JPH07236798A - Cordless steam iron - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a cordless steam iron capable of automatically changing the amount of steam to be generated to an amount suitable for a set temperature of the base, in compliance with the switching of the set temperature of the base. CONSTITUTION:The main body of an iron is equipped with an electric pump 36 as a means tar supplying water in a water tank to a vaporizing chamber, and a secondary battery 44. When the main body of the iron is put on the stand, and a power terminal 15 and a supply terminal 10 contact each other to produce electrical continuity, a controller 43 charges the secondary battery 44, and when the main body of the iron is separated from the stand for ironing work using steam, the electric pump 36 is driven by the power supplied from the secondary battery 44 to send water in the water tank to the vaporizing chamber, and the water is vaporized by the heat of the base heated with a heater 2 to produce steam. Then, when a high temperature is set by a temperature setting switch 8, the amount of power supply to the electric pump 36 is controlled to be a large amount, and when a low temperature is set, the amount of power supply is controlled to be a small amount.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional cordless steam irons are
A base equipped with a heater on the iron body, a vaporization chamber formed in a part of the base, a water tank for storing water to be supplied to the vaporization chamber, and a water supply for supplying water in the tank to the vaporization chamber And a power supply terminal for receiving power supply. In addition, a mounting table on which the iron body is mounted is provided with a power supply terminal that comes into contact with the power supply terminal to be in a conductive state.

When the iron body is placed on the placing table, the power feeding terminals on the iron body side come into contact with the power source terminals on the placing table side to be energized. As a result, the heater is energized to heat the base. Therefore, when the iron body is separated from the mounting table and the steam button is operated, the water in the water tank is supplied to the vaporization chamber of the base by an appropriate amount by the water supply means, and the water is vaporized by the heat of the base to become steam, This steam spouts from the bottom surface of the base in sequence.
In this state, the work of ironing could be performed by pressing the lower surface of the base against the cloth.

In such a cordless steam iron, there is no restriction by the cord during ironing work, as compared with the iron with a cord, and thus there is an advantage that it is easy to use.

On the other hand, some conventional steam irons with a cord incorporate an electromagnetic electric pump as a water supply means for supplying the water in the water tank in the iron body to the vaporizing chamber of the base.

By using an electric pump as the water supply means, the amount of water supplied to the vaporization chamber can be variably adjusted. For this reason, the amount of water supplied to the vaporization chamber is increased during ironing work of fabrics that are ironed at high temperatures such as hemp, increasing steam generation, and ironing of fabrics that are ironed at low temperatures such as synthetic fibers. It was possible to reduce the amount of steam generated during work by reducing the amount of steam generated.

[0007]

However, in the conventional cordless steam iron, the electric power cannot be supplied after the iron body is separated from the mounting table. Therefore, an electric pump can be used as the water supply means. could not. Therefore, the amount of steam generated was always constant even if the base set temperature was changed due to the difference in fabric.

Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide a cordless steam iron which can automatically change the steam generation amount to an amount suitable for the base set temperature in accordance with the switching of the base set temperature and further improve the usability. .

[0009]

The present invention provides a cordless steam iron including an iron body and a mounting table on which the iron body is placed, the iron body being a base heated by a heating means, and the base. A vaporization chamber formed in a part of the water tank, a water tank for storing water to be supplied to the vaporization chamber, an electric water supply means for supplying the water in the water tank to the vaporization chamber, and the water supply means Secondary battery for supplying electric power, a power supply terminal for receiving power supply, temperature setting means for switching and setting the set temperature of the base, and the secondary battery to the water supplying means according to the temperature set by the temperature setting means. The mounting table is provided with a control means for controlling the amount of electric power supplied, and a mounting part for mounting the iron main body and a power supply terminal in contact with the iron main body when the iron main body is mounted on the mounting part. Communication In a non-energized state in which the iron body is separated from the mounting table, the water supply means is driven by the power supply from the secondary battery controlled by the control means to vaporize the water in the water tank in the vaporization chamber. Water to
In the energized state where the iron body is placed on the placing portion, the secondary battery is charged by the power supplied to the power feeding terminal through the power terminal.

[0010]

According to the present invention having such a structure, when the iron body is used, the iron body is first placed on the placing portion of the placing table. Then, along with this placement, the power supply terminal on the iron body side comes into contact with the power source terminal on the placement table to be energized. As a result, the secondary battery in the iron body is charged with the power supplied to the power supply terminal via the power supply terminal. The heating means is also energized to heat the base.

Therefore, the iron body is moved away from the placing portion to operate the steam button. Then, the electric water supply means is driven by the power supply from the secondary battery, the water in the water tank is supplied to the vaporization chamber of the base, and this water is vaporized by the heat of the base to become steam. Gush out from the bottom of the base. In this state, ironing work is performed by pressing the lower surface of the base against the cloth.

Here, when the base setting temperature is set low by the temperature setting means, the amount of electric power supplied from the secondary battery to the water supply means is controlled to be small. As a result, the amount of water supplied to the vaporization chamber is reduced and the amount of steam generated is reduced.

On the other hand, when the base set temperature is set high, the amount of electric power supplied from the secondary battery to the water supply means is largely controlled. As a result, the amount of water supplied to the vaporization chamber is increased and the amount of steam generated is increased.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the overall configuration of such a cordless steam iron. The iron body 1 is
A base 3 made of, for example, die-cast in which a heater 2 as a heating means is cast is provided, an upper surface of the base 3 is covered with a heat shield cover 4, and a handle 5 is mounted on the heat shield cover 4. A water tank 6 of a cassette type is detachably attached to the front of the iron body 1.

An operating portion 7 is provided on the upper surface of the handle 5, and a temperature setting switch 8 and a steam
A dry changeover switch 9 is provided. The temperature setting switch 8 sets the set temperature of the base 3 to the kind of cloth "linen""cotton"
The temperature setting means for switching and setting according to "hair", "chemical conversion 1" and "chemical conversion 2" is configured, and the steam / dry changeover switch 9 configures operation mode setting means for switching and setting the steam operation mode and the dry operation mode. .

A power supply terminal 10 for receiving power is provided on the rear end surface of the handle 5. On the other hand, the mounting table 11 on which the iron body 1 is mounted has a mounting portion 12 formed on the upper surface thereof. Guide rollers 13 and 14 are provided on the upper surface of the placing portion 12, and when the base 3 of the iron body 1 is put on the guide rollers 13 and 14 to release the iron body 1, the iron body 1 is placed on the placing portion 12. 12 is slid toward the rear end side of the iron body 1 so that the rear end surface of the iron body 1 abuts against the front surface of the standing wall 12a on the rear end side of the placing portion, and the iron body 1 is inclined obliquely upward and above the placing portion 12. It is designed to be held at.

A power supply terminal 15 is provided on the front surface of the standing wall 12a.
Is provided. And the iron body 1 is the mounting table 1
When the iron body 1 is placed on the placing portion 12 and the rear end surface of the iron body 1 collides with the front surface of the standing wall 12a, the power feeding terminal 10 of the iron body 1 comes into contact with the power source terminal 15 and the power is turned on. Become.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the iron body 1. The iron body 1 is provided with a heat shield plate 21 on the upper surface of the base 3, the upper surface of the heat shield plate 21 is covered with the heat shield cover 4, and the handle 5 is placed on the heat shield cover 4.
Is installed.

A heater 2 is cast in the base 3 and a vaporization chamber 22 is formed on the upper surface. The inside of the vaporization chamber 22 is a steam ejection hole 2 provided on the lower surface of the base 3.
It is connected to the lower surface side through 3.

A water passage joint 24 is provided between the heat shield plate 21 and the heat shield cover 4, and an opening 25 is formed on the upper surface of one end side of the water passage joint 24 and is pushed inside the opening 25. A rod 26 is formed, and the upper end portion of the push rod 26 has an opening 25.
It projects through above through the water joint 24. An inflow portion 27, which is located on the opposite side of the push rod 26 and communicates with the opening 25, is formed inside the water flow coupling 24.

An outlet 28 and a valve mechanism 29 are provided at the bottom of the water tank 6 detachably attached to the front part of the iron body 1, and the valve mechanism 29 is slidably supported by a support body 30. Disc-shaped valve element 3 in the middle of the valve rod 31
2 is attached, and this valve body 32 is elastically biased via a spring 33 in the direction in which the outlet 28 is arranged, that is, in the direction of closing the outlet 28.

The outflow port 28 is the opening 2 of the water through joint 24.
5 in a liquid-tight manner, and in this state, the push rod 26 of the water passage joint 24 abuts the valve rod 31 and pushes the valve body 32 upward against the spring 33, whereby the outlet 28 is opened. The water held in the water tank 6 and stored in the water tank 6 passes from the outlet 28 through the opening 25 to the inflow portion 27 of the water through fitting 24.
It is designed to flow in.

A water injection port 34 is formed in the upper part of the front surface of the water tank 6, and a water injection lid 35 is provided on the water injection port 34. The water injection lid 35 is opened to enter the water tank 6 from the water injection port 34. Water can be appropriately injected.

In the iron body 1, as an electric water supply means, for example, an electromagnetic electric pump 36 is provided above the water passage coupling 24, and the electric pump 36 has a suction port 37 at its lower end. A discharge port 38 is provided at the upper end, an electromagnetic coil 39 is provided on the outer periphery, a plunger mechanism 40 is incorporated inside, and the plunger mechanism 40 is driven by the electromagnetic coil 39 to reciprocate up and down. By this reciprocating operation, water is sucked from the suction port 37, and this water is discharged from the discharge port 38.

The suction port 37 of the electric pump 36 is connected to the inflow portion 27 of the water passage joint 24 so as to communicate with the inside of the inflow portion 27, and the discharge port 38 is formed of flexible heat-resistant rubber. The discharge pipe 41 is connected.

A throttle outflow portion 42 consisting of a vertically small through hole is formed in the intermediate portion of the water passage joint 24, and the lower end portion of this throttle outflow portion 42 is an opening on the upper surface of the vaporization chamber 22. And is communicated with the inside of the vaporization chamber 22.

The discharge pipe 41 attached to the discharge port 38 of the electric pump 36 is curved in a substantially inverted U shape, and its tip end is connected to the upper end of the throttle outflow part 42. Communicates with the inside of the vaporization chamber 22 through the throttle outflow portion 42.

Here, the cross-sectional area of the discharge port 38 of the electric pump 36 and the cross-sectional area of the discharge pipe 41 are substantially the same, and the throttle outflow portion 4
The sectional area of 2 is sufficiently smaller than the sectional area of the discharge pipe 41. The cross-sectional area of the inflow portion 27 of the water through joint 24 is for preventing the temperature rise of the water due to the heat effect from the base 3 and for smoothly sucking the water into the suction port 37 of the electric pump 36. The cross-sectional area of the suction port 37 and the cross-sectional area of the discharge port 38 of the electric pump 36 are significantly larger.

Further, the iron body 1 is provided with a control section 43 for controlling the heater 2 and the electric pump 36 inside the handle 5, and a secondary battery such as a nickel cadmium battery as a power source for driving the electric pump 36. Four
4 is provided.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of essential parts of the iron body 1. When the base setting temperature is set by the temperature setting switch 8 in a state where the power supply terminal 10 is in contact with the power supply terminal 15 of the mounting table 11 and is energized, the controller 43 starts energizing the heater 2. Then, the temperature of the base 3 measured by the temperature sensor 45 is monitored, and ON / OFF of the power supply to the heater 2 is controlled so that the measured temperature maintains the base set temperature set by the temperature setting switch 8. To do.

In this energized state, when the steam operation mode is selected by the steam / dry changeover switch 9, the secondary battery 44 is charged by the power supply supplied to the power supply terminal 10 through the power supply terminal 15. .

On the other hand, when the power supply terminal 10 is not in contact with the power supply terminal 15 and is not energized, the power from the secondary battery 44 is supplied only when the steam operation mode is selected by the steam / dry changeover switch 9. Is supplied to the electric pump 36 to drive the electric pump 36. At this time, if the base set temperature is set high by the temperature setting switch 8, the power supply amount is largely controlled,
When it is set low, the power supply amount is controlled to be small.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described based on the control sequence shown in FIG. When using the iron body 1, first, the iron body 1 is placed on the placing portion 12 of the placing table 11 as shown in FIG. In this state, when the steam operation mode is selected by the steam / dry changeover switch 9 at the time point t0 and the cloth "Hemp" having a high base set temperature is selected by the temperature setting switch 8, energization of the heater 2 is started. At the same time, charging of the secondary battery 44 is started.

When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 45 on the base 3 reaches the temperature set by the temperature setting switch 8 in the vicinity of the time t1, the control unit 43 is notified by an alarm or the like (not shown) to enable the ironing work. At the same time, energization OFF / ON to the heater 2 is repeated so as to maintain the temperature of the base 3 at the set temperature.

At time t2, the iron body 1 is placed on the mounting table 11
When the ironing work is started after being separated from, since the steam operation mode is selected, electric power is supplied from the secondary battery 44 to the electric pump 36 to drive the electric pump 36.

As a result, the water in the water tank 6 flowing into the inflow portion 27 of the water through joint 24 is sequentially sucked into the electric pump 36 from the suction port 37 in response to the driving of the electric pump 36, and the discharge port is discharged. It is sequentially fed into the discharge pipe 41 through 38. Then, this water circulates in the discharge pipe 41 and is supplied into the vaporization chamber 22 through the throttle outflow portion 42. However, this water is vaporized by the heat of the base 3 to become steam, and this steam is sequentially ejected from the steam ejection holes 23.

At this time, since the base set temperature is set to a high temperature by the temperature setting switch 8, the secondary battery 44
The amount of electric power supplied from is largely controlled. Therefore, the amount of water supplied to the vaporization chamber 22 by the electric pump 36 is increasing, and the amount of steam generated is large.

Since the heater 2 cannot be energized during the ironing work, the temperature of the base 3 gradually decreases.
Therefore, the control unit 43 prevents the non-vaporized water from being ejected from the steam ejection holes 23 by stopping the driving of the electric pump 36 when the temperature becomes equal to or lower than the set temperature.

At the time t3, the ironing work is completed,
When the iron body 1 is returned to the mounting portion 12 of the mounting table 11, the electric power supply from the secondary battery 44 to the electric pump 36 is interrupted and the electric pump 36 is stopped. Further, the energization of the heater 2 is started and the charging of the secondary battery 44 is started.

At time t4, the temperature setting switch 8 is switched to the cloth "hair" whose base setting temperature is low. If the temperature of the base 3 is already higher than the setting temperature by the temperature setting switch 8, the heater 2 is turned on. The energization is stopped. In addition,
The rechargeable battery 44 is continuously charged.

When the temperature of the base 3 drops to the set temperature near the time point t5, an alarm or the like is provided to enable ironing work, and the heater 2 is repeatedly turned on / off to turn on the base 3. Is maintained at the set temperature.

When the ironing work is started at time t6, since the steam operation mode is selected, electric power is supplied from the secondary battery 44 to the electric pump 36, and the electric pump 36 is driven.

As a result, the water contained in the water tank 6 is supplied into the vaporization chamber 22, and this water is vaporized by the heat of the base 3 to become steam, and this steam is sequentially ejected from the steam ejection holes 23.

At this time, since the base set temperature is set to a low temperature by the temperature setting switch 8, the secondary battery 44
The amount of power supplied from is controlled to be small. Therefore, the amount of water supplied to the vaporization chamber 22 by the electric pump 36 is reduced, and the amount of steam generated is small.

At time t7, the ironing work is completed,
When the iron body 1 is returned to the mounting portion 12 of the mounting table 11, the electric pump 36 stops. Further, the energization of the heater 2 is started and the charging of the secondary battery 44 is started.

At time t8, the steam / dry switch 9 is switched to the dry operation mode, and when the cloth "linen" is selected by the temperature setting switch 8, the secondary battery 4
Charging to 4 is stopped. The power supply to the heater 2 is continued.

When the set temperature is reached near the time point t9, the ironing work becomes possible, and when the ironing work is started at the time point t10, since the dry operation mode is selected, the secondary battery 44 for the electric pump 36 is selected. The electric pump 36 is not driven.

As described above, in the cordless steam iron of this embodiment, the electric pump 3 is used as the water supply means for supplying the water in the water tank 6 to the vaporization chamber 22 in the iron body 1.
6, the secondary battery 44 is mounted on the iron body 1 as a power source for driving the electric pump 36, and the electric pump 36 is driven by the power supply from the secondary battery 44 during ironing work in the steam operation mode. The water in the water tank 6 is supplied to the vaporization chamber 22.

When the base set temperature is set to a high temperature by the temperature setting switch 8, the amount of electric power supplied from the secondary battery 44 to the electric pump 36 is largely controlled to increase the amount of water supplied to the vaporization chamber 22 to lower the temperature. In the case of setting, the power supply amount is controlled to be small to reduce the water supply amount to the vaporization chamber 22.

Therefore, as in the case of a non-cordless steam iron, when the base set temperature is set to a high temperature, such as when ironing a "linen" cloth, a large amount of steam is generated, and the "synthetic fiber" When the temperature is set to a low temperature, such as when ironing a cloth, the amount of steam generated is small, so that it is possible to always perform stable steaming ironing work with a steam generation amount suitable for the set temperature.

In the cordless steam iron, when the temperature of the base 3 decreases during ironing work by steam operation, the iron body 1 is placed on the placing portion 1 of the placing table 11.
The heater 2 is placed on the battery 2 and the heater 2 is energized. At this time, the secondary battery 44 is charged at the same time.
Over discharge is prevented. Further, since the charging of the secondary battery 44 is stopped by selecting the dry operation mode,
It is also possible to prevent the secondary battery 44 from being overcharged.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, as a heating means for heating the base 3, a heater is cast into the base 3 and heated from the inside. However, the heating means is provided in the mounting portion 12 of the mounting table 11, and the iron body 1 The present invention can also be applied to a cordless steam iron in which the base 3 is externally heated by the heating means when the base is mounted on the mounting table 11.

[0053]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the amount of steam generated can be automatically changed to an amount suitable for the base set temperature in accordance with the switching of the base set temperature, and a convenient cordless steam iron is provided. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the iron body in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of the iron body in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a control sequence diagram used for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Iron main body 2 ... Heater (heating means) 3 ... Base 6 ... Water tank 8 ... Temperature setting switch (temperature setting means) 9 ... Steam / dry changeover switch 10 ... Power supply terminal 11 ... Mounting table 12 ... Mounting part 15 ... Power supply terminal 22 ... Vaporization chamber 36 ... Electric pump (water supply means) 43 ... Control unit (control means) 44 ... Secondary battery

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cordless steam iron comprising an iron body and a mounting table for mounting the iron body, wherein the iron body is formed on a base heated by a heating means and a part of the base. A vaporization chamber, a water tank for storing water to be supplied to the vaporization chamber, an electric water supply means for supplying water in the water tank to the vaporization chamber, and a secondary power supply for supplying electric power to the water supply means. A battery, a power supply terminal to which power is supplied, temperature setting means for switching and setting the set temperature of the base, and electric power supplied from the secondary battery to the water supply means according to the temperature set by the temperature setting means. The placing table comprises a placing part for placing the iron body, and the iron body contacts the power supply terminal when the iron body is placed on the placing part. A power supply terminal that is energized, and in a non-energized state in which the iron body is separated from the mounting table, the water supply means is driven by power supply from the secondary battery controlled by the control means, and the water is supplied. The water in the tank is sent to the vaporization chamber, and the secondary battery is charged with the power supplied to the power supply terminal through the power supply terminal when the iron body is placed in the mounting section and in an energized state. A cordless steam iron characterized in that.