while holding the grip 15 of the hose 8, the electric blower and the electric motor 93 are appropriately driven in a desired driving state, and the grip 15 is pushed to move the suction port main body. Run 14 back and forth on the floor. When the suction port main body 14 travels on the floor, the first cleaning mode is such that the axial direction of the communication pipe 51 is along the front-rear direction which is the traveling direction of the suction port main body 14.

Then, by driving the electric blower, the inside of the suction chamber 31 communicating with the negative pressure side of the electric blower becomes a negative pressure and is sucked from the suction port 40.
The rotary cleaning body 85 is rotated by hitting the blade 90 of 85 and the cloth blade 91. This air flow is blown substantially perpendicularly to the blade 90 and the cloth blade 91 of the rotary cleaning body 85, and then gathers toward the center of the case body 24 toward the air passage chamber 32 along the axial direction of the rotary cleaning body 85. To increase the rotational torque by acting on the rotation of the rotary cleaning body 85 over a long distance to increase the communication pipe
Flow to 51. In addition, when the electric motor 93 is driven, the rotary cleaning body 85 rotates via the pulley 88 to which the output shaft is connected.
Thus, the rotation cleaning body 85 rotates with a large torque by the rotation by the intake air flow and the rotation by the driving of the electric motor 93.

When the suction port body 14 travels on the floor surface, the tip of the blade 90 of the rotating rotary cleaning body 85 collides with the floor surface when the floor surface is a carpet, etc. 90 scrapes or sweeps out and sucks in dust from the suction port 30. Also, when the floor surface is relatively flat, such as between boards or tatami mats, the rotating cleaning body that rotates
The 85 cloth blades 91 sweep the dust on the floor surface while polishing the floor surface, and suck the dust through the suction port 30.

The dust sucked in with the air is
It flows into the dust collecting chamber of the cleaner body 1 via the extension pipe 13 and the hose 8 and is captured.

On the other hand, when cleaning a relatively narrow place such as a space between furniture, that is, a floor having a width dimension in which the horizontally long suction port body 14 cannot travel, the axial direction of the communication pipe 51 is set to the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 14. The communication pipe 51 is rotated so as to follow the
The cleaning mode is changed to the second cleaning mode so that the longitudinal direction is the running direction, and the suction port body 14 is slid into the gap to perform cleaning.

When the hose 8 is placed on the floor surface due to the interruption of cleaning, or to remove dust clogged in the suction port 30 and to remove thread dust and the like entangled with the rotary cleaning body 85, the suction port main body 14 is used. When the lower surface is separated from the floor surface, the floor surface detecting means 97 causes the wheels 98 to protrude from the predetermined position by the urging of the urging means, that is, to protrude below the plane formed by the driven front wheel 48a and the driven rear wheel 49a. Switch 10
If the floor surface is not detected by detecting in step 1, the control circuit of the circuit board 95 determines that the lower surface of the suction port main body 14 is separated from the floor surface and does not detect the floor surface, and stops driving the electric motor 93. Let it. When the lower surface of the suction port main body 14 is separated from the floor surface, the negative pressure in the suction chamber 31 also decreases, and the amount of intake air from the suction port 40 also decreases. By stopping the drive of the electric motor 93 and reducing the amount of intake air, the rotation of the rotary cleaning body 85 stops.

Here, when the communication pipe 51 is rotated to change from the first cleaning mode to the second cleaning mode, the communication pipe section 53 of the communication pipe 51 is connected to the central axis of the cylindrical section 71 of the joint section 52. From the center O, which is the position of the center axis of the cylindrical portion 71, to the position of the shaft of the rotating shaft 60, and is defined as the radius R in the first cleaning mode. Assuming that the position where the shaft 60 is supported is at an angle θ ₀ from the center of the cylindrical portion 71, the position where the force acting to rotate the communication pipe 51 is applied becomes longer than the position of the center O by R sin θ _0. . For this reason, the force for rotating the communication pipe 51 with the same torque decreases as the distance increases.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13,
In the first cleaning mode, when the position where the rotation shaft 60 is supported is located above the center of the cylindrical portion 71 at an angle θ ₀ , the weight of the communication pipe 51 at the position where the rotation shaft 60 is supported is assumed. Acts on the tangential direction which is the rotational direction at the position where the rotating shaft 60 is supported, and f ₁ = F × cos θ ₀ f ₂ = F × cos θ ₀ . When the communication pipe 51 is rotated by the angle θ, f ₁ = F × cos (θ ₀ −θ) f ₂ = F × cos (θ ₀ + θ), and the weight of the communication pipe 51 is contributing torque T to the rotation of 51, when the radius R from the center O is the position of the center axis of the cylindrical portion 71 to pivotally position of the rotation shaft _{60, T = f 1 × R} + f 2 × R = F × R × {cos (θ ₀ −θ) −cos (θ ₀ + θ)} Then, as the angle θ ₀ becomes larger, that is, as the pivot position becomes a position displaced upward, the torque T becomes larger as shown in FIG.

From this, it is possible to rotate the joint 52 with a smaller force than when the rotary shaft 60 is supported at a radial position passing through the central axis of the cylindrical portion 71 of the joint 52. It can be changed to the second cleaning mode.

As described above, since the rotating shaft 60 of the communication pipe portion 53 is axially supported so that the axial direction is at a twist position displaced upward from the central axis of the cylindrical portion 71 of the joint portion 52, the communication pipe 51 is supported.
Is rotated between the first cleaning mode along the front-rear direction of the case body 24 and the second cleaning mode along the longitudinal direction, the cylindrical section 71 of the joint section 52 at the distal end side of the communication pipe section 53 is rotated. A cylindrical part that becomes a central axis that rotates by a distance displaced from the central axis of the cylindrical part 71 to the pivotal support position of the rotary shaft 60, where the position of the operation force of the cleaning operator that applies a moment in the rotation direction is used. 71
And the force acting on the communication pipe portion 53 is reduced by the distance, so that the communication pipe 51 can be easily rotated as a whole with a small force.

Since the position of the pivot of the rotating shaft 60 is displaced upward from the central axis of the cylindrical portion 71 of the joint 52, the joint 52
When rotating the communication tube portion 53, the own weight of the communication tube portion 53 also acts in the rotation direction, the force for rotating the communication tube 51 can be further reduced, the communication tube 51 can be more easily rotated, and the suction port main body can be rotated. The communication pipe 51 can be rotated with a small force while the holding member 14 is placed on the floor and the holding portion 15 of the hose 8 is held, thereby improving the cleaning performance.

A connecting tube 52 having a cylindrical portion 71 rotatably fitted to a connecting tube 42 provided on the case body 24 has a communicating tube 53 rotatable at one end and the other end vertically. Provide communication pipe
51 is configured so that the axial direction can be selected between a position along the front-back direction of the case body 24 and a position along the longitudinal direction.
The lead wire for supplying power to the 93 does not become entangled with the communication pipe 51 or the like, and the sliding contact 81 for changing the cleaning mode can be easily arranged, the structure can be simplified, the manufacturability can be improved, and the joint can be improved. It is necessary to provide a space for accommodating a separate lead wire by using the inner chamber 76 formed for pivotally supporting the communication pipe portion 53 in the portion 52 to accommodate the slack of the lead wire. And miniaturization can be achieved.

In the above embodiment, not only the vacuum cleaner of the canister type but also the upright type in which the suction body 14 is formed directly on the lower surface of the cleaner body 1, the cleaner body 1 and the suction body 14 are formed. The present invention can also be applied to a self-propelled vacuum cleaner, a hand-held type, and the like in which is integrated.

Then, the rotating shaft 60 of the communication pipe 53 is connected to the joint 52.
Although it was displaced above the central axis of the cylindrical portion 71 and was pivotally supported,
The cylindrical portion 71 may be displaced below the central axis to be pivotally supported. In this case, lift the suction port body 14 and
If a moment for rotating the cylindrical portion 71 of the joint portion 52 is applied to the communication pipe portion 53 so that the distal end side of the shaft 53 is located further below the shaft support position of the rotary shaft 60, the communication pipe can be connected with a small force. 51 rotations are possible. By positioning the rotating shaft 60 at the lower position, when the suction port body 14 is moved on the floor surface with the grip 15 of the hose 8 and is cleaned, the communication pipe section is extended from the extension pipe 13. The position where the force applied to the 53 rotating shafts 60 in the direction of pressing against the floor surface acts at a low position close to the floor surface can stably move the suction port body 14 on the floor surface, thereby improving the cleaning performance.

Further, the rotary cleaning body 85 is driven to rotate.
Instead of the rotary cleaning body 85, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which the traveling wheels are rotated to improve the traveling performance.In addition to the driving by the electric motor 93, a driving means such as an air turbine is used, or the suction airflow is supplied from the intake port 40. A configuration in which the blade 90 is directly sprayed and rotated may be used. The use of an air turbine eliminates the need for power supply, and eliminates the need for providing a power supply lead wire and terminal pins 82, a wiring chamber 57, and a circuit chamber 34 in which a circuit board 95 is disposed, and can be reduced in weight and size. . Further, in the configuration in which the suction airflow is directly blown against the blade to rotate the blade, there is no need to provide a driving unit and a driving chamber 33 in which the driving unit is disposed, and the weight and size can be further reduced.

Further, the number of the rotary cleaning body 85 is not limited to one, and a plurality of the rotary cleaning bodies may be provided or may not be provided. In addition, the rotary cleaning body 85 may be provided with any cleaning member such as a rotary brush having raised walls in a wall shape, a cloth blade 91 and a blade 90 integrated with each other, in addition to the blade 90.

Although the configuration for supplying power has been described using the sliding contact 81, a configuration in which a lead wire is directly connected to the circuit board 95 may be employed.

The floor detecting means 97 may not be provided.

[0059]

According to the suction port body of the vacuum cleaner according to the first aspect, the shaft is connected to the suction pipe so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction of the case body so as to be rotatable. When the rotating pipe is rotated through the communicating pipe to provide a communicating pipe having a rotating shaft that is axially supported while being displaced from the center of the rotating pipe along the radial direction of the rotating pipe. The operating force of the user acting on the rotating shaft of the communication pipe portion acts as a moment, and the force for rotating the rotating tube is equivalent to the distance displaced from the center axis of the rotating tube to the shaft support position of the rotating shaft. The communication pipe can be easily rotated with a small force as a whole.

According to the suction port of the vacuum cleaner according to the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the suction port of the vacuum cleaner according to the first aspect, the rotating shaft of the communication pipe portion is located above the center of the rotary pipe. When the rotating pipe is rotated, the weight of the communicating pipe section is in the same direction as the moment for rotating the rotating pipe when rotating the rotating pipe, and the moment force acting on the rotating pipe is It becomes smaller by its own weight, so that the force for rotating the communication pipe can be reduced as a whole, and the communication pipe can be easily rotated.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the communication pipe is provided with the suction opening of the first or second aspect, the communication pipe can be easily rotated with a small force. The operation of changing the cleaning mode can be facilitated, and the cleaning performance can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a suction port main body according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where a communication pipe is set up.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the suction port main body in a state where the communication pipe is folded down.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the suction port main body with the upper case removed.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the suction port main body.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the suction port main body.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the suction port main body.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the suction port body.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the suction port main body.

FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view at a position displaced from the center to the end of the suction port main body.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a relationship between an upper case of the suction port main body and the communication pipe.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the communication pipe.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the electric vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between forces acting to rotate the communication pipe.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing a state where the weight of the communication pipe acts on the torque while the connection pipe is rotated and the communication pipe is rotated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Vacuum cleaner main body 14 Suction port main body 24 Case body 30 Suction port 52 Joint part as rotating pipe 53 Communication pipe part 60 Rotary shaft

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideki Hirano 43 Horiyamashita, Hadano-shi, Kanagawa F-term in Hadano Plant, Toshiba Tec Corporation 3B057 BA09 BA26 BA27 3B061 AA24

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A case body having an inlet opening on a surface facing a surface to be cleaned and having a longitudinal direction in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction, a rotating tube having an axial direction in the front-rear direction, and A rotating shaft rotatably supported at a position along the radial direction of the rotating tube and displaced from the center of the rotating tube is provided, and a communication pipe portion communicating with the suction port through the rotating tube is provided. The case body is rotatable so that an axial direction of the communication pipe part can be selectively selected between a position along a longitudinal direction of the case body and a position along a longitudinal direction of the case body by rotation of the rotation pipe and the communication pipe part. And a communication pipe rotatably provided in communication with the suction port. 2. The suction port of a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the rotary shaft of the communication pipe portion is supported by the rotary pipe at a position displaced upward from the center of the rotary pipe. body. 3. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a vacuum cleaner main body; and a suction port of the vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 connected to the vacuum cleaner main body.