Title of Invention: DUST COLLECTING DEVICE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a dust collecting device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dust collecting device to filter dust-laden air, collect dust, and discharge filtered air. Background Art

[2] Vacuum cleaners are devices to travel on a surface being cleaned and clean dust and contaminants. A vacuum cleaner draws in dust-laden air from a surface being cleaned using a suction force generated by a suction motor through a dust collecting device, and separates dust from the in-drawn air using a cyclone whirling air current. The cleaned air is discharged from the dust collecting device and is finally discharged from the vacuum cleaner.

[3] In a conventional dust collecting device, the capacity for containing dust and contaminants, that is, the capacity of the dust collecting device is determined upon manufacture.

[4] Accordingly, the conventional dust collecting device cannot vary the capacity for containing dust and contaminants, so if an amount of collected dust is great according to a cleaning environment, there is inconvenience that a user has to frequently throw out the collected dust. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[5] An aspect of embodiments of the present invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a dust collecting device capable of varying the capacity for containing dust. Solution to Problem

[6] In order to achieve the above-described and other aspects of embodiments of the present invention, a dust collecting device which is detachably mounted in a vacuum cleaner, is provided, the dust collecting device including a dust collecting unit which is formed of a plastic or a firm material, and increases or decreases a dust collecting space.

[7] In order to achieve the above-described and other aspects of embodiments of the present invention, a dust collecting device is provided, including a cyclone unit, and a dust collecting unit which contains dust discharged from the cyclone unit, wherein a dust collecting space of the dust collecting unit can vary. [8] The cyclone unit may include an air discharge path which penetrates the dust collecting unit. The length of the air discharge path may vary according to change of the dust collecting space of the dust collecting unit.

[9] In order to achieve the above-described and other aspects of embodiments of the present invention, a dust collecting device is provided, including a cyclone unit which includes a horizontally disposed cyclone chamber, and a dust collecting unit which is disposed under the cyclone unit and contains dust discharged from the cyclone unit, wherein in order for the cyclone unit to be inserted into the dust collecting unit to slide, a barrelled body extends from a lower end of the cyclone unit, and the barrelled body and the dust collecting unit slide with respect to each other.

[10] As the barrelled body moves far from a bottom of the dust collecting unit, a dust collecting space of the dust collecting unit may increase.

[11] The dust collecting unit may include an inflow tube through which dust- laden air enters the cyclone unit, and a discharge tube through which filtered air discharged from the cyclone unit enters a motor chamber. The inflow tube and the discharge tube may be pleated pipes which can extend or contract.

[12] The inflow tube and the discharge tube may be sliding pipes which can extend or contract. The sliding pipe may include an external pipe, and an internal pipe which can slide into the external pipe. The dust collecting device may further include a sealing member which is disposed between the internal pipe and the external pipe so as to prevent a leak of air.

[13] The dust collecting device may further include a fixing member which fixes the barrelled body to the dust collecting unit. The fixing member may have a screw form to fix or release the barrelled body by screwing the fixing member, or have a button form to fix or release the barrelled body by pushing the fixing member.

[14] The dust collecting unit may include a hooking protrusion which fixes the dust collecting unit to a main body of a vacuum cleaner. The hooking protrusion may be a rib which protrudes from an external surface of the dust collecting unit. The dust collecting unit may include a door at a lower portion thereof so as to discharge the dust.

[15] In order to achieve the above-described and other aspects of embodiments of the present invention, a dust collecting device is provided, including a cyclone unit which includes a vertically disposed cyclone chamber, and a dust collecting unit which is disposed under the cyclone unit, contains dust discharged from the cyclone unit, and stands perpendicular to the cyclone unit, wherein in order for the cyclone unit to be inserted into the dust collecting unit to slide, a barrelled body extends from a lower end of the cyclone unit, and the barrelled body and the dust collecting unit slide with respect to each other. [16] The dust collecting device may further include a repair door which is disposed on one side of the cyclone unit so as to open or close the cyclone unit.

[17] The dust collecting unit may include an inflow tube through which dust- laden air enters the cyclone unit, and a discharge tube through which filtered air discharged from the cyclone unit enters a motor chamber, wherein the inflow tube and the discharge tube extends or contracts.

[18] In order to achieve the above-described and other aspects of embodiments of the present invention, a dust collecting device is provided, including a cyclone unit which is vertically disposed, and a dust collecting unit which is disposed under the cyclone unit, contains dust discharged from the cyclone unit, and stands in the same direction as the cyclone unit, wherein in order for the cyclone unit to be inserted into the dust collecting unit to slide, a barrelled body extends from a lower end of the cyclone unit, and the barrelled body and the dust collecting unit slide with respect to each other.

[19] The cyclone unit may include an air inflow hole through which air enters from a lower portion of the cyclone unit, and a discharge pipe which is disposed in the cyclone unit. The cyclone unit may rotate and raise air entering through the air inflow hole, separate the dust from the air, and discharge the air through the discharge pipe.

[20] The dust collecting unit may include an entrance and an exit which are formed on a lower surface of the dust collecting unit, and the dust collecting device may further include an extendable first tube which connects the entrance of the dust collecting unit to the air inflow hole of the cyclone unit, and an extendable second tube which connects the exit of the dust collecting unit to the discharge pipe of the cyclone unit. The first tube and the second tube each may include an internal pipe and an external pipe, and each internal pipe may be inserted into each external pipe so as to slide.

[21] The dust collecting unit may include a hooking protrusion which fixes the dust collecting unit to a main body of a vacuum cleaner.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[22] According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the capacity of a dust collecting device for containing dust and contaminants can vary using a cyclone unit and a dust collecting unit, which are coupled to slide, and an air inflow pipe and an air discharge pipe, which can extend or contract. Accordingly, the capacity of the dust collecting device can be adjusted according to the user's desire or cleaning environment, thereby increasing the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner.

[23]

Brief Description of Drawings

[24] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a dust collecting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [25] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a cyclone unit of the dust collecting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[26] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a dust collecting unit of the dust collecting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[27] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectioned view cut along line IV-IV illustrated in FIG. 1;

[28] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectioned view cut along line V-V illustrated in FIG. 1;

[29] FIG. 6 is a cross sectioned view cut along line VI-VI illustrated in FIG. 1 ;

[30] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the dust collecting device which is mounted in a vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[31] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectioned view illustrating the dust collecting device in which the dust collecting unit is extended according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[32] FIGS. 9 to 11 are partially enlarged sectioned view illustrating diverse exemplary embodiments of a fixing unit to fix a barrelled body of the dust collecting device to the dust collecting unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[33] FIGS. 12 and 13 are longitudinal sectioned views illustrating a dust collecting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[34] FIGS. 14 and 15 are longitudinal sectioned views illustrating a dust collecting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

[35] FIGS. 16 and 17 are longitudinal sectioned views illustrating a dust collecting device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[36] A dust collecting device for a vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

[37] The dust collecting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is detachably mounted in an upright vacuum cleaner or a canister vacuum cleaner. The dust collecting device draws dust-laden air in a cleaner body (not shown) through a suction port (not shown), separates dust from the air, collects the dust, and discharges the filtered air from the dust collecting device. Referring to FIG. 1, the dust collecting device includes a cyclone unit 100, and a dust collecting unit 200 disposed under the cyclone unit 100.

[38] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, a cylone chamber 110 is horizontally disposed in the cyclone unit 100, and separates dust from drawn-in air using a centrifugal force. The cyclone chamber 110 is isolated from a dust collecting space (S) by a partition 111 which is in fluid communication with an air inflow path 310 and an air discharge path 330. In the cyclone chamber 110, a discharge pipe 113 is formed to discharge the cleaned air from the cyclone chamber 110, and a grill filter 115 is disposed at an entrance of the discharge pipe 113 so as to filter dust of large particles from the discharged air. In addition, a spiral guide 114 is formed in the cyclone chamber 110 so as to guide the drawn-in air along the discharge pipe 113 in a spiral curve.

[39] A penetrating hole 117 is formed on the cyclone unit 100 so as to face the discharge pipe 113, and has a predetermined diameter. A repair door 120 is detachably formed at the penetrating hole 117 so as to repair the grill filter 115. The repair door 120 has a grip handle 121 on the outer surface, and a stabilizer 123 protruding toward the discharge pipe 113 on the inner surface. The stabilizer 123 maintains a whirling force of the air drawn in the cyclone chamber 110 so as to discharge the separated dust through a hole 119 which is formed between the partition 111 and the repair door 120.

[40] In addition, the cyclone unit 100 includes a barrelled body 130 which extends downwards. The barrelled body 130 is inserted into the dust collecting unit 200 so as to slide. The barrelled body 130 and the dust collecting unit 200 can move with respect to each other. That is, if the user pulls or pushes a handle 101 on a upper surface of the cyclone unit 100 far from or toward the dust collecting unit 200, the barrelled body 130 slides along the inside of the dust collecting unit 200. Therefore, the dust collecting space (S) can be selectively increased or decreased according to change of positions of the barrelled body 130 and the dust collecting unit 200.

[41] A seal ring 131 is formed along the circumference of a lower portion of the barrelled body 130 so as to make the dust collecting device airtight, thereby preventing loss of pressure.

[42] The dust collecting unit 200 has an open upper portion, is formed in a cylindrical shape, has the dust collecting space (S) therein, and includes a dust discharge door 210, a fixing unit 240, a seal ring 250, and a hooking protrusion 260.

[43] The dust discharge door 210 is disposed under the dust collecting unit 200 so as to discharge the dust collected in the dust collecting space (S). One end 211 of the dust discharge door 210 is hinged with a first support unit 221 formed on one side of the circumference of the dust collecting unit 200 using a first hinge pin 221a, and the other end 213 of the dust discharge door 210 is snapped down with a hook 224 of a locking button 223. The locking button 223 is formed in a second support unit 222 protruding from the other side of the lower portion of the dust collecting unit 200 so as to rotate with respect to a second hinge pin 225, and lock or unlock the other end 213 of the dust discharge door 210. An inflow hole 215 and a discharge hole 217 are formed on the dust discharge door 210 so as to penetrate the dust discharge door 210 and to be in fluid communication with the air inflow path 310 and the air discharge path 330, respectively.

[44] The fixing unit 240 is disposed on an upper portion of an external surface of the dust collecting unit 200, and includes a cleat 241 and a separation prevention cleat 243. The cleat 241 includes an insertion unit 241a which penetrates an insertion hole 201 formed on the external surface of the dust collecting unit 200 and which is inserted into one of a plurality of fixing grooves 133 and 135 which are vertically spaced apart on an external surface of the barrelled body 130. In addition, the cleat 241 includes a head 241b which extends from the insertion unit 241a and which is formed outside the dust collecting unit 200 so as to insert or separate the insertion unit 241a into or from the fixing grooves 133 and 135. The separation prevention cleat 243 is spaced apart from an upper surface of the head 241b so that the head 241b can move in a longitudinal direction. Accordingly, even when the insertion unit 241a separates from the fixing grooves 133 and 135, the cleat 241 does not separate from the dust collecting unit 200. In this embodiment, there are two fixing grooves 133 and 135, but the number of the fixing grooves 133 and 135 are not limited thereto. Two or more fixing grooves may be formed at the same interval or different intervals.

[45] The seal ring 250 is formed along the upper circumference of the dust collecting unit

200 so as to make the dust collecting device airtight, thereby preventing loss of pressure.

[46] The hooking protrusion 260 protrudes from the circumference of the dust collecting unit 200 in a rib shape at a predetermined length. Referring to FIG. 7, when the dust collecting device is mounted in the main body 1 of the vacuum cleaner, the hooking protrusion 260 is inserted into a fixing hole 3 formed on the main body 1 so that the dust collecting unit 200 can be fixed to the main body 1 of the vacuum cleaner. Accordingly, in order to widen the dust collecting space (S), if the user pulls the cyclone unit 100 upwards at a predetermined distance, the hooking protrusion 260 prevents the dust collecting unit 200 from moving upwards together with the cyclone unit 100. Consequently, the dust collecting space (S) can be smoothly widened.

[47] The air inflow path 310 guides the dust-laden air to the cyclone chamber 110, and the air discharge path 330 externally discharges the air filtered by the cyclone chamber 110. The air inflow path 310 and the air discharge path 330 penetrate the dust collecting space (S) between the cyclone unit 100 and the dust collecting unit 200, and can extend or contract according to extension and contraction of the dust collecting space (S).

[48] The air inflow path 310 includes an internal pipe 311 and an external pipe 313 which are coupled with each other to slide. One end of the internal pipe 311 is in fluid communication with the inflow hole 215 of the dust discharge door 210, and one end of the external pipe 313 is in fluid communication with a curved air path 315 which is in fluid communication with the partition 111. When the dust discharge door 210 is closed, the internal pipe 311 is partially inserted into the external pipe 313 so as to slide.

[49] As in the air inflow path 310, the air discharge path 330 includes an internal pipe 331 and an external pipe 333 which are coupled with each other to slide. One end of the internal pipe 331 is in fluid communication with the discharge hole 217 of the dust discharge door 210, and one end of the external pipe 333 is in fluid communication with the partition 111 and the discharge pipe 113. When the dust discharge door 210 is closed, the internal pipe 331 is partially inserted into the external pipe 333 so as to slide.

[50] The air inflow path 310 and the air discharge path 330 can extend or contract according to extension or contraction of the dust collecting space (S). In order to prevent loss of pressure between the internal pipe 311 or 331 and the external pipe 313 or 333 when the air inflow path 310 and the air discharge path 330 extend or contract, seal rings 351 and 353 are inserted between the internal pipes 311 and 331 and the external pipes 313 and 333, respectively.

[51] The operation of the dust collecting device having the above structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 8.

[52] As illustrated in FIG. 5, dust-laden air drawn in through the suction port (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner enters the cyclone unit 100 through the air inflow path 310 of the dust collecting device. The dust-laden air obtains a centrifugal force while passing through the curved air path 315 and enters the cyclone chamber 110 of the cyclone unit 100.

[53] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the dust-laden air entering the cyclone chamber 110 rotates along the spiral guide 114 so as to have a greater centrifugal force, so the dust can be discharged into the dust collecting space (S) of the dust collecting unit 200 through the dust hole 119.

[54] The cleaned air is filtered again while passing through the grill filter 115 and enters the discharge pipe 113. Subsequently, the air is discharged to a motor chamber (not shown) in the main body 1 of the vacuum cleaner through the air discharge path 330.

[55] In the dust collecting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in order to extend the dust collecting space (S), the user grips the head 241b of the cleat 241 and pulls the insertion unit 241a out of the fixing groove 133 as illustrated in FIG. 4, so the barrelled body 130 can move.

[56] In this state, if the user grips and pulls the handle 101 of the cyclone unit 100 in a direction contrary to the dust collecting unit 200 as illustrated in FIG. 8, the barrelled body 130 slides along the dust collecting unit 200, and the external pipes 313 and 333 of the air inflow path 310 and the air discharge path 330 slide along the internal pipes 311 and 331, respectively. Accordingly, the external pipes 313 and 333 can extend in the same distance as the barrelled body 130 moves.

[57] If the dust collecting space (S) extends as described above, the user pushes the head 241b of the cleat 241 so that the insertion unit 241a can be inserted into the lower fixing groove 135. Consequently, the barrelled body 130 can be fixed to the dust collecting unit 200. [58] Therefore, the dust collecting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention can easily extend by simple operation. [59] The fixing unit 240 is not limited to the above structure. Fixing units 1240, 2240, and

3240 having diverse structures as illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11 can also be applied.

[60] Referring to FIG. 9, the fixing unit 1240 has a structure which is almost similar to the fixing unit 240, but has a difference that the fixing unit 1240 has a coil spring 1245 between a separation prevention cleat 1243 and a head 1241b. A cleat 1241 is elastically supported by the coil spring 1245, so if the user pulls and release the head 1241b when inserting an insertion unit 1241a into a fixing groove 133 or 135, the insertion unit 1241a can be firmly fixed to the fixing groove 133 or 135.

[61] Referring to FIG. 10, the fixing unit 2240 has a structure which is almost similar to the fixing unit 240, but has a difference that a screw thread is formed on an external surface of an insertion unit 2241a of a cleat 2241 and is also formed on an internal surface of a fixing groove 133. Accordingly, since the insertion unit 2241a is screwed on the fixing groove 133, the barrelled body 130 can be fixed to the dust collecting unit 200.

[62] In addition, referring to FIG. 11, the fixing unit 3240 has a button structure. The fixing unit 3240 includes a button unit 3241 and a coil spring 3248. The button unit

3241 is hinged with a support rib 3246 formed on the external surface of the dust collecting unit 200 using a hinge pin 3243. A hook 3242 is formed on one end of the button unit 3241 so as to be selectively inserted into or separated from a fixing groove 133. A pressure unit 3247 is formed on the other end of the button unit 3241 so as to insert or separate the hook 3242 into or from the fixing groove 133 by rotating the button unit 3241. The coil spring 3248 is formed between the pressure unit 3247 and the external surface of the dust collecting unit 200 so as to elastically support the button unit 3241.

[63] In addition, the structure of the air inflow path 310 and the air discharge path 330 described in the first embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto, and can also be formed in pleated tubes as in an air inflow path 1310 and an air discharge path 1330 in a dust collecting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13.

[64] In this case, both ends of the air inflow path 1310 and the air discharge path 1330 are in fluid communication with the partition 111, and the inflow hole 215 and the discharge hole 217 of the dust discharge door 210, respectively. One ends of the air inflow path 1310 and the air discharge path 1330 which are in fluid communication with the inflow hole 215 and the discharge hole 217 of the dust discharge door 210 are supported by a support 1350 disposed in the dust collecting unit 200, so the position of the air inflow path 1310 and the air discharge path 1330 can be fixed. Accordingly, when the opened dust discharge door 210 is closed, the one ends of the air inflow path 1310 and the air discharge path 1330 coincide with the inflow hole 215 and the discharge hole 217 of the dust discharge door 210.

[65] In the dust collecting device according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the cyclone unit 100 is horizontally disposed, but is not limited thereto. The cyclone unit 100 may be vertically disposed as in a dust collecting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[66] Referring to FIG. 14, the dust collecting device according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a cyclone unit 2100 which is vertically disposed, and a dust collecting unit 2200 which is disposed under the cyclone unit 2100 in the same direction as the cyclone unit 2100 is disposed.

[67] The cyclone unit 2100 has a cylindrical shape having an opened upper portion and lower portion, and includes a housing 2101, a cyclone chamber 2110, an upper cover 2120, and a barrelled body 2130.

[68] The housing 2101 has an opened upper portion and lower portion. The upper portion of the housing 2101 is detachably connected to the upper cover 2120. The cyclone chamber 2110 is eccentrically disposed in the housing 2101.

[69] The cyclone chamber 2110 is isolated from a dust collecting space (S) in the housing

2101 by a partition 2111. An upper end 211 Ia of the partition 2111 is lower than an upper end 2101a of the housing 2101. The cyclone chamber 2110 includes an inflow hole 2110a which is formed at one side of a lower end of the cyclone chamber 2110 and through which dust-laden air enters, and a discharge pipe 2113 which is formed in the middle of the cyclone chamber 2110 and protrudes vertically from the lower end of the cyclone chamber 2110 so as to discharge cleaned air from the cyclone chamber 2110.

[70] In addition, the cyclone chamber 2110 includes a spiral guide 2114 which extends upwards along the discharge pipe 2113. The spiral guide 2114 guides air entering the cyclone chamber 2110 through the inflow hole 2110a to the upper side of the cyclone chamber 2110 using a centrifugal force. That is, the spiral guide 2114 rotates the air in the spiral direction so as to smoothly separate dust from the air.

[71] A handle 2212 is formed on the upper cover 2120 so as to easily separate the upper cover 2120 from the housing 2101. A dust back flow preventing film 2214 protrudes from a lower surface of the upper cover 2120 toward the cyclone chamber 2110 and has a circumference the same as or greater than the circumference of the cyclone chamber 2110. A dust throwing hole 2119 is formed between the lower end 2214a of the dust back flow preventing film 2214 and the upper end 211 Ia of the partition 2111, functioning as a passage for discharging the dust from the upper portion of the cyclone chamber 2110 into the dust collecting space (S). The upper cover 2120 has a protrusion 2213 which has a hemisphere shape and which protrudes from the upper cover 2120 toward the cyclone chamber 2110 so as to correspond to the cyclone chamber 2110.

[72] The barrelled body 2130 extends from the lower end of the housing 2101 at a predetermined length as in the first and second embodiments of the present invention. The barrelled body 2130 is inserted into the dust collecting unit 2200 so as to slide with respect to the dust collecting unit 2200. If the user pulls or pushes the barrelled body 2130 far from or toward the dust collecting unit 2200, the barrelled body 2130 slides along the inside of the dust collecting unit 2200. Therefore, the dust collecting space (S) can be selectively increased or decreased according to change of positions of the barrelled body 2130 and the dust collecting unit 2200. A seal ring 2131 is formed along the circumference of a lower portion of the barrelled body 2130 so as to make the dust collecting device airtight, thereby preventing loss of pressure.

[73] As in the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the dust collecting unit 2200 has an open upper portion, is formed in a cylindrical shape, has the dust collecting space (S) therein, and includes a dust discharge door 2210, a fixing unit 2240, a seal ring 2250, and a hooking protrusion 2260.

[74] The dust discharge door 2210 is disposed under the dust collecting unit 2200 so as to discharge the dust collected in the dust collecting space (S). One end 2211 of the dust discharge door 2210 is hinged with a first support unit 2221 formed on one side of the circumference of the dust collecting unit 2200 using a first hinge pin 2221a, and the other end 2213 of the dust discharge door 2210 is snapped down with a hook 2224 of a locking button 2223. The locking button 2223 is hinged with a second support unit 2222 protruding from the other side of the lower portion of the dust collecting unit 2200 using a second hinge pin 2225, and locks or unlocks the other end 2213 of the dust discharge door 2210. An inflow hole 2215 and a discharge hole 2217 are formed on the dust discharge door 1210 so as to penetrate an air inflow path 2310 and an air discharge path 2330, respectively.

[75] The fixing unit 2240 is disposed on an upper portion of an external surface of the dust collecting unit 2200, and includes an insertion unit 2240a and a head 2240b. The insertion unit 2240a penetrates an insertion hole 2201 formed on the external surface of the dust collecting unit 2200, and is inserted into one of a plurality of fixing grooves 2133 and 2135 which are vertically spaced apart on an external surface of the barrelled body 2130. Accordingly, change of the positions of the cyclone unit 2100 and the dust collecting unit 2200 can be maintained. The insertion unit 2240a and the fixing grooves 2133 and 2135 have a screw thread so that the insertion unit 2240a can be screwed on the fixing groove 2133 or 2135. The head 2240b extends from the insertion unit 2240a and is formed outside the dust collecting unit 2200 so as to insert or separate the insertion unit 2240a into or from the fixing groove 133 or 135 by pulling or rotating the insertion unit 2240a.

[76] The structure of the fixing unit 2240 is not limited to the above structure, and can be replaced with the diverse structures as described in the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, there are two fixing grooves 2133 and 2135, but the number of the fixing grooves 2133 and 2135 are not limited thereto. Two or more fixing grooves may be formed at the same interval or different intervals.

[77] Since the structure of a seal ring 2250 and a hooking protrusion 2260 is the same as in the first embodiment of the present invention, detailed description is not repeated.

[78] The air inflow path 2310 and the air discharge path 2330 in the third embodiment of the present invention penetrate the dust collecting space (S) between the cyclone unit 2100 and the dust collecting unit 2200, and can extend or contract according to extension and contraction of the dust collecting space (S) as in the first embodiment of the present invention. That is, the air inflow path 2310 includes an internal pipe 2311 and an external pipe 2313 which are coupled with each other to slide, and the air discharge path 2330 includes an internal pipe 2331 and an external pipe 2333 which are coupled with each other to slide.

[79] The external pipe 2313 of the air inflow path 2310 is in fluid communication with the inflow hole 2110a, not the partition 2111, unlike the first embodiment of the present invention, and the remaining structure and operation is the same as in the first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numerals 2351 and 2353 which are not explained indicate sealings which are inserted between the internal pipes 2311 and 2331 and the external pipes 2313 and 2333, respectively.

[80] In the dust collecting device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in order to extend the dust collecting space (S), the user pulls the fixing unit 2240 out of the upper fixing groove 2135 as illustrated in FIG. 14, so the barrelled body 2130 can move.

[81] In this state, if the user pulls the cyclone unit 2100 in a direction contrary to the dust collecting unit 2200 as illustrated in FIG. 15, the barrelled body 2130 slides along the dust collecting unit 2200, and the external pipes 2313 and 2333 of the air inflow path 2310 and the air discharge path 2330 slide along the internal pipes 2311 and 2331, respectively. Accordingly, the external pipes 2313 and 2333 can extend in the same distance as the barrelled body 2130 moves. If the dust collecting space (S) extends as described above, the user inserts the fixing unit 2240 into the lower fixing groove 2135. Consequently, the barrelled body 2130 can be fixed to the dust collecting unit 2200. Therefore, the dust collecting device according to the third embodiment of the present invention can easily extend by simple operation.

[82] The structure of the air inflow path 2310 and the air discharge path 2330 described in the third embodiment of the present invention is not limited to pipes to slide with respect to each other, and can also be formed in pleated tubes as in an air inflow path 3310 and an air discharge path 3330 in a dust collecting device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17.

[83] In this case, one end of the air inflow path 3310 is in fluid communication with an inflow hole 2110a, the other end of the air inflow path 3310 is in fluid communication with an inflow hole 2215 of a dust discharge door 2210. One end of the air discharge path 3330 are in fluid communication with a lower end of a discharge pipe 113, and the other end of the air discharge path 3330 are in fluid communication with a discharge hole 2217 of the dust discharge door 2210. The other ends of the air inflow path 3310 and the air discharge path 3330 which are in fluid communication with the inflow hole 2215 and the discharge hole 2217 of the dust discharge door 2210 respectively are supported by a support 3350 disposed in the dust collecting unit 2200, so the position of the air inflow path 2310 and the air discharge path 3330 can be fixed. Accordingly, when the opened dust discharge door 2210 is closed, the other ends of the air inflow path 3310 and the air discharge path 3330 coincide with the inflow hole 3215 and the discharge hole 3217 of the dust discharge door 3210.

[84] In the dust collecting device according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the cyclone unit 100 is horizontally disposed, but is not limited thereto. The cyclone unit 100 may be vertically disposed as in a dust collecting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[85] As can be appreciated from the above description of the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention, the cyclone unit may be disposed horizontally or vertically, or be inclined at a predetermined angle. Since an inflow and discharge tube having a pleated pipe shape between the cyclone unit disposed at a diverse angle and the dust collecting unit are disposed, the dust collecting space (S) can be extended.

[86] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.