Patent Publication Number: US-2004045124-A1

Title: Vaccum cleaner

Description:
[0001] This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner housing with a vacuum source, an inlet for dust-laden air communicating with the vacuum source, and a separation system for particles separated from the airflow that is placed after the inlet as seen in the airflow direction. The separated particles are generally collected in a bag of a mainly airtight material.  
       [0002] In conventional vacuum cleaners, dust-laden air is transported by a vacuum source from a nozzle to a dust container in the form of an air permeable bag. The air is filtrated so that the dust is retained in the bag, while the cleaned air flows through the bag material towards the vacuum source. Usually this bag is disposable and is often provided with a closing arrangement that is manually activated when the bag is removed from the vacuum cleaner. Such an arrangement gives a rather hygienic handling of the bag and its content, but the arrangement still has some disadvantages. Because of leakage and unsatisfactory filter capacity, a leakage of the airflow normally occurs to the outside of the bag causing dust particles to be deposited on the outside. A further disadvantage is that the bags are usually specially made for different vacuum cleaner models and are sold in special stores making it difficult for the customers to find the bags on the market.  
       [0003] During recent years, so-called cyclone vacuum cleaners have appeared on the market. They are designed such that the dust particles are separated from the airflow by means of centrifugal separation. The dust particles are collected in a rigid container which, when emptied, is removed from the vacuum cleaner and transported to a dustbin. This is cumbersome as well as dirty work, since a large amount of the dust sticks to the wall of the container and has to be removed by manual effort. The container also surrounds vital parts of the cyclone arrangement and manual efforts are necessary in order to remove the interior parts of the container before cleaning the container. This manual work causes dust to spread to the surroundings when the container is emptied. Thus, the arrangement is very unhygienic.  
       [0004] In order to create a better solution for cyclone vacuum cleaners, the use of disposable bags in the form of airtight bags has been suggested, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,145,499 and 5,090,976. The dust is enclosed in the bag, after which the complete bag with its content is thrown into the dustbin. However, these bags are specially made and the handling will not be much better with these bags since parts of the cyclone arrangement, which are placed within the container and which press the bag towards the container wall to prevent the bag from being sucked into the cyclone, still have to be removed manually before the container can be emptied.  
       [0005] A further development of the last-mentioned special bags is described in W.O. No. 9,810,691. This bag has an upper portion that can be twisted in order to close the bag before the bag is removed from the vacuum cleaner. The bag is complicated and hence expensive.  
       [0006] Emptying systems for cyclone vacuum cleaners have also been suggested, see PCT/SE98/00240. In these systems, conventional plastic bags are used which are retained at the container wall by an under-atmospheric pressure created on the outside of the bag by the vacuum source. The portions of the cyclone arrangement, which are positioned at the upper part of the container, are easier to remove. The outside of the bag, as well as the inside of the container, also remains clean producing better hygienic conditions during handling. However, this system is still not completely hygienic, since the operator is forced to remove the bag from the surrounding container by manual means before it can be closed, for instance, by being tied.  
       [0007] This invention provides for a closing and/or a sealing effect of a dust bag by a closing and/or sealing means built into the vacuum cleaner. This enables a hygienic removal procedure for the bag as well as hygienic handling of the bag. Thus, the bag can be removed, transported, and thrown into a dustbin without any spillage of dust.  
       [0008] According to the invention, the arrangement is preferably because there is no need to touch the bag before the bag is closed and/or sealed and subsequently removed from the container where the bag is placed in the vacuum cleaner. This is achieved by means of a vacuum cleaner having a housing with a vacuum source, an inlet for dust-laden air communicating with the vacuum source, a separation system for particles separated from the air flow that is placed after the inlet as seen in the airflow direction, wherein the separated particles are collected in a bag of a mainly airtight material, and a closing and/or sealing arrangement by which the bag inserted into the vacuum cleaner is closed and/or sealed before the bag is removed from the vacuum cleaner. 
     
    
    
     [0009] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic of a vertical section through a cyclone vacuum cleaner having a combined closing and sealing means according to an embodiment of the invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a vertical section through a part of a vacuum cleaner equipped with a first embodiment of a combined closing and sealing means;  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the closing and sealing means shown in FIG. 2;  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;  
     [0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a sealing device;  
     [0015]FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a third embodiment of a sealing device;  
     [0016]FIG. 7 is a vertical section through a fourth embodiment of a sealing device;  
     [0017]FIG. 8 is elevation view of a section on the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7; and  
     [0018]FIGS. 9 and 10 are the same views as FIG. 8, but with the mechanical parts in other positions. 
    
    
     [0019] The vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 1 comprises a housing  10  enclosing a vacuum source  11 , such as a motor-fan unit, and a separation part shaped as a cyclone separator  12  having an inlet  13  for dust-laden air. The inlet  13  is connected via a tube  14  to a nozzle (not shown). The cyclone separator  12  comprises a mainly cylindrical chamber  15  having a first and a second end wall  16  and  17 , respectively. The inlet  13  is arranged near the first end wall  16  and designed such that a tangential inflow of the dust-laden air is achieved. Centrally in the chamber  15  and close to the first end wall  16 , there is a tube-shaped outlet  18  for cleaned air. This outlet  18  extends somewhat into the chamber  15  and is connected to the inlet side of the motor-fan unit  11 . The chamber  15  also has a peripheral particle outlet  19  for particles separated by the cyclone separator  12  and is placed close to the second end wall  17 .  
     [0020] The particle outlet  19  ends in a removable, stiff collecting container  20  in which a dust container, in the form of a bag  21 , is inserted. The bag  21  is pulled through an opening  22  in a cover part  23  belonging to the collecting container  20  such that the particles passing the particle outlet  19  are collected in the bag. The bag  21  preferably consists of an airtight material, such as plastic. The container cover  23 , which also comprises a cover plate  24  (not shown in detail), encloses a closing and sealing arrangement for the bag  21  such that the bag can first be closed and then be sealed before it is removed from the vacuum cleaner.  
     [0021] The vacuum cleaner includes two L-shaped clamping jaws  25 , as shown in FIGS.  2 - 4 . Each L-shaped clamping jaw  25  is turnably arranged about a shaft  26 , which is arranged beside the cover opening  22  of the container cover part  23 . Each clamping jaw  25  has a first leg  27  with a part extending outside the cover that can be acted on manually or by some type of automatic system for turning the clamping jaws  25  between the positions shown with the full lines and the dashed lines in FIG. 4. Between the legs  27  of the clamping jaws  25 , there is a tension spring  28 , which is placed such that when the clamping jaws are open and in their inactive position (FIG. 3), the tension spring  28  is positioned at one side of a connecting line between the shafts  26 . When the clamping jaws  25  are in their active, closed position (FIG. 4), the tension spring  28  is positioned at the other side of said connecting line. Thus, the clamping jaws  25  automatically take one of these positions. The second legs  29  of the clamping jaws  25  are provided with a heating thread  30  on their sides facing towards one another. The heating thread  30  extends between the two clamping jaws and at each side of them. The heating thread is connected to an electric supply circuit  31  comprising one or several batteries  32  (FIG. 2) or means for electric supply via the mains supply (not shown). There may also electrical control means, such as switches, timers and so on, for controlling the sealing and/or closing arrangement.  
     [0022] The device according to FIGS.  1 - 4  operates in the following way. When the motor-fan unit  11  is activated, dust-laden air will flow through the inlet  13  and circulate in the chamber  15 . The dust particles will be influenced by the centrifugal forces and be transported towards the second end wall  17  of the chamber  15  and towards the particle outlet  19 , where the particles are thrown out through the cover opening  22  and into the bag  21  inserted through the cover opening  22 . At the same time, cleaned air flows through the clear air outlet  18  and is transferred to atmosphere by means of the motor-fan unit  11 . In this position, the clamping jaws  25  take the position shown in FIG. 3.  
     [0023] When the bag  21 , which in this case is a plastic bag, has been filled and the operator wishes to change the bag, the collecting container  20  is removed together with the bag  21  and the container cover  23 , after which the clamping jaws  25  are moved to take the position shown in FIG. 4. Then, a switch  33  is engaged so that that the control circuit  31  supplies a suitable current flow from the battery  32 , or some other current source, and the heating thread  30  heats to such a temperature that a welding seal is achieved at the plastic bag. Then, the clamping jaws  25  are moved back to the position shown in FIG. 3, after which the container cover  23  is removed from the collecting container  20  such that the bag is lifted up from the collecting container  20 , removed from the container cover  23 , and transported to a dustbin without spillage. A new bag is then inserted through the cover opening  22  and together with the container cover  23  is placed in the collecting container  20 . Of course, the closing and/or the sealing process can be partly or completely automated, for instance, by being connected to the removal of the collecting container  20  from the vacuum cleaner.  
     [0024] With the embodiment described above, it is also possible to desist from the sealing arrangement in question. After closing the bag by means of the clamping jaws  25 , the bag can be sealed by manual methods, for instance, by tying up the extending part of the bag with clips, strings, or tape around the bag, or by using existing closing means on the bag, for instance, so-called zippers or the like. Such an embodiment is described in FIGS.  7 - 10 .  
     [0025] The sealing arrangement according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 has a container cover  23  that encloses a circular bottom plate  40  provided with a fixed clamping jaw  41  having several small openings or recesses  42  on one side of the cover opening  22 . At the other side of the cover opening  22 , there is a movable clamping jaw  43 , which by two arms  44  is turnably supported at two brackets  45  arranged on the bottom plate  40 . The movable clamping jaw  43  is provided with several projections  46 , which are placed such that they will enter into the small recesses  42  when the movable clamping jaw  43  is turned to abut the fixed clamping jaw  41 .  
     [0026] The last-mentioned device operates in the following way when the bag  21 , which preferably is a plastic bag, is changed. The collecting container  20  with the bag  21  is removed from the vacuum cleaner, after which the movable clamping jaw  43  is turned from the position shown in FIG. 5 to a position where it rests on the fixed clamping jaw  41  and an area around the bag opening is clamped between the two clamping jaws  41 ,  43 . Further pressing forces of the movable clamping jaw  43  causes the projections  46  to stretch, penetrate, and/or deform the bag material when they enter into the recesses  42  such that the bag will be closed. The upper part of the bag with the seal is then pulled out through the cover opening  22  and transported to a dustbin, after which a new bag is inserted through the cover opening  22  and together with the container cover  23  is placed in the collecting container  20 .  
     [0027] In the sealing arrangement shown in FIG. 6, which can be used for all types of bags, the container cover  23  is provided with a rectangular bottom plate  50  having guides  51  on which a cassette  52  is slidably arranged. The cassette  52  comprises a tape on a first roller  53  rotatably arranged on a first holder  54 . The tape is pulled out above a notched wheel  55  with the gluing surface facing outwards from the wheel. The notched wheel  55  is arranged in close vicinity of a slot-shaped opening  56  of the cassette  52 , where one end of the slot-shaped opening  56  faces against the cover opening  22  in the bottom plate  50  through which the bag is partially inserted. The notched wheel  55  is placed such that its notches mainly overbridge the slot-shaped opening  56 . The other end of the slot-shaped opening  56  continues into an extension  57 , the purpose of which will be explained below. The cassette  52  comprises a second roller  58  having a strip-shaped non-gluing material, which is rotatably supported on a second holder  59 , with the strip extending through an outlet opening  60  into the slot-shaped opening  56 . The cassette  52  also encloses a L-shaped tilting arm  61  turnably supported on an arm shaft  62  and having a first arm leg  63 , which via an arm tension spring  64  is connected to the housing of the cassette  52  such that the first arm leg  63  normally rests against a stop means  65 . The second leg  66  of the tilting arm is placed such that it normally overbridges the slot-shaped opening  56 . The first arm leg  63  is also provided with a cutting edge  67 .  
     [0028] The device shown in FIG. 6 operates in the following manner. When the collecting container  20  with the container cover  23  has been removed from the vacuum cleaner, the cassette  52  is moved towards the left in FIG. 6 along the guides  51 . The area around the bag opening is inserted into the slot-shaped opening  56  of the cassette, so that the bag material is pressed together by the notched wheel  55  at the same time as the tape with its gluing surface abuts the bag material and at the same time the strip-shaped material is pulled out from the second roller  58  since its end is glued to the outer end of the tape. Thus, the tape and the strip-shaped material surround the bag  21  from each side. When the notched wheel has passed the bag, the tape again engages the strip-shaped material and adheres to it at the same time as the strip-shaped material and the tape are pulled out. Thus, the bag is sealed. Further movement of the cassette  52  causes the bag to engage the second leg  66  of the tilting arm  61  such that it turns anticlockwise in FIG. 6. The knife-shaped means  67  enters into the slot-shaped opening  56  and cuts the tape glued to the strip-shaped material such that there remains material glued together that is connected to the strip-shaped material on the second roller  58  as well as the tape on the first roller  53 . The cassette  52  is then moved such that the bag opening, when the container cover  23  is lifted from the collection container  20 , is pulled out through the extension  57 , after which the bag is removed from the collecting container  20  and the cassette  52  is moved back to its original position.  
     [0029] In the embodiment shown in FIGS.  7 - 10 , the vacuum cleaner has a particle outlet  19  comprising a projecting sleeve  70  extending through the cover plate  24  and the cover opening  22  of the cover part  23  into the collecting container  20 . The collecting container  20  is provided with a bag  21 , for instance, a conventional plastic bag. The bag opening is inserted through the cover part  23  and folded outwardly around the sleeve  70  between the cover plate  24  and the housing  10  of the vacuum cleaner such that the bag is clamped between the sleeve  70  and the surrounding periphery of the cover opening  22 . The vacuum cleaner housing  10  is arranged such that the housing together with the sleeve  70  can be moved vertically in FIG. 7, with respect to the collecting container  20  and the cover part  23 , when the bag is closed. The cover part  23  (in a manner not shown) is lifted up or turned up from the collecting container  20  in order to uncover the bag  21 .  
     [0030] The cover part  23  comprises a first and a second clamping jaw  71 ,  72 , respectively, which are connected to one another each via a first and a second notched wheel  73 ,  74 , respectively. The wheels engage one another and synchronize a turning motion of the first and second clamping jaws towards and away from one another. Each clamping jaw  71 ,  72  with associated notched wheel  73 ,  74 , are turnable around jaw shafts  75 ,  76 . The two clamping jaws  71 ,  72  are via a jaw tension spring  77  connected to one another such that the line of action of the spring at different positions of the clamping jaws  71 ,  72  are placed at different sides of a line between the centers of the jaw shafts  75 ,  76 . The first clamping jaws  71  also has an operating arm  78  extending outwardly from the cover part  23 , which is acted on by a shoulder  79  belonging to the vacuum cleaner housing  10 .  
     [0031] The closing device shown in FIGS.  7 - 10  operates in the following manner. At the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, which is the normal operating position for the vacuum cleaner, the clamping jaws  71  and  72  abut the outside of the bag  21  and press the bag towards the sleeve  70  by the jaw spring  77 , and the dust particles flow through the sleeve  70  into the bag  21 . When the bag  21  is changed, the housing  10  is removed. The shoulder  79  and the sleeve  70  are removed from the cover part  23  and the jaw spring  77  turns the clamping jaws  71 ,  72  towards one another such that the bag  21  is clamped between the jaws, see FIG. 9. The clamping jaws  71 ,  72  are designed such that they cover the complete cover opening  22  enabling the dust container to be separated from the surrounding in a hygienic manner. It is now possible to seal the bag opening manually, for instance, by tying with tape, clips, a string around the bag, or activating a sealing device arranged on the bag, for instance, a so-called zip-arrangement. The cover part  23  is then lifted up from the collecting container  20  and the sealed bag is removed and transported to a dustbin or the like.  
     [0032] The operator then acts on the operating arm  78  such that the clamping jaws  71 ,  72  are turned away from one another and are moved to the position shown in FIG. 10. In this position, the action line of the jaw spring  77  is placed at the other side of a connecting line between the centers of the jaw shafts  75 , 76 . The clamping jaws  71 ,  72 , in this stable position, abut the periphery of the cover part  23  and the cover opening  22  becomes uncovered. A new bag is inserted from below into the opening in the cover part  23  and the associated cover plate  24 , before the bag is inserted into the collecting container  20 , and the cover part  23  with the cover plate  24  is applied to the container. When the housing  10  of the vacuum cleaner is then applied to the collecting container  20 , the sleeve  70  again enters through the cover opening  22  at the same time as the shoulder  79  engages the operating arm  78  such that it is moved counterclockwise in FIG. 8. The action line of the jaw spring  77  thereby moves back to the first side of the connecting line between the turning centers of the jaw shafts  75 ,  76 . Thus, the clamping jaws  71 ,  72  under the influence of the jaw spring  77  move toward one another and again clamp the bag against the sleeve  70 .  
     [0033] The closing arrangement shown in FIGS.  7 - 10  might also, in a manner mentioned in association to the embodiment according to FIGS.  1 - 4 , be completed with a sealing arrangement. It is possible with the embodiment shown in FIGS.  7 - 10  to also desist from using a bag. An operator may instead collect the dust directly into the collecting container  20  and, in a hygienic manner, transport the closed collecting container  20  together with the cover part  23  to a dustbin. The cover part  23  may then be removed from the collecting container  20 , after which the container can be emptied into the dustbin. It would also be possible to use an arrangement where the bag can be taken out from the collecting container before it is closed and/or sealed. This may occur as long as the communication between the interior of the bag and the particle outlet of the separation system is maintained such that particles in the dust bag do not escape outside the vacuum cleaner when forces are applied on the bag.  
     [0034] The closing and sealing arrangements described above are primary intended to be used together with cyclone vacuum cleaners to seal airtight bags in the form of conventional plastic bags that are available on the market. However, the three last-mentioned embodiments may also be used with other bags, for example, paper bags. The expression “closing arrangement” in this connection generally means a device for temporarily closing the bag opening to prevent dust particles from leaving through the bag opening under the initial period of the bag changing procedure. The expression “sealing arrangement” generally means a device for permanently sealing of the bag opening such that the bag in a hygienic manner can be taken out of the collecting container and be moved to a dustbin or the like  
     [0035] While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, other modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or method to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. The present invention herein is not to be construed as being limited, except insofar as indicated in the appended claims.