DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE SUCTION FILTERS OF A VACUUM CLEANER

Abstract

 A cleaning device for the suction filters of a vacuum cleaner equipped with two separate filtering units, each filtering unit being associated with a mechanism for opening and closing the air passage duct, so that the suction flow can be interrupted through a filter unit only at a time, thus allowing cleaning to start in one filter unit at a time, while dirty air continues to be filtered through the other unit. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the entire flow interception device, comprising an opening and closing element of the air passage duct and an independent actuator for each filtering unit, is arranged inside the suction chamber, so that it is not necessary to provide air sealing systems towards the outside of the suction chamber. In particular, the flow interception device is configured to allow the closing or opening of the air passage duct by a transformation from linear to rotary motion.

Description

SUMMARY

[0001] The present invention relates to vacuum cleaner devices. In particular, the invention provides a device for cleaning the suction filters of a vacuum cleaner device.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A commonly used vacuum cleaner device includes a dust collection container or drum, a suction head comprising at least one suction motor and at least one filter unit for separating dust and dirt from the flow of sucked air.

[0003] According to the known art, the filter units are subjected to cleaning cycles by means of devices having at least one valve which, when open, allows at least one filter to be subjected to the action of a cleaning flow and, when closed, the cleaning flow is interrupted.

[0004] For example, international application WO / 2021 / 001152A1 (F. Treitz, 2020) provides a vacuum cleaner device, comprising a suction unit for generating a suction flow, at least one filter, and a filter cleaning device, in which the filter cleaning device has at least one valve with a movable closing body and a counter-device for the closing body, and in which, in the open position of the at least one valve, the at least one filter is provided with a cleaning flow and is inactive in a closed position of the at least one cleaning flow valve.

[0005] In another patent application, US / 2017 / 0020352A1 (G. Amisani, C. Bondioli, M. De Falco, 2010) a suction device is presented comprising at least two filters, which include valves to separately control the cleaning action of the filter, and in which, during normal operation, the dirty air flow is passed through at least one filter from the untreated air side to the clean air side, while during the cleaning cycle the associated valve switches reversing the air flow in the filter and dirt particles adhering to the side of the untreated air are removed. The air flow is generated by a suction device fan located outside the suction device housing.

[0006] The interruption of the suction flow in one of the two filters is essential for the cleaning action.

[0007] At the state of the art, the most commonly adopted solution is that of using a linear solenoid actuator which directly moves, or without transforming the motion, a flow interception device generally having a "piston-plate" configuration, i.e. in the shape of a plate integral with a piston that translates it in the direction of the opening mouth of the suction flow to stop the flow or in the opposite direction to reactivate it (Fig. 1).

[0008] For example, European patent EP2052660 B1 (Eugen Bruntner, 2008) describes a vacuum cleaner device having at least one suction motor and at least two filters associated with a respective cleaning device. Each filter is equipped with a valve device with which the flow path from the filter to the suction motor can be blocked in order to perform the cleaning. According to the proposed solution, the valve devices each include a lifting magnet with which a piston can be axially moved. At the free end of the piston there is a valve plate with which an opening can be closed, which connects the flow channels with a respective flow space in which the vibrating magnet of the cleaning device is positioned. A sealing element is integral with the piston, so that when the valve is open, i.e. the plate is detached from the opening, the sealing element closes the free space of the hole of the sliding piston. The claimed feature just relates to the sealing elements (gaskets), the aim of which is to close possible air leaks along the piston of the valve.

[0009] While the filter is being cleaned, the suction device can continue to operate, as the valve plate does not close the opening.

[0010] Normally, as in the solution proposed in the patent EP2052660B1, the actuator and part of the interception mechanism are present outside the suction flow, so it is necessary to provide a system of gaskets that prevent the vacuum loss due to the imperfect sealing of the valve piston and the air leak between the suction flow chamber and the valve piston.

[0011] It is therefore necessary to develop a system in which the entire flow interception mechanism is disposed inside the suction flow, thus avoiding the use of sealing systems to the outside.

[0012] A solution to the aforementioned problem is provided below which allows to solve the sealing problems of the suction flow interception mechanism during the filter cleaning operations.

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for cleaning the suction filters of a vacuum cleaner device.

[0014] In particular, the present invention refers to a vacuum cleaner device equipped with two separate filter units. During normal operation, the filter units are both crossed by the air flow produced by the at least one suction motor. Each filter unit is associated with an element for opening and closing the air passage duct, so that the suction flow can be interrupted through a single filter unit at a time, thus allowing cleaning to start in a filtering unit while dirty air continues to be filtered through the other unit.

[0015] In particular, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for cleaning the suction filters of a vacuum cleaner which allows the suction flow to be interrupted through one filter at a time by using interception means arranged entirely within the suction flow itself.

[0016] The specific purpose of the present invention is also to solve the sealing problems of the suction flow interception systems during the filter cleaning operations by providing a suction filter cleaning device that does not have to use sealing means to the outside, in order to prevent the vacuum loss from the suction chamber, which occurs for example, in interception systems in the shape of a piston valve.

[0017] These and other objects are pursued by the present invention as defined in the attached claims.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device for cleaning the suction filters of a vacuum cleaner device comprises means for intercepting the flow, said means comprising an element for opening and closing the air flow, which can rotate around an axis, and a linear actuation means, which, through the translation of a movable element, causes the rotation of said opening and closing element with transformation from linear to rotary motion.

[0019] According to an embodiment, said flow interception means comprise an element for opening and closing the air passage duct, having the shape of a planar shutter, which can rotate around an axis, and which is moved by a linear actuator provided with a movable element, wrapped in a return spring. The translation of the movable element produces the rotation movement of the opening and closing element around a pin integral with the support frame of the suction head, causing the opening or closing of the opening mouth of the air duct towards the filter unit. The retraction of the movable element of the linear actuator involves the compression of the return spring and the closing of the opening mouth of the air duct towards the filtering unit, excluding said filtering unit from the air passage. The cleaning process of the filter unit not affected by the air passage air is then actuated by means of a signal generated by a processor.

[0020] On the contrary, as a consequence of an extension movement of the movable element of the linear actuator, the return spring brings the opening and closing element back to the open conditions of the air duct, and the cleaning process of the filtering unit is interrupted.

[0021] The advantage offered by this particular configuration of the flow interception means is that of ensuring that the opening mouth of the flow passage duct is not partially obstructed by said interception means, as in the case of the known art, in which the interception means in the shape of a piston valve partially occupied the opening mouth of the air duct, even in the open condition of the valve, as shown in Fig. 1.

[0022] A further advantage of the present invention is that of obtaining the same air flow load with less pumping power, by means of a smaller deviation of the flow. In fact, compared to the known art, in which, due to the presence of restrictions and deviations in the air flow due to the particular shape of the shutter, a pressure drop of the flow itself was generated, the proposed solution offers the air flow a straight path with constant section, which requires less pumping power, and is therefore a source of energy savings.

[0023] Furthermore, as a further advantage of the present solution, as a consequence of the transformation from linear to rotary motion of the interception means, the opening and closing element is closed with greater force, due to the lever ratio. The result is an improvement in terms of tightness of the interception of flow between the filter and the suction motor.

[0024] In an extremely advantageous way, due to the particular compactness characteristics of the cleaning device of the suction filter according to the proposed solution, the flow interception means can be arranged entirely inside the suction flow, enclosed between two plastic shells, so it is not necessary to prepare any sealing system towards the outside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] 

FIG.1: schematic representation of a flow interception system according to the known art.

FIG.2a: example of embodiment of the head of a suction device according to the present invention, in which the suction flow is interrupted on the right filter and is actuated on the left filter.

FIG.2b: example of embodiment of the head of a suction device according to the present invention, in which the suction flow is interrupted on the left filter and is actuated on the right filter.

FIG.3a-b: side views of the means for actuating and intercepting the flow according to an embodiment of the present invention, disposed in the suction flow intercepting position (3a); in the suction flow actuation position (3b).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] With reference to Fig.2a-b, the vacuum cleaner device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a suction head comprising a support frame or housing base (1) for the suction motor (4), an upper cap of the suction head (2), a suction duct (3) ending in a dust collection tank, two separate filter units, (5) and (8), in the shape of a rectangular panel to separate the dust and dirt from the flow of sucked air, a flow interception device, (6) and (7), configured to inactivate each of the two filter units (5) and (8) independently, a vibration generator, not shown in the figure, for cleaning the suction filters.

[0027] The two separate filtering units, (5) and (8), are arranged on the two opposite sides of the suction motor (4), disposed in the center of the housing base (1) of the suction head (2).

[0028] During normal operation of the vacuum cleaner device, the two separate filter units, (5) and (8), are both crossed by the air flow produced by the suction motor (4). Each filter unit (5) and (8) is associated with a flow interception device, (6) or (7), which includes an opening and closing element for the air passage duct and an independent actuator for each filtering unit , (5) and (8), so that the suction flow can be interrupted through only one filter unit, (5) or (8), at a time, thus allowing the cleaning process to be started in one of the filter units, (5) or (8), while the dirty air continues to be sucked through the other filter unit, (5) or (8), that is without interrupting the operation of the vacuum cleaner device during the cleaning process.

[0029] According to an embodiment, the cleaning process of the filter units, (5) and (8), is carried out by means of a vibration generator (not shown in the figure), present in correspondence with each filter unit (5) and (8), which vibrates the rectangular panels of said filter units (5) and (8), which are elastically mounted on the frame of the vacuum cleaner device. The vibration generator comprises, for example, an electromechanical striker controlled by an actuation system.

[0030] Simultaneously with the actuation of the cleaning process, which takes place by vibrating the filter panels, the suction flow is interrupted by an interception means that closes the entrance mouth of the suction flow, disposed between one of the two filter units and the suction motor.

[0031] According to the prior art, as shown in Fig.1, the interception means comprises an actuator (a) and a flow interception element, (c), which partially reside outside the suction chamber (d), and therefore they need a system of gaskets (b), disposed on the sides of the interception element, (c), in order to prevent the vacuum loss towards the outside.

[0032] To the advantage of the present invention, the flow interception means (6) and (7), comprising an opening and closing element of the air passage duct and an independent actuator for each filtering unit, are arranged entirely inside the suction chamber, therefore it is not necessary to provide any air sealing systems towards the outside of the suction chamber.

[0033] With reference to Figures 3a-b, said flow interception means, (6) and (7), according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprise an opening and closing element (9) of the air passage duct, said element having the shape of a planar shutter, which can rotate around an axis, and which is moved by a linear actuator (10), the controls of which are of the solenoid type, which produces a transformation from linear to rotary motion.

[0034] The motion transformation takes place by means of a slot (14) contained inside said opening and closing element (9), which is hinged in position (13) with the support frame (1) of the suction head. The linear actuator (10) is equipped with a movable element (12), wrapped by a return spring (11), said movable element (12) comprising a pin (15), having a rotation axis perpendicular to the direction of the motion of translation of said movable element (12). Said pin (15) engages the slot (14), with the possibility of sliding within it.

[0035] During the cleaning process, the solenoid connected to the linear actuator (10) is energized, generating the linear translation motion of the movable element (12), which is retracted compressing the return spring (11), and at the same time the pin (15) slides inside the slot (14), causing a rotary motion of the opening and closing element (9) around the axis normal to the direction of translation in the point (13).

[0036] With reference to Fig.3a, the rotary motion of the opening and closing element (9) as a consequence of the retraction of the movable element (12) causes the closure of the opening mouth of the air duct towards the filtering unit (5) or (8) and, at the same time, the cleaning process is actuated by means of a processor which generates a signal to start the cleaning of said filter unit. At the same time the suction flow continues to flow into the suction compartment through the other filter unit (8) or (5), as shown in Fig.2a and 2b, in the direction shown by the dashed lines in the direction of the arrows.

[0037] On the contrary, as soon as the solenoid of the linear actuator (10) is de-energized, the return spring (11) returns the opening and closing element (9) to the open position, while a signal generated by a processor interrupts the cleaning process and restores the suction flow through the corresponding filter unit (5) or (8).

[0038] Due to the lever effect operated by the fulcrum (13), which redirects the input stress force operated by the linear actuator through the movable element (12) to the output load force operated by the opening and closing element (9) after the rotation has taken place, a mechanical advantage is generated, which allows the opening and closing element (9) to be brought in a closed position with a greater force than that which would occur with a simple linear translation of said opening and closing element (9), without the transfer from linear to rotary motion.

[0039] Furthermore, in this way, the particular shape of the interception means entails that, in the case of actuation of the suction flow, the opening and closing element (9) of the air passage duct does not fit between the suction flow and the opening mouth, so partially obstructing the passage of the air flow, as in the case, for example, of an interception device with a "piston-plate" configuration according to the prior art, and does not cause the deviation of the direction of the flow in a too accentuated way.

[0040] Finally, it is clear that numerous modifications and variations can be made to the present invention, all falling within the scope of the invention, as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. Device for cleaning the suction filters of a vacuum cleaner device having two filter units (5) and (8), at least one suction motor (4) and a compartment for the passage of air from each of said filter units (5) and (8) to said suction motor (4), said suction filter cleaning device comprising

- intercepting means (6) and (7) of the air intake flow directed towards said filter units (5) and (8),

- at least one processor for sending the signals for starting or finishing the cleaning operations of each filter unit (5) or (8),

- at least one vibration generator for each filter unit (5) or (8),

characterized in that
said intercepting means of the suction flow, (6) or (7), comprise an opening and closing element (9) of the air passage duct from said filtering units (5) or (8) to said suction motor (4), said opening and closing element (9) being able to rotate around an axis, and a linear actuator (10) for each of said filter units, (5) and (8), said actuator (10) being configured to rotate said opening and closing element (9) by translating a movable element (12), and by a transformation from linear to rotary motion.

2. Suction filter cleaning device according to claim 1 wherein

- said opening and closing element (9) of the air passage duct includes a planar shutter comprising a slot (14) ;

- said linear actuator (10) includes a movable element (12), wrapped on a return spring (11), said movable element (12) comprising a pin (15) having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the direction of the translation motion of said movable element (12), said pin (15) engaging said slot (14) and having the possibility of sliding inside said slot (14).

3. Suction filter cleaning device according to claim 2 wherein said linear actuator (10) is configured to generate a linear translation motion of said movable element (12), said translation motion generating the sliding of said pin (15) to the inside of said slot (14) and consequently causing a rotary motion of said opening and closing element (9) around the axis normal to the direction of translation in the point (13).

4. Suction filter cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that said linear actuator (10) is configured to retract said movable element (12) so as to compress said return spring (11), causing a rotary motion of said opening and closing element (9) in the direction such as to obstruct the opening of the air passage duct towards one of said filter units (5) or (8) .

5. Suction filter cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that said linear actuator (10) is configured to extend said movable element (12) so as to return said return spring (11) to its original position, causing a rotary motion of said opening and closing element (9) in the direction such as to reopen the air passage duct towards one of said filtering units (5) or (8) .

6. Suction filter cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said linear actuator (10) is connected to a processor which generates a signal to start or finish the cleaning operations of one of said filter units (5) or (8).

Drawing