Electric vacuum cleaner

Abstract

In a suctioning state, even if the amount of dust trapped in a dust collecting unit in a main air passage is increased, air suctioned from a hose connection port is branched into a first half passage and reduction in the suction air amount can be suppressed. When the suctioning state is switched to a dust moving state by switch means, the dust trapped in a pleated filter is moved to the dust collecting unit, increase in the air passage resistance at the first half passage side caused by clogging of the pleated filter can be suppressed, and reduction in suction power over time can be suppressed. Since an upper air passage and lower air passage are provided in the lid body, the dust collecting unit is exposed with the lid body opened, whereby maintenance performance of the dust collecting unit is improved.

1 . An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner main body including a main body case with an electric blower housed therein, and a lid body openable and closable to the main body case;   a suction port provided in the lid body;   a dust separator which is provided in the lid body on the downstream side of the suction port and separates dust from air;   a main air passage which makes communication between the dust separator and a suction side of the electric blower, and through which the dust separated by the dust separator passes;   a dust collecting unit which is provided in the main air passage and held by the main body case with the lid body closed, and collects the dust separated at the main air passage side by the dust separator;   a first air passage which makes communication between the dust separator and the suction side of the electric blower separately from the main air passage, and has at least a part provided in the lid body and a downstream side joined with the main air passage;   a filter which has at least a part provided in the first air passage and collects fine dust contained in air;   a second air passage which makes communication between an introduction hole, from which outside air can be introduced separately from the suction port, and the suction side of the electric blower passing through the dust collecting unit, and has at least a part provided in the lid body; and   switch means which makes switching between a suctioning state where dust can be trapped in the dust collecting unit and the filter with the second air passage and introduction hole closed, the dust being suctioned from the suction port by driving the electric blower via the main air passage and the first air passage, and a dust moving state where outside air is introduced into the second air passage by driving the electric blower via the introduction hole, and fine dust trapped in the filter is moved to the dust collecting unit via the second air passage.   
   
   
       2 . The electric vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the switch means includes a valve body which closes the second air passage in the suctioning state to rectify dust separated into the main air passage to the dust collecting unit, and opens the second air passage in the dust moving state to rectify fine dust trapped in the filter to the dust collecting unit. 
   
   
       3 . The electric vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the dust collecting unit is positioned under the lid body and the second air passage is positioned under the first air passage. 
   
   
       4 . The electric vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the introduction hole is provided at the downstream side with respect to the filter. 
   
   
       5 . The electric vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the introduction hole is provided so as to face an upper surface of the filter.