JPH02136191A - Steam and dry iron - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent water from being wastefully used under a condition that the title iron is not used, and steam at a high temperature from being dangerously jetted the time of self-standing by setting a heater controlling means for controlling the electrification of a heater circuit, and by detecting the non-usable state of an iron with a state detecting means, to stop a motor device and to interrupt the heater circuit a specified time later. CONSTITUTION:A heater controlling means 21 for controlling the electrification of a heater 12 and having function for interrupting a heater circuit in a self-standing state at a specified time, is set. Besides, a state detecting means 22 connected to a feed water controlling means 19 and the heater controlling means 21, and for detecting the usable and non-usable states of an iron, is set. When the iron is set in the self-standing state in order to correct the state of clothing which a user irons, then the output of the state detecting means 22 is turned HI. Then, it is detected by the feed water controlling means 19, and a motor pump 16 is stopped, and the feed of water to a carbureter 14 is stopped. Besides, when a device is horizontally reset to re-start ironing, then by the feed water controlling means 19, through the output of the state detecting means 22, the usable state is recognized, and the working of the motor pump 16 is continuously re-started, and steam ironing can be performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steam iron for removing wrinkles from clothing and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 4, this type of steam iron has a base 2 having a heater 1, a vaporizing chamber 3 formed in the base 2, and a tank 4 disposed above the base 2. , an electric pump 6 that supplies water in the tank 4 to the vaporization chamber 3; a pipe 6 that sucks up water from the tank 4 to the electric bonder 5; and a pipe 6 that supplies water from the electric pump 6 to the vaporization chamber 3. The control circuit 8 includes a water supply pipe 7, a control circuit 8 for controlling the temperature of the iron, an electric pump, etc., a steam button 7 for setting the steam, and a self-sustaining detection means 9 for detecting the self-supporting state of the iron. When the self-supporting state of the iron is detected by the self-supporting detection means 9,
The structure is such that the electric pump 6 is stopped, the supply of water to the vaporization chamber 3 is stopped, and the generation of steam is stopped.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with such a structure, when steam ironing is performed by pressing the steam button 7 and operating the electric pump 5, the worker leaves the iron free-standing for a long time. If left alone, the control circuit 8 detects the self-sustaining state using the self-sustaining detection means 9 and stops the electric pump 5, but the heater 1 is still energized. In this case, the base 2 is maintained at a high temperature, which is not safe from a safety standpoint, such as causing burns or fire.

In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to improve the safety of an iron when it is not in use.

Means for Solving the Problems And in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electric device that supplies water in a tank to a vaporization chamber, a water supply control means that controls this electric device, and a heater circuit that controls energization. The iron is equipped with a heater control means for controlling the iron and a state detection means for detecting the non-use state of the iron, and the state detection means detects the non-use state of the iron and stops the electric device, and also cuts off the heater circuit after a predetermined period of time. It is something.

Function The steam iron of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, so that when the electric water supply device is operated to perform steam ironing and the iron is placed in a freestanding state, the non-use state detection means detects the non-use state. However, if the electric device is stopped and the self-standing state continues, the heater circuit is cut off after a predetermined period of time, making it possible to realize a safe and waste-free steam iron.

In addition, since the electric device and the heater control means are controlled by a single state detection means, it can be easily mounted on the iron body, and can be placed inside the grip part where the temperature is maintained at celsius temperature, increasing reliability. It is.

Embodiment Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, 12 is a base with a heater 13, 14 is a vaporization chamber formed in this base 12, 16 is a tank disposed above the base 12, and 16 is a tank for storing water in the tank 15. 17 is a water intake port that sends water in the tank 15 to the electric pump 1e; 18 is a water supply pipe that connects the direct drive pump 16 to the vaporization chamber 14; 19 is a water supply pipe that controls the electric pump 15; A water supply control means having a function of stopping the Vi electric pump when the iron stands on its own, 2o a steam button for setting steam to the water supply control means 19, 21 controlling energization of the heater 12,
Further, a heater control means 22 having a function of cutting off the heater circuit when the self-standing state reaches a predetermined time is connected to the water supply control means 17 and the heater control means 19, and is connected to the water supply control means 17 and the heater control means 19,
It is a state detection means for detecting a state of non-use.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the state detection means 22, including a sensor 23 using a photointerrupter and a sensor board made of ceramic or the like.
This figure shows an example in which the iron is in a horizontal state and the state detection means 22 is in a horizontal state. The photointerrupter emits light and outputs a LOW signal.

In Figure B, the iron is in a stand-alone state, that is, it is not in use, and the signal from the state detection means 22 is not on the sensor 23, as shown in Figure E. The signal becomes HI. In addition, C in the same figure shows the case where ironing is being performed, and since baud/L'24 passes back and forth over the sensor 23, the signal is as shown in F in the same figure.
, repeats LOW.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained. First, by supplying power to the iron and setting the temperature, the heater control means 21 causes the heater 13 to pass through 1F. Heater 1
When the base 12 is heated to the set temperature by the energization in Step 3, the heater control means 21 controls the energization to the heater 13 to maintain the base at the set temperature and ironing is possible. Furthermore, in order to use steam, first press the steam button 20 and issue a steam setting command to the water supply control means 19, then the water supply control means 19 operates the electric pump 16, and the tank 1
5 is supplied to the vaporization chamber 14 through a pipe. The water is turned into steam by the heat of the base 12, and steam ironing can be performed. At the same time, the water supply control means 19,
The heater control means 21 always checks the output of the condition detection means 22 and monitors the condition of the iron, and in the case of A or C in FIG. 3 where the output of the condition detection means 22 is LOW or repeats Hl-LOW, , the iron is in a horizontal state or in a back-and-forth motion state, and is determined to be in use, and water supply control and heater control are performed continuously. When an operator sets the iron to a free-standing state in order to correct the condition of the clothes being ironed, the output of the condition detecting means 22 becomes HI. Then, the water supply control means 17 detects this, stops the electric pump 16, and stops the supply of water to the vaporization chamber 14. In addition, if the ironing is resumed after returning to the horizontal position, the water supply control means 19
recognizes the state of use based on the output of the state detection means 22,
Steam ironing can be performed by continuing to restart the operation of the electric pump 16. In addition, the heater control means 21 has a built-in counter and counts the HI high output from the state detection means 22, and if the iron is left unattended and the self-standing state continues for a long time, the HI high output predetermined time T is exceeded. If so, it is determined that the iron has been left unattended, and the heater circuit is shut off and power to the heater is stopped. It should be noted that it is not desirable to set the predetermined time T to a time such that the iron is in the free-standing position [F] when mending clothes. In other words, if the heater is turned off long enough for the next ironing operation, there will not be enough heat for the next steam operation, which will hinder the steam operation. Try setting it up. Further, in this embodiment, the self-standing state is set as the unused state, but an embodiment in which the horizontal state continues for a certain period of time is also set as the unused state can be realized.

Furthermore, if the water supply control means 19 and the heater control means 21 are provided with a judgment function as in this embodiment, each state detection means 22 can control each of them.

1. The water supply control means 19 and the heater control means 21 can be constituted by one circuit using a microprocessor or the like and can be controlled simultaneously.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention provides a system in which the state detection means detects the non-use state of the iron, stops the electric device, and shuts off the heater circuit after a predetermined period of time. This eliminates the risk of using water unnecessarily when the iron is not in use, and the risk of high-temperature steam spewing out when it stands up.Furthermore, if the iron is left unused for a long time due to forgetting to turn it off, etc. Even if the iron is turned off, the power to the heater is cut off after a predetermined period of time, making it possible to safely iron without forgetting to turn it off.

Further, since the electric device and the heater control means can be controlled by one state detection means, the sensor section serving as the state detection means can be made compact, and the space for mounting the iron precedent means can be expanded and used effectively. In addition, since the heater shuts off after a predetermined time delay, when the iron is set to stand-alone mode to change clothes to be ironed, the heater can always be turned on and the next time the clothes are steamed. It is also possible to prevent interference with ironing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

12... Heater, 13... Pace 14.
... Vaporization chamber, 16... Tank, 16...
... Direct drive pump, 19 ... Water supply control means, 21.
... Heater control means, 22 ... State detection means. Name of agent: Patent attorney Takashi Awano and 1 other person A
, B and C are state diagrams showing one embodiment of the same state detection means, and the third diagram, E and F correspond to changes in the same state. l - - -m- Ai 0 base I knee 9 lj N tank electric tn wa umppubo μJ artist ribbon low - 9 rotten hand general ji 0 gO + η

Claims (1)

[Claims] A base that is heated by a heater, a vaporization chamber formed in the base, a tank that stores water to be supplied to the vaporization chamber, an electric device that supplies water in the tank to the vaporization chamber, and a control device that controls the electric device. a switch for operating the water supply control means; a state detection means for detecting whether the iron is not in use; and a heater control means for controlling energization of the heater circuit. A steam iron that detects a state of non-use, stops the electric device, and shuts off a heater circuit after a predetermined period of time.