JP2000093699A - Steam iron - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display the setting condition of the operation part at an easily visible position without increasing the number of component parts. SOLUTION: A water passing joint from a cassette tank 8 to a vaporization room is opened and closed with a valve according to the operation of the steam operating button 41. Further, the steam operating button 41 is integrally provided with a display unit 92 to display the setting condition of the steam operating button 41. Thereby, the number of component parts itself does not increase even when a display band 50 of the display unit 92 is provided at an easily visible position of the iron body 1 other than the steam operating button 41.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steam iron used for press finishing of clothes and the like.

[0002]

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show a conventional steam iron of this type. In each of these drawings, reference numeral 101 denotes an iron main body, and a metal base 102 having a heating means (not shown) is provided below the iron main body 101. Above the base 102, a handle 10 having a handle portion 104 having a cavity 103 is formed.
5 is fixed via a heat shield (not shown),
A fixed or detachable water tank 106 is provided in front of the iron main body 101. And the iron body 101
Is configured to supply water from a water tank 106 to a vaporization chamber 107 formed in a base 102, thereby discharging steam from a discharge hole (not shown) communicating with the vaporization chamber 107. .

[0003] Reference numeral 111 denotes a steam button, which is an operation unit provided to be slidable and protrude from both sides of the handle 105. The steam button 111 is for switching the water stored in the water tank 106 to either supply or cutoff to the vaporization chamber 107, and the steam button 111 is provided in front of the iron body 101, that is, on the `` steam '' side of the display unit 112. When it is located, water is supplied from the water tank 106 to the vaporization chamber 107, and the steam button 111 is positioned behind the iron body 101, that is, the display unit 112.
Of the water tank 106
The supply of water from to the vaporization chamber 107 is shut off. Reference numeral 113 denotes an operation panel provided on the upper surface of the handle 105. Here, a setting button 114 for switching the set temperature of the base 102 in a stepwise manner or for turning off the power and displaying a current set temperature are displayed. Temperature display sections 115 are provided, respectively.

[0004] By the way, "dry",
Switching display of the setting status related to “Steam”
(4) Since engraved characters (engraved on a mold) are formed on the side surface of the front handle 105, the character size of the display unit 112 is restricted, or the display unit 112
There was a problem that it was difficult to see because of the same color. In addition, since the steam button 111 and the display unit 112 are located on the side surface of the handle 105, when the iron body 101 is viewed from above, for example, it is difficult to know where the steam button 111 is located on the display unit 112. In this case, according to the operation of the steam button 111,
Although it is conceivable to separately provide a display means for displaying the setting state of “Dry” and “Steam”, there is a problem that the cost is increased due to an increase in the number of parts.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a steam iron that can display the setting state of an operation unit at a position where it is easy to see the setting state without increasing the number of parts.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steam iron, comprising: a base having heating means provided at a lower portion of an iron body; A handle fixed via a hot plate and having a handle portion having a cavity, a container provided in the iron body, and switching between water supply and shutoff of water in the container to a vaporization chamber formed in the base. An operation unit, wherein the water from the container is supplied to the vaporization chamber, so that the steam iron ejects steam from an ejection hole communicating with the vaporization chamber. An opening / closing control unit that opens and closes a valve element provided in a water passage leading to the operation unit according to an operation of the operation unit, and a display device that displays a setting state of the operation unit.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the operation unit is operated, the valve body is opened or closed by the open / close control unit, water is supplied or cut off from the container to the vaporization chamber, and the display device is connected to the operation unit. Displays the setting status. Since the operation unit is provided with the display device, the number of components does not increase even when the display device is provided at an easily visible position of the iron body different from the operation unit. Further, since the opening / closing control section of the valve element is also provided in the operation section, the display on the display device and the opening / closing of the valve element are linked without delay, and an accurate display almost coincident with the actual movement of the valve element can be performed. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steam iron according to the first aspect, wherein the operation portion is located on a side surface of the handle, and the display device is provided on an upper surface of the handle. It is.

According to the above configuration, the operation unit is located on the side surface of the handle, and the display device is provided on the upper surface of the handle.
Despite the operation part being located on the side of the handle,
The display can be checked from above the iron body without looking into the side of the handle, and the display of the setting state is very easy to see.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the display device has a display band that moves back and forth according to an operation of the operation unit. The band is positioned facing a window provided on the upper surface of the handle.

According to the above arrangement, a display band constituting a display device is provided on the operation unit, and the other display devices are provided with windows and characters indicating the setting state by using a conventional operation panel, for example. Therefore, the display device can be configured with a simple structure without providing a particularly complicated mechanism.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the steam iron of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, the overall configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. Reference numeral 1 denotes an iron main body, and the iron main body 1 includes a base 3 in which a heater 2 is embedded as a heating means at a lower portion. Inside the base 3, a vapor chamber, that is, a vaporization chamber 4 is formed near the heater 2, and an ejection hole 5 communicating with the vaporization chamber 4 is provided on a lower surface of the base 3. Also, 6
Is a cover provided above the base 3, and 7 is a handle provided above the cover 6. In front of the handle 7, a cassette tank 8 as a container corresponding to a water tank is provided.
Is detachably provided to the iron body 1.

The cassette tank 8 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin, has a substantially U-shape when viewed from the top, and has both sides 9.
Are arranged so as to straddle both sides of the handle 7 from the front end side to the rear end side. Reference numeral 11 denotes an openable and closable water inlet cap provided at a front portion of the cassette tank 8, from which water is stored in the cassette tank 8 and unnecessary water in the cassette tank 8 can be discarded. . Also,
The lock mechanism of the cassette tank 8 is provided with a tank lock button 12 slightly protruding from one side surface of the handle 7, and an elevating body 13 which moves up and down by operating the tank lock button 12 includes a spring 14 as an elastic member. Is constantly biased downward. A lock portion 15 protruding from a lower portion of the elevating body 13 is configured to be engaged with a concave portion 16 formed on the inclined upper surface of the cassette tank 8. In the embodiment, the detachable cassette tank 8 is described, but a fixed type water tank without the lock mechanism may be used.

A valve device 21 is provided inside the cassette tank 8, and a water passage joint 22 which is a water passage communicating with the vaporizing chamber 4 is provided below the valve device 21. Valve device
Reference numeral 21 denotes a valve rod 24 supported upright and slidably by a support 23, a disc-shaped valve element 25 provided at the lower end of the valve rod 24, and a valve element 25 which is always attached to the lower side. The valve body 25 is provided facing the center of an outlet 27 formed on the bottom surface of the cassette tank 8. In addition, a heat shield plate 28 that intercepts heat from the base 3 is interposed between the water flow joint 22 and the base 3. Below this heat shield plate 28,
A cover plate 29 is provided so as to cover the upper opening of the vaporization chamber 4.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a nozzle provided in the middle of the water-flow joint 22. An on-off valve 32 for opening and closing the nozzle 31 is provided with a support shaft.
It is attached to one side of a seesaw body 34 that is provided rotatably about 33. Further, the other end of the seesaw body 34 is constantly urged downward by a spring 35, and is downwardly directed toward a concave portion 37 of the base 3 from an opening 36 provided in common with the heat shield plate 28 and the cover plate 29. It is protruding. Recess of this base 3
In 37, a reversible bimetal 38 corresponding to a thermosensitive body is accommodated, and opposed to the upper surface of the bimetal 38,
A responsive body 39 is attached and fixed to the other end of the seesaw body 34.
A washer 40 is provided at the upper end of the spring 35. When the temperature of the vaporization chamber 4 near the concave portion 37 reaches a predetermined temperature, the bimetal 38 is inverted inside the concave portion 37 and pushes up the reaction body 39 against the bias of the spring 35, thereby forming the seesaw body 34. The on-off valve 32 at one end of the nozzle moves downward to open the nozzle 31.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a steam operation button which is provided so as to protrude from both side surfaces of the handle 7 and slides in the horizontal direction integrally with an operation body 42 located in the handle 7. Here, the steam operation button 41 will be described with reference to FIGS.
More specifically, in the center of the operation body 42, an inclined lower surface 42A is formed integrally with the steam operation button 41. The lower surface 42A is connected to the cassette tank 8 by the vaporization chamber 4.
The valve element 25 provided in the water fitting 22 leading to the
When the steam operation button 41 is moved to the rear side, that is, the dry side, of the iron main body 1, the interlocking rod 43 abutting on the lower surface 42 </ b> A of the operation body 42 moves upwards. Moving, the interlocking rod 43 side of the seesaw body 44 abutting on the lower surface of the interlocking rod 43 moves upward, and accordingly, the valve rod 24 side of the seesaw body 44 connected to the valve rod 24 moves downward, and the valve When the rod 24 and the valve body 25 move downward, the water passage joint 22 serving as a water passage is closed, and the supply of water from the cassette tank 8 to the vaporization chamber 4 is regulated and shut off. As described above, the valve body 25 is constantly biased downward by the spring 26. On the other hand, the steam operation button 41
Is moved to the front side of the iron body 1, that is, to the steam side. Contrary to the above, the valve body 24 moves upward against the bias of the spring 26 to open the water joint 22 as a water passage, and the cassette Water is supplied from the tank 8 to the vaporization chamber 4.

The handle 7 is used to insert a hand between the abdomen 46 of the iron main body 1 located below the handle 45 and the handle 45 in addition to the handle 45 corresponding to the grip. A cavity 47 is formed. The abdomen 46 here refers to a flat central upper surface of the iron main body 1 facing the handle portion 45 excluding the both sides 9 of the cassette tank 8 as shown in FIG. 46 is the cassette tank 8
Are formed at a position lower than the upper end surface 9a of the both side portions 9 of the base member.
The lower surface of the cavity 47 from the upper end surface 9a of each of the side portions 9 to the abdomen 46 is formed in a gentle concave shape along the back of the hand so that the hand can be easily inserted.

An operation panel 51 is provided on the upper part of the handle 7 and has a setting button 52 corresponding to an operation means for changing the set temperature of the base 3 and a plurality of light emitting diodes, ie, LEDs 53. A temperature display section 54 for displaying the set temperature is provided. Two windows 48 are provided in front of the temperature display unit 54, and characters "steam" and "dry" are displayed on the operation panel 51 near the two windows 48, respectively. Then, according to the set position of the steam operation button 41, the steam operation button
The setting state of the steam operation button 41 is displayed by the display band 50 provided integrally with the window 41 facing outward from one of the two windows 48. here,
The pair of left and right steam operation buttons 41 are integrally formed with the operation body 42 via two connecting rods 49, and the display band 50 is provided with the steam operation button 41 near the front upper center of one of the steam operation buttons 41. It is provided integrally. The display band 50 is colored pink or the like. For example, when the steam operation button 41 is moved to the rear side of the iron main body 1, that is, to the dry side, the display band 50 is removed from the window 48 on the rear side of the iron main body 1. Face towards
The window 48 on the rear side displays "Dry",
A display band 50 colored pink or the like appears on the window 48, so that the user is informed that the setting state is dry. It is preferable that the color of the display band 50 be different from the color of the operation panel 51 so that the color can be easily recognized when the display band 50 appears from the window 48 of the operation panel 51. As described above, the display device 92 is configured by the display band 50, the operation panel 51, and the window 48 provided integrally with the steam operation button 41. That is, in the conventional example, the steam button 111 itself constitutes a part of the display device together with the display unit 112, but in the present embodiment, the display device 92 is provided at a position different from the steam operation button 41. , This display device
A display band 50 forming a part of 92 is provided integrally with the steam operation button 41.

A temperature control device 55 for controlling the base 3 to a predetermined temperature by appropriately turning on and off the heater 2 is provided inside the handle 7. This temperature control device 55, specifically, in addition to the switch portion 56 and the LED 53 of the setting button 52,
A buzzer 57 as a notifying means for notifying the user of a temperature setting change or an unsuitable temperature state, or a power storage unit such as a secondary battery or a capacitor which stores and holds the current set temperature and allows the setting button 52 to be received. That is, the power storage device 58 is configured by being mounted on the upper surface of the substrate 59. Reference numeral 60 denotes a substrate supporting portion formed behind the substrate 59, and another substrate 61 supported by the substrate supporting portion 60 is provided at a rear portion in the iron main body 1. Reference numeral 62 denotes an electric pump provided between the central convex portion 63 of the cover 6 and the holding frame 64. By driving the electric pump 62, water in the cassette tank 8 is pumped to the vaporization chamber 4 side. It is supposed to. Reference numeral 65 denotes a rear cover which forms a rear outer shell of the iron main body 1, and a pair of power supply terminals 67 is attached to a recess 66 formed below the rear cover 65 in a protruding state.

On the other hand, 71 is a mounting table on which the iron main body 1 can be mounted, and is a mounting section 72 whose upper surface is inclined in one direction.
A receiving portion 73 is protruded from the lower end of the inclined portion. The receiving portion 73 is provided with a power contact 74 in the form of a leaf spring corresponding to the power supply terminal 67. When the iron main body 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 72 of the mounting base 71, the power supply terminal 67 Power is supplied from the power cord 75 connected to an outlet (not shown) to the inside of the iron body 1 as necessary, in contact with the outlet 74.

Next, the electrical configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The temperature control device 55 is specifically composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and is configured to perform a series of operations according to a control sequence of a program stored in a storage device (not shown) of the microcomputer. is there. On the input side of the temperature controller 55, the setting button 52
In addition, a temperature detecting means 81 such as a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the base 3 and an iron placement detecting means 82 for determining whether or not the iron main body 1 is placed on the placing table 71 are connected to each other. . The output side of the temperature control device 55 is connected to the heater 2, the temperature display unit 54, the buzzer 57, the electric pump 62, and the like. The temperature control device 55 controls whether or not the iron main body 1 is mounted on the mounting table 71,
Upon receiving an operation signal from the setting button 52, the set temperature of the base 3 is set to, for example, three levels of "low" meaning low temperature, "medium" meaning medium temperature, and "high" meaning high temperature. The temperature setting means 83 for switching and setting, regardless of whether or not the iron main body 1 is mounted on the mounting table 71, receives the operation signal from the setting button 52 and sets the iron main body 1 to the off state. And off state setting means 84. In this embodiment, each time the setting button 52 is pressed once, the setting mode in the temperature setting unit 83 or the off state setting unit 84 is changed from “off” → “low” → “medium” → “high”. "→
The temperature is switched to a higher temperature setting step by step in the order of “off” (however, if the temperature is set to a high temperature, operating the setting button 52 causes a setting mode of an off state). In addition,
As in the present embodiment, the temperature setting means 83 may be configured so that the set temperature of the base 3 can be continuously and variably set instead of stepwise. In this case, it is preferable to use, for example, a slide-type switch instead of the push-button-type operation means. Further, an operating means for switching the set temperature of the base 3 and an operating means for instructing an off state may be provided separately. That is, the temperature control device 55 may be provided with a temperature setting unit 83 that can receive an operation signal from the operation unit and switch and set the set temperature of the base 3 even during the detachment of the iron main body 1. Temperature setting means 83 or OFF state setting means
The setting mode once set by 84 is retained and stored for a predetermined time by the backup power storage device 58 while the iron main body 1 is detached.

The temperature control device 55 includes an iron placement detecting means.
When detecting that the iron main body 1 is mounted on the mounting table 71 by 82, the base 3 detected by the temperature detecting means 81
The power of the heater 2 serving as a heating unit is controlled so that the temperature of the heater 2 coincides with the set temperature set by the temperature setting unit 83. Further, the temperature control unit 55 includes a notification / display control unit 85 that controls the temperature display unit 54 and the buzzer 57,
When the iron body 1 is placed, the temperature detecting means 81
When the temperature of the base 3 detected in the above is within an appropriate temperature range around the set temperature, the temperature display section 54 corresponding to the set temperature
The LED 53 of the temperature display unit 54 corresponding to the set temperature is turned on and off when the temperature of the base 3 is out of the appropriate temperature range, and the notification by the buzzer 57 is performed. It is configured not to perform it.

On the other hand, when the iron body 1 is detached from the mounting table 71, the power supply from the mounting table 71 to the iron body 1 is cut off, and the heater 2 is turned off. At this time, the temperature control device 55 continues to operate by power supply from the power storage device 58, monitors the temperature of the base 3 detected by the temperature detection means 81, and receives an operation signal from the setting button 52. Then, when the temperature of the base 3 falls below an appropriate temperature range near the set temperature set by the temperature setting means 83, or by operating the setting button 52, the set temperature in the temperature setting means 83 becomes higher than before. When the temperature is also switched to a high temperature, the notification / display control means 85 uses the buzzer 57 or the LED 53 of the temperature display unit 54 to perform power supply notification or display for prompting mounting on the mounting table 71 of the iron main body 1. It is composed.

Next, the operation of the steam iron having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When water is stored in the cassette tank 8 from the water inlet lid 11 in advance and the cassette tank 8 is inserted from the front of the handle 7, the upper surface of the cassette tank 8 pushes up the lock portion 15 against the spring 14, The cassette tank 8 is set at a predetermined position of the iron body 1 by locking the lock portion 15 to the concave portion 16. Then, FIG.
In step S1, the power cord 75 is inserted into an outlet (not shown) in a state where the iron main body 1 is mounted on the mounting table 71, and the temperature control device 55 and the power storage device in the iron main body 1 are connected from the power supply contact 74 of the mounting table 71. Power is supplied to 58. In the temperature control device 55, an off state setting mode is first set by the off state setting means 84 as an initial state, and the notification / display control means 85 turns on the LED 53 corresponding to "off" of the operation panel 51. In this off state, power is not supplied to the heater 2 for safety.
Thereafter, when the setting button 52 is pushed and operated in step S2, the setting mode is switched from "off" to "low", "medium", and "high" in this order, and the corresponding LED 53 is turned on. Then, in step S3, the temperature setting means 83 other than "OFF"
Is switched to the setting mode, the heater 2 is energized by the temperature controller 55.

In the next step S4, the temperature control device 55 detects whether the iron main body 1 is being mounted or detached by the iron mounting detection means 82. In a state where the iron main body 1 is continuously mounted on the mounting table 71, the heater 2 heats the base 3 until the base 3 reaches the temperature set by the temperature setting means 83. At this time, the temperature control device 55 determines whether or not the temperature of the base 3 is within an appropriate temperature range close to the set temperature based on the detection output from the temperature detection means 81 (step S5). When the temperature of the base 3 is out of the appropriate temperature range, the next step S
6 and the LE of the temperature display section 54 corresponding to the set temperature is displayed.
D53 is turned on and off, and the user is notified that the base 3 is in an unsuitable temperature state by not performing notification by the buzzer 57. On the other hand, in step S5, the base 3
When the temperature is within the appropriate temperature range, the process proceeds to step S7, in which the LED 53 of the temperature display unit 54 corresponding to the set temperature is turned on, the buzzer 57 is sounded for a certain time, and the user is ironed. Announce what is possible. Then, the temperature control device 55 controls the power cutoff of the heater 2 so that the temperature of the base 3 is maintained within an appropriate temperature range as long as the iron main body 1 is mounted on the mounting table 71,
Regardless of whether the temperature of the base 3 is an appropriate temperature or an unsuitable temperature, the procedure returns to the step S4.

Thereafter, in step S4, when the iron main body 1 is detached from the mounting table 71 for ironing, the power supply from the mounting table 71 to the iron main body 1 is cut off, and the heater 2 is turned off. The temperature control device 55
The operation is continued by the power supply from the power storage device 58, but in the next step S8, when the temperature of the base 3 falls below the appropriate temperature range or by operating the setting button 52, the set temperature in the temperature setting means 83 is reduced. When the temperature is switched to a higher temperature than before, the buzzer 57 or the LED 53 is used to perform power supply notification or display for prompting the mounting of the iron main body 1 on the mounting table 71. Then, the process returns to step S4.

On the other hand, although the procedure is not specified in the flow chart of FIG. 10, in order to perform the steam operation, the steam operation buttons 41 protruding from both sides of the handle 7 correspond to the "steam" of the operation panel 51. Slide it to the position you want. Then, the interlocking rod 43 abutting on the lower surface of the operation body 42 moves upward, the restriction cutoff of the water-flow joint 22 from the cassette tank 8 to the vaporization chamber 4 is released, and the control panel 51 is provided on the operation panel 51. A display band 50 colored pink or the like appears on the window 48 on which "Steam" is displayed, thereby notifying the user that the setting state is steam. When the temperature of the base 3 rises to a temperature sufficient to generate steam by the energization of the heater 2, the bimetal 38
Is sensed and inverted, and the other end of the seesaw body 34 is pushed up together with the responsive body 39 against the bias of the spring 35. Accordingly, the seesaw body 34 rotates about the support shaft 33, and the opening / closing body 32 at one end of the seesaw body 34 moves in a direction to open the nozzle 31, that is, downward. When the cassette tank 8 is mounted on the iron body 1, the valve body 25 is pushed up against the spring 26, so that when the bimetal 38 is sensed and inverted, water in the iron body 1 is discharged. Drops are sequentially dropped into the vaporization chamber 4 from the outlet 27 through the nozzle 31. Then, the water dropped into the vaporization chamber 4 is heated and evaporated by energization of the heater 2, so that a predetermined amount of steam is ejected from the ejection holes 5.

In the case of ironing, after inserting a hand through the cavity 47 of the iron body 1, the user grips the handle portion 45 of the handle 7 with his palm. At this time, the abdomen 46 of the iron body 1 below the handle 45 is attached to the iron body 1
Is located at a position lower than both sides 9 of the cassette tank 8 provided along both sides of the cassette tank 8 and a wide cavity 47 is secured between the handle 45 and the abdomen 46, so that the handle 45 is gripped. In this case, the back of the hand, that is, the back of the hand, hardly hits the abdomen 46 of the iron body 1, and the handle 7 can be easily held. Further, in order to make the leading end portion of the base 3 easily visible, the front end face 10 of the cassette tank 8 is inclined so as to relatively fall down toward the rear side of the iron body 1 in the present embodiment. Cassette tank 8
Since both sides 9 are secured high enough to accommodate a sufficient amount of water, it is possible to solve the conventional shortage of capacity of the water tank.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the base 3 having the heater 2 serving as a heating means provided at the lower portion of the iron body 1 is fixed above the base 3 via the heat shield plate 28. A handle 7 having a handle 45 having a cavity 47, a cassette tank 8 serving as a container provided in the iron body 1, and supplying or blocking water from the cassette tank 8 to a vaporization chamber 4 formed in the base 3. And a steam operation button 41 serving as an operation unit for switching to any one of the above. The steam is supplied from the cassette tank 8 to the vaporization chamber 4 so that the steam is ejected from the ejection hole 5 communicating with the vaporization chamber 4. In ironing, steam operation button 41
Is a lower surface 42A of an operation body 42 as an opening / closing control unit that opens and closes a valve body 25 provided in a water passage joint 22 which is a water passage from the cassette tank 8 to the vaporization chamber 4 in response to operation of a steam operation button 41.
And a display device 92 for displaying the setting state of the steam operation button 41
(Display band 50).

In this case, when the steam operation button 41 is operated, the valve body 25 is opened or closed by the lower surface 42A of the operation body 42, water is supplied or cut off from the cassette tank 8 to the vaporization chamber 4, and the display device 92 is operated. Indicates the setting state of the steam operation button 41. Since the steam operation button 41 is provided with the display band 50 of the display device 92, the display band 50 of the display device 92 is located at a position easily visible on the iron main body 1 separately from the steam operation button 41.
The number of parts does not increase even when the number is provided. The lower surface 42A of the operation body 42 as an opening / closing control unit of the valve body 25
Also, since the steam operation button 41 is provided, the display on the display device 92 and the opening and closing of the valve element 25 are interlocked without delay, and an accurate display almost coincident with the actual movement of the valve element 25 can be performed.

In this embodiment, the steam operation button 41 is located on the side of the handle 7, and the display device 92 is provided on the upper surface of the handle 7. In this case, the display device 92 is provided on the upper surface of the handle 7 even though the steam operation button 41 is located on the side surface of the handle 7, so that the display device 92 can be viewed from above the iron body 1 without looking into the side surface. The display can be checked, and the display of the setting status becomes very easy to see. In particular,
When the steam iron is in use, the user's viewpoint is placed above the iron body 1, so that the display device 92 is provided on the upper surface of the handle 7 so that the display becomes very easy to see and provides an easy-to-use steam iron. can do.

Further, the display device 92 in this embodiment is a display band 50 which moves back and forth in response to the operation of the steam operation button 41.
And the display band 50 is a window provided on the upper surface of the handle 7.
It is located facing 48. In this case, the steam operation button
41 is provided with a display band 50 constituting a display device 92, and the other display devices 92 are provided with only the window portion 48 and characters indicating the setting state, etc., by diverting the conventional operation panel 51, which is particularly complicated. Display device with a simple structure without the need for a simple mechanism
92 can be configured, and there is almost no increase in cost when implementing the present invention.

Also, as an effect of the embodiment, the display band 50 has a window portion so that it can be easily recognized when it appears from the window portion 48.
A color different from the surface of the operation panel 51 around the periphery 48 is provided. Therefore, the display of the setting state of the steam operation button 41 becomes very easy to see, and a steam iron excellent in usability can be provided.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the display band 50 is the steam operation button 41
, But may be provided separately from the steam operation button 41.

[0035]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steam iron having a base provided with a heating means provided at a lower portion of an iron body, and a handle fixed above the base via a heat shield plate and having a cavity. A handle provided with a part, a container provided on the iron body, and an operation unit for switching between water supply and cutoff to a vaporization chamber formed on the base, and water from the container is provided. In the steam iron, which supplies steam to the vaporization chamber to blow out steam from a discharge hole communicating with the vaporization chamber, the operation unit may include a valve provided in a water passage from the container to the vaporization chamber. An opening and closing control unit that opens and closes according to the operation of
A display device for displaying the setting state of the operation unit, and the setting state of the operation unit can be displayed at a position where the setting state of the operation unit can be easily viewed without increasing the number of components. Further, it is possible to provide a steam iron capable of performing an accurate display substantially matching the actual movement of the valve element.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the operation unit is located on a side surface of the handle, and the display device is provided on an upper surface of the handle. In this case, the display can be confirmed from above the iron main body without looking into the side surface of the handle, and the display of the setting state is very easy to see.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the display device has a display band that moves back and forth in response to an operation of the operation unit. The band is positioned facing the window provided on the upper surface of the handle. In this case, the display device can be further configured with a simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially cut away, of an iron main body showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall sectional view of the same steam iron.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the iron body.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial top view of the same iron body at the time of dry setting.

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the same iron body at the time of dry setting.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the vicinity of an operation portion of the handle.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the operation unit.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the above.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the above.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Iron main body 2 Heater (heating means) 3 Base 4 Vaporization chamber 5 Injection hole 7 Handle 8 Cassette tank (container) 22 Water flow joint (water passage) 25 Valve body 28 Heat shield plate 41 Steam operation button (operation part) 45 Handle Part 47 cavity 48 window part 50 display band (display device) 42A lower surface of operation body (opening / closing control part) 92 display device

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yamamoto 2570-1, Gosuda, Kaji, Kamo-shi, Niigata Toshiba Home Techno Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuharu Tsubaki 2570-1, Gosuda, Ka-shi, Kamo-shi, Niigata Toshiba Home Inside Techno Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsuya Imai 2570-1, Gosuda, Oaza, Kamo-shi, Niigata Toshiba Home Techno Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hitoshi Takagi 2570-1, Gosuda, Oaza, Kamo-shi, Niigata Toshiba Home Techno Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 4L029 DA09 DB04 DB09

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A base having a heating means provided at a lower portion of an iron body, a handle fixed above the base via a heat shield plate and having a handle having a cavity, and provided on the iron body. Provided with an operating unit for switching the supply of water from the container to a vaporization chamber formed on the base or to shut off the supply, and supplying water from the container to the vaporization chamber, An opening / closing control unit that opens and closes a valve provided in a water passage from the container to the vaporization chamber in accordance with an operation of the operation unit, A steam iron, comprising: a display device for displaying a setting state of the operation unit. 2. The steam iron according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is located on a side surface of the handle, and the display device is provided on an upper surface of the handle. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device has a display band that moves back and forth in response to an operation of the operation unit, and the display band faces a window provided on an upper surface of the handle. The steam iron according to claim 1, wherein