CN111074516B

CN111074516B - Method for cleaning an iron provided with a scale recovery chamber

Info

Publication number: CN111074516B
Application number: CN201910999272.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 多米尼克·格吕斯
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 2018-10-22
Filing date: 2019-10-17
Publication date: 2023-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 2039-10-17
Also published as: FR3087453B1; EP3643831B1; FR3087453A1; CN111074516A; EP3643831A1

Abstract

The cleaning method of the present invention comprises: a first step for heating an evaporation chamber (17) of the iron; a second step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber (17) by means of a water supply pump (P) so that the scale housing is entrained into a scale recovery cavity (32) of the iron, the operating time of the water supply pump (P) during the second step being less than the time required for the amount of water injected by the water supply pump to reach at least one steam outlet (12) of the ironing soleplate of the iron; a third step during which the operation of the water supply pump is interrupted; and a fourth step for discharging 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 steaming chamber, an ironing base plate provided with an ironing surface and at least one steam outlet opening into the ironing surface, and a steam distribution circuit fluidly connecting the steaming chamber to the at least one steam outlet and in which steam generated by the steaming chamber is intended to flow;

-a base housing a water tank and connected to said iron by a water delivery conduit.

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

Such cleaning methods include, inter alia: the method comprises the steps of heating the evaporation chamber to a predetermined temperature, supplying water to the evaporation chamber at a flow rate to peel scale particles from an inner wall of the evaporation chamber, and collecting the scale particles in a scale recovery chamber provided in the iron.

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.

Ironing apparatuses comprising a scale recovery chamber are known from documents US2018/003377, WO2015/010968 and WO 2017/108440. However, these devices do not comprise a cleaning program that allows to implement an automatic cleaning method of the evaporation chamber.

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 mounted, 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 a drain 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 heating the evaporation chamber to a temperature higher than 150 ℃ and advantageously higher than 170 ℃;

-a second step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber by means of the water supply pump, during which the water flow rate injected into the evaporation chamber is greater than the maximum water flow rate injected into the evaporation chamber at the ironing step, the iron being held in a cleaning position during the second step for injecting water, in which the water injected into the evaporation chamber by the water supply pump entrains scale particles into the scale recovery cavity, the operating time of the water supply pump during the second step for injecting water being less than the time required for the amount of water injected by the water supply pump to rise through the steam distribution circuit and reach at least one steam outlet of the ironing base plate;

-a third step during which the operation of said feed pump is interrupted;

-a fourth step for draining the scale collected in the scale recovery chamber by opening the removable plug.

Due to the thermal shock between the hot inner wall of the evaporation chamber and the water injected into the evaporation chamber at the second step, scale particles present in the evaporation chamber peel off from the inner wall of the evaporation chamber. In addition, since the quantity of water injected into the evaporation chamber is greater than the quantity of water that can be evaporated by the evaporation chamber, the temperature of the latter cools rapidly, and the ironing base plate no longer has enough energy to evaporate the water introduced into the evaporation chamber. Thus, water accumulates in the evaporation chamber and in the steam distribution circuit, in particular in the scale recovery chamber, which is advantageously located at the rear of the iron, and thus entrains scale particles into the scale recovery chamber.

The operating time of the water supply pump during the second step for injecting water is in particular less than the time required for the quantity of water injected by the water supply pump to rise through the steam distribution circuit and reach the at least one steam outlet of the ironing base plate, so as to avoid a portion of the detached scale particles accumulating in the vicinity of the steam outlet and thus at least a partial blockage of the steam outlet which would impair the ironing efficiency and the service life of the iron.

In a second step for injecting water, the iron is held in a cleaning position, either manually or by means of a support, in a suitable orientation so that the water injected by the pump into the evaporation chamber entrains scale particles into the scale recovery chamber. Of course, this cleaning position can vary depending on the configuration of the iron and in particular the position of the scale recovery chamber relative to the evaporation chamber.

Thus, the cleaning position will advantageously correspond to a position of the iron where the water injected into the evaporation chamber flows into the scale recovery chamber due to gravity. Depending on the configuration of the iron, this position may be different or correspond to a use position of the iron in which the soleplate of the iron is arranged horizontally.

When the filling of the evaporation chamber with water is stopped, the temperature of the iron rises and in particular the water present in the evaporation chamber and in the steam distribution circuit is evaporated. After evaporation of at least a portion of the water contained in the evaporation chamber and the steam distribution circuit, the removable plug may be removed and the scale recovery chamber may be emptied of scale particles accumulated therein.

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. Thereby resulting in 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 methods can also have one or more of the following features used alone or in combination.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the water supply pump is operated during the second step for injecting water for a time greater than the time required for the amount of water injected by the water supply pump to at least partially fill the scale recovery chamber.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cleaning method comprises emitting an audible and/or visual signal at the end of the third step. These settings allow the user to be informed that he can carry out the fourth step of the cleaning method.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the cleaning method further comprises:

-a fifth step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber by means of the water supply pump, the iron being kept in a horizontal position during the fifth step for injecting water, at which level water injected by the water supply pump flows into the steam distribution circuit and is discharged through the steam outlet.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the working time of the water supply pump during the fifth step for injecting water may be between 30 seconds and 2 minutes, for example about 1 minute.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fifth step is carried out automatically and, for example, after detecting that the iron is in a horizontal position by means of a position sensor.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the evaporation chamber is heated during the second step for injecting water, and for example to a temperature higher than 200 ℃.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating of the evaporation chamber is reduced or even interrupted during the third step.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the evaporation chamber is heated to a temperature below 200 ℃ during the third step.

Preferably, the heating of the evaporation chamber during the third step will be reduced but sufficient to remove most of the water present in the evaporation chamber.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cleaning method comprises, after the fourth step and before the fifth step, emitting an audible and/or visual signal so as to inform the user that he should put the iron in position to carry out the fifth step.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the evaporation chamber is heated to a temperature above 200 ℃ before the fifth step.

According to one embodiment of the invention, during the fifth step for injecting water, the evaporation chamber is heated, for example to a temperature higher than 200 ℃.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cleaning method comprises, before the second step, placing the iron on a support accessory that allows to keep the iron in a cleaning position.

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

Such a cleaning position is particularly suitable for irons comprising a scale recovery chamber arranged in an area arranged in the prolongation of the evaporation chamber and slightly inclined upwards with respect to the ironing surface, for example the heel 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 in a cleaning position during the second step for injecting water, so that the water injected into the evaporation chamber by the water supply pump entrains scale particles into the scale recovery container.

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 fourth step further comprises removing the scale recovery container from the scale recovery chamber.

According to one embodiment of the cleaning method, the first, second and third steps are carried out automatically, for example after actuation of a control button by the user or after recognition of a voice command or after a period of use of the iron.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the fourth step further comprises: the scale recovery container is cleaned and replaced in the scale recovery chamber.

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

According to one embodiment of the invention, the iron can be arranged on the base during the inactive 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 base comprises a storage cavity and the support accessory is removably mounted in said storage cavity.

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

The invention also relates to an iron comprising an ironing base plate on which a heating body is mounted, said heating body comprising an evaporation chamber and a steam distribution circuit configured to supply steam to steam outlets arranged in the ironing base plate, said steam distribution circuit comprising a scale recovery chamber comprising an outlet 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, said iron further comprising an automatic cleaning program configured to implement the cleaning method according to the invention and a control unit configured to control the activation of said automatic cleaning program. The control unit may for example be configured to control the activation of the automatic cleaning program when the control button is activated by the user, or after recognizing a voice command or after using the iron for a period of time.

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.

Drawings

The invention will be better understood by means of the following description with reference to the accompanying 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 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of fig. 5.

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 the supporting accessories of the ironing device of figure 1.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the support accessory of fig. 10 in a use position.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the support accessory of figure 10 in a use position.

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

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 13 show an ironing apparatus 2, the ironing apparatus 2 comprising an iron 3 and a base 4, the iron 3 being arrangeable on the base 4 during an inactive phase of ironing.

The ironing device 2 further comprises a water tank 5, which water tank 5 is integrated in the base 4 and may, for example, be 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 base 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 an upper end thereof, the ironing base plate 9 being provided with a substantially flat ironing surface 11 and a plurality of steam outlets 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 is integrated in the casting 14.

The heating body 13 also comprises a shutter 16 (visible in fig. 3) and a vaporization chamber 17 of the instantaneous vaporization type, the shutter 16 resting on the casting 14, the vaporization 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 closing 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 flows to generate 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 lateral portion 17.1 of the evaporation chamber 17 and a second branch extending in proximity to a second lateral portion 17.2 of the evaporation chamber 17 opposite to the first lateral portion 17.1.

The bottom wall 19 may for example have a convex shape and be further inclined 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 opens into 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 closing portion 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.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the steam distribution circuit 27 comprises 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 blocking walls 30 may, for example, be substantially parallel with respect to each other and extend in the 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 outlets 12 of the ironing base plate 9.

The steam distribution circuit 27 further comprises a scale recovery chamber 32, which scale recovery chamber 32 comprises an outlet opening 33 closed by a removable plug 34 (visible in fig. 2), which removable plug 34 is accessible from the outside of the iron 3. Advantageously, the outlet 33 opens onto 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 further comprises a supporting accessory 37, the supporting accessory 37 being removably mounted in a storage cavity 38, the storage cavity 38 being configured on the lower surface of the base 4. The supporting accessory 37 is configured to keep 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 of between 30 ° and 60 °, for example about 45 °.

Such a support accessory 37 allows to significantly tilt the iron 3 during automatic cleaning operation of the iron 3 and thus promotes detachment of scale particles from the wall of the evaporation chamber 17 and recovery of these particles in a scale recovery container 36, which scale recovery container 36 is provided in the scale recovery chamber 32. The support accessory 37 thus ensures effective automatic cleaning of the iron 3. In addition, since the supporting accessory 37 is stored in the storage cavity 38 provided on the base 4, the user can easily reach the supporting accessory 37 when he or she wishes to perform the automatic cleaning operation of the iron 3, and easily and quickly store the supporting accessory 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 able to assume a folded position, in which the feet 40 are arranged substantially in the plane of the platform 39, and an unfolded position, in which an 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 enables it to be mounted in a 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 by forming 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 in which the iron 3 is adapted to rest, and which comprises supporting pads 41, against which supporting pads 41 the ironing base plate 9 of the iron 3 is intended to rest. 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 further comprises a stop member 43, against which stop member 43 the foot 40 is intended to rest when the foot 40 is 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, an easy mounting of the support appendix 37 in the storage cavity 38 and also avoid any undesired spreading out of the foot 40.

Advantageously, the foot locking means comprises a locking member 44, such as a locking finger or a locking tongue, which locking member 44 is provided 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 hold the foot 40 in the folded position, and a releasing position, in which the locking member 44 releases the foot 40 and permits the foot 40 to pivot into 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.

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 the automatic cleaning operation.

The iron 3 further comprises an automatic 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 automatic cleaning program. The control unit 49 may for example be configured to control the activation of the automatic cleaning program when a control button is activated by the user, which control button is for example arranged near or on the grip portion 8.

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

a first step for heating the evaporation chamber 17 to a temperature higher than 200 ℃;

a second step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber 17 by means of the water supply pump P, the iron 3 being kept during the second step for injecting water in a cleaning position in which water injected into the evaporation chamber 17 by the water supply pump P entrains scale particles into the scale recovery cavity 32, the operating time of the water supply pump P during the second step for injecting water being greater than the time required for the quantity of water injected by the water supply pump P to at least partially fill the scale recovery cavity 32, but less than the time required for the quantity of water injected by the water supply pump P to rise through the steam distribution circuit 27 and reach the at least one steam outlet 12 of the ironing base plate 9, the evaporation chamber 17 advantageously being heated during the second step for injecting water, for example to a temperature higher than 200 ℃;

a third step during which the operation of the water feed pump P is interrupted and the heating of the evaporation chamber 17 is reduced or even interrupted;

a fourth step for draining the scale collected in the scale recovery chamber 32, the fourth step comprising in particular: opening the removable plug 34, removing the scale recovery container 36 from the scale recovery chamber 32, cleaning the scale recovery container 36, replacing the scale recovery container 36 in the scale recovery chamber 32, and closing the removable plug 34;

a fifth step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber 17 by means of the water supply pump P, during which the iron 3 is kept in a horizontal position in which the water injected by the water supply pump P flows into the steam distribution circuit 27 and is discharged through the steam outlet 12.

Advantageously, the cleaning method comprises: before the second step, the iron 3 is placed on the support appendix 37 with the feet 40 of the support appendix 37 in the spread position, so as to keep the iron in the inclined cleaning position.

According to one embodiment of the cleaning method, the cleaning method comprises: before the fifth step, the iron 3 is placed in a horizontal position. Advantageously, the fifth step is carried out automatically and, for example, after detecting, by means of a position sensor, that the iron 3 is in a horizontal position.

According to one embodiment of the cleaning method, the evaporation chamber is heated to a temperature above 200 ℃ before the fifth step. Advantageously, the evaporation chamber 17 is heated during the fifth step for injecting water, for example to a temperature higher than 200 ℃.

Due to the thermal shock between the hot inner wall of the evaporation chamber 17 and the water injected into the evaporation chamber 17 at the second step, the scale particles present in the evaporation chamber 17 are peeled off from the inner wall of the evaporation chamber 17. In addition, since a large quantity of water is injected into the evaporation chamber 17 at the second step, the temperature of this evaporation chamber 17 cools down rapidly and the ironing base plate 9 no longer has enough energy to evaporate the water introduced into the evaporation chamber 17. Thus, water accumulates in the steam distribution circuit 27, in particular in the scale recovery chamber 32, and entrains scale particles from the evaporation chamber 17 into the scale recovery chamber 32.

When the injection of water into the evaporation chamber 17 is stopped (at the start of the third step), the temperature of the ironing base plate 9 rises and, in particular, the water present in the evaporation chamber 17 and in the steam distribution circuit 27 is evaporated. After evaporation of at least a portion of the water contained in the evaporation chamber 17 and the steam distribution circuit 27, the removable plug 34 may be removed and the scale recovery cavity 32 may be emptied of scale particles accumulated therein in the second step. Advantageously, the cleaning method may comprise emitting an audible and/or visual signal at the end of the third step, so as to inform the user that it is possible to remove the removable plug 34.

In a fifth step, the water injected into the evaporation chamber 17 at least partially fills the evaporation chamber 17 and the scale recovery chamber 32 and flows into the steam distribution circuit 27 before being discharged through the steam outlet 12 of the iron 3. This circulation of the water injected during the fifth step entrains residual scale particles contained in the steam distribution circuit 27 in the direction of the steam outlet 12, which have been discharged in the previous step for emptying the scale recovery chamber 32 from the evaporation chamber 17, and ensures that these residual scale particles are discharged through the steam outlet 12. These arrangements thus ensure a great improvement in the automatic cleaning of the iron 3.

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 may be activated depending on the time of use of the iron 3 or the number of fillings of the water tank 5, and its activation speed may be adjusted depending on the position of the water hardness indicator.

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 cleaning method for an iron (3), the iron (3) comprising an ironing base plate (9), on which ironing base plate (9) a heating body (13) is mounted, 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 cavity (32), the scale recovery cavity (32) comprising a drain (33), the drain (33) being closed by a removable plug (34) accessible from the outside of 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 heating the evaporation chamber (17) to a temperature higher than 150 ℃;

-a second step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber (17) by means of the water supply pump (P), during which the water flow rate injected into the evaporation chamber (17) is greater than the maximum water flow rate injected into the evaporation chamber (17) at the time of the ironing step, the iron (3) being kept in a cleaning position during the second step for injecting water, in which the water injected into the evaporation chamber (17) by the water supply pump (P) entrains scale particles into the scale recovery cavity (32), the operating time of the water supply pump (P) during the second step for injecting water being less than the time required for the amount of water injected by the water supply pump (P) to rise through the steam distribution circuit (27) and reach at least one steam outlet (12) of the ironing base plate (9);

-a third step during which the operation of the water supply pump (P) is interrupted; and

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

2. Cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning method comprises a first step for heating the evaporation chamber (17) to a temperature higher than 170 ℃.

3. The cleaning method according to claim 1 or 2,

the working time of the water supply pump (P) during the second step for injecting water is greater than the time required for the water amount injected by the water supply pump (P) to at least partially fill the scale recovery chamber (32).

4. The cleaning method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

-a fifth step for injecting water into the evaporation chamber (17) by means of the water supply pump (P), during which the iron (3) is kept in a horizontal position in which the water injected by the water supply pump (P) flows into the steam distribution circuit (27) and is discharged through the steam outlet (12).

5. Cleaning method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the evaporation chamber (17) is heated during the second step for injecting water.

6. Cleaning method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating of the evaporation chamber (17) is reduced or even interrupted during the third step.

7. Cleaning method according to claim 4, wherein, before the fifth step, the evaporation chamber (17) is heated to a temperature higher than 200 ℃.

8. The cleaning method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising emitting an audible and/or visual signal at the end of the third step.

9. The cleaning method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: before the second step, the iron (3) is placed on a support accessory (37), the support accessory (37) allowing to keep the iron (3) in the cleaning position.

10. Cleaning method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the cleaning position the ironing base plate (9) of the iron (3) is inclined with respect to the horizontal by an angle comprised between 30 ° and 60 °.

11. The cleaning method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the iron (3) comprises a scale recovery container (36), the scale recovery container (36) being provided in the scale recovery chamber (32).

12. The cleaning method according to claim 11, wherein the fourth step further comprises removing the scale recovery container (36) from the scale recovery chamber (32).

13. An iron (3) comprising an ironing base plate (9), on which ironing base plate (9) a heating body (13) is mounted, said heating body (13) comprising an evaporation chamber (17) and a steam distribution circuit (27), said steam distribution circuit (27) being configured to feed steam outlets (12) arranged in said ironing base plate (9), said steam distribution circuit (27) comprising a scale recovery chamber (32), said scale recovery chamber (32) comprising an outlet opening (33) closed by a removable plug (34), said removable plug (34) being accessible from the outside of said iron (3), said evaporation chamber (17) being intended to be supplied with water by means of a water supply pump (P), said iron (3) further comprising an automatic cleaning program configured to implement a cleaning method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and a control unit configured to control the activation of said automatic cleaning program.