Vacuum cleaner
First Claim
1. A vacuum cleaner for use in industry and household comprising a housing and an electric motor driving a blower that generates the working vacuum, a suction nozzle for picking up dust and dirt, and maneuvering means connected between the suction nozzle and the housing and having a suction channel therein to permit passage of the material to be cleaned from the suction nozzle to the housing, characterized in that an optical sensor comprising a light transmitter and a light receiver is provided in the suction channel which is traversed by the solid particles, dusts, threads, and the like drawn in during the cleaning operation so that, depending on the quantity of materials drawn in, the light transmission characteristics between said transmitter and said receiver changes, indicating means for indicating the level of material traversing said suction channel, and electronic switching means connected between said sensor and said indicating means and movable from a first to a second state for energizing said indicating means when the level of material in said suction channel reaches a preselected level.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
Vacuum cleaner for use in industry and household comprising a housing and an electric motor driving the blower generating the working vacuum, and optional maneuvering means for moving a suction nozzle over the material to be cleaned. There is provided in the area of the channel passed by the dust and dirt particles drawn in, an optical sensor comprising a light transmitter and a coacting light receiver so that the quantity of the dust and dirt particles drawn in at any time is detected. After comparison of the value so determined with a given threshold value, either a visual and/or an acoustic signal are obtained and/or a power variation of the electric motor driving the blower is effected.
219 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A vacuum cleaner for use in industry and household comprising a housing and an electric motor driving a blower that generates the working vacuum, a suction nozzle for picking up dust and dirt, and maneuvering means connected between the suction nozzle and the housing and having a suction channel therein to permit passage of the material to be cleaned from the suction nozzle to the housing, characterized in that an optical sensor comprising a light transmitter and a light receiver is provided in the suction channel which is traversed by the solid particles, dusts, threads, and the like drawn in during the cleaning operation so that, depending on the quantity of materials drawn in, the light transmission characteristics between said transmitter and said receiver changes, indicating means for indicating the level of material traversing said suction channel, and electronic switching means connected between said sensor and said indicating means and movable from a first to a second state for energizing said indicating means when the level of material in said suction channel reaches a preselected level.
Specification