WO2022144797A1

WO2022144797A1 - Vacuum-cleaning system

Info

Publication number: WO2022144797A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/062422
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimiliano Pineschi
Original assignee: Inventhis S.A.S. Di Pineschi Massimiliano & C.
Priority date: 2021-01-04
Filing date: 2021-12-29
Publication date: 2022-07-07
Also published as: IT202100000032A1

Abstract

A vacuum-cleaning system is described, said system comprising a portable device and a base station, to which the portable device can be operationally coupled in order to dispose of the vacuumed material, wherein in the condition where the portable device is coupled to the base station the portable device is mechanically connected to the base station and the receiving opening of the base station is arranged in communication with the discharge opening of the portable device and the portable device includes a closing member which can be operated between a first operating position in which the portable device is separated from the base station, and the closing member closes off the discharge opening, but does not close off the suction opening, and a second operating position in which the portable device is coupled to the base station, and the closing member closes off the suction opening, but does not close off the discharge opening, allowing an air flow to pass from the collection chamber of the portable device into the collection chamber of the base station.

Description

"Vacuum-cleaning system"

The present invention relates to a vacuum-cleaning system and, more specifically, a vacuum-cleaning system defined in the preamble of Claim 1 .

PRIOR ART

Today on the market there exist many models of vacuum-cleaning devices, including bagless cordless stick vacuum cleaners which are equipped with powerful lithium ion batteries and digital motors and which offer the consumer a completely cordless cleaning performance with a suction power comparable to that of a canister vacuum cleaner with electric power cord.

These products, however, have drawbacks with regard to their daily use. For example, the duration of the battery is limited and allows use at full power only for a limited number of minutes, although the manufacturers claim longer working times. Furthermore, the dust and debris containing capacity is extremely limited and such a cordless stick vacuum cleaner may be used only a few times before the storage container must be emptied. Despite this fact, the presence of the storage container means occupies a large amount of space and makes handling of the product awkward and unergonomic.

It may be stated that there is a price to pay for the "cordless revolution". Cordless and bagless stick vacuum cleaners are generally difficult to handle and heavy since the entire load must be supported by the user's wrist. Some manufacturers have attempted to address this problem by making the motor unit and storage container displaceable from above, close to the handle, to below, close to the brush.

US9808135 describes a portable accessory which may be used in combination with a centralized vacuum-cleaning system. In order to empty the vacuumed dust from the portable accessory, the latter is coupled to a docking assembly which is shaped with a cavity configured to close the suction opening. The support also comprises an actuator, for example an electronic control solenoid, for opening a hatch 40 in order to transfer the vacuumed dust to a storage container in the docking assembly. The Applicant has noted that this solution is not reliable (owing to the solenoid which might not function), is costly and risks losing dirt if there is not a perfectly tight closure between the cavity of the docking assembly and the opening of the portable accessory.

DE 10 2017 126393 discloses a portable vacuum cleaner which may be connected to a docking station, containing a bag for emptying the dust-storage container of the portable vacuum cleaner. The connection with the emptying station is performed only after manually operating the opening 7 with a sliding valve 12 which must be operated in an entirely manual manner by the user.

WO 97/20492 A1 discloses an arrangement composed of a vertical wheeled vacuum-cleaner onto which a small portable vacuum-cleaning device may be engaged. Activation of the vertical vacuum cleaner is performed after inserting the portable vacuum-cleaning device inside a housing where, during the engaging operation, one duct is opened and separately another one is closed, namely by means of two separate and independent valves.

KR 2020 0074055 describes a solution for a docking station having an opening for emptying a dust-collecting chamber of a portable vacuum cleaner, which is arranged on its upper face. Suction of the dust by the docking station is performed through the discharge opening of the collection chamber of the vacuum-cleaning device by means of an external air flow entering via the suction opening of the device, which therefore is not selectively closed upon opening of the discharge outlet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a satisfactory solution to the aforementioned problems, avoiding the drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a cordless and bagless vacuum-cleaning system, which has small dimensions, is low-weight, ergonomic and therefore easy to handle and use and which does not require frequent emptying by the user.

According to the present invention this object is achieved by means of a vacuum-cleaning system having the characteristic features indicated in Claim 1 .

Particular embodiments form the subject of the dependent claims, the contents of which are to be understood as forming an integral part of the present description.

Basically the present invention is based on the principle of combining a portable vacuum-cleaning device provided with a collection container suitable for containing dust, debris, particles and small-size material from a single use, with a suction base station which is equipped with a fairly spacious collection chamber into which the collection container may be emptied after each use. The suction base station is advantageously incorporated in or coupled to a support for recharging the portable device, for example a recharging support which is fixed to a wall and is configured to suck automatically in turn dust and debris from the collection container of the portable device which it is parked at the end of the operation in a rest condition, through an opening for emptying the portable device which can be accessed when it is coupled to the base station. The collection chamber of the base station may be advantageously emptied less frequently than the conventional vacuumcleaning devices, for example every month or even every two months (in the event of daily cleaning of areas of more than 100 square metres). According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a vacuumcleaning system, comprising a portable device, designed to vacuum material from a surface, and a base station, to which the portable device can be operationally coupled so as to dispose of the vacuumed material, wherein the portable device includes an opening for suction of the material, at least one first chamber for collecting the vacuumed material in communication with said suction opening, first means (for example a generator) for generating a first suction air flow from the suction opening to the collection chamber, and at least one associated filtering means (for example a filter) arranged between said suction opening and said first air flow generating means, the portable device including furthermore a discharge opening for disposing of the vacuumed material, wherein the base station includes an opening for receiving the vacuumed material from the portable device, at least one second collection chamber for collecting the material discharged from the portable device in communication with said opening for receiving the material, second means (for example a generator) for generating a second suction air flow from the receiving opening to the collection chamber and at least one associated filtering means (for example a filter) arranged between said receiving opening and said second air flow generating means, wherein in the condition where the portable device is coupled to the base station the portable device is mechanically connected to the base station and the receiving opening of the base station is arranged in communication with the discharge opening of the portable device so that the second suction air flow generated by said second generating means is conveyed from the collection chamber of the portable device to the collection chamber of the base station, and wherein the portable device includes at least one closing member designed to engage selectively, i.e. alternately, the suction opening and the discharge opening, being able to be operated between a first operating position in which the portable device is separated from the base station, the closing member closes off the discharge opening, but does not close off the suction opening, allowing the first suction air flow to pass from the suction opening to the first collection chamber as a result of operation of the first generator, and a second operating position in which the portable device is coupled to the base station, the closing member closes off the suction opening, but does not close off the discharge opening, allowing the second suction air flow to pass from the first collection chamber to the second collection chamber through the discharge opening as a result of operation of the second generator.

According to embodiments, the closing member comprises a slider. The closing member can be operated from the first operating position into the second operating position as a result of the engagement between the slider and the base station.

According to embodiments, the closing member can be operated from the first operating position into the second operating position as a result of the engagement between the slider and the receiving opening.

According to embodiments, the closing member is configured to perform a translation movement.

The closing member may comprise an elastic member for recalling the closing member from the second operating position into the first operating position.

According to embodiments, the closing member includes at least one integral element which has a first closing formation and a second closing formation, respectively designed to sealingly engage with the aperture of the suction opening and of the discharging opening, wherein the first operating position of the closing member is a stable position and wherein said member has movement means suitable for displacing said member from said first stable operating position into said second operating position and elastic recall means suitable for displacing said member from said second operating position into said first operating position.

According to embodiments, the base station comprises sensing means (for example a sensor) suitable for detecting the presence and/or the quantity of material sucked into the first collection chamber of the portable device and processing and control means configured to control discharging of the vacuumed material from the first collection chamber of the portable device into the collection chamber of the base station depending on the presence and/or the quantity of vacuumed material detected in the collection chamber of the portable device.

The processing and control means may be configured to control the operation of said first means for generating the first suction air flow and said second means for generating the second suction air flow, and said discharging action comprises:

- the generation of the second suction air flow from the collection chamber of the portable device into the collection chamber of the base station when the quantity of material sucked into the collection chamber of the portable device is greater than a predetermined first filling threshold;

- the generation of a blowing air flow from the collection chamber of the portable device into the collection chamber of the base station by the first generating means in combination with the aforementioned second suction air flow, when the quantity of vacuumed material inside collection chamber of the portable device is greater than a predetermined second filling threshold, said second filling threshold being higher than the first filling threshold; and

- the stoppage of the second suction air flow from the collection chamber of the portable device into the collection chamber of the base station when the quantity of material sucked into the collection chamber of the portable device is less than a predetermined third filling threshold, said third filling threshold being lower than the first filling threshold.

The sensor means may comprise image acquisition means suitable for acquiring images of at least one volume of the collection chamber of the portable device in the condition where it is coupled to the base station and said processing and control means are configured to recognize the presence and/or the quantity of vacuumed material inside the collection chamber of the portable device based on said images.

According to embodiments, the receiving opening of the base station emerges inside the collection chamber of the portable device through said discharge opening and is provided with said image acquisition means.

According to embodiments, the portable device has: a main body which includes the suction opening, the means for generating the first suction air flow with said at least one associated filtering means and the collection chamber, and a tube for conveying said first suction air flow, which is coupled to said suction opening and which has, connected to its distal end, a cleaning tool with a suction mouth, wherein the main body has the means for moving the closing member arranged in a position such that they interfere with a portion of the base station in the condition where the portable device is coupled to the base station, causing displacement of said closing member from said first operating position into said second operating position.

According to embodiments, the base station has a main body which includes the receiving opening, the means for generating the second suction air flow with said at least one associated filtering means and the chamber for collecting the discharged material, wherein the main body is suitable for being supported on a wall.

According to embodiments, the base station comprises: a centralized suction system including the means for generating the second suction air flow and the collection chamber, these being located in a service room of a building, and a wall support means designed to receive the portable device and including a tube for conveying said second suction air flow, having a first end designed to be arranged in communication with the centralized suction system via a wall suction socket and a second end which can be coupled to the discharge opening of the portable device.

The base station may further comprise a collection pre-chamber coupled to the first end of said conveying tube and connected to a wall suction socket of the centralized suction system via a tubular connection-piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristic features and advantages of the invention will be described more clearly in the detailed description below of an embodiment thereof, provided by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Figures, 1 a 1 b and 1c show a first currently preferred embodiment of the vacuum-cleaning system according to the invention, comprising a portable device and a base station;

Figures 2 and 3 show, respectively, a partially cut-away perspective view and a longitudinally sectioned view of the vacuum-cleaning system according to the invention in a condition where the portable device is coupled to the base station;

Figures 4a and 4b are longitudinally sectioned views of the portable device of the vacuum-cleaning system according to the invention in a first operating position and second operating position, respectively;

Figures 5a and 5b show a cut-away perspective view of a base station of the vacuum-cleaning system according to the invention in a first operating condition and second condition, respectively;

Figure 6 shows a partially cut-away perspective view of the portable device;

Figures 7a and 7b show further cut-away perspective views of a portion of the portable device according to Figure 2 in a first operating condition and second operating condition, respectively;

Figure 7c shows a view of an embodiment of the closing member;

Figure 8 is a flow diagram illustrating the operating method of the vacuum-cleaning system according to the invention;

Figure 9 shows a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of the vacuum-cleaning system according to the invention in a condition where the portable device is coupled to the base station; and

Figures 10a, 10b and 10c show the second embodiment of the vacuum-cleaning system according to Figure 9, in a longitudinally sectioned partial view and two longitudinally sectioned enlarged views of the two details of Figure 10a, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A vacuum-cleaning system according to the invention comprises a portable device, designed to vacuum material, namely dust, debris, particles and small-size material from a surface, and a base station, to which the portable device can be operationally coupled so as to dispose of (discharge) the vacuumed material, both the portable device and the base station being bagless and provided with a container for collecting material.

Figures 1a-1c show the vacuum-cleaning system according to the invention in a first embodiment, in which the portable device is indicated by 10 and the base station by 12.

Specifically, in Figure 1 a the portable device 10 and the base station 12 are shown separated, in a first operating condition of use of the portable device, while in Figure 1 b the portable device 10 and the base station 12 are shown coupled together in a second operating condition for discharging or disposing of dust and debris from the portable device 10 into the base station 12. The coupled condition is moreover adopted as the rest condition of the vacuum-cleaning system, namely as the condition in which the portable device is parked and - in the currently preferred embodiment in which the portable device is cordless and powered by means of an internal battery - it also allows recharging of the battery of the portable device to be performed. For this purpose, the base station is advantageously connected via cable or by means of a direct connection to an electric socket. Figure 1 c shows an example of an arrangement of the vacuum-cleaning system in which the base station is fixed to a wall W of a building.

In the currently preferred embodiment, the portable device is a cordless and bagless stick vacuum cleaner which has a main motor 20 - which includes means for generating a suction air flow with at least one associated filtering means, and at least one chamber for collecting the vacuumed material - to which there is removably connected a tube 22 for conveying the suction air flow, which has, connected to its distal end, a cleaning tool with a suction mouth, for example a brush 23. The base station 12 is a fixed vacuum-cleaning device which includes an opening 24 for receiving the material previously vacuumed by the portable device, designed to allow emptying of the collection chamber of the portable device, respective means for generating a suction air flow with at least one associated filtering means, and at least one chamber for collecting the discharged material formed in a main body 26 of the base station.

Figures 2 and 3 show, respectively, a partially cut-away perspective view and a longitudinally sectioned view of the vacuum-cleaning system according to the invention in a condition where the portable device is coupled to the base station. Figures 4a and 4b show in greater detail a longitudinally sectioned view of the main body 20 of the portable device 10, in the first operating condition and second operating condition, respectively, and Figures 5a and 5b show in greater detail a cut-away perspective view of the main body 26 of the base station 12 in the first operating condition and second operating condition, respectively.

The main body 20 of the portable device is arranged close to a handle 28 of the device and has, emerging from it, a tubular connectionpiece 30 for connection to the tube 22 for conveying the suction air flow. The main body 20 of the portable device defines inside it a collection chamber - indicated by C - which is placed in communication with a suction opening 32 which faces the tubular connection-piece 30 integral with the main body and intended for connection to the conveying tube 22. The collection chamber C also has a discharge opening 36 for emptying the vacuumed material from the collection chamber.

The main body of the portable device also houses inside internally the means for generating the suction air flow - denoted overall by 38 - which include an electric motor 48 which is powered by a battery housed by way of example inside the handle, and an impeller 42 coupled to it for producing with its rotation a suction air flow. Electric motor and impeller are protected by a filtering means 44 against the entry of vacuumed debris and dust. The main body is also provided with at least one air outflow opening, for example a plurality of slits 46, for releasing externally the suction air flow, purified of dust and debris by the filtering means. Means for controlling operation of the portable device (not shown) are provided for controlling the activation and deactivation of the suction air flow depending on a manual command imparted by means of a switch (not shown) able to be accessed by a user.

The main body 26 of the base station defines internally a chamber for collecting the material discharged by the portable device - indicated by C - which is placed in communication with the opening 24 for receiving the vacuumed material from the portable device via a small lid 24' and is formed by two parts 26' and 26" which are joined together by means of screwing or snap-engagement and can be separated to allow emptying of the collection chamber C.

The main body 26 of the base station houses internally the means for generating the respective suction air flow - indicated overall by 48 - which include an electric motor 50 which is powered by the mains or by a battery which is also housed inside the main body (not shown), and an impeller 52, coupled to it, for producing with its rotation a suction air flow. Electric motor and impeller are protected by a filtering means 54 against the entry of vacuumed debris and dust. The main body is also provided with at least one air outflow opening, for example a plurality of slits 56, for releasing externally the suction air flow, purified of dust and debris by the filtering means.

Externally the main body 26 has a longitudinal groove 58 designed to house at least partially the conveying tube 22 of the portable device when the latter is coupled to the base station.

In the condition where the portable device 10 is coupled to the base station 12 the portable device is mechanically connected to the base station and the receiving opening 24 of the base station is arranged in communication with the chamber C for discharging the vacuumed material through the discharge opening 36 of the portable device so that the suction air flow generated by the base station is conveyed from the collection chamber C of the portable device to the collection chamber C of the base station.

According to a first improvement of the vacuum-cleaning system, in the portable device 10 at least one closing member 60 is designed to engage selectively, namely alternately (either one or the other of) the suction opening 32 and the discharge opening 36, being able to be actuated between a first operating position in which the portable device 10 is separated from the base station 12 and the closing member closes off the discharge opening 36, allowing the suction air flow - indicated by A in Figure 4a - to pass from the suction opening 32 to the collection chamber C, as a result of the operation of the air flow generating means 38 of the portable device, and a second operating position in which the portable device 10 is coupled to the base station 12 and the closing member 48 closes off the suction opening 32, allowing the suction air flow - indicated by S in Figure 4b - to pass from the collection chamber C to the collection chamber C of the base station through the discharge opening 36 as a result of the operation of the air flow generating means 48 of the base station.

The closing member 60 is shown in detail in Figures 6, 7a, 7b and 7c. In particular, Figures 7a and 7b show cut-away perspective views of a main body portion of the portable device in a first operating condition and a second operating condition of the closing member. Fig. 7c shows a view of the closing member alone.

In the currently preferred embodiment the closing member 60 includes at least one integral element which has a first closing formation 62 and a second closing formation 64 respectively designed to sealingly engage with the aperture of the suction opening 32 and the discharge opening 36 which are joined together by an in integral bridge-piece 66. The closing member 60 preferably has movement means, for example in the form of a slider 68, which are designed to displace said member from the first operating position into the second operating position. Advantageously, the first operating position of the closing member is a stable position (Fig. 7a), while the second operating position can be reached by displacing the closing member 60 with a mechanical slidelike movement guided by the siding of the bridge-piece 66 inside a slit 70 as a result of the interference of the inlet tube 24 (Fig. 1 c, Fig. 7b) of the main body 26 of the base station with the slider 68 upon coupling of the portable device together with the base station. The second operating position is maintained until the portable device is coupled to the base station. The closing member 60 also comprises elastic recall means, such as a (cylindrical) spring 72 which can be subjected to a compressive stress, suitable for displacing the member 60 from the second operating position into the first operating position. In other words, the closing member 60 (which in fact operates as a two-way valve) moves as a result of the insertion of the inlet tube 24 into the discharge opening 36, causing the slider 68 and consequently the closing member 60 to slide. The closing member 60 and the slider 68 consist of a single piece. The inlet tube 24 engages until it reaches the contact surface of a sealing gasket. Essentially, the inlet tube 24, during the engagement step, pushes upwards the closing member 60 I slider 68 assembly.

In a second improvement, the base station 12 comprises sensor means suitable for detecting the presence and/or the quantity of material sucked into the collection chamber C of the portable device 10, for example for detecting a filled condition of the collection chamber C. Processing and control means (CPU1 and CPU2), for example in the form of respective electronic boards) are configured to control discharging of the vacuumed material from the collection chamber C of the portable device into the collection chamber C of the base station depending on the presence and/or the quantity of vacuumed material detected in the collection chamber C of the portable device.

The sensor means comprise preferably, but not exclusively, image acquisition means 74 (clearly visible in Figure 2) suitable for acquiring images of at least one volume of the collection chamber of the portable device in the condition where said device is coupled to the base station, and the processing and control means (CPU1 and CPU2) are configured to recognise the presence and/or the quantity of vacuumed material inside the collection chamber of the portable device, based on said images, for example by means of recognition of predetermined form or colour or reflectivity patterns (for comparison between a clean condition - with predefined form, colour and reflectivity - of the walls of the collection chamber and a dirty condition of the aforementioned walls - with modified form, colour and reflectivity).

In a currently preferred embodiment, shown in Figures 2 and 3, said image acquisition means 74 are mounted close to the receiving opening 24 of the base station which emerges inside the collection chamber C of the portable device through the discharge opening 36.

Alternatively to or in addition to the image acquisition means (74), pressure sensor means (74), volume sensor means (74) or a mechanical valve may be provided.

The processing and control means CPU2 (for example in the form an electronic board) are housed in the base station, for example in the main body of the base station, and are configured to control the suction air flow generating means of the portable device and the suction air flow generating means of the base station so as to perform automatic discharging of the vacuumed material.

In one exemplifying embodiment, the automatic discharging of the vacuumed material is carried out in one of two predetermined modes for emptying the portable device and comprises the following operating steps, shown in the flow diagram of Figure 8.

In step 100 the presence of a coupled condition between the portable device 10 and the base station 12 of the vacuum-cleaning system is checked by dedicated sensor means (not shown) or by image acquisition means 74 or functionally similar sensor means.

If this is the case, at least one first reading of the sensor means facing the collection chamber C of the portable device in step 110, for example an image of the internal volume of the collection chamber C, is acquired, and data representing the quantity of vacuumed material detected inside the collection chamber C of the portable device is generated.

In step 120, a first comparison between the detected quantity of vacuumed material present inside the collection chamber and a predetermined first filling threshold of said chamber is performed and, if the quantity of vacuumed material detected is greater than said first filling threshold, in step 130 a second comparison is performed between the detected quantity of vacuumed material and a predetermined second filling threshold of said chamber, higher than the first filling threshold.

If the quantity of vacuumed material is also greater than said second filling threshold, in step 140 the generation of the suction air flow from the collection chamber of the portable device to the collection chamber of the base station is performed by the generating means of the base station, and in step 150 the generation of a suction air flow from the collection chamber of the portable device to the collection chamber of the base station is performed by the generating means of the portable device, in combination with the aforementioned suction air flow, thus implementing a first mode of emptying the portable device, which is more aggressive. The generation of a blowing air flow by the generating means of the portable device is performed by means of a short-range wireless connection between the processing and control means of the base station and the control means for operating the portable device, which prevail over the manual command which may be imparted via the switch, causing the rotation of the motor in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation performed for the generation of a suction air flow.

Alternatively, if the quantity of vacuumed material is less than said second filling threshold, solely the generation of the suction air flow from the collection chamber of the portable device to the collection chamber of the base station by the generating means of the base station is performed, indicated here as step 160, thus implementing a second mode of emptying the portable device, which is less aggressive.

Alternatively, the generation of the suction air flow from the collection chamber of the portable device to the collection chamber of the base station by the generating means of the base station may in any case be stated independently of the acquisition of a reading of the sensor means facing the collection chamber C in step 110 and therefore independently of knowing the data representing the quantity of vacuumed material present inside the collection chamber C of the portable device.

In the first case, where the suction by the base station and the blowing by the portable device are effected simultaneously, optionally a cyclical check is carried out in step 170 as to whether the quantity of vacuumed material detected is greater than said first filling threshold, and if this condition is not satisfied, solely the generation of the suction air flow from the collection chamber of the portable device to the collection chamber of the base station by the generating means of the base station is performed, namely the vacuum-cleaning system switches from the first emptying mode to the second emptying mode, indicated here as step 160.

Finally, when the quantity of vacuumed material inside the collection chamber of the portable device is less than a predetermined third filling threshold, lower than the first and second filling thresholds, said condition being cyclically checked in step 180, the suction air flow from the collection chamber of the portable device to the collection chamber of the base station by the generating means of the base station is stopped and the system assumes a rest position where recharging of the battery of the portable device may be performed.

Different embodiments of the automatic action for disposal of the vacuumed material involve, for example, automatically adjusting the suction power depending on the quantity of dust/debris detected in real time. Furthermore, by means of the image acquisition sensor means, it is possible to identify the areas where there is the greatest concentration of dirt and perform suction until these areas are perfectly clean, for example increasing the suction power in the case where stubborn dirt is present.

A simplified embodiment for disposal of the vacuumed material involves instead the manual operation (by means of a mechanical pushbutton) of a timed system for activation and deactivation of the suction function of the base station.

Figure 9 and Figures 10a-10c show a second embodiment, in which the base station 12 comprises a centralized suction system 80 in which the suction air flow generating means and the collection chamber are located in a service room of a building and the suction air flow reaches one or more remote rooms by means of a conduit system and respective suction wall sockets.

In these figures elements or components which are identical or functionally equivalent to those shown in the preceding figures have been indicated by means of the same reference numbers/letters.

The base station comprises at least one wall support group 81 which is designed to receive the portable device and is delocalized with respect to the centralized suction system and which includes a tube 82 for conveying the suction air flow of the base station, having a first end 84 designed to be arranged in communication with the centralized suction system via a wall suction socket 86 and a second end 88 which can be coupled to the discharge opening 36 of the portable device.

As shown in Figure 10b, the second end 88 of the conveying tube 82 is designed to interfere with the slider 68 of the closing member 60 of the portable device when the latter is coupled to the base station, so as to cause the displacement thereof from the first operating position into the second operating position.

The wall support unit 80 further comprises a collection pre-chamber 90 formed by two parts 90' and 90" which are joined together by means of screwing or snap-engagement and can be separated so as to allow emptying of the pre-chamber. The collection pre-chamber 90 is coupled on one side to the first end 84 of the conveying tube 82 and connected on the opposite side to the wall suction socket 86 of the centralized suction system by means of a tubular connection-piece 92. Advantageously, the conveying tube 82 emerges inside the collection pre-chamber 90 at a midway height, while the tubular connection-piece 92 is L-shaped and directed from the suction socket towards the bottom of the collection pre-chamber, thus forming a kind of siphon suction path. In this way, small objects inadvertently sucked in by the portable device are deposited on the bottom of the pre-chamber 90 where they may be collected.

It should be noted that the embodiment proposed for the present invention in the above description is purely exemplary and does not limit the present invention.

The improvements described may be made to the system as a whole or singly. It will in fact be clear to the person skilled in the art that each single improvement relating to a specific component of the system may be made independently of the other improvements, and as such separately claimed, without the non-implementation of the other improvements illustrated adversely affecting its effectiveness.

Obviously, without altering the principle of the invention, the embodiments and the constructional details may be greatly varied with respect to that described and illustrated purely by way of a non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Differently from the known solutions, the closing member 60 is situated on the portable device and not in the base station. When the portable device is coupled to the base station, the closing member is displaced from the first position into the second position and allows disposal of the vacuumed material. This system is extremely reliable also due to the fact that the movement of the closing member is not caused by electric or electronic devices. As a result of the closing member according to the invention, when the opening 24 is open, the opening 32 is closed and vice versa (when the opening 24 is closed, the opening 32 is open). When the portable device is uncoupled from the base station, the closing member is recalled (for example with a spring) into the first position.

Claims

1. A vacuum-cleaning system, comprising a portable device (10), designed to vacuum material from a surface, and a base station (12), to which the portable device (10) can be operationally coupled so as to dispose of the vacuumed material, wherein the portable device (10) includes an opening (32) for suction of the material, at least one first collection chamber (C) for collecting the vacuumed material in communication with the suction opening (32), a first generator (38) for generating a first suction air flow (A) from the suction opening (32) to the first collection chamber (C), and at least one first filter (44) arranged between the suction opening (32) and the first generator (38), the portable device (10) including furthermore a discharge opening (36) for disposing of the vacuumed material, wherein the base station (12) includes an opening (21) for receiving the vacuumed material from the portable device (10), at least one second collection chamber (C) for collecting the material discharged from the portable device (10) in communication with the opening (24) for receiving the material, a second generator (48) for generating a second suction air flow (S) from the receiving opening (24) to the second collection chamber (C) and at least one second filter (54) arranged between the receiving opening (24) and the second generator (48), characterized in that in the condition where the portable device (10) is coupled to the base station (12) the portable device (10) is mechanically connected to the base station (12) and the receiving opening (24) of the base station (12) is arranged in communication with the discharge opening (36) of the portable device (10) so that the second suction air flow (S) is conveyed from the first collection chamber (C) to the second collection chamber (C), and in that the portable device (10) includes a closing member (60, 68) designed to engage selectively the suction opening (32) and the discharge opening (36), wherein the closing member can be operated between a first operating position in which the portable device (10) is separated from the base station (12), the closing member closes off the discharge opening (36), but does not close off the suction opening (32), allowing the first suction air flow (A) to pass from the suction opening (32) to the first collection chamber (C) as a result of the operation of the first generator (38), and a second operating position in which the portable device (10) is coupled to the base station (12), the closing member closes off the suction opening (32), but does not close off the discharge opening (36), allowing the second suction air flow (S) to pass from the first collection chamber (C) to the second collection chamber (C) through the discharge opening (36) as a result of the operation of the second generator (48).

2. The vacuum-cleaning system according to claim 1 , wherein the closing member (60, 68) comprises a slider (68) and wherein the closing member (60, 68) can be operated from the first operating position into the second operating position as a result of the engagement between the slider (68) and the base station (12, 24).

3. The vacuum-cleaning system according to claim 2, wherein the closing member (60, 68) can be operated from the first operating position into the second operating position as a result of the engagement between the slider (68) and the receiving opening (24).

4. The vacuum-cleaning system according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the closing member (60, 68) is configured to perform a translation movement.

5. The vacuum-cleaning system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing member (60, 68) comprises an elastic member (72) for recalling the closing member from the second operating position into the first operating position.

6. The vacuum-cleaning system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing member (60, 68) includes at least one integral element (66) which has a first closing formation (62) and a second closing formation (64), respectively designed to sealingly engage with the aperture of the suction opening (32) and the aperture of the discharge opening (36), wherein the first operating position of the closing member is a stable position and wherein the closing member has movement means (68) suitably for displacing the member (60) from the first stable operating position into the second operating position and elastic recall means (72) suitable for displacing the closing member from the second operating position into the first operating position.

7. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base station (13) comprises sensor means (74) suitable for detecting the presence and/or the quantity of vacuumed material inside the first collection chamber (C) and processing and control means (CPU1 , CPU2) configured to control discharging of the vacuumed material from the first collection chamber (C) into the second collection chamber (C) depending on the presence and/or the quantity of vacuumed material detected in the first collection chamber (C).

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the processing and control means are configured to control the operation of the first generator (38) and the second generator (48) and wherein the discharging action comprises: the generation of the second suction air flow (S) from the first collection chamber (C) into the second collection chamber (C) when the quantity of vacuumed material inside the collection chamber (C) is greater than a predetermined first filling threshold; the generation of a blowing air flow (S) from the first collection chamber (C) into the second collection chamber (C) by the first generator (38) in combination with the second suction air flow (S), when the quantity of vacuumed material inside the first collection chamber (C) is greater than a predetermined second filling threshold, the second filling threshold being higher than the first filling threshold; and the stoppage of the second suction air flow (S) from the first collection chamber (C) into the second collection chamber (C) when the quantity of vacuumed material inside the first collection chamber (C) is less than a predetermined third filling threshold, said third filling threshold being lower than the first filling threshold.

9. The system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the sensor means comprise image acquisition means (74) suitable for acquiring images of at least one volume of the first collection chamber (C) in the condition where it is coupled to the base station (12) and the processing and control means are configured to recognize the presence and/or the quantity of vacuumed material inside the first collection chamber (C) based on said images.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the receiving opening (24) of the base station (12) emerges inside the first collection chamber (C) through the discharge opening (36) and is provided with the image acquisition means (74).

11. The system according to claim 6, wherein the portable device (10) has: a main body (20) which includes the first suction opening (32), the first generator (38) generating the first suction air flow (A) with said at least one associated filter (44) and the first collection chamber (C), and a tube (22) for conveying the first suction air flow (A), which is coupled to the suction opening (32) and which has, connected to its distal end, a cleaning tool (23) with a suction mouth, wherein the main body (20) has the movement means (68) for moving the closing member (68) arranged in a position such that they interfere with a portion (24) of the base station (12) in the condition where the portable device (10) is coupled to the base station (12), causing the displacement of the closing member (60) from the first operating position into the second operating position.

12. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base station (12) has a main body (26) which includes the receiving opening (24), the second generator (48) generating the second suction air flow (S) with the at least one filter (54) and the second collection chamber (C) for collecting the discharged material, wherein the main body (26) is suitably designed for the wall support (W).

13. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the base station (12) comprises: a centralized suction system (80) including the second generator (48) for generating the second suction air flow (S) and the second collection chamber (C), these being located in a service room of a building, and a wall support means designed to receive the portable device (10) and including a tube (82) for conveying the second suction air flow (S), having a first end (84) designed to be arranged in communication with the centralized suction system via a wall suction socket (86) and a second end (88) which can be coupled to the discharge opening (36) of the portable device (10).

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the base station (12) further comprises a collection pre-chamber (90) coupled to the first end (84) of the conveying tube (82) and connected to a wall suction socket (86) of the centralized suction system via a tubular connection-piece (92).