Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner comprises a rigid dirt receptacle 14 having an outlet at one end, through which the collected dirt and dust can be emptied, a flap 16 for closing the outlet, and an actuator 58 for moving the flap 16 between a closed position and an open position, the actuator 58 being operable to control the position of the flap 16 between the open and closed positions. A location is provided at a partially opened position of the flap 16 , at which position fine dirt and dust can be emptied through the restricted outlet in a controlled manner. The restricted size of the outlet retains any coarse and fibrous dirt inside the receptacle 14 . Once the fine dirt has been emptied, the flap 16 can be moved to its fully open position to allow the coarse dirt and fibrous matter to be emptied from the receptacle 14 separately from the fine dust.

1 . A dirt receptacle for a vacuum cleaner, the receptacle comprising: 
 a rigid container having an outlet for the emptying of collected dirt,    a closure for closing the outlet, and    actuator means for moving the closure between a closed position and an open position, said actuator means being operable to control the position of the closure between said open and closed positions.    
   
   
       2 . A dirt receptacle as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the outlet is provided at a position on the container which is located at the bottom thereof when the container is in use.  
   
   
       3 . A dirt receptacle as claimed in  claim 1 , in which means are provided for retaining the closure in said open and/or closed positions.  
   
   
       4 . A dirt receptacle as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the closure is biassed into said open and/or closed positions.  
   
   
       5 . A dirt receptacle as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the container comprises an open bottom forming the outlet.  
   
   
       6 . A dirt receptacle as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the closure comprises a flap pivoted to the container.  
   
   
       7 . A dirt receptacle as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the actuator comprises a handle mounted directly to said flap.  
   
   
       8 . A dirt receptacle as claimed in  claim 7 , in which the actuator comprises a handle mounted directly to said flap adjacent the point where the flap is pivoted to the container.  
   
   
       9 . A dirt receptacle as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the flap is also mounted to the container for translatory movement towards and away from said outlet thereof.  
   
   
       10 . A dirt receptacle as claimed in  claim 9 , in which means are provided to guide the translatory movement of said flap towards and away from said outlet.  
   
   
       11 . A dirt receptacle as claimed in  claim 10 , in which said guide means is arranged to only permit pivotal movement of the flap, when the latter is in a partially opened position between said open and closed positions.  
   
   
       12 . A dirt receptacle as claimed in  claim 11 , in which the guide means is further arranged to retain said flap in a fully opened position.  
   
   
       13 . A dirt receptacle as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the closure is arrange to locate at a partially opened position.  
   
   
       14 . A vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt receptacle, the dirt receptacle comprising: 
 a rigid container having an outlet for the emptying of collected dirt,    a closure for closing the outlet, and    actuator means for moving the closure between a closed position and an open position, said actuator means being operable to control the position of the closure between said open and closed positions.    
   
   
       15 . A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 14 , in which the vacuum cleaner comprises a cyclonic separator having a cylindrical-walled separation chamber.  
   
   
       16 . A method of emptying a dirt receptacle of a vacuum cleaner, the receptacle comprising a rigid container having an outlet for the emptying of collected dirt, a closure for closing the outlet, the closure being moveable between a normally closed position and an open position, the method comprising removing the dirt receptacle from the vacuum cleaner, partially opening the closure and empting fine dirt from the receptacle through the restricted outlet prior to fully opening the closure and empting the remaining dirt from the receptacle.