Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus includes an air treatment chamber having a first end having an air inlet and a dirt outlet and an axially opposed second end having an air outlet. A dirt collection chamber is moveable between an in use position at the first end of the air treatment chamber and an emptying position. A plate is moveably mounted to the air treatment chamber and moveable between a closed position at an interface of the dirt collection chamber and the air treatment chamber and an open position moved away from the interface. When the plate is closed the dirt outlet comprises a space between the plate and a wall of the air treatment chamber. A bag is positionable in the dirt collection chamber and is removable from the dirt collection chamber when the dirt collection chamber is in the emptying position.

1 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a motor and fan assembly in the air flow path;   (b) a first air treatment chamber having a first end having a first air treatment chamber air inlet and a first dirt outlet and an axially opposed second end having a first air treatment chamber air outlet;   (c) a dirt collection chamber that is moveably mounted from an in use position in which the dirt collection chamber is located at the first end of the first air treatment chamber to an emptying position; and,   (d) a plate moveably mounted between a closed position in which the plate is positioned at an interface of the dirt collection chamber and the first air treatment chamber and an open position in which the plate is moved away from the interface, the plate is moveably connected to the first air treatment chamber, wherein, when the plate is in the closed position, the dirt outlet comprises a space between the plate and a wall of the first air treatment chamber,   wherein a bag is positionable in the dirt collection chamber and is removeable from the dirt collection chamber when the dirt collection chamber is in the emptying position.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first air treatment chamber comprises a cyclone chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, when the plate is in the closed position, the plate is positioned further from the second end of the first air treatment chamber than the first air treatment chamber air inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second air treatment chamber downstream from the first air treatment chamber, the second air treatment chamber having a second dirt outlet wherein dirt separated by the second air treatment chamber is collectable in the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of claim  5  wherein the dirt collection chamber has a first portion that collects dirt separated by the first air treatment chamber and a separate second portion that collects dirt separated by the second air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second air treatment chamber downstream from the first air treatment chamber, the second air treatment chamber having at least two second air treatment chamber dirt outlets, each second air treatment chamber dirt outlet is upstream from a dirt conduit that extends axially along the first air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the dirt conduits are exterior to the first air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the dirt conduits are angularly spaced apart. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is an upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head and an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a rearwardly inclined in use position and an air treatment assembly comprising the first and second air treatment chambers and the dirt collection chamber are removably mounted to the upright section and, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the upright section, at least a portion of the upright section is positioned between the angularly spaced apart dirt conduits. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plate is porous. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the plate comprises a screen. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a screen overlying the dirt collection chamber and the screen is positioned further from the second end of the first air treatment chamber than the plate. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the screen overlies all of the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the screen is also moveably mounted between a closed position in which the screen is positioned at the interface of the dirt collection chamber and the first air treatment chamber and an open position in which the screen is moved away from the interface. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the screen is moveable with the plate. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a first air treatment stage and a second air treatment stage downstream from the first air treatment stage, the first air treatment stage comprising the first stage air treatment chamber and the dirt collection chamber and the second air treatment stage overlies the first air treatment stage. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 16  wherein each of the first and second air treatment stages has a central longitudinal axis and the central longitudinal axes are generally coaxial. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a mechanical member positioned internal of the bag when the bag is positioned in the dirt collection chamber secures the bag in position in the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a mechanical member positioned external of the bag when the bag is positioned in the dirt collection chamber secures the bag in position in the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein releasable adhesive secures the bag in position in the dirt collection chamber.