Vacuum Cleaner
First Claim
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a main separating unit;
a filter;
an auxiliary separating unit;
a vacuum source adapted to generate an airstream; and
airflow passages configured to operate in a vacuum cleaning mode and a filter cleaning mode, wherein;
in the vacuum cleaning mode, the airflow passages are configured to direct the airstream through the main separating unit and then through the filter in a first direction, and the airflow substantially bypasses the auxiliary separating unit, andin the filter cleaning mode, the airflow passages are configured to direct the airstream through the filter in a second direction, opposite the first direction, and then through the auxiliary separating unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner having a main separating unit, a filter, an auxiliary separating unit, a vacuum source adapted to generate an airstream, and airflow passages configured to operate in a vacuum cleaning mode and a filter cleaning mode. In the vacuum cleaning mode, the airflow passages are configured to direct the airstream through the main separating unit and then through the filter in a first direction, and the airflow substantially bypasses the auxiliary separating unit. In the filter cleaning mode, the airflow passages are configured to direct the airstream through the filter in a second direction, opposite the first direction, and then through the auxiliary separating unit. A method for operating a vacuum cleaner is also provided.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a main separating unit; a filter; an auxiliary separating unit; a vacuum source adapted to generate an airstream; and airflow passages configured to operate in a vacuum cleaning mode and a filter cleaning mode, wherein; in the vacuum cleaning mode, the airflow passages are configured to direct the airstream through the main separating unit and then through the filter in a first direction, and the airflow substantially bypasses the auxiliary separating unit, and in the filter cleaning mode, the airflow passages are configured to direct the airstream through the filter in a second direction, opposite the first direction, and then through the auxiliary separating unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
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18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the one or more valves are positioned in the vacuum cleaning mode to cause the airflow to substantially bypass the auxiliary separating unit.
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20. A method for operating a vacuum cleaner having a main separating unit, an auxiliary separating unit, and a filter, the method comprising:
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collecting dirt in the vacuum cleaner by forcing a dust-laden air stream through the main separating unit in order to separate a first amount of dust from the air stream, then forcing the air stream leaving the main separating unit through the filter in a forward direction to filter a second amount of dust from the dust-laden air stream; and removing at least a portion of the second amount of dust from the filter by forcing a cleaning air stream through the filter in a reverse direction to remove a third amount of dust from the downstream filter, then forcing the cleaning air stream through the auxiliary separating unit to separate a fourth amount of dust from the cleaning air stream from the airstream.
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Specification