VACUUM CLEANER

• US 20100229332A1
• Filed: 03/09/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KANG, Sung Su
• Granted Patent: US 8,713,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/108 Dust compression means

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner may include a vacuum cleaner, comprising a main body, and a dust separator selectively on the main body, the dust separator comprising a dust separation device, a dust compression device having at least one compression member disposed therein, the at least one compression member being configured to be rotated to compress dust, and a storage device.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body; and

a dust separator mounted on the main body, the dust separator comprising a dust separation device, a dust compression device having at least one compression member disposed therein, the at least one compression member being configured to compress dust, and a storage device that stores dust.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the dust compression device comprises:

a compression body in which the at least one compression member is disposed, wherein the compression body has at least one dust introduction portion in an upper wall thereof and at least one discharge hole at a lower portion thereof.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the at least one compression member comprises a rotatable first compression member and a fixed second compression member that compresses dust by interaction with the first compression member.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the first compression member comprises:

a rotatable shaft; and

a compression plate attached to the rotatable shaft.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein the second compression member comprises:

a fixed shaft; and

a compression plate attached to fixed shaft.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein further comprising a drive device that rotates the first compression member.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the drive device is provided below a lower wall of the compression body.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the drive device comprises:

an operation device that generates a driving force; and

a transmission portion connected to the rotatable shaft that transmits the driving force of the operation device to the rotatable shaft.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the operation device comprises:

an operation portion configured to be operated by a user; and

a connection portion connected with the transmission portion.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the connection portion and the transmission portion comprise gears.

11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein a diameter of the connection portion is larger than a diameter of the transmission portion so that when the connection portion rotates a first angle, the transmission portion rotates a second angle larger than the first angle.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the dust compression device further comprises an opening and closing device configured to allow or block communication between the dust compression device and the dust storage device.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the opening and closing device comprises:

an opening and closing member; and

an operation member configured to operate the opening and closing member to allow or block communication between the dust compression device and the dust storage device.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the operation member is configured to rotate the opening and closing member to a first position, at which at least one opening in the opening and closing member aligns with the at least one discharge hole in the compression body to allow communication between the dust compression device and the dust storage device, or to a second position, at which the opening and closing member blocks the at least one discharge hole in the compression body to block communication between the dust compression device and the dust storage device.

15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the drive device comprises a compression motor provided in the main body, the compression motor comprises a bidirectionally rotatable motor.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein when the dust separation device and the compression device are fixed to the main body, the dust storage device is selectively removable from the main body.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, further comprising a locking device that selectively couples the dust storage device to a lower portion of the compression device.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the dust storage device comprises:

a dust tank; and

a dust bag housed in the dust tank that stores dust discharged from the compression device.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the dust tank comprises a coupling portion configured to be coupled with a fixing device of the dust bag.

20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the dust tank comprises an opening portion at a side portion thereof through which the dust bag is removable from the dust tank.

21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, further comprising a cover member configured to open and close the opening portion.

22. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, further comprising a support portion that supports the dust bag and fixes the dust bag to the dust tank, the support portion comprising a through-hole, through which dust may pass into the dust bag.

23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the dust compression device comprises a compression member configured to compress dust within the dust bag.

24. The vacuum cleaner of claim 23, wherein the compression member comprises a disk plate having a flat lower part, the dust plats moves in a substantially vertical direction.