Method for emptying a container provided on or in a vacuum cleaner, container, vacuum cleaner with the container and dust collecting system for carrying out the method

Abstract

A method for emptying a dirt-filled container that is disposed in or on a transportable mobile vacuum cleaner includes the steps of coupling the transportable mobile vacuum cleaner via an emptying orifice of the container to a filling orifice of a structure that defines a receiving space and then emptying dirt accumulated in the container into the receiving space. A container, a vacuum cleaner and a dust collecting system are also provided.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for emptying a container filled with dirt separated off by a vacuum cleaner, the method which comprises: 
 providing a container disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of a location inside a transportable mobile vacuum cleaner and a location on a transportable mobile vacuum cleaner;    coupling the transportable mobile vacuum cleaner via an emptying orifice of the container to a filling orifice of a structure defining a receiving space; and    emptying dirt accumulated in the container into the receiving space.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , which comprises compacting the dirt prior to transferring the dirt to the receiving space.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , which comprises compacting the dirt subsequent to transferring the dirt to the receiving space.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , which comprises coupling the structure defining the receiving space to the container by using a coupling device selected from the group consisting of a mechanical coupling, an electrical coupling and a magnetic coupling.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , which comprises using, as the structure defining the receiving space, a container selected from the group consisting of a flexible bag and a container with a rigid wall.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , which comprises conveying the dirt accumulated in the container into the receiving space by using blowing air subsequent to coupling the container to the structure defining the receiving space.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , which comprises using a blow-out air of the transportable mobile vacuum cleaner as the blowing air.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , which comprises: 
 adding a dirt-consolidating binder to the dirt accumulated in the container for performing a consolidating process; and    removing the dirt from the container subsequent to the consolidating process.    
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , which comprises performing a compacting operation on a mixture of the dirt and the dirt-consolidating binder subsequent to adding the dirt-consolidating binder.  
     
     
         10 . In combination with a transportable mobile vacuum cleaner having a housing, a container configuration comprising: 
 a container provided to be transportable with the housing of the transportable mobile vacuum cleaner; and    said container having an emptying orifice formed therein, said container being configured to be filled with dirt separated off by the transportable mobile vacuum cleaner, said container being configured to be coupled to a structure defining a receiving space and formed with a filling orifice such that said emptying orifice is coupled to the filling orifice.    
     
     
         11 . The container configuration according to  claim 10 , wherein said emptying orifice is a closable orifice.  
     
     
         12 . The container configuration according to  claim 10 , wherein said container includes a closure for closing said container.  
     
     
         13 . The container configuration according to  claim 12 , wherein said closure is a bolt.  
     
     
         14 . The container configuration according to  claim 12 , including a further closure provided at the filling orifice of the receiving space, said closure and said further closure forming a transfer lock region.  
     
     
         15 . The container configuration according to  claim 10 , including a storage and metering vessel for supplying a binder, said storage and metering vessel being connected to said container.  
     
     
         16 . The container configuration according to  claim 10 , wherein said container includes a cover part for closing said container, said cover part is formed with the emptying orifice therein.  
     
     
         17 . The container configuration according to  claim 10 , including a pipe connection piece provided at said emptying orifice, said pipe connection piece being configured to be coupled sealingly to the filling orifice of the structure defining the receiving space.  
     
     
         18 . A transportable mobile vacuum cleaner, comprising: 
 a vacuum cleaner housing; and    a container integrated with said vacuum cleaner housing, said container receiving at least part of a dirt separated from suction air, said container being formed with an emptying orifice for discharging the dirt, said emptying orifice to be coupled sealingly to a filling orifice of a structure defining a receiving space.    
     
     
         19 . The transportable mobile vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18 , including a blower generating blowing air for conveying dirt accumulated in said container into the receiving space.  
     
     
         20 . The transportable mobile vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18 , including a plate for compressing dirt accumulated in said container and conveying the dirt into the receiving space.  
     
     
         21 . The transportable mobile vacuum cleaner according to  claim 20 , including an advancing element for moving said plate, said advancing element being selected from the group consisting of a piston rod and a spindle drive.  
     
     
         22 . The transportable mobile vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18 , including a compacting worm for compacting dirt accumulated in said container.  
     
     
         23 . The transportable mobile vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18 , including a pipe connection piece provided at said emptying orifice, said pipe connection piece being configured to be coupled sealingly to the filling orifice of the receiving space.  
     
     
         24 . The transportable mobile vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18 , wherein said container includes a closure for closing said emptying orifice of said container.  
     
     
         25 . The transportable mobile vacuum cleaner according to  claim 24 , wherein said closure is a bolt.  
     
     
         26 . The transportable mobile vacuum cleaner according to  claim 24 , including a further closure provided at the filling orifice of the structure defining the receiving space, said closure and said further closure forming a transfer lock region.  
     
     
         27 . The transportable mobile vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18 , including a storage and metering vessel for supplying a binder, said storage and metering vessel being connected to said container.  
     
     
         28 . A dust collecting system, comprising: 
 a transportable mobile vacuum cleaner including a container for receiving dirt, said container being disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of a location inside said transportable mobile vacuum cleaner and a location on said transportable mobile vacuum cleaner; and    a structure defining a receiving space, said structure being configured to be coupled to said container and configured to receive the dirt from said container.    
     
     
         29 . The dust collecting system according to  claim 28 , including a compacting device for compacting the dirt in one of said container and said receiving space.  
     
     
         30 . The dust collecting system according to  claim 29 , wherein said compacting device is a plate disposed movably in said container for compacting the dirt.  
     
     
         31 . The dust collecting system according to  claim 30 , including a piston rod connected to said plate, said piston rod being selected from the group consisting of a pneumatically movable piston rod, a hydraulically movable piston rod and an electrically movable piston rod.  
     
     
         32 . The dust collecting system according to  claim 31 , wherein: 
 said container is a cylindrical container having a cross section for accommodating said plate; and    a closure extends over said cross section of said cylinder.    
     
     
         33 . The dust collecting system according to  claim 32 , wherein: 
 said transportable mobile vacuum cleaner includes a blower space; and    said plate is configured as a fine filter for connecting said container to said blower space.