Dust collecting apparatus for vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner is provided. The dust collecting apparatus includes a dust collecting unit, which is detachably mounted in a main body of the vacuum cleaner and comprises an inlet and an exhaust port, to separate dust from air flowing into the inlet, collect the separated dust and discharge air from which the dust has been separated to the exhaust port; a cover to open and close an upper part of the dust collecting unit; a dust compression plate which is capable of upward and downward movement inside the dust collecting unit; and a plunger which penetrates the cover, one end of the plunger being attached to the dust compression plate by a hinge; wherein the plunger enables the dust compression plate to move upwardly and downwardly when dust compression is being performed, and the plunger is retracted and folded down toward the cover about one end of the plunger when dust compression is not being performed.

1 . A dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a dust collecting unit detachably mounted in a main body of the vacuum cleaner and comprises an inlet and an exhaust port, said dust collecting unit being configured to separate dust from air flowing into the inlet, collect separated dust and discharge air from which the dust has been separated to the exhaust port;   a cover to open and close an upper part of the dust collecting unit;   a dust compression plate which is capable of upward and downward movement inside the dust collecting unit; and   a plunger which penetrates the cover, said plunger having a first end attached to the dust compression plate by a hinge;   wherein the plunger is configured to move the dust compression plate upwardly and downwardly when dust compression is being performed, and wherein the plunger is retractable and foldable downward about one end of the plunger toward the cover when dust compression is not being performed.   
   
   
       2 . The dust collecting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plunger comprises a grip part detachably coupled to a second end opposite the first end. 
   
   
       3 . The dust collecting apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the grip part is disposed on the same plane as the plunger is disposed in order to prevent the grip part from protruding further than the plunger when the plunger is folded downward about the first end of the plunger toward the cover. 
   
   
       4 . A dust collecting apparatus comprising:
 a dust collecting unit having a dust collecting case and a dust collecting chamber, said dust collecting case having an inlet and an exhaust port;   a cover above the dust collecting case;   a dust compression plate inside of the dust collecting chamber; and   a plunger through a through hole in the cover, the plunger being configured to move the dust compression plate upwards and downwards in the collecting chamber and a first end of the plunger being connected to the dust compression plate by a hinge mechanism.   
   
   
       5 . The dust collecting apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the plunger comprises a grip part detachably coupled to a second end opposite the first end. 
   
   
       6 . The dust collecting apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the grip part is within the same plane as the plunger in order to prevent the grip part from protruding further than the plunger when the plunger is folded downward about the first end of the plunger toward the cover. 
   
   
       7 . The dust collecting apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the dust collecting unit further comprises a cyclone chamber and dust collecting chamber, and wherein the cyclone chamber is separated from the dust collecting chamber by a cylindrical part and fluidly communicates with the inlet and the exhaust port. 
   
   
       8 . The dust collecting apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the cyclone chamber includes an exhaust pipe which has a height lower than that of the cylindrical part and which fluidly communicates with the exhaust port and a spiral guide between the cylindrical part and the exhaust pipe to give a rotation force to air and dust flowing into the cyclone chamber. 
   
   
       9 . The dust collecting apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the dust collecting chamber corresponds to the area of the dust collecting case excluding the cylindrical part, in which dust D is stored after being discharged from a dust discharge space formed between an upper end of the cylindrical part and a bottom surface of the cover. 
   
   
       10 . The dust collecting apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the plunger has a projection coupled to the first end of the plunger adjacent to the dust compression plate by the hinge mechanism, and wherein the projection has a common axis with the through hole of the cover and has a diameter or a thickness relatively smaller than the through hole. 
   
   
       11 . The dust collecting apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the plunger is configured to swivel about the hinge pin by approximately 90° in a first direction, so that the plunger is perpendicular to the dust compression plate and swivel in a second direction opposite the first direction about the hinge mechanism so that the plunger can be laid down adjacent to the cover. 
   
   
       12 . The dust collecting apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the plunger is configured to move the dust compression plate upwards and downwards in the collecting chamber when the plunger is perpendicular to the dust compression plate. 
   
   
       13 . The dust collecting apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the plunger is configured to move the dust compression plate upwards and downwards in the collecting chamber substantially a length of the plunger.