CN110528249B

CN110528249B - Method for cleaning iron equipped with scale recovery chamber

Info

Publication number: CN110528249B
Application number: CN201910424774.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 大卫·卢克; 安东尼·安德雷德; 丹尼尔·达帕尔马
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 2018-05-25
Filing date: 2019-05-21
Publication date: 2022-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-21
Also published as: EP3572577B1; FR3081476B1; EP3572577A1; CN110528249A; FR3081476A1

Abstract

The cleaning method of the present invention comprises: a first step for injecting water into an evaporation chamber (17) of the iron by means of a water supply pump; a second step for heating to boil the water present in the evaporation chamber (17); a third step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber (17) by means of a water supply pump, so that scale particles are entrained into a scale recovery chamber (32) of the iron; a fourth step in which the operation of the feed water pump is interrupted and the evaporation chamber (17) is brought to a temperature greater than 150 ℃ in order to evaporate the water present in the evaporation chamber (17); and a fifth step for emptying the scale collected in the scale recovery chamber (32).

Description

Method for cleaning iron equipped with scale recovery chamber

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of irons, in particular irons equipped with an automatic cleaning program.

Background

The ironing apparatus comprises, in a known manner:

-an iron comprising a vaporisation chamber, an ironing base plate provided with an ironing surface and at least one steam outlet opening to the ironing surface, and a steam distribution circuit fluidly connecting the vaporisation chamber to the at least one steam outlet opening and in which steam generated by the vaporisation chamber is intended to flow; and

-a base containing a water tank and connected to the iron by a water delivery conduit.

Such an iron may advantageously comprise a cleaning program which allows to implement a method for automatically cleaning the iron, in particular the evaporation chamber of the iron.

Such cleaning methods include in particular: heating the evaporation chamber to a predetermined temperature, supplying water to the evaporation chamber at a water flow rate to strip scale particles from the inner wall of the evaporation chamber, and evacuating the scale particles through one or more steam vents of the ironing surface.

However, this cleaning method has an unsatisfactory cleaning efficiency, which impairs the service life of the iron. In addition, unsatisfactory cleaning efficiency requires that the cleaning operations of the iron be spaced closer together over time, which can be restrictive for the user.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is in particular that of providing a method for cleaning an iron that is effective and less restrictive for the user.

To this end, the invention relates to a method for cleaning an iron comprising an ironing base plate on which a heating body is arranged, said heating body comprising an evaporation chamber configured to supply steam to a steam outlet arranged in said ironing base plate, and a steam distribution circuit comprising a scale recovery chamber comprising an evacuation opening closed by a removable plug accessible from the outside of the iron, said evaporation chamber being intended to be supplied with water by means of a water supply pump, wherein said cleaning method comprises:

-a first step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber by means of the water supply pump, during which the water supply pump is operated for a time greater than that required for the quantity of water delivered by the water supply pump to cover a substantial portion of the bottom of the evaporation chamber, and advantageously greater than that required for the water to rise through the steam distribution circuit until it is discharged through at least one steam outlet opening of the ironing bottom;

-a second step for heating the evaporation chamber to a temperature greater than 100 ℃ so as to boil the water present in the evaporation chamber;

-a third step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber by means of the water supply pump, the iron being held during the third step for injecting water at a cleaning position where the water injected into the evaporation chamber by the water supply pump entrains scale particles into a scale recovery chamber;

-a fourth step, during which the operation of the feed water pump is interrupted and the evaporation chamber is brought to a temperature greater than 150 ℃ to evaporate the water present in the evaporation chamber; and

-a fifth step for emptying the scale collected in the scale recovery chamber by opening the removable plug.

Due to the agitation induced by the boiling of the water at the second step, the scale particles present in the evaporation chamber are peeled off from the inner wall of the evaporation chamber. In addition, the injection of water at the third step allows to flush the evaporation chamber and the steam distribution circuit and to entrain scale particles into the scale recovery cavity. When the filling of the evaporation chamber with water is stopped, the iron is brought to a high temperature, so that the water present in particular in the evaporation chamber evaporates quickly. After substantially all of the water contained in the evaporation chamber and the steam distribution circuit has evaporated, the removable plug can be removed and the scale particles accumulated in the scale recovery chamber can be emptied.

The cleaning method according to the invention thus allows a maximum amount of scale to be collected in the scale recovery chamber provided therefor during the cleaning operation of the iron. This in turn leads to an improved cleaning efficiency of the iron and thus an increased service life of the iron. In addition, the cleaning method according to the invention allows to space apart the different cleaning operations of the iron and therefore also the constraints associated with these cleaning operations.

The cleaning method may also have one or more of the following features used alone or in combination.

According to one embodiment of the cleaning method, during the third step for injecting water, the water supply pump is operated for a time greater than that required for the quantity of water delivered by the water supply pump to fill the majority of the scale recovery chamber, and advantageously greater than that required for the water to ascend through the steam distribution circuit until it is discharged through the at least one steam discharge opening of the ironing base plate.

Thus, the water fills the evaporation chamber and the scale recovery chamber up to advantageously flowing through the at least one steam outlet opening of the iron. Thus, a portion of the water injected into the evaporation chamber is drained to the front of the iron, which allows the dispensing circuit to be rinsed, but the heavier scale remains in a scale recovery chamber, advantageously located at the rear of the iron.

According to one embodiment of the cleaning method, the first, second, third and fourth steps are performed automatically by the iron, for example after actuation of a control button by a user.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the flow rate of water injected into the evaporation chamber at the first step is greater than the maximum flow rate of water injected into the evaporation chamber at the ironing step. Advantageously, the flow rate of water injected into the evaporation chamber at the first step is substantially equal to or greater than twice the maximum flow rate of water injected into the evaporation chamber at the ironing phase.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the third step is triggered as soon as the evaporation chamber reaches the set temperature at the second step.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the evaporation chamber is heated during the third step for injecting water.

According to one embodiment of the invention, during the fourth step, the evaporation chamber is heated to a temperature greater than 200 ℃, advantageously about 210 ℃.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the method comprises an additional step, carried out at the end of the fourth step, in which water is injected into the evaporation chamber by means of a pump for a predetermined time, advantageously less than 5 seconds, to instantaneously generate a high yield of steam without flooding the evaporation chamber.

This characteristic allows to generate, at the end of the cleaning method, a sudden and momentary steam flow which allows to expel possible scale particles, still present in the steam distribution circuit and which can be conveyed through the steam outlet of the ironing base plate, through the steam outlet. Thus avoiding the transfer of these scale particles to the garment the next time the iron is used.

According to one embodiment of the invention, before the first step, the iron is placed on a support accessory that allows to keep the iron in a cleaning position.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the support accessory is configured to hold the iron in a cleaning position in which an ironing base plate of the iron is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane by an angle of between 30 ° and 60 °.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the drain is provided at the rear of the iron.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the iron comprises a scale recovery container arranged in the scale recovery chamber. Advantageously, the scale recovery vessel is removable.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the iron is held during the third step for injecting water at a cleaning position where water injected into the evaporation chamber by the water supply pump entrains scale particles into the scale recovery chamber.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the scale recovery vessel is integral with the removable plug.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the fifth step further comprises removing the scale recovery container from the scale recovery chamber.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the fifth step further comprises cleaning the scale recovery container and replacing the scale recovery container in the scale recovery chamber.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the iron is connected to a base by a water delivery conduit, said base enclosing a water tank.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the iron can be arranged on the soleplate during a non-operative phase of ironing.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the water supply pump is provided in the base.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the support accessory comprises a platform adapted to receive an ironing base plate of the iron and to hold the iron in a cleaning position, and a foot pivotally mounted on the platform.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the storage compartment is disposed on a lower surface of the base.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the base comprises a storage cavity and the support accessory is removably mounted in said storage cavity.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the base includes an accessory locking device configured to lock the support accessory in the storage cavity. Advantageously, the accessory locking device comprises a locking element provided on the base and movable between a locking position, in which it cooperates with the platform so as to retain the platform in the storage cavity, and a release position, in which it releases the platform and permits its removal from the storage cavity. The locking element is elastically deformable, for example between a respective locking position and a release position.

The accessory locking device may further include an entrapment receptacle disposed on the base and configured to receive an entrapment member, such as an entrapment finger or an entrapment tab, disposed on the support accessory, such as on the platform. Advantageously, the catch receptacle is located opposite the locking element.

The invention also relates to a support accessory for implementing the cleaning method according to the invention, comprising a platform adapted to receive an ironing base plate of an iron and to hold the iron in a cleaning position, and feet pivotally mounted on the platform.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the foot is adapted to occupy a folded position in which the foot is substantially disposed in the plane of the platform, and an unfolded position in which an end of the platform is raised by the foot.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the platform is configured to rest stably on the foot in the deployed position at an angle of between 30 ° and 60 ° with respect to the horizontal.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the platform comprises an upper surface defining a position in which the iron can rest. Advantageously, the upper surface of the platform comprises a support pad for abutting against an ironing base plate of the iron.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the platform comprises a stop member for abutting the foot in the deployed position, said stop member being configured to limit the pivoting travel of the foot relative to the platform.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the platform includes a lower surface opposite the upper surface of the platform, and the feet are configured to extend along the lower surface of the platform when the feet are in the collapsed position.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the platform comprises a foot locking device configured to lock the foot in the folded position. Advantageously, the foot locking device comprises a locking member provided on the platform and movable between a locking position, in which it cooperates with the foot so as to hold the foot in the folded position, and a release position, in which it releases the foot and permits it to pivot into the unfolded position. The locking member is elastically deformable, for example, between respective locking and releasing positions. This configuration of the locking member allows for easy removal of the support accessory from the base. The locking member may be formed, for example, by a locking finger or a locking tongue.

The invention also relates to an iron comprising an ironing base plate on which a heating body is arranged, said heating body comprising an evaporation chamber and a steam distribution circuit configured to supply steam to a steam outlet arranged in said ironing base plate, said steam distribution circuit comprising a scale recovery chamber comprising an emptying port closed by a removable plug accessible from the outside of the iron, said evaporation chamber being intended to be supplied with water by means of a water supply pump, said iron further comprising a self-cleaning program configured to automatically implement at least the first, second, third and fourth steps of the cleaning method according to the invention.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the iron comprises a control unit configured to control the activation of the self-cleaning program. The control unit can for example be configured to control the activation of the self-cleaning program when a control button is activated by a user.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cleaning program carries out, at the end of the fourth step, an additional step in which water is injected into the evaporation chamber by means of a pump for a predetermined time, advantageously less than 5 seconds, to produce instantaneously a high yield of steam.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the evaporation chamber comprises a bottom wall on which water is intended to flow to generate steam, and the heating body further comprises a heating resistor extending peripherally on the bottom wall.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating body comprises a casting at least partially defining the evaporation chamber. Advantageously, the heating resistor is integrated in the casting.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating body comprises a closing plate resting on the casting, the evaporation chamber being delimited by the casting and by said closing plate.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the vapor distribution circuit comprises two lateral distribution channels extending on either side of the evaporation chamber and engaging in the front part of the casting, and at least one through hole provided in the casting, which on the one hand opens into at least one of the lateral distribution channels and on the other hand into the lower surface of the casting.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the scale recovery chamber is connected to the evaporation chamber by a connection opening which opens into a rear end portion of the evaporation chamber.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the evaporation chamber comprises two blocking portions extending on both sides of and in the vicinity of the connection opening, the blocking portions being configured to limit the introduction of scale particles into the lateral distribution channel.

Drawings

The invention will be better understood by means of the following description with reference to the schematic drawings which show, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of the ironing device.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ironing apparatus according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an iron belonging to the ironing apparatus of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the iron of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the iron of fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a partial top view of the iron of fig. 2.

Fig. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken along lines VI-VI and VII-VII of fig. 5, respectively.

Fig. 8 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the iron of fig. 2.

Figure 9 is a bottom perspective view of the base of the ironing device of figure 1.

Figure 10 is a bottom perspective view of the base and supporting accessories of the ironing apparatus of figure 1.

Fig. 11 and 12 are perspective views of the support accessory of fig. 10 in a deployed position.

Fig. 13 is a side view of the iron of fig. 2 disposed on the support attachment of fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a partial perspective view of an iron according to one embodiment variation of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the iron of fig. 14 taken along a cross-section through the barrier wall.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 13 show an ironing apparatus 2, the ironing apparatus 2 comprising an iron 3 and a stand 4, the iron 3 being able to be arranged on the stand 4 during a non-operative phase of ironing.

The ironing device 2 further comprises a water tank 5, which water tank 5 is integrated in the base 4 and is, for example, removable, and a water supply circuit, which is fluidly connected to the water tank 5. The water supply circuit comprises, in particular, a water delivery conduit 6, which water delivery conduit 6 fluidly connects the water tank 5 to the iron 3, and a water supply pump P, which is integrated in the soleplate 4 and is configured to supply the iron 3 with water from the water tank 5.

As shown in fig. 2 to 8, the iron 3 comprises a housing 7 and an ironing base plate 9, the housing 7 comprising a gripping portion 8 at its upper end, the ironing base plate 9 being provided with a substantially flat ironing surface 11 and a plurality of steam vents 12 opening onto the ironing surface 11.

As shown more particularly in fig. 3 and 4, the iron 3 also comprises a heating body 13, which heating body 13 is integrated in the lower part of the casing 7 and is thermally and mechanically connected to the ironing base plate 9. The heating body 13 comprises a casting 14, for example of aluminium, and a heating resistor 15, which heating resistor 15 is bent into a U-shape and integrated in the casting 14.

The heating body 13 also comprises a shutter 16 (visible in fig. 3) and an evaporation chamber 17 of the instantaneous evaporation type, the shutter 16 resting on the casting 14, the evaporation chamber 17 being delimited by the casting 14 and the shutter 16. The casting 14 more specifically comprises a partition 18, which partition 18 rises to the shut-off plate 16 and laterally delimits the evaporation chamber 17. Advantageously, the evaporation chamber 17 is at least partially, and for example substantially completely, internally coated with a warming-resistant coating.

The evaporation chamber 17 comprises a bottom wall 19, on which bottom wall 19 water is intended to flow for generating steam. Advantageously, the heating resistor 15 extends at the periphery of the bottom wall 19 and more particularly comprises a first branch extending in proximity to a first transverse portion 17.1 of the evaporation chamber 17 and a second branch extending in proximity to a second transverse portion 17.2 of the evaporation chamber 17, opposite to the first transverse portion 17.1.

The bottom wall 19 may for example have a convex shape and further slope towards the rear of the evaporation chamber 17, so that a front portion 22 of the bottom wall 19 is raised with respect to a rear portion 23 of the bottom wall 19.

The heating body 13 further comprises a liquid injection opening 26, which liquid injection opening 26 is fluidly connected to the water supply pump P and to the front of the evaporation chamber 17, and is for example near the front end of the bottom wall 19. Therefore, the water supply pump P is configured to supply water from the water tank 5 to the evaporation chamber 17.

Advantageously, a liquid injection opening 26 is provided on the shutter 16 and opens into the evaporation chamber 17 near the front end of the bottom wall 19 and therefore near the heating resistor 15.

The ironing device 2 further comprises a steam distribution circuit 27, which steam distribution circuit 27 is defined by the casting 14 and the shutter 16, and fluidly connects the evaporation chamber 17 to the steam outlet 12, which enables the steam generated in the evaporation chamber 17 to flow to the steam outlet 12. Advantageously, the steam distribution circuit 27 is at least partially internally coated with a warming-resistant coating.

The vapor distribution circuit 27 comprises in particular two lateral distribution channels 28, which two lateral distribution channels 28 extend on both sides of the evaporation chamber 17 and are joined at the front end of the heating body 13. Each lateral distribution channel 28 is fluidly connected to the evaporation chamber 17 through a respective lateral through opening 29 located at the rear of the evaporation chamber 17. Each lateral through opening 29 is advantageously partially defined by a respective blocking wall 30 extending from the bottom wall 19. The barrier walls 30 may, for example, be substantially parallel with respect to each other and extend in a longitudinal direction.

The steam distribution circuit 27 also comprises one or more through holes 31 provided in the casting 14 and each opening, on the one hand, into at least one of the lateral distribution channels 28 and, on the other hand, into the lower surface of the casting 14, at a steam distribution chamber (not visible in the figures) arranged facing the steam outlet 12 of the ironing base plate 9.

The steam distribution circuit 27 further comprises a scale recovery chamber 32, the scale recovery chamber 32 comprising a drain 33 closed by a removable plug 34 (visible in fig. 2), the removable plug 34 being accessible from the outside of the iron 3. Advantageously, the drain 33 opens into the rear surface of the housing 7 of the iron 3.

The scale recovery chamber 32 is provided at the rear of the evaporation chamber 17, and is connected to the evaporation chamber 17 through a connection opening 35, the connection opening 35 opening into the rear end portion of the evaporation chamber 17. Advantageously, two blocking walls 30 extend on either side of the connection opening 35 and in the vicinity of the connection opening 35 and are configured to limit the introduction of scale particles into the lateral distribution channel 28.

The scale recovery chamber 32 is advantageously located in a portion of the housing 7, which housing 7 is cantilevered at the rear of the ironing base plate 9 when the iron 3 rests on the ironing base plate 9.

The iron 3 further comprises a scale recovery container 36, the scale recovery container 36 being removably mounted in the scale recovery chamber 32, for example. The scale recovery container 36 is configured to collect scale particles from the evaporation chamber 17. Advantageously, the scale recovery container 36 is integral with the removable plug 34.

As shown more particularly in fig. 9 to 13, the ironing apparatus 2 also comprises a supporting accessory 37, the supporting accessory 37 being removably mounted in a storage cavity 38, the storage cavity 38 being configured on a lower surface of the base 4. The support accessory 37 is configured to hold the iron 3 in a cleaning position in which the ironing base plate 9 of the iron 3 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane by an angle comprised between 30 ° and 60 °, for example about 45 °.

Such a support accessory 37 allows to significantly tilt the iron 3 during the automatic cleaning operation of the iron 3 and thus promotes the detachment of scale particles from the walls of the evaporation chamber 17 and the recovery of these particles in a scale recovery container 36, which scale recovery container 36 is arranged in the scale recovery cavity 32. The support accessory 37 thus ensures effective automatic cleaning of the iron 3. In addition, since the supporting attachment 37 is stored in the storage cavity 38 provided on the base 4, when the user wishes to perform the automatic cleaning operation of the iron 3, the user can easily reach the supporting attachment 37, and easily and quickly store the supporting attachment 37 at the end of the automatic cleaning operation.

The support appendix 37 more specifically comprises a platform 39 suitable for housing the ironing base plate 9 of the iron 3 and feet 40, the feet 40 being pivotably mounted on the platform 39 and suitable for assuming a folded position, in which the feet 40 are substantially arranged in the plane of the platform 39, and an unfolded position, in which one end of the platform 39 is raised by the feet 40. This configuration of the feet 40 allows to greatly limit the overall dimensions of the support appendix 37 when the feet 40 are in the folded position and therefore to fit it in the storage cavity 38 of small dimensions, without compromising the compactness of the base 4.

The platform 39 is advantageously configured to stably rest on the foot 40 in the deployed position at an angle of between 30 ° and 60 ° with respect to the horizontal.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the platform 39 comprises an upper surface defining a position E at which the iron 3 is adapted to rest, and a support pad 41 for abutting against the ironing base plate 9 of the iron 3. The platform 39 is advantageously provided with a lower retaining portion 42, which lower retaining portion 42 extends transversely to the upper surface of the platform 39 and is configured to cooperate with the rear portion of the ironing base plate 9.

The platform 39 also comprises a stop member 43 for abutting the foot 40 in the deployed position. Thus, the stop member 43 is configured to limit the pivotal travel of the foot 40 opposite the platform 39. Advantageously, the stop member 43 protrudes from the lower surface of the platform 39.

The platform 39 also includes a foot locking arrangement configured to lock the feet 40 in the folded position. Such foot locking means allow, in particular, to easily install the support appendix 37 in the storage cavity 38 and also to avoid any undesired unfolding of the foot 40.

Advantageously, the foot locking means comprise a locking member 44, such as a locking finger or a locking tongue, which locking member 44 is arranged on the platform 39 and is movable between a locking position, in which the locking member 44 cooperates with the foot 40 so as to keep the foot 40 in the folded position, and a release position, in which the locking member 44 releases the foot 40 and permits the foot 40 to pivot to the unfolded position. Advantageously, the locking member 44 protrudes from the lower surface of the platform 39 and is elastically deformable between respective locking and release positions.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the base 4 also comprises an accessory locking device configured to lock the support accessory 37 in the storage cavity 38. These arrangements ensure in particular a secure mounting of the support appendix 37 in the storage cavity 38.

Advantageously, the accessory locking means comprise a locking element 45, for example a locking finger or a locking tongue, the locking element 45 being provided on the base 4 and being movable between a locking position, in which the locking element 45 cooperates with the platform 39 so as to retain the platform 39 in the storage cavity 38, and a release position, in which the locking element 45 releases the platform 39 and permits removal of the platform 39 from the storage cavity 38. The locking element 45 can be elastically deformable, for example, between a respective locking position and a release position.

The accessory locking device further comprises a retention housing 46, the retention housing 46 being provided on the base 4 and being configured to receive a retention member 47, such as a retention finger or a retention tab, the retention member 47 being provided on the support accessory 37 and, for example, on the platform 39. Advantageously, the interception housing 46 is located opposite the locking element 45.

The platform 39 further comprises a plurality of steam passage openings 48, the plurality of steam passage openings 48 being configured to allow passage of steam generated by the iron 3 when the iron 3 rests on the platform 39 during an automatic cleaning operation.

The iron 3 further comprises a self-cleaning program configured to implement the method for automatically cleaning the iron 3, and a control unit 49, the control unit 49 being equipped, for example, with a microprocessor, the control unit 49 being configured to control the activation of the self-cleaning program. The control unit 49 can for example be configured to control the activation of the self-cleaning program when a control button is activated by the user, which control button is for example provided near or on the grip portion 8.

Such a method for automatically cleaning the iron 3 may for example comprise:

a first step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber 17 by means of the water feed pump P, during which the water feed pump P is operated for a time greater than that required for the quantity of water delivered by the water feed pump P to cover a substantial part of the bottom of the evaporation chamber 17 and greater than that required for the water to rise through the steam distribution circuit 27 until it is discharged through the at least one steam discharge opening 12 of the ironing base 9;

a second step for heating the evaporation chamber 17 to reach a set temperature greater than 100 ℃ and advantageously about 120 ℃;

a third step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber 17 by means of the water supply pump P, the iron 3 being held during the third step for injecting water in a cleaning position in which the water injected into the evaporation chamber 17 by the water supply pump P entrains scale particles into the scale recovery chamber 32; during the third step for injecting water, the working time of the water supply pump P is preferably greater than the time required for filling the scale recovery chamber 32 with the quantity of water delivered by the water supply pump P and for ascending through the steam distribution circuit 27 until discharge through the at least one steam outlet 12 of the ironing base plate 9;

a fourth step, during which the operation of the water feed pump P is interrupted and the heating of the evaporation chamber 17 is maintained so as to bring it to a set temperature greater than 150 ℃, and advantageously of about 210 ℃, so as to cause the rapid evaporation of the water present in the evaporation chamber 17 and in the steam distribution circuit 27.

The automatic cleaning method also has a fifth step for manually emptying the scale collected in the scale recovery chamber 32, which comprises in particular: opening the removable plug 34, removing the scale recovery container 36 from the scale recovery cavity 32, rinsing the scale recovery container 36, replacing the scale recovery container 36 in the scale recovery cavity 32, and closing the removable plug 34.

Preferably, at the second step, the third step is triggered automatically when the temperature of the evaporation chamber 17 reaches the value of the set temperature.

For example, the pump P can have a flow rate of 160g/min, and the water injection time in the first step is about 35 seconds, and the injection time during the third step is about 15 seconds. The second step is advantageously continued for the time required to bring the evaporation chamber 17 to the set temperature. After a predetermined duration of about 1min, the fourth step is advantageously interrupted.

Advantageously, the cleaning method comprises, before the first step, placing the iron 3 on the support appendix 37 with the feet 40 of the support appendix 37 in the spread-out position, so as to keep the iron in the inclined cleaning position.

Due to the agitation caused by boiling in the evaporation chamber 17 at the time of the second step, the scale particles present in the evaporation chamber 17 are peeled off from the inner wall of the evaporation chamber 17.

Thus, in the second step, a portion of the scale particles raised by boiling in the evaporation chamber 17 falls by gravity into the scale recovery chamber 32.

At the end of the second step, water is still present in the evaporation chamber 17 and in the steam distribution circuit 27, and the water flow injected during the third step entrains the rest of the scale particles present in the evaporation chamber 17 into the scale recovery chamber 32.

The water, while continuing to flow, fills the evaporation chamber 17 and the scale recovery chamber 32 until advantageously flowing through the at least one steam outlet opening 12 of the iron 3. Thus, a part of the water injected into the evaporation chamber 17 is drained towards the front of the iron 3, but the heavier scale remains in the scale recovery chamber 32 located at the rear of the iron 3.

When the water injection into the evaporation chamber 17 is stopped (at the start of the fourth step), the ironing base plate 9 reaches a high set temperature of about 210 ℃, and in particular the water present in the evaporation chamber 17 and in the steam distribution circuit 27 evaporates rapidly.

After substantially all of the water contained in the evaporation chamber 17 and the steam distribution circuit 27 has evaporated, then the removable plug 34 can be removed and the scale particles accumulated in the scale recovery chamber 32 at the third step can be emptied.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the water flow rate injected into the evaporation chamber 17 at the first step and at the third step is substantially equal to or greater than twice the maximum water flow rate injected into the evaporation chamber 17 at the ironing phase of the laundry to be ironed.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the method for automatically cleaning the iron 3 comprises an additional step carried out at the end of the fourth step. In this additional step, water is injected into the evaporation chamber 17 by means of the pump P for a predetermined time, much shorter than the water injection time of the third step, so as to instantaneously generate a high yield of steam without flooding the evaporation chamber 17. For example, the water injection time at this additional step is about 3 seconds.

The evaporation chamber 17 then reaches a temperature of about 210 ℃, and the strong steam flow generated by the injected water will drive through the steam discharge opening 12 scale particles that may still be present in the steam distribution circuit, which allows to avoid these scale particles being transported to the laundry in the next ironing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the iron 3 may comprise a scale indicator informing the user that an automatic cleaning procedure of the evaporation chamber 17 needs to be performed. Such a scale indicator can be activated according to the time of use of the iron 3, or the number of times the water tank 5 is filled, and its frequency of activation can be adjusted according to the position of the water hardness indicator.

Fig. 14 and 15 show an iron 3 according to an embodiment variant of the invention which differs from the one shown in fig. 1 to 13 mainly in that the upper end of the blocking wall 30 is located in the vicinity of the closing plate 16 and therefore delimits a lateral through opening 29 of small dimensions. This configuration of the blocking wall 30 allows to further limit the introduction of scale particles into the lateral distribution channel 28.

The invention is of course in no way limited to the embodiments described and shown by way of example. Modifications are possible, in particular from the point of view of the construction of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning an iron (3), the iron (3) comprising an ironing base plate (9), a heating body (13) being provided above the ironing base plate (9), the heating body (13) comprising an evaporation chamber (17) and a steam distribution circuit (27), the steam distribution circuit (27) being configured to supply steam to a steam outlet (12) arranged in the ironing base plate (9), the steam distribution circuit (27) comprising a scale recovery chamber (32), the scale recovery chamber (32) comprising an evacuation port (33), the evacuation port (33) being closed by a removable plug (34) accessible from outside the iron (3), the evaporation chamber (17) being intended to be supplied with water by means of a water supply pump (P), wherein the cleaning method comprises:

-a first step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber (17) by means of the water supply pump (P), during which the working time of the water supply pump (P) is greater than the time required for the quantity of water delivered by the water supply pump (P) to cover a substantial part of the bottom of the evaporation chamber (17), and greater than the time required for the water to rise through the steam distribution circuit (27) until it is discharged through at least one steam discharge opening (12) of the ironing base plate (9);

-a second step for heating the evaporation chamber (17) to a temperature greater than 100 ℃ to boil the water present in the evaporation chamber;

-a third step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber (17) by means of the water supply pump (P), the iron being held during the third step for injecting water at a cleaning position where the water injected into the evaporation chamber (17) by the water supply pump (P) entrains scale particles into a scale recovery chamber (32);

-a fourth step, during which the operation of the water feed pump (P) is interrupted and the evaporation chamber (17) is brought to a temperature greater than 150 ℃ to evaporate the water present in the evaporation chamber (17); and

-a fifth step for emptying the scale collected in the scale recovery chamber (32) by opening the removable plug (34).

2. Cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein during the third step for injecting water, the working time of the water feed pump (P) is greater than the time required for filling the majority of the scale recovery chamber (32) with the quantity of water delivered by the water feed pump (P) and greater than the time required for raising the water through the steam distribution circuit (27) until it is drained through at least one steam outlet opening (12) of the ironing base plate (9).

3. The cleaning method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, comprising: -before the first step, placing the iron (3) on a support accessory (37), the support accessory (37) allowing to keep the iron (3) in the cleaning position.

4. Cleaning method according to claim 3, wherein the supporting accessory (37) is configured to hold the iron (3) in a cleaning position in which the ironing base plate (9) of the iron (3) is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane by an angle of between 30 ° and 60 °.

5. A support accessory (37) for carrying out the cleaning method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said support accessory comprises a platform (39) and feet (40), said platform (39) being adapted to receive the ironing base plate (9) of the iron (3) and to hold the iron (3) in the cleaning position, said feet (40) being pivotably mounted on said platform (39).

6. An iron (3) comprising an ironing base plate (9), a heating body (13) being arranged above the ironing base plate (9), the heating body (13) comprising an evaporation chamber (17) and a steam distribution circuit (27), the steam distribution circuit (27) being configured to supply steam to a steam outlet (12) arranged in the ironing base plate (9), the steam distribution circuit (27) comprising a scale recovery chamber (32), the scale recovery chamber (32) comprising a drain opening (33), the drain opening (33) being closed by a removable plug (34) accessible from outside the iron (3), the evaporation chamber (17) being intended to be supplied with water by means of a water supply pump (P), the iron (3) further comprising a self-cleaning program configured to automatically implement the cleaning method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. Iron as in claim 6, characterized in that said drain (33) is provided at the rear of said iron (3).

8. Iron as in any claim from 6 to 7, characterized in that the iron (3) comprises a scale recovery container (36), the scale recovery container (36) being arranged in the scale recovery chamber (32).

9. Iron as in claim 8, characterized in that said scale recovery container (36) is integral with said removable plug (34).

10. The iron as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the fifth step of the cleaning method further comprises removing the scale recovery container (36) from the scale recovery chamber (32).

11. Iron as in any claim from 6 to 7, characterized in that it is connected to a base (4) through a water delivery duct (6), said base (4) containing a water tank (5).

12. The iron according to claim 11, wherein the water supply pump (P) is provided in the stand (4).