Dust collector, vacuum cleaner, and cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A dust collector of a vacuum cleaner including a dust collection case including an outlet; a cyclone module arrangeable in the dust collection case and inducing a swirling airflow of air; and a discharge door movable between an open position to open the outlet and a blocking position to close the outlet. The cyclone module including a fixed unit to be fixed to the dust collection case, a rotation unit having a rotation state of being rotatable with respect to the fixed unit based on the discharge door being in the open position and a locking state of being restricted from rotation with respect to the fixed unit based on the discharge door being in the blocking position, and a foreign substance blocking structure configured to block the foreign substance from being introduced into a gap along a vertical direction between the fixed unit and the rotation unit.

1 . A dust collector comprising:
 a dust collection case including an outlet;   a cyclone module, arrangeable in the dust collection case, configured to induce a swirling airflow; and   a discharge door movable between an open position to open the outlet and a blocking position to close the outlet,   wherein the cyclone module comprises:
 a foreign substance blocking structure, 
 a fixed unit to be fixed to the dust collection case, and 
 a rotation unit movable along a vertical direction with respect to the fixed unit to be in a rotation state of being rotatable with respect to the fixed unit based on the discharge door being in the open position and a locking state of being restricted from rotation with respect to the fixed unit based on the discharge door being in the blocking position, 
   wherein, based on the discharge door being moved from the blocking position to the open position, the rotation unit descends along the vertical direction to switch from the locking state to the rotation state and the foreign substance blocking structure blocks a foreign substance from being introduced through a gap along the vertical direction between the fixed unit and the rotation unit as the rotation unit descends.   
     
     
         2 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein based on the rotation unit being in the rotation state, the foreign substance blocking structure is configured to block the foreign substance from moving into the gap along a radial direction (R) by a centrifugal force. 
     
     
         3 . The dust collector of  claim 2 , wherein the foreign substance blocking structure comprises a rib, arranged on an inner side of the gap along a centripetal direction, extending from the fixed unit along a direction intersecting the radial direction. 
     
     
         4 . The dust collector of  claim 3 , further comprising a rotation prevention unit configured to provide a rotational friction force between the rotation unit and the fixed unit to prevent the rotation unit from rotating with respect to the fixed unit based on the rotation unit being in the locking state,
 wherein the rotation prevention unit comprises a friction providing member arranged in one of the fixed unit and the rotation unit, and a friction contact member arranged in another one of the fixed unit and the rotation unit and contacting and pressing the friction providing member based on the rotation unit being in the locking state.   
     
     
         5 . The dust collector of  claim 4 , wherein, based on the discharge door being in the blocking position, the discharge door contacts and presses the rotation unit, the friction providing member is compressed and deformed by the friction contact member, and the rotation unit is restricted in rotation with respect to the fixed unit, and
 based on the discharge door being in the open position, the discharge door is spaced apart from the rotation unit, the friction providing member is released from being compressed and deformed by the friction contact member, and the rotation unit is rotatable with respect to the fixed unit.   
     
     
         6 . The dust collector of  claim 4 , wherein the gap is between the friction providing member and the friction contact member based on the rotation unit being in the rotation state. 
     
     
         7 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed unit comprises a cyclone body, and a mounting member supporting the cyclone body and mounted on the dust collection case, and
 the rotation unit comprises an inner case having a cylindrical shape surrounding the cyclone body and comprising a mesh filter, and a dust separation member assembled to the inner case and comprising a dust collection chamber in which dust separated from the cyclone body is collected.   
     
     
         8 . The dust collector of  claim 7 , wherein the gap is a first gap and the fixed unit further comprises a lower plate arranged under the cyclone body and including an outer edge surrounded by the dust separation member, and
 the cyclone module includes a second gap connected to the first gap to allow fluid movement between an inner peripheral surface of the dust separation member and an outer peripheral surface of the lower plate.   
     
     
         9 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein, based on the discharge door being in the blocking position, the dust collection case further comprises an air inlet to introduce air from outside and an air outlet to discharge the air with the foreign substance separated therefrom,
 based on the discharge door being in the open position, an airflow is introduceable through the air inlet and the air outlet and the foreign substance which is separated by the cyclone module is dischargeable through the outlet, and   the rotation unit comprises a rotation induction unit configured to receive a rotation force by an airflow introduced through the air inlet and the air outlet.   
     
     
         10 . The dust collector of  claim 9 , wherein the rotation induction unit comprises a rotation blade arranged on at least one of an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of the rotation unit. 
     
     
         11 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein the cyclone module further comprises at least one bearing structure that rotatably supports the rotation unit with respect to the fixed unit. 
     
     
         12 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein the cyclone module further comprises a stopper that restricts a descending position of the rotation unit. 
     
     
         13 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein the cyclone module further comprises a pressing member that presses the rotation unit such that the rotation unit switches from the locking state to the rotation state. 
     
     
         14 . A vacuum cleaner comprising the dust collector according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner including the dust collector according to  claim 1 ; and   a cleaner station including a docking unit to which the dust collector is connectable, a suction unit providing a suction force such that foreign substances collected by the dust collector are discharged, and a collection unit collecting the foreign substance discharged.