JP2789839B2 - Iron - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an iron using an electronic circuit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electronically controlled irons for controlling temperature using electronic circuits have become mainstream. This type of iron generally has a configuration as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
1 is an iron base, 1a is an iron body, 2 is a handle,
3 is a water tank. 4 is a heater for heating the iron base 1, 5 is a vaporization chamber for converting water dropped from the water tank 3 into steam, 6 is a steam hole for injecting generated steam, and 7 is the temperature of the iron base 1. A temperature detecting element such as a thermistor for detection (hereinafter simply referred to as a thermistor). Reference numeral 8 denotes a steam button for selecting whether or not steam is to be emitted. When the steam button is pressed downward, the valve 9 is opened, and when pressed again, the button is raised and the valve 9 is closed. Reference numeral 10 denotes a control circuit that controls energization of the heater 4 based on a temperature signal of the thermistor 7.

In a conventional iron shown in FIG. 14, a control circuit 10 sets a thermistor 7 using a set temperature T0 degree as a threshold value.
When the detected temperature is lower than T0 degrees, the heater 4 is energized, and when it is higher than T0 degrees, the energization of the heater 4 is stopped to control the temperature of the iron base 1.

[0004]

In the conventional iron as described above, the temperature cannot be adjusted at all according to the method of ironing, and the user is forced to stay in the same place because the cloth is thick or wrinkles are persistent. There was a problem that the set temperature did not change even if it was inserted many times.

[0005] Further, with the conventional iron, the steam amount cannot be adjusted at all according to the ironing method, and the user puts force on the same place many times because the cloth is thick or the wrinkles of the cloth are persistent. There was a problem that the amount of steam did not change even if it did.

Further, the effect of wrinkle smoothing is greater as the amount of steam is larger. However, if the steam is discharged too quickly, the temperature of the vaporization chamber suddenly cools down. Therefore, there is a problem that the thermistor cannot completely follow and the heater is not easily energized. Was.

An object of the present invention is to provide an iron that solves the above-mentioned conventional problems.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a heater for heating an iron base of an iron body, a relay for controlling energization of the heater, and a relay drive for opening and closing the relay. A temperature detecting element such as a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the iron base surface, a temperature adjusting unit for adjusting the temperature of the iron base surface by driving the relay drive unit from the temperature data of the temperature detecting element, and inside the iron body. A state sensor for detecting the state of the mounted ironing, and a temperature value for making the adjustment temperature of the iron base surface higher than a preset set temperature by using a signal of the state sensor as an input, and determining this temperature value as the temperature. Adjusting temperature determining means for sending to the adjusting unit.

Further, the present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.
A heater that heats the iron base of the iron body, a relay that controls energization of the heater, a relay drive unit that opens and closes the relay, a temperature detecting element such as a thermistor that detects the temperature of the iron base surface, A temperature control unit that controls the temperature of the iron base surface by driving the relay drive unit from the temperature data of the detection element, a steam amount control unit that controls the amount of water dripping, and an ironing state attached inside the iron body. A state sensor for detecting
Steam amount determining means for driving the steam amount control unit so as to increase the steam amount according to the signal of the state sensor.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is provided with heater energizing time determining means for determining the heater energizing time according to the steam amount of the steam amount determining means.

[0011]

According to the present invention, since the temperature of the iron base surface is controlled by a signal from the state sensor for detecting the state of ironing according to the above-described configuration, it is possible to control the temperature adaptively to a load change due to disturbance.

Further, according to the present invention, since the amount of steam is controlled by the signal from the state sensor for detecting the state of ironing, the amount of steam can be controlled adaptively to a load change due to disturbance.

Further, according to the present invention, when the steam function is used, the heater energizing time is controlled in accordance with the steam amount without relying only on the information of the temperature detecting element such as a thermistor. However, the temperature of the iron base surface does not get too cold.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, since the entire configuration of the iron is the same as the conventional configuration, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. Reference numeral 20 denotes a fuzzy inference unit, which has a state sensor 21 as an input and an inference output connected to a temperature adjustment unit 22. The state sensor 21
It detects various states such as a use state by horizontal reciprocating movement of the iron, a standing state by horizontal standing still, and a rest state by an independent or inclined state, and includes various sensors. Reference numeral 24 denotes a relay, and the relay drive unit 23 supplies an exciting current to close the relay contact 16 and supply power from the AC power supply 17 to the heater 4.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the state sensor 21. Numeral 30 denotes a small ball, and 31 denotes a box for keeping the small ball 30 within a predetermined range. Reference numeral 32 denotes a light emitting diode, and 33 denotes a phototransistor. The light emitting diode 32 and the phototransistor 33 are attached to face each other. When the iron body 1 is moved, small balls 3
Since 0 rolls between the light emitting diode 32 and the phototransistor 33, the phototransistor 33 receives or does not receive light from the light emitting diode 32.
34 is a DC power supply, 35 is a resistor for limiting the current flowing through the light emitting diode 32, and 36 is a resistor connected between the emitter of the phototransistor 33 and the negative electrode 38 of the DC power supply 34. When the phototransistor 33 receives light from the light emitting diode 32, the collector and the emitter conduct, so that a current flows through the resistor 36 and a voltage is generated at both ends. Terminal 37 is for viewing this voltage.

A voltage waveform as shown in FIG. 2 (c) is output to terminals 37 and 38. As shown in FIG. 2C, when the iron is moved quickly, the pulse cycle is shortened, and when it is moved slowly, the pulse cycle is lengthened.

The configuration and operation of the fuzzy inference unit 20 are as follows. In the present embodiment, when the pulse period is short, it is determined that the wrinkles are quite persistent, and a rule is established such that the temperature is adjusted at a temperature slightly higher than the set temperature. Fuzzy inference is based on rules such as "if ironing is done with a lot of power, raise the correction temperature considerably." The qualitative concept of ironing being “with considerable power” or the correction temperature being “high” is quantitatively expressed by a membership function as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). . The space where the power is stored is divided into four parts, and the output is divided into four parts: the output is not increased, slightly increased, increased, and considerably increased.

FIG. 4 shows a fuzzy rule table which defines a rule that "if the degree of force is A, the output is B". A1 to A4 in FIG. 4 correspond to each of FIG. 3A, and B1 to B4 in FIG. 4 correspond to each of FIG. 3B.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the fuzzy inference device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Input value p of force
The degree of conformity to the membership function of A1 is as shown in FIG.
It is determined by the value of the point of intersection with each membership function of A4. Ga1 for A1, Ga2 for A2, A
It is 0 for 3 and A4. These are the degrees of conformity of the antecedent part of the fuzzy inference rule. The consequent part of the fuzzy inference rule is obtained by truncating B1 by Ga1 and truncating B2 by Ga2, and each of them is the conclusion of each rule. As a final conclusion, the value of the horizontal axis of the center of gravity of the figure in which the two trapezoids are overlapped is set as the correction temperature dT1. The corrected temperature value of the output obtained in this manner becomes a fine adjustment value of the set temperature of the iron, and the temperature obtained by adding the corrected temperature value dT1 to the previously set temperature T0 is set as a new temperature adjustment value.

If the iron is moved vigorously with force to make the iron wrinkle and persistent, the temperature of the iron will be somewhat higher than the set temperature, making it easier to iron.

In this embodiment, the use state of the iron is a state sensor using a small ball, a light emitting diode, and a phototransistor.
Various methods can be considered, such as detecting how the user grips the iron, detecting the pressing state of the iron (pressure on the cloth), and the like.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the overall configuration of the iron is the same as the conventional configuration, and is partially common to the first embodiment. 40 is a fuzzy inference device,
The state sensor 21 is input and the inference output is the steam control unit 4
1, the output of the steam amount control unit 41 controls the steam valve 42.

The configuration and operation of the fuzzy inference unit 40 are as follows. In the present embodiment, when the pulse period is short, it is determined that the wrinkles are quite persistent, and a rule is established such that the temperature is adjusted at a temperature slightly higher than the set temperature.

The fuzzy inference is performed based on a rule such as "If the ironing is performed with considerable power, the steam amount is considerably increased". The qualitative concepts such as ironing being “with considerable power” and steaming being “more” are shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b).
Is quantitatively expressed by a membership function as shown in FIG. The space where the power is stored is divided into four parts, and the amount of steam output is usually divided into four parts: a little, a lot, and a lot. FIG. 8 shows a fuzzy rule table that defines a rule that "if the degree of force is A, the output is B". A1 to A in FIG.
4 correspond to each of FIG. 7A, and C1 in FIG.
To C4 correspond to each of FIG.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the fuzzy inference device of the second embodiment. The degree of conformity of the input force value r to the membership function is determined by the value of the point of intersection with each of the membership functions A1 to A4 as shown in FIG. It is Ga1 for A1, Ga2 for A2, and 0 for A3 and A4. These are the degrees of conformity of the antecedent part of the fuzzy inference rule. The consequent part of the fuzzy inference rule is Ga
C1 is truncated at 1 and C2 is truncated at Ga2, and each is the conclusion of each rule. As a final conclusion, the value of the horizontal axis of the center of gravity of the figure obtained by superimposing the two trapezoids is defined as the steam amount s.

According to the iron described above, when the iron is moved a little vigorously with strong force due to persistent wrinkling, the amount of steam of the iron is somewhat larger than usual, and the iron is more easily ironed.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
3 will be described. In the present embodiment, the overall configuration of the iron is the same as the conventional configuration, and is partially common to the first embodiment. Reference numeral 50 denotes a fuzzy inference device, which receives the state sensor 21 as an input, and outputs an inference output to the steam amount control unit 41, the output of the steam amount control unit 41 controls the steam valve 42, and the result of the fuzzy inference of the heater energization time. Sends a heater energization request signal to the temperature adjustment unit 22.

The configuration and operation of the fuzzy inference unit 50 are as follows. First, the control of the steam amount is exactly the same as in the second embodiment. The heater energizing time is inferred and controlled as follows.

In this embodiment, when the steam amount is large, the followability of the thermistor 7 is slow, so that a rule is established to make the heater energization start earlier. The fuzzy inference is that "when the steam amount is large, the heater energization is started earlier."
It is performed based on such rules. A qualitative concept, such as “the steam amount is large” or “start of heater energization early” is quantitatively expressed by a membership function as shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b). The space for the amount of steam is divided into four spaces, and the output energization start time is usually divided into four spaces, such as slightly earlier, faster, and considerably faster. FIG. 12 defines a rule in the fuzzy rule table that "if the steam amount is D, the output heater energizing time is E". D1 to D4 in FIG.
Corresponds to each of FIG. 11A, and E in FIG.
1 to E4 correspond to each of FIG.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the fuzzy inference device of the third embodiment. The degree of conformity of the input force value u to the membership function is determined by the value at the point of intersection with each of the membership functions D1 to D4 as shown in FIG. D1
For Gd1, D2 for Gd2, D3 and D4
Is zero. These are the degrees of conformity of the antecedent part of the fuzzy inference rule. The fuzzy inference rule consequent is G
E1 is truncated at d1 and E2 is truncated at Gd2, and each is the conclusion of each rule. As a final conclusion, the value of the horizontal axis of the center of gravity of the figure obtained by superimposing the two trapezoids is defined as the heater energizing time t.

According to the iron described above, when the iron is moved a little vigorously with strong force due to wrinkling and persistence, the amount of steam in the iron becomes somewhat larger than usual, making it easier to iron and vaporizing at the same time. Before the room temperature drop is transmitted as thermistor information,
Since the heater is energized, it does not get too cold.
In each of the embodiments, the fuzzy inference device is used to configure the adjustment temperature determining means and the heater energizing time determining means. However, ordinary proportional control without fuzzy inference may be used.

[0032]

As is apparent from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, the set temperature can be delicately automatically adjusted according to the use state of the iron. Also, if a fuzzy inferencer is used, the know-how to determine the temperature adjustment value from the ironing state of the controlled object can be realized as a fuzzy inference rule. The method and the fuzzy rule table can be easily adjusted by a designer empirically.

Further, according to the present invention, the amount of steam can be finely and automatically adjusted according to the use state of the iron. Also, if a fuzzy inferencer is used, the know-how for determining the steam amount from the ironing state of the controlled object can be realized as a fuzzy inference rule. The method and the fuzzy rule table can be easily adjusted by a designer empirically.

Further, according to the present invention, when the steam function is used, the heater energizing time is determined and controlled according to the amount of steam without relying only on the information of the temperature detecting element such as a thermistor. However, the temperature of the iron base surface does not get too cold. Also, if a fuzzy inferencer is used, know-how to determine the heater energization time from the amount of steam to be controlled can be realized as a fuzzy inference rule, and the parameters of the fuzzy inferencer (how to divide the space of input / output variables) ) And the fuzzy rule table can be easily adjusted empirically by the designer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an iron according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a configuration diagram of a state sensor of the iron, FIG. 2B is a circuit diagram of the state sensor, and FIG. 2C is an output diagram of the state sensor.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a membership function of a degree of confinement of force, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a membership function of a corrected temperature.

FIG. 4 is a fuzzy rule table of the iron.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of fuzzy inference of the iron.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an iron according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a membership function of the degree of confinement of force, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a membership function of a steam amount.

FIG. 8 is a fuzzy rule table of the iron.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of fuzzy inference of the iron.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an iron according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

11A is a diagram showing a membership function of a steam amount. FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a membership function of a heater energizing time.

FIG. 12 is a fuzzy rule table of the iron.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the fuzzy inference operation of the iron.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a conventional iron.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Iron main body 4 Heater 7 Temperature detection element 9 Steam valve 10 Control circuit 16 Relay contact 17 AC power supply 20, 40, 50 Fuzzy inference device 21 State sensor 22 Temperature adjustment unit 23 Relay drive unit 24 Relay 41 Steam amount control unit 42 Steam valve

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Koji Takemoto, Inventor 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-156993 (JP, A) JP-A-63- 102799 (JP, A) JP-A-62-16800 (JP, A) JP-A-62-16799 (JP, A) JP-A-60-2299 (JP, A) JP-A-60-2297 (JP, A) JP-A-3-21300 (JP, A) JP-A-2-29300 (JP, A) JP-A-61-2900 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) D06F 75/08-75 / 20,75 / 26

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A heater for heating an iron base of an iron body, a relay for controlling energization of the heater, a relay drive unit for opening and closing the relay, and a temperature detector such as a thermistor for detecting a temperature of an iron base surface. Element, a temperature adjustment unit that adjusts the temperature of the iron base surface by driving the relay drive unit from the temperature data of the temperature detection element,
A state sensor that is installed inside the iron body and detects the state of ironing, and the adjustment temperature of the iron base surface is set in advance using the signal of this state sensor as input.
Temperature value that is higher than the set temperature
And an adjustment temperature determining means for sending the temperature to the temperature adjustment unit. 2. A heater for heating an iron base of an iron body, a relay for controlling energization of the heater, a relay driving unit for opening and closing the relay, and temperature detection of a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the iron base surface. Element, a temperature adjustment unit that adjusts the temperature of the iron base surface by driving the relay drive unit from the temperature data of the temperature detection element,
A steam amount control unit that controls the amount of water dripping, a state sensor that is mounted inside the iron body and detects the state of ironing, and a steam amount according to the signal of this state sensor
And a steam amount determining means for driving the steam amount control unit so as to increase the amount. 3. The iron according to claim 2, further comprising heater energizing time determining means for determining the heater energizing time according to the steam amount of the steam amount determining means.