Vacuum cleaner

• US 8,726,459 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yun, Chang Ho, Ha, Gun Ho, Kim, Jin Young, Hwang, Man Tae, Yang, Hae Seock, Choo, Jong Su, Lee, Chang Hoon, Seo, Jin Wook, Yoo, Myung Sig, Ko, Moo Hyun, Hwang, Pil Jae
• Primary Examiner(s): SCRUGGS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US12/406,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20090178236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 153/47, 153/52, 153/53
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/108 Dust compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2836 characterised by the parts which are controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body, in which a dust collector mount part is formed, a dust collector that is removably mounted on the dust collector mount part, at least one compressing member that reduces a volume of dust stored in a dust storage part of the dust collector, a power transfer device that transfers a driving force to the at least one compressing member from outside connected with the at least one compressing member, and a controller that decides an amount of dust stored in the dust storage part.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body including a suction motor that generates a suction power;

a dust separator that communicates with the suction motor and that separates dust and dirt from air;

a dust collector body configured to store dust separated from the dust separator;

at least one plate rotatably provided within the dust collector body and configured to compress dust stored in the dust collector body;

a transfer device comprising at least one gear connected to the at least one plate;

a fixed shaft that protrudes from an inner surface of the dust collector body; and

a guide configured to transfer a driving force to the at least one plate, wherein the guide comprises a rotating shaft of the at least one plate, wherein a gear axle of the at least one gear and the rotating shaft are inserted into the fixed shaft, and wherein the gear axle of the at least one gear is inserted into the rotating shaft in a state in which the gear axle of the at least one gear is inserted into the fixed shaft.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a horizontal section of the gear axle is non-circular in shape.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the horizontal section of the gear axle is polygonal.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the gear axle is coupled to the rotating shaft at a lower portion of the dust collector body.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the guide comprises a coupling member coupled to the at least one plate and the at least one gear in a state in which the at least one gear is connected to the at least one plate.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the dust collector body includes a cover configured to cover at least a portion of the gear.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a drive device that generates the driving force to rotate the at least one plate, wherein the at least one gear of the transfer device includes a driving gear connected to the drive device and a driven gear engaged with the driving gear and connected to the at least one plate.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the at least one plate comprises a plurality of protrusions disposed on a surface thereof.

9. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body including a suction motor that generates a suction power and a compression motor;

a dust separator that communicates with the suction motor and that separates dust and dirt from air;

a dust collector body configured to store dust separated from the dust separator and detachably mounted to the main body;

at least one plate configured to compress dust stored in the dust collector body and including a rotating shaft connected thereto;

a driving gear connected to the compression motor and configured to transfer a driving force of the compression motor; and

a driven gear having a gear axle coupled to the rotating shaft, wherein the gear axle is coupled to the rotating shaft at an outer side of the dust collector body, wherein the dust collector body together with the at least one plate and the driven gear is detached from the main body to empty dust therefrom in a state in which the driving gear is provided on the main body, and wherein when the dust collector body is mounted to the main body, the driven gear is connected to the driving gear, and when the dust collector body is detached from the main body, the driven gear is disconnected from the driving gear.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the gear axle is inserted in the rotating shaft at a lower portion of the dust collector body.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein a horizontal section of the gear axle is non-circular in shape.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the horizontal section of the gear axle is polygonal.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the horizontal section of an inner circumferential surface of the rotating shaft has a same shape as that of the gear axle.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the collector body includes a fixed shaft to which the rotating shaft is coupled, the fixed shaft guiding rotation of the rotating shaft.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the at least one plate further includes an interference prevention hole that prevents interference between the at least one plate and the fixed shaft.

16. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body having a suction motor that generates a suction power;

a dust separator that communicates with the suction motor and that separates dust and dirt from air;

a dust collector body configured to store dust separated from the dust separator;

a first plate rotatably provided in the dust collector body and configured to compress dust stored in the dust collector body;

a second plate that interacts with the first plate and provided in the dust collector body, wherein the second plate is fixed to an inner surface of the dust collector body;

at least one gear configured to transfer a driving force to the first plate; and

a fastener coupled to the first plate and the at least one gear, the fastener being configured to guide transfer of the driving force to the first plate, wherein compressed dust is stored on both sides of the second plate, wherein the first plate includes a rotating shaft, wherein the at least one gear includes a gear axle, and wherein the gear axle is coupled to the rotating shaft at an outer side of the dust collector body.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the fastener is coupled to the rotating shaft and the gear axle in a state in which the gear axle is coupled to the rotating shaft.

18. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein a horizontal section of the gear axle is non-circular in shape.

19. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein the at least one gear is provided outside of the dust collector body and the gear axle is inserted in the dust collector body.