JP2006314676A - Self-propelled cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently clean with little cleaning noise in a short period of time. <P>SOLUTION: A suction nozzle 2, long in the cross direction, is formed on lower rear part of a cleaner body 1 along the direction orthogonally crossing directions a and b of traveling of the cleaner body 1. An air outlet 5 is formed on the lower front part of the cleaner body 1, and an air passage 6 is formed between the air outlet 5 and the suction nozzle 2 along the lower surface of the cleaner body 1. The suction nozzle 2 and a dust collection box 13 inside the cleaner body 1 are connected by a suction duct 15 with a suction fan 14, and the air outlet 5 and the dust collection box 13 are connected by a blow duct 16. In this way, an air circulation channel A from the suction nozzle 2 returning to the suction nozzle 2 via the suction duct 15, the dust collection box 13, the blow duct 16, the air outlet 5 and the air passage 6 is formed in the cleaner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a self-propelled cleaner that self-propells and cleans a floor surface, and in particular, allows a cleaning sound to be small and efficiently cleaned in a short time.

Conventionally, there exists what was described in patent document 1 as a technique of a self-propelled cleaner. As shown in FIG. 6, a suction port 2 is formed on the lower surface of a self-propelled vehicle body 1 having a plurality of sensors S.
The rotating brush 3 is attached to the outer periphery of the.

In the above-described configuration, the vehicle body 1 is self-propelled while detecting the distance to the obstacle by each sensor S, and the rotating brush 3 is rotated around the vertical axis, and the dust on the floor surface 4 is sucked by the suction port 2. clean.
JP 2003-38402 A

In the above-described conventional configuration, the rotating brush 3 is rotated and the dust is sucked in by the suction port 2. The rotating brush 3 is mainly for scraping dust that has entered the carpet. Rather than sending the dust to the suction port 2 side, the scraped dust is often scattered around. Further, since the rotary brush 3 is slightly larger than the suction port 2 and the dust scraping range by the rotary brush 3 is small, the vehicle body 1 is repeatedly small in order to clean the entire floor surface 4 cleanly. It needs to be reciprocated frequently, and it takes time to clean. Furthermore, when the rotating brush 3 hits the floor surface 4, unpleasant and loud noise is generated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a self-propelled cleaner that has a low cleaning sound and can be efficiently cleaned in a short time in view of the above-described conventional drawbacks.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a suction port is formed on the lower surface of the self-propelled vehicle body, and a rotary brush is attached to the outer periphery of the suction port. In a self-propelled cleaner that rotates around and sucks in dust from the suction port, the rotating brush is omitted, and the suction port is located at the rear lower surface of the vehicle body in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the vehicle body. It is formed in a horizontally long shape, and a pair of left and right air outlets are formed at a predetermined interval in the front part of the lower surface of the vehicle body, and an air passage is formed along the lower surface of the vehicle body between the air outlets and the suction port. The suction port and the dust collection box in the vehicle body are connected by a suction duct with a suction fan, each outlet and the dust collection box are connected by a blowout duct, and the suction port, the suction duct, the dust collection box, Through the outlet duct, outlet and air passage An air regeneration path returning to the suction port is formed, each of the outlets is inclined obliquely downward to the rear, and an air guide plate extending downward from the rear end edge of the suction port is inclined obliquely upward to the rear, and the air guide plate A pair of left and right auxiliary plates extending from both side edges of the suction port along both side edges of the suction port are provided, and a pair of left and right skirts extending from the air outlet to the vicinity of each auxiliary plate with the air passage interposed therebetween are suspended from the lower surface of the vehicle body. It is provided, and the blowing fan is provided in the said blower outlet, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a suction port is formed in the lower surface of the self-propelled vehicle body, a rotating brush is attached to the outer periphery of the suction port, the rotating brush is rotated around a vertical axis, and the suction port In the self-propelled cleaner that sucks in the dust, the rotary brush is omitted, and the suction port is formed in a horizontally long shape along the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the vehicle body at the rear lower surface of the vehicle body A pair of left and right air outlets are formed at a predetermined interval in the front part of the lower surface of the vehicle body, and an air passage is formed along the lower surface of the vehicle body between the air outlets and the air inlet. The dust box in the body is connected by a suction duct with a suction fan, and each of the outlets and the dust box is connected by a blower duct. From the suction port, the suction duct, the dust box, the blower duct, the blower outlet, and the air passage Air regeneration path that returns to the suction port through Each of the air outlets is inclined obliquely downward to the rear, and an air guide plate extending downward from the rear edge of the suction port is inclined obliquely upward to the rear, from both side edges of the air guide plate to both side edges of the suction port. A pair of left and right auxiliary plates extending along the air passage is provided, and a pair of left and right skirts extending from the outlet to the vicinity of each auxiliary plate with the air passage in between are suspended from the lower surface of the vehicle body, and the blower fan is provided at the outlet. And a dust brush for rotating around the horizontal axis is provided in the suction port.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a self-propelled cleaner in which a suction port is formed on a lower surface of a self-propelled vehicle body, and dust is sucked from the suction port. It is formed in a horizontally long shape along a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the vehicle body, and a blower outlet is formed in the front portion of the lower surface of the vehicle body, along the lower surface of the vehicle body between the blower outlet and the suction port. An air passage is formed, the suction port and the dust collection box in the vehicle body are connected by a suction duct with a suction fan, and the blowout port and the dust collection box are connected by a blowout duct, from the suction port to the suction duct, dust collection The air regeneration path which returns to a suction inlet through a box, a blowing duct, a blower outlet, and an air passage is formed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the air outlet is inclined obliquely downward and the air guide plate extending downward from the rear end edge of the suction inlet is inclined obliquely upward. It is characterized by being.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, a pair of left and right auxiliary plates extending from both side edges of the air guide plate along both side edges of the suction port are provided, and the air passage is interposed between the air passages. A pair of left and right skirts extending from the air outlet to the vicinity of each auxiliary plate are suspended from the lower surface of the vehicle body.

A sixth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the invention of any one of the third to fifth aspects, an outlet fan is provided at the outlet.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, a dust brush is provided in the suction port to be driven to rotate around a horizontal axis. It is a feature.

The invention according to claim 1 corresponds to the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 3),
According to this, the air flow is strongly blown out from the outlet by the blower fan, and the dust on the floor surface facing the air passage on the lower surface of the vehicle body is effectively blown toward the suction port, and the blown-up dust is horizontally elongated. Dust is collected by sucking from the suction port, and since the dust collection range is wide, it can be efficiently cleaned in a short time.

Further, since the air flow generated by the suction fan is circulated through the air regeneration path, the air utilization efficiency is high, and it is economical to save energy.

Further, by tilting the air guide plate of the air outlet and the suction port, a smooth air flow is formed from the air outlet to the suction port, so that dust can be efficiently collected by putting dust on the air flow. it can.

Furthermore, since the diffusion of the air flow that flows through the air passage is prevented by the pair of left and right auxiliary plates and the skirt, the air flow is reliably sent from the outlet toward the suction port to collect the dust more efficiently. be able to.

What is important here is that the air outlet and the air inlet are separated from each other, and an air passage is formed between the vehicle body and the floor surface between them, and a straight air flow is formed in the air passage. Therefore, by moving the vehicle forward, the dust that has entered under the vehicle is put on the air flow and sucked into the suction port, and can be collected efficiently, and rotation for scraping the conventional dust Since there is nothing equivalent to a brush, only air flow noise is generated, and it can be cleaned comfortably in a quiet environment.

The invention described in claim 2 corresponds to the second embodiment (see FIGS. 4 and 5), and according to this, substantially the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 can be obtained. In particular, since the dust blown up to the front of the suction port by the rotating brush is lifted up, the dust can be more reliably sucked into the suction port.

The invention according to claim 3 corresponds to the basic form, and according to this, the dust on the floor surface facing the air passage on the lower surface of the vehicle body is blown rearward by the air blown from the air outlet, The dust that has blown in is sucked from the horizontally long suction port and collected, and since the dust collection range is wide, the dust can be efficiently cleaned in a short time.

What is important here is that the air outlet and the air inlet are separated from each other, and an air passage is formed between the vehicle body and the floor surface between them, and a straight air flow is formed in the air passage. Therefore, by moving the vehicle forward, the dust that has entered under the vehicle is put on the air flow and sucked into the suction port, and can be collected efficiently, and rotation for scraping the conventional dust Since there is nothing equivalent to a brush, only air flow noise is generated, and it can be cleaned comfortably in a quiet environment.

Further, since the air flow generated by the suction fan is circulated through the air regeneration path, the air utilization efficiency is high, and it is economical to save energy.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the air guide plate of the air outlet and the suction port is inclined, a smooth air flow is formed from the air outlet to the air inlet. It can be put on and can collect dust efficiently.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the diffusion of the air flow flowing through the air passage is prevented by the pair of left and right auxiliary plates and the skirt, the air flow is reliably sent from the outlet toward the suction port. Dust can be collected more efficiently.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to effectively blow out the dust toward the suction port by blowing out the air flow strongly from the blowout port by the blowout fan.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the dust blown up to the front of the suction port by the rotating brush is lifted up, so that the dust thus sucked up can be sucked into the suction port more reliably.

1 to 3 show a self-propelled cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The self-propelled vehicle body 1 has a rear plate 1a at a rear portion in a traveling direction a and b. A horizontally elongated suction port 2 is formed along the directions c and d perpendicular to each other, and a pair of left and right air outlets 5 are substantially spaced apart at a predetermined interval at the front portion of the bottom plate portion 1a of the vehicle body 1. An air passage 6 is formed along the lower surface of the vehicle body 1 between the air outlet 5 and the air inlet 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a pair of left and right rear wheels 7 are disposed on both rear sides of the vehicle body 1, and a drive motor 9 is provided for rotating the respective rear wheels 7 forward and backward via a power transmission mechanism 8. A spherical turning wheel 10 is provided at the front center of the vehicle body 1. In addition, an infrared distance detection sensor S1 is provided on the front surface and both side surfaces of the vehicle body 1, and a touch sensor S2 is provided between the distance detection sensors S1. Based on input signals from the sensors S1 and S2. By controlling each drive motor 9 from a control unit (not shown), the vehicle body 1 is allowed to self-travel while avoiding obstacles while measuring its position. A rechargeable battery 11 is charged by connecting a plug of a power cord 11b to a socket 11a of the battery 11.

The suction port 2 and the dust collection box 13 at the rear of the vehicle body 1 are connected by a suction duct 15 with a suction fan 14, and each of the outlets 5 and the dust collection box 13 are connected by a discharge duct 16. A blower fan 17 is provided at the blowout port 5, and a suction duct 15, a dust collection box 13 from the suction port 2,
An air regeneration path A that returns to the suction port 2 through the blowout duct 16, both blowout ports 5, and the air passage 6 is formed. In FIG. 2, 18 is a breathable dust bag that is detachably attached to the discharge port of the suction duct 15 in the dust box 13, and 19 is a lid that is detachably fitted to the opening of the dust box 13. The lid 19 is formed with a vent hole 19a for allowing excess air to escape.

Explaining the dust collection procedure, by driving the suction fan 14 and the blowout fan 17,
When air is circulated along the air regenerative path A and the vehicle body 1 is moved forward a, dust entering the vehicle body 1 rides on the air flow Aa flowing through the air passage 6 and is sucked into the suction port 2 and is sucked into the suction duct. 15 is collected in the dust bag 18.

According to the above configuration, the air flow Aa is strongly blown out from the blowout port 5 by the blowout fans 17 and the dust on the floor surface 4 is effectively blown toward the suction port 2, and the blown dust is blown into the horizontally long suction port. Since the dust collection range is wide, the dust can be efficiently cleaned in a short time.

Further, the air flow Aa generated by the suction fan 14 and the blower fan 17 is converted into the air regeneration path A.
Since it is circulated through the air, it has high efficiency of air utilization and is economical to save energy.

What is important here is that the air outlet 5 and the air inlet 2 are separated from each other, and the vehicle body 1 and the floor surface 4 between them.
The air passage 6 is formed between the air passage 6 and a straight air flow Aa is formed in the air passage 6, so that the dust that has entered under the vehicle body 1 is moved forward by moving the vehicle body 1 a. While being put on the air flow Aa and sucked into the suction port 2, it can collect dust efficiently,
Since there is no equivalent to the conventional rotating brush 3 (see FIG. 6) for scraping out dust, only the circulation sound of the air flow Aa is generated, and it can be comfortably cleaned in a quiet environment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the air outlet 5 is obliquely downward and rearward at a predetermined angle α (4 in this embodiment).
5 [deg.]) And the air guide plate 21 extending downward from the rear end edge of the suction port 2 is inclined rearward and obliquely upward by a predetermined angle [alpha] (45 [deg.] In this embodiment), and the lower end of the air guide plate 21 is Floor 4
Has been approached.

According to the said structure, by inclining the air guide plate 21 of the blower outlet 5 and the suction inlet 2,
Since a smooth air flow Aa is formed from the air outlet 5 to the air inlet 2, dust can be put on the air flow Aa and efficiently collected.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a pair of left and right auxiliary plates 21 a extending from both side edges of the air guide plate 21 along both side edges of the suction port 2 are provided. Each auxiliary plate 2
A pair of left and right skirts 22 extending to the vicinity of 1 a are suspended from the lower surface of the vehicle body 1.

According to the above configuration, since the diffusion of the air flow Aa flowing through the air passage 6 is prevented by the pair of left and right auxiliary plates 21 a and the skirt 22, the air flow Aa is reliably directed from the outlet 5 toward the inlet 2. It is possible to collect dust more efficiently by sending it in.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a self-propelled cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and a dust brush for rotating dust 23 rotated around a horizontal axis O in the suction port 2. And a drive motor 25 for rotating the rotary brush 23 in the direction of arrow e via the power transmission mechanism 24, and the tip of the rotary brush 23 abuts or approaches the floor surface 4. Since the configuration other than the above is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

According to the configuration, almost the same effect as the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 3) can be obtained, and in particular, the dust blown up to the front of the suction port 2 by the rotating brush 23, so that
The dust can be sucked into the suction port 2 more reliably.

It is a perspective view of the self-propelled cleaner which is a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is the horizontal sectional view. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view. It is a horizontal sectional view of the self-propelled cleaner which is the 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view. It is a side view which shows a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car body 2 Suction port 3 Rotating brush 5 Blowing outlet 6 Air passage 13 Dust collection bag 14 Suction fan 15 Suction duct 16 Blowing duct 17 Blowing fan 21 Air guide plate 21a Auxiliary plate 22 Skirt 23 Rotating brush A Air regeneration path

Claims (7)

A self-propelled vehicle body has a suction port formed on the lower surface, and a rotating brush is attached to the outer periphery of the suction port. The rotating brush rotates around the vertical axis and sucks dust from the suction port. In the vacuum cleaner, the rotary brush is omitted, and the suction port is formed in a horizontally long shape at a rear portion of the lower surface of the vehicle body along a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the vehicle body, and left and right on the lower surface front portion of the vehicle body. A pair of air outlets are formed at a predetermined interval, an air passage is formed along the lower surface of the vehicle body between the air outlets and the air inlet, and the air inlet and the dust box inside the vehicle body are connected to the air intake fan. Air that is connected by a suction duct with each, the air outlet and the dust collection box are connected by a blowout duct, and returns from the suction port to the suction port through the suction duct, dust collection box, blowout duct, air outlet, and air passage. Regenerative paths are formed, and each of the outlets A pair of left and right air guide plates that are inclined obliquely downward to the rear and extending downward from the rear end edge of the suction port are inclined obliquely upward to the rear and extend from both side edges of the air guide plate along both side edges of the suction port. An auxiliary plate is provided, and a pair of left and right skirts extending from the outlet to the vicinity of each auxiliary plate with the air passage in between are suspended on the lower surface of the vehicle body, and an outlet fan is provided at the outlet. A self-propelled vacuum cleaner. A self-propelled vehicle body has a suction port formed on the lower surface, and a rotating brush is attached to the outer periphery of the suction port. The rotating brush rotates around the vertical axis and sucks dust from the suction port. In the vacuum cleaner, the rotary brush is omitted, and the suction port is formed in a horizontally long shape at a rear portion of the lower surface of the vehicle body along a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the vehicle body, and left and right on the lower surface front portion of the vehicle body. A pair of air outlets are formed at a predetermined interval, an air passage is formed along the lower surface of the vehicle body between the air outlets and the air inlet, and the air inlet and the dust box inside the vehicle body are connected to the air intake fan. Each air outlet is connected to the dust collection box by a blowout duct, and air regeneration that returns from the suction port to the suction port through the suction duct, dust collection box, blowout duct, blowout port, and air passage. A path is formed and each outlet is A pair of left and right auxiliary members inclined obliquely downward and extending downward from the rear end edge of the suction port are inclined obliquely upward rearward and extend from both side edges of the air guide plate along both side edges of the suction port. A plate is provided, and a pair of left and right skirts extending from the air outlet to the vicinity of each auxiliary plate with the air passage in between are suspended on the lower surface of the vehicle body, an air outlet fan is provided at the air outlet, A self-propelled cleaner characterized by being provided with a dust brush for rotating around a horizontal axis. In the self-propelled cleaner in which a suction port is formed on the lower surface of the self-propelled vehicle body and dust is sucked from the suction port, the suction port is orthogonal to the advancing direction of the vehicle body at the rear surface of the lower surface of the vehicle body The air outlet is formed in a horizontally long shape along the direction, and a blower outlet is formed at a front portion of the lower surface of the vehicle body, and an air passage is formed along the lower surface of the vehicle body between the blower outlet and the suction port. And a dust collection box in the vehicle body are connected by a suction duct with a suction fan, and the blowout port and the dust collection box are connected by a blowout duct. From the suction port, a suction duct, a dust collection box, a blowout duct, a blowout port, and air A self-propelled cleaner characterized in that an air regeneration path is formed that returns to the suction port through a passage. The self-propelled cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the air outlet is inclined obliquely downward to the rear, and an air guide plate extending downward from the rear end edge of the air inlet is inclined obliquely upward to the rear. . A pair of left and right auxiliary plates extending from both side edges of the air guide plate along both side edges of the suction port are provided, and a pair of left and right skirts extending from the outlet to the vicinity of each auxiliary plate across the air passage The self-propelled cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the self-propelled cleaner is suspended from the lower surface of the housing. The self-propelled cleaner according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein a blower fan is provided at the blower outlet. The self-propelled cleaner according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein a rotary brush for dust lifting that is driven to rotate about a horizontal axis is provided in the suction port.

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