Vacuum cleaner with removable dust collector, and methods of operating the same

• US 7,998,234 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yun, Chang Ho, Hyun, Kie Tak, Ha, Gun Ho, Jeong, Kyeong Seon, Son, Young Bok, Kim, Jae Kyum, Lee, Sung Hwa, Hwang, Man Tae, Yang, Hae Seock, Park, Yun Hee, Kim, Jin Young, Park, Min, Kim, Il Joong, Yoo, Myung Sig, Shin, Jin Hyouk, Choo, Jong Su, Jeong, Hoi Kil, Ko, Moo Hyun, Seo, Jin Wook, Lee, Chang Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US12/407,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20090229073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 554/26, 554/28, 554/29, 554/591, 55D/IG.3, 964/05, 964/17, 964/18, 964/19, 964/21
• US Class Current: 55/428
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/365 of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/108 Dust compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 9/3082 with compression means other than rams performing a rectilinear movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

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.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body having a suction motor;

a dust separator that communicates with the main body and that separates dust and dirt from a suction air stream, the dust separator including an air inlet and an air outlet;

a filter located in the dust separator;

a dust container located under the dust separator and detachably mounted to the main body, that stores dust separated the dust separator;

a dividing plate that partitions an inner space of the dust separator from an inner space of the dust container;

at least one plate provided in the dust container; and

a drive mechanism comprising at least one gear coupled to the at least one plate and configured to drive the at least one plate.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the least one plate is rotatably mounted in the dust container and the drive mechanism is configured to rotate the at least one plate.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the dividing plate is located at an upper portion of the at least one plate.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the dust container is detachably coupled to the dust separator.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the dividing plate includes at least one opening configured to communicate the inner space of dust separator with the inner space of the dust container.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the opening is formed from an edge of the dividing plate towards a center thereof.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the at least one plate comprises a first movable plate and a second fixed plate that interacts with the first movable plate to compress dust in the dust container, wherein the fixed plate is fixed to the dust container, and wherein an upper end of the fixed plate is formed to be proximal to a bottom surface of the dividing plate.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a case of the dust separator is similar in shape to a case of the dust container.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the at least one gear includes a first gear and a second gear engaged with the first gear and connected to the at least one plate.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the first gear is driven by a motor.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, where the first gear is driven by operation of a lever by a user.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the first gear mates with a rack provided on a connecting part attached to the lever.

25. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the least one plate is rotatably mounted in the dust container and the drive mechanism is configured to rotate the at least one plate.

13. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body having a suction motor;

a dust separator that communicates with the main body and that separates dust and dirt from a suction air stream, the dust separator including an air inlet and an air outlet;

a dust container located under the dust separator and detachably mounted to the main body, that stores dust separated from the dust separator;

a first plate movably provided in the dust container;

a second plate fixedly provided in the dust container and configured to compress the dust together with the first plate;

a dividing plate configured to cover at least a portion of an upper part of the second plate; and

a drive mechanism comprising at least one gear coupled to the first plate and configured to drive the first plate.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the first plate is rotatably mounted in the dust container and the drive mechanism is configured to rotate the first plate.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the dividing plate includes at least one opening formed at an outer edge thereof, and wherein the dust separated in the dust separator is discharged to the dust container through the opening.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the opening is located at a side of an inner space of the dust container that is opposite to a location of the second plate.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the dust container includes a bottom wall provided under the first and second plates, and wherein the first plate or the driving mechanism is mounted on the bottom wall.

18. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the first plate is connected to a rotating shaft and the dividing plate covers an upper portion of the rotating shaft.

19. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein a case of the dust separator is similar in shape to a case of the dust container.

20. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the at least one gear includes a first gear and a second gear engaged with the first gear and connected to the at least one plate.

21. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 20, wherein the first gear is driven by a motor.

22. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 20, where the first gear is driven by operation of a lever by a user.

23. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 22, wherein the first gear mates with a rack provided on a connecting part attached to the lever.

27. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the at least one plate comprising a first movable plate and a second fixed plate provided in an approximate radial disposition between the inner surface of the dust container and the rotational shaft of the first movable plate.

24. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body having a suction motor;

a dust separator that communicates with the main body and that separates dust and dirt from a suction air stream, the dust separator including an air inlet and an air outlet;

a dust container located under the dust separator and detachably mounted to the main body, that stores dust separated from the dust separator;

a dividing plate that partitions an inner space of the dust separator from an inner space of the dust container;

at least one plate provided under the dividing plate; and

a drive mechanism comprising at least one gear coupled to the at least one plate and configured to drive the at least one plate, wherein the dividing plate includes an opening configured to communicate the dust separator with the dust container.

26. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, wherein the at least one plate is connected to a rotational shaft so that the at least one plate is rotatable with respect to the dust container, and wherein the opening in the dividing plate is spaced apart from a center line of the rotational shaft.

28. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, wherein the at least one gear comprises a first gear and a second gear engaged with the first gear and connected to the at least one plate.

29. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 28, wherein the first gear is driven by a motor.

30. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 28, where the first gear is driven by operation of a lever by a user.

31. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 30, wherein the first gear mates with a rack provided on a connecting part attached to the lever.

32. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 28, wherein the first gear has more teeth than the second gear to rotate the at least one plate to exceed an angle to which the first gear is rotated.

33. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 28, wherein the first gear and the second gear are provided under the dust container.

34. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body having a suction motor;

a dust separator that communicates with the main body and that separates dust and dirt from a suction air stream, the dust separator including an air inlet and an air outlet;

a filter located in the dust separator;

a dust container located under the dust separator and detachably mounted to the main body, that stores dust separated the dust separator;

a dividing plate that partitions an inner space of the dust separator from an inner space of the dust container;

a first plate having a rotational axis;

a second plate fixedly coupled to the dust container to remain in a stationary position, wherein the rotational axis of the first plate is disposed adjacent one end of the second plate;

a first gear coupled to the rotational shaft and having a first radius; and

a second gear engaged with the first gear and having a second radius, wherein the second radius is at least two times larger that the first radius.

36. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 34, wherein the second predetermined direction is a forward or backward direction.

35. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body having a suction motor;

a dust separator that communicates with the main body and that separates dust and dirt from a suction air stream, the dust separator including an air inlet and an air outlet;

a filter located in the dust separator;

a dust container located under the dust separator and detachably mounted to the main body, that stores dust separated the dust separator;

a dividing plate that partitions an inner space of the dust separator from an inner space of the dust container;

a first plate having a rotational axis;

a second plate fixed coupled to the dust container to remain in a stationary position;

a first gear coupled to the rotational shaft to rotate the first plate;

a second gear engaged with the first gear; and

a plate with a rod extending therefrom, wherein a width of the plate is larger than a diameter of the second gear and wherein a movement of the rod in a first predetermined direction rotates the second gear in a second predetermined direction.