CN1092733C - Includes an iron and a pedestal iron - Google Patents

Abstract

The ironing machine comprises an iron (1) and a stand (2). The iron (1) comprises a steam generator (11) in a soleplate (15) of the iron (1). The stand (2) includes a water tank (21) which communicates with the steam generator (11) through a conduit (3). The ironing machine further comprises a pump (22) drivable by an electric current in the conduit (3) and flow rate regulating means (41). The flow rate regulating device (41) has at least three set points corresponding to different flow rates of water entering the steam generator (11) and comprises a control mechanism (41) and a driver (45) for controlling the current to the pump (22) in dependence on the set points. The control mechanism (41) includes a manually adjustable selector (42) for selecting a set point and a trigger (43) for actuating the pump (22). The trigger (43) is depressible by a user when steam operation is required during use. This causes the pump (22) to be activated, which produces a flow rate of water into the steam generator (11) that is dependent on the set point selected by the adjustable selector (42).

Description

Includes an iron and a pedestal iron

The invention relates to an ironing machine comprising an iron comprising a steam generator and a stand comprising a water tank communicated with the steam generator by a conduit. The ironing iron also includes an electric current driven pump for delivering water from the water tank to the iron, and flow rate regulating means having at least two settings corresponding to different flow rates of water to the steam generator.

Such an ironing machine is known in British patent EP-A-0 557 90. The known ironing machine consists of an iron and a stand including a water tank and an electric pump. The pump is used to deliver water from the water tank to the steam chamber of the iron through a conduit. The water flow rate into the steam chamber can be adjusted with a valve. A disadvantage of the known ironing machine is that the pump is heavily loaded when the user selects a low flow rate. This requires a special pump or results in a shortened pump life. Another disadvantage of this known iron is that due to component deviations the fluctuation range of the flow rate per set value is rather large, which leads to insufficient steam or water splashing when the flow rate exceeds the vaporization capacity of the iron.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ironing machine that regulates the amount of water delivered to the steam generator in a simple manner. To this end, the ironing machine according to the invention is characterized in that the flow rate regulating means comprise a control circuit for controlling the current supplied to the pump according to a set value. Thanks to this measure, the current supplied to the pump is adjustable, resulting in a desired flow rate of water to the steam generator. The pump is only loaded when required to obtain a desired flow rate, thus obtaining a long pump life. In addition, the pump can be selected from a large range, which enables the technical performance and overall cost of the ironing machine to be optimized. Since no valve is required on the iron, there is greater flexibility in the mechanical design of the iron.

An embodiment of the ironing machine according to the invention is characterized in that the flow rate regulating means comprise a manually adjustable selector for selecting a set point. Thanks to these measures, the user is able to select the amount of steam generated by the steam generator.

An embodiment of the ironing machine according to the invention is characterized in that the selector is mounted on the iron. Thanks to this measure the user can actuate the selector with the hand holding the iron.

An embodiment of the ironing machine according to the invention is characterized in that the current pulses or alternates with a frequency depending on the set value. This variation in the frequency of the current according to the set point results in proper operation of the pump at both low and high flow rates. For example, the pump may be an electromagnetically driven piston pump or a diaphragm pump.

An embodiment of the ironing machine according to the invention is characterized in that the iron comprises a nozzle which is connected to the conduit via a valve. The spray operation can be realized by opening the valve, without the need for the user to manipulate the manual pump. Thanks to these measures, the spray function is easy to operate and a continuous spray effect can be obtained.

An embodiment of the ironing machine according to the invention is characterized in that the valve is loaded by elastic means. This measure ensures that the valve closes when the pressure in the conduit falls below a certain value. As the set current reaches eg its maximum value, the pressure in the conduit will increase and the valve will open automatically, causing water to spray out of the nozzle. Therefore, the spray function can be activated with an electrical switch connected to the control circuit.

An embodiment of the ironing machine according to the invention is characterized in that the iron comprises a further valve arranged between the conduit and the steam generator, the iron also comprises actuating means for closing said further valve and setting A predetermined current for the pump. By activating the starter device, the spray function will start and the water flow into the steam generator will be interrupted so that the amount of steam will not increase due to the start of the spray function.

An embodiment of the ironing machine according to the invention is characterized in that activation of the starting means causes the further valve to be closed before said predetermined current setting. This measure prevents short-term intense jets of steam that are generated when the spray function is activated.

An embodiment of the ironing machine according to the invention is characterized in that said actuating means cooperate with a chamber of variable volume which communicates with a conduit arranged between the pump and said further valve, releasing the actuating means As a result of subsequent resetting of the pump current, the volume of the chamber increases and the further valve opens. It has been found that at the end of the spraying operation, the pressure developed in the conduit leads to a spray of steam when the valve to the steam generator is opened. This steam injection is evident especially when the conduit is made of a flexible material, which is necessary in order to obtain a flexible connection between the stand and the iron. By providing a chamber that can increase in volume after the current reset and before the valve to the steam generator opens, the pressure in the conduit is reduced, thus preventing steam injection at the end of the spraying operation.

An embodiment of the ironing machine according to the invention is characterized in that the volume of the chamber is variable by means of a movable piston, the actuating means comprising a manually depressible button arranged on the outside of the iron and associated with said additional The valve, the piston and the changeover switch connected to the control circuit cooperate to open or close the valve by pressing or releasing the button beyond the first part of its travel, and by moving the button beyond the second part of its travel The piston then moves, and the changeover switch is opened or closed by pressing or releasing the button beyond the third section of its stroke, respectively. These measures can be easily realized by means of usual techniques using injection molded parts and cause the pressure in the conduit to be reduced before the valve to the steam generator is opened, which prevents steam injection at the end of the spraying operation.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of an ironing machine according to the present invention, and

Figure 2 shows a detailed view of an iron according to a second embodiment of the iron according to the invention.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of an ironing machine according to the present invention. The ironing machine includes an iron 1 and a stand 2 . The iron 1 comprises a steam generator 11 which in this case is a steam chamber in the soleplate 15 of the iron 1 . The pedestal 2 includes a water tank 21 communicated with the steam generator 11 by a conduit 3 . The ironing machine also includes a current-driven pump 22 located in the conduit 3 and a flow rate regulating device 41 . The flow rate regulating device 41 has at least three setpoints corresponding to the different flow rates of the water entering the steam generator 11 and includes a control circuit, in this case in the form of a control mechanism 41 and a driver 45, so that according to This setpoint controls the current delivered to the pump 22 . The control mechanism includes a manually adjustable selector 42 for selecting a set point and a trigger 43 for activating the pump 22 . During use, the user can depress the trigger 43 when steam operation is desired, at which point the pump 22 is activated and produces a flow rate of water into the steam generator 11 according to the setpoint selected by the adjustable selector 42 . The control mechanism 41 is preferably provided on the handle of the iron 1 so that the trigger 43 and the selector 42 can be manipulated with the hand holding the iron 1 . The base plate 15 is heated by means of a heating element 12 which communicates with a feed line through a thermostat 13 . The driver 45 includes a power supply which supplies the pump 22 with current controlled by the control unit 41 . The driver 45 arranged on the pedestal communicates with the control mechanism 41 with a cable 44 and can communicate with the power supply through a feeder cable 46 . This cable 44 is also used to communicate the heating element with a feeder cable 46 . The current supplied to the pump 22 by the driver 45 in this embodiment pulses or alternates at a frequency dependent on the manually adjustable selector 42 . For example, the mains frequency is attenuated to multiples of 2.5 Hz, so the frequency of the current supplied to the pump 22 can be set at 2.5 Hz, 5 Hz, and 7.5 Hz. Each of these frequencies corresponds to the flow rate of water flowing from the water tank 21 to the steam generator 11 . For automatic purge operation, the selector 42 may have a specific setting or a separate switch (not shown) may be provided to operate the pump at mains frequency. In this case the pump 22 will deliver sufficient water flow into the steam generator 11. This large volume of water will be used to flush soluble salts and small amounts of insoluble scale.

Figure 2 shows a detailed view of an iron according to a second embodiment of the iron according to the invention. In this second embodiment the iron 1 comprises an external nozzle 5 which communicates with the conduit 3 via a valve 51 , the further conduit 32 and a chamber 63 . The valve 51 is supported by elastic means, in this case a spring 52 . The pressure in conduit 3 will keep valve 51 closed when pump 22 is operating at low frequency. However, when the pump 22 is operating at mains frequency the pressure in the conduit 3 will rise so that the valve 51 will open and a spray operation will result. In order to prevent an increase in the amount of steam, the iron 1 comprises a further valve 61 arranged between the conduit 3 and the steam generator 11 and activation means, in this case a means for closing said further valve 61 and Button 62 for setting pump 22 to a predetermined current. The iron 1 comprises a chamber 63 communicating with the conduit 3 at a position between the pump 22 and a further valve 61 . A piston 64 that can restrict the chamber 63 is connected to a manually depressable button 62 and is pressed at its upper limit position by a spring 68 . The manually depressible button 62 activates the switch 47 via the lever 66 . The extension 64a of the piston 64 causes the further valve 61 to be in its open position against the force of a further spring 69 when the piston 64 is in its upper limit position. With this open position of the further valve 61 , water can flow from the conduit 3 through the chamber 63 to the other chamber 67 and through the other conduit 31 into the steam generator 11 . The flow of this water from conduit 3 into steam generator 11 depends on the current supplied to pump 22 .

Next, the spraying operation will be explained. When the user presses the button 62 beyond the first section of its stroke, the piston 64 moves down and the other valve 61 is closed due to the force of the other spring 69, so that the water flow from the conduit 3 to the steam generator 11 is blocked. cut off. When the push button 62 is depressed beyond a second portion of its travel, the piston 64 moves further downwards, so that the volume of the chamber 63 decreases, the effect of which will be described below. Button 62 activates switch 47 via lever 66 when button 62 continues to be depressed beyond a third segment of its travel. The switch 47 is connected to the control mechanism 41 (see FIG. 1 ) in such a way that closing of the switch 47 causes the pump to operate at mains frequency and results in spray operation. When the user releases the button 62, the switch 47 opens and stops delivering the electric drive current to the pump 22. Then, the piston 64 moves upwards under the action of the spring 68, so that the volume of the chamber 63 increases and the volume of the chamber 63 and the conduit 3 The pressure is reduced. When the pressure in the chamber 63 decreases the valve 51 closes due to the pressure of the spring 52 and the spraying operation stops. Finally, the further valve 61 is raised, so that the connection of the conduit 3 to the steam generator 11 is opened. Since the volume of the chamber 63 increases after the supply of current to the pump 22 has stopped, the pressure in the conduit 3 decreases and prevents a large flow of water into the steam generator 11 when the further valve 61 is opened.

The invention has been described above for an embodiment employing regulation of the frequency of the electric current delivered to the pump 22 . However, the water flow can also be adjusted by adjusting the magnitude of the current delivered to the pump 22 or adjusting the voltage supplied to the pump 22 according to the set value. It should also be noted that the drive 45 and the control mechanism 41 could be combined into one unit provided on either the iron or the stand.

Claims (10)

1. An ironing machine comprises an iron (1) and a pedestal (2), the iron comprises a steam generator (11), the pedestal comprises a water tank (21), and the water tank uses a conduit (3) to generate steam In communication with the iron, the iron also includes an electric current-driven pump (22) for delivering water from the water tank to the iron and having settings corresponding to at least two different flow rates of water to the steam generator The flow rate regulating device of the present invention is characterized in that the flow rate regulating device comprises a control circuit (41, 45) for controlling the current supplied to the pump according to a set value. 2. An ironing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow rate regulating means comprise a manually adjustable selector (42) for selecting a set point. 3. An ironing iron according to claim 2, characterized in that the selector (42) is provided on the iron (1). 4. An ironing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the current pulses or alternates with a frequency depending on the set value. 5. An ironing iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the iron (1) comprises a nozzle (5) which communicates with the conduit (3) via a valve (51). 6. An ironing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the valve (51) is supported by elastic means (52). 7. An ironing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the iron (1) comprises a further valve (61) arranged between the conduit (3) and the steam generator (11), the iron further comprising Activating means for closing said further valve (62) and setting a predetermined current for the pump. 8. An ironing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that activation of the activation means (62) causes the further valve (61) to be closed prior to said predetermined current setting. 9. An ironing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that said actuating means (62) cooperate with a chamber (63) having a variable volume, which chamber is provided between the pump (22) and said additional Conduit communication between the valves (61), release of the priming device results in subsequent resetting of the pump current, increase in volume of the chamber and opening of said further valve. 10. An ironing iron according to claim 9, characterized in that the volume of said chamber is variable by means of a movable piston (64), the activation means comprising a manually depressible button ( 62) and in cooperation with said additional valve (61), said piston and a changeover switch (47) connected to the control circuit (41, 45), by pressing or releasing the button over the first segment of its stroke The valve is opened or closed respectively, the piston is moved by moving the button beyond the second part of its stroke, and the changeover switch is opened or closed respectively by pressing or releasing the button beyond the third part of its stroke.