EP3232887A1

EP3232887A1 - Cleaning appliance with airflow

Info

Publication number: EP3232887A1
Application number: EP15823666.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Donatien Frot; Stéphane L'APPARTIEN
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 2014-12-19
Filing date: 2015-12-18
Publication date: 2017-10-25
Also published as: WO2016097645A1; CN106998974A; FR3030215B1; CN106998974B; FR3030215A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning appliance with airflow, such as a handheld vacuum cleaner, including: a cyclone chamber (10) arranged to receive impurities, an emptying hatch (20) for emptying the cyclone chamber (10), means (30) for filtering an airflow exiting the cyclone chamber (10), which means are arranged in the cyclone chamber (10), control means arranged to manually open the emptying hatch (20), characterised in that the control means are arranged to cause the filtering means (30) to be removed from the cyclone chamber (10) during a control for opening the hatch.

Description

AP I N ETTOYAG E A F LUX D'AI R

The present invention generally relates to a cleaning apparatus such as a hand-held vacuum cleaner, and in particular a bagless hand-held vacuum cleaner, otherwise known as a cyclonic hand-held vacuum cleaner.

It is known in the prior art cyclonic hand vacuums, such as that disclosed in US8607407 with a cyclonic chamber and filter means (ie a filter) output cyclonic chamber. Such a cyclonic chamber outlet filter is arranged to filter the particles of low mass or small size that would not have remained in the cyclonic chamber. Such a filter is typically a micro particle filter or a foam. Prolonged use without cleaning this filter causes a significant loss of performance. In US8607407, the user must perform a specific operation of disassembly of the filter to clean it, which complicates the cleaning, and many users even forget to clean this filter. An object of the present invention is to meet the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to propose an air-flow cleaning apparatus, such as a hand-held vacuum cleaner, the cyclonic type (that is to say without bag), but the cleaning of the filtration means is facilitated for the user. For this purpose, a first aspect of the invention relates to an air-flow cleaning apparatus, such as a hand-held vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a cyclonic chamber arranged to receive impurities,

- a dump hatch of the cyclonic chamber,

means for filtering an air flow leaving the cyclonic chamber, arranged in the cyclonic chamber,

control means arranged to manually open the hatch of dump,

characterized in that the control means are arranged to cause an extraction of the filtering means out of the cyclonic chamber, during an opening command of the hatch. To empty the cyclone chamber, the user manually acts on the control means to open the emptying hatch, and during this action, the control means operate an extraction of the filtration means out of the cyclonic chamber (simultaneously or sequentially to the opening of the dump hatch). As a result, the filtration means are automatically ejected from the cyclonic chamber during each emptying of the cyclonic chamber. No specific operation is to be performed by the user, so that the user can easily control the filtration means and clean the filter. The cyclonic chamber of the apparatus according to the present invention is arranged to separate the impurities from the air flow and then collect them, before being emptied. The air / dust flow enters at high speed into the cyclonic chamber. The latter comprises a tangential inlet of the inlet channel and the cylindrical shape provide a circular path to the flow. By centrifugation, most of the dust is pressed against the inner wall of the cyclonic chamber and then ends up in the bottom of the bowl, in the reservoir zone.

Advantageously, the cyclonic chamber comprises an elongated body, arranged between a first end and a second end, the filtering means and the control means are arranged at the first end, and the emptying hatch is arranged at the second end. In other words, the cyclonic chamber is arranged between the filtering means and the emptying hatch, and the control means are remote from the emptying hatch, to be in the immediate vicinity of the filtration means. Advantageously, the apparatus comprises elastic ejection means for causing an automatic ejection of the filtering means when the control means are actuated to control the opening of the emptying hatch. Advantageously, the control means comprise:

a control handle arranged to be actuated by a user between a locking position and a emptying position, and comprising at least one cam,

transmission means arranged between the cam and a lock of the emptying hatch,

said at least one cam being arranged to engage, upon movement of the control handle from the lock position to the emptying position, with a first integral cam track of the transmission means for controlling the opening of the hatch, and with a second cam track to cause the extraction of the filtration means, sequentially or simultaneously. In the locking position, the emptying hatch and the filtration means are mounted on the cyclonic chamber to allow use of the cleaning apparatus, and in the emptying position, the emptying hatch is open, and the means filtration are out of the cyclonic chamber. It is the integral cam of the control handle which causes the mechanical actions on the transmission means to open the emptying flap, and on the second cam track to eject the filtration means. The second cam track may be integral with the cyclonic chamber or a main body of the cleaning apparatus.

Advantageously, the first cam track and the second cam track are respectively a first portion and a second portion of a single cam track. When cooperating with the first portion, there is no displacement of the filtration means. Advantageously, the control handle is secured to the filtering means. This makes it possible to manipulate the filtration means without touching them, by means of the control handle, and the hygiene is improved.

Advantageously, the control handle is arranged in the upper part of the cleaning device. This arrangement allows easy use for the user if the apparatus has another opposite handle.

Advantageously, the cam is arranged to engage with a static cam track when the control handle is in the locking position, to lock the control handle in the locking position. It is the same cam that provides the following three functions: control the emptying hatch, eject the filtering means and lock the control handle in the locked position.

Advantageously, the control means comprise a latch arranged to hold the emptying flap in a closed position when using the cleaning apparatus.

Advantageously, the lock is arranged to keep the dump hatch closed without contact with the latter. Parts manufacturing is improved, there are fewer mechanical interfaces to predict.

Advantageously, the lock is magnetic. Advantageously, the lock comprises a clamp.

Advantageously, the clamp has two spouts, and the apparatus comprises a wedge arranged between a junction of the two spouts, to cause a spacing of the two spouts during a translation of the two spouts controlled by the control means. The two nozzles have a space between them, and the closing of the clip is ensured by the elastic properties of the nozzles when sliding on the corner in the other direction than for the opening.

Advantageously, one of the emptying flap and the lock comprises at least one magnet and the other of the emptying flap and the lock comprises at least one magnetic material, arranged to cooperate together in order to maintain the emptying hatch in the closed position, without contact between the lock and the emptying hatch.

Advantageously, the magnet is mounted on a gear wheel of the control means. It is conceivable to control the toothed wheel by a rack, by a cable which actuates in rotation a "cylindrical magnet cage", the cable attachment being eccentric from the pivot. It is also possible to consider placing the magnet at the end of a flexible strip, the latter being guided by a path whose shape allows a 180 ° reversal of the magnet.

Advantageously, a first magnet is mounted on the toothed wheel in a first polar orientation with respect to the radius of the toothed wheel, and the toothed wheel comprises a second magnet mounted in a second polar orientation opposite to the first polar orientation, and the emptying hatch comprises a third magnet, arranged to be attracted by the first magnet, and pushed back by the second magnet, when the emptying hatch is in the closed position. The third magnet is attracted to the first magnet when the dump door is closed. During an opening command, the control means cause a rotation of the toothed wheel to present the second magnet facing the third magnet, which pushes the latter and forces the opening of the emptying hatch.

Alternatively, a single magnet is mounted on the toothed wheel and has two poles arranged so that a first pole attracts the third magnet when the emptying hatch is in the closed position and the control handle in the locking position, and for a second pole pushes the third magnet when the emptying hatch is in the closed position and the control handle in the emptying position.

Advantageously, the cleaning apparatus has a main body, the cyclonic chamber is separated from the main body and / or the control means are integral with the cyclonic chamber. Body design main device (which supports the motorcycle fan and a battery) is simplified, since all the mechanics of the control means is embedded on the cyclonic chamber.

Advantageously, the cleaning apparatus comprises a main body and locking means of the cyclonic chamber on the main body of the apparatus, and the control means are arranged to control, during the opening control of the hatch. emptying means, the locking means for unlocking the cyclonic chamber of the main body. The cyclonic chamber is made removable relative to the main body, and its unlocking allows it to be removed for cleaning, for example.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a cleaning apparatus according to the invention, that is to say a hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising a cyclonic chamber and a hatch for emptying the cyclonic chamber, in use configuration. ; FIG. 2 represents the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1, in the configuration for emptying dust and / or impurities collected in the cyclonic chamber;

- Figure 3 shows a first implementation of a control mechanism of the emptying hatch of the apparatus of Figure 1; - Figure 4 shows a second implementation of a control mechanism of the emptying hatch of the apparatus of Figure 1.

FIG. 1 represents a hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising a cyclonic chamber 10 (more precisely a mono-cyclonic chamber) coupled to a main body 50, and having a suction mouth 1 1. The main body 50 has a handle and typically contains a motorcycle fan, a battery arranged to power the motorcycle fan to create a suction flow that can suck impurities through the suction mouth 1 1, impurities being then centrifugally separated in the cyclonic chamber 10 and stored therein.

In this type of apparatus, the air flow then passes into filtration means 30 which are arranged at the downstream outlet of the cyclonic chamber 10, to eliminate any impurities too light or too fine to be separated by centrifugation and which would be always driven by the airflow.

A dump hatch 20 is provided at one end of the cyclonic chamber 10, the filtration means 30 being arranged at the other end of the cyclonic chamber 10. To open the emptying hatch 20, the hand-held vacuum cleaner is equipped with control means including a control handle 41 and allowing manual opening. To be easily manipulated, the control handle 41 is offset from the emptying flap 20, and arranged on the filtering means 30. More particularly, the control handle 41 is integral with the filtering means 30, it is mounted in pivot connection compared to these.

The filtration means 30 may be a module which comprises a micro filter, or a foam which it is important to clean regularly, otherwise clogging occurs, and the suction performance is significantly degraded. For this purpose, the invention proposes to automatically extract the filtration means 30 each time the cyclonic chamber 10 is emptied of impurities that have been stored during the use of the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 2 represents a emptying operation of the cyclone chamber 10. The user actuates the control handle 41 to rotate it about a quarter of a turn. During this rotation, the control handle 41 which includes two cams 45 (only one is visible here, and also in Figure 4) forces the opening of the emptying flap 20, but also pushes up the means of filtration 30, as shown by the arrow.

The opening of the emptying flap 20 is effected by an action of the cams 45 on transmission means, and the movement of the filtration means 30 is caused by the action of the cams 45 on a static part of the hand-held vacuum cleaner (The cyclonic chamber 10 or the main body 50). The opening of the emptying flap 20 and the extraction movement of the filtration means 30 may be simultaneous or sequential, but they are both controlled by the rotation of the control handle 41.

The filtration means 30 are thus ejected from the cyclonic chamber 10, and since the control handle 41 is integral with the filtration means 30, the user can examine them without touching them, which improves hygiene and ergonomics. of the operation. If the filtration means 30 are clogged, the user can then easily clean them above the trash in which were previously poured the impurities in the cyclonic chamber 10 when opening the dump flap 20.

Figure 3 shows a first implementation of the control means. Indeed, in order to control the emptying flap 20 remotely, the control means of the hand-held vacuum cleaner comprise transmission means which in a first implementation comprise a return rod 43 (arranged behind an independent bar 44). ). This return rod 43 is actuated by the cams 45 (not visible in this figure) in order to control the opening of the emptying flap 20, via a split pliers comprising two spouts 42, between which a wedge 43a is arranged integral with the return rod 43. During the movement of the control handle 41 to open the emptying flap 20, the return rod 43 slides upwards and pulls the wedge 43a which forces the spouts 42 to move away from each other, which releases the bolt 21 of the emptying hatch 20, which can then open. As soon as the return rod 43 rebases under the action of the cam 45, and / or because of the elastic force of the nozzles 42, the latter close again.

Once the cyclonic chamber 10 emptied, the user can close it and the emptying flap 20 will be automatically locked because the bolt 21 will be pinched and locked by the latches 42 returned to the locked position. The bar 44 can provide an additional function of disassembly of the cyclonic chamber 10. Indeed, it may be advantageous to detach the cyclonic chamber 10 of the main body 50 of the hand vacuum, for cleaning. For this purpose, the bar 44 comprises two half-moons 44a which press on locks 31. When the control handle 41 is actuated to open the emptying flap 20 as explained above, the filtration means 30 are also extracted from the cyclonic chamber 10 and rise upwards. At this moment, the bar 44 is released, and can rise upwards, which allows the locks 31 to approach each other, that is to retract. At this moment, only the beveled ends of the latches 31 are engaged with the main body 50, which keeps the cyclonic chamber 10 on the latter, but the user can however easily detach the cyclonic chamber 10 of the main body 50 .

During reassembly, the user positions the cyclonic chamber 10 on the main body 50 and then rises the filtering means 30 on the hand-held vacuum cleaner. During the locking movement of the filtration means 30, the cams 45 force the filtration means 30 to descend, which at the same time pushes the bar 44 downwards and forces the latches 31 to exit via the half-moons 44a. The cyclonic chamber 10 is then again locked on the main body 50. It is advantageous to provide for disengaging the return rod 43 of the cam 45 and the control handle 41 and the filtering means 30, to allow the user to be able to lock the emptying hatch 20, that the filtration means 30 are raised or not in the cyclonic chamber 10, the latter being raised or not on the main body 50.

It should be noted that the control means (and the transmission means) are all mounted on the cyclonic chamber 10 in order to leave the main body 50 of the vacuum hand free of these organs. The design is facilitated. FIG. 4 shows a second implementation of the opening control means of the emptying flap 20. The latter no longer includes a bolt 21, but the holding in the closed position is provided by magnetic means. In particular, the control means comprise a first magnet 49a and a second magnet 49b, in order to cooperate with a third magnet 22 inserted into the emptying flap 20.

During the unlocking movement of the control handle 41 upwards, the cam 45 pushes the filtration means 30 upwards to eject them out of the cyclonic chamber 10, relying on a static part of the vacuum cleaner hand, represented in hatched form. At the same time, the filtration means 30 pull on a return rod

46 (of different shape of the return rod 43 of the first implementation), which in turn pulls on a rack 47 to rotate a shaft 48 on which are mounted the first magnet 49a and the second magnet 49b . In the position as shown, the first magnet 49a is oriented so that its magnetic flux attracts the third magnet 22. When the control handle 41 is actuated, it is the second magnet 49b which then arrives opposite the third magnet 22, and its polar orientation is inverted relative to the first magnet 49a, so that the second magnet 49b pushes the third magnet 22, to cause the opening of the emptying flap 20. Alternatively, it is conceivable to use only one embedded magnet on the shaft 48.

At the end of the vertical movement of the filtration means 30, the return rod 46 can flex in order to disengage from the filtration means 30, to allow complete separation of the latter so that the user cleans them if necessary.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

B. 1,538 REVE ND ICATIONS

1. Airflow cleaning apparatus, such as a handheld vacuum, comprising:

a cyclone chamber (10) arranged to receive impurities,

a dump hatch (20) of the cyclone chamber (10),

means for filtering (30) an air flow leaving the cyclonic chamber (10), arranged in the cyclone chamber (10),

control means arranged to manually open the emptying flap (20),

characterized in that the control means are arranged to cause an extraction of the filter means (30) out of the cyclonic chamber (10), during an opening command of the hatch.

2. Cleaning apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the cyclonic chamber (10) comprises an elongate body arranged between a first end and a second end, wherein the filter means (30) and the control means are arranged at the first end, and wherein the emptying flap (20) is arranged at the second end.

Cleaning apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means comprises:

a control handle (41) arranged to be actuated by a user between a locking position and a emptying position, and comprising at least one cam (45),

- Transmission means arranged between the cam (45) is a lock of the emptying flap (20),

said at least one cam (45) being arranged to engage, upon movement of the control handle (41) from the lock position to the emptying position, with a first cam track integral with the transmission means for controlling the opening of the hatch, and with a second cam track, for causing the extraction of the filter means (30), sequentially or simultaneously.

4. Cleaning apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the control handle (41) is integral with the filter means

(30).

The cleaning apparatus according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the cam (45) is arranged to engage with a static cam track when the control handle (41) is in the locking position, for lock the control handle (41) in the locking position.

6. Cleaning apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means comprises a latch arranged to maintain the emptying flap (20) in a closed position during use of the cleaning apparatus.

7. Cleaning apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the latch is arranged to maintain the empty flap (20) closed without contact therewith.

8. Cleaning apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the latch is magnetic.

9. Cleaning apparatus according to one of claims 6, 7 or 8, wherein one of the emptying flap (20) and the lock comprises at least one magnet (22, 49a, 49b) and the other of the emptying flap (20) and the latch comprises at least one magnetic material, arranged to cooperate together in order to keep the emptying flap (20) in the closed position, without contact between the latch and the emptying flap (20).

10. Cleaning apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the magnet (49a, 49b) is mounted on a gear wheel of the control means.

1 1. Cleaning apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein a first magnet (49a) is mounted on the gear in a first polar orientation with respect to the radius of the gear, and wherein the gear comprises a second magnet ( 49b) mounted in a second polar orientation opposite the first polar orientation, and wherein the emptying hatch (20) comprises a third magnet (22), arranged to be attracted by the first magnet (49a), and pushed back by the second magnet (49b), when the emptying hatch (20) is in the closed position.

Cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the lock comprises a clamp.

13. Cleaning apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the clamp has two spouts (42), and wherein the apparatus comprises a wedge (43a) arranged between a junction of the two spouts (42), to cause a separation of the two spouts (42) during a translation of the two spouts (42), controlled by the control means.

Cleaning apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, having a main body (50), in which the cyclonic chamber (10) is separated from the main body and / or in which the control means are integral with the cyclonic chamber ( 10).