WO2016193363A1

WO2016193363A1 - Steam iron

Info

Publication number: WO2016193363A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/062479
Authority: WO
Inventors: Asli Saime Kayihan; Emre Oguz
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2015-06-03
Filing date: 2016-06-02
Publication date: 2016-12-08

Abstract

The present invention relates to a iron (1) comprising a body (2); a soleplate (3); a water tank (4) that is disposed on the body (2) and wherein water is filled; a level sensor (5) disposed on the water tank (4); more than one opening (6) that is arranged on the soleplate (3) and that enables water to be discharged in steam state; a control button (7) that is disposed on the body (2) and that is used to adjust the soleplate (3) temperature depending on the temperature or fabric type the user has selected; a thermostat (8) that enables the temperature selected by the user to be kept constant, and a control unit (9) wherein values like the necessary average soleplate (3) temperature for different fabric types, the highest soleplate (3) temperature and the required amount of steam predetermined by the producer are saved.

Description

STEAM IRON

The present invention relates to a steam iron with increased performance.

Nowadays, steam irons are frequently preferred since they make the ironing process easier due to their high steam power. There are two important factors that affect the ironing performance in steam irons. One of these is the steam flow rate and the other is the temperature of the soleplate. The water filled into the water tank by the user at the beginning of the ironing process, permeate the ironed fabric as steam from the openings on the soleplate of the iron. Thus, wrinkles are removed faster by means of the steam and the fabric that contacts with high temperature steam is enabled to be more sterile. At the same time, during steam ironing, since high soleplate temperature is not required, the fabrics are not directly subjected to high soleplate temperature. Thus, the fabric fibers remain stronger and the life span of fabrics gets longer. However, since the water filled into the water tank is used as steam, the water amount decreases during ironing. As the amount of water in the water tank decreases so does the ironing performance. In such a situation, the user wants to increase the temperature of the soleplate. However, since each fabric type can stand up to a certain temperature, most of the time the fabrics are damaged.

In the state of the art European Patent No. EP1224349, a steam iron is disclosed wherein the steam rate is changed automatically during ironing.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a steam iron, the ironing performance of which is increased.

The iron realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises a body, a soleplate and a water tank that is disposed on the body and wherein water is filled by the user, and a level sensor disposed on the water tank. The water inside the water tank is directed as steam through the openings on the soleplate onto the fabric. On the body a control button is disposed, that enables the user to make temperature adjustments. Furthermore, the iron comprises a control unit wherein the average and the highest soleplate temperature values for different fabric types predetermined by the producer and the required steam amount data for different fabric types are saved. The soleplate temperature is changed by the control unit depending on the amount of water in the water tank measured by means of the level sensor. The fabric type to be ironed is recognized depending on the temperature value identified by the user by means of the control button at the beginning of the ironing process. When the amount of water in the water tank and hence the amount of steam delivered to the fabric decrease, the soleplate temperature is increased to the highest temperature value depending on the fabric type by the control unit.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a temperature threshold value is identified in the control unit by the producer. If the temperature value chosen by the user is below the said threshold value, the fabric is detected as fragile fabric by the control unit and the soleplate temperature is not increased when the amount of steam decreases in fragile fabric types. Accordingly, the fabric is prevented from being damaged.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit calculates the time duration during which steam ironing can be made depending on the amount of water in the water tank and the temperature or the fabric type selected by the user.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the amount of steam decreases and the soleplate temperature begins to increase, the user is informed by at least one illumination means disposed on the body.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the iron comprises a touch screen that enables the user to identify the fabric type and the temperature value.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an indicator is disposed on the body. By means of the indicator, the user is informed about the level of water in the water tank and how long steam ironing can be made with the current water level.

The iron realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the schematic view of an iron.

Figure 2 – is the schematic view of a soleplate.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Iron
Body
Soleplate
Water tank
Level sensor
Opening
Control button
Thermostat
Control unit
Illumination means
Touch screen
Indicator

The iron (1) comprises a body (2); a soleplate (3); a water tank (4) that is disposed on the body (2) and wherein water is filled; a level sensor (5) disposed on the water tank (4); more than one opening (6) that is arranged on the soleplate (3) and that enables water to be discharged in steam state; a control button (7) that is disposed on the body (2) and that is used to adjust the soleplate (3) temperature depending on the temperature or fabric type the user has selected; a thermostat (8) that enables the temperature selected by the user to be kept constant, and a control unit (9) wherein values like the necessary average soleplate (3) temperature for different fabric types, the highest soleplate (3) temperature and the required amount of steam predetermined by the producer are saved.

The iron (1) of the present invention comprises the control unit (9) that enables the soleplate (3) temperature to be increased to the highest soleplate (3) temperature value for the said fabric type or the temperature value when the water level in the water tank (4) measured by the level sensor (5) decreases to a level that the required steam cannot be provided for the selected fabric type or temperature value. Thus, ironing performance does not decrease even if the steam power decreases since the soleplate (3) temperature increases. Furthermore, increasing the soleplate (3) temperature depending on the fabric type prevents damaging of the fabric fibers.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the iron (1) comprises the control unit (9) that compares a temperature threshold value predetermined by the producer with the soleplate (3) temperature value selected by the user and determines that the fabric is fragile if the selected temperature value is smaller than the threshold temperature value and enables the soleplate (3) temperature to remain constant even if the amount of steam for fragile fabric types decreases. Low soleplate (3) temperature has to be used while fragile fabrics are ironed. When the soleplate (3) temperature value selected by the user is lower than the threshold temperature value, the control unit (9) detects the fabric as fragile fabric type. In order to prevent the contact of fragile fabric with high temperatures, the soleplate (3) temperature is kept constant. Thus, the fragile fabrics are prevented from being deformed or burned.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (9) calculates the time duration during which steam ironing can be made with the amount of water in the water tank (4) depending on the adjusted soleplate (3) temperature or the fabric type selected by the user. Thus, if the user is going to perform ironing for a short time, refilling of water is not required. Furthermore, it is preferred not to use high soleplate (3) temperature values so that the fabrics can have longer life spans. In situations such as these, continuous high steam pressure is provided so that the ironing performance does not decrease.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the iron (1) comprises at least one illumination means (10) that is disposed on the body (2) and that warns the user when the amount of steam is not sufficient and when the soleplate (3) temperature increases. By means of the illumination means (10), the user is informed that the steam power of the iron (1) is decreased and the soleplate (3) temperature is increased. The user can prevent steam power from decreasing and the soleplate (3) temperature from increasing by adding water into the water tank (4).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the iron (1) comprises a touch screen (11) that enables the user to identify the fabric type and the desired temperature value. By means of the touch screen (11), the user can easily make fabric and temperature selections and can reach the required average or highest temperature data for the fabric types.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the iron (1) comprises an indicator (12) that is disposed on the body (2) and that enables the user to monitor the level of water and how much longer steam ironing can be performed with the current water level. By means of the indicator (12), the user is informed about how much water is in the water tank (4) and how much longer steam ironing can be made with the current water.

In the iron (1) of the present invention, ironing process is performed by steam power. The soleplate (3) temperature is increased when the steam power decreases so that the performance of the iron (1) does not decrease. The highest value of the soleplate (3) temperature is determined according to the type of fabric. Accordingly, fabrics are enabled to be ironed without being damaged.

Claims

An iron (1) comprising a body (2); a soleplate (3); a water tank (4) that is disposed on the body (2) and wherein water is filled; a level sensor (5) disposed on the water tank (4); more than one opening (6) that is arranged on the soleplate (3) and that enables water to be discharged in steam state; a control button (7) that is disposed on the body (2) and that is used to adjust the soleplate (3) temperature depending on the temperature or fabric type the user has selected; a thermostat (8) that enables the temperature selected by the user to be kept constant, and a control unit (9) wherein values like the necessary average soleplate (3) temperature for different fabric types, the highest soleplate (3) temperature and the required amount of steam predetermined by the producer are saved, characterized by the control unit (9) that enables the soleplate (3) temperature to be increased to the highest soleplate (3) temperature value for the said fabric type or the temperature value when the water level in the water tank (4) measured by the level sensor (5) decreases to a level that the required steam cannot be provided for the selected fabric type or temperature value.
An iron (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit (9) that compares a temperature threshold value predetermined by the producer with the temperature value selected by the user and that determines that the fabric is fragile if the selected temperature value is smaller than the threshold temperature value and enables the soleplate (3) temperature to remain constant even if the amount of steam for fragile fabric types decreases.
An iron (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the control unit (9) that calculates the time duration during which steam ironing can be performed with the amount of water in the water tank (4) depending on the soleplate (3) temperature or the fabric type selected by the user.
An iron (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one illumination means (10) that is disposed on the body (2) and that warns the user when the amount of steam is not sufficient and when the soleplate (3) temperature increases.
An iron (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a touch screen (11) that enables the user to select the fabric type or the temperature value.
An iron (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by an indicator (12) that is disposed on the body (2) and that enables the user to monitor the level of water and that shows how much longer steam ironing can be performed with the current water level.