DE102013110992B4 - Active table - Google Patents

Abstract

Active ironing table with a lower trough (1) and a steam-permeable cover plate (6) placed on the trough (1) to form an ironing surface and a fan for generating an underpressure and / or overpressure in the trough (1) and the cover plate (6) formed cavity, characterized in that the inside of the trough (1) has at least one hydrophilic surface.

Description

The invention relates to an active ironing table with a lower tray and a placed on the tub to form an ironing surface, steam-permeable cover plate and a fan for generating a negative and / or positive pressure in the cavity formed by the tub and the cover plate. The invention further relates to a method for producing an active ironing table.

Active ironing tables are used in conjunction with the steam ironing and are for example from the EP 1726710 A1 known. In this case, steam is applied to the laundry, which rests on the ironing surface forming the cover plate over a steam ironing station or a steam iron, and sucked off via the arranged below the cover plate, serving as a suction fan. At the same time, the laundry is used via the suction effect on the ironing surface. The suction device is formed by the tub and a fan arranged at the end of the tub. Because the ventilator draws steam into the tub in accordance with the regulations, condensate is formed in the tub, since complete extraction of the uncondensed steam without partial condensation of the moisture contained in it is not possible in most cases.

In the known active ironing tables, the strategy is pursued that the condensate is discharged within the tub via drains. Basically, it is not desirable for condensate to exit the fan or collect in the tub, as this will cause the user of the active ironing table during operation to get the impression of poor quality as water drips out of the active ironing table. On the other hand, after using the active ironing table, the user will usually fold them up and stow them in a vertical orientation of the ironing surface in a cupboard or other storage room. If there is still liquid condensate in the tub, this would run out of the active ironing table, which is obviously undesirable. Furthermore, there is of course a disadvantage of standing within the tub water in that this could lead to mold growth or can also provide unwanted odors, especially if by the passage of steam through the ironed laundry with any substances remaining therein more additives in the water are available.

From the FR 2 716 211 A1 an ironing system with a steam ironing table is known, which avoids the formation of condensate in the hollow chamber of the ironing board in that a heater is arranged in this hollow chamber.

The disadvantage of this device is that the heating is complex on the one hand in production and on the other consumes energy, whereby the operating costs rise.

From the US 2006/0210784 A1 For example, an electric household appliance, which is, for example, a steam iron, is known with a surface coating for improved steam generation, wherein steam generation is improved by the use of a hydrophilic layer.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an active ironing table, which offers increased security against accumulations of liquid condensate.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the inside of the trough has at least one hydrophilic surface, in particular on the inner underside of the trough.

The invention is in departure from the previous views of the art based on the idea that just no hydrophobic surface with dissipation of forming on this surface drops is recommended, but that the inner surface of the trough is preferably hydrophilic, so that a thin liquid film results, which can dry during operation of the active ironing table. Even if this is not done during operation, the hydrophilic surface ensures that the liquid film does not spontaneously run out of, for example, tilted vertically trough, but also remain in this state as a thin film in the tub and can continue to dry there.

In the simplest case, a plastic tub or other material is used to implement the invention, which has a hydrophilic property from home. If this material is not desirable for other reasons or the associated redesign of existing equipment is too complex, the same effect can also be achieved by a hydrophilic coating. Such a coating can be achieved particularly simply by applying a hydrophilic ink layer. For this purpose, a paint-like substance by spraying or brushing on the respective surface of the tub, which comes into contact with the condensate or the steam to be dissipated applied. All other manufacturing processes, including the sticking of hydrophilic films, are of course possible.

In the simplest case, the invention can be implemented in that the known geometries are provided with a hydrophilic coating or are made of a hydrophilic material. The hydrophilic coating can be additionally absorbent, so that they can absorb water to a certain extent. With this sponge effect, of course, care must be taken that the desired drying effect by the sponge effect and the associated ability to store water is not canceled.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention uses additional internals within the cavity of the tub, which on the one hand can deflect the flow of wet steam, so as to extend the flow path, the steam has to travel from the entrance to the tub to the fan, and a larger create active surface to form the condensate and its subsequent drying.

Thus, for example, be provided in the trough a baffle in the form of an intermediate floor, wherein the fan sucked the space below the baffle and at the, the fan opposite end of the baffle the flow from the upper space in the through the baffle from the upper space separated lower room occurs. In this way, each flow fraction must pass at least the full length of the tub before it emerges from the tub.

The baffle may further comprise flow-conductive attachments or profiles, which optimizes the flow of wet steam so as to give the widest possible and uniform flow.

Of course, instead of a baffle plate, a plurality of such plates may also be used. Finally, the condensate formation can be deliberately controlled by means of a targeted temperature control of either a region of the trough or of the deflection plate. This tempering can take place, for example, in that parts of the tub or the deflecting plate have a different heat capacity than the rest of the tub. In this way, different temperature ranges can be adjusted, which are equalized only after very long use of the active ironing table, so that during the usual operating times, the different temperature ranges can be used for locally reducing or increasing the formation of condensate.

Furthermore, external parts of the active ironing table can be thermally conductively connected to internal parts. Thus, for example, the usually metallic frame of the active ironing table can be guided into the tub and connected there to the deflecting plate or other constructions promoting the condensation. Heat can be dissipated from the tub via the heat conduction, whereby this is used to achieve a certain cooling effect. This in turn can then be used to control the condensation, since the degree of condensation is particularly large at the cooler points.

In the same way, of course, a temperature increase can be used to prevent condensation, for example, by introducing the heat applied via the steam iron heat in portions of the tub. An active heating would of course be possible, for example, the footprint for the iron could be thermally conductively connected via heat conducting means with arranged in the interior of the tub areas or for example a fan grille, so that condensation can be suppressed at critical points.

The object is further achieved by a method according to claim 11.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the subclaims and from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings shows:

1 an active ironing table according to the invention

2 a schematic representation of the shape and arrangement of a baffle plate

3 a schematic sectional view of a trough of an active ironing table according to the invention

In 1 is an inventive active ironing table with a tub 1 , one the tub 1 supporting frame 2 and a rear tray in the form of an attachment 3 shown. Not shown here is the cover plate, which forms the ironing surface. The tub 1 forms together with the vapor-permeable cover plate a hollow body through which the steam of a steam iron can be sucked. For this is below the attachment 3 a non-visible fan provided, which is a negative pressure in the tub 1 generated and over this the steam through the cover plate and the tub 1 sucks.

So that in the tub 1 Forming condensate can dry as quickly as possible, is the tub 1 with a hydrophilic coating 5 (not visible here). This hydrophilic coating 5 is especially at the inner bottom of the tub 1 , So on the side at which form a liquid film and can remain there, arranged.

The tub 1 may have a flat bottom, alternatively, the underside of the tub 1 also (seen from above) concave and from front to back in the direction of the attachment 3 be formed sloping. Due to the hydrophilic coating 5 Now, the condensate will inevitably come off while sucking the wet vapor inside the tub 1 evenly distributed on the bottom of the tub so that there is a larger active surface for drying the condensate. This means that in the vast majority of cases, the condensate can dry inside the tub, so that after using the active ironing table, the condensate is no longer out of the tub 1 flows out.

2 shows in principle two functional components to further improve the condensate removal. Here is below the cover plate, not shown, a baffle plate 4 provided, first impinges on the dripping from the cover plate dripping liquid. The air flow is first long the baffle 4 to the right, behind the baffle plate 4 then be rotated by 180 ° and by the baffle plate 4 and the lower part of the tub 1 be sucked formed channel.

In this way, there is a longer path for the flow, allowing even those portions of the flow that are at the very front of the tub 1 enter, at least the entire length of the tub 1 must traverse the active ironing table. The tub 1 here is concave in the schematic view, the baffle 4 on the other hand convex seen from above. The baffle plate 4 is a bit narrower than the tub 1 , allowing liquid to flow sideways from the baffle 4 runs out, from there into the tub 1 can drip.

Alternatively, between the baffle plate 4 and the side wall of the tub 1 no gap remain, so the flow is always from the respective entry point into the tub 1 first forward and then from the front underneath the baffle plate 4 runs to the rear. In this embodiment, the baffle plate 4 as shown convex, also a flat baffle 4 or a concave baffle 4 are possible. The illustrated convex deflection plate 4 takes advantage of the fact that most of the vapor in the middle area in the tub 1 since this is the area where the iron and thus the steam source will most frequently be during normal operation.

In 3 are the essential components of a tub 1 an active ironing table according to the invention shown.

The embodiment shown here knows a cover plate 6 through which holes steam (represented by the arrows) in the tub 1 can be sucked. Inside the tub 1 is the baffle 4 intended. As shown above, the baffle is 4 Here convex designed from the point of view of the penetrating steam, so that any condensate can drain to the outside. The baffle plate 4 is here with the hydrophilic coating 5 provided, the same applies to the bottom area of the tub 1 , which is relative to the baffle 4 is curved in opposite directions, that is seen concave from top.

The condensate is initially on the hydrophilic top of the baffle 4 drop. Here it forms due to the hydrophilic property of the baffle 4 a liquid film. Along this film flows the air flow, which will cause a certain drying. If more condensate occurs, it will run off to the side and from the edge of the baffle plate 4 drain, making it turn as a thin film on the bottom of the tub 1 can accumulate. Also this hydrophilic bottom of the tub 1 is swept by the flow, so that dries more liquid here.

In the majority of cases, this will be sufficient to allow the entire condensate to dry and suck off via the fan. Should individual fluid components in the tub after using the active ironing table 1 remain due to the hydrophilic nature of the surfaces even when setting up the tub 1 not dripping down, but again as a thin film at the bottom of the tub 1 run down so that there is a uniform wetting, the majority of the condensate can then dry afterwards, without leaving the tub 1 out run.

In the illustrated embodiment, the tub 1 provided in the upper area below the support surface for the cover plate with flow-guiding edge regions, which ensure that the outer air flows inward in the direction of the baffle 4 be derived. This causes the moist air, which is announced by the cover plate, always first on the baffle plate 4 bounces, so that here already set up a first condensation effect.

In particular, when a hydrophilic coating is used, it may preferably additionally have an antibacterial effect. This additionally prevents the formation of germs.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 tub

2

 frame

3

 attachment

4

 baffle

5

 Hydrophilic coating

6

 cover plate

Claims (11)

Active ironing table with a lower tub ( 1 ) and one on the tub ( 1 ) to form an ironing surface patch, vapor-permeable cover plate ( 6 ) and a blower for generating a negative and / or positive pressure in the from the tub ( 1 ) and the cover plate ( 6 ) formed cavity, characterized in that the inside of the tub ( 1 ) has at least one hydrophilic surface. Active ironing table according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydrophilic surface of a on at least a portion of the inside of the tub ( 1 ) applied, hydrophilic coating ( 5 ) is formed. Active ironing table according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hydrophilic coating ( 5 ) is absorbent. Active ironing table according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trough ( 1 ) is made of plastic, wherein the plastic is hydrophilic. Active ironing table according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the trough ( 1 ) is made of plastic, wherein the plastic with a hydrophilic coating ( 5 ) is provided. Active ironing table according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the tub ( 1 ) an additional baffle plate ( 4 ), to which steam is able to condense and which has a hydrophilic coating ( 5 ) or made of a hydrophilic material. Active ironing table according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deflection plate ( 4 ) has a convex shape as seen from above, so that water is drained from the inside to the side edges. Active ironing table according to the preceding claim, characterized in that below the deflecting plate ( 4 ) one of another mounting plate or the bottom of the tub ( 1 ) concave surface is provided at the dripping from the plate edge water inwards, wherein the concave surface with a hydrophilic coating ( 5 ) or made of a hydrophilic material. Active ironing table according to one of claims 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that it has a metallic frame ( 2 ), which is in the tub ( 1 ) is guided and with the baffle ( 4 ) is thermally conductively connected. Active ironing table according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface is provided with an antibacterial additive. Method for producing an active ironing table according to claim 5, characterized in that the trough ( 1 ) is made of plastic and then for producing the hydrophilic coating ( 5 ) is coated with a hydrophilic lacquer after curing.

Images