JP3255522B2 - Automatic water-supply cordless steam 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 automatic water-supply type cordless steam iron used for press finishing of clothes and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, cordless steam irons of automatic water supply type have been provided. In this automatic water-supply type cordless steam iron, a mounting table on which the iron main body is mounted is provided with a large-capacity main tank for storing water, and an iron main body is provided with a sub-tank for storing small water. Further, the mounting table is provided with a water supply port communicating with the main tank, and the iron body is provided with a water supply port communicating with the sub tank and connectable to the water supply port.

When the iron body is mounted on the mounting table, the water supply port of the iron body is connected to the water supply port of the mounting table in a watertight manner, and this is detected by the mounting sensor. At this time, if the iron body is set to "Steam",
The water supply means is automatically driven in response to the detection by the placement sensor, and the water supply means forcibly causes the water in the main tank of the placement table to pass through the water supply port and the water supply port into the sub-tank in the iron body in a specified amount (full). (Water volume).

When the iron main body is mounted on the mounting table, the power supply terminal provided on the iron main body comes into contact with the power supply terminal provided on the mounting table, and the contact is incorporated into the base of the iron main body. The heater is energized to heat the base. Then, the iron body is removed from the mounting table, and the lower surface of the base is pressed against the fabric to perform the ironing operation.

[0005] When the iron body is set to "steam", water in the sub-tank flows out into the vaporizing chamber of the base through a nozzle hole in an appropriate amount, and the water is vaporized by the heat of the base to produce steam. And this steam spouts sequentially from the lower surface of the base.

In such an automatic water-supply type cordless steam iron, water can be supplied to the sub tank of the iron body every time the iron body is mounted on the mounting table.
Therefore, the capacity of the sub-tank may be small enough to hold a small amount of water equivalent to the work of one ironing operation, which makes the entire iron body compact and convenient for handling. There are advantages.

[0007]

However, when the capacity of the sub-tank is small, when the iron body is mounted on the mounting table and the base is heated by the heater, the temperature of the water in the sub-tank is increased by the heat. Rises to a relatively high temperature, the water in the sub-tank evaporates due to this temperature rise, impurity components in the water are condensed and solid foreign matter is generated, and this foreign matter is discharged from the sub-tank when using the steam setting. In some cases, the water may flow into the flow path of water reaching the vaporization chamber and cause, for example, clogging of the nozzle hole.

When the iron body is placed on the mounting table, the heater is energized and the vaporization of water in the vaporization chamber is stopped, so that the temperature of the base becomes higher than during use of the iron body. For this reason, the temperature of the water in the sub-tank rises and solid foreign matter is easily generated.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object thereof is to suppress a rise in the temperature of water in a sub-tank and to prevent the formation of solid foreign matter due to the evaporation of the water. It is to provide a self-watering cordless team iron that can.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises an iron body having a handle and a mounting table for mounting the iron body, wherein the iron body has a steam. A small-capacity sub-tank for containing water for generation and a vaporization chamber for vaporizing water supplied from this sub-tank to generate steam are provided, and the mounting table has a main tank having a larger capacity than the sub-tank. In the automatic water-supply type cordless steam iron which is provided and supplies a predetermined amount of water in the main tank into the sub-tank by a water supply means in accordance with mounting of the iron main body on the mounting table, a human hand operates a handle of the iron main body. A touch sensor that detects when touched and outputs a detection signal, and a detection signal output by this touch sensor It is obtained so as to include a control means for replenishing water in the main tank into the sub tank by driving the water supply means Zui.

[0011]

[Function] When the iron body is placed on the mounting table and the iron body is to be taken out of the mounting table by grasping the handle of the iron body with a hand, the hand comes into contact with the touch sensor. A detection signal is sent from the touch sensor to the control unit, and the water supply unit is driven by the control of the control unit based on the detection signal, and the operation of the water supply unit replenishes the water in the main tank into the sub tank.

That is, water is replenished in the sub-tank immediately before the iron body is taken out of the mounting table. Therefore, the temperature rise of the replenished water is suppressed, the water is hardly evaporated, and impurities in the water are hardly evaporated. The components do not condense.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the structure of an automatic water-supply type cordless team iron, wherein reference numeral 1 denotes an iron body, and the iron body 1 includes a die-cast base 3 into which a heater 2 is cast. The handle 5 is covered with the heat shield cover 4, and a handle 5 is mounted on the heat shield cover 4. A small capacity sub-tank 6 is provided inside the handle 5.

A vaporizing chamber 7 is formed on the upper surface of the base 3,
The inside of the vaporization chamber 7 and the inside of the sub-tank 6 communicate with each other via a water supply passage 8, and a nozzle hole 9 is formed in the water supply passage 8. A needle valve 10 is provided in the nozzle hole 9 so as to be movable up and down, and an operation button 11 for setting steam dry is provided on the upper surface on the tip side of the handle 5. Is set, the needle valve 10 is lowered and the nozzle hole 9 is closed, and if "steam" is set, the needle valve 10 is raised and the nozzle hole 9 is opened, and the water in the sub tank 6 is Flows out into the vaporization chamber 7 by an appropriate amount through the nozzle holes 9, and the water is vaporized by the heat of the base 3 heated by the heater 2 to become steam, and this steam is sequentially discharged from the discharge holes 12 on the lower surface of the base 3. Is what you do.

A water supply pipe 15 is provided on the rear end face of the handle 5, and an end face on one end side of the water supply pipe 15 is provided with a water supply port 16.
The water supply pipe 15 is opposed to the water supply port 16.
A ball valve 17 is disposed therein, and the ball valve 17 is elastically urged by a spring 18 so as to normally close the water supply port 16.

A water supply pipe 19 for connecting a water supply port 16 to the inside of the sub tank 6 is provided between the water supply pipe 15 and the sub tank 6, and an electromagnetic pump 20, for example, as water supply means is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 19. Have been.

The sub-tank 6 has a vent hole 21 at the upper end thereof.
A full-water sensor 22 for detecting the fullness of the inside is provided.
A grip 5a is formed on the upper part of the handle 5 so that an ironing worker can grip the iron body 1 when using the iron body 1.
A touch sensor 23 is provided on the lower surface of the grip 5a. When the ironing worker touches the touch sensor 23 by holding the grip 5a of the handle 5 with his hand,
The touch sensor 23 is turned on and outputs a detection signal.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a mounting table on which the iron main body 1 is mounted. On the upper surface of the mounting table 25, a mounting section 26 and a tank storage section 27 are formed. An upright wall 28 is formed between the mounting portion 26 and the tank storage portion 27, and guide rollers 29 and 30 are provided on the upper surface of the mounting portion 26,
When the grip 3a of the handle 5 of the iron body 1 is released by putting the base 3 of the iron body 1 on these guide rollers 29, 30, the iron body 1 slides to the side where the upright wall 28 is disposed, and the iron body 1 The rear end face is an upright wall 28
The iron body 1 is held on the mounting portion 26 in an inclined state facing obliquely upward.

A large capacity main tank 31 is accommodated in the tank accommodating portion 27 so as to be freely inserted and removed. A normally-closed drain valve 32 is provided at the bottom of the main tank 31, and a normally-closed water-receiving valve 33 is provided at the inner bottom of the tank housing 27 so as to face the drain valve 32. The drain valve 3 according to the storage of the main tank 31 with respect to
2 is connected to the water receiving valve 33, and the drain valve 32 and the water receiving valve 33 are opened by this connection, so that the water in the main tank 31 flows out into the water receiving valve 33 through the drain valve 32. I have.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a water inlet formed on the upper surface of the main tank 31, reference numeral 35 denotes a cap removably screwed to the water inlet 34, and reference numeral 36 denotes a ventilation pipe provided on the upper surface of the main tank 31. .

A water supply pipe 40 is provided on the front surface of the upright wall 28, and one end of the water supply pipe 40 is connected to the water supply port 4.
1 and facing the water supply port 41, the water supply pipe 4
A push pin 42 is provided in the area 0. When the iron main body 1 is placed on the mounting portion 26 of the mounting table 25 and the rear end surface of the iron main body 1 abuts against the front surface of the upright wall 28, the water supply port of the iron main body 1 is operated according to this operation. 16 is connected to the water supply port 41, and the push pin 42 enters the water supply port 16, and the ball valve 17 is
And the water supply port 16 is opened, whereby the water supply port 16 and the water supply port 41 communicate with each other. The water pipe 40 and the water receiving valve 33
And a water supply pipe 43 for connecting the water supply port 41 to the inside of the water receiving valve 33.

The iron body 1 includes
Is mounted on the mounting table 25, and a mounting sensor 45 for detecting when the water supply port 16 is connected to the water supply port 41 is provided. Further, a control unit 46 including a microcomputer and a charging power supply unit is provided inside the handle 5 of the iron main body 1. A display unit 47 is provided on the upper surface of the handle 5, and a display lamp 48 and a notification sound generating element 49 are provided on the display unit 47.

A valve case 50 is provided in the upper part of the vaporizing chamber 7, and a guide path 51 is formed inside the valve case 50 as shown in FIG. 2, and a ball valve 52 is provided in the guide path 51. It is stored. The guide path 51 is long in the front-rear direction of the iron body 1 and the ball valve 5
2 has a certain length that can freely roll, an inflow hole 53 is formed at one end of the guide path 51, and an outflow hole 54 is formed at the rear end thereof. The outflow hole 54 communicates with the inner bottom of the vaporization chamber 7.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the iron main body 1 is placed on the
When the guide path 51 is inclined at an angle of?
The ball valve 52 in the guide path 51 rolls to the side where the outflow hole 54 is disposed, and the outflow hole 54 is closed by the ball valve 52.

When the iron main body 1 is in a horizontal position, that is, when the iron main body 1 is used, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the guide path 51 is inclined downward at an angle of θ / 2 with respect to the horizontal toward the tip end side of the iron body 1,
Due to this inclination, the ball valve 52 in the guide path 51 rolls to the opposite side of the outflow hole 54, and the outflow hole 54 is kept open.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the electric circuit. The input port of the control section 46 is connected to the operation button 11, the full sensor 22, the touch sensor 23, and the placement sensor 45, and the output port is connected to the output port. Drive circuit 2 for electromagnetic pump 20
0a, the display lamp 48 and the notification sound generating element 49 are connected.

A power supply terminal (not shown) is provided on the upright wall 28 of the mounting table 25, and a power supply terminal (not shown) is provided on the rear end surface of the handle 5 of the iron body 1. When the iron main body 1 is placed thereon, the power supply terminal comes into contact with the power supply terminal, and by this contact, the heater 2 of the iron main body 1 is electrically connected to the power supply.

Next, the operation will be described. Iron body 1
Is used, first, the iron main body 1 is placed on the mounting table 25. In response to this placement, the water supply port 16 of the iron body 1 is connected to the water supply port 41 of
And the water outlet 41 communicate with each other, and furthermore, the iron body 1
Of the heater 2 contacts the power supply terminal of the mounting table 25,
Is energized. When the iron main body 1 is mounted on the mounting table 25, this is detected by the mounting sensor 45, and a detection signal is sent to the control unit 46.

The base 3 is heated by energization of the heater 2, and when the temperature of the base 3 reaches a predetermined temperature, this is notified via a display lamp 48. After that, the ironing worker holds the grip 5a of the handle 5 with his hand and takes out the iron body 1 from the mounting table 25. The operator grips the grip 5a of the handle 5 with his hand. When the hand touches the touch sensor 23, the touch sensor 23 is turned on by this contact, and the detection signal is sent to the control unit 46.

Here, when the iron body 1 is in the “steam” setting state, the control of the control unit 46 is performed based on the detection signal from the touch sensor 23 and the detection signal from the placement sensor 45 input to the control unit 46. The electromagnetic pump 20 is driven via a drive circuit 20a, and the operation of the electromagnetic pump 20 causes water in the main tank 31 to be pumped into the sub tank 6 through the water supply pipe 43 and the water supply pipe 19.

When the amount of water in the sub-tank 6 reaches a prescribed full water amount, this is detected by the full water sensor 22.
The detection signal is sent to the control unit 46, and based on the detection signal, the control of the control unit 46 stops the driving of the electromagnetic pump 20, and the stop is turned on by the display lamp 48 and the notification sound generation element 49 is notified. The worker is notified by sound. It should be noted that the supply of water into the sub-tank 6 is completed in about 3 seconds because the capacity in the sub-tank 6 is small.

After the water supply into the sub tank 6 is completed, the iron body 1 is taken out from the mounting table 25, and the lower surface of the base 3 is pressed against the cloth to perform the ironing operation. When the iron body 1 is taken out from the mounting table 25, the ball valve 17 disposed inside the water supply port 16 is fitted to the opening surface of the water supply port 16 by the urging force of the spring 18, whereby the water supply port is 16 is sealed to prevent water leakage.

When the iron body 1 is mounted on the mounting table 25, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the outflow hole 54 of the guide path 51 is closed by the ball valve 52. Even if a part of the water is pushed out of the sub tank 6 when the water is supplied into the inside of the sub tank 6, the water does not flow out into the vaporization chamber 7,
Therefore, such a disadvantage that steam is generated unnecessarily and ejected from the ejection hole 12 is prevented.

When the iron main body 1 is taken out from the mounting table 25 and the iron main body 1 is held in a substantially horizontal state, as shown in FIG. 2B, the ball valve 52 in the guide path 51 is turned off. The sub-tank 6 rolls and separates from the disposition portion of the outflow hole 54 to open the outflow hole 54.
The gas flows out sequentially into the vaporization chamber 7 through the gas passage 4. Then, the water is vaporized by the heat of the base 3 to form steam, and the steam is sequentially jetted from the jet holes 12.

The iron body 1 is mounted on the mounting table 25 each time the ironing operation is stopped during the ironing operation.
The heater 2 is energized each time this mounting is performed, and water is automatically supplied to the sub tank 6 immediately before the iron main body 1 is removed from the mounting table 25.

In this embodiment, when the iron body 1 is mounted on the mounting table 25,
The outflow hole 54 of the guide passage 51 is closed by the ball valve 52, so that even when a part of the water flows out of the water supply passage 8 through the nozzle hole 9 into the guide passage 51 when water is supplied to the sub-tank 6, this water is removed. It does not flow out into the vaporizing chamber 7 because of being blocked by the ball valve 52, so that unnecessary steam is prevented from being generated.

Here, as shown in FIG.
May be formed in a flat shape so that the water level in the sub-tank 6 is kept low to prevent the water from flowing out of the sub-tank 6 to the vaporization chamber 7. However, in such a case, the iron When ironing work while holding the main body 1 in a horizontal position, the water level in the sub-tank 6 is low, so that outflow of water from the sub-tank 6 into the vaporization chamber 7 may become unstable.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the outflow of water from the sub tank 6 to the vaporizing chamber 7 through the ball valve 52 is prevented, the sub tank 6
Is vertically elongated so that the water level inside is high, and when the iron main body 1 is in a horizontal posture, water can flow out into the vaporization chamber 7 stably and smoothly.

When "dry" is set by operating the operation button 11, the control unit 46 always operates.
With the above control, the nozzle hole 9 is kept closed via the needle valve 10, and the state in which steam does not blow out is kept.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, water is supplied to the sub tank immediately before the iron main body is taken out of the mounting table. The base of the iron body has the highest temperature when the iron body is placed on the mounting table and the heater is energized, and the temperature gradually decreases after the iron body is removed from the mounting table. Therefore, when water is replenished in the sub-tank immediately before the iron body is taken out of the mounting table, the temperature of the replenished water is suppressed and the water hardly evaporates. There is no generation of foreign matter due to condensation of water, and the cause of clogging in the flow path of water from the sub tank to the vaporization chamber can be reliably eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an automatic water supply type cordless steam iron according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a part of the automatic water supply type cordless steam iron.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric circuit of the automatic water supply type cordless steam iron.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an automatic water-supply type cordless steam iron exemplified for comparison to explain the effect of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Iron body 5 ... Handle 6 ... Subtank 7 ... Vaporization chamber 20 ... Electromagnetic pump (water supply means) 23 ... Touch sensor 25 ... Mounting table 31 ... Main tank 46 ... Control part (control means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-136699 (JP, A) JP-A-4-132600 (JP, A) JP-A-4-210099 (JP, A) JP-A-4- 129599 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) D06F 75/12 D06F 75/14 D06F 79/02

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An iron main body having a handle and a mounting table for mounting the iron main body, wherein the iron main body has a small capacity sub-tank for accommodating water for steam generation and a supply from the sub-tank. And a vaporization chamber that generates steam by vaporizing the water
The mounting table is provided with a main tank having a larger capacity than the sub-tank, and an automatic water supply type in which a predetermined amount of water in the main tank is supplied to the sub-tank by water supply means according to the mounting of the iron body on the mounting table. In a cordless steam iron, a touch sensor that detects when a human hand touches the handle of the iron body and outputs a detection signal, and drives the water supply unit based on the detection signal output by the touch sensor. And a control means for replenishing water in the main tank into the sub-tank.