VACUUM CLEANER AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A VACUUM CLEANER

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a body, an electrically-driven suction unit, a device for collecting dust, a suction channel, a nozzle communicating with the body through the suction channel, an intake device for ensuring an additional portion of air fed into the suction channel and being adjustable between an opened and a closed state, and a control unit for controlling the suction unit. The intake device is bi-directionally electrically connected to the control unit, so that transmission of data or signals between the intake device and the control unit is enabled. The control unit is configured to generate a signal for controlling the intake device in the event of detecting the cleaning start signal or the cleaning end signal. A method for operating a vacuum cleaner is also provided.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner for cleaning a surface, the vacuum cleaner comprising: a body; an electrically-driven suction unit; a device for collecting dust; a suction channel; a nozzle fluidically communicating with said body through said suction channel; an intake device having a by-pass channel, said intake device fluidically communicating with said suction unit, being configured for ensuring feeding of an additional portion of air into said suction channel, and configured to be adjusted between an opened state and a closed state for opening and closing said by-pass channel; a control unit configured to control said suction unit, said control unit having a processor for storing, calculating and interpreting signals or data; a starting and stopping device being operated by a user, electrically communicating with said control unit and configured to generate a cleaning start signal or a cleaning end signal; said intake device being bi-directionally electrically connected to said control unit for enabling transmission of data or signals between said intake device and said control unit; and said control unit being configured to generate a signal for controlling said intake device upon detecting the cleaning start signal or the cleaning end signal.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said intake device is configured to generate data providing said control unit with information about the state of said intake device, the data enabling said control unit to control said suction unit.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said intake device has an actuator controlled by said control unit, said actuator configured to change the state of said intake device based on the signal generated by said control unit.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein said starting and stopping device is an electrical switch communicating with said control unit over a wired transmission.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said intake device is configured to generate and send the cleaning end signal to said control unit for controlling said suction unit when said intake device has been manually adjusted from the closed to the opened state by the user, and said suction unit then being switched off immediately or after a predetermined time period counting by said control unit.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said intake device includes at least one paddle disposed on a bottom of said nozzle, said actuator being configured to rotate said paddle between horizontal and vertical positions relative to said bottom of said nozzle to increase a gap between said bottom of said nozzle and the surface when said intake device is in the opened state.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, which further comprises a suction pipe forming at least a portion of said suction channel, said intake device including a sleeve sliding on an outer surface of said suction pipe, said suction pipe having an opening formed therein, and said sleeve being configured to air-tightly close or open said opening upon sliding along said suction pipe.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein said sleeve has a handle projecting from an outer surface of said sleeve transversely to a movement of said sleeve.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said intake device includes a solenoid valve configured to be operated by said control unit, said solenoid valve being disposed in said nozzle, fluidically connected with said suction channel and configured to allow inlet air to bypass a nozzle inlet of said nozzle.

10. A method for operating a vacuum cleaner, the method comprising: providing the vacuum cleaner according to claim 1; and cleaning the suction channel by performing the following steps: operating said suction unit and placing said intake device in the closed state before starting a process of cleaning said suction channel; starting the process of cleaning said suction channel upon changing the state of said starting and stopping device from an on to an off position and sending the cleaning end signal to said control unit; switching said suction unit off immediately or alternatively after expiration of the counted time period; using said control unit to generate the signal and send the signal to said intake device; based on the signal generated by said control unit, changing said intake device from the closed state to the opened state; using said control unit to switch off said suction unit after a predetermined time calculated by the processor; ending the process of cleaning said suction channel; informing the user about the end of the process of cleaning said suction channel; and changing said intake device to the closed state manually by operation of the user or automatically by said control unit generating and sending a signal to said intake device configured to be actuated.

11. A method for operating a vacuum cleaner, the method comprising: providing the vacuum cleaner according to claim 5; and cleaning the suction channel by performing the following steps: operating said suction unit and placing said intake device in the closed state before starting a process of cleaning said suction channel: starting the process of cleaning said suction channel upon the user manually changing the state of said intake device from the closed to the opened state; using said intake device to generate and send the cleaning end signal to said control unit to start calculating the time period for switching off said suction unit or alternatively switching said suction unit off immediately upon changing the state of said intake device; using said control unit to switch off said suction unit after the counted time period calculated by said processor; ending the process of cleaning said suction channel; informing the user about the end of the cleaning process; and changing the intake device to the closed state manually by operation of the user or automatically by using said control unit generating and sending a signal to said intake device configured to be actuated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic and block diagram of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to another preferred embodiment of the invention; and

[0030] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view of a vacuum cleaner according to another preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] In cooperation with the attached drawing, the technical contents and detailed description of the present invention are described hereinafter according to a preferable embodiment, which is not used to limit its executing scope. Any equivalent variation and modification made according to the appended claims is covered by the claims which are claimed by the instant application. In the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, similar identical reference numbers designate identical comparable components.

[0032] Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail.

[0033] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a schematic and block diagram of a vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present invention. The vacuum cleaner 1, which is intended for cleaning a surface 13, has a body 2, an electrically-driven suction unit 3, a device 4 for collecting dust, a suction channel 5, a nozzle 6 that fluidically communicates with the body 2 through the suction channel 5, and an intake device 7 with a by-pass 18 fluidically communicating with the suction unit 3 through the suction channel 5. The intake device 7 is provided for ensuring that an additional portion of the air is fed into the suction channel 5, and can be adjusted between an opened state and a closed state, to open and close the by-pass channel 18. When the intake device 7 is in the opened state, the additional portion of air is sucked through the by-pass channel 18, which ensures better circulation of the air in the suction channel 5, so that dust particles that levitate inside the suction channel 5 are sucked into the device 4 for collecting the dust.

[0034] The vacuum cleaner 1 also has a control unit 8 configured to control the suction unit 3, with a processor 8 for storing, calculating and interpreting signals or data. The control unit 8 is operated by the user by activating a starting and stopping device 9 which electrically communicates with the control unit 8 and is configured to generate a cleaning start signal or a cleaning end signal SE.

[0035] Further, the intake device 7 is also adapted to generate the cleaning end signal SE, which initiates the method of cleaning the suction channel 5. Therefore, the user can choose how to start the process of cleaning the suction channel 5. The intake device 7 is bi-directionally electrically connected to the control unit 8, in order to transmit data or signals between the intake device 7 and the control unit 8. At the moment when the user decides to finish cleaning the surface 13, he or she changes the state of the starting and stopping device 9 or alternatively changes the state of the intake device 7. In the first case, in the event of detecting the cleaning end signal SE, the control unit 8 generates a signal S1 to change the state of the intake device 7 from the closed to the opened by using an actuator 10, and starts counting time to switch off the supply to the suction unit 3, or alternatively the suction unit 3 is switched off immediately, and dust particles are sucked into the device 4 for collecting the dust. If the user decides to use the intake device to start the cleaning method of the suction channel 5, he or she changes the state thereof from the closed to the opened state, then the intake device 7 generates the cleaning end signal SE for the control unit 8 which starts calculating time to switch off the supply of the suction unit 3, or alternatively the suction unit 3 is switched off immediately, and dust particles are sucked into the device 4 for collecting the dust, by the momentum of the suction unit 3. The control unit 8 informs the user about the end of the cleaning process of the suction channel 5, and the intake device 7 is operated to enter the closed state, manually by the user or automatically by the control unit 8 which generates and sends a signal S2 to the intake device 7 to be changed to the closed state by the actuator 10.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 1. The vacuum cleaner 1, which is intended for cleaning a surface 13, has a body 2 with an electrically-driven suction unit 3 (not shown), a device 4 for collecting the dust, and a nozzle 6 for cleaning the surface 13, that is fluidically connected with the body 2 through a suction pipe 16 and is formed together the suction channel 5. The nozzle 6 has an inlet 17 (not shown) disposed on the bottom side thereof and an intake device 7 that is disposed on the upper portion of the nozzle 6. The intake device 7 is a valve with an actuator 10 for opening and closing it. The valve has a by-pass channel 18 which is fluidically communicated with the suction channel 5 and provided for ensuring feeding of an additional portion of air into the suction channel in order to bypass the inlet 17. The vacuum cleaner 1 also includes a control unit 8 (not shown) and a starting and stopping device 9, which is in the form of an on/off electrical switch connected to the control unit 8 by wires. The control unit 8 has a processor 8 for storing, calculating and interpreting signals or data and is configured to control the suction unit 3 and the intake device 7. While cleaning the surface 13, the switch is on and the valve is closed, therefore air is sucked into the suction channel 5 only through the inlet 17. If the user decides to finish this process he or she changes the state of the switch from on to off, the switch state change is transmitted to the control unit 8 which changes the state of the valve to open the by-pass channel 18 and starts calculating time to switch off the supply of the suction unit 3, or alternatively the suction unit 3 is switched off immediately, and dust particles are sucked from the suction channel into the device 4 for collecting the dust. The control unit 8 informs the user about the end of the cleaning process of the suction channel 5, and the control unit 8 generates and sends a signal S2 to the actuator 10 to close the valve.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows another preferred embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 1. The vacuum cleaner 1, which is intended for cleaning a surface 13, has a body 2 with an electrically-driven suction unit 3 (not shown), a device 4 for collecting the dust, and a nozzle 6 for cleaning the surface 13, that is fluidically connected with the body 2 through a suction pipe 16 which is formed together the suction channel 5. The nozzle 6 has an inlet 17 (not shown) disposed on the bottom side thereof. The vacuum cleaner 1 also includes an intake device 7 which is disposed on the suction pipe 16. The intake device 7 has a sleeve 19 which slides on the outer surface of the suction pipe 16 and an opening 14 is disposed in the suction pipe 16. The sleeve 19 is configured to air-tightly close or open the opening 14, when sliding along the suction pipe 16. The sleeve 19 is provided with a handle 15 which projects from an outer surface of the sleeve 19 transversely to the movement of the sleeve 19. The vacuum cleaner 1 also includes a control unit 8 (not shown) and a starting and stopping device 9 which is in the form of an on/off electrical switch connected to the control unit 8 by wires. The control unit 8 has a processor 8 for storing, calculating and interpreting signals or data and is configured to control the suction unit 3 and the intake device 7. While cleaning the surface 13, the switch is on and the opening 14 is covered by the sleeve 19, therefore air is sucked only through the inlet 17 into the suction channel 5. If the user decides to finish cleaning the surface 13, he or she presses the handle 15 of the sleeve 19, and in this way the sleeve 19 slides along the suction pipe 16 and the opening 14 is no longer covered by the sleeve 19. At this moment the intake device 7 sends the signal SE to the control unit 8, which starts calculating time to switch off the suction unit 3 from the supply, or alternatively the suction unit 3 is switched off immediately, and dust particles are sucked from the suction channel into the device 4 for collecting the dust, with the help of the additional portion of air sucked through the opening 14. The control unit 8 informs the user about the end of the cleaning process of the suction channel 5. Then, the user moves the sleeve 19 back to cover the opening 14.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows another preferred embodiment of a vacuum cleaner 1 in a fragmentary view. The vacuum cleaner 1 for cleaning a surface 13 has a body 2 (not shown) with an electrically-driven suction unit 3 (not shown), a device 4 for collecting the dust (not shown), and a nozzle 6 for cleaning the surface 13, that is fluidically connected with the body 2 through a suction pipe 16 and is formed together with the suction channel 5. The nozzle 6 has an inlet 17 disposed on the bottom side thereof. The vacuum cleaner 1 also includes an intake device 7 that is disposed at the bottom side of the nozzle 6. The intake device 7 includes at least one paddle 11, that is pivotally disposed on the bottom of the nozzle 6. The actuator 10 is configured to rotate the paddle 11 between horizontal and vertical positions about a pivot axis lying on the bottom of the nozzle 6, in order to increase a gap 12 between the bottom of the nozzle 6 and the cleaned surface 13, when the intake device 7 is in the opened state. Further, the vacuum cleaner 1 has a control unit 8 (not shown) and a starting and stopping device 9 which is in the form of an on/off electrical switch connected to the control unit 8 by wires. The control unit 8 has a processor 8 for storing, calculating and interpreting signals or data and is configured to control the suction unit 3 and the intake device 7. While cleaning the surface 13, the switch is on and the paddle 11 stays horizontally relative to the surface 13 and is hidden in the bottom of the nozzle 6. Therefore, air is sucked into the suction channel only through the very small gap 12 into the inlet 17. If the user decides to finish the process of cleaning the surface 13, he or she changes the state of the switch from on to off, the change of the state of the switch is transmitted to the control unit 8, and then the control unit 8 sends the signal S1 to the intake device 7 to move the paddle 11 from the horizontal to the vertical position. The actuator 10 rotates the paddle 11, and therefore the gap 12 is increased, which allows more air to be drawn into the suction channel 5. At the same moment the control unit 8 starts calculating time to switch off the suction unit 3 from the supply, or alternatively the suction unit 3 is switch off immediately, and dust particles are sucked from the suction channel into the device 4 for collecting the dust by the momentum of the suction unit 3. The control unit 8 informs the user about the end of the cleaning process of the suction channel 5, and the control unit 8 generates and sends a signal S2 to the actuator 10 which rotates the paddle 11 back to its initial horizontal position.

[0039] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

[0040] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention.

List Of Reference Signs

[0041] 1 vacuum cleaner [0042] 2 body [0043] 3 suction unit [0044] 4 device for collecting the dust [0045] 5 suction channel [0046] 6 nozzle [0047] 7 intake device [0048] 8 control unit [0049] 8 processor [0050] 9 starting and stopping device [0051] 10 actuator [0052] 11 paddle [0053] 12 gap [0054] 13 cleaned surface [0055] 14 opening [0056] 15 handle [0057] 16 suction pipe [0058] 17 nozzle inlet [0059] 18 bypass channel [0060] 19 sleeve [0061] SE cleaning end signal [0062] S1 signal 1 [0063] S2 signal 2 [0064] D1 data