Patent Abstract:
A filter assembly for a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner. In the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus of the vacuum cleaner which centrifugally separates contaminants from an externally-drawn air and collects the separated contaminants therein, the filter assembly filters contaminants floating in an air which is discharged through an exhaust port of the vacuum cleaner. The filter assembly is provided with a rotary filter rotatably connected with respect to the exhaust port and a filter rotating unit. The rotary filter is provided with a suction grill portion at the outer circumference and a discharge port fluidly connected to the exhaust port of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus, and the filter rotating unit is for rotating the rotary filter and thus removing contaminants filtered on the surface of the suction grill portion. The contaminants accumulated on the outer surface of the filter are easily removed as the filter is rotated in association with the engagement and disengagement of the dust receptacle from a body of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus. The filter assembly has a simple structure, and thus is manufactured at a reduced cost and also is easy to assemble and disassemble.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a filter assembly disposed in a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus for filtering of contaminants, which are separated from whirling air by centrifugal force.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Background Art  
           [0004]    Generally, a filter is disposed in a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner to filter out minute contaminants from an air stream, which is whirled around in a container of a cleaner body. With continued use, a layer of fine dust usually accumulates on the outer surface of the filter, and the filter has to be regularly cleaned, which is a quite cumbersome procedure. Recently, a filter cleaning device has been suggested to remove contaminants from the outer surface of the filter in association with the opening/closing of the dust receptacle of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus having a conventional filter cleaning device and FIG. 2 is a perspective detail view of the filter cleaning device of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  100  includes a cyclone body  110  in which a suction port  111  and a discharge port  121  are formed, a dust receptacle  103  removably connected to the cyclone body  110 , and a filter  130  disposed on the discharge port  121  of the cyclone body  110  and extending within the dust receptacle  103 .  
           [0006]    The cyclone body  110  includes a receptacle connecting part  125 , which defines a dust separating chamber  115 , and a connecting pipe  113  extended from the dust separating chamber  115  to an elbow shape. The dust separating chamber  115  is provided with the suction port  111  open outwardly in an oblique or tangential direction, and the discharge port  121  is open in an upwardly direction. The suction port  111  provides fluid communication between the interior of the connecting pipe  113  and the dust separating chamber  115 . A suction pipe  107  is connected to the end of the connecting pipe  113  of the vacuum cleaner, and has a dust suction part (not shown) formed thereon. A flexible pipe  109  is connected to the discharge port  121 , which pipe  109  is connected to the cleaner body (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner to provide fluid communication therebetween.  
           [0007]    The receptacle connecting part  125  of the cyclone body  110  is open in a downwardly direction, and is shaped and configured to receive therein a cylindrical dust receptacle  103 , which has an upper opening formed therein. There is a gasket  141  disposed between the receptacle connecting part  125  of the dust separating chamber  115  and the outer surface of the opening of the dust receptacle  103 , for providing an airtight seal to the connection. Meanwhile, the dust receptacle  103  has a hook  104  protruding from the outer lower side and extending toward the connecting pipe  113  of the cyclone body  110 . A hook recess  114 , formed on the outer surface of the connecting pipe  113  in correspondence with the hook  104  is capable of engaging the hook  104 , which is hooked or unhooked from the hook recess  114 .  
           [0008]    As described above, the filter  130 , connected with the discharge port  121  of the dust separating chamber  115 , is received within the dust receptacle  103  that is itself connected to the lower portion of the dust separating chamber  115 . The filter  130  preferably is in the shape of a cylinder having an upper open end, and a plurality of air holes formed in the outer diameter circumference. A net body  135  is disposed on the outer diameter side of the air holes. The net body  135  includes a plurality of fine holes for filtering the fine contaminants from the air passing through the filter.  
           [0009]    As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional filter cleaning device  150  mounted in the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus is provided with a dust removing ring  151  disposed around the outer diameter portion of the filter  130  (FIG. 1). A spring  155  (FIG. 1) resiliently biases the dust removing ring  151  downwardly, and a slider  161  and a locking lever  171  mutually engage each other for securing the dust removing ring  155  in the upper portion of the filter  130 . A guiding groove portion  157  (FIG. 1) formed between the connecting pipe  113  of the cyclone body  110  and the dust receptacle  103 , is provided for guiding upward and downward sliding of the slider  161 .  
           [0010]    The slider  161  is a bent member, which is extended downwardly from the outer surface of the dust removing ring  151  and is slidably received in the guiding groove portion  157  to slide thereon in the upward and downward directions. The slider  161  includes a connecting protrusion  162  formed to correspond with a protrusion hole (not shown) of the dust receptacle  103 . With the cooperation of connecting protrusion  162  and the protrusion hole (not shown) of the dust receptacle  103 , the dust receptacle  103  can slide upwardly and downwardly together with the slider  161 . That is, in association with the sliding of the slider  161 , the dust receptacle  103  is engaged or disengaged with respect to the cyclone body  110 . The slider  161  is also provided with a pair of locking recesses  165 ,  166  formed along a longitudinal edge at predetermined intervals.  
           [0011]    The locking lever  171  is provided with a locking portion  172  that moves with respect to the locking recesses  165 ,  166  of the slider  161 , and an operating portion  174  for operation by the user. The locking lever  171  is rotated on a rotary axis pin  176  disposed in the guiding groove portion  157  (FIG. 1), engaging the locking portion  172  with respect to the locking recesses  165 ,  166  of the slider  161 . To this end, there is provided a locker spring  181  disposed on the side removed from the locking portion  172  to resiliently bias the locking portion  172  towards the locking recesses  165 ,  166 .  
           [0012]    During use of the above construction of the conventional cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  100  having the filter cleaning device  150 , the dust receptacle  103  can be separated by pressing the operating portion  174  of the locking lever  171 . Accordingly, in response to the separation of the dust receptacle  103 , the filter cleaning device  150  is operated. As the operator presses the operating portion  174  to rotate the operating portion  174  on the rotary axis pin  176 , the locking portion  172  disengages from the locker recesses  165 ,  166  of the slider  161 . The recovery force of the spring  155  biases the dust receptacle  103  downwardly and it is separated from the cyclone body  110 , and at the same time, the dust removing ring  151  and the slider  161  slide in the downward direction.  
           [0013]    The dust removing ring  151  wipes the dust layer from the outer diameter side of the filter  130  as it slides down and through the ring  151 , and the dust falls into the dust receptacle  103  and is collected therein. When the dust receptacle  103  is full, the operator disengages the connecting protrusion  162  of the slider  161  from the protrusion hole of the dust receptacle  103 , and throws out the dust and contaminants collected therein. After being emptied, the dust receptacle  103  is again connected to the receptacle connecting portion  125  (FIG. 1) of the cyclone body  110  by pressing upwardly, and following the reverse order to the procedure described above.  
           [0014]    However, the conventional filter cleaning device  150  of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  100  described above has several drawbacks. That is, when large amounts of minute contaminants accumulate on the outer surface of the filter  130  , the dust removing ring  151  is inhibited from sliding smoothly and thus, it can not efficiently remove the minute contaminants from the filter  130 . The operator also experiences inconvenience whenever the ring  151  becomes clogged by the dust and contaminants, forcing the operator himself/herself to remove the minute contaminants from the outer diameter surface of the filter  130  and so to enable the dust removing ring  151  to smoothly slide along the filter surface.  
           [0015]    Further, the conventional filter cleaning device  150  of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  100  is a relatively complex structure, which requires many parts, such as, the slider  161 , the locking lever  171  and the locker spring  181 . This complexity results in manufacturing cost increases and in complicated assembling/disassembling procedures. Also, due to the structural requirements in the conventional filter cleaning device  150  of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  100  in which the guiding groove portion  157  for upward/downward sliding of the slider  161  is formed between the connecting pipe  113  of the cyclone body  110  and the dust receptacle  103 , expensive molds providing such a complex structure are required and as a result, the manufacturing cost increases even more.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0016]    Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a filter assembly for use as a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner, having a rotating filter, which is rotatable and is capable of easily removing contaminants accumulated thereon by rotation of the filter.  
           [0017]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a filter assembly for use as a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner having a simple structure, thus enabling manufacturing at a reduced cost, and also providing a structure that is easy to assemble and disassemble and easy to remove the dust receptacle from the body.  
           [0018]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a filter assembly, which requires no guiding groove portion between the dust receptacle and the connecting pipe of the cyclone body, and thus is easy to manufacture using a simple mold structure.  
           [0019]    In order to accomplish the above aspects and/or features of the present invention, in a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner which centrifugally separates contaminants from an externally-drawn air and collects the separated contaminants therein, a filter assembly filters contaminants floating in an air which is discharged through an exhaust port of the vacuum cleaner. The filter assembly includes a rotary filter rotatably connected with respect to the exhaust port of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus, and a filter rotating unit. The rotary filter includes a suction grill portion disposed at the outer circumference and a discharge port in fluid communication with the exhaust port, and the filter rotating unit is for rotating the rotary filter within the dust collecting apparatus, thereby removing the contaminants filtered on the suction grill portion and depositing them into a removable dust receptacle engaged to the cyclone type dusty collecting apparatus.  
           [0020]    The filter rotating unit includes a connecting portion open in a downward direction with respect to an axis of the rotary filter, an operating bar extending upwardly from the bottom of the dust receptacle of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus, for operating in association with the connecting portion of the rotary filter, and a rotation driving portion, disposed between the operating bar and the connecting portion, capable of rotating the rotary filter in association with the engagement and disengagement of the dust receptacle.  
           [0021]    The rotation driving portion includes an operating groove formed on an outer surface of the operating bar extending along a lengthwise direction in a helical screw-wise pattern, and a driven protrusion formed in the connecting portion for corresponding to the operating groove, whereby engagement of the groove with the protrusion causes the rotation of the rotary filter. Alternatively, the operating protrusion is formed on an outer surface of the operating bar extending along a lengthwise direction in a helical screw-wise pattern, and the driven groove is formed in the connecting portion for corresponding to the operating protrusion. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    The above aspects and other features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner having a conventional filter cleaning device installed therein;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a partially-enlarged perspective view of FIG. 1, illustrating in detail the conventional filter cleaning device;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus having a filter assembly mounted therein according to the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged, and exploded cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, illustrating in detail the structure of the filter assembly;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating parts shown in FIG. 4 after assembly;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly having a rotation driving portion according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly having a rotation driving portion according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus having a filter assembly mounted therein according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  1  having a filter assembly  50  mounted therein, is provided with a cyclone body  10  having an intake port  13  and an exhaust port  23  formed therein, and a dust receptacle  31  removably connected to the cyclone body  10 . The filter assembly  50  preferably is mounted adjacent the exhaust port  23  of the cyclone body  10  and disposed within the dust receptacle  31 .  
         [0033]    The exhaust port  23  is part of an upper body  21  of the cyclone body  10 . A lower body  11  including the intake port  13 , is connected with upper body  21  by an appropriate means, such as a plurality of screws  41 , one of which is shown in FIG. 3. The exhaust port  23  of the upper body  21  is open in an upward direction, and an exhaust side connecting pipe  25  extends upwardly from the side of the exhaust port  23  away from the filter assembly  50 . The exhaust side connecting pipe  25  is connected to a flexible connecting pipe  47 , which is connected to a cleaner body of the vacuum cleaner (not shown).  
         [0034]    The lower body  11  includes the intake port  13 , which is open in the downward direction, and a downwardly open receptacle connecting portion  17  is provided in parallel relation with the intake port  13 . An intake side connecting pipe  15 , in fluid communication with the lower body  11 , is connected with an intake pipe  49 , which itself is connected to a dust suction portion (not shown). A connecting rib  43  disposed on the outer surface of the receptacle connecting port  17  is shaped and configured to receive a connecting edge  33  of the dust receptacle  31 . The connecting rib  43  is provided at portions thereof with a connecting slit  45  cut in a horizontal direction.  
         [0035]    The dust receptacle  31  is substantially a cylinder, which is open upwardly, and includes the connecting edge  33  at an end thereof. Unlike the conventional dust receptacle  103  (FIG. 1), the dust receptacle  31  according to the present invention has a simple structure from which parts, such as the guiding groove portion  157  (FIG. 1) for receiving the sliding portion and a protrusion hole, are omitted. The connecting edge at the opening side of the dust receptacle  31 , away from the intake side connecting pipe  15 , is received in the connecting rib  43 . A hooking protrusion  35  protrudes from the connecting edge  33  and is used for engaging with the connecting slit  45 . With the connecting edge  33  of the dust receptacle  31  being received in the connecting rib  43  of the receptacle connecting portion  17 , the dust receptacle  31  is turned in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Accordingly, the hooking protrusion  35  is received in the connecting slit  45 . In other words, the dust receptacle  31  is removably engaged with respect to the cyclone body  10  by rotation of the dust receptacle  31 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged, and exploded, cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, illustrating in detail the structure of the inventive filter assembly, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the filter assembly in greater detail. As shown in the figures, the filter assembly  50  according to the present invention is constructed in a relatively simple manner by providing the structure of a filter  51  that is rotatable with respect to the exhaust port  23  of the upper body  21  of the cyclone body  10 , and a filter rotating unit  70  for rotating the filter  51 . Additionally, a dust backflow preventing plate  81  may be used for rotatably securing the filter  51 , as described below.  
         [0037]    The dust backflow preventing plate  81  is disposed between the upper and lower bodies  21 ,  11  of the cyclone body  10 . Fixation ribs  18 ,  28  protrude from the upper and lower bodies  21 ,  11  of the cyclone body  10 , respectively, to maintain engagement between bodies  21 ,  11 . The dust backflow preventing plate  81  divides the interior space defined by the upper and lower bodies  21 ,  11  into upper and lower spaces. The dust backflow preventing plate  81  preferably includes a discharge hole (not shown) for providing fluid communication between the lower body  11  and the upper body  21 , and a filter securing pipe  83 , sealed against the dust backflow preventing plate  81 , is disposed adjacent the discharge hole.  
         [0038]    As described in detail below, the filter securing pipe  83  is connected at its lower portion with a rotation supporting portion  61  that rotatably supports the filter  51 . At the end opposite the filter  51 , the filter securing pipe  83  may be integrally formed with the dust backflow preventing plate  81  in a simple manner, for example, by injection molding. Alternatively, the filter  51  and the rotation supporting portion  61  can be connected directly with the discharge hole of the dust backflow preventing plate  81  without requiring the filter securing pipe  83 . In yet another alternative embodiment, the filter and the rotation supporting portion  61  are connected directly to the exhaust port  23  of the upper body  21  without requiring the filter securing pipe  83  and the dust backflow preventing plate  81 .  
         [0039]    The filter  51  is substantially a cylinder, which is open in the upward direction, and is provided with a suction grill portion  53  formed in the outer circumference. The suction grill portion  53  may be formed to have a plurality of filtering holes for filtering out minute contaminants from the air drawn into the cyclone body  10 . For better filtering, however, the suction grill portion  53  is formed with a plurality of openings, and a net-type filtering member  55  is disposed over the outer sides of the openings, respectively, as shown in FIG. 4. The open upper side of the filter  51  serves as a discharge port which is in fluid communication with the exhaust port  23 , and is used for discharging air which is filtered through the suction grill portion  53  into the filter securing pipe  83 .  
         [0040]    The rotation supporting portion  61  in cylindrical shape is preferably disposed along the outer surface of the filter  51 . The rotation supporting portion  61  has open upper and lower sides, and also includes a plurality of suction windows  63  formed in its outer circumference. The upper open side  62  of the rotation supporting portion  61  is securely connected to the lower end of the filter securing pipe  83 , and the filter  51  is received in the secured rotation supporting portion  61  to be rotatable in relation thereto. The rotation supporting portion  61  may also be connected and secured to the directly discharge hole of the dust backflow preventing plate  81 , or to the discharge port  23  of the upper body  21  of the cyclone body  10 , as described above.  
         [0041]    The rotation supporting portion  61  is also provided with a brush portion  65  along the inner circumference extending in a vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 4. A plurality of brush portions  65  may be disposed in parallel relation extending in the vertical direction between the inner circumference surface of the rotation supporting portion  61  and the outer circumferential surface of the filter  51 . Preferably each brush portion  65  is arranged in the surface between the respective suction windows  63 . The brush portions  65  come into contact with the outer circumference of the filter  51 , and remove the accumulated dust from the outer surface of the filter  51  during the rotation of the filter  51  inside the rotation supporting portion  61 .  
         [0042]    The filter rotating unit  70  includes an operating bar  75  extending upwardly from the bottom of the dust receptacle  31 , a connecting portion  71  open at the lower portion of the filter  51  for receiving the operating bar  75  therein, and a rotation driving portion  72 , disposed between the operating bar  75  and the connecting portion  71 . The operating bar  75  may be integrally formed with the dust receptacle  31 , for example by injection molding, or may be formed as a separate member connected to the dust receptacle  31 .  
         [0043]    The rotation driving portion  72  may be formed having a simple construction, including one or more operating grooves  77  scored on the outer circumference of the operating bar  75 , and a driven protrusion  73  protruding from the inner circumference of the connecting portion  71 . The operating groove  77  is preferably scored in a helical or screw-wise shape to extend along a lengthwise direction of the operating bar  75 . The driven protrusion  73  protrudes from the inner circumference of the connecting portion  71  and is received in the operating groove  77 . It is preferable to provide the operating groove  77  and the driven protrusion  73  in pairs, as shown in FIG. 6, while it is also possible to provide one operating groove  77  and one driven protrusion  73 , respectively. Accordingly, in accordance with the operation of the rotation driving portion  72 , as operating bar  75 , which is received in the connecting portion  71 , is pushed in an upwardly direction, the driven protrusion  73  rotates along the screw-shaped operating groove  77  and as a result, the filter  51  is rotated around the central axis within the rotation supporting portion  61 .  
         [0044]    Preferably, the filter rotating unit  70  additionally includes a flared operating bar guide  79 , which extends vertically from the open side of the connecting portion  71 . The operating bar guide  79  also extends horizontally as well as vertically, to have a divergent surface toward the operating bar  75 , thereby forming an inclination relative to the central axis. The divergent surface of the operating bar guide  79  guides the separated operating bar  75  into position so that the operating bar  75  can enter smoothly into the open side of the connecting portion  71 .  
         [0045]    The operation of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  1 , having the filter assembling  50  constructed as above, will be described below. As dust-laden air is drawn into and through the suction pipe  49 , it flows into the intake port  13 , and due to the tangential shape of intake port  13 , the air spins about the filter  51  within the lower body  11  of the cyclone body  10 . The cyclonic movement of the air causes the contaminants and large-particle dust to be separated by the centrifugal force of the spinning air current. After this process, minute contaminants still entrained in the air are filtered out as the air is passed through the filter  51 . Accordingly, only clean air is discharged through the exhaust port  23 .  
         [0046]    The dust receptacle  31  is easily emptied, because the dust receptacle  31  is easily removable from the cyclone body  10 . As described above, the dust receptacle  31  is separated from the cyclone body  10  byun-hooking the hooking protrusion  35  from the connecting slit  45  and pulling the dust receptacle  31  in a downward direction. As the dust receptacle  31  is pulled downwardly, the operating bar  75  received in the connecting portion  71  of the filter  51  also moves downwardly together with the dust receptacle  31 . Accordingly, the driven protrusion  73  is rotated by the inclined motion of the operating groove  77  of the operating bar  75 , and the filter  51  is rotated.  
         [0047]    The rotational force of the filter  51  by itself can cause the dust disposed on the surface to be removed from the outer surface of the filter  51 . In this embodiment, the filter  51  is housed within the rotation supporting portion  61  and is rotated in rotation relative thereto, thereby causing the pile of dust on the filter  51  to be completely removed by the brush portion  65  of the rotation supporting portion  61 . The dust fall and is collected in the dust receptacle  31 , as it is removed by the rotation of the filter  51 , and the operator can easily empty the dust receptacle  31  as the need arises.  
         [0048]    In order to re-mount the dust receptacle  31  to the cyclone body  10 , the operating bar  75  is guided by the operating bar guide  79 , which is formed at the connecting portion  71 . While the operating bar  75  is re-connected to the connecting portion  71 , the filter  51  is rotated in a reverse direction by the counter-operation of the operating groove  77  and the driven protrusion  73 , again removing any remaining dust from the outer surface of the filter  51 . As described above, during the cleaning operation of the vacuum cleaner, air discharge is always performed smoothly because the suction grill portion  53  remains completely clean.  
         [0049]    With reference to FIG. 7, an exploded, cross-sectional view of a filter assembly having a rotation driving portion according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first embodiment, described above with reference to FIGS.  4  to  6 , except that the elements on which the protrusion and grooves are disposed are interchanged. For example, the operating bar  97  is formed on the operating protrusion  75 , and the rotation driving portion  92  in the form of a groove  93  is formed on the connecting portion  71  of the filter  51 . Accordingly, only the rotation driving portion  92  will be described below.  
         [0050]    According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the rotation driving portion  92  is provided with an operating protrusion  97  protruding from the outer surface of the operating bar  75  in a helical or screw-wise pattern, and a driven groove  93  is scored on the connecting portion  71  of the filter  51 . The driven groove  93  is formed along the inner circumference of the connecting portion  71  so as to be oriented at a predetermined inclination, while the operating protrusion  97  is formed in a corresponding inclination to fit within the driven groove  93 .  
         [0051]    Accordingly, the operating bar  75  is received in the connecting portion  71  and by moving the operating bar  75  in a vertical direction, the operating protrusion  97  is moved along the driven groove  93  of the connecting portion  71 . Because of the inclined surfaces, the operating protrusion  97  sliding within the groove  93  causes the filter  51  to rotate. The same effect is expected from the rotation of the filter  51  in the second embodiment as that of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will not be repeated herein as being duplicative of the above description in relation to the first embodiment.  
         [0052]    Meanwhile, FIG. 8 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of a filter assembly having a rotation driving portion according to another preferred, i.e., the third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first embodiment, described above with reference to FIGS.  4  to  6 , except that the operating groove  77 ′ formed on the outer surface of the operating bar  75  has a different configuration. According to the third embodiment, there are total four operating grooves  77 ′ extending along the operating bar  75  along a lengthwise direction in a helical, or screw-wise pattern.  
         [0053]    That is, a pair of operating grooves  77 ′ start from the leading end of the operating bar  75 , i.e., from where the driven protrusion  73 ′ is received, one in the right direction and the other in the left direction, and then these two grooves  77 ′ are branched into four grooves  77 ′. The four left and right operating grooves  77 ′ cross each other on the outer surface of the operating bar  75 , forming substantially a diamond pattern when viewed from a side. According to this construction, the driven protrusion  73 ′ entering into the starting point of the operating grooves  77 ′ is downwardly moved along one of the left and right operating grooves  77 ′. In the first and the second preferred embodiments described above, in association with the entrance of the operating bar  75  with respect to the connecting portion  71 , the filter  51  rotates in one direction, and then rotates in the opposite direction as the operating bar  75  retreats. According to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filter  51  is rotated in a selected direction irrespective of the entrance or retreat of the operating bar  75 . That is, the filter  51  is rotated in association with the movement of the driven protrusion  73 ′ which is moved along the selected operating groove  77 ′. As a result, dust on he outer surface of the filter  51  can be removed more effectively.  
         [0054]    According to the embodiments of the present invention as described above, in the filter assembly of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner, the filter  51  is rotated in association with the separation/connection of the dust receptacle  31 . The rotation of the filter  51  by itself, or together with a brush  65  acting separately, causes dust to be completely removed from the outer surface of the filter  51 .  
         [0055]    The filter assembly of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus according to the present invention requires a simple structure, and thus can be manufactured at an economic cost. Also, assembling/disassembling and disposal of the dust collected in the dust receptacle becomes simple. Furthermore, since there is no need to define a guide groove portion between the dust receptacle and the connecting pipe of the cyclone body, manufacturing processes become simpler.  
         [0056]    Although the preferred embodiments are described above for purposes of illustration and description, the invention is not to be considered limited by the above description, but is to be considered as including any modifications, changes and alterations and the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1