Dust collector

Abstract

A dust collector includes a main-body housing and a motor assembly disposed in the main-body housing. The motor assembly includes a blower fan, which is disposed in the interior of the main-body housing; and a suction motor, which rotates the blower fan. The motor assembly generates suction force at a suction port, which fluidly communicates with the interior of the main-body housing. At least one filter is disposed in a fluid communication path between the suction port and the blower fan. A filter cleaning apparatus is configured to clean the at least one filter. A cleaning-control part is configured to actuate the filter cleaning apparatus after a power tool, which is fluidly connected to the suction port, stops operating.

1 . A dust collector comprising:
 a main-body housing having a suction port, which is in fluid communication with the interior of the main-body housing;   a motor assembly that comprises: a blower fan, which is disposed in an interior of the main-body housing; and a suction motor, which rotates the blower fan, the motor assembly being configured to generate suction force at the suction port;   a first filter disposed in a fluid communication path between the suction port and the blower fan;   a filter cleaning apparatus configured to clean the first filter; and   a cleaning-control part configured to actuate the filter cleaning apparatus after a power tool, which is fluidly connected to the suction port, stops operating.   
     
     
         2 . The dust collector according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a motor-control part configured to control operation of the suction motor based on a linkage with the power tool;   wherein the motor-control part is configured to start the suction motor in conjunction with the start of the power tool and stop the suction motor after having continued the drive of the suction motor for a prescribed time interval after the power tool stops operating.   
     
     
         3 . The dust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning-control part is configured to actuate the filter cleaning apparatus within a prescribed time interval after the power tool stops operating. 
     
     
         4 . The dust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter cleaning apparatus is configured to dislodge foreign matter, which has adhered to the first filter, from the first filter. 
     
     
         5 . The dust collector according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second filter;   wherein:   a first ventilation path fluidly connects the first filter and the blower fan;   a second ventilation path fluidly connects the second filter and the blower fan;   an air-exhaust passageway is configured to receive air exhausted from the motor assembly;   a first connection opening fluidly connects the first ventilation path to the air-exhaust passageway; and   a second connection opening fluidly connects the second ventilation path to the air-exhaust passageway; and   wherein the filter cleaning apparatus comprises:
 a first valve configured to be actuated to change between a first state, in which the first ventilation path is open and the first connection opening is closed, and a second state, in which the first ventilation path is closed and the first connection opening is open; 
 a second valve configured to be actuated to change between a third state, in which the second ventilation path is open and the second connection opening is closed, and a fourth state, in which the second ventilation path is closed and the second connection opening is open; and 
 an actuation member configured to actuate the first valve to change from the first state to the second state and the second valve to change from the third state to the fourth state while the suction motor is being driven. 
   
     
     
         6 . The dust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning-control part is configured to actuate the filter cleaning apparatus in response to receiving a tool-stop signal from the power tool. 
     
     
         7 . The dust collector according to  claim 6 , further including a wireless receiver configured to receive the tool-stop signal wirelessly from the power tool and to communicate the tool-stop signal to the cleaning control part. 
     
     
         8 . The dust collector according to  claim 2 , wherein the motor-control part is configured to stop the suction motor after having continued the drive of the suction motor for the prescribed time interval after having received a tool-stop signal from the power tool. 
     
     
         9 . The dust collector according to  claim 8 , further including a wireless receiver configured to receive the tool-stop signal wirelessly from the power tool and to communicate the tool-stop signal to the motor-control part. 
     
     
         10 . The dust collector according to  claim 6 , further comprising a wireless receiver configured to receive the tool-stop signal transmitted from a wireless transmitter of the power tool. 
     
     
         11 . The dust collector according to  claim 2 , wherein the prescribed time interval is between 1-10 seconds. 
     
     
         12 . The dust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter cleaning apparatus is configured to clean the first filter by jetting air through the filter in an airflow direction that is opposite of the airflow direction prior to the stopping of the power tool. 
     
     
         13 . The dust collector according to  claim 2 , wherein the cleaning-control part is configured to actuate the filter cleaning apparatus within a prescribed time interval after the power tool stops operating. 
     
     
         14 . The dust collector according to  claim 13 , wherein the filter cleaning apparatus is configured to dislodge foreign matter, which has adhered to the first filter, from the first filter. 
     
     
         15 . The dust collector according to  claim 14 , wherein the filter cleaning apparatus is configured to clean the first filter by jetting air through the filter in an airflow direction that is opposite of the airflow direction prior to the stopping of the power tool. 
     
     
         16 . The dust collector according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second filter;   wherein:   a first ventilation path fluidly connects the first filter and the blower fan;   a second ventilation path fluidly connects the second filter and the blower fan;   an air-exhaust passageway is configured to receive air exhausted from the motor assembly;   a first connection opening fluidly connects the first ventilation path to the air-exhaust passageway; and   a second connection opening fluidly connects the second ventilation path to the air-exhaust passageway; and   wherein the filter cleaning apparatus comprises:
 a first valve configured to be actuated to change between a first state, in which the first ventilation path is open and the first connection opening is closed, and a second state, in which the first ventilation path is closed and the first connection opening is open; 
 a second valve configured to be actuated to change between a third state, in which the second ventilation path is open and the second connection opening is closed, and a fourth state, in which the second ventilation path is closed and the second connection opening is open; and 
 an actuation member configured to actuate the first valve to change from the first state to the second state and the second valve to change from the third state to the fourth state while the suction motor is being driven. 
   
     
     
         17 . The dust collector according to  claim 16 , further including:
 a wireless receiver configured to receive the tool-stop signal wirelessly from the power tool and to communicate the tool-stop signal to the cleaning control part;   wherein the cleaning-control part is configured to actuate the filter cleaning apparatus in response to receiving a tool-stop signal from the power tool.   
     
     
         18 . The dust collector according to  claim 17 , wherein the motor-control part is configured to continue to drive the suction motor for the prescribed time interval after the wireless receiver has received the tool-stop signal from the power tool before stopping the suction motor. 
     
     
         19 . The dust collector according to  claim 18 , wherein the prescribed time interval is between 1-10 seconds. 
     
     
         20 . A dust collector comprising:
 a main-body housing having a suction port, which is in fluid communication with the interior of the main-body housing;   a motor assembly that comprises: a blower fan, which is disposed in an interior of the main-body housing; and a suction motor, which rotates the blower fan, the motor assembly being configured to generate suction force at the suction port;   a filter disposed in a fluid communication path between the suction port and the blower fan;   a filter cleaning apparatus configured to clean the filter;   a motor-control part configured to control operation of the suction motor; and   a cleaning-control part configured to actuate the filter cleaning apparatus;   wherein:   the motor-control part is configured to continue driving the suction motor for a prescribed time interval after having received a motor-stop signal before stopping operation of the suction motor; and   the cleaning-control part is configured to actuate the filter cleaning apparatus to clean the filter within the prescribed interval after the motor-stop signal was received.