ES2336560T3 - IRONING DEVICE THAT INCLUDES A FILTER. - Google Patents

Abstract

An ironing apparatus (100) comprising an iron (20), a water reservoir (10) comprising a filter (40) for reducing the hardness of the water, and a pump (30) connected between the reservoir (10) and the iron (20) adapted to draw a first amount of water from the reservoir (10) making it pass through the filter (40) and to supply the first amount of water thus filtered to the iron (20), wherein the pump (30) is also adapted to draw a second amount of water from the reservoir (10), lower than the first amount, and to supply it unfiltered to the iron (20).

Description

Ironing apparatus comprising a filter.

The present invention relates to an apparatus of ironing In particular, the present invention relates to a ironing apparatus of the type comprising an iron, a tank of water at room temperature and atmospheric pressure and a pump to supply water from the tank to the iron, as described, for example, in GB 2 308 135.

Typically, in these ironing devices the iron comprises a main body adapted to contain the water that arrives from the tank, a conductive metal plate of the heat punched on the basis of the main body and means of heat generation associated with said plate to heat it during use In these types of irons, steam is generated when the water at room temperature comes into contact with the plate  of boiling and then out through the holes in the license plate.

In these types of devices, where water is vaporize directly on the plate of the iron, the salts contained in the water may form scale on the plate during the evaporation stage. Typically, these inlays consist mainly of carbon deposits, hydrates and calcium and magnesium sulfates.

To reduce the formation of these inlays, ironing apparatus are known in which the water tank is provided with a resin filter of ion exchange to reduce water hardness, see, by example EP 0 544 549. Making the water seep into through available ion exchange resins commercially it is possible to obtain a water hardness of less than 2ºF, starting from a hardness of 30ºF.

This reduction in water hardness allows scale formation is substantially reduced and, by therefore, allow to extend the life of the iron.

Another problem typical of appliances ironing in which the water vaporizes directly on the plate  of the iron is the heating phenomenon. According to this phenomenon, the water at room temperature that comes into contact with the plate of boiling the iron forms drops of water that then they are ejected from the holes in the plate in a liquid state. These drops may leave spots on the tissue to be ironed and are, In general, unpleasant for the user.

A state of the art technique to avoid The problem of heating is to cover the surface of the plate the plate with a porous varnish suitable to absorb drops of Water that forms due to heating.

However, these varnishes must be sufficiently porous, withstand high temperatures (for example, up to 300 ° C) and must be such that they do not detach from the plate during use To prevent the detachment of the varnish, the plate must be subject to a precise conservation process, before Varnish application. This implies long application times. and relatively high costs.

An alternative state of the art technique to avoid the heating problem, it provides for the formation of micropores on the surface of the plate through the application of suitable chemical mixtures that attack the metal of the plate. Without However, the applicant observes that this technique does not allow obtaining sufficient porosity to effectively absorb drops of water that are formed due to heating.

Therefore, the applicant faced the problem technician to avoid, in an effective and cheap way, the problem of heating in ironing equipment equipped with a tank of water, in which water vaporizes through contact with the hot plate of the iron.

EP 0 544 549 describes an iron comprising a heating plate, a generation chamber of steam, an internal water tank, and a filter element internal comprising a filter. The filter has a channel of bypass, so that when tap water is introduced by part of the user in the filter element, water is provided filtered and unfiltered water to the water tank and then to the steam generation chamber. The percentage of tap water filtered varies between 30% and 70%. EP 0 554 549 indicates that this mixture of filtered and unfiltered water is useful for keep the pH of the water in the water tank within an interval of neutral values.

In a first aspect of it, the present invention, therefore, refers to an ironing apparatus according to claim 1

In the ironing apparatus of the invention, in which is supplied a mixture of filtered water and unfiltered water grilled, the whole water supplied to the iron has greater hardness than filtered water. This allows, from the first moment of using the iron, that a layer of deposits on the metal plate, which is adapted to absorb water drops that are possibly formed due to the phenomenon of heating.

The first and second quantities of water are such that the desired hardness for the whole water is obtained supplied to the iron.

In particular, the first and second quantities of water are advantageously selected to reduce so effective heating problem from the first moment of use of the iron and, at the same time, not to compromise life Useful iron.

For this purpose, when the first amount of filtered water has a nominal hardness greater than zero and not greater of 2ºF, the first and second quantities of water supplied using the grilled pump they have a total hardness that is greater of 2ºF. Preferably, the first and second quantities of water They have a total hardness greater than 3ºF. Advantageously, the first and Second quantities of water have a total hardness of less than 12ºF. Preferably, this hardness is between 4 and 10 ° F. Even more preferably, it is between 6 and 7 ° F.

In this regard, the applicant observes that the first and second quantities of water, in general, should be selected according to the hardness of the water contained in the tank and according to the filter filtering capacity (or rather according to the water hardness filtered and unfiltered). Typically, in the art, It is considered a filter that provides a hardness of water that does not is greater than 2ºF, starting from a tap water that has a nominal hardness of approximately 30ºF.

Advantageously, the pump is adapted to provide the first quantity of filtered water to the iron, mixed with the second quantity of unfiltered water.

Typically, the filter comprises material of filtered out. Advantageously, the filtering material comprises resins ion exchange. Typically, the filtering capacity of the ion exchange resins is such that water is obtained filtered with a hardness no greater than 2ºF when the water contained in the deposit has a nominal hardness equal to 30ºF approximately.

Advantageously, the filter comprises a first Inlet for water to filter.

The filter advantageously comprises an outlet connected to the pump

The first entry is advantageously in communication with the exit.

The filter advantageously comprises an area of filtered out. The first entry is advantageously in communication with the exit through the filtering area.

The filtering zone typically comprises filtering material for the passage of water to be filtered from the first  inlet to the outlet, through the filtering material.

Typically, the filter comprises elements of water permeable retention adapted to withstand the material of filtered inside the filter area and at the same time allow the passage of water through them. Typically, these retention elements are filters or polypropylene felts.

Preferably, the filter also comprises a Second inlet for water. The second entry is advantageously  in communication with the exit.

Preferably, the filter also comprises the mixing zone, other than the filtering zone, that connects the Second entry with the exit.

Advantageously, the mixing zone also Connect the filtering area with the output.

The filter outlet is advantageously located in the mixing zone.

The second filter input is advantageously located in the mixing zone.

The first entry is advantageously located near the filtering area.

The mixing zone is advantageously separated of the filtering zone through at least one of the retention elements

Advantageously, the first and second entries they have physical characteristics so that the total amount of water at the outlet of the filter, sucked by the pump through the First and second entrances, it has the desired proportions of water filtered and unfiltered water.

Advantageously, the first and second entries they are of a size such that the total amount of water at the exit of the filter, sucked by the pump through the first and second inputs, has the desired proportions of filtered water and water not filtered

Advantageously, the filter has a shape elongated Preferably, it has a cylindrical shape. Advantageously, the filter extends over most of the length of the water tank.

In a second aspect of it, the present invention relates to a method according to claim 14.

Regarding the characteristics of the first and second quantities of water, reference is made to what described above with reference to the first aspect of the invention.

Other features and advantages of this invention will become clearer from the following description detailed of a preferred embodiment thereof, made with Reference to the attached drawing. In particular, this drawing shows a schematic view of an ironing apparatus of the invention.

The ironing apparatus 100 of the invention shown comprises an iron 20, a pump 30, a reservoir of water 10 at room temperature and at atmospheric pressure and two conduits 31, 32 respectively to connect the tank 10 to the pump 30 and pump 30 grilled 20.

Plate 20 is of the conventional type and typically comprises a main body 23, a handle 22, a plate of heat conductive metal 21 fixed to the base of the body Main 23 and heat generation means (not shown) associated with said plate 21 to heat it during use.

Pump 30 is adapted to remove water from the tank 10 and supply it to the main body 23 of the iron twenty.

Pump 30 is of the conventional type, typically an electric micropump.

The steam is generated in a known way when the water comes into contact with the boiling plate 21, heated by means of heat generation.

Plate 21 is typically equipped with holes (not shown) for the emission of the generated steam. In addition, it is typically made of aluminum.

The means of heat generation typically they comprise a conventional electrical resistance integrated in the plate 21.

The water tank 10 comprises a filter 40

In the example described, filter 40 comprises ion exchange resins as filtering material.

Exchange resins are known in the art. of ions that are capable of reducing water hardness to non-values greater than 2ºF, starting from a water hardness of 30ºF. By example, these resins are commercially available from from the Purolite company.

The filter 40 comprises a housing that has a first inlet 41 and a second inlet 42 for water contained in tank 10 and an outlet 43 connected to the pump 30

The housing is preferably made of polypropylene, which is a low cost material easily commercially available and easy to seal by welding.

Entries 41, 42 may consist, by for example, in a hole of any shape, for example circular, or a channel that has, for example, a circular section.

In the embodiment shown, filter 40 It is located on the base of the tank 10. Suitable supports (not shown) support the high filter 40 of the base of the tank 10, for example a few millimeters, to allow Water enters through the two inlets 41, 42.

In addition, in the embodiment shown, the two entries 41, 42 are placed at the two opposite ends of the filter base 40.

The filter 40 also comprises an area of filtered 46 with the filtrate for the passage of water to filter from the first input 41 to the exit 43, through the filtering material Typically, the filtering zone 46 is surrounded at the top and bottom by the walls of the filter housing 40 and the two ends by a first and a second retention elements 44, 45 that are permeable to water and are adapted to support the filtering material in the inside the filtering area 46, preventing it from coming out of the inputs 41, 42, and at the same time to allow the passage of water to through them. Typically, these retaining elements 44, 45 are filters made of polypropylene or felt.

The filter 40 also comprises an area of mixture 47, other than the filtering zone 46, which connects the second entry 42 with exit 43.

The filtering zone 46 is in communication with Exit 43 through mixing zone 47.

In the embodiment depicted, the zone of filtering 46 and mixing zone 47 are separated by the second retention element 45.

In particular, in the embodiment represented, mixing zone 47 is defined in part by the walls of the filter 40 and partly by the second retention element Four. Five.

In use, when pump 30 is in operation, part of the water in the tank 10 enters the filter 40 through the first entry 41, pass through the first retaining element 44, through the filtering zone 46 in the which is filtered by the filtering material, through the second retention element 45, through mixing zone 47 and exits through outlet 43 to be supplied to main body 23 of the iron 20 through the ducts 31, 32. In addition, part of the water from the tank 10 enters the filter 40 through the second entrance 42, passes through the mixing zone 47 where mixing with the filtered water that comes from the filtration zone 46 and exits through exit 43 to be supplied mixed to the body main 23 of the plate 20 through the ducts 31, 32.

The proportions of filtered and unfiltered water, pumped by pump 30 through inputs 41 and 42, they generally depend on their physical characteristics, such as the size and type of surface with which the Water comes in contact.

The physical characteristics of the tickets and, in particular, their size are advantageously selected to obtain a hardness of the mixed water supplied to the iron 20 between 3 and 12ºF, preferably between 4 and 10ºF and, more preferably, between 6 and 7ºF.

In effect, the applicant has found that these water hardness values effectively prevent the heating problem since the first use of the iron and, at the same time, they allow to maintain the life of the iron in the values typically required in the market.

More specifically, the applicant has found that these hardness values for mixed water ensure that, from the first use of the iron, a slight layer of deposits on the plate of the iron, which allows that water drops possibly formed due to the phenomenon of heating are absorbed effectively and at the same time It allows the iron's life to be not compromised.

The applicant observes that the hardness of the water mixed supplied to the iron depends, as well as the physical characteristics of the inputs, also of the hardness of the initial water contained in the tank and filtering capacity of the filter. Therefore, the apparatus of the invention must be designed taking into account the average hardness reference values of the initial water and filtering capacity, according to the low market consideration. For example, the hardness of tap water is typically between 15 and 50ºF. A considered value of Conventional way for the hardness of tap water is 30ºF. In addition, an ion exchange resin filter typically used in conventional ironing devices provides a water hardness typically not greater than 2ºF, starting from a hardness of approximately 30ºF.

For example, to obtain a water hardness between 4 and 10ºF and, more preferably, comprised between 6 and 7ºF, considering a nominal hardness of tap water 30ºF, a filtering material that provides a nominal hardness of filtered water of no more than 2ºF and the case in which the two inputs 41, 42 consist of two channels with circular section, the relationship between the diameter of the first entry 41 and the diameter of the second entry 42 is advantageously between 0.04 and 1, the channel length of the first input 41 is advantageously comprised 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm, while the length of the channel of the second inlet 42 is advantageously comprised between 1 mm and 5 mm.

The applicant observes that the filters conventional commercially available devices used in conventional ironing, feed the iron with filtered water which has a hardness typically not greater than 2ºF, starting from a water hardness equal to approximately 30ºF. With this value of water hardness, the layer of deposits that forms over time on the plate of the iron allows the water droplets formed by the heating phenomenon be absorbed so effective only after many uses of the iron (typically, only after consuming approximately 15 liters of water) and not, as in the iron of the present invention, since the first use.

Advantageously, the filter 40 has a shape narrow elongated, for example cylindrical. This allows advantageously that all the water flow that passes through the Filtering zone 46 is effectively filtered. That is, the Narrow shape allows water flow to completely enter contact with all the filtering material contained in the area of filtered 46, while the elongated shape allows the flow of water remains in contact with the filtrate during a relatively long period of time (equal to 2 - 4 minutes approximately).

In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the filter 40 extends over most water tank length 10. This allows advantageously to increase the amount of material of filtering contained in the filtering zone 46, and thus the service life of the filter.

For example, filter 40 has a volume of 130 cc and can contain 100 - 120 g of exchange resins ions This allows an equal filter life to be obtained by At least 110 liters.

Regarding this, the applicant observes that the conventional ironing appliances typically have a deposit of water with a replaceable filter and an opening to allow filter step at the time of replacement. For this purpose, The filter is typically small in size. Typically, filters  Conventional are adapted to contain 60 g of resins of ion exchange, which allows a filter life for get no more than 80 liters.

In addition, to allow effective filtering to Despite the small filter size, the latter typically has a maze-shaped filtering zone to allow the water flow remain in contact with the filtering material for a suitable period of time.

However, the filter area in the form of labyrinth implies more production time and costs compared to the linear shape (for example cylindrical) of the filtering area of the apparatus of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. Ironing apparatus (100), which understands: - an iron (20) comprising a plate conductive heat (21) with holes, - a water tank (10) comprising a filter (40) to reduce water hardness, and - a pump (30) connected between the tank (10) and the plate (20) adapted to remove a first quantity of water from the tank (10), causing it to pass through the filter (40) and to supply the first quantity of water thus filtered to the iron (20), Characterized in that the filter also comprises a mixing zone (47) that has an inlet (42) of unfiltered water, an inlet of filtered water and an outlet (43) connected to the pump (30), the pump (30) being also adapted to remove a second quantity of unfiltered water from the tank (10), lower than the first quantity, causing it to pass through the mixing zone (47) together with the first quantity of filtered water to supply to the iron ( 20) the second quantity of unfiltered water mixed with the first quantity of filtered water, in which the first and second quantities of mixed water have a total hardness of no more than 2 ° F.

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2. Ironing apparatus (100) according to the claim 1, wherein the filter (40) comprises a first inlet (41) for the first amount of water to be filtered. 3. Ironing apparatus (100) according to the claim 1, wherein the filter (40) comprises an outlet (43)  connected to the pump (30). 4. Ironing apparatus (100) according to the claim 3, wherein the filter (40) comprises a first input (41) in communication with the output (43). 5. Ironing apparatus (100) according to the claim 1, wherein the filter (40) comprises a second entry (42). 6. Ironing apparatus (100) according to the claim 3, wherein the filter (40) comprises a second input (42) in communication with the output (43). 7. Ironing apparatus (100) according to the claim 4, wherein the filter (40) comprises an area of filtering (46) comprising filtering material for the passage of water to be filtered from the first inlet (41) to the outlet (43), through the filtering material. 8. Ironing apparatus (100) according to claims 6 and 7, wherein the mixing zone (47) is within  of the filter (40), other than the filter area (46), and connects the second input (42) with the output (43). 9. Ironing apparatus (100) according to the claim 8, wherein the mixing zone (42) also connects the filtering zone (46) with the outlet (43). 10. Ironing apparatus (100) according to the claim 1, wherein the first and second quantities of water mixed have a total hardness greater than 3ºF. 11. Ironing apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second quantities of water mixed have a total hardness of less than 12ºF. 12. Ironing apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second quantities of water mixed they have a total hardness between 4 and 10ºF. 13. Ironing apparatus (100) according to claim 12, wherein the first and second quantities of water  mixed they have a total hardness between 6 and 7ºF. 14. Procedure to reduce the phenomenon of heating in an ironing apparatus comprising a deposit of water (10) and an iron (20) that has a heat conductive plate (21) with holes, said process comprising the steps from: a) filter a first quantity of water from deposit (10); b) remove the first amount of filtered water from the tank (10) and supplied to the iron (20); characterized in that it also comprises step c) of removing a second quantity of unfiltered water from the tank (10), lower than the first quantity, causing it to pass through a mixing zone (47) together with the first quantity of filtered water to supply the plate (20) with the second quantity of unfiltered water mixed with the first quantity of filtered water, whereby the first and second quantities of mixed water have a total hardness of no more than 2ºF.