JPH0819699A - Steam iron - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a steam iron capable of preventing no-load running of an electric pump and automatically discharging water left in the iron main body. CONSTITUTION:Under the condition that a selection to drive an electric pump 26 is made by a steam selection switch 41, when the horizontal condition of the iron main body is detected by a state detector 37, the electric pump 26 is activated by a microprocessor 45, and when a self-standing condition of the iron main body is detected, the electric pump 26 is stopped. Under the condition that the iron main body self-standing is detected, when removal of the water tank is detected, the electric pump is driven for 3 seconds after the detection of the removal. Under the condition that the horizontal state of the iron main body is detected, when removal of the water tank is detected, the electric pump is stopped at a time 3 seconds after the detection and kept in a no-driven state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a steam iron is composed of an iron body and a cassette-type water tank detachably provided on the iron body. Then, the iron body has a base provided with a heater and a vaporization chamber, an electromagnetic electric pump for supplying water in the water tank into the vaporization chamber, and a steam selection switch for selecting whether or not to operate the electric pump. And a temperature setting switch for setting the temperature of the base, a temperature detecting element for detecting the temperature of the base,
A state detector that detects whether the iron body is in a self-supporting state or a horizontal state is provided.

Then, the energization of the heater is controlled on the basis of the temperature set by the temperature setting switch and the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element, and the temperature of the base is maintained at the set temperature. Here, when "Steam" is selected by the steam selection switch and the posture of the iron body is detected to be in the horizontal state by the state detector, the electric pump is driven and the water in the water tank is transferred to this electric pump. Is supplied into the vaporization chamber by this operation, this water is vaporized by the heat of the base to become steam, and this steam is jetted from the lower surface of the base.
When "dry" is selected with the steam selection switch, the electric pump is held in the non-drive state,
It is in a so-called dry state where steam does not spout.

[0004]

However, in the conventional steam iron, with the water tank removed from the iron body, "Steam" is selected by the steam selection switch, and the iron body is placed in the horizontal state. When the cliff is executed, the electric pump is driven. In this case, since the water tank is removed from the iron body, the water feeding operation does not occur even when the electric pump is driven, and thus the electric pump is in a so-called idle operation state. When the electric pump is in the idling state as described above, unpleasant noise is generated and the life of the electric pump is shortened.

On the other hand, after the ironing work is completed, the water tank is removed from the iron body due to problems such as corrosion, the excess water in the water tank is discarded, and the water remaining in the water passage in the iron body is further removed. Also needs to be discarded.

However, in the conventional steam iron, when discarding the water remaining in the water passage in the iron body, it is necessary to perform a troublesome and troublesome work such as flipping the iron body and swinging it up and down. There is a difficulty to do.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a point, and an object thereof is to prevent idling of the electric pump and to make the water remaining in the water passage in the iron body troublesome. It is an object to provide a steam iron that can be automatically discarded without any trouble.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises an iron body and a water tank detachably attached to the iron body, the iron body having a heater. A base, a vaporization chamber formed in the base, an electric pump for supplying water in the water tank to the vaporization chamber through a water passage, and a steam selecting means for selecting whether or not to operate the electric pump. , A tank detector for detecting whether the water tank is attached to the iron body, a state detector for detecting whether the iron body is in a self-supporting state or in a horizontal state, and the steam selecting means. The electric pump is driven when the horizontal state of the iron body is detected by the state detector under the selection to operate the electric pump. When the self-supporting state of the iron body is detected by the state detector, the driving of the electric pump is stopped, and the water detector is removed by the tank detector while the self-supporting state of the iron body is detected by the state detector. Is detected, the electric pump is driven for a certain time from this detection, and then the electric pump is held in a non-driving state, and the horizontal state of the iron main body is detected by the state detector. When the removal of the water tank is detected by the tank detector,
A control means for stopping the driving of the electric pump and maintaining the non-driving state after a predetermined time from this detection is provided.

[0009]

When the water tank is removed from the iron body while the iron body is in a self-supporting state, the electric pump is driven for a certain period of time in response to the water tank, and thereafter the electric pump is held in the non-driving state. Therefore, when ironing is performed by changing the posture of the iron body from this state to the horizontal state, the electric pump is kept in the non-driving state regardless of the change of the posture, and thus the idling of the electric pump is prevented. To be done. Therefore, unpleasant noise is not generated, the ironing work can be continued quietly, and the life of the electric pump can be prevented from being shortened.

If the water tank is removed from the iron body while the iron body is held horizontally and ironing is being performed, the operation of the electric pump is stopped after a certain time has elapsed from the removal operation. To do.

Therefore, when the ironing work is further continued from this state, since the operation of the electric pump is stopped, the electric pump is prevented from idling, and no unpleasant noise is generated, and the operation is quiet. The ironing work can be continued, and the life of the electric pump can be prevented from being shortened.

On the other hand, when the ironing work is completed and the iron body is placed on the floor surface in a self-supporting state and the water tank is removed from the iron body, the electric pump is driven for a certain period of time accordingly. . And during this driving time,
The water remaining in the water passage in the iron body is supplied to the vaporization chamber by the operation of the electric pump, and this water becomes steam and is discharged to the outside.

Therefore, after the ironing, the troublesome and troublesome work of reversing the iron body and discarding the water in the water passage is unnecessary, and the usability is improved.

If the water tank is removed from the iron body and the ironing work is completed while the iron body is held horizontally and ironing is being performed, the water tank is removed at the same time. The electric pump does not stop, but the operation of the electric pump continues for a certain period of time after its removal.Therefore, the water remaining in the water passage inside the iron body can be operated by the electric pump during this continuation period. It is supplied into the vaporization chamber and this water becomes steam and is discharged to the outside. Therefore, even in this case, the troublesome and troublesome work of reversing the iron body and discarding the water in the water passage is unnecessary, and the usability is improved.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show the structure of a steam iron. The iron body 1 is provided with a base 3 made of, for example, die casting in which a heater 2 as a heating means is cast, and an upper surface of the base 3 is a heat shield plate. 4, a heat shield cover 5 is mounted on the heat shield plate 4, a handle 6 is mounted on the heat shield cover 5, and an opening at the upper end of the handle 6 is covered by a handle cap 7.

A cassette type water tank 8 is detachably attached to the front part of the iron body 1, and a cord reel device 9 is attached to the rear part of the iron body 1, and a power cord 10 is provided in the cord reel device 9. Is stored so that it can be pulled out.

A vaporization chamber 12 is formed on the upper surface of the base 3, and the interior of the vaporization chamber 12 communicates with the lower surface side of the base 3 through a steam ejection hole 13 provided on the lower surface thereof. Between the heat shield plate 4 and the heat shield cover 5, there is a water joint 1
4 is provided, an opening 15 is formed on the upper surface at one end side of the water passage joint 14, a push rod 16 is formed inside the opening 15, and the upper end of the push rod 16 passes through the opening 15 and the water passage joint 14 is formed. Protruding above. A water passage 17 communicating with the inside of the opening 15 is formed inside the water joint 14.

An outlet 18 and a valve mechanism 19 are provided at the bottom of the water tank 8, and the valve mechanism 19 is a support 20.
A disc-shaped valve element 22 is attached to an intermediate portion of a valve rod 21 slidably supported on the valve rod 22, and the valve element 22 is closed via a spring 23 on the side where the outlet 18 is disposed, that is, the outlet 18. It is elastically biased in the direction.

The outflow port 18 of the water tank 8 has a water passage fitting 14
Liquid-tightly connected to the opening 15 of the
Push rod 16 contacts valve rod 21 and pushes valve body 22 upward against spring 23, which causes outlet 18
Is held in an open state, and the water stored in the water tank 8 flows into the water passage 17 inside the water joint 14 from the outlet 18 through the opening 15.

When the water tank 8 is removed from the iron body 1, the valve rod 21 is pushed downward by the urging force of the spring 23 so that the valve element 22 adheres closely to the outflow port 18, and this outflow closes the outflow port 18. Therefore, the water in the water tank 8 is prevented from flowing out.

A water injection port 24 is formed in the upper part of the front surface of the water tank 8, and a water injection lid 25 is provided on the water injection port 24. The water injection lid 25 is opened to enter the water tank 8 from the water injection port 24. It is possible to inject water appropriately and to discard the unnecessary water in the water tank 8.

The iron body 1 is provided with, for example, an electromagnetic electric pump 26 as an electric water supply means.
The electric pump 26 has a suction port 27 at the lower end and a discharge port 28 at the upper end, and sucks water from the suction port 27 and discharges the water from the discharge port 28. It has become.

The suction port 27 of the electric pump 26 is connected to the water passage 17 of the water joint 14 so as to communicate with the inside of the water passage 17, and the discharge port 28 is a discharge formed of flexible rubber. The pipe 29 is connected.

An outflow hole 3 is provided at an intermediate portion of the water passage fitting 14.
0 is formed, and the lower end of the outflow hole 30 is arranged in the opening on the upper surface of the vaporization chamber 12 and communicates with the inside of the vaporization chamber 12.
The discharge pipe 29 is connected to the upper end of the outflow hole 30.

Inside the handle 6, a tank detector 34 for detecting whether or not the water tank 8 is attached to the iron body 1 is provided, and on the upper surface side of the base 3, a thermistor or the like for detecting the base temperature is provided. The temperature detecting element 35 is provided.

The circuit board 3 is provided inside the handle cap 7.
6 is accommodated, and a state detector 37 for detecting whether the iron body 1 is in a self-supporting state or a horizontal state and various circuit components constituting the control circuit section are attached to the circuit board 36.

In the state detector 37, for example, a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged so as to face each other, and a ball is movably provided between the two elements, and when the iron body 1 is in a self-supporting state, that is, during ironing work. At the time of rest, the ball blocks the incidence of light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element to detect the rest of ironing, and when the iron body 1 is in a horizontal state, that is, when the ironing work is performed, the ball moves It is configured such that the incidence of light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element is allowed and the execution of ironing is detected.

Further, on the circuit board 36, the temperature of the base 3 is switched to, for example, six levels, and a temperature setting switch 40 as a temperature setting means for turning off the power source, a steam selection switch 41 constituting a steam selection means, the temperature A plurality of light emitting elements 42 are provided to display the temperature setting state and power-off state by the setting switch 40 and the steam generation state by the steam selection switch 41, respectively. Furthermore, inside the rear part of the handle 6,
A pump drive circuit 43 for driving the electric pump 26 is housed.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the control circuit.
Reference numeral 5 is a microprocessor as a main body of the control unit, and the microprocessor 45 functions as follows. The temperature setting information from the temperature setting switch 40 is stored in the temperature setting unit 46.
The steam generation selection information by the steam selection switch 41 is fetched through the steam selection unit 47, and the information from the temperature detection element 35, the information from the tank detector 34, and the information from the state detector 37 are input. Further, the heater driving circuit 48 is controlled based on the temperature setting information from the temperature setting unit 46 and the base temperature detection information from the temperature detection element 35 to energize the heater 2 to set the temperature of the base 3 to the set temperature. Control.

Then, the electric pump 26 is controlled by controlling the pump drive circuit 43 based on the steam selection information from the steam selection section 47 and the state detection information from the state detector 37.
Drive. Further, the microprocessor 45 has an internal timer, and when the iron body 1 is detected to be in the horizontal state based on the state detector 37, the water tank 8 is ironed by the information from the tank detector 34. When it is detected that the electric pump 26 has been removed from No. 1, the pump drive circuit 43 is controlled to drive the electric pump 26 for a fixed time, for example, 3 seconds.

When it is detected that the water tank 8 has been removed from the iron body 1 based on the information from the tank detector 34 during the steam generation control, the electric pump is operated for a fixed time, for example, 3 seconds from the detection. The driving of the electric pump 26 is stopped after 3 seconds have elapsed. Further, the light emitting element 42 is selectively controlled to be turned on by the temperature setting information from the temperature setting unit 46 and the information from the steam selecting unit 47.

The steam selection switch 41 is a push-button switch of an automatic reset type, and each time the switch operation is performed, steam generation selection and steam non-generation selection are alternately repeated, and the microprocessor 45 is operated by this switch operation. As shown in FIG. 4, the flag memory F is set to "1" when steam generation is selected, and the flag memory F is set to "0" when steam non-generation is selected.

The temperature setting switch 40 is a push button type switch of an automatic resetting type. Every time the switch operation is performed, the power is turned off and the temperature setting state of 6 steps is repeatedly switched between 7 steps. The microprocessor 45 is adapted to perform the temperature setting control shown in FIG.

That is, in step S1, when the switch operation of the temperature setting switch 40 is "OFF", the power supply to the heater 2 is turned off. When the temperature is other than "OFF", the heater 2 is energized based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element 35 to keep the temperature of the base 3 at the set temperature.
Then, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the temperature of the base 3 has reached the set temperature, and when it has reached the set temperature, it is determined in step S3 whether or not "1" is set in the flag memory F.

If "1" is set in the flag memory, it is then determined in step S4 whether the water tank 8 is attached to the iron body 1, and if the water tank 8 is attached, step S5 is executed. As a result, it is determined whether the iron body 1 is in the horizontal state or the independent state.

When it is determined that the iron body 1 is horizontal, that is, the iron body 1 is in use, the electric pump 26 is driven to control steam generation.
As a result, steam is ejected from the steam ejection holes 13 of the base 3.

During the steam generation control, it is determined in step S6 whether the water tank 8 is attached to the iron body 1. If the water tank 8 is attached, the set temperature is changed in step S7. It is determined whether or not it has been performed, and when the set temperature is being switched, the set temperature is changed, temperature control based on the new set temperature is performed, and when the set temperature is not switched, it remains as it is. Temperature control.

In step S3, the flag memory F is "0".
When set to, dry control is performed without steam generation. That is, the electric pump 26 is not driven. When it is determined in step S4 that the water tank 8 is not attached to the iron body 1, dry control is performed without steam generation.

When it is determined in step S5 that the iron body 1 is in a self-supporting state, that is, the iron body 1 is in the non-use state, it is then determined in step S8 whether the water tank 8 is attached to the iron body 1. If the water tank 8 is attached, the process returns to step S3. If the water tank 8 is removed, the electric pump 26 is driven through the pump drive circuit 43 for 3 seconds after the detection. Then, after the electric pump 26 is driven for 3 seconds, dry control is performed without steam generation.

When it is detected that the water tank 8 is not attached to the iron main body 1 in step S6 in which the steam generation control is performed, the electric pump 26 being driven is detected at a time point 3 seconds after the detection. It is stopped to perform dry control without steam generation.

In the embodiment having such a configuration, when steam generation is selected by the steam selection switch 41, "1" is set in the flag memory F. When the temperature setting switch 40 is operated to set the temperature in this state, the heater drive circuit 48 controls the energization of the heater,
The base 3 is heated. Further, the temperature setting state is the light emitting element 4
Displayed by 2.

The temperature of the base 3 is detected by the temperature detecting element 35, and when the temperature of the base 3 reaches the set temperature, the electric pump 26 can be driven. When the iron body 1 is changed from the self-supporting state to the horizontal state and the actual ironing work is performed, the electric pump 26 is driven via the pump drive circuit 43. Then, by driving the electric pump 26, the water in the water tank 8 is sequentially supplied into the road vaporization chamber 12 through the water passage 17, and this water is sequentially vaporized to form steam, and the steam is the steam ejection holes on the lower surface of the base 3. Eject from 13 sequentially. When the iron body 1 is placed on the floor in a self-supporting state during the ironing work, the operation of the electric pump 26 is stopped each time,
The spout of steam stops.

When the iron body 1 is in a self-supporting state,
When the water tank 8 is removed from the iron body 1, the electric pump 26 is accordingly driven for 3 seconds and thereafter the electric pump 26 is held in the non-driving state. Therefore,
When ironing is performed by changing the posture of the iron body 1 from this state to the horizontal state, the electric pump 26 is maintained in the non-driving state regardless of the change of the posture, and therefore, the electric pump 26 is not idle. To be prevented. Therefore, no unpleasant noise is generated, the ironing work can be continued quietly, and the life of the electric pump 26 can be prevented from being shortened.

While the iron body 1 is being held horizontally and ironing work is in progress, the iron body 1
When the water tank 8 is removed from, the operation of the electric pump 26 is stopped and the dry control state is set after 3 seconds have elapsed from the removal operation.

Therefore, when the ironing work is further continued from this state, since the operation of the electric pump 26 is stopped, the idling of the electric pump 26 is prevented, and no unpleasant noise is generated. The ironing work can be continued quietly, and the life of the electric pump 26 can be prevented from being shortened.

On the other hand, when the ironing work is completed, the iron body 1 is placed on the floor surface in an independent state and the water tank 8
When the iron is removed from the iron body 1, the electric pump 26 is driven accordingly for only 3 seconds. Then, during this driving time, the water remaining in the water passage 17 of the water joint 14 is supplied into the vaporization chamber 12 by the operation of the electric pump 26, and this water becomes steam and is discharged to the outside.

Therefore, after the ironing, the troublesome and troublesome work of reversing the iron body 1 and discarding the water in the water passage 17 is unnecessary, and the usability is improved.

While the iron body 1 is being held horizontally and ironing is being performed, the iron body 1
When the water tank 8 is removed from the water tank and the ironing work is finished, the electric pump 26 does not stop at the same time as the water tank 8 is removed, but the operation of the electric pump 26 is continued for 3 seconds after the removal operation. Therefore, during this continuation time, the water remaining in the water passage 17 of the water joint 14 is supplied into the vaporization chamber 12 by the operation of the electric pump 26, and this water becomes steam and is discharged to the outside. To be done.

Therefore, also in this case, a troublesome and troublesome work such as reversing the iron body 1 to discard the water in the water passage 12 is unnecessary, and the usability is improved.

[0050]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It prevents unnecessary idle operation of the electric pump, so that no unpleasant noise is generated and the life of the electric pump is not reduced, and at the end of ironing, the water remaining in the water passage inside the iron body There is an advantage that it can be automatically discarded without troublesome work.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a steam iron according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the steam iron.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit in the steam iron.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process by operating a steam selection switch in the steam iron.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control flow in the steam iron.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Iron main body 2 ... Heater 8 ... Water tank 12 ... Vaporization chamber 17 ... Water passage 26 ... Electric pump 34 ... Tank detector 37 ... Status detector 41 ... Steam selection switch (steam selection means) 45 ... Microprocessor (control means) )

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Hiroaki Sakai, 2570, Gosuda, Kago-shi, Niigata 1 2570, Toshiba Home Techno Co., Ltd. (72) Ichiharu Tsubaki, 2570, Gosuda, Kamo, Niigata Prefecture 1 Toshiba Home Within Techno Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Junichi Shibano 2570, Gosuda, Kamo City, Niigata Prefecture 1570 Toshiba Home Within Techno Co., Ltd. (72) Hiroyuki Kato 2570, Gosuda, Kamo City, Niigata Prefecture 1 Within Toshiba Home Techno Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An iron body, and a water tank removably attached to the iron body, the iron body having a base having a heater, a vaporization chamber formed in the base, and the water tank. An electric pump for supplying water in the vaporization chamber through a water passage, steam selecting means for selecting whether or not to operate the electric pump, and detection as to whether or not the water tank is attached to the iron body. The tank detector, the state detector that detects whether the iron body is in a self-supporting state or the horizontal state, and the steam detector selects the operation of the electric pump. When the horizontal state of the iron body is detected, the electric pump is driven, and when the state detector detects the self-supporting state of the iron body. Stops the drive of the electric pump and detects the self-supporting state of the iron main body by the state detector, and when the removal of the water tank is detected by the tank detector, only for a certain time from this detection. The tank detector detects the removal of the water tank while the electric pump is driven and then the electric pump is held in a non-driving state, and the state detector detects the horizontal state of the iron body. In this case, the steam iron is provided with a control means for stopping the driving of the electric pump and keeping the electric pump in a non-driving state after a predetermined time from the detection.