VACUUM CLEANER

• US 20140013536A1
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kietak Hyun
• Inventors: HYUN, Kietak
• Granted Patent: US 10,039,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/10 Filters in general B01D; cyclones B04C; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters for machines for cleaning floors A47L11/40
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner may include a suction nozzle coupled to a body and adapted to move along a surface to be cleaned, a guide pipe to guide foreign substances including dust suctioned through in the suction nozzle, a separation member to separate the foreign substances including dust guided along the guide pipe from air according to a principle of cyclonic separation, a collection container to accommodate the foreign substances including dust separated in the separation member, a binder supply device connected to the guide pipe to supply a binder to the separation member, the binder being in a shape of solid granules, and a heat supply device to supply heat to the collection container. The binder may bind with the dust due to heat supplied from the heat supply device. Thus, a larger amount of foreign substances including dust may be accumulated in the collection container, and therefore, the collection container may be effectively used.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a body;

a suction nozzle provided at or on the body to suction in foreign substances including dust;

a guide pipe to guide the foreign substances including dust suctioned in through the suction nozzle;

a separation member to separate the foreign substances including dust guided along the guide pipe from air;

a collection container to accommodate the foreign substances including dust separated in the separation member;

a heat supply device to supply heat to the collection container; and

a binder supply device to supply a binder, the binder being melted by heat supplied from the heat supply device to bind with foreign substances including the dust.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the binder is supplied prior to introduction of the foreign substances including dust into the separation member and is mixed with the foreign substances including dust in the separation member.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the binder supply device is connected to the guide pipe to supply the binder to the guide pipe.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the binder supply device comprises:

a binder case to accommodate the binder; and

a communication pipe that allows the binder case to communicate with the guide pipe.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, further comprising:

a valve provided to open and close the communication pipe.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the communication pipe is connected to the guide pipe at a connection point.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the guide pipe narrows at the connection pipe.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the heat supply device supplies heat to at least a lower portion or a side portion of the collection container.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the heat supply device comprises:

a motor to generate a flow in the separation member;

a guide duct to guide the air separated in the separation member such that the air exchanges heat with the motor; and

a discharge port to guide the air such that the air is discharged from the guide duct toward the collection container.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the body is provided with a chamber to accommodate the motor, and wherein the guide duct penetrates the chamber.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the discharge port comprises a first discharge port arranged adjacent a side surface of the collection container and a second discharge port arranged adjacent a lower surface of the collection container.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the guide duct is provided with a HEPA filter to filter the air.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the heat supply device comprises a heat exchange member to transfer heat to the collection container by thermal conduction.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the heat supply device further comprises:

a motor to generate a flow in the separation member;

a guide duct to guide the air separated in the separation member such that the air exchanges heat with the motor; and

an discharge port to guide the air such that the air is discharged from the guide duct to outside of the vacuum cleaner, wherein the heat exchange member is arranged in the guide duct, and wherein the air passing through the guide duct exchanges heat with the heat exchange member such that heat in the air is supplied to the collection container.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, further comprising a bottom plate arranged adjacent to a bottom surface of the collection container to receive heat from the heat exchange member.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the heat supply device comprises a heater arranged adjacent to a bottom surface of the collection container.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the heat supply device comprises an infrared lamp to irradiate the collection container with infrared light, and

wherein the collection container is formed of a transparent material.

18. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a body;

a suction nozzle provided at or on the body to suction in foreign substances including dust;

a separation member to separate the foreign substances including dust supplied from the suction nozzle from air;

a collection container to accommodate the foreign substances including dust separated in the separation member;

a binder supply device to supply a binder to the separation member, the binder being in a shape of solid granules; and

a heat supply device to supply heat to the collection container, wherein the binder is melted by the heat supplied from the heat supply device to bind with the foreign substances including dust.

19. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18, wherein the heat supply device supplies heat to at least a lower portion or a side portion of the collection container.

20. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 19, wherein the heat supply device comprises:

a motor to generate a flow in the separation member;

a guide duct to guide the air separated in the separation member such that the air exchanges heat with the motor; and

a discharge port to guide the air such that the air is discharged from the guide duct toward the collection container.

21. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 19, wherein the heat supply device comprises a heat exchange member to transfer heat to the collection container by thermal conduction.

22. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 21, wherein the heat supply device further comprises:

a motor to generate a flow in the separation member;

a guide duct to guide the air separated in the separation member such that the air exchanges heat with the motor; and

an discharge port to guide the air such that the air is discharged from the guide duct to outside of the vacuum cleaner, wherein the heat exchange member is arranged in the guide duct, and wherein the air passing through the guide duct exchanges heat with the heat exchange member such that heat in the air is supplied to the collection container.

23. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 19, wherein the heat supply device comprises a heater, and wherein the heater is operated while a motor to generate a rotational flow in the separation member is driven.

24. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 19, wherein the binder is supplied prior to introduction of the foreign substances including dust into the separation member and is mixed with the foreign substances including dust in the separation member.

25. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 19, wherein the heat supply device comprises an infrared lamp, and wherein the infrared lamp is operated while a motor to generate a rotational flow in the separation member is driven.

26. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a body;

a suction nozzle provided at or on the body to suction in foreign substances including dust;

a separation member to separate the foreign substances including dust supplied from the suction nozzle from air according to a principle of cyclonic separation;

a collection container to accommodate the foreign substances including dust separated in the separation member;

a binder supply device to supply a binder to the separation member, the binder being in a shape of solid granules; and

a heat supply device to supply heat to the collection container, wherein the binder melts in the collection container and binds with the foreign substances including dust to form a particle larger than a particle of the dust.