EP2738305B1 - Ironing station and regulating and/or control unit - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electric ironing station in the domestic area according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a control and / or control unit for such ironing station, wherein the ironing station has a steam iron and a base for stopping the steam iron, which has a water tank for storing water and a steam generating means for generating steam, and wherein the steam iron has a sole electric heater for heating its sole. For example, ordinary domestic electric ironing stations have a power in a range of 2100 watts to 2800 watts. However, the trend is towards ever more powerful steam ironing stations because the high performance can reduce a warm-up phase of the steam iron. Although the ironing station can quickly be put into a ready-to-operate state by means of high powers, such services regularly load the respective domestic power supply or the respective domestic network. If, for example, the ironing station with several electrical end users accesses the home network at the same time, this can quickly lead to an overload of the home network. In order to avoid an overload of the numerous end consumers, either the performance of the home network is to be increased or it is necessary to plan in advance which end consumers can be operated at the same time. A conversion of the house network is very costly, a non-simultaneous operation of the end user very time consuming.

A steam iron with two operating modes, but with time-shifted energization is off WO 00/06822 A1 known.

The object of the invention is to provide an electric ironing station in the home, which can be operated simultaneously with several electrical end consumers. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a control and / or control unit for such an ironing station or for electric steam iron. This object is achieved by an electric ironing station with the features of claim 1 and by a control and / or control unit having the features of claim 13. Advantageous external and further developments, which individually or in Combination can be used together, are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

An electric ironing station according to the invention in the domestic area has a steam iron and a base for stopping the steam iron. The base has a water tank for storing water and a steam generating means for generating steam. The steam iron has a sole electric heater for heating its sole. According to the invention, the ironing station has a control and / or control unit for operating the ironing station in a normal operation with a maximum power consumption and in a minimum operation with a reduced power consumption, wherein in each operating mode the steam generating device and the sole heating device can be energized.

The control and / or control unit enables the reduction of the power consumption of the ironing station. As a result, the ironing station can be adjusted specifically to a freely available power of the home network and thus simultaneously operated with multiple electrical end consumers via the home network. Under freely available power while the difference between a maximum power of the home network is reduced by the tapped power to operate the other simultaneously accessing the home network electrical end user understood. Overloading of the domestic power supply is thus prevented. Due to the fact that the steam generating device and the sole heating device can be supplied with current in the operating modes, the ironing station has the same functionalities (steam generation and sole heating) in minimal operation as in normal operation. Thus, even in minimal operation ironing work in high quality as in normal operation can be performed.

The control and / or control unit can be manually operated or switched on and off. As a result, it is actively responsible to the user in which operating mode the ironing station is to be operated.

Alternatively, the control and / or control unit can be automatically actuated. The control and / or control unit constantly checks the free available power of the house network and operates the ironing station in the respective power optimal operating mode. A manual activation or deactivation of the control and / or control unit is not necessary.

In addition, however, a manual switch may be provided as a kind of main switch.

Preferably, during normal operation, the steam generating device and the sole heating device are energized simultaneously. Since the ironing station is operated with maximum power during normal operation, the ironing station is ready for operation or ready for use within a very short time. This means that steam is available within a very short time and the sole is heated to a set temperature.

In minimum operation, it is preferred if the steam generating device or the sole heating device is energized. That is, during the reduced power consumption, the steam generating means and the brine heating means are not energized simultaneously. As a result, the ironing station requires less power than in normal operation, so that their power consumption is reduced.

Preferably, in minimum operation, the steam generating device and the sole heater are alternately energized. As a result, the steam is virtually simultaneously produced in spite of individual activation and heated the sole, so that a cooling of the steam or the sole is prevented due to long non-energized time intervals.

Preferably, in minimum operation, an extension of a waiting time in percent is less than a power reduction due to the reduced power consumption in percent. This prevents, for example, that a 50% reduced power consumption leads to a 50% longer waiting time. Waiting time is understood to be the period of time which is necessary after switching on the ironing station before the completely emptied and cold steam generating device is ready for operation.

Preferably, in minimum operation, a reduction of a maximum amount of steam in percent is less than a power reduction due to the reduced power consumption in percent. This makes it possible that, for example, at a 50% power reduction, the maximum amount of steam is reduced by only 12%. Thus, despite a noticeably reduced power consumption, an almost unchanged amount of steam in the minimum state can be provided, resulting in a high ironing quality.

Preferably, the ironing station in minimum operation has a power consumption that is reduced by at least 10% compared to a power consumption at the maximum power consumption.

In one embodiment, at least one intermediate operation with an average power consumption is provided between the normal operation and the minimum operation, in which the steam generating device and the sole heating device can be energized. This prevents the ironing station from being operated in a reduced-power operating mode, although a more powerful operating mode would be possible when considering the free available power without overloading the home network.

Preferably, the power consumption is infinitely adjustable, so that the ironing station can always be operated in the optimum operating mode.

It can be quickly responded to a varying free available power of the house network, when the power consumption can be changed in the operation of the ironing station, so that there is no rest periods between switching or operating modes.

A regulation and / or control unit for an electric ironing station or for a domestic electric steam iron is manually operated and allows switching between a normal operation with a maximum power consumption and a minimum operation with a reduced power consumption, wherein in each mode of operation, the steam generating device and the Sohlenheizeinrichtung are energized.

The invention is particularly suitable for providing an ironing station in the home, which can be operated simultaneously with multiple electrical end users, as it is quickly and flexibly adaptable to a current free available power of a household power network and thus prevents overloading of the house power network during simultaneous operation becomes.

In the following, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a greatly simplified representation. The only FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an ironing station according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an electric ironing station 1 according to the invention in the domestic area with a steam iron 2 and with a base 4 for stopping the steam iron 2.

The steam iron 2 is fluidly and electrically by means of a steam, power and data line 6 with the base 4 in operative connection. It essentially has a sole with a plurality of steam outlet openings, a sole heater for heating the sole and a rotary switch 8 for adjusting, for example, a sole temperature.

The base 4 essentially has an internally arranged water tank for storing water, a steam generating device for generating steam or for heating the water to an evaporation temperature, a power cable for connecting the ironing station 1 to an electrical domestic network, a device electronics and an instrument cluster. and display panel 10 or a panel with, for example, a main switch 12 for turning on and off the ironing station 1.

According to the invention, the ironing station 1 has a control and / or control unit arranged in the interior of the base 4 for operating the ironing station in a normal mode with a maximum power consumption and in a minimum mode with a reduced power consumption, wherein in each operating mode the steam generating device and the sole heating device can be energized. The control and / or control unit communicates with the Geräteelelektronik or is directly integrated into this and is operated manually in the embodiment shown here via a arranged on the panel 10 selector switch 14. The selector switch 14 may be a slide switch, a rotary switch or a push switch, a push button and the like. For visual control, it is preferable if a luminous element 16 for displaying the respective operating mode (normal operation or minimum operation) is arranged on the panel 10. Between the operating modes can be changed during operation of the ironing station 1, ie when the ironing station 1 is turned on. Preferably, minimum power consumption is at least 10% reduced power consumption during normal operation.

In normal operation, the steam generating device and the sole heater are energized simultaneously.

In minimum operation, either the steam generating device or the sole heating device is energized. The energization of the steam generating device and the sole heater takes place at a different time; in such a way that despite individual activation quasi simultaneously produces the steam and the sole is heated, so that a cooling of the steam or the sole is prevented due to long unenergized time intervals.

Preferably, energization of the steam generating device has priority over energizing the sole heating device. However, if a sole temperature is too low, the sole heater is energized. After reaching a certain sole temperature, the steam generating device is energized again. The determined sole temperature depends, for example, on the set ironing program or on the set sole temperature. The separate activation in minimum operation favors the formation of high amounts of steam. Despite the prioritization of steam generation, a very high ironing quality is maintained in minimum operation.

The control and / or control unit intervenes in the device electronics in such a way that in minimum operation an extension of a waiting time in percent is smaller than a power reduction due to the reduced power consumption in percent.

In addition, the control and / or control unit intervenes in the device electronics in such a way that, in minimum operation, a reduction of a maximum steam quantity in percent is smaller than a power reduction due to the reduced power consumption in percent.

For example, the ironing station 1 has a maximum power consumption of 2800W in normal operation. Their maximum amount of steam is about 110g / min and their waiting time is about 3.5 minutes with fully deflated and cold steam generator.

In minimum operation, for example, its maximum power consumption is 1500W. A maximum steam quantity of the ironing station is about 98g / min and its waiting time is about 5 minutes with the steam generator completely deflated and cold.

In comparison, with a 46% reduction in power consumption (reduction by 1300W), the maximum amount of steam in minimum operation is reduced by 12g / min, and thus by only 11%. The wait time in minimum operation is extended by about 1.5 minutes at the 46% reduction in power consumption and thus by about 43%.

Of course, between the normal operation and the minimum operation at least an intermediate operation with an average power consumption is conceivable in which the steam generating device and the sole heater have an average power consumption. With a corresponding number of operating modes so the power consumption can be adjusted continuously or almost infinitely.

Alternatively or in addition to the manual operation of the control and / or control unit by means of or a selector switch 14 can be changed automatically between the individual operating modes. For this purpose, the control and / or control unit always checks the free available power of the house network and then operates the ironing station 1 in the respectively optimal or maximum power operating mode.

Likewise, of course, the control and / or control unit and / or the selector switch 14 may be arranged in or on the steam iron 2. In addition, the light-emitting element 16 for indicating the respective operating mode (normal operation or minimum operation) can be arranged exclusively or additionally on the steam iron 2.

Disclosed is an electric ironing station in the domestic field, with a steam iron and a base for stopping the steam iron, which has a water tank for storing water and a steam generating means for generating steam, the steam iron has a sole electric heater for heating its brine, and wherein the ironing station has a control and / or control unit for operating the ironing station in a normal operation with a maximum power consumption and in a minimum operation with a reduced power consumption, wherein in each mode of operation, the steam generating means and the sole heater are energized, and such a control and / or control unit for an ironing station or a steam iron in the home.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

ironing station

2

steam iron

4

Base

6

Steam-. Power and data line

8th

rotary switch

10

Instrument and display board

12

main switch

14

selector

16

light element

Claims (13)

1. Electric ironing station (1) for domestic application, with a steam iron (2) and with a base (4) for placing the steam iron, said base having a water tank for storing water and a steam generation device for generating steam, wherein the steam iron (2) has an electric soleplate heating device for heating its soleplate, and wherein a regulating and/or control unit for operating the ironing station (1) in normal mode with a maximum power consumption and in minimal mode with a reduced power consumption, characterised in that the steam generation device and the soleplate heating device can be energized in each operating mode.
2. Ironing station according to claim 1, wherein the regulating and/or control unit can be manually actuated.
3. Ironing station according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the regulating and/or control unit can be automatically actuated.
4. Ironing station according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein in normal mode the steam generation device and the soleplate heating device are energized at the same time.
5. Ironing station according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein in minimal mode either the steam generation device or the sole heating device is energized.
6. Ironing station according to claim 5, wherein in minimal mode the steam generation device and the sole heating device are energized alternately.
7. Ironing station according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in minimal mode an extension of a waiting time in percent is less than a power reduction due to the reduced power consumption in percent.
8. Ironing station according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in minimal mode a reduction in a maximum amount of steam in percent is less than a power reduction due to the reduced power consumption in percent.
9. Ironing station according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in minimal mode a consumption of electricity is lowered by at least 10% compared with a power consumption in normal mode.
10. Ironing station according to one of the preceding claims, wherein provision is made between the normal mode and the minimal mode for at least one intermediate mode with an average power consumption, in which the steam generation device and the soleplate heating device can be energized.
11. Ironing station according to claim 10, wherein the power consumption is infinitely variable.
12. Ironing station according to one of the preceding claims, wherein during operation the power consumption can be alternated.
13. Regulating and/or control unit for an electric ironing station or an electric steam iron for domestic application according to one of the preceding claims.

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