EP2049727B1

EP2049727B1 - Ironing apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2049727B1
Application number: EP07787869A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Antonel; Luciano Scian; Galdino Masier
Original assignee: De Longhi SpA
Current assignee: De Longhi SpA
Priority date: 2006-07-27
Filing date: 2007-07-25
Publication date: 2010-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-25
Also published as: ITUD20060189A1; CN101512063B; ES2346099T3; EP2049727A1; DE602007007625D1; CN101512063A; ATE473319T1; WO2008012315A1

Abstract

Ironing apparatus (10) comprising an iron (11) with an ironing plate (16) heated by means of heating members (17) and provided with a steam delivery zone (27), and a container unit (12) which holds a determinate quantity of water and selectively feeds it to the ironing plate (16) through an inlet zone (26). The ironing plate (16) has a shape such as to define an obligatory path (23) that extends between the water inlet zone (26) and the steam delivery zone (27). The obligatory path (23) is configured so as to make the water pass repeatedly in correspondence with and/or in proximity to the heating members (17) as far as the delivery zone (27), in order to cause its progressive and complete evaporation from the inlet zone (26) to the delivery zone (27). The apparatus (10) also comprises a valve (18) disposed in cooperation with the obligatory path (23) downstream of the inlet zone (26), and can be selectively configured between a first closed condition, in which it defines, in correspondence with the heating members (17), a loading chamber (20) in which the water is maintained still in order to reach determinate conditions of temperature and pressure, and a second open condition, in which it allows the heated and pressurized water to access the obligatory path (23), so as to undergo a rapid and effective progressive evaporation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an ironing apparatus for clothes or fabrics in general, of the type provided with a steam iron and with a water tank for the production of steam. In particular, the iron according to the present invention comprises an ironing plate heated by means of one, or more, electric resistances, and which is shaped internally, and/or on its upper face, so as to define an obligatory path of progressive evaporation into which water is injected. The apparatus according to the invention also comprises valve means that allows to achieve a super-pressurization of a certain quantity of water inside the ironing plate, so that when the valve means is activated, said quantity of water can easily be transformed into steam and delivered under pressure in the form of steam in a substantially instantaneous manner onto the garment to be ironed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apparatuses for ironing fabrics are known, comprising a steam iron and a water container unit, or tank, provided externally, or internally, with respect to the iron, and able to feed thereto, by means of a feeding pump, the water for the production of steam.
Known irons are generally provided with a heated ironing plate from which the steam is delivered and with an instant boiler that transforms the water fed into steam to be selectively delivered through a plurality of holes disposed on the lower face of the plate.
In known irons, the heating of the ironing plate and the heating of the instant boiler are performed separately, thus requiring a double electric feed.
This known solution, however, entails high consumption of electricity with a consequent increase in management costs of the ironing apparatus.
Furthermore, the need to provide an instant boiler, associated with the iron, or possibly to the tank, entails an increase both in the costs of design and production, and also in assembly and maintenance costs.
Ironing apparatuses are also known in the art in which an evaporation chamber is defined between the heated plate and a central body of the iron, where the water is injected at atmospheric pressure and transformed into steam by the heating means which normally heats the plate, see for example document US-A-3828452 .
In such known solutions, the production of steam, performed at atmospheric pressure and conditioned by the temperature reached by the ironing plate, takes a relatively long time, with problems of condensation and dripping of water through the steam delivery holes, as well as delays in the delivery both when the command buttons are actuated and released.
In such solutions, there may also be problems of incomplete evaporation of the water, with consequent problems with the sealing and low delivery pressure of the steam.
Some of these known solutions provide a pre-evaporation chamber, external and autonomously heated, which does not always guarantee, however, the complete evaporation of the water inside the evaporation chamber and entails, in any case, an increase in production costs and in energy consumption.
One purpose of the present invention is to achieve an ironing apparatus provided with a steam iron and with a water container unit, which can be produced simply and cheaply and which guarantees an optimum pressurized delivery of steam, whatever the temperature of the plate, without needing any boiler or autonomously heated pre-evaporation chamber.
Another purpose of the present invention is to achieve an ironing apparatus that, given the same technical characteristics, has a lower energy consumption than known apparatuses.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
An ironing apparatus according to the present invention comprises an iron provided with at least an ironing plate heated by heating means, for example an electric resistance, and provided at the lower part with a steam delivery zone, and a container unit able to contain a determinate quantity of water and to feed it selectively to the ironing plate through an inlet zone made inside the plate, for the production of steam.
The ironing plate has, inside it and/or in correspondence with its upper face, a shaping that defines an obligatory path which extends between the water inlet zone and the steam delivery zone provided on the lower surface of the plate.
In accordance with the above purposes, the obligatory path is configured so as to make the water pass repeatedly in correspondence with and/or in proximity to the heating means, as far as the delivery zone, in order to cause its progressive and complete evaporation from the inlet zone to the delivery zone.
According to another characteristic of the present invention, the apparatus also comprises valve means disposed in cooperation with the obligatory path and downstream of the inlet zone.
The valve means can assume a first closed condition in which it defines, in correspondence with the heating means, a heating chamber in which the water is kept still, in order to reach determinate conditions of temperature and pressure, and a second open condition in which it allows the water, heated and pressurized, to access and follow the obligatory path, in order to undergo a rapid and effective progressive evaporation.
In a preferential form of embodiment, the loading chamber is made in the area where the heating means has the highest heating capacity.
In this way, the water injected into the iron, even if it is fed by the container unit at temperatures and pressures inconvenient for evaporation, is initially heated and pressurized, keeping the valve means closed, and then forcibly and at higher pressure made to follow the obligatory path, opening the aforesaid valve means. By doing this, as it passes through the obligatory path, the water is subjected to prolonged heating over time, until it is progressively transformed into steam.
However, since the water is already in a condition of super-pressure and super-temperature, the invention ensures that this quantity of water can be transformed into steam at the moment it is delivered onto the fabric to be ironed, without the risk of condensation forming and at any temperature condition of the plate.
Furthermore, the initial increase in pressure caused by the heating of the water in the loading chamber also allows a quick response of the steam delivery with respect to the opening of the valve means, it prevents steam residues forming inside the ironing plate which cause a delay when stopping the delivery, and it guarantees an effective delivery pressure of the steam, substantially simulating a delivery with a traditional boiler heating.
Advantageously, at the same time the valve means passes from its closed condition to its open condition, a water feeding pump is also activated, so as to promptly inject a new amount of water into the inlet zone.
According to a preferential solution, the same opening command of the valve means also activates the feeding pump.
In this way, once the delivery of the steam is terminated and the valve means has been taken back to its closed condition, the obligatory path is promptly emptied, preventing delays in stopping delivery and the loading chamber thus defined is already loaded with water to be taken to the desired conditions of temperature and pressure for a new delivery.
The obligatory path of the solution according to the present invention, as well as maintaining the water in a condition of prolonged heating, either directly or indirectly, with the heating means, has a length that maintains the water in a heating condition for the amount of time needed for its complete evaporation, even in the presence of relatively low temperatures of the resistance that heats the plate.
In this way, the complete transformation of the water into steam is guaranteed, without any formation of condensation and/or residues of non-evaporated water, substantially in any heating condition of the ironing plate, thus improving the electronic management and design costs of specific sealing housings.
With the present invention, therefore, with the normal heating means which performs the heating of the ironing plate and without conditioning its specific heating parameters, the water is made to evaporate efficiently and is delivered in the form of steam in a substantially immediate manner and with an efficient pressure, thus improving the total energy consumption needed for the correct functioning of the ironing apparatus.
The ironing apparatus according to the present invention also has the advantage of not having pre-evaporation chambers and/or instant boilers for transforming the water into steam, therefore reducing production costs.
In a preferential form of embodiment of the present invention, the obligatory path comprises, as well as the loading chamber, selectively defined by the valve means in correspondence with the inlet zone, at least an evaporation chamber, preferably two, each substantially coil-shaped and whose segments develop at least partly in correspondence with the heating means, so as to oblige the water to repeatedly pass at least in close proximity, or directly in contact, with the latter, and a steam chamber disposed in correspondence with the steam delivery zone.
The obligatory path is defined by a plurality of dividing walls, which, according to a preferential solution of the invention, comprise sealing means that prevent the water, flowing in a first segment or in a determinate chamber, from overflowing into a second segment or into an adjoining chamber, or also from directly accessing the delivery zone in a state where it is not totally vaporized, influencing the evaporation state in process. In this way, a correct and complete evaporation of the water injected into the obligatory path is further guaranteed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 shows schematically a partly sectioned lateral view of an ironing apparatus according to the present invention;
fig. 2 shows a section from II to II of fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, an ironing apparatus 10 according to the present invention substantially comprises an iron 11 and a container unit, or tank 12, for the water, in this specific case, provided outside the iron 11.
In particular, the iron 11 is of the steam type and comprises a central body 13 provided in the upper part with a gripping handle 15 on which a button 14 to selectively deliver steam is housed. The central body 13 is associated in the lower part with an ironing plate 16 pointed in shape and made of metal material.
The central body 13 is of the substantially traditional type and is connected by means of a pipe 25, shown only schematically in fig. 1, to the tank 12 so as to allow the passage of water therefrom to an inlet zone 26 of the ironing plate 16.
The central body 13 also comprises a valve 18 disposed downstream of the inlet zone 26, and connected mechanically to the button 14, which allows, when suitably activated, the selective passage of the water inside the ironing plate 16 through an obligatory path 23, described in detail hereafter.
In particular, the valve 18 is disposed upstream of the obligatory path 23, in the direction of advance of the water, and comprises a first closed condition, in which it defines, upstream thereof, a loading chamber 29, in which the water is temporarily maintained in a substantially still position, and a second open condition in which it allows the water to flow inside the obligatory path 23.
The ironing plate 16 can be heated by means of an electric resistance 17, and it comprises a lower ironing surface 19, and an upper surface 20, opposite the ironing surface 19 and facing towards the lower part of the central body 13.
The electric resistance 17 is incorporated into the thickness of the ironing plate 16, it is substantially "U" shaped and disposed with its curved part facing towards the point of the ironing plate 16.
A knob 37 is also housed on the central body 13 of the iron 11, for regulating the heating temperature of the electric resistance 17, and therefore of the ironing plate 16, with which a mechanism 39 for regulating the flow of water injected into the ironing plate 16 is mechanically associated; the regulating mechanism 39 reduces the usable passage section of the pipe 25, when the regulation of the heating is set on relatively low temperatures, for example for ironing delicate fabrics, while it allows its full flow when the regulation of the heating is set on relatively high temperatures, for example for ironing more resistant fabrics.
The ironing surface 19 is substantially smooth so as to improve, during use, its ability to slide on the fabrics to be ironed and, according to known techniques, it can be made of double material, with steps or in other solutions intended to improve its functionality. In correspondence with a front zone, and close to the point, of the ironing surface 19 there is a plurality of through holes 21 for the output of steam, defining a delivery zone 27 for the steam.
In this specific case, a plurality of dividing walls 22 are made on the upper surface 20 of the ironing plate 16, able to define the obligatory path 23 for the water, which develops between the inlet zone 26 and the delivery zone 27. The dividing walls 22 are connected in their upper part to a closing plate 24, which is in turn connected to the lower part of the central body 13.
In particular, all the dividing walls 22 have an upper edge provided with a silicon sealing packing 28, so that the obligatory path 23 defined is closed and sealed, also between its different segments through which the water flows.
In this specific case, the obligatory path 23 initially comprises the loading chamber 29 defined by the valve 18 in its closed condition. Advantageously, the loading chamber 29 is made in correspondence with the curved part of the electric resistance 17. The curved part is the part of the resistance 17 with the highest thermal inertia, so that when the water is kept in the loading chamber 29, with the valve 18 closed, it is subject to the highest possible heating, and a consequent increase in pressure.
The obligatory path 23 also comprises, in this specific case, two evaporation chambers 30 and 31, disposed in specular manner with respect to a median axis of the ironing plate 16, and each one shaped like a coil and placed close to a corresponding rectilinear section of the U-shaped resistance, in order to keep the water circulating in close proximity, or in contact, in this specific case indirectly, with the segment of the electric resistance 17.
The coil shape of each evaporation chamber 30, or 31, causes the water to make a repeated and prolonged passage close to the respective segment of electric resistance 17, thus promoting the progressive evaporation of the water.
The obligatory path 23 also comprises a steam chamber 32 made in correspondence with the delivery zone 27 and in which both evaporation chambers 30 and 31 terminate. All the steam progressively formed in the evaporation chambers 30 and 31 accumulates in the steam chamber 32, and from here is delivered to the outside through the through holes 21.
The seal guaranteed by the silicon packings 28 of the dividing walls 22 prevents the water in progressive evaporation from accidentally passing from one chamber to another of the obligatory path 23, or directly to the delivery zone 27, which could modify the reciprocal conditions of evaporation temperature and pressure.
The tank 12 comprises a water container 33, a feeding pump 35, and a safety valve 36.
The feeding pump 35 picks up the water contained in the container 33 and feeds it, through the pipe 25, into the loading chamber 29, where, when the valve 18 is in a closed condition, it is heated and pressurized due to the effect of the heating performed by the curved part of the electric resistance 17.
By activating the button 14 the valve 18 is mechanically brought to its open condition and the water, heated and pressurized, present in the loading chamber 29 can enter with greater pressure into the evaporation chambers 30 and 31, and the steam chamber 32.
Thanks to the power conditions in which it finds itself, the solution according to the present invention therefore allows a better progressive vaporization of the water and a substantially instantaneous delivery, and with a determinate pressure, of the steam through the through holes 21, avoiding the risk of drops of condensation or incompletely vaporized water leaking from the holes 21.
In this specific case, the activation of the button 14 also causes the feeding pump 25 to take in more water, in order to feed a new quantity of water to the inlet zone 26.
In this way, as the valve 18 passes to a closed condition, the loading chamber 29 as defined is already filled with water to be brought to the desired pressure and temperature conditions.
The safety valve 36 is set to a determinate safety pressure, such that the water is prevented from re-entering the feeding pump 35, especially in the case where, due to the heating of the water in the loading chamber 26, a pressure higher than safety pressure develops and the water is forced to flow back through the pipe 25.
It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the ironing apparatus 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example it comes within the scope of the present invention to provide only one evaporation chamber conformed as a coil that develops transversely close to the two straight segments of the electric resistance 17.
It also comes within the scope of the present invention to provide that the obligatory path 23 is made inside the thickness of the ironing plate 16, so that the water directly contacts the electric resistance 17, at least in some segments.
According to a further variant, the obligatory path 23 is made partly on the upper surface 20 and partly inside the ironing plate 16.
Furthermore, two obligatory paths 23, distinct or at least partly communicating, can be provided on the ironing plate 16.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of ironing apparatus, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the scope of protection defined thereby.

Claims

Ironing apparatus comprising an iron (11) with at least an ironing plate (16) heated by heating means (17) and provided with a steam delivery zone (27), and a container unit (12) able to contain a determinate quantity of water and to feed it selectively to said ironing plate (16) through an inlet zone (26), said ironing plate (16) having a shaping such as to define an obligatory path (23) extending between said water inlet zone (26) and said steam delivery zone (27), characterized in that said obligatory path (23) is configured so as to make the water pass repeatedly in correspondence with and/or in proximity to said delivery zone (27), in order to cause its progressive and complete evaporation from said inlet zone (26) to said delivery zone (27), and in that it also comprises valve means (18) disposed in cooperation with said obligatory path (23) downstream of said inlet zone (26), and able to be selectively configured between a first closed condition, in which it defines, in correspondence with said heating means (17), a loading chamber (29) in which the water is kept still in order to reach determinate conditions of temperature and pressure, and a second open condition, in which it allows the heated and pressurized water to access said obligatory path (23), so as to undergo a rapid and effective progressive evaporation.
Apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that said obligatory path (23) comprises, as well as said loading chamber (29) defined by said valve means (18) in said first closed condition, at least one evaporation chamber (30, 31) conformed substantially as a coil and close to said heating means (17), and a steam chamber (32) disposed in correspondence with said steam delivery zone (27).
Apparatus as in claim 2, characterized in that said valve means (18) is disposed so as to allow the selective passage of said water from said loading chamber (29) to said at least one evaporation chamber (30, 31).
Apparatus as in claim 2 or 3, wherein said heating means comprises at least a U-shaped electric resistance (17), characterized in that it comprises two evaporation chambers (30, 31) specular to each other with respect to a median longitudinal axis of said plate (16) and each disposed close to a relative rectilinear segment of said electric resistance (17).
Apparatus as in claim 4, characterized in that said loading chamber (26) is defined by said valve means (18) in correspondence with a curved segment and/or with maximum heating capacity of said electric resistance (17).
Apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said obligatory path (23) is made at least in part on an upper surface (20) of said ironing plate (16).
Apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said obligatory path (23) is made at least in part inside said ironing plate (16).
Apparatus as in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said obligatory path (23) is defined by a plurality of dividing walls (22).
Apparatus as in claim 8, characterized in that each of said dividing walls (22) is provided with packing means (28) able to prevent the evaporating water in transit through a first segment of said obligatory path (23) from accidentally overflowing into a second adjacent segment of said obligatory path (23) and/or directly into said delivery zone (27).
Apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said delivery zone (27) comprises a plurality of through holes (21) able to allow steam to exit from said ironing plate (16).
Apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said container unit (12) comprises a container (33) in which the water is disposed, and pumping means (35) able to pump the water contained in said container (33) into said obligatory path (23).
Apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said valve means (18) can be selectively configured between said first closed condition and said second open condition by a command element (14) which can be activated from outside said iron (11).
Apparatus as in claims 11 and 12, characterized in that said command element (14) is able to activate said pump means (35) simultaneously, the moment said valve means (18) is taken from said first closed position to said second open position.
Apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said obligatory path (23) has at least one segment in which the water is in indirect contact with said heating means (17).
Apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said obligatory path (23) has at least one segment in which the water is in direct contact with said heating means (17).
Apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said container unit (12) is outside said iron (11).
Apparatus as in any claim from 1 to 15, characterized in that said container unit (12) is inside said iron (11).
Apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, wherein said iron (11) comprises temperature regulation means (37) connected to said heating means (17) and able to allow the selective regulation of the heating temperature of said ironing plate (16), characterized in that it also comprises a mechanism (39) to regulate the flow rate, mechanically connected to said temperature regulation means (37), and able to regulate the quantity of water fed to said ironing plate (16), according to the heating temperature of said ironing plate (16).