JPH02102700A - Cordless steam iron - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent efficiency from being lowered in advance by activating an announcing means and announcing the emission stop of stream when the supplying route of water to a vaporizing room is closed by a valve mechanism and the emission of the stream is stopped. CONSTITUTION:When the temperature of a base 10 is gradually decreased with the use of an iron main body 2 and the temperature is lower than the suitable temperature of steam generation, a bimetal 45 is returned to a bending condition so as to project in a lower direction. Then, with this operation, an interlocking rod 34 falls down by the energizing force of a spring 46. An operating rod 33 also falls down unitedly with this interlocking rod 34 and a diaphragm valve 40 is pressed to a valve seat hole 39. Then, the valve seat hole 39 is sealed and thus, a water guide route 27 is closed. After that, the supply of the water from a water tank to a dropping nozzle 26 is interrupted and the emission of the steam is stopped. In such a case, an actuator 55 of a switch 54 is pressed and operated by an operator 48 in correspondence to the falling- down of the interlocking rod 34. By this operation, a buzzer 53 is electrified through the charging circuit of a PC substrate 52 and an announcing tone is generated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Aspect 1 of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a cordless steam iron in which a power cord is not led out from the iron body.

(Prior Art) This type of cordless steam iron is composed of an iron body and a mounting stand. When the iron body is placed on the mounting stand, the heater in the base of the iron body is energized and generates heat. After heat is accumulated in the base and the temperature of the base rises above a certain level, the iron body is removed from the mounting table and ironing is performed.

The iron body is equipped with a steam generation mechanism,
Steam can be ejected from the bottom of the base as appropriate. That is, water in the water tank is sequentially dripped into the vaporization chamber of the base through the supply path, the water is vaporized by the heat of the base to form steam, and this steam is guided to the lower surface of the base and ejected.

However, if the temperature of the base gradually decreases while the iron is in use and becomes below the appropriate temperature for steam generation, water will not evaporate sufficiently and water will accumulate in the vaporization chamber, causing steam to eject from the bottom of the base. It may leak from the hole.

Therefore, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-59999, when the temperature of the base falls below the appropriate temperature for steam generation, a thermally responsive member detects the temperature and automatically closes the water supply path to the vaporization chamber. This is what is offered.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, even if the water supply path is closed during ironing and the steam stops blowing out, it is difficult for the user to recognize this, and as a result, the steam stops blowing out. The problem is that if you continue ironing while thinking that the ironing is done, you may end up losing efficiency.

This invention was made with attention to these points, and its purpose is to provide the user with accurate information when the water supply route to the vaporization chamber is closed and the steam ejection stops. To provide a cordless steam iron which can be recognized and prevent a decrease in efficiency.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an apparatus in which a heater in a base of an iron body is energized by placing the iron body on a mounting table. A vaporization chamber is formed in the base, water in a water tank is sequentially dripped into the vaporization chamber through a supply path, this water is vaporized by the heat of the base and becomes steam, and this steam flows to the bottom side of the base. The iron body also includes a heat-responsive member that operates according to the temperature of the base, and when the temperature of the base drops below the appropriate temperature for steam generation, water is ejected into the vaporizing chamber in conjunction with the action of the heat-responsive member. The iron body is provided with a valve mechanism for closing the supply path of the iron, and the iron body is provided with a notification means that is activated in response to the closing operation of the valve mechanism.

(Function) When the water supply path to the vaporization chamber is closed by the valve mechanism and the steam jetting stops, the notification means is activated to notify the user that the steam jetting has stopped.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a placement table, 2 an iron main body, and the upper surface of the placement table 1 is configured as a placement part 3 corresponding to the shape of the rear end surface of the iron main body 2. A through hole 4 is formed in the mounting portion 3, and a contact spring 6 that is electrically connected to the power cord 5 is provided inside the mounting table 1, and a power supply terminal 7 is connected to the contact spring 6, facing the through hole 4. installed.

The iron body 1 is connected to the upper surface of the base 10 (the iron body 2
(the same applies hereinafter) is covered with a cover 11, a heat shield plate 12 is attached on the cover 11, and a handle 13 is attached on the heat shield plate 12. A heater 14 is cast into the base 10, and a vaporizing chamber 15 is formed on the upper surface of the base 10, and this vaporizing chamber 15 communicates with an ejection hole 16 on the lower surface of the base 10. The opening is sealed with a cover plate 17. A cassette-type water tank 20 is removably provided at the front of the handle 13, and a spout 21 is formed at the bottom of the water tank 20.
A valve body 22 is provided inside the valve 0, and this valve body 22 is elastically biased by a spring 23 in a direction to close the spout 21.

A water guide port 24 is formed in the heat shield plate 12 to face the spout 21, and a water guide member 25 is provided on the upper surface of the cover 11. 26 is inserted into the vaporization chamber 15 through the cover 11 and the lid plate 17. The water guide member 25 is formed with a water guide channel 27 that communicates the water guide port 24 with the inside of the dripping nozzle 26, and the water guide member 25 is integrally formed with a protrusion 28 that projects toward the inner center of the water guide port 24. , this protrusion 28 allows the valve body 2 of the water tank 20 to
2 is pushed inside the water tank 20 against the spring 23, thereby holding the spout 21 in an open state, and the water in the water tank 20 flows through the supply path, that is, the spout 21,
The water is sequentially supplied into the vaporization chamber 15 through the water inlet 24, the water conduit 27, and the dripping nozzle 26.

A support plate 31 is provided on the upper part of the water guide member 25, and an opening/closing rod 32, an operating rod 33, and an interlocking rod 34 are slidably inserted into the support plate 31, respectively. The tip of the opening/closing rod 32 passes through the water guide member 25 and faces into the drip nozzle 26, and this opening/closing rod 32 is linked to a cam 35, and by rotating the cam 35 via the operating lever 36, The opening/closing rod 32 moves up and down, and this operation closes the nozzle hole 26a at the tip of the dripping nozzle 26 or changes its opening amount.

The water conduit 27 has a valve seat hole 39 in the middle, and a diaphragm valve 40 as a valve mechanism is provided opposite the valve seat hole 39, and this diaphragm valve 40 is connected to the operation rod 33. The operating rod 33 is elastically biased upward by a spring 41.

A four part 44 is formed approximately at the center of the - side of the base 10, and a reversible bimetal 45 is housed in this recess 44 as a thermally responsive member. And this bimetal 45
The lower end of the interlocking rod 34 is in contact with the center part of the interlocking rod 34, and a spring 46 having a larger elastic force than the spring 41 is wound around the interlocking rod 34, and the interlocking rod 34 is elastically attached downward by this spring 46. Forced. Further, a transmission plate 47 is attached to the upper end of the interlocking rod 34, one end of the transmission plate 47 is connected to the operating rod 33, and a screw operator 48 is attached to the other end.

On the upper surface of the rear end of the base 10, there is an automatic controller that controls the power supply to the heater 14 to maintain the base 10 at a set temperature. m 13j controller 51, and a PC board 52 inside the handle 13.
The PC board 52 has a notification circuit including a buzzer 53 as a notification means and a charging circuit for energizing the notification circuit, and the notification circuit and the charging circuit are connected via a switch 54. , the operator 48 faces the actuator 55 of this switch 54.

At the rear end of the handle 13 is a through hole 56 which is electrically connected to the automatic temperature regulator 51 and the charging circuit of the PC board 52.
is provided so as to protrude from the outer surface of the handle 13. Then, when the iron body 2 is placed in an upright position on the placement part 3 of the treatment table 1, the energizing pin 56 comes into elastic contact with the power supply terminal 7 through the through hole 4, and as a result, the heater 14 and the PC board 52 The charging circuit is energized.

Next, we will discuss the effect.

When the iron main body 2 is not in use before it is placed on the mounting table 1, the bimetal 45 is in a downwardly convex curved state, and therefore the interlocking rod 34 is moved downward from the state shown in the figure by the biasing force of the spring 46. The operating rod 33 is also located below the interlocking rod 34, thereby sealing the valve seat hole 39 with the diaphragm valve 4o.

When using the iron body 2 in such a state, press the iron body 2 with j! When placed on the mounting table, the heater 14 and the charging circuit of the PC board 52 are energized by the contact between the energizing bottle 56 and the power supply terminal 7, and the energization of the heater 14 generates heat, thereby heating the base 10. When the base 10 rises to a suitable temperature for steam generation, the bimetal 45 is reversed to an upwardly convex curved state as shown in the figure, and this action pushes the interlocking rod 34 upwardly against the spring 46.

Then, the operating rod 33 rises integrally with this interlocking rod 34,
The diaphragm valve 40 is separated from the valve seat hole 39, thereby opening the valve seat hole 39, and the spout 21 of the water tank 20 and the inside of the drip nozzle 26 communicate through the water conduit 27.

After the base 10 reaches the set temperature, the iron main body 2 is removed from the mounting table 1 and ironing is performed on the lower surface of the base 10. At this time, the opening/closing rod 32 is operated via the operating lever 36 to open the nozzle hole 26 of the dripping nozzle 26.
When a is opened, water sequentially drips into the vaporization chamber 15 from the nozzle hole 26a, and this water is vaporized by the heat of the base 10 and becomes steam, and this steam is sequentially ejected from the ejection hole 16 on the lower surface of the base 1o. . By adjusting the opening amount of the nozzle hole 26a with the opening/closing rod 32, it is possible to switch between the two steam jets.

As the iron main body 2 is used, the temperature of the base 10 gradually decreases, and when that temperature becomes lower than the appropriate temperature for steam generation, the bimetal 45 returns to the downwardly convex curved state, and this operation Accordingly, the interlocking rod 34 is lowered by the biasing force of the spring 46. Then, the operating rod 33 also lowers together with the interlocking rod 34, and the diaphragm valve 40 is pressed against the valve seat hole 39, sealing the valve seat hole 39, thereby closing the water conduit 27 and discharging water from the water tank 20. The water supply to the drip nozzle 26 is cut off and the steam jetting therefore stops. At this time, in response to the lowering of the interlocking rod 34, the actuator 55 of the switch 54 is suppressed by the operator 48, and this operation energizes the buzzer 53 via the charging circuit of the PC board 52 to emit a notification sound.
This allows the user of the iron main body 2 to accurately know that the steam ejection has stopped.

After this, the iron main body 2 is placed on the placing part 3 of the placing table 1 again, and the heater 14 is energized in the same manner as described above, and the base 1 is
0 to the set temperature and reuse the iron body 2.

In the above embodiment, a buzzer is used as an example of the notification means, but the notification means is not limited to this, and may be a lamp, a sound from a sound generator, or a combination of these. Further, the water tank is not limited to a cassette type, and may be integrated with the iron body.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, when the water supply route to the vaporization chamber is closed and the steam jetting stops, the user can be made to accurately recognize this through the notification means. Therefore, it is possible to prevent inefficient use, such as proceeding with the ironing work while thinking that steam is being blown out.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1... Placing table, 2... Iron body, 10... Base, ]4... Heater, 15... Vaporizing chamber, 2 Q
,,, water tank, 40... diaphragm valve (valve mechanism)
, 45... Bimetal (thermal responsive part +, (), 53...
- Buzzer (notification means). Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzuo

Claims (1)

[Claims] When the iron body is placed on the mounting table, a heater in the base of the iron body is energized, and a vaporization chamber is formed in the base, and water in the water tank is sequentially supplied into the vaporization chamber through a supply path. This water is vaporized by the heat of the base and becomes steam, and this steam is ejected to the bottom side of the base.The iron body also has a heat-responsive member that operates according to the temperature of the base, and the temperature of the base changes to steam. The iron body is provided with a valve mechanism that closes the water supply path to the vaporization chamber in conjunction with the operation of the heat-responsive member when the temperature drops below the appropriate generation temperature, wherein A cordless steam iron characterized by being provided with a notification means that is activated when the iron is turned on.