BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner and a method of controlling the
vacuum cleaner, and particularly to a vacuum cleaner and a method of controlling a
vacuum cleaner capable of increasing a dust collecting capacity of a dust collector,
and indicating when it is time to empty the dust collector when more than a predetermined
amount of dust are collected in the dust collector.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] In general, a vacuum cleaner is a device that suctions air containing dust using
vacuum pressure generated by a vacuum motor mounted in a body thereof, and then filters
the dust in the body.
[0003] The vacuum cleaner may be divided into a canister type in which a nozzle, an inlet,
is provided separately from the body and is connected to the body by a connection
pipe, and an upright type in which the nozzle and the body are integrally formed.
[0004] A dust collector mounted to a cyclone vacuum cleaner is a device that separates dust,
which is rotating together with the sucked air, from the air according to the cyclone
principle, collects the separated dust, and discharges the purified air to the outside
of the cleaner.
[0005] In detail, the cyclone dust collector includes a collector body, an inlet through
which the air is introduced to the collector body, a cyclone unit separating dust
from the air sucked to the collector body, a dust storage space storing the dust separated
in the cyclone unit, and an outlet through which the air purified in the cyclone unit
is exhausted.
[0006] While the vacuum cleaner is in operation, the dust stored in a lower space of the
collector body, that is, in the dust storage space, are continuously rotated along
an inner circumferential surface of the collector body because of a rotating air current
within the collector body.
[0007] When the operation of the vacuum cleaner is stopped, the dust subsides on the bottom
of the collector body, and is stored at a low density.
[0008] Thus, when more than a predetermined amount of dust is collected in the related art
dust collector while the vacuum cleaner is in operation, the dust ascends, rotating
along an inner wall of the dust container. Then, the ascending dust invades the cyclone
unit formed at an upper space of the collector body. Thus, unseparated dust is discharged
through the outlet by an air current being discharged, thereby lowering the dust collecting
performance.
[0009] Also, when the operation of the vacuum cleaner is stopped, the dust subsides on the
bottom of the collector body and thus is stored at a low density. That is, since the
dust within the collector body occupies a considerable volume for its weight, the
collector body should be frequently emptied to maintain the dust collecting performance.
[0010] To improve convenience of the cleaner use, efforts are being continued to maximize
the dust collection capacity and improve the dust collecting performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a vacuum cleaner and a method of
controlling a vacuum cleaner that substantially obviates one or more problems due
to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner and a method of
controlling a vacuum cleaner capable of increasing the dust collection capacity of
a dust collector.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner and a method
of controlling a vacuum cleaner capable of automatically compressing dust provided
into a dust collector.
[0014] A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of controlling a
vacuum cleaner capable of indicating a time for emptying dust when more than a predetermined
amount of dust is stored in a dust collector.
[0015] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in
part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having
ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from
practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may
be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written
description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0016] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose
of the invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner including a dust collector forming
a dust storage, the vacuum cleaner including: a fixed member fixed to the dust storage;
a rotating member for performing a compressing of dust stored in the dust storage,
through interaction with the fixed member; a compressing motor for driving the rotating
member; a counter for measuring a moving time of the rotating member; a signaller
for issuing a dust empty signal of the dust storage; and a controller for operating
the signaller when a measured moving time is less than a reference time.
[0017] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling
a vacuum cleaner including a dust collector for storing dust, the method including:
compressing dust stored inside the dust collector, through a pressing member rotated
by a compressing motor; determining a quantity of the compressed dust; and issuing
a signal to empty the compressed dust to an outside of the vacuum cleaner, when the
quantity of the compressed dust is determined to exceed a predetermined amount.
[0018] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following
detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are
intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding
of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application,
illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve
to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a dust collector is separated
from a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dust collector mounting unit and a dust collector
used in the vacuum cleaner;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the dust collector;
[0023] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation between the dust collector
and a driving unit provided for compression of dust stored in the dust collector;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dust separator and a dust container of the dust
collector;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the dust separator of FIG. 6;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling compression of
dust within the dust collector;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process of compressing dust within the dust collector;
[0029] FIG. 10(a) is a waveform view of a current phase of the drive motor over the dust
compression time;
[0030] FIG. 10(b) is a waveform view of a phase of power supplied to the drive motor over
the dust compression time;
[0031] FIGs. 11 and 12 are plan views of the dust container, illustrating a process of compressing
dust within the dust collector;
[0032] FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a dust-emptying time indicating function of the dust
collector;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a flowchart for describing an operational state of the cleaner when the
dust-emptying time indicating function is performed;
[0034] FIG. 15 is a plan view showing an operational state of a first pressing plate when
the dust-emptying time indicating function is performed;
[0035] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation between a driving
unit and a dust collector according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 17 a block diagram illustrating a control unit of a vacuum cleaner according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a dust compressing process of the dust collection
unit and dust discharge alarming; and
[0038] FIG. 19 is a waveform of a pulse signal varying according to an amount of the dust
collected in the dust collection unit;
[0039] FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation between a driving
unit and a dust collector according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 21 is a frontal perspective of a driven gear included in the driving unit according
to the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 22 is a side view of the driven gear in FIG. 21;
[0042] FIG. 23 is a view showing the coupling of the driven gear in FIG. 21 with a micro
switch;
[0043] FIG. 24 is a block diagram of a control unit of a vacuum cleaner according to the
third embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIGs. 25 and 26 are diagrams for describing an on state of a micro switch when a
first pressing member becomes close to one side of a second pressing member for compressing
dust according to the present invention;
[0045] FIGs. 27 and 28 are diagrams for describing an off state of the micro switch in FIG.
25 when the first and second pressing members are positioned respectively in-line;
[0046] FIGs. 29 and 30 are diagrams for describing an on state of the micro switch in FIG.
25 when the first pressing member approaches the opposite side of the second pressing
member;
[0047] FIG. 31 is a diagram for describing the overall operation of the first pressing member
described in FIGs. 25 through 30; and
[0048] FIG. 32 is a flowchart of a dust compressing process and a dust emptying time of
a dust collector according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0049] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present
invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever
possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer
to the same or like parts.
[0050] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a dust collector is separated
from a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present
invention includes a cleaner body 100 having therein a suction-force generator, and
a dust collector 200 separating dust from the introduced air and storing the separated
dust.
[0052] Also, the vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle 20 through which the air containing
dust is suctioned, a handle 40 allowing a user to manipulate an operation of the vacuum
cleaner, an extension pipe 30 connecting the suction nozzle 20 with the handle 40,
and a connection hose 50 connecting the suction nozzle 20 with the cleaner body 100.
[0053] Since the basic constructions of the suction nozzle 20, the extension pipe 30, the
handle 40, and the connection hose 50 are the same as those of the related art, the
detailed description thereon will be omitted.
[0054] In detail, a body suction part 110 through which the air with dust sucked from the
suction nozzle 20 is introduced is formed at a lower end portion of a front surface
of the cleaner body 10.
[0055] A body discharge part 120 through which the purified air is discharged to the outside
is formed at one side of the cleaner body 100.
[0056] The dust collector 200 includes a dust separator 210 separating dust from the introduced
air; and a dust container 220 storing the dust separated by the dust separator 210.
[0057] Here, the dust separator 210 includes a cyclone unit 211 that separates dust from
the introduced air using the cyclone principle, namely, using a difference in a centrifugal
force between the air and the dust. The dust separated by the cyclone unit 211 is
stored in the dust container 220.
[0058] The dust collector 200 may be configured to maximize the collection capacity of dust
stored therein. To this end, the dust collector 200 may further include a structure
for decreasing a volume of dust stored in the dust container 220.
[0059] Hereinafter, referring to FIGs. 2 through 5, the vacuum cleaner with a dust collector
according to the present invention will now be described, which has the maximized
foreign-substance collection capacity.
[0060] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dust collector mounting part and a dust collector
applied to the vacuum cleaner, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the
dust collector, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a perspective
view showing a relation between the dust collector and a driving unit provided for
compression of dust stored in the dust collector.
[0061] Referring to FIGs. 2 through 5, the dust collector 200 according to an embodiment
of the present invention is detachably mounted to the cleaner body 100 (depicted in
FIG. 1).
[0062] The cleaner body 100 (depicted in FIG. 1) includes a dust-collector mounting part
130 for mounting of the dust collector 200.
[0063] The dust collector 200 includes a pair of pressurizing plates 310 and 320 that increase
the foreign-substance collection capacity by reducing the volume of dust stored in
the dust container 220.
[0064] Here, the pair of pressing plates 310 and 320 compress dust by an interaction between
each other to reduce the volume of the dust. Thus, the density of the dust stored
within the dust container 220 is increased, thereby increasing the maximum collection
capacity of the dust container 220.
[0065] For the convenience in description, one of the pressing plates 310 and 320 is referred
to as a first pressing plate 310, and the other one is referred to as a second pressing
plate 320.
[0066] In the current embodiment, at least one of the pressing plates 310 and 320 is movably
provided within the dust container 220 to perform compression of dust between the
pressing plates 310 and 320.
[0067] That is, if the first and second pressing plates 310 and 320 are rotatably mounted
within the dust container 220, the first and second pressing plates 310 and 320 rotate
toward each other to reduce a distance between one surface of the first pressing plate
310 and one surface of the second pressing plate 320 facing the one surface of the
first pressing plate 310. Thus, dust between the first and second pressing plates
310 and 320 are compressed.
[0068] In the current embodiment, only the first pressing plate 310 is rotatably provided
in the dust container 220 while the second pressing plate 320 is fixed in the dust
container 220.
[0069] In such a manner, the first pressing plate 310 serves as a rotary plate, and the
second pressing plate 320 serves as a fixed plate.
[0070] The dust container 220 has therein a dust storage space 221 for storing dust. The
dust storage space 221 surrounds a virtual path traveled by a free end 311 of the
rotating first pressing plate 310.
[0071] In detail, the second pressing plate 320 may be provided between an inner circumferential
surface of the dust storage space 221 and an axis of a rotary shaft 312 serving as
the center of the rotation of the first pressing plate 310.
[0072] That is, the second pressing plate 320 is provided on a virtual plane connecting
the axis of the rotary shaft 312 to the inner circumferential surface of the dust
storage space 221. The second pressing plate 320 completely or partially shields the
space between the inner circumferential surface of the dust storage 221 and the axis
of the rotary shaft 312, so that when dust are forced toward the second pressing plate
320 by the first pressing plate 310, the second pressing plate 320 compresses the
dust together with the first pressing plate 310.
[0073] To this end, the second pressing plate 320 may be constructed such that its one end
321 is integrally formed with the inner circumferential surface of the dust storage
space 221, and the other end thereof is formed integrally with a stationary shaft
322 provided coaxially with the rotary shaft 312 of the first pressing plate 310.
[0074] Of course, only the one end 321 of the second pressing plate 320 may be formed integrally
with the inner circumferential surface of the dust storage space 221, or only the
other end may be integrally formed with the stationary shaft 322. In other words,
the second pressing plate 320 is fixed to at least one of the inner circumferential
surface of the dust storage space 221 and the stationary shaft 322.
[0075] The one end of the second pressing plate 320 may be formed adjacent to the inner
circumferential surface of the dust storage space, without being formed integrally
with the inner circumferential surface of the dust storage space 221.
[0076] Also, the other end of the second pressing plate 320 may be formed adjacent to the
stationary shaft 322, without being integrally connected with the stationary shaft
322
[0077] Accordingly, leaks of dust pushed by the first pressing plate 310 through a gap formed
beside the second pressing plate 320 are minimized.
[0078] Each of the first and second pressing plates 310 and 320 may be formed as a quadrangular
plate. The rotary shaft 312 of the first pressing plate 310 is provided coaxially
with the dust storage space 221.
[0079] The stationary shaft 322 protrudes inward from one end of the dust storage space
221, and has a cavity formed in an axial direction for the assembly of the rotary
shaft 312. A predetermined portion of the rotary shaft 312 is inserted into the cavity
from the upside of the stationary shaft 322.
[0080] The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention further includes a driving
unit 400 that is connected to the rotary shaft 312 of the first pressing plate 310
and rotates the first pressing plate 310.
[0081] A coupling relation between the dust collector 200 and the driving unit 400 will
now be described in detail with reference to FIGs. 4 and 5.
[0082] The driving unit 400 includes gears 410 and 420 rotating the first pressing plate
310, and a compressing motor 430 rotating the gears 410 and 420.
[0083] In detail, the gears 410 and 420 are a driven gear 410 coupled to the rotary shaft
312 of the first pressing plate 310, and a driving gear 420 transferring power to
the driven gear 410.
[0084] The driving gear 420 is coupled to a rotary shaft of the compressing motor 430, and
thus is rotated by the compressing motor 430.
[0085] Accordingly, when the compressing motor 430 is rotated, the driving gear 420 coupled
to the compressing motor 430 is rotated, and then a rotary force of the compressing
motor 430 is transferred to the driven gear 410 by the driving gear 420 to rotate
the driven gear 410. Finally, the rotation of the driven gear 410 allows rotation
of the first pressing plate 310.
[0086] Here, the compressing motor 430 is provided under the dust collector mounting part
130. The driving gear 420 is coupled to the rotary shaft of the compressing motor
430, and is provided on a bottom of the dust collector mounting part 130.
[0087] A part of an outer circumferential surface of the driving gear 420 is exposed to
the outside at the bottom of the dust collector mounting part 130.
[0088] To this end, a motor receiving part at which the drive motor is installed may be
formed under the bottom of the dust collector mounting part 130. An opening for exposing
the part of the outer circumferential surface of the driving gear 420 may be formed
at a roughly central portion of the bottom of the dust collector mounting part 130.
[0089] The rotary shaft 312 of the first pressing plate 310 is inserted in the cavity of
the stationary shaft 322 from the upside of the stationary shaft 322, and the driven
gear 410 is inserted in the cavity of the stationary shaft 322 from a lower end of
the dust collector 220 to be coupled to the rotary shaft 312.
[0090] The rotary shaft 312 has a height-difference portion 312c supported by an upper end
of the stationary shaft 322, and is divided by the height-difference portion into
an upper shaft 312a coupled to the first pressing plate 310, and a lower shaft 312b
coupled to the driven gear 410.
[0091] Here, a groove 312d is formed at the lower shaft 312b. A gear shaft of the driven
gear 410 is inserted in the groove 312d, so that the lower shaft 312b can be coupled
to the driven gear 410.
[0092] The groove 312d may have various shapes such as circular and quadrangular shapes.
The gear shaft of the driven gear 410 may have a shape corresponding to the shape
of the groove 312d.
[0093] Accordingly, when the driven gear 410 is coupled to the rotary shaft 312, the driven
gear 410 is exposed to the outside of the dust container 220.
[0094] When the dust container 200 is mounted to the dust container mounting part 130, the
driven gear 410 exposed to the outside of the dust container 220 is engaged with the
driving gear 420.
[0095] The compressing motor 430 may be a motor capable of both forward rotation and backward
rotation. In other words, a motor capable of bidirectional rotation may be used as
the compressing motor 430.
[0096] To allow the forward and backward rotation of the compressing motor 430, a synchronous
motor may be used as the compressing motor 430.
[0097] The synchronous motor is configured to be capable of forward and backward rotation
by itself. When a value of a force applied to the motor becomes greater than a set
value while the motor is rotating in one direction, the rotation of the motor is switched
to the other direction.
[0098] The force applied to the motor is a resistance force (i.e., torque) that is generated
as the first pressing plate 310 presses dust. The motor is configured to switch its
rotation direction when a value of the resistance force becomes equal to a set value.
[0099] Since the synchronous motor is well known in the field of motor technologies, detailed
description thereon will be omitted, except that one of technical aspects of the present
invention is that the synchronous motor allows forward and backward rotation of the
compressing motor 430.
[0100] Even when the first pressing plate rotates to compress dust and then reaches a limit
where the first pressing plate cannot be further rotated, the first pressing plate
310 may continue to press the dust for a certain period of time.
[0101] Here, when the resistance force reaches a set value, the first pressing plate 310
is at the limit where it cannot be further rotated.
[0102] When the value of the resistance force becomes equal to the set value, power that
rotates the first pressing plate 310, that is, power that is applied to the compressing
motor 430, is cut off for a predetermined period of time to stop the first pressing
plate 310. The stopped first pressing plate 310 maintains the compressing of the dust.
When the predetermined period of time elapses, power is applied to the compressing
motor 430 to move the first pressing plate 310.
[0103] Here, the power applied to the compressing motor 430 is cut off when the value of
the resistance force becomes equal to the set value. Therefore, when driven again,
the compressing motor 430 rotates in the opposite direction to the previous direction.
[0104] Also, when more than a predetermined amount of dust is collected within the dust
container 220, the time for emptying the dust container 220 may be indicated to prevent
degradation of the dust collection performance and the overload of the motor.
[0105] To this end, indication units 510 and 520 are provided at the cleaner body 100 or
the handle 40. A user may be notified of the time for emptying the dust container
220 through the indication units 510 and 520 when more than a predetermined amount
of dust are collected in the dust container 220 and thus an angle to which the first
pressing plate 310 is rotated becomes smaller than a predetermined angle.
[0106] Each of the indication units 510 and 520 may be a light emitting diode (LED) 510
that can provide a user with visual indication of the time for emptying the dust container
220, or may be a speaker 520 that can provide a sound to the user to indicate the
time for emptying the dust container 220.
[0107] Also, both the LED 510 and the speaker 520 can be used to notify the user of the
time for emptying the dust container 220. In this case, the LED 510 may be mounted
to the handle 40 used by the user to manipulate the operation, and the speaker 520
may be provided to any one of the cleaner body 100 and the handle 40.
[0108] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a dust separator and a dust container of the
dust collector, and FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the dust separator shown
in FIG. 6.
[0109] Referring to FIGs. 6 and 7, the dust separator 210 is coupled to an upper portion
of the dust container 220. In the dust separator 210, dust separated from the dust
separator 210 subsides to be stored in the dust container 220.
[0110] In detail, an inlet 211a through which the air containing dust is introduced is formed
at an upper portion of an outer circumferential surface of the dust separator 210
along a tangential line of the dust separator 210, and a cover 221d is detachably
provided at an upper side of the dust separator 210.
[0111] An outlet 211b is formed at a central portion of the cover 211d. The purified air
from which the dust has been separated in the dust separator 21, that is, by the cyclone
unit 211, is discharged through the outlet 211b.
[0112] A hollow exhaust member 221c is coupled to the outlet 211b, and includes at an outer
circumferential surface thereof a plurality of through holes through which the air
purified in the cyclone unit 211 is discharged.
[0113] A partition plate 230 is horizontally formed under the dust separator 210, and serves
to divide the dust separator 210 and the dust container 220. Also, the partition plate
230 further serves to prevent dust stored in the dust container 220 from spreading
toward the dust separator 210 when the dust separator 210 is coupled to the dust container
220.
[0114] The partition plate 230 includes a dust discharge hole 231 through which dust separated
in the cyclone unit 211 are discharged to the dust container 220.
[0115] The dust discharge hole 231 may be formed at the opposite side to the second pressing
plate 320.
[0116] Accordingly, the amount of dust compressed at both sides of the second pressing plate
320 is maximized. Thus, the dust collection capacity is maximized, and spreading of
the dust is minimized during a process of storing the dust in the dust container 220.
[0117] For the coupling between the dust separator 210 and the dust container 220, the dust
separator 210 and the dust container 220 include an upper grip 212 and a lower grip
223, respectively.
[0118] A hook unit is provided at the dust collector 200 so that the dust container 220
and the dust separator 210 can be coupled together in a state where the dust container
220 has been mounted to the dust separator 210.
[0119] In detail, a hook receptacle 241 is installed at a lower end of an outer circumferential
surface of the dust separator 210, and a hook 242 selectively coupled to the hook
receptacle 241 is installed at an upper end of an outer circumferential surface of
the dust container 220.
[0120] Provided that the cyclone unit 211 is a main cyclone unit and the dust storage space
221 is a main storage space, the dust collector 200 according to the present invention
may further include at least one auxiliary cyclone unit provided to the cleaner body,
and an auxiliary storage space 224 provided to the dust collector 200.
[0121] The auxiliary cyclone unit serves to secondarily separate dust from the air discharged
from the main cyclone unit 211, and the auxiliary storage space 224 serves to store
dust separated by the auxiliary cyclone unit.
[0122] The auxiliary storage space 224 is provided at an outer circumferential surface of
the dust collector 200, with its upper end opened.
[0123] In the current embodiment, the auxiliary storage space 224 is provided at an outer
circumferential surface of the dust container 220, and an auxiliary dust intake unit
213 communicating with the auxiliary storage space 224 is provided at the outer circumferential
surface of the dust separator 210.
[0124] Here, auxiliary dust intake holes 231a (depicted in FIG. 3) selectively communicating
with a dust discharge hole 140 of the auxiliary cyclone unit are formed at an outer
wall of the auxiliary dust intake unit 213. The bottom of the auxiliary dust intake
unit 213 is opened to communicate with an upper end of the auxiliary storage space
224.
[0125] Accordingly, when the main cyclone unit 211 is mounted to the cleaner body 100, the
auxiliary dust intake hole 213a communicate with the dust discharge hole 140 (depicted
in FIG. 1) of the auxiliary cyclone unit.
[0126] Thus, dust separated by the auxiliary cyclone unit are introduced through the auxiliary
dust intake hole 213a, and are stored in the auxiliary storage space 224.
[0127] Operations of the vacuum cleaner having the aforementioned structure according to
the present invention will now be described.
[0128] First, when power is supplied to the vacuum cleaner, a suction force generator generates
a suction force, and the air containing dust is introduced through the suction nozzle
40 by the air suction force.
[0129] The air sucked through the suction nozzle 40 is sucked into the inlet 211a of the
main cyclone unit via the body suction part 110. The air introduced through the inlet
211a of the main cyclone unit is guided along an inner wall of the main cyclone unit
211 in a tangential direction, thereby forming a spiral current. Accordingly, dust
contained in the air is separated by a difference in a centrifugal force with the
air, and subside.
[0130] The dust subsiding while spirally flowing along the inner wall of the main cyclone
unit 211 pass through the dust discharge hole 231 of the partition plate 230, and
are stored in the main storage space 221.
[0131] The air that has been primarily purified by the main cyclone unit 211 is discharged
through the outlet 211b via the exhaust member 211c, and flows into the auxiliary
cyclone unit.
[0132] Thus, the dust separated by the cyclone principle within the auxiliary cyclone unit
is stored in the auxiliary storage space 224. The purified air within the auxiliary
cyclone unit is exhausted from the auxiliary cyclone unit, is introduced to the cleaner
body 100, and then is exhausted from the cleaner body 100 through the body discharge
part 120.
[0133] Most of dust introduced into the vacuum cleaner are stored in the main storage space
221 during a cleaning process, and the dust within the main storage space 221 are
compressed by the first and second pressing plates 310 and 320 to the minimum volume,
so that a large amount of dust can be stored in the main storage space 221.
[0134] When more than a predetermined amount of dust is stored in the dust container 220
during the cleaning process, the indication units 510 and 520 are operated, so that
the user may be notified of the time for emptying the dust container 220.
[0135] Then, the user separates the dust collector 200 from the cleaner body 100, and then
empties the dust container 220.
[0136] A process of compressing dust collected in the dust container 220 will now be described
in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 through 12.
[0137] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing configuration for controlling compression of dust
within the dust collector, and FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a process of compressing
dust within the dust collector. FIG. 10(a) is a waveform view of a current phase of
the drive motor over the dust compression time, and FIG. 10(b) is a waveform view
of a phase of power supplied to the drive motor over the dust compression time. FIGs.
11 and 12 are plan views of the dust container, illustrating a process of compressing
dust within the dust collector.
[0138] Referring to FIG. 8, the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present
invention includes a current detector 610 detecting a current value of the compressing
motor 430 driving the first pressing plate 310, a motor driver 620 driving the compressing
motor 430, and a controller 600 receiving the current value detected by the current
detector 610 and controlling the motor driver 620 according to the detected current
value.
[0139] In detail, the driver motor 430 is capable of bidirectional rotation as mentioned
above, and switches its rotation direction when a value of a resistance force applied
to the first pressing plate 310 becomes equal to or greater than a set value.
[0140] Here, when the value of the resistance force applied to the first pressing plate
310 becomes equal to or greater than the set value, the current value of the compressing
motor 430 is momentarily increased as illustrated in FIG. 10(a), and the current detector
610 detects the current value of the compressing motor 430.
[0141] When cleaning is performed by the aforementioned structure, dust separated by the
cyclone unit 211 is stored in the dust storage space 221. In such a process of storing
the dust, the pair of pressing plates 310 and 320 compress the dust stored in the
dust storage space 221.
[0142] In detail, when the compressing motor 430 rotates in one direction, a rotary fore
of the compressing motor 430 is transferred to the driven gear 410 through the driving
gear 420, thereby rotating the driven gear 410. The rotation of the driven gear 410
causes rotation of the rotary shaft 312 and the first pressing plate 310.
[0143] Since the driving gear 420 and the driven gear 410 are engaged with each other, when
the compressing motor 430 rotates in one direction, the driving gear 420 is rotated
in the same direction as that of the compressing motor 430, and the driven gear 410
is rotated in the other direction, the opposite direction to that of the compressing
motor 430 S110.
[0144] That is, it can be seen that the direction in which the driven gear 410 and the rotary
shaft 312 are rotated is opposite to the direction in which the compressing motor
430 rotates.
[0145] When the first pressing plate 310 is rotated in the other direction (counterclockwise
in FIG. 17), the first pressing plate 310 pushes dust between the first pressing plate
310 and the second pressing plate 320 toward one side of the second pressing plate
320, thereby compressing the dust. The rotation of the first pressing plate 310 is
continued until a value of a resistance force generated in the process of pressing
the dust becomes equal to the set value.
[0146] When the value of the resistance force becomes equal to or greater than the set value
S120, a current value of the compressing motor 430 is momentarily increased, and such
an increase is detected by the current detector 610.
[0147] The current value detected by the current detector 610 is transmitted to the controller
600, and the controller 600 sends the motor driver 620 a signal for cutting off power
applied to the compressing motor 430. Then, the driving of the compressing motor 430
is stopped, and thus the first pressing plate 310 is stopped in a state of compressing
the dust S130. The first pressing plate 310 presses the dust at the stopped position
for a predetermined period of time (t).
[0148] When the predetermined period of time (t) elapses, the controller 600 sends the motor
driver 620 a signal for applying power to the compressing motor 430, and thus the
compressing motor 430 and the first pressing plate 310 are rotated.
[0149] Here, since the first pressing plate 310 was stopped when the value of the resistance
force becomes equal to the set value, the rotation direction thereof is switched,
and thus the first pressing plate 310 is rotated clockwise as illustrated in FIG.
18 S140.
[0150] When the first pressing plate 310 is rotated clockwise, the first pressing plate
310 pushes dust between the first pressing plate 310 and the second pressing plate
320 toward the other side of the second pressing plate 320, thereby compressing the
dust.
[0151] When a value of a resistance force applied to the first pressing plate 310 becomes
equal to or greater than a set value during the rotation of the first pressing plate
310 S150, power being applied to the compressing motor 430 is cut off, and thus the
first pressing plate 310 is stopped, still compressing the dust S160. The first pressing
plate 310 presses the dust at the stopped position for a predetermined period of time
(t).
[0152] When the predetermined period of time elapses, the compressing motor 430 is driven
again and thus the first pressing plate 310 is rotated in the opposite direction (counterclockwise).
[0153] The compression is repetitively performed until an angle to which the first pressing
plate 310 is rotated becomes smaller than a predetermined angle. When the operation
of the cleaner is stopped by a user in this process S170, the process of compressing
dust is terminated.
[0154] FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing a dust-emptying time indicating function of the dust
collector, FIG. 14 is a flow chart for describing an operational state of the cleaner
when the dust-emptying time indicating function is performed, and FIG. 15 is a plan
view showing an operational state of a first pressing plate when the dust-emptying
time indicating function is performed.
[0155] Referring to FIGs. 13 through 15, when cleaning is performed by manipulation of a
user, dust are separated from the air, are stored in the dust collector 200, and are
compressed by the pair of pressing plates 310 and 320 S100. Since the compression
process of the dust is the same as described above, the detailed description thereon
will be omitted.
[0156] Also, during the cleaning operation, a moving time (S) of the first pressing plate
310 is continuously detected S200, and the detected time value is input to the controller
500. Then, the amount of dust stored in the dust collector 200 is roughly calculated
according to the time value input to the controller 600.
[0157] Here, the cleaner body 100 may further include a memory (not shown) storing the roughly
calculated amount of dust according to the extent to which the first pressing plate
310 can be rotated.
[0158] In detail, referring to FIG. 10(b), the moving time (S) of the first pressing plate
310 is a period of time from the time point when power is applied to the compressing
motor 430 again after power supplied to the compressing motor 430 to rotate the first
pressing plate 310 in one direction is cut off for a predetermined period of time
(t), to the time point when the current value of the compressing motor 430 is momentarily
increased while the first pressing plate 310 is being rotated in the other direction.
[0159] Numerically, referring to FIG. 10(b), the moving time (S) is obtained by equation
B=(A+t).
[0160] The moving time of the first pressing plate 310 is reduced as the amount of dust
stored in the dust collector 200 is increased. During the cleaning operation, it is
determined whether the moving time (S) of the first pressing plate 310 is shorter
than a reference time (Sc) S300.
[0161] If the moving time (S) of the first pressing plate 310 is shorter than the reference
time (Sc), it is further determined whether the number of times that the moving time
(S) of the first pressing plate 310 becomes shorter than the reference time (Sc) is
equal to the set number of times, for example, 10 times S400.
[0162] When it is determined that more than a predetermined amount of dust are stored in
the dust collector 200, a time for emptying the dust container 220 is indicated to
a user S500.
[0163] When the moving time (S) of the first pressing plate 310 is equal to or longer than
the reference time (Sc), or when the number of times that the moving time (S) of the
first pressing plate 310 becomes shorter than the reference time (Sc) is smaller than
the set number of times, the first pressing plate 310 continuously compress the dust.
[0164] Here, the number of times the moving time (S) of the first pressing plate 310 is
determined to be shorter than the reference time is set to a plurality number of times,
not just once, in order to prevent the time for emptying the dust from being indicated
even when the moving time (S) of the first pressing plate 310 is reduced by external
factors.
[0165] In detail, the first pressing plate 310 being rotated toward one side of the second
pressing plate 320 may change its rotation direction and be moved toward the other
side of the second pressing plate 320, without being completely rotated to the one
side of the second pressing 320 because of dust between the first pressing plate 310
and the inner circumferential surface of the dust container 220. In this case, the
moving time (S) of the first pressing plate 310 may be reduced. To prevent the time
for emptying dust from being indicated in such a case, the number of times the moving
time (S) of the first pressing plate 310 is determined to be shorter than the reference
time (Sc) is set to a plurality of times.
[0166] When the dust-emptying time indicating function is performed, the first pressing
plate 310 is moved to a location allowing the user to facilitate emptying of the dust
within the dust collector S510.
[0167] In detail, the first pressing plate 310 can be stopped after rotated to a location
spaced apart from the second pressing plate 320 at an angle of about 180° .
[0168] That is, the first pressing plate 310 is moved to be at the maximum distance from
the second pressing plate 320, thereby facilitating the emptying of the dust.
[0169] Otherwise, the first pressing plate 310 may be stopped after moved for half of the
reference time (Sc) (i.e., 1/2 of the reference time). In this case, the pressing
plate 310 is spaced apart from both ends of the dust compressed at both sides of the
second pressing plate 320 at the same distance.
[0170] Here, the location where the first pressing plate 310 is stopped may vary according
to the amount of dust compressed at both sides of the second pressing plate 320.
[0171] In FIG. 15, the first pressing plate 310 is moved to a location where it is at an
angle of about 180° from the second pressing plate 320.
[0172] The indication units 510 and 520 are operated to inform the user of a time for emptying
the dust S520. As mentioned above, the LED 510 and the speaker 520 may be used as
the indication units 510 and 520.
[0173] The LED 510 may be repetitively turned ON and OFF so that user can easily recognize
light, and the speaker 520 may output a buzzing sound or a melody.
[0174] Here, S510 and S520 may be performed either sequentially or simultaneously.
[0175] Then, a suction motor operated by a predetermined load is continuously operated for
a first set period of time S530. The predetermined load means an operational state
of the suction motor before the indication units 510 and 520 work.
[0176] After the suction motor is operated for the first set period of time, the load of
the suction motor is decreased to a predetermined value, and the suction motor is
operated by the decreased load for a second set period of time S530.
[0177] After the suction motor is operated by the decreased load for the second set period
of time, the operation of the suction motor is finally stopped S540.
[0178] The operation of the suction motor is divided into the several processes mentioned
above, in order to prevent the user from determining that the cleaner is broken when
the suction motor is momentarily stopped.
[0179] When the operation of the suction motor is stopped, the operation of the indication
units 510 and 520 is stopped S550.
[0180] Since a user is notified of the time for emptying the dust within the dust container
220, convenience of the user is improved. Also, the operation of the suction motor
is controlled in the process of performing the dust-emptying time indicating function,
so that the performance of the cleaner is prevented from being lowered by suction
of an excessive amount of dust.
[0181] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation between a driving
unit and a dust collector according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0182] Referring to FIG. 16, the lower end of the mounting part 130 according to the second
embodiment includes a compressing motor 430 and a driving gear 420 coupled to the
compressing motor 430, and an on/off micro switch 440 provided to correspond to the
rotation of the driving motor 420.
[0183] In detail, the driving gear 420 includes a plurality of teeth 422 formed at a predetermined
interval around the perimeter thereof. Here, in the present invention, the teeth 422
on the driving gear 420 will hereinafter be called "protrusions", and the portions
where the teeth 422 are not formed will hereinafter be called "recesses" 423.
[0184] A terminal that extends from an end of the micro switch 440 is disposed below the
position in which the teeth 422 of the driving gear 420 are formed.
[0185] Accordingly, the terminal that extends from the micro switch 440 detects the recesses
at regular intervals according to the rotation of the driving gear 420.
[0186] That is, the micro switch 440 is in an on state when a protrusion of the driving
gear 420 is above its terminal, and in an off state when a recess is above the terminal.
The on-off signals of the micro switch 440 are applied to a counter 880 (to be described
below) so that a predetermined pulse signal is outputted. Here, the counter 880 outputs
a pulse signal that has a high level when the micro switch 440 is on and a low level
when the micro switch 440 is off.
[0187] Therefore, by measuring the number of pulses (that is, the frequency of the on-off
switching), the rotated state of the driving gear 420 can be measured.
[0188] That is, in the present invention, the micro switch 440 detects when the driving
gear 420 cannot rotate any further due to collected dust, so that the compressing
motor 430 is operated again after it is stopped for a predetermined duration.
[0189] FIG. 17 a block diagram illustrating a control unit of a vacuum cleaner according
to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a dust
compressing process of the dust collection unit and dust discharge alarming, and FIG.
19 is a waveform of a pulse signal varying according to an amount of the dust collected
in the dust collection unit.
[0190] Referring first to FIG. 17, the vacuum cleaner of the second embodiment includes
a control unit 810 formed of a microcomputer, an operation signal input unit 820 (corresponding
to 510 of FIG. 1) for selecting a suction power of the dust (e.g., high, middle, low
power modes), a dust discharge signal display unit 830 (corresponding to 510 or 520
of FIG. 1), a suction motor driver 840 for operating the suction motor 850 that is
a driving motor for sucking the dust into the dust collection unit according to the
operation mode, a compression motor driver 860 for operating the compressing motor
430 used for compressing the dust collected in the dust collection unit, and a counter
880 for measuring a degree of the rotation clockwise and counterclockwise (e.g., reciprocal
rotation time) of the compressing motor 430.
[0191] In operation, when the user selects one of the high, middle and low modes representing
the suction power using the operation signal input unit 820, the control unit 810
controls the suction motor driver 840 so that the suction motor 850 can be operated
with the suction power corresponding to the selected power mode.
[0192] Meanwhile, the control unit 810 operates the compression motor 430 simultaneously
with or right after the operation of the suction motor driver 860. When the suction
motor 850 operates, the dust starts being sucked into the dust collection unit through
the suction nozzle 20. The dust introduced into the dust collection unit is compressed
by the first compressing plate 310 rotating by the compression motor 430.
[0193] The counter 880 measures the reciprocal time (period) of the compressing motor 430
and transmits the corresponding signal to the control unit 810.
[0194] As an amount of the dust compressed in the dust collection unit increases, the reciprocal
rotation time of the compression motor is reduced. When the amount of the dust reaches
a predetermined level and thus the reciprocal rotation time is less than a predetermined
time, the control unit 810 displays an empty request signal through the indicator
830.
[0195] Referring to FIGs. 18 and 19, the dust compression and the signal requesting an emptying
of dust according the second embodiment of the present invention will be described
in further detail.
[0196] First, the user operates the vacuum cleaner by selecting one of the high, middle
and low modes of the operation signal input unit 820. The control unit 810 controls
the suction motor driver 840 so that the suction motor 850 can be operated with the
suction power corresponding to the selected power mode (s1010) .
[0197] When the suction motor 850 operates, the dust starts being sucked into the dust collection
unit through the suction nozzle 20. The sucked dust is collected in the dust collection
unit. As described above, the dust collected in the dust collection container 220
is compressed by the pressing plates 310 and 320.
[0198] Therefore, the control unit 810 drives the compressing motor 430 to compress the
dust sucked in the dust collection container (S1020).
[0199] For reference, although the compressing motor 430 is driven after the suction motor
850 is driven, the suction and compression motors 850 and 870 may be simultaneously
operated.
[0200] In step S1020, when the compressing motor 430 is driven, the driving gear 420 coupled
to the rotational shaft of the compressing motor 430 rotates. When the driving gear
410 rotates, the driven gear 410 starts rotating. When the driven gear 410 rotates,
the rotational shaft 312 coupled to the driven gear 410 and the first pressing plate
310 rotate toward the second pressing plate 320 to compress the dust in step S1030.
[0201] When the driving gear 420 rotates as above, the terminal of the micro switch 440
is turned on and off at regular intervals according to the rotation of the driving
gear 420. also, the counter 880 that receives the on/off signal of the micro switch
440 outputs a predetermined pulse signal corresponding to the received signal, and
sends the pulse signal to the control unit 810.
[0202] That is, as an amount of the dust compressed by the first and second pressing plates
310 and 320 increases, the reciprocal rotation time of the driven gear 410 is reduced
and thus the reciprocal rotation time of the driving gear 420 engaged with the driven
gear 410 also reduced.
[0203] At this point, the reduction of the reciprocal rotation time of the driving gear
420 means that the number of on-off operations of the micro switch M is reduced. That
is, the number of the pulse signals output from the counter 880 is reduced.
[0204] Here, the output of the pulse signals will be described hereinafter with reference
to FIG. 19.
[0205] When the first pressing plate 310 compresses the dust while moving toward the second
pressing plate 320, the driven and drive gears 410 and 420 rotate with a predetermined
period and thus the micro switch M is turned on and off a predetermined period according
to the rotation of the driving gear 420.
[0206] However, when the first pressing plate 310 cannot rotate toward the second pressing
plate 320 as the dust are fully compressed, the driven and drive gears 410 and 420
do not rotate no longer. This means that no pulse signal is generated.
[0207] Therefore, the control unit 810 identifies that the dust are fully compressed by
the rotation of the first pressing plate 310. This identification process is determined
with reference to whether the pulse signal is regularly generated.
[0208] That is, the control unit 810 determines if the pulse is generated from the counter
880 in step S1040.
[0209] When the regular pulse is generated, this means that there is still a space for compressing
the dust between the first and second pressing plates 310 and 320. In this case, the
process is returned to the step 1030 to continue the compression process.
[0210] On the contrary, when no regular pulse is generated, i.e., when the dust is fully
compressed by the first pressing plate 310, the control unit 810 stops the operation
of the compressing motor 430 in step S1050.
[0211] That is, during the periodical pulses are regularly applied through the counter 880,
when the regular periodical pulses is collapsed, the control unit 810 detects this
fact and stops the compressing motor 430 using the compression motor driver 860. Therefore,
the rotation of the first pressing plate 310 is stopped.
[0212] Next, the control unit 870 maintains the stopped state of the compressing motor 430
for a predetermined time (e.g., 3 seconds). This predetermined time is a stand by
time for driving the compressing motor 430 in a reverse direction, and a time for
allowing continued compression of dust while the first pressing plate 310 is immobile.
[0213] Next, the control unit 810 determines in step S1070 if the number N of the pulses
from the formed compression motor stop point (time T1) to the current compression
motor stop point (time T2) is less than the predetermined number. For example, when
an amount of the dust is greater than a predetermined level, the reciprocal time of
the first pressing plate 310 is reduced in response to the reduction of the number
of the pulses output from the counter 880 during the period.
[0214] That is, whether the amount of the dust compressed in the dust collection container
220 is higher than a predetermined level is determined by measuring the reciprocal
time of the first pressing plate (a difference of the number of the pulses).
[0215] In step S1070, it is determined that the number N of the pulses from the formed compression
motor stop point (time T1) to the current compression motor stop point (time T2) is
greater than the predetermined number, it means that there is still a space for further
compressing the dust in the dust collection container. Therefore, the process is returned
to the step S120. At this point, the compressing motor 430 is controlled by the control
unit 810 such that it rotates in a direction opposite to that of step S1050.
[0216] In step S1070, it is determined that the number N of the pulses from the formed compression
motor stop point (time T1) to the current compression motor stop point (time T2) is
less than the predetermined number, the control unit 810 determines in step S1080
if the results where the number of the pulses determined in the step S1070 is measured
as it is less than the predetermined number reaches to the predetermined times (e.g.,
3 times). By doing this, it is possible to more accurately determine if the amount
of the dust in the dust collection container 220 is higher than the predetermined
amount. Furthermore, an error that may be incurred as the first pressing plate 310
cannot normally rotate in both directions due to the affection of the dust can be
prevented.
[0217] In step S1080, when the results is less than the predetermined times, the process
is returned to the step S1030.
[0218] On the contrary, when it is determined in step S1080 that the result reaches the
predetermined times, the control unit stops the suction motor 850 that is the main
driving motor in step S1090.
[0219] Next, the control unit 810 transfers an empty request signal to a dust discharge
request signal display unit 830 in step 1100 so that the user can address this matter.
[0220] FIG. 19 is a waveform of a pulse signal varying according to an amount of the dust
collected in the dust collection unit, where FIG. 19(a) shows a state where there
is hardly any dust present in the dust container 220, FIG. 19(b) shows the dust container
220 with a certain amount of dust therein, and FIG. 19(c) shows the dust inside the
dust container 220 having reached a certain level.
[0221] In FIG. 19, the pulse waveform is a signal output from the counter 880 and input
to the control unit 810. The pulse signal is output from the counter 880 receiving
a signal of the micro switch M that is turned on and off according to the rotation
of the drive gear 420.
[0222] First, when the compressing motor 430 operates, the first pressing plate 310 will
be positioned as a certain location. Therefore, for example, the control unit 810
normally operates from a point where the compressing motor 430 rotates clockwise and
initially stops (here, a section a-b is 3 seconds). That is, after reaching the point
(a), the control unit determines that the pulse signal input from the counter 880
is the normal pulse signal.
[0223] As can be noted from FIG. 19, when the amount of the dust collected in the dust collection
container 220 is small, the first pressing plate 310 can rotate to the maximum clockwise
and counterclockwise and thus 10 pulses will be output as shown in FIG. 19(a).
[0224] When the amount of the dust increases as the time goes, the reciprocal rotation time
of the first pressing plate will be gradually reduced (i.e., the rotating angle of
the first pressing plate 310 will be reduced).
[0225] As shown in FIG. 19(c), when the number of the pulse signals and the generation of
these pulse signals is repeated by a predetermined times (3 times in this embodiment),
the control unit receives an empty request signal.
[0226] As described above, the present invention increases dust collection efficiency by
compressing the dust and displaying a dust discharge timing by converting the number
of rotations of the gear rotated by the compression motor and detecting the variation
in the pulse signal according to the amount of the dust.
[0227] FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation between a driving
unit and a dust collector according to the third embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 21 is a frontal perspective of a driven gear included in the driving unit according
to the present invention, FIG. 22 is a side view of the driven gear in FIG. 21, and
FIG. 23 is a view showing the coupling of the driven gear in FIG. 21 with a micro
switch.
[0228] Referring to FIGs. 20 through 23, the dust collector according to the present embodiment
includes a compressing motor 430 below the mounting portion 130, a driving gear 420
coupled to the compressing motor 430, a driven gear 410 coupled to the driving gear
420, and a micro switch 450 that is turned on and off according to the rotation of
the driven gear 410.
[0229] Specifically, the micro switch 450 has a terminal 460 that allows the micro switch
450 to be turned on and off that is disposed in contact with the lower side of the
driven gear 410.
[0230] Also, the driven gear 410 includes a round plate shaped floor portion 412, a contact
rib 413 extending upward from the lower edge of the floor portion 412 and contacting
the terminal 440, and a plurality of gear teeth 416 formed along the side perimeter
of the floor portion 412.
[0231] The contact rib 413 has a position check groove 415 (for checking the position of
the driven gear 410) formed therein to prevent contact of the terminal 440 when at
a predetermined position of the driven gear 410. Here, the terminal 440 not contacting
the contact rib 413 means that when a portion of the terminal 460 is inserted into
the position check groove 415, the terminal 460 does not contact the lower surface
of the contact rib 413.
[0232] That is, when the dust collector 200 is installed in the mounting portion 130, the
terminal 460 contacts the contact rib 413 and presses a contact point of the micro
switch 430. Also, when the driven gear 410 is rotated and moves to a predetermined
position, a portion of the terminal 440 is inserted in the position check groove 415,
so that the terminal 440 is disengaged from the contact point 452.
[0233] Here, the micro switch 450 is turned off only when the terminal 460 is disposed at
the position check groove 415, and in all other cases, the micro switch 450 is turned
on when the terminal 460 is in contact with the lower surface of the contact rib 413.
[0234] Accordingly, when the driven gear 410 rotates, the micro switch 450 is always on,
with the exception of when the terminal 460 is disposed at the position check groove
415.
[0235] FIG. 24 is a block diagram of a control unit of a vacuum cleaner according to the
third embodiment of the present invention.
[0236] Referring to FIG. 24, the vacuum cleaner according to the third embodiment of the
present invention includes a control unit 810, a signal input unit 820 for selecting
a suctioning strength (i.e., high, medium, and low) of dust, a signaler 830 for issuing
a signal to empty the stored dust in the dust collector 200, a driver 840 for operating
a suctioning motor 850 for suctioning dust into the dust collector 200 in accordance
with an operating mode (high, medium, low) from the signal input unit 820, a compressing
motor driver 860 for operating the compressing motor 430 used to compress the dust
inside the dust collector, a driving gear 420 that is driven by the compressing motor
430, a driven gear 410 engaged to the driving gear 420 to rotate, and at least one
micro switch 450 that is turned on or off according to the rotation of the driven
gear 410.
[0237] FIGS. 25 and 26 are diagrams for describing an on state of a micro switch when a
first pressing member becomes close to one side of a second pressing member for compressing
dust according to the present invention, FIGs. 27 and 28 are diagrams for describing
an off state of the micro switch in FIG. 25 when the first and second pressing members
are positioned respectively in-line, and FIGs. 29 and 30 are diagrams for describing
an on state of the micro switch in FIG. 25 when the first pressing member approaches
the opposite side of the second pressing member.
[0238] Referring to FIGs. 25 through 30, when a first pressing member 310 forms an angle
of 180° with respect to a second pressing member 320, the terminal 460 is disposed
in the position check groove 415 of the driven gear 410. In this case, the terminal
460 is disengaged from the contact point 452 so that the mask switch 450 is in an
off position.
[0239] Here, the off position of the micro switch 450 will be referred to as a reference
position for the sake of convenience when describing the first pressing member 310
in FIG. 28.
[0240] Also, as the first pressing member 310 rotates counterclockwise from the reference
position and compresses dust collected on the floor of the dust separator 210, the
terminal 460 is engaged with the contact rib 413 of the driven gear 410 and presses
the contact point 452 of the micro switch 450, so that the micro switch is turned
on, as shown in FIG. 26.
[0241] Furthermore, when the first pressing member 310 that was turning counterclockwise
cannot rotate further due to the accumulated dust, the first pressing member 310 rotates
in a clockwise direction. Accordingly, the first pressing member 310 passes the reference
position shown in FIG. 27 and rotates to the right of the second pressing plate 320
to press dust collected in the dust collector body 210.
[0242] When the first pressing member 310 that was rotating in a clockwise direction cannot
rotate further because of accumulated dust, the compressing motor 430 rotates in a
counterclockwise direction to repeat the procedure that has been thus described, to
perform compressing of dust collected within the dust collector body 210.
[0243] FIG. 31 is a diagram for describing the overall operation of the first pressing member
described in FIGs. 25 through 30.
[0244] Referring to FIG. 31, a time TD1 that it takes for the first pressing member 270
to rotate in a clockwise direction from a reference position and return to the reference
position, and a predetermined time TD2 that it takes to return to the reference position
by rotating counterclockwise are shown. For the sake of descriptive convenience, the
first time TD1 will be referred to as the first return time, and the second time TD2
will be referred to as the second return time. Generally, because dust is evenly distributed
within the dust collector body 210, the first return time TD1 and the second return
time TD2 are almost identical.
[0245] As the quantity of dust compressed by the first pressing member 310 increases, the
first return time TD1 and the second return time TD2 become shorter.
[0246] In the present invention, when one of the first and second return times TD1 and TD2
reaches a predetermined reference time, it is determined that there is enough dust
in the dust collector body 210, and a signal to empty the dust is issued.
[0247] FIG. 32 is a flowchart of a dust compressing process and a dust emptying time of
a dust collector according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
[0248] Referring to FIG. 32, a user selects one mode (i.e., high, medium, or low) from the
suction modes displayed on an operating signal input 820 and operates the vacuum cleaner.
Then, the control unit 810 activates the suction motor driver for operating suction
motor 850 according to the user selected suctioning mode in step S1210.
[0249] When the suction motor operates 850, the suctioning force of the suction motor 850
suctions air including dust through the nozzle 20. The suctioned dust collects in
the dust collector 200. Inside the dust collector 200, the dust is compressed by the
pressing members 310 and 320.
[0250] That is, the control unit 810 operates the compressing motor 430 in step S1220 to
compress the dust stored in the dust collector 200.
[0251] When the compressing motor 430 operates in step S1220, the driving gear 420 coupled
to the compressing motor 430 rotates. When the driving gear 420 rotates, the driven
gear 410 engaged thereto also rotates. When the driven gear 410 rotates, the first
pressing member 310 coupled to the driven gear 410 automatically rotates toward the
second pressing member 320 to compress the dust.
[0252] Here, the control unit 810 first determines whether the first pressing member 310
is disposed in a reference position in step S1230. The present invention uses a reference
position of the first pressing member 310 as a reference to measure the first and
second return times, so that when the operation is initiated, there is a need to verify
that the first pressing member 310 is in a reference position.
[0253] If the first pressing member 310 is at its reference position at the start of operation,
the micro switch 450 should be in an off state.
[0254] Accordingly, the control unit 810 sets an off state of the micro switch as a reference,
and measures the first and second return times.
[0255] Also, with the reference position of the first pressing member 310 set at a starting
point of movement, the control unit 810 measures the first and second return times
according to the rotation of the first pressing member 310 in a clockwise or counterclockwise
direction.
[0256] Here, as the amount of dust being compressed inside the dust collector body 210 through
the first and second pressing members 310 and 320 increases, the rotating time in
left and right directions of the driven gear 410 becomes shorter.
[0257] The control unit 810 measures the first and second return times TD1 and TD2 of the
first pressing member 310 through the micro switch 450, and determines in step S1250
whether the first or second return times TD1 or TD2 has reached a predetermined time.
[0258] Here, the predetermined reference time is a time that a designer sets into the control
unit 810, and is an indicator that signals that a predetermined amount of dust has
accumulated in the dust collector body 210. The designer may conduct multiple tests
to set an optimal reference time, and differs according to the capacity of each vacuum
cleaner.
[0259] According to the present invention, when one of the first and second return times
TD1 or TD2 reaches a reference time, it is determined that the amount of dust has
reached a certain level; however, in alternate embodiments, the indicator may be based
on both the first and second return times TD1 and TD2 reaching the predetermined reference
time.
[0260] In the determining in step S1250, if the first or second return time TD1 or TD2 is
longer than the reference time, step S1240 is restored and the previous steps are
performed.
[0261] Conversely, if the first or second return times TD1 or TD2 reach the reference time,
the control unit 810 turns the suction motor 850 off in step S1260 to prevent further
suctioning of dust. Here, the compressing motor 870 may also be turned off.
[0262] Next, the control unit 810 sends a signal to the dust empty signal 830 in step S1270,
so that a user may perceive the message.
[0263] In the above description, a canister type vacuum cleaner was used as an example.
However, the present invention may also be applied to an upright type or a robot vacuum
cleaner.
[0264] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations
can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention
covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within
the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
1. A method of controlling a vacuum cleaner including a dust collector for storing dust,
the method comprising:
sensing a quantity of dust stored in the dust collector during vacuuming; and
issuing a signal to an outside to empty the dust stored in the dust collector when
the quantity of the dust exceeds a predetermined amount.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein during the vacuuming, at least one movable
pressing member compresses the dust stored in the dust collector.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the dust collector is provided with a fixed
member fixed therein, for compressing dust through interacting with the pressing member.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the pressing member rotates in either direction
about a central axis of the dust collector.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a reversal in a rotating direction of the
pressing member is determined by a current value of a compressing motor for rotating
the pressing member.
6. The method according to claim 4, wherein a moving time of the pressing member is continuously
sensed during the vacuuming, and a determining of when the quantity of the dust exceeds
a predetermined amount is performed based on the moving time.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the moving time is converted to a pulse signal
through a counter.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a reversal in a rotational direction of the
pressing member is determined by the pulse signal.
9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the moving time of the pressing member is
a time in which the pressing member moves from a first reference position to a second
reference position.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first reference position is a position
in which the pressing member is stopped at one side of the fixed member, and the second
reference position is a position in which the rotating member is stopped at the other
side of the fixed member.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first reference position is a position
in which the pressing member and the fixed member form a straight line.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first and the second reference positions
are the same, and the second reference position is a position in which the rotating
member moves from the first reference position toward one side of the fixed member,
and returns in a reverse direction back to the first reference position.
13. The method according to claim 4, wherein in the issuing of the signal to empty the
dust, the pressing member moves and stops in a position to form a straight line together
with the fixed member.
14. The method according to claim 4, wherein in the issuing of the signal to empty the
dust, the rotating member stops after moving a same distance from either side of the
fixed member to compressed dust.
15. The method according to any one of claims 1 through 14, wherein in the issuing of
the signal to empty the dust, a load on a suction motor is reduced incrementally and
stopped.
16. The method according to any one of claims 1 through 14, wherein in the issuing of
the signal to empty the dust, an operation of a suction motor is stopped.
17. The method according to any one of claims 1 through 14, wherein in the issuing of
the signal to empty the dust, an operation of a suction motor is stopped after a predetermined
time elapses from a time at which an amount of dust stored is determined to exceed
a predetermined amount.
18. A method of controlling a vacuum cleaner including a dust collector for storing dust,
the method comprising:
compressing dust stored inside the dust collector, through a pressing member rotated
by a compressing motor;
determining a quantity of the compressed dust; and
issuing a signal to empty the compressed dust to an outside of the vacuum cleaner,
when the quantity of the compressed dust is determined to exceed a predetermined amount.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the pressing member rotates in both directions
in the compressing of the dust, and the compressing motor momentarily stops operating
before a directional change of the pressing member.
20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the determining of the quantity of the compressed
dust is performed through a measured rotating time of the compressing motor.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the measured rotating time of the compressing
motor is converted to a pulse signal, and the quantity of the compressed dust is performed
through determining a frequency of the converted pulse signal.
22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the determining of the quantity of the compressed
dust is performed through a measured rotating time of the compressing member.
23. The method according to claim 18, wherein the signal to empty the compressed dust
is visual data or aural data.
24. A vacuum cleaner including a dust collector forming a dust storage, the vacuum cleaner
comprising:
a fixed member fixed to the dust storage;
a rotating member for performing a compressing of dust stored in the dust storage,
through interaction with the fixed member;
a compressing motor for driving the rotating member;
a counter for measuring a moving time of the rotating member;
a signaller for issuing a dust empty signal of the dust storage; and
a controller for operating the signaller when a measured moving time is less than
a reference time.
25. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, further comprising a current sensor for
sensing a current applied to the compressing motor, wherein a change in a rotating
direction of the rotating member is determined according to a current value sensed
by the current sensor.
26. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, wherein the counter converts the measured
moving time to a pulse signal and sends the pulse signal to the controller.
27. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, further comprising a micro switch for sensing
a reference position of the rotating member.
28. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 27, wherein the moving time is a time in which
the rotating member rotates and moves from the reference position toward the fixed
member in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and returns in a counterclockwise
or clockwise direction to the reference position.
29. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, wherein the signaller is provided on at
least one of a handle and body of the vacuum cleaner.
30. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, wherein the signaller is at least one of
an LED (light emitting diode), a speaker, and a buzzer circuit.