VACUUM CLEANER WITH REMOVABLE DUST COLLECTOR, AND METHODS OF OPERATNG THE SAME
First Claim
1. A method of operating a vacuum cleaner having a suction motor that generates a suction power, a dust container that stores dust, at least one plate provided in the dust container, and a drive device comprising at least one gear coupled to the at least one plate that drives the at least one plate, the method comprising:
- driving the driving device in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to move the at least one plate in a first direction to compress dust in the dust container; and
driving the driving device in the other of the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction to move the at least one plate in a second opposite direction, wherein the at least one plate is connected to a rotating shaft that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the dust container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner includes a dust collector that compresses dust stored inside a dust container to minimize the volume of the dust. The dust collector would include one or more pressing plates that are used to compress the dust stored in dust collector. Various methods are used to control movements of the movable pressing plates to facilitate the compression operations. Also, various methods are used to determine when the dust collector is full and needs to be emptied.
102 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of operating a vacuum cleaner having a suction motor that generates a suction power, a dust container that stores dust, at least one plate provided in the dust container, and a drive device comprising at least one gear coupled to the at least one plate that drives the at least one plate, the method comprising:
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driving the driving device in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to move the at least one plate in a first direction to compress dust in the dust container; and driving the driving device in the other of the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction to move the at least one plate in a second opposite direction, wherein the at least one plate is connected to a rotating shaft that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the dust container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating a vacuum cleaner having a suction motor that generates a suction power, a dust container that stores dust, at least one plate provided in the dust container, and a compression motor that drives the at least one plate, the method comprising:
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moving the at least one plate in a first direction by operating the compression motor to compress dust stored in the dust container; stopping operation of the compression motor when the at least one plate is forced to stop; and moving the at least one plate in a second opposite direction by re-operating the compression motor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of operating a vacuum cleaner having a suction motor that generates a suction power, a dust container that stores dust, at least one plate provided in the dust container, and a driving device comprising at least one gear coupled to the at least one plate that drives the at least one plate, the method comprising:
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operating the suction motor of the vacuum cleaner; halting operation of the suction motor; moving the at least one plate in a first direction by operating the driving device to compress dust stored in the dust container after halting operation of the suction motor; and moving the at least one plate in a second opposite direction by operating the driving device. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of operating a vacuum cleaner having a suction motor that generates a suction power, a dust container that stores dust, a movable plate provided in the dust container, the movable plate being movable relative to a casing of the dust container to compress dust against a fixed plate integrated with the casing, and a drive device comprising a rotating shaft coupled to the at least one plate that drives the at least one plate, the rotating shaft being co-axial with a central longitudinal axis of a filter, the method comprising:
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driving the driving device in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to move the movable plate in a first direction to compress dust in the dust container; and driving the driving device in the other of the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction to move the movable plate in a second opposite direction, wherein the rotating shaft extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the dust container.
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Specification