Patent Publication Number: US-11638509-B2

Title: Vacuum cleaner

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), this application claims the benefit of an earlier filing date of and the right of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2019-0157469, filed on Nov. 29, 2019 in the Republic of Korea, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner of which a body is easily separated so as to make it easy to clean the inside thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A vacuum cleaner is a device that suctions foreign substances such as dust together with surrounding air, and separates and stores the foreign substances from the air. 
     Accordingly, the vacuum cleaner suctions air, and the suctioned air flows along a predetermined path. In the process of the air flowing along the predetermined path, foreign substances mixed with the air are separated therefrom. Accordingly, the vacuum cleaner has a motor-related component for generating a large suction force, air flow path and filter components for separating the foreign substances from the suctioned air, and a component for exhausting the filtered air. 
     As a body of the vacuum cleaner is miniaturized, parts of the vacuum cleaner for suctioning air, separating foreign substances in the suctioned air, and storing the foreign substances are complicatedly arranged in a small space. Accordingly, it is difficult to clean the inside of the body of the vacuum cleaner, and disassemble the vacuum cleaner. 
     As related art, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2018-0053614 (hereinafter referred to as “related art 1”) discloses a vacuum cleaner. 
     The vacuum cleaner disclosed in related art 1 includes a first cyclone and a second cyclone using a centrifugation method. The first cyclone and the second cyclone are accommodated in a body of the vacuum cleaner, and the body is provided with a suction motor and a dust container in addition to the first cyclone and the second cyclone. In related art 1, a part of the body of the vacuum cleaner is formed to be separable, thus allowing foreign substances stored in the body to be removed or the inside of the body to be cleaned. However, there are structures that are difficult to expose to the outside due to complicated arrangement in the body of components to filter the foreign substances from the air. Accordingly, there is a limitation in that the foreign substances that accumulate in the body cannot be thoroughly cleaned by simply removing a part of the body. 
     In addition, Korean Patent Application Publication No, 10-2019-0091842 (hereinafter referred to as “related art 2”) also discloses a vacuum cleaner. 
     In the vacuum cleaner disclosed in related art 2, a part of a body as well as a dust separation module for separating foreign substances from air are separable from the body. Accordingly, the vacuum cleaner of related art 2 is an improvement in comparison to the vacuum cleaner disclosed in related art 1 in that the inside of the body can cleaned more efficiently. However, there is a shortcoming in that it is not easy for a user to clean a zone that requires cleaning, due to foreign substances present in the dust separation module. 
     The above-described background technology is technical information that the inventors hold for the derivation of the present disclosure or that the inventors acquired in the process of deriving the present disclosure. Thus, the above-described background technology may not necessarily be regarded as known technology disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of the present application. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the present disclosure is to address an issue associated with some related art in which although foreign substances continuously accumulate in a vacuum cleaner, there is a space in the vacuum cleaner that is difficult to clean. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure is to address an issue associated with some related art in which it is difficult to disassemble parts that are complicatedly arranged in a vacuum cleaner. 
     Still another aspect of the present disclosure is to address an issue associated with some related art in which it is not easy to perform disassembly and assembly in a predetermined order when disassembling a body of a vacuum cleaner in which various parts are densely arranged. 
     Still another aspect of the present disclosure is to address an issue associated with some related art in which a long period of time is required to remove foreign substances collected in a vacuum cleaner. 
     Still another aspect of the present disclosure is to address an issue associated with some related art in which it is difficult to cleanly remove foreign substances collected in a vacuum cleaner. 
     The present disclosure is not limited to what has been described above, and other aspects not mentioned herein will be apparent from the following description to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. 
     A vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a suction inlet, a body, a first cyclone, and a dust separation module. The dust separation module may include a filter unit and a second cyclone. The filter unit may be formed to be separable from the second cyclone, thereby allowing the inside of the body to be easily cleaned. 
     Processes of separating the dust separation module from the body, separating the filter unit of the dust separation module, and separating a storage unit from a cyclone base may be sequentially performed, thereby reducing trial and error in separating the components and enabling quick disassembly and coupling. 
     The body and the dust separation module may be separated from each other. In the dust separation module, the filter unit and the second cyclone may be separated from each other. In the second cyclone, the cyclone base and the storage unit may be separated from each other. Accordingly, the inside of the body can be conveniently and easily cleaned and kept clean. 
     Specifically, the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the suction inlet, the body, the first cyclone, and the dust separation module. The dust separation module may include the filter unit and the second cyclone, and the filter unit may be separated from the second cyclone. 
     The body may include a suction motor and an exhaust module. The suction motor may allow air to flow in one direction. The exhaust module may be a passage through which air that is introduced into the suction inlet and passes through the suction motor is discharged to the outside of the body. 
     The dust separation module may be arranged before the suction motor on a flow path of the air that is introduced into the suction inlet, passes through the suction motor, and is discharged through the exhaust module. 
     In the second cyclone, the cyclone base and the storage unit may be rotatably coupled to each other. When the storage unit is rotated in one direction with respect to the cyclone base, the cyclone base and the storage unit may be separated from each other. When the filter unit is coupled to the second cyclone, the cyclone base and the storage unit may not be separated from each other. 
     In the dust separation module, the filter unit may include at least one rotation restraining protrusion. When the filter unit, the second cyclone, and the storage unit are coupled to one another, the rotation restraining protrusion may be accommodated in a rotation restraining groove formed in the storage unit. 
     The rotation restraining protrusion may include an inclined portion inclined in one direction, and a movement blocker formed perpendicular to a direction in which the cyclone base and the storage unit are mutually rotated for coupling to or separation from each other. The rotation restraining groove may include an inclined contact portion and a fastener. The inclined contact portion may contact the inclined portion when the cyclone base and the storage unit are rotated in a direction in which the cyclone base and the storage unit are separated from each other, and the fastener may contact the movement blocker when the cyclone base and the storage unit are rotated in a direction in which the cyclone base and the storage unit are coupled to each other. 
     When the cyclone base and the storage unit are rotated in a direction in which the cyclone base and the storage unit are separated from each other and when the inclined portion is in contact with the inclined contact portion, the filter unit may be separated from the second cyclone. 
     The second cyclone may include a grip portion protruding upward on an upper surface thereof. 
     The body may include a first storage and a body cover. The first storage may be provided in the body to accommodate foreign substances collected by the first cyclone. The body cover may be formed on a lower portion of the first storage to open and close the first storage. 
     A second storage may be formed in the storage unit to collect foreign substances, and the body cover may open and close the first storage and second storage together. 
     In the dust separation module, the second cyclone and the storage unit may be rotatably coupled to each other via a hinge coupling portion, and the rotation restraining protrusion formed in the filter unit may be accommodated in the rotation restraining groove formed in the storage unit to couple the second cyclone and the storage unit to each other. 
     The filter unit may include a main filter and a filter frame. At least one rotation restraining protrusion may be formed on the filter frame. 
     The second cyclone and the storage unit may be separated from each other by being mutually rotated with respect to the hinge coupling portion in a state in which the rotation restraining protrusion of the filter unit is separated from the rotation restraining groove. 
     A vacuum cleaner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may include a suction inlet, a body, a first cyclone, and a dust separation module. The dust separation module may include a filter unit, a second cyclone, and a storage unit. The separation module may be formed to be separable from the body. The filter unit, the second cyclone, and the storage unit may be separated from one another in a state in which the dust separation module is separated from the body. 
     According to the present disclosure, not only can the dust separation module be separated from the body, but the filter unit and the storage unit forming the dust separation module can also be separated from each other to expose the inside of the body to the outside, thereby making it easy to clean the inside. 
     According to the present disclosure, the body and the dust separation module are provided to be separated from and coupled to each other through only a simple operation, and thus there is an effect of enabling quick and easy separation or coupling. 
     According to the present disclosure, based on an order of separating the body and the dust separation module from each other, when separation at a previous step is not performed, separation at a subsequent step cannot be performed, and thus there is an effect of reducing a user&#39;s trial and error when separating and coupling the body and dust separation module from and to each other. 
     According to the present disclosure, there is an advantage in that separation and coupling of the filter unit, the second cyclone, and the storage unit of the dust separation module can be quickly performed. 
     According to the present disclosure, the filter unit, the second cyclone, and the storage unit of the dust separation module can be separated from one another, thus enabling the user to clean the inside of the dust separation module. 
     The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention, as well as the following detailed description of the embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, there is shown in the drawings an exemplary embodiment, it being understood, however, that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. The use of the same reference numerals or symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a front view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a plan view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is a bottom perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  6    is a partial perspective view illustrating a body cover of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is a view illustrating a state in which a dust separation module is separated from a first body of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view illustrating a dust separation module of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a filter unit is separated from a dust separation module of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a second cyclone and a storage unit are separated from each other in a dust separation module of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  11    is a view illustrating a state in which a second cyclone and a storage unit are coupled via a hinge coupling portion in a dust separation module of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  12    is a view illustrating a rotation restraining protrusion and a rotation restraining groove in a dust separation module of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  13    is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of  FIG.  12   . 
         FIG.  14    is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-section of a rotation restraining protrusion in a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  15    is a schematic view illustrating a flow of air flowing into a body in a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure as a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed for the purpose of description will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are used to designate the same components throughout the detailed description. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a body  3 , a handle portion  5 , a suction inlet  7 , and an exhaust module  9 . 
     A series of paths through which air flows may be formed in the inside of the body  3 . A suction inlet  7  through which air is introduced into the body  3  may be formed on one side of the body  3 . Further, the handle portion  5  may be provided on an opposite side of the suction inlet  7 . In addition, the exhaust module  9  may include an exhaust port  522  coupled to an upper portion of the body  3  to discharge air introduced from the suction inlet  7  to the outside of the body  3  through the body  3 . 
       FIG.  2    is a front view of the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  3    is a plan view of the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  4    is a bottom perspective view of the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  2  to  4   , in the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the body  3  may include a first body  10  and a second body  20 . In the body  3  composed of the first body  10  and the second body  20 , a predetermined space may also be formed. The body  3  may include a first space that is an inner space of the first body  10  and a second space that is an inner space of the second body  20 . Such dividing of the inner space of the body  3  into the first space and the second space is for the purpose of describing an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the inner space of the body  3  is not divided in a functional manner. However, the first space is positioned above the second space, and the second space is positioned below the first space. Accordingly, air introduced through the suction inlet  7  may move to the first space through the second space. 
     The suction inlet  7  may be provided on one side of the body  3 , and may be open in a direction away from the body  3 . The suction inlet  7  may be coupled to an accessory for suctioning and cleaning. The suction inlet  7  may suction air from an open end thereof or the accessory for suctioning and cleaning coupled to the suction inlet  7 , and an extension part coupled to the suction inlet  7  may be provided with components for assisting cleaning at an end thereof. The suction inlet  7  may guide the suctioned air into the body  3 . The handle portion  5  may be formed on an opposite side of the body  3  relative to suction inlet  7 . The handle portion  5  may include a handle  30 , a movement limiter  32 , an operation interface  34 , and a display  36 . The handle  30  may have a grip shape such that a user can grip the handle  30 . The movement limiter  32  may be provided in the handle  30  to restrain the user&#39;s finger or body part so that the user&#39;s hand gripping the handle  30  does not slip. The operation interface  34  may be provided in the handle  30 , and may be formed to allow the user to enter a predetermined command while holding the handle  30 . The display  36  may be provided on an upper portion of the handle  30 , and may display information related to an operating state of the vacuum cleaner  1  for the user. 
     The exhaust module  9  may be coupled to the upper portion of the body  3 . The exhaust module  9  may form an upper surface of the body  3 , and may be a passage through which air introduced into the body  3  through the suction inlet  7  is discharged to the outside of the body  3 . The exhaust module  9  may include a plurality of exhaust ports  522  through which air is discharged to the outside of the body  3 . The exhaust ports  522  may be open toward an upper direction of the body  3  with respect to the body  3 . 
       FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of  FIG.  1   . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the body  3  of the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a suction motor  11 , a motor housing  15 , a flow guide  100 , and a dust separation module  26 . 
     Air suctioned through the suction inlet  7  may be guided to the second space. The second space may include a first cyclone  22  that filters foreign substances from the air introduced through the suction inlet  7 , and a first storage  24  in which the foreign substances filtered by the first cyclone  22  fall and are collected. The dust separation module  26  may be arranged in the second space, and the dust separation module  26  may suction air from the first cyclone  22 , and may filter foreign substances through the filter unit  200 . 
     Accordingly, the air introduced into the suction inlet  7  may move to the first cyclone  22 . In the first cyclone  22 , the foreign substances may be first filtered by the filter unit  200 , and then may fall to the first storage  24 . Air passing through the filter unit  200  and introduced into the dust separation module  26  may be introduced into the second cyclone  300 . 
     The second cyclone  300  may include a cyclone array  320  (see  FIG.  10   ), a cyclone base  330  (see  FIG.  10   ), and a storage unit  400 . 
     The filter unit  200  may surround an outer circumference of the second cyclone  300 . The filter unit  200  may include a filter frame  210  (see  FIG.  8   ) and a main filter  220  (see  FIG.  8   ). The main filter  220  may be coupled to the filter frame  210 , and thus an outer shape thereof may be formed. Further, the main filter  220  may be formed of a surface provided with a plurality of holes of a predetermined size. Alternatively, the main filter  220  may be in the form of a mesh. The filter unit  200  may be formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, and may be fitted to the second cyclone  300  by sliding in a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical shape. 
     The second cyclone  300  may include the cyclone array  320  (see  FIG.  10   ) and the cyclone base  330  (see  FIG.  10   ). The cyclone array  320  may be composed of a plurality of cyclone cones. The cyclone cones may each be rotatably coupled to the cyclone base  330 . The cyclone cones each may have a diameter that becomes gradually smaller downward. The cyclone base  330  may be rotatable with respect to the center thereof, and the plurality of cyclone cones coupled to the cyclone base  330  may each be rotatable with respect to the cyclone base  330 . Accordingly, through the rotation of the cyclone base  330  and the cyclone cones, foreign substances contained in air may fall and be pushed to the edge of the dust separation module  26  by centrifugal force. 
     Each cyclone cone may have a wide upper portion and a narrow lower portion, and a lowermost end of each cyclone cone may have a narrow passage. Such shapes of the cyclone cones of the second cyclone  300  may prevent the foreign substances pushed out by centrifugal force after falling from being introduced back into the cyclone array  320 . 
     Specifically, the foreign substances separated by the first cyclone  22  may be collected in the first storage  24 , and the foreign substances separated from the second cyclone  300  may be stored in a second storage  410  that is an inner space of the storage unit  400 . 
     The air that is introduced into the suction inlet  7  and passes through the first cyclone  22  and the second cyclone  300  may move to the suction motor  11  along a space formed between the flow guide  100  and the motor housing  15 . The suction motor  11  may be mounted in the motor housing  15 . The suction motor  11  may allow surrounding air to flow in at least one direction. 
     The suction motor  11  may be a brushless DC (BLDC) electric motor, which generates relatively little noise and has a long lifespan. Alternatively, the suction motor  11  may be an inverter motor capable of variably changing the speed of a motor. The suction motor  11  may be mounted in the motor housing  15  to allow air to flow in at least one direction along an air flow path formed by the motor housing  15 . In the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a suction force may be generated through the suction motor  11 . 
     The motor housing  15  may include an upper motor housing  16  and a lower motor housing  17 . The upper motor housing  16  and the lower motor housing  17  may be coupled to each other to form the motor housing  15 . The suction motor  11  may be coupled to the inside of the motor housing  15 , and the motor housing  15  may guide air flowing through the suction motor  11  to move along a series of paths. 
     The flow guide  100  may be coupled to the outside of the motor housing  15 . The flow guide  100  may form a predetermined space between an outer surface of the motor housing  15  and the flow guide  100 . The space formed between the flow guide  100  and the motor housing  15  may be used as a passage through which air flows. 
     The motor housing  15  and the flow guide  100  may be arranged in the first space, and the dust separation module  26  may be arranged in the second space. 
     That is, the suction force generated through the suction motor  11  may introduce air into the suction inlet  7 , and the introduced air may pass through the first cyclone  22 , the second cyclone  300 , the flow guide  100 , the inner space of the motor housing  15 , and the suction motor  11 . The air passing through the suction motor  11  may move to the exhaust module  9  through a space formed between an outer surface of the flow guide  100  and an inner surface of the first body  10 . The air moved to the exhaust module  9  may be discharged to the outside of the body  3  through the exhaust ports  522 . 
     Here, a body cover  28  may be provided on a lower surface of the second body. One side of the body cover  28  may be rotatably coupled to the body  3 , and the body cover  28  that forms the lower surface of the second body  20  may be opened or closed by the operation of an opening and closing button  29 . When the body cover  28  is closed, the first storage  24  and the second storage  410  may be isolated from the outside. Accordingly, foreign substances stored in the first storage  24  and the second storage  410  may continuously accumulate. When the body cover  28  is opened, the first storage  24  and the second storage  410  may be opened toward a lower direction of the body  3 . Accordingly, when the body cover  28  is opened, the foreign substances stored in the first storage  24  and the second storage  410  may be drawn out of the body  3 . 
     In addition, the handle portion  5  may include the handle  30 , the movement limiter  32 , the operation interface  34 , the display  36 , and a battery housing  40 . The battery housing  40  is formed on a lower portion of the handle  30 , and a battery  42  may be mounted in an inner space of thereof. The battery  42  may be coupled to the inside of the battery housing  40 , and may be provided to be replaceable. The battery  42  may be relatively heavy in weight. Thus, when the battery  42  is positioned at the lower portion of the handle  30 , the user can easily grip the handle  30  and operate the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       FIG.  6    is a partial perspective view illustrating the body cover  28  of the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , the body cover  28  may form the lower surface of the second body  20 , and may be opened or closed through the operation of the opening and closing button  29 . 
     Accordingly, the lower surface of the second body  20  may be opened downward when the body cover  28  is opened. As described above, when the body cover  28  is opened, the first storage  24 , which is a space between an inner surface of the second body  20  and an outer surface of the storage unit  400 , may be opened downward. The second storage  410 , which is an inner space of the storage unit  400 , may be also opened downward. As a result, foreign substances collected in the first storage  24  and the second storage  410  may be drawn out in a downward direction of the second body  20  when the body cover  28  is opened. 
       FIG.  7    is a view illustrating a state in which the dust separation module  26  is separated from the first body  10  of the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG.  8    is a perspective view illustrating the dust separation module  26  of the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  9    is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the filter unit  200  is separated from the dust separation module  26  of the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  10    is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the second cyclone  300  and the storage unit  400  are separated from each other in the dust separation module  26  of the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  7  to  10   , in the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second body  20  may be separated from the first body  10 . When the second body  20  is separated from the first body  10 , the dust separation module  26  may be exposed to the outside while an upper end thereof is coupled to the first body  10 . 
     The upper end of the dust separation module  26  may be coupled to a lower portion of the flow guide  100  or a lower end of the motor housing  15 , forming a path through which air moving to an upper portion of the dust separation module  26  through the dust separation module  26  can flow into a space formed by the flow guide  100  and the motor housing  15 . 
     The dust separation module  26  may be separated from the first body  10  by a user rotating the dust separation module  26  in one direction. Here, when the user grips and rotates the storage unit  400 , the storage unit  400  may be rotated and become separated from the cyclone base  330 . In order to prevent such separation, the dust separation module  26  may include a rotation restraining protrusion  212  and a rotation restraining groove  414 . The rotation restraining protrusion  212  may be formed in the filter frame  210 . The rotation restraining protrusion  212  may be formed to protrude downward from the filter frame  210 . In addition, the rotation restraining groove  414  may be formed on an outer circumference of the storage unit  400 , and may have a shape, size, and position corresponding to those of the rotation restraining protrusion  212  so as to accommodate the rotation restraining protrusion  212  therein. The filter unit  200  may be separated from the second cyclone  300  when the dust separation module  26  is separated from the first body  10 . The filter unit  200  may be separated by sliding an upper portion of the second cyclone  300  along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical shape. Here, the rotation restraining protrusion  212  may be separated from the rotation restraining groove  414  as the filter unit  200  is removed. 
     When the rotation restraining protrusion  212  is accommodated in the rotation restraining groove  414 , that is, a state in which the filter unit  200  is coupled to the second cyclone  300 , the cyclone base  330  and the storage unit  400  of the second cyclone  300  cannot be mutually rotated. Accordingly, the storage unit  400  does not become separated from the cyclone base  330 . 
     On the cyclone base  330 , a coupling protrusion  332  protruding outward on an outer circumference thereof may be formed. In addition, a coupling groove  412  in which the coupling protrusion  332  is accommodated may be formed on an inner surface of the storage unit  400  in contact with the cyclone base  330 . The coupling protrusion  332  and the coupling groove  412  may he coupled to or separated from each other as the coupling protrusion  332  and the coupling groove  412  move laterally. Accordingly, when the storage unit  400  is rotated along the outer circumference of the cyclone base  330 , the storage unit  400  may be coupled to or separated from the cyclone base  330  according to a rotation direction of the storage unit  400 . 
       FIG.  11    is a view illustrating a state in which the cyclone base  330  and the storage unit  400  are coupled via a hinge coupling portion  420  in the dust separation module  26  of the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  11   , in the dust separation module  26  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a rotation restraining protrusion  212   a  and a rotation restraining groove  414   a  may interfere to prevent the filter unit  200  from being separated from the second. cyclone  300 . Here, the rotation restraining protrusion  212   a  may be formed in the filter frame  210 , and the rotation restraining groove  414   a  may be formed in the storage unit  400 . The rotation restraining protrusion  212   a  may protrude toward a lower portion of the filter frame  210 , and an end of the rotation restraining protrusion  212   a  may extend sideward by a predetermined length. The rotation restraining groove  414   a  may be elongated sideward so as to accommodate the end of the rotation restraining protrusion  212   a  therein. Accordingly, in order to separate the rotation restraining protrusion  212   a  from the rotation restraining groove  414   a,  it is required to rotate the filter unit  200  by a predetermined length in a circumferential direction thereof. Such a configuration functions to fasten the storage unit  400  to the rotation restraining protrusion  212   a  when the filter unit  200  is coupled to the second cyclone  300 . The storage unit  400  may be rotatably coupled to the cyclone base  330  via the hinge coupling portion  420 . When the filter unit  200  is removed from the cyclone base  330 , the rotation restraining protrusion  212   a  and the rotation restraining groove  414   a  are separated from each other, so that the storage unit  400  that has been coupled to the lower end of the cyclone base  330  can be opened. 
     Accordingly, when the filter unit  200  is removed from the second cyclone  300 , at least a part of the storage unit  400  may be separated from the cyclone base  330 . Through such a configuration, the inner surface of the storage unit  400  also may be exposed to the outside, thereby allowing the user to clean the inner surface of the storage unit  400 . 
       FIG.  12    is a view illustrating the rotation restraining protrusion  212   b  and the rotation restraining groove  414   b  in the dust separation module  26  of the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  13    is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of  FIG.  12   . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  12   , the rotation restraining protrusion  212   b  and the rotation restraining groove  414   b  may be formed at an incline on one side of the dust separation module On one side of the rotation restraining protrusion  212   b,  a movement blocker  214  that is perpendicular to a direction in which the storage unit  400  is rotated with respect to the cyclone base  330  may be formed. On the other side of the rotation restraining protrusion  212   b  opposite to the movement blocker  214 , an inclined portion  216  that is inclined in one direction may be formed. 
     The rotation restraining groove  414   b  may have a shape corresponding to that of rotation restraining protrusion  212   b,  and a fastener  416  may be formed at a position corresponding to that of the movement blocker  214 , and an inclined contact portion  418  may be formed at a position corresponding to that of the inclined portion  216 . In addition, an upper surface of the second cyclone  300  may be provided with a grip portion  312  protruding upward. The grip portion  312 , which is a member formed to protrude so as to be gripped by a hand of the user, may be provided such that the filter unit  200  can easily be rotated in one direction. 
     Accordingly, when the filter unit  200  is rotated with respect to the second cyclone  300  to bring the movement blocker  214  and the fastener  416  into contact with each other, the filter unit  200  and the second cyclone  300  are no longer rotated. However, when the filter unit  200  is rotated in an opposite direction, the inclined portion  216  and the inclined contact portion  418  may be in contact with each other. The inclined portion  216  and the inclined contact portion  418  each may have a surface inclined in one direction, and thus a force may be applied in a direction in which the filter unit  200  and the second cyclone  300  are away from each other. Here, an end of the rotation restraining protrusion  212   b  may be opened in a direction away from the second cyclone  300 , and the filter unit  200  and the second cyclone  300  can be easily separated from each other. 
       FIG.  14    is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-section of the rotation restraining protrusion  212  in the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  14   , the end of the rotation restraining protrusion  212   b  may be formed to partially protrude inward. The end of the rotation restraining protrusion  212   b  may be brought into engagement with the second cyclone  300 , so that the filter unit  200  and the second cyclone may be coupled to each other. Here, when an inclined surface of the rotation restraining protrusion  212   b  and an inclined surface of the rotation restraining groove  414   b  are in contact with each other and accordingly a force is applied in a direction in which the rotation restraining protrusion  212   b  and the rotation restraining groove  414   b  are away from each other, the filter unit  200  and the second cyclone  300  may be automatically disassembled. 
     The operation of the cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described. 
       FIG.  15    is a schematic view illustrating a flow of air flowing into the body  3  in the vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of  FIG.  1   . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  15   , when the suction motor  11  operates, external air may be introduced through the suction inlet  7  provided on one side of the body  3 . Here, an air suctioning force may suction not only air but also foreign substances such as surrounding dust and trash. In the first cyclone  22 , the air suctioned into the suction inlet  7  may be separated from the foreign substances by a main filter  220 . Here, the foreign substances separated from the air may be collected in the first storage  24 . The air passing through the main filter  220  may move to the second cyclone  300 , and the second cyclone  300  may separate foreign substances from the air again. The foreign substances separated by the second cyclone  300  may be collected in the second storage  410  that is an inner space of the storage unit  400 . 
     The air passing through the second cyclone  300  may pass through the suction motor  11  through a flow path formed by the flow guide  100  and the motor housing  15 , and the air passing through the suction motor may be discharged to the outside of the body  3  through the exhaust module  9 . 
     The user can open the body cover  28  formed on the lower surface of the second body  20  to clean the foreign substances collected in the first storage  24  and the second storage  410 . In addition, only the dust separation module  26  may be separated from the body  3  when the second body  20  is separated from the first body  10 . 
     The filter unit  200  may be sequentially removed from the separated dust separation module  26 , and the cyclone base  330  and the storage unit  400  each may be separated from the second cyclone  300 . The separated storage unit  400  may be reassembled after the inner surface thereof is cleaned. 
     The present disclosure has been described with reference to the illustrated drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and the drawings. It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, even though operational effects according to a configuration of the present disclosure have not been explicitly described while describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be appreciated that effects predictable from the configuration can also obtained.