Dirt separator

Abstract

A dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner is provided and includes a filter assembly to separate dirt from an airflow moving therethrough, a bin to collect dirt separated from the airflow, and a valve movable between a closed position and an open position in which an opening of the bin is, respectively, obstructed and unobstructed by the valve. The bin is moveable between a first position and a second position. In a first stage of an emptying sequence, the valve is moved to the open position, and the bin is moved to the second position such that dirt within the bin can move past the valve. In a second stage of the emptying sequence, the valve is moved to the closed position, and the bin is moved to the first position such that the dirt can be pushed out of the opening by the valve.

1 . A dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a filter assembly to separate dirt from an airflow moving through the dirt separator;   a bin to collect dirt separated from the airflow, the bin comprising an opening; and   a valve movable between a closed position in which the opening is obstructed by the valve, and an open position in which the opening is unobstructed by the valve,   wherein the bin is moveable relative to the valve between a first position and a second position, and the bin and the valve are arranged such that:
 in a first stage of an emptying sequence, the valve is moved to the open position and the bin is moved from the first position to the second position to thereby cause dirt within the bin to move past the valve; and 
 in a second stage of the emptying sequence, the valve is moved to the closed position and the bin is moved from the second position to the first position to thereby cause the dirt to be pushed out of the opening by the valve. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the bin comprises a substantially tubular portion, wherein when the bin is in the first position, a majority of the tubular portion is located on a first side of the valve, and wherein when the bin is in the second position, a majority of the tubular portion is located on a second, opposite side of the valve. 
     
     
         3 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the bin is movable parallel to a longitudinal axis of the dirt separator between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         4 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein movement of the bin from the first position to the second position causes the valve to move to the open position. 
     
     
         5 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein movement of the bin from the second position to the first position causes the valve to move to the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the bin is movable between the first and second positions upon application of a force by a user to an outer surface of the bin. 
     
     
         7 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the bin comprises a dirt collection chamber, and wherein when the bin is in the first position, the airflow enters the dirt collection chamber via the opening. 
     
     
         8 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly is elongated, and wherein the bin is movable relative to the filter assembly between the first and second positions in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the filter assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein when the bin is in the first position, the bin surrounds the filter assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the bin comprises a projection, and wherein in the first stage of the emptying sequence, the projection is moved towards the valve and pushes the dirt towards the valve. 
     
     
         11 . The dirt separator according to  claim 10 , wherein the bin comprises a wiper at a periphery of the projection, and wherein in the first stage of the emptying sequence, the wiper wipes a surface of the filter assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The dirt separator according to  claim 10 , wherein when the bin is in the first position, the projection is further from the valve than the filter assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the bin is biased towards the first position. 
     
     
         14 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is biased towards the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve is movable to a further open position in which the opening is unobstructed by the valve, the further open position being different than the open position;   the valve is moveable to the further open position to admit the airflow via the opening; and   the valve is moveable to the open position during the first stage of the emptying sequence.   
     
     
         16 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the bin comprises one or more actuator elements disposed on an inner surface of the bin, and wherein in the first stage of the emptying sequence, the actuator elements move the valve to the open position. 
     
     
         17 . The dirt separator according to  claim 1 , comprising a frame having one or more guiding elements for guiding movement of the bin between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         18 . A vacuum cleaner comprising the dirt separator according to  claim 1 .