VACUUM CLEANER

• US 20090178235A1
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yun, Chang Ho, Ha, Gun Ho, Hwang, Man Tae, Yang, Hae Seock, Kim, Jin Young, Yoo, Myung Sig, Choo, Jong Su, Ko, Moo Hyun, Seo, Jin Wook, Lee, Chang Hoon, Hwang, Pil Jae
• Granted Patent: US 7,992,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/352
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/108 Dust compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2836 characterised by the parts which are controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Abstract

Disclosed related to a vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner body in which a dust collector mount part is formed; a dust collector attached and removed at the dust collector mount part, and having a dust storage part in the inside; at least one of the compressing member reducing the volume of the dust stored in the dust storage part as arranged in the dust storage part movably; a power transfer unit transferring the driving force to the compressing members from outside as connected with the compressing members; and a control unit deciding the amount of the dust stored in the dust storage unit.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body including a suction motor that generates a suction power;

a dust separator that communicates with the suction motor and that separates dust and dirt from air;

a dust collector body configured to store dust separated from the dust separator, the dust collector body being detachably mounted on the main body;

at least one plate rotatably provided within the dust collector body and configured to compress dust stored in the dust collector body; and

at least one gear configured to transfer a driving force to the at least one plate, wherein the at least one gear includes a plurality of gear teeth, the plurality of gear teeth having at least one rounded side surface.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein both side surfaces of each of the plurality of gear teeth are rounded having a predetermined curvature.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a drive device that generates a driving force to rotate the at least one plate, wherein the at least one gear comprises a driving gear connected to the drive device and a driven gear configured to transfer the driving force transferred from the driving gear to the at least one plate.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein gear teeth of each of the driving gear and the driven gear, respectively, have rounded side surfaces.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the driven gear includes a gear axle coupled to the at least one plate.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the driving gear and the drive device are provided on the main body and the driven gear is provided on the dust collector body, and wherein the driven gear is engaged with the driving gear in a state in which the dust collector body is mounted on the main body.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the main body includes a receptacle configured to receive the driven gear.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of gear teeth has at least one rounded side surface.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the at least one plate comprises a plurality of protrusions disposed on a surface thereof.

10. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body including a suction motor that generates a suction power;

a dust separator that communicates with the suction motor and that separates dust and dirt from air;

a dust collector body configured to store dust separated from the dust separator, the dust collector body being detachably mounted on the main body;

at least one plate rotatably provided within the dust collector body and configured to compress dust stored in the dust collector body;

a drive device configured to generate a driving force to rotate the at least one plate; and

a transfer device comprising a driving gear and a driven gear configured to transfer the driving force from the drive device to the at least one plate, wherein the driving gear and the driven gear, respectively, include a plurality of gear teeth, the plurality of gear teeth of at least one of the driving gear or the driven gear having at least one inclined surface to allow engagement of the driving gear and the driven gear.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, wherein each gear tooth of the at least one of the driving gear or the driven gear has a pair of inclined surfaces.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the pair of inclined surfaces meets each other at a center of the respective gear tooth.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein each gear tooth of both of the driving gear and the driven gear has at least one inclined surface.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, wherein the driving gear and the drive device are provided on the main body and the driven gear is provided on the dust collector body, and wherein the driven gear is engaged with the driving gear in a state in which the dust collector body is mounted on the main body.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the dust collector body includes a cover configured to cover at least a portion of the driven gear, and the main body includes a receptacle configured to receive the driven gear and the cover.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the driving gear is located in the receptacle.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, wherein the driven gear includes a gear axle and a horizontal section of an outer circumferential surface is non circular in shape.

18. The vacuum cleaner accordingly to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of gear teeth of the at least one of the driving gear or the driven gear has at least one inclined surface.

19. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body including a suction motor that generates a suction power;

a dust separator that communicates with the suction motor and that separates dust and dirt from air;

a dust collector body detachably mounted on the main body and including a dust storage compartment configured to store dust separated from the dust separator;

at least one plate rotatably provided within the dust storage compartment and configured to compress dust stored in the dust storage compartment; and

a driving gear and a driven gear configured to transfer a driving force to the at least one plate, wherein the driving gear and driven gear are provided outside of the dust collector body, wherein the driven gear is connected to the at least one plate, and wherein the driving gear and the driven gear, respectively, include a plurality of gear teeth, the plurality of gear teeth of at least one of the driving gear or driven gear having at least one rounded surface.

20. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 19, wherein each gear tooth of the driving gear has a first surface, wherein each gear tooth of the driven gear has a second surface that selectively contacts the first surface, and wherein at least one of the first surface and second surface is rounded.

21. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 19, wherein the rounded surface is a side surface of the respective gear tooth.

22. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 19, wherein the driven gear is provided under the dust collector body and the driving gear is provided on the main body.

23. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 19, wherein the at least one plate is provided under the dust separator.

24. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of gear teeth of the at least one of the driving gear or the driven gear has at least one rounded surface.