Vacuum cleaner with removable dust collector, and methods of operating the same
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a vacuum cleaner having a suction motor that generates a suction power and a dust container with a compression plate that compresses dust in the dust container, the method comprising:
- moving the compression plate in a first direction with a driving device while the vacuum cleaner operates to compress the dust in the dust container until the compression plate is forced to stop;
moving the compression plate in a second opposite direction with the driving device, wherein the driving device drives the compression plate, and wherein the moving results in the compression plate being moved in alternating directions and the dust being compressed against two different surfaces as the compression plate moves in both of the alternating directions; and
holding the compression plate at positions in which it compresses the dust for a predetermined period of time after the compression plate is forced to stop before the compression plate is allowed to move in an alternating direction.
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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.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of operating a vacuum cleaner having a suction motor that generates a suction power and a dust container with a compression plate that compresses dust in the dust container, the method comprising:
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moving the compression plate in a first direction with a driving device while the vacuum cleaner operates to compress the dust in the dust container until the compression plate is forced to stop; moving the compression plate in a second opposite direction with the driving device, wherein the driving device drives the compression plate, and wherein the moving results in the compression plate being moved in alternating directions and the dust being compressed against two different surfaces as the compression plate moves in both of the alternating directions; and holding the compression plate at positions in which it compresses the dust for a predetermined period of time after the compression plate is forced to stop before the compression plate is allowed to move in an alternating direction. - 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 dust container with a compression plate that compresses dust in the dust container, the method comprising:
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moving the compression plate in a first direction with a driving device while the vacuum cleaner operates to compress the dust in the dust container until the compression plate is forced to stop; moving the compression plate in a second opposite direction with the driving device, wherein the compression plate is mounted in the dust container such that it rotates within the dust container, and wherein the moving comprises rotating the compression plate within the dust container; and determining how far the compression plate was able to move before it stopped, wherein the determining comprises measuring an angle of rotation through which the compression plate rotated before it stopped.
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16. A method of determining whether a dust container of a vacuum cleaner is full, the method comprising:
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moving a dust compression plate within the dust container to compress dust in the dust container until the compression plate is forced to stop; determining how far the compression plate was able to move before it stopped; determining that the dust container is full if the amount that the compression plate was able to move before it stopped is less than a predetermined minimum movement amount, wherein the moving comprises; moving the compression plate to compress the dust in the dust container; sensing an amount of force that the compression plate is applying to the dust as it moves; comparing the sensed force to a predetermined amount of force; and halting movement of the compression plate when the sensed amount of force exceeds the predetermined amount of force. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of operating a vacuum cleaner having a dust container, wherein a compression plate is mounted in the dust container, the method comprising:
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operating a suction motor of the vacuum cleaner; halting operation of the suction motor; and moving the compression plate into a position at which it compresses dust in the dust container after operation of the suction motor is halted using a driving device of the vacuum cleaner, wherein moving the compression plate comprises moving the compression plate with an electric motor, and wherein the compression plate is movably coupled to the dust container and located in the dust container, and wherein the moving comprises; moving the compression plate with the driving device such that it compresses the dust in the dust container; detecting a force applied to the dust by the compression plate; and halting movement of the compression plate when the detected force exceeds a predetermined compression force.
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Specification