EP3115501A1 - Ironing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an ironing apparatus (1) comprising a heatable soleplate (2) and a steam generating system (3) which can be coupled thereto and which has a heatable steam boiler (4) for generating steam (5), the water vapor (5) passing over a vapor pressure valve (6) by means of steam lines (7) to steam outlet holes (8) in a heatable soleplate (2) of the ironing device (1) can be guided and delivered. Furthermore, the ironing device (1) has a control device (10) which is set up to deliver the water vapor (5) automatically at predetermined intermittent steam delivery intervals. Depending on the settings of the duration of the ironing cycle and / or the vapor pressure of the steam (5) and / or the temperature of the soleplate (2) different textiles can be ironed optimally and energy-efficiently. The invention also relates to a method for operating the ironing device (1) and to a use of the method or the ironing device (1) for inactivating microorganisms in the textiles.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an ironing apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method of operating such ironing apparatus according to the preamble of claim 13 and a use of the ironing apparatus according to claim 15.

Background of the invention

Not too long ago, household linen was washed and ironed at high temperatures. During the 1980s, however, a trend towards lower temperatures - between 30 ° C and 60 ° C - has developed. This situation exists to this day. According to the statistics, only 9% of the laundry in Germany today are washed at temperatures of 90 ° C. Accordingly, 35% of household linen accounts for 60 ° C and about 53% of the total amount of laundry at 40 ° C. There are two main aspects that are responsible for this change. On the one hand, the general environmental awareness has led to household appliances, which are operated particularly energy-efficient, and on the other hand, the proportion of fine and delicate textiles or fabrics and fabrics has greatly increased. However, this situation has led to inadequate germ reduction or reduction of microorganisms, so that an additional post-treatment of the laundry or garments is necessary to decontaminate them. This is usually resorting to chemical agents that can, however, have an environmental impact. The ironing of the laundry, which itself is a downstream process in the treatment of household linen, may be considered as a possible alternative to the decontamination of garments and household linen, taking into account its properties, high temperatures and / or water vapor. To date, the field of antimicrobial or germicidal effect in ironing has not been considered.

A known ironing device is for example a steam iron. The steam iron is an electrically operated device for straightening garments. In contrast to conventional irons, steam irons are equipped with a water tank and are distinguished by a more or less constant supply of steam during ironing. The steam is produced directly at the soleplate and flows from about 130 ° C through the sole holes. Steam ironing allows moisture to enter the fabric of the garment, allowing the fibers to swell slightly, facilitating the smoothing process.

The problem underlying the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method that enables effective reduction of microorganisms in the treatment of household laundry, which is environmentally friendly and particularly energy efficient.

Inventive solution

This object is achieved by means of an ironing device, which has a heatable soleplate and a steam generating system coupled thereto with a heatable steam boiler for generating water vapor, wherein the steam via a steam pressure valve by means of steam lines to steam outlet holes in the heatable soleplate of the ironing device is feasible and deliverable. Furthermore, the ironing device comprises a control device. The controller is configured to automatically dispense the water vapor at predetermined intermittent steam delivery intervals. At an intermittent steam delivery interval, the steam delivery is interrupted at intervals. As a result, a strong cooling of the soleplate is prevented and saved considerable energy compared to a continuous steam delivery. The energy consumption of a steam iron can be attributed to about 90% of the conversion of water into steam.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating the above-mentioned ironing device comprising a soleplate and a steam generating system coupled thereto with a heatable steam boiler for producing Having water vapor, wherein the steam in the boiler via a steam pressure valve by means of steam pipes to steam outlet holes in an electric heatable soleplate of the ironing device feasible and on an ironing fabric or textile can be delivered. The method makes it possible by means of a control device of the ironing device to deliver the water vapor at a predetermined vapor pressure value of the steam generating system and a predetermined temperature value of the soleplate of the ironing device automatically at predetermined intermittent steam delivery intervals. As a result, the desired temperature can be transmitted to and maintained in a textile or fabric / tissue in a particularly effective and energy-efficient manner. It is particularly expedient that the temperature can be transferred very quickly into the textile to be ironed by means of the heated and pressurized water vapor and at the same time the steam can be obtained at the desired temperature over the duration of a stirrup cycle. An ironing cycle is to be understood below as the duration during which the soleplate of the ironing device acts on substantially the same surface of a textile.

In preliminary tests it has been shown that when heating the soleplate alone during ironing, a temperature loss of up to 40 ° C in the transfer of the temperature to the textile must be taken into account. To achieve the required temperature on or in the textile would therefore require a longer residence time of the soleplate of the ironing device on the textile. Furthermore, it has been shown that even with continuous use of steam while the required temperature in the textile can be achieved, but this is not energy efficient, since the water vapor of the soleplate of the ironing device deprives too much heat energy to evaporate from the textile can then.

Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a use of the above-mentioned method, which is used in an ironing device also described above for the disinfection / disinfection of textiles or fabrics. Heat can be used particularly advantageously as a reliable means for inactivation or removal of microorganisms, whereby a user's claim to hygiene of the textiles can be taken into account. The microorganisms begin to die off already at a temperature of about 50 to 60 ° C. At this temperature, denaturation of a native protein structure of the microorganism cells begins. Denaturation is the irreversible process that leads to a loss of their respective biological activity in microorganism cells. Disinfecting / disinfecting is a physical inactivation process, ie a loss of biological activity in which Microorganisms are killed by heat.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be used individually or in combination with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims. The advantages which apply hereinafter to embodiments of the ironing apparatus are equally valid for the method and the use of the method of the ironing apparatus.

An automatic delivery of the water vapor at predetermined intermittent steam delivery intervals is of great advantage according to an advantageous embodiment, above all for a given vapor pressure value of the steam generation system and a predetermined temperature value of the soleplate. Finally, it can thus be controlled in an especially energy-efficient manner for an optimal balance of the temperature setting in the soleplate and the temperature in the ironing material. A user would not be able to control this manually.

In a preferred embodiment, the ironing device control means is arranged to operate at a maximum deliverable steam pressure in the steam generating system; that is, the predetermined vapor pressure value corresponds to a maximum steam pressure of the water vapor that can be generated by the steam generation system. Due to the high vapor pressure of the heated water vapor exiting steam outlet holes in the soleplate of the ironing device, it is ensured that a required temperature distribution in the textile to be ironed / sterilized textile can be adjusted and maintained below the soleplate of the ironing device. Experiments have shown that without the use of steam, an average temperature difference between a textile surface directly contacting the soleplate and a temperature of a textile surface facing away from it in the normal direction is about 60 ° C - this relates to fabrics / fabrics of textiles of average thickness ,

In this case, the steam pressure value of the water vapor, which can be set by means of the control device of the ironing device, can be selected from an interval greater than 1 bar and less than 7 bar or from an interval greater than 3 bar and less than 7 bar. The maximum deliverable vapor pressure is from a pressure build-up capacity in the steam boiler of the ironing device or a pump capacity of the steam generating system dependent.

Conveniently, the predetermined temperature value of the soleplate of the ironing device corresponds to a temperature value from an interval greater than 110 ° C and less than 190 ° C or a temperature value from an interval greater than 150 ° C and less than 190 ° C or the temperature value 180 ° C. Accordingly, the ironing device can be tailored to boundary conditions of a permissible temple temperature of the textile. It has been shown in different attempts that in particular a temperature of the soleplate of about 180 ° C with simultaneous use of steam for ironing almost all textiles is suitable.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, a duty cycle of the predetermined intermittent steam delivery interval corresponds to a duty cycle of an interval greater than 10% and less than 90% or a duty cycle of an interval greater than 40% and less than 80%. In an even more advantageous embodiment, the controller is configured to set a frequency value of a steam delivery cycle, the frequency value being from an interval greater than 0.5 steam delivery intervals per second and less than 5 steam delivery intervals per second or frequency value from an interval greater than 0.8 steam delivery intervals per second and less than 2 steam delivery intervals per second. The duty cycle indicates the ratio of a pulse duration to a period duration for a periodic series of steam delivery pulses. The duty cycle is given as a dimensionless ratio with a value range of 0 to 1 or 0 to 100%. For example, the steam delivery pulses may represent pulses that form a square wave.

Depending on the duty cycle of the steam delivery and / or the setting of the frequency value of a steam delivery cycle, optimum temperature distribution and temperature maintenance in the textile can be ensured. Thus, a continuous delivery of water vapor is not necessary, which would withdraw on the one hand, the soleplate of the ironing device a lot of energy and, moreover, would take a lot of energy in providing the water vapor through the steam generating system. Accordingly, a significant increase in energy efficiency and cost savings can be achieved by means of the embodiment described above.

Depending on the embodiment, the ironing device is set up, a vapor pressure value build, which depends on a predetermined / set temperature value of the sole plate. In order for the ironing device to be operated in a particularly energy-efficient manner and at the same time to reduce the duration of the ironing cycle, it is necessary to set the steam pressure and / or the steam temperature such that the temperature required in the textile below the soleplate remains constant over the duration of the ironing process. Cycle can be maintained without causing water vapor condenses on the soleplate. Therefore, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, the control device is set up such that the temperature of the soleplate is set at least as high as the temperature of the water vapor. This will ensure that the water vapor on the soleplate does not condense and the fabric / fabric of the fabric does not remain wet once ironing is complete.

Accordingly, in yet another embodiment, the control device is adapted to adjust the vapor pressure value and / or the vapor temperature value of the water vapor and / or the temperature value of the soleplate depending on a fabric and / or fiber composition of the textile. This is particularly important in order to take into account the heat sensitivity of the different textiles or laundry and garments.

In an advantageous embodiment, the control device is set up, the frequency value of the steam delivery cycle and / or the steam pressure value and / or the steam temperature value of the water vapor and / or the temperature value of the soleplate depending on a thickness of the textile and / or depending on a resistance of microorganisms to tune and optimize. In this way it can be ensured that an optimal and uniform temperature distribution within the textile below the soleplate of the ironing device is present and thus at the same time a desired germicidal effect is achieved in the textile.

In an advantageous embodiment of the ironing device, the steam generating system and / or the control device and / or the soleplate are adapted to be manufactured as integrated components of a unit of an ironing device or as separate units of an ironing device which can be coupled together. In the case of an ironing device embodied in one unit, a compact embodiment of the ironing device that requires little space can be realized. In an embodiment with separate units, in which the soleplate is integrated, for example, in a steam iron and the it coupled steam generating system together with the control device in a separate unit, retrofit steam generating systems or such steam generating systems can be made, which are not limited to constraints of the sole plate or the steam iron to be coupled thereto. Moreover, with separate steam generation systems, much higher vapor pressures can be realized compared to those integrated in a compact steam iron. In addition, separate steam generation systems may provide generated steam pressure over a longer steam delivery period.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the control device sets a frequency value of a steam delivery cycle and / or a vapor pressure value and / or a steam temperature value of the water vapor and / or a temperature value of the soleplate in dependence on a resistance of microorganisms. Depending on the type of microorganisms, a predetermined temperature is necessary, which leads to inactivation or killing of the microorganisms. This can be from 50 ° C up to over 150 ° C.

In an advantageous embodiment of the use of the method, the temperature value and / or the vapor pressure value of the steam is adjusted as a function of the resistance of the microorganisms. To ensure a reliable temperature distribution within a textile, it must be ensured that the temperature and / or the vapor pressure of the water vapor is sufficient to reliably inactivate or kill the microorganisms below the soleplate of the ironing device. In a further particularly advantageous embodiment, the duration of the ironing cycle is adjusted using the method in the control device for the ironing device as a function of the resistance of the microorganisms. Thus, a time of exposure to the temperature specifically required for inactivating or killing predetermined microorganisms can be considered.

By means of the ironing device described it is possible to simultaneously carry out a disinfection of the microorganisms contained therein with the energy-efficient ironing or smoothing of the textile.

Brief description of the drawings

Further advantageous embodiments of the present invention are explained below with reference to a single figure. It shows the Fig. 1 a sketchy representation of an ironing device according to an advantageous embodiment.

With reference to the sketchy representation of an ironing device 1 in Fig. 1 in this case, a steam iron 13 with a steam generating system 3 coupled thereto, the principle of operation of an embodiment of an ironing device 1 with a control device 10 according to an advantageous embodiment will be explained. Under the ironing device 1 is not only a steam iron 13 in the strict sense to understand, but also a so operable / couplable steam generating system 3, ie, a so-called ironing station.

The in the Fig. 1 The steam generating system 3 comprises a steam boiler 4 for generating water vapor 5, which via a steam pressure valve 6 by means of steam lines 7 to steam outlet holes 8 in the heatable soleplate 2 of the steam iron 13 is performed. Via the steam outlet holes 8, the pressurized hot steam 5 reaches or into a material to be ironed or to be smoothed textile. The ironing device 1 has a control device 10, which is provided with controls for a ironing program 11 and / or a hygiene program 12. When in the Fig. 1 In the embodiment shown, the control device 10 is connected to the steam generating system 3 via a connection 9. In another, not shown embodiment, the control device 10 is integrated in the steam iron 13 or connected directly to this.

The control device 10 is set up such that, given a given vapor pressure value of the steam generating system 3 and a predetermined temperature value of the soleplate 2, the steam 5 is automatically released at predetermined intermittent steam delivery intervals. At an intermittent steam delivery interval, the discharge of the water vapor 5 from the steam generating system 3 is interrupted at intervals. In this way, a predetermined temperature value of the water vapor 5 leaving the ironing device 1 in the textile to be ironed can be easily maintained in the textile. In the present embodiment, the steam 5 is generated in the steam boiler 4 by means of a water boiler 14. A pressure valve 6 ensures that the water vapor is continuous or at a predetermined desired pressure is intermittently led to the soleplate 2 of the steam iron 13 by means of steam pipes 7. The pressurized water vapor 5 is transmitted through the steam outlet holes 8 in the soleplate 2 on the textile.

The steam generating system 3 off Fig. 1 also has a water tank 15 separate from the water boiler 14. The water 15 is passed by means of a pump 16 to the steam boiler 4. As a result, it can be ensured that water 15 does not have to be continuously poured over so that uninterrupted ironing of the item to be ironed or the textile can be ensured. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the steam generating system 3 additionally has an extra pump - not shown here - to be able to raise the water vapor 5 to a desired vapor pressure value. The higher the vapor pressure value, the better a textile can be traversed by water vapor 5. By means of the heated and pressurized water vapor 5 can be ensured that a uniform temperature of the ironing material is achieved under the sole plate 2. This makes it possible to ensure that an energy-efficient smoothing of the textile of a different material composition and / or fabric structure can be achieved and a specific thickness or thickness of the textile can be taken into account.

The in the Fig. 1 Steam ironing stations are an expanded form of steam irons 13. They also work with water vapor 5, but the necessary tank for the water 15 is not directly integrated in the steam iron 13. A hose - steam lines 7 - serves as a means of transport of water vapor 5 from the tank with water 15 via the pump 16 to the steam boiler 4 and further via the pressure valve 6 to the soleplate 2. Particularly advantageous is a steam ironing station, because even the vapor pressure itself is much higher than can be adjusted with a simple steam iron 13. Due to the highly adjustable vapor pressure value of up to 7 bar, the water vapor 5 emerging from the soleplate 2 can penetrate through several layers of a textile. Depending on the fabric and fabric composition of the ironing, however, already a significantly lower vapor pressure value may suffice; For example, a vapor pressure value from an interval greater than 1 bar and less than 6 bar.

In a further embodiment of the ironing device 1 - not shown here - the entire steam generating system 3 can be accommodated compactly in a steam iron 13. Thus, such an ironing device 1 requires relatively little space, but is suitable only for a medium-sized ironing, otherwise water must be constantly refilled.

That in the Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment further shows a control device 10 which is coupled via a connection 9 to the steam generating system 3. The control device 10 has a controller 11 for setting different ironing programs. Based on the different settings * - ** - *** of the controller 11, cf. Fig. 1 , the ironing device 1 can be optimally adjusted to physical boundary conditions of the textile or ironing material to be ironed. In addition, the control device 10 has a controller 12 which switches or initiates a hygiene program of the ironing device 1. The hygiene program according to a preferred embodiment allows a release of water vapor 5 at a maximum adjustable steam pressure value of the ironing device 1 and at a preset temperature of the water vapor 5 and the soleplate. 2

In an advantageous embodiment, the setting of the hygiene program 12 of the control device 10 provides that the pressure of the water vapor is 6 bar or 7 bar. The soleplate 2 particularly preferably has a temperature value around the 190 ° C., particularly preferably 180 ° C. This can ensure that not only a large part of the textiles to be smoothed can be ironed, but also that possible microorganisms that are present in the fabric or the fibers of the textile can be killed.

In a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the control head of the hygiene program 12 can be switched in combination with the control head 11 of the ironing programs, the steam pressure of the steam 5 generated in the steam generation system 3 and the temperature of the soleplate 2 the steam iron 13 of the ironing device 1 can be adjusted to the specific physical boundary conditions of the selectable under the ironing program 11 textile properties. Linking the two programs: Controller ironing program 11 with the controller Hygiene program 12 thus allows an optimal adjustment to be ironed to be ironed. In the case of the hygiene program 12, essentially the maximum vapor pressure value of the steam generation system 3 is set by the control device 10. At a predetermined temperature value of the soleplate 2 of the ironing device 1, the temperature value of an interval greater than 110 ° C and less than 190 ° C or more preferably selected from an interval greater than 150 ° C and less than 190 ° C. It has been found that a particularly preferred value corresponds to the temperature value of 180 ° C, which is suitable for ironing almost any fabric or fiber of the textile at the maximum adjustable vapor pressure value of the water vapor.

Since a continuous delivery of the water vapor 5 requires a very high expenditure of energy, the control device 10 makes it possible to deliver the steam 5 at intermittent intervals to the ironing material. As a result, condensing of the steam 5 at the cooling soleplate 2 is avoided on the one hand and at the same time it is ensured that the ironed material can be maintained at the temperature value of the steam 5. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a duty cycle of the predetermined intermittent steam delivery interval from an interval greater than 10% and less than 90% or a duty cycle of an interval greater than 40% and less than 80% is selected.

Moreover, in a more preferred embodiment, the controller 10 may set a frequency value of a steam delivery cycle such that the frequency value is greater than an interval greater than 0.5 steam delivery intervals per second and less than 5 steam delivery intervals per second, or a frequency value greater than an interval 0.5 steam delivery intervals per second and less than 2 steam delivery intervals per second. In a particularly preferred embodiment, both the frequency value of the steam delivery cycle of the predetermined intermittent steam delivery interval can be optimally adjusted to the textile to be ironed by means of the two controllers 11 and 12 for the ironing program or the hygiene program. In addition, the steam delivery interval or the frequency value of the steam delivery cycle can also be adjusted depending on the resistance of microorganisms. In this way it can be ensured that the microorganisms in the fiber or the fabric of the textile are also killed and thus the textile is sterilized.

Accordingly, the present ironing device 1 not only allows ironing material of different types of fabrics and fabrics to be energy-efficiently smoothed but moreover also effectively sterilizes it.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Ironing device

2

soleplate

3

Steam generation system

4

steam boiler

5

Steam

6

Vapor pressure valve

7

steam lines

8th

Steam outlet holes

9

connection

10

control device

11

Ironing program

12

hygiene program

13

steam iron

14

water heater

15

water

16

pump

Claims (15)

An ironing device (1) comprising a heatable soleplate (2) and a steam generating system (3) coupled thereto with a heatable steam boiler (4) for generating steam (5) via a steam pressure valve (6) by means of steam lines (7) to steam outlet holes (5). 8) in the heatable soleplate (2) of the ironing device (1) and a control device (10), characterized in that the control device (10) is arranged, the water vapor (5) automatically at predetermined intermittent steam delivery intervals leave. Ironing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (10) is adapted to deliver the water vapor (5) at a predetermined vapor pressure value of the steam generating system (3) and a predetermined temperature value of the soleplate (2). Ironing device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the predetermined vapor pressure value corresponds to a maximum of the steam generating system (3) producible vapor pressure of the water vapor (5) in the steam generating system (3). Ironing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predetermined vapor pressure value of the water vapor (5) from an interval greater than 1 bar and less than 7 bar or from an interval greater than 3 bar and less than 7 bar can be selected. Ironing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predetermined temperature value of the soleplate (2) of the ironing device (1) a temperature value from an interval greater than 110 ° C and less than 190 ° C or a temperature value from an interval greater than 150 ° C and less than 190 ° C or the temperature value corresponds to 180 ° C. Ironing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a duty cycle of the predetermined intermittent steam delivery interval corresponds to a duty cycle of an interval greater than 10% and less than 90% or a duty cycle of an interval greater than 40% and less than 80%. Ironing device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the control device (10) is adapted to set a frequency value of a steam delivery cycle, wherein the frequency value of an interval greater than 0.5 steam delivery intervals per second and less than 5 Steam delivery intervals per second or a frequency value from an interval greater than 0.8 steam delivery intervals per second and less than 2 steam delivery intervals per second. Ironing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (10) is adapted to set the vapor pressure value and / or a steam temperature value, depending on the predetermined temperature value of the soleplate (2). Ironing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (10) is adapted to set the temperature value of the soleplate (2) at least as high as the steam temperature value. Ironing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (10) is set up, the vapor pressure value and / or the steam temperature value of the water vapor (5) and / or frequency value of the steam delivery cycle and / or or the duty cycle of the given set intermittent steam delivery interval and / or the temperature value of the soleplate (2) depending on a fabric and / or a fiber composition of an ironing / textile. Ironing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (10) is set up, the frequency value of the steam delivery cycle and / or the duty cycle of the predetermined intermittent steam delivery interval and / or the vapor pressure value and / or or to adjust the steam temperature value of the steam (5) and / or the temperature value of the soleplate (2) as a function of a thickness of the textile and / or as a function of a resistance of microorganisms. Ironing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the steam generating system (3) and / or the control device (10) and / or the soleplate (2) are arranged as integrated components of a unit of the ironing device (1) or as separate mutually coupled units of the ironing device (1) to be executed. Method for operating an ironing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a soleplate (2) and a steam generating system (3) couplable thereto with a heatable steam boiler (4) for generating steam (5) which is supplied via a steam pressure valve (6). by steam lines (7) to steam outlet holes (8) in a heatable soleplate (2) of the ironing device (1) can be guided and delivered, and a control device (10), characterized in that the control device (10) the water vapor (5) automatically in predetermined intermittent steam delivery intervals. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that the control device (10) has a frequency value of a steam delivery cycle and / or a duty cycle of the predetermined intermittent steam delivery interval and / or a vapor pressure value and / or a steam temperature value of the water vapor (5 ) and / or sets a temperature value of the soleplate (2) in dependence on a resistance of microorganisms. Use of the method according to claim 13 and 14 in an ironing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12 for disinfecting textiles.

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