Detector device for filter bags for vacuum cleaners

• US 5,907,886 A
• Filed: 01/28/1997
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BRANOfilter GmbH
• Original Assignee: BRANOfilter GmbH
• Inventors: Buscher, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/789,290
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 15/319, 15/339, 55/385.6, 96/423
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1436 Connecting plates, e.g. collars, end closures
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1472 combined with security means, e.g. for preventing use, e.g. in case of absence of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/02 Vacuum cleaner bags

Abstract

A detector device for filter bags in vacuum cleaners which comprises a sensor device adapted to sense a tabular or plate-like connection member of such vacuum cleaner filter bag and switching means controlled by the sensor device for preventing switching-on of the motor of the vacuum cleaner if the connection member is not properly detected. The electronic sensor device is adapted to sense at least one detectable element in or on the connection member by electromagnetic waves and is connected with the switching means by a processing device for checking the correct position and correct type of the at least one detectable element. This means that it is not only possible to check for the presence of a filter bag in the vacuum cleaner but furthermore to discriminate whether same is correctly fitted and is of the right type for the said vacuum cleaner so that impairment of and damage to the vacuum cleaner by mounting the wrong type of filter bag is prevented.

Claims

1. A detector assembly for sensing if a filter bag has been attached to a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner having a motor, said detector assembly comprising:

a sensor configured to detect the presence of a filter bag by transmitting electromagnetic waves to determine the presence of a detectable element integral with the filter bag and that produces a sensor output signal that varies based on the presence, type and position of the filter bag detectable element;

a processing circuit for receiving the sensor output signal, said processing circuit configured to evaluate the sensor output signal to determine if the sensor output signal indicates said sensor has detected the presence of a select type of filter bag detectable element in a select position and, if the detection occurs, to assert a switch-on signal; and

a switch for receiving the switch-on signal from the processing circuit, said switch being connected to the vacuum cleaner motor for regulating actuation of the vacuum cleaner motor, wherein said switch prevents actuation of the vacuum cleaner motor unless the switch-on signal is received.

2. The detector assembly of claim 1, wherein said sensor and said processing circuit are mounted on a single printed circuit board.

3. The detector assembly of claim 2, wherein said switch is mounted on said printed circuit board.

4. The detector assembly of claim 1, wherein said sensor and said processing circuit are formed as an integrated circuit.

5. The detector assembly of claim 4, wherein said switch is formed as part of said integrated circuit.

6. The detector assembly of claim 1, wherein said sensor includes an oscillating circuit for transmitting the electromagnetic waves.

7. The detector assembly of claim 1, wherein the detectable element is a metallic plate and said sensor is configured to produce the sensor output signal as a function of eddy current effect-induced damping of the electromagnetic waves by said metallic plate.

8. The detector assembly of claim 7, wherein said sensor produces a variable amplitude oscillating sensor output signal and said processing circuit is configured to compare the sensor output signal to a reference signal to determine if a select filter bag detectable element is present in a select position.

9. The detector assembly of claim 8, wherein said processing circuit includes:

a signal converter circuit for receiving the sensor output signal that produces a variable signal as a function of the amplitude of the oscillations of the sensor output signal; and

a comparator assembly to which the variable signal is applied, said comparator assembly being configured to compare the variable signal to a first reference signal and, if the variable signal is equal to or less than the first reference signal, to assert the switch-on signal.

10. The detector assembly of claim 9, wherein said comparator assembly is configured to compare the variable signal to a second reference signal that is less than the first reference signal while comparing the variable signal to the first reference signal and, if the variable signal is between the first and second reference signals, to assert the switch-on signal.

11. The detector assembly of claim 9 wherein the variable signal produced by said signal converter is a variable voltage DC signal.

12. The detector assembly of claim 1, wherein said sensor includes a transmitter configured to broadcast electromagnetic waves to the detectable element and a receiver configured to receive electromagnetic waves transmitted by the filter bag detectable element in response to the broadcast by said sensor transmitter.

13. The detector assembly of claim 12, wherein said sensor transmitter broadcasts an RF signal, the filter bag detectable element produces a detectable element output signal in which the frequency or phase of the RF signal broadcast by the sensor transmitter is modified and said sensor receiver, based on the signal received from the detectable element, produces the sensor output signal.

14. The detector assembly of claim 12, wherein the filter bag detectable element, upon receiving the electromagnet waves from said sensor transmitter, produces a detectable element output signal in which a code is embedded and said sensor receiver is configured to receive the detectable element output signal and to produce the sensor output signal in which the code from the detectable element output signal is embedded in the sensor output signal.

15. The detector assembly of claim 14, wherein said processing circuit is configured to read the sensor output signal to determine the code embedded in the sensor output signal and to assert the switch-on signal as a function of the code read from the sensor output signal.

16. The detector assembly of claim 1, wherein said sensor is configured to capacitively determine the presence, type and position of the detectable element.

17. The detector assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of separate said sensors, said sensors collectively configured to determine the presence, type and location of different filter bag detectable elements and wherein said processing circuit is configured to receive the sensor output signals produced by said sensors and, if said sensor output signals indicate that said sensors have detected the presence of select detectable elements in select positions, to assert the switch-on signal.

18. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing having a space for removably receiving a filter bag, said housing having a wall;

a connection spout mounted to said wall of said housing for coupling into an open end of the filter bag;

a motor which is selectively energized to cause air flow through said connection spout into the filter bag; and

a detector assembly for sensing if the filter bag is properly mounted in the housing, said detector assembly including;

a sensor configured to detect the presence of the filter bag by transmitting electromagnetic waves to determine the presence of a detectable element integral with the filter bag and that produces a sensor output signal that varies based on the presence, type and position of the filter bag detectable element;

a processing circuit for receiving the sensor output signal, said processing circuit configured to evaluate the sensor output signal to determine if the sensor output signal indicates said sensor has detected the presence of a select type of filter bag detectable element in a select position and, if the detection occurs, to assert a switch-on signal; and

a switch for receiving the switch-on signal from said processing circuit and that is connected to said motor for regulating actuation of said motor, wherein said switch prevents actuation of said motor unless the switch-on signal is received.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein said sensor is mounted to said wall of said housing to which said connection spout is attached.

20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, wherein said sensor is mounted to a side of said wall opposite a side of said wall that faces the space for receiving the filter bag.

21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein said detector assembly sensor includes an oscillating circuit for transmitting the electromagnetic waves.

22. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the filter bag detectable element is a metallic plate and said detector assembly sensor is configured to produce the sensor output signal as a function of eddy current effect-induced damping of the electromagnetic waves by said metallic plate.

23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein said detector assembly sensor produces a variable amplitude oscillating sensor output signal and said processing circuit is configured to compare the sensor output signal to a reference signal to determine if a select filter bag detectable element is present in a select position.

24. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein said detector assembly sensor includes a transmitter configured to broadcast electromagnetic waves to the detectable element and a receiver configured to receive electromagnetic waves transmitted by the filter bag detectable element in response to the broadcast by said sensor transmitter.

25. The vacuum cleaner of claim 24, wherein said sensor transmitter broadcasts an RF signal, the filter bag detectable element produces a detectable element output signal in which the frequency or phase of the RF signal broadcast by said sensor transmitter is modified and said sensor receiver, based on the signal received from the detectable element, produces the sensor output signal.

26. The vacuum cleaner of claim 24, wherein the filter bag detectable element, upon receiving the electromagnet waves from said sensor transmitter, produces a detectable element output signal in which a code is embedded, said sensor receiver is configured to receive the detectable element output signal and to produce the sensor output signal so that the code from the detectable element output signal is embedded in the sensor output signal.

27. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein said detector assembly sensor is configured to capacitively determine the presence, type and position of the filter bag detectable element.

28. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein said detector assembly includes a plurality of separate said sensors, said sensors collectively configured to determine the presence, type and location of different filter bag detectable elements and wherein said processing circuit is configured to receive the sensor output signals produced by said sensors and, if said sensor output signals indicate that said sensors have detected the presence of select detectable elements in select positions, to assert the switch-on signal.

29. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing having a space for removably receiving a filter bag, said housing having a wall;

a connection spout mounted to said wall of said housing for coupling into an open end of the filter bag;

a motor which is selectively energized to cause air flow through said connection spout into the filter bag; and

a detector assembly for sensing if the filter bag is properly mounted in the housing, said detector assembly including;

a sensor mounted to said wall of said housing, said sensor configured to detect the presence of the filter bag by transmitting electromagnetic waves to determine the presence of a detectable element integral with the filter bag and that produces a sensor output signal that varies based on the presence, type and position of the filter bag detectable element;

a processing circuit for receiving the sensor output signal, said processing circuit configured to compare the sensor output signal to a reference signal to determine if the sensor output signal indicates said sensor has detected the presence of a select type of filter bag detectable element in a select position and, if the detection occurs, to assert a switch-on signal; and

a switch for receiving the switch-on signal from said processing circuit and that is connected to said motor for regulating actuation of said motor, wherein said switch prevents actuation of said motor unless the switch-on signal is received.

30. The vacuum cleaner of claim 29, wherein said detector assembly sensor is configured to capacitively determine the presence, type and position of the detectable element.

31. The vacuum cleaner of claim 29, wherein:

said detector assembly includes a plurality of said sensors, wherein said sensors produce sensor output signals based on the presence, type and locations of plural detectable elements integral with the filter bag; and

said processing circuit is configured to receive the sensor output signals produced by said sensors and to compare the sensor output signals to reference signals, and if the comparisons indicate the presence of select detectable elements in select locations, to assert the switch-on signal.

32. The vacuum cleaner of claim 29, wherein:

said detector assembly sensor and said processing circuit are mounted to a single printed circuit board; and

said printed circuit board is mounted to a side of said wall of said housing opposite a side of said wall that faces the space for receiving the filter bag.

33. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing having a space for removably receiving a filter bag, said housing having a wall;

a connection spout mounted to said wall of said housing for coupling into an open end of the filter bag;

a motor which is selectively energized to cause air flow through said connection spout into the filter bag; and

a detector assembly for sensing if the filter bag is properly mounted in the housing, said detector assembly including;

a transmitter mounted to said wall of said housing, said transmitter configured to broadcast an RF signal;

a receiver mounted to said wall of said housing, said receiver configured to receive electromagnetic waves broadcast by a filter bag detectable element in response to the RF signal broadcast by said transmitter, wherein the electromagnetic waves broadcast by the detectable element vary based on the presence, type and position of the detectable element and the receiver generates an output signal based on the received electromagnetic waves;

a processing circuit for receiving the receiver output signal, said processing circuit configured to evaluate the receiver output signal to determine if the receiver output signal indicates the presence of a select type of filter bag detectable element in a select position relative to said receiver and, if the detection occurs, to assert a switch-on signal; and

a switch for receiving the switch-on signal from said processing circuit and that is connected to said motor for regulating actuation of said motor, wherein said switch prevents actuation of said motor unless the switch-on signal is received.

34. The vacuum cleaner of detector assembly of claim 33, wherein:

said detector assembly receiver is configured to receive from the filter bag detectable element electromagnetic waves in which a code is embedded and to embed the code in the receiver output signal; and

said detector assembly processing circuit is configured to read the receiver output signal to determine the code embedded in the receiver output signal and to assert the switch-on signal as a function of the code read from the receiver output signal.