JP3375216B2 - Steam iron - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steam iron capable of jetting steam from a lower surface of a base. 2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional general steam iron, when a steam operation mode is set, water stored in a water tank is sequentially supplied to a base vaporization chamber by natural dripping, and this water is supplied. The heat of the base is vaporized to generate steam, and the steam is ejected from the lower surface of the base. [0003] However, it is difficult to increase or decrease the amount of supplied water by means of supplying water into the vaporization chamber by natural dripping, so that the amount of generated steam is always constant, and the amount of steam is always constant. Even if the temperature is set to a high or low temperature, steam corresponding to the temperature cannot be jetted. Therefore, in recent years, an electric pump has been used as a water supply means for supplying water in a water tank into a base vaporization chamber, and the amount of water supplied to the vaporization chamber is controlled by controlling the amount of electric power supplied to the electric pump. There is provided a steam iron that can be adjusted according to a set temperature of a base. That is, when the set temperature of the base is high, a large amount of electric power is supplied to the electric pump, and a large amount of water is sent from the electric pump into the vaporization chamber through the water supply passage.
When the set temperature of the base is low, a small amount of electric power is supplied to the electric pump to feed a small amount of water from the electric pump into the vaporization chamber through the water supply passage. [0006] In such a steam iron,
In the case of fabrics that are ironed at high temperatures, such as hemp, the amount of water supplied to the vaporization chamber increases and the amount of steam generated increases,
In the case of fabrics that are ironed at a low temperature, such as synthetic fibers, the amount of water supplied to the vaporization chamber is reduced and the amount of steam generated is reduced, and the material of the fabric and the amount of steam sprayed on it are adjusted appropriately. There is. [0007] When a large amount of electric power is supplied to the electric pump by setting the set temperature of the base to a high temperature, a large amount of water is discharged from the electric pump, and this water is discharged. Steam is quickly supplied to the vaporization chamber through the water supply channel, so that steam is quickly blown out from the beginning of use of the iron. On the other hand, when the dry operation mode is set or the iron is not used, the water in the water supply passage in the section from the electric pump to the vaporization chamber is removed, and the water is almost empty.
This is to prevent water from inadvertently leaking from the water supply passage into the vaporization chamber due to vibration or the like when the dry operation mode is set or when the iron is not used. When a large amount of electric power is supplied to the electric pump to discharge a large amount of water, even if the water supply channel is almost empty, the water immediately fills the water supply channel and enters the vaporization chamber. Spills and therefore steam gushes quickly. However, when the set temperature of the base is set to a low temperature and a small amount of electric power is supplied to the electric pump, the amount of water discharged from the electric pump is reduced to a small amount. It takes time to fill the water channel, which results in a delay in the supply of water to the vaporization chamber, and a situation in which steam does not erupt unless a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of use of the iron. The usability may be reduced, and a user who uses the iron may misunderstand that an abnormality or failure has occurred, or that the iron is a defective iron. The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to supply water to the vaporization chamber promptly regardless of the set temperature of the base. Another object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use steam iron capable of spraying steam immediately at the start of using the iron. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a base, heating means for heating the base, a vaporization chamber formed in a part of the base,
A water tank for storing water to be supplied to the vaporization chamber, and supplying water in the water tank to the vaporization chamber through a water supply passage.
Water supply means using an electric pump of forward / reverse operation type, temperature setting means for switching the set temperature of the base, usage mode setting means for switching the use mode of the iron between the steam operation mode and the dry operation mode, and the temperature setting Control means for controlling the water supply means based on the set temperature of the base set by the means and the use mode set by the use mode setting means, wherein the control means sets the base set temperature by the temperature setting means. Is set to a high temperature, and when the use mode is set to the steam operation mode by the use mode setting means, a large amount of power is supplied to the water supply means, and a large amount of power is supplied from the water supply means to the vaporization chamber through the water supply passage. Water is allowed to flow in, the base setting temperature is set to low by the temperature setting means, and the use mode setting means When the water use mode is set to the steam operation mode, a large amount of electric power is supplied to the water supply means only for an initial predetermined time, and a large amount of water is sent from the water supply means into the water supply channel to fill the water supply means. After a lapse of time, a small amount of power is supplied to the water supply means to flow a small amount of water from the water supply means into the vaporization chamber through the water supply passage, and the use mode is set to the steam mode by the use mode setting means.
The operation was switched from the reverse mode to the dry operation mode.
And when the heating means is turned off by the temperature setting means.
When performed, a predetermined time before each operation
The electric pump is operated in reverse, and the electric pump is operated in reverse.
The water in the water channel is sucked and eliminated . When the set temperature of the base is set to a high temperature by the temperature setting means and the use mode is set to the steam operation mode by the use mode setting means, a large amount of electric power is supplied to the water supply means. A large amount of water is sent from the water supply means into the vaporization chamber through the water supply passage, whereby a large amount of steam corresponding to the set temperature of the base is generated and ejected. On the other hand, when the base set temperature is set to a low temperature by the temperature setting means and the use mode is set to the steam operation mode by the use mode setting means, a large amount of water is supplied to the water supply means for an initial predetermined time. Electric power is supplied, and in this time period, a large amount of water is quickly sent from the water supply means into the water supply channel. Thereafter, the amount of power supplied to the water supply means is switched to a small amount of electric power, so that the water filled in the water supply channel is supplied little by little into the vaporization chamber from the water supply channel by the operation of the water supply device, and this water causes A small amount of steam corresponding to the set temperature is generated and gushes. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the entire structure of a steam iron, in which reference numeral 1 denotes an iron main body, and the iron main body 1 is provided with a heat shield plate 3 on an upper surface of a base 2 formed of, for example, aluminum die cast. The upper surface of the plate 3 is covered with a cover 4, and a handle 5 is mounted on the cover 4. A heater 6 as a heating means is cast into the base 2, and a vaporization chamber 7 is formed on the upper surface.
The inside of the vaporization chamber 7 communicates with the lower surface of the base 2 via a steam ejection hole 8 provided on the lower surface of the base 2. A water flow joint 9 is provided between the heat shield plate 3 and the cover 4, and an opening 10 is formed on an upper surface on one end side of the water flow joint 9, and a push rod 11 is provided inside the opening 10. Is formed, and the upper end of the push rod 11 projects above the water-flow joint 9 through the opening 10. And this water fitting 9
An outflow portion 12 is formed in the inside of the inside, which is opposite to the push rod 11 and communicates with the opening 10. At the front of the iron body 1, a water tank 16, which is, for example, constructed in a cassette type, is provided detachably. An outlet 17 and a valve mechanism 18 are provided at the bottom of the water tank 16, and the valve mechanism 18 is disposed at an intermediate portion of a valve rod 20 slidably supported by a support 19.
1, the valve body 21 is elastically urged through a spring 22 in the direction in which the outlet 17 is disposed, that is, in the direction in which the outlet 17 is closed. The outlet 17 is connected to the opening 10 of the water flow joint 9.
To the push rod 11 of the water flow joint 9 in this state.
Abuts against the valve rod 20 and pushes the valve body 21 upward against the spring 22, whereby the outlet 17 is held in an open state, and the water contained in the water tank 16 is opened from the outlet 17. Through 10, it flows into the outflow portion 12 of the water flow joint 9. A water inlet 23 is formed in the upper part of the front surface of the water tank 16. A water inlet 24 is provided in the water inlet 23. The water inlet 24 is opened to allow the water inlet 16 to enter the water tank 16. Water can be appropriately injected. A vane type electric pump 30, for example, is provided as a water supply means above the water joint 9. The electric pump 30 is a pump case 3 made of synthetic resin or the like.
1 and a motor 32 provided in the pump case 31.
And a pump chamber 33 is provided in a lower part of the pump case 31.
A rotor 34 driven by a motor 32 and rotated eccentrically is accommodated in the pump chamber 33. The electric pump 30 has a forward / reverse rotation type in which the rotation axis of the motor 32 can be switched from forward rotation to reverse rotation, for example, by reversing the polarity of the power supply applied to the motor 32. It has a structure. The pump case 31 is formed with a water suction passage 35 connected to one end of the pump chamber 33 and a discharge passage 36 connected to the other end of the pump chamber 32. A water supply pipe 37 is connected to the upper end of the discharge path 36 and constitutes a water supply path. An outlet hole 38 penetrating vertically and communicating with the inside of the vaporization chamber 7 is formed in an intermediate portion of the water passage joint 9, and the other end of the water pipe 37 is connected to the outlet hole 38. When the motor 32 is driven to rotate the rotor 34 eccentrically, the water in the outlet portion 12 of the water flow joint 9 is sucked into the pump chamber 33 through the water suction passage 35, and the water is further eccentrically rotated. The pressure from the rotation is supplied from the pump chamber 33 to the vaporization chamber 7 through the discharge path 36, the water pipe 37, and the outflow hole 38. Then, the water in the water tank 16 flows into the water coupling 9 sequentially through the opening 10 as the water in the water coupling 9 decreases. An operating portion 40 is provided on the upper surface on the front end side of the handle 5.
A circuit board 41 is provided inside the handle 5, and a temperature sensor 42 for detecting the temperature of the base 2 is provided on the upper surface of the base 2. A temperature setting switch 43 is provided on the operation unit 40.
And a use mode setting switch 44.
The temperature setting switch 43 switches the set temperature of the base 2 in accordance with the type of fabric "hemp", "cotton", "hair", "chemical 3", "chemical 2", and "chemical 1". And a use mode setting switch 44.
Constitutes a use mode setting means for switching and setting the use mode of the iron between the steam operation mode and the dry operation mode. Attached to the circuit board 41 are a posture detector 45 for detecting whether the iron main body 1 is in an independent state or a horizontal state, and various circuit components constituting a control circuit section. The attitude detector 45 has, for example, a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element opposed to each other, and movably provides a ball between the two elements. When the iron body 1 is in a self-supporting state, that is, for ironing work. At rest, the ball blocks the light from the light-emitting element to the light-receiving element to detect the pause of ironing, and when the iron body 1 is in the horizontal state, that is, when the ironing operation is performed, the ball moves The execution of ironing is detected by permitting light to enter the light receiving element from the light emitting element. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration. Reference numeral 47 denotes a control unit serving as control means. When the set temperature of the base 2 is set by the temperature setting switch 43, the control unit 47 starts energization of the heater 6. Then, the temperature of the base 2 detected by the temperature sensor 42 is monitored, and based on the detected temperature, energization of the heater 6 is turned on and off so that the base 2 maintains the set temperature set by the temperature setting switch 43. Control off. When the steam operation mode is selected by the use mode setting switch 44 and the iron main body 1 is detected to be in the horizontal state by the posture detector 45, electric power is supplied to the electric pump 30 to Pump 3
0 is controlled. At this time, when the set temperature of the base 2 is set to a high temperature by the temperature setting switch 43, a large amount of electric power is supplied to the electric pump 30. A large amount of electric power is supplied to the electric pump 30, and a small amount of electric power is supplied after a lapse of a predetermined time. Next, the operation of the steam iron configured as described above will be described based on a control sequence shown in FIG. When using the iron, the iron body 1
Is placed on the floor in a self-supporting state. At time t0, the steam operation mode is selected by the use mode setting switch 44, and a high temperature, for example, "hemp" is selected as the set temperature of the base 2 by the temperature setting switch 43. Then
Power supply to the heater 6 is started. In the vicinity of the time point t1, the temperature sensor 42
When the detected temperature of the base 2 reaches the set temperature set by the temperature setting switch 43, the ironing work becomes possible, and this is notified by an alarm or the like (not shown) by the control unit 47 and the base 2 is set to the set temperature. The on / off control of the energization of the heater 6 is performed so as to maintain the current. At time t2, when the ironing body 1 is lifted from the floor and the ironing body 1 is changed from a self-standing state to a horizontal state to start ironing work, this is detected by the posture detector 45, Electric power is supplied to the electric pump 30 under the control of the control unit 47 based on this detection, and the electric pump 30 is driven. At this time, since the set temperature of the base 2 is set to a high temperature by the temperature setting switch 43, a large amount of electric power A is supplied to the electric pump 30, and the rotor 34 of the electric pump 30 moves at high speed in the forward direction. Rotate with. By the high-speed rotation of the rotor 34, a large amount of water in the outflow portion 12 of the water flow joint 9 is sucked into the pump chamber 33, and this water is quickly sent into the water pipe 37,
Further, a large amount of the water is supplied from the water supply pipe 37 into the vaporization chamber 7 through the outflow hole 38, and the water is vaporized by the heat of the base 2 and becomes steam, and the steam is sequentially discharged from the steam discharge hole 8. At this time, since a large amount of water is supplied into the vaporization chamber 7, a large amount of steam corresponding to the high temperature setting of the base 2 is generated and ejected. At time t3, when the use mode setting switch 44 is turned off to "OFF", the power supply to the heater 6 is cut off and the electric pump 30 is controlled by the control unit 47.
Is rotated in reverse by a predetermined time T1, and the water in the water pipe 37 is sucked into the pump chamber 33 by this reverse rotation, so that the water pipe 37 is almost empty. Then, after the elapse of the time T1, the operation of the electric pump 30 is stopped. Next, at time t4, the steam operation mode is selected by the use mode setting switch 44, and the low temperature, for example, "Chemical 2" is selected as the set temperature of the base 2 by the temperature setting switch 43. Then, energization of the heater 6 is started. Near the time point t5, the temperature sensor 42
When the detected temperature of the base 2 reaches the set temperature set by the temperature setting switch 43, the ironing work becomes possible, and this is notified by an alarm or the like (not shown) by the control unit 47 and the base 2 is set to the set temperature. The on / off control of the energization of the heater 6 is performed so as to maintain the current. At time t6, when the ironing body 1 is lifted from the floor surface and the ironing body 1 is changed from a self-standing state to a horizontal state to start ironing work, this is detected by the posture detector 45, Electric power is supplied to the electric pump 30 under the control of the control unit 47 based on this detection. At this time, since the set temperature of the base 2 is set to a low temperature by the temperature setting switch 43, a large amount of electric power is supplied to the electric pump 30 for a predetermined time T2 from the start of supplying electric power to the electric pump 30. A is supplied, and after the elapse of the time T2, the supply is switched to the supply of a small amount of electric power B. The time T2 is, for example, 1 to 2 seconds. In this time period, since a large amount of electric power A is supplied to the electric pump 30, the rotor 34 of the electric pump 30 rotates at a high speed in the forward direction. Hydraulic joint 9 with high speed rotation of 34
The water in the outflow portion 12 is quickly fed into the water pipe 37 through the pump chamber 33, and the water pipe 37 is filled with water. When the water in the water pipe 37 is almost full, T
Two hours have elapsed, after which the amount of power supplied to the electric pump 30 is switched to a small amount of power B. Therefore, the electric pump 3
0 rotates at a low speed in the forward direction.
The water in the water supply pipe 37 is supplied little by little into the vaporization chamber 7 from the outflow hole 38 by the low-speed rotation of 4, and this water is vaporized by the heat of the base 2 and becomes steam, and this steam is sequentially discharged from the steam discharge hole 8. I do. At this time, the amount of water supplied into the vaporization chamber 7 is reduced to a small amount, and therefore, a small amount of steam corresponding to the low temperature setting of the base 2 is generated and jetted. At time t7, when the use mode of the iron is switched to the dry operation mode by the use mode setting switch 44, the electric pump 3 is controlled by the control unit 47.
The 0 rotor 34 rotates reversely for a predetermined time T1, and the water in the water supply pipe 37 is sucked into the pump chamber 33 by this reverse rotation, so that the water supply pipe 37 is almost empty. Then, after the elapse of the time T1, the operation of the electric pump 30 is stopped. At time t8, when the use mode of the iron is switched again to the steam operation mode by the use mode setting switch 44, the electric pump 30 is supplied with electric power as in the case of the above-mentioned time t6. During the time T2 from the start of the supply, a large amount of electric power A is supplied to the electric pump 30, and after the elapse of the time T2, the electric power supply is switched to the small amount of electric power B. And a lot of power A
During the time T2 during which the water is supplied, a large amount of water is immediately sent into the water pipe 37 to be filled, and after the time T2, the water in the water pipe 37 flows into the vaporization chamber 7 little by little from the outflow hole 38. Supplied. At time t9, when the use mode setting switch 44 is turned off to "OFF", the power supply to the heater 6 is cut off and the electric pump 30 is controlled by the control unit 47.
Is rotated in reverse by a predetermined time T1, and the water in the water pipe 37 is sucked into the pump chamber 33 by this reverse rotation, so that the water pipe 37 is almost empty. Then, after the elapse of the time T1, the operation of the electric pump 30 is stopped. As described above, when the set temperature of the base 2 is set to a low temperature by the temperature setting switch 43 and the use mode is set to the steam operation mode by the use mode setting switch 44, only during the initial T2 time. By supplying a large amount of electric power A to the electric pump 30,
From time 0, the water pipe 37 is filled with water, and after a lapse of time T2, a small amount of electric power B is supplied to the electric pump 30 so that a small amount of water flows from the electric pump 30 into the vaporization chamber 7 through the water pipe 37. Therefore, even when the set temperature of the base 2 is set to a low temperature and a small amount of water is supplied to the vaporization chamber 7, the delay of water supply to the vaporization chamber 7 is prevented, and steam is spouted from the lower surface of the base 2 quickly. Therefore, the usability is improved, and the user is not mistaken for an abnormality or a failure. In the above-described embodiment, a vane pump is used as the electric pump, but a gear pump or the like may be used. According to the present invention as described above,
Regardless of the set temperature of the base, the water can be quickly supplied to the vaporization chamber and steam can be spouted immediately at the start of use of the iron, so that it is easy to use and efficient. Can be performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a steam iron according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the steam iron. FIG. 3 is a control sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the steam iron. [Description of Signs] 2 ... Base 6 ... Heater (heating means) 7 ... Vaporization chamber 16 ... Water tank 30 ... Electric pump (water supply means) 37 ... Water supply pipe (water supply passage) 43 ... Temperature setting switch (temperature setting means) 44 ... Use mode setting switch (use mode setting means) 47 ... Control unit (control means)

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) D06F 75/10 D06F 75/14 D06F 75/26

Claims (1)

(57) Claims 1. A base, heating means for heating the base, a vaporization chamber formed in a part of the base, and a water tank for storing water to be supplied to the vaporization chamber. A water supply means using an electric pump of a forward / reverse operation type for supplying water in the water tank into the vaporization chamber through a water supply passage, a temperature setting means for switching a set temperature of the base, and a use mode of the iron Use mode setting means for switching between an operation mode and a dry operation mode; and control means for controlling the water supply means based on a base set temperature set by the temperature setting means and a use mode set by the use mode setting means. Wherein the control means sets the base set temperature to a high temperature by the temperature setting means, and sets the use mode to steam by the use mode setting means. When set to the inversion mode, a large amount of power is supplied to the water supply means to flow a large amount of water from the water supply means into the vaporization chamber through the water supply passage, and the set temperature of the base is reduced to a low temperature by the temperature setting means. When the setting is made and the use mode is set to the steam operation mode by the use mode setting means, a large amount of power is supplied to the water supply means for an initial predetermined time so that a large amount of water is supplied from the water supply means into the water supply passage. Send to fill
After a lapse of the predetermined time, a small amount of power is supplied to the water supply means to flow a small amount of water from the water supply means into the vaporization chamber through the water supply passage, and the use mode is changed from the steam operation mode to the dry operation mode by the use mode setting means. When the switching operation is performed, and when the heating unit is turned off by the temperature setting unit, the electric pump is reversely operated for a predetermined time from the operation, and the reverse operation of the electric pump causes the electric pump to operate in the water supply passage. A steam iron characterized by sucking and removing water.