FR2764912A1 - Smoothing iron which produces hot moist air to damp fabric being ironed - Google Patents

Abstract

The iron comprises an electric heating element (3) and a system for generating a flow of hot air (A) into which atomised water (B) is injected, so that the droplets start to evaporate before they reach the fabric surface being ironed. The air is heated by a resistance (9) and blown by a fan (15), which directs the air flow towards a distribution chamber (11) inside the iron and out through an aperture (11) in the sole plate. The fan is turned by an electric motor (13) and draws in the air, passes it over the heater and into the distribution chamber, where it receives the atomised water from a container, delivered by an electromagnetic pump (20).

Description

 The present invention relates to an appliance for ironing a textile, of the type comprising an electric heating element associated with means for humidifying the textile, in order to facilitate ironing and improve heat transfer.

 I1 is known to obtain this humidification by a distribution of water on the fabric, according to the old principle of the pattemouille, evaporating within the fabric during ironing, carried out conventionally by the sole of an iron iron, heated to a temperature allowing the formation of fabric fibers. This sole is slid over the pre-moistened fabric and transmits its heat while forming it, thanks to pressure exerted by the user.

 Are also known systems generating steam by raising the temperature and vaporizing the water, contained in a tank integrated or not in the ironing apparatus itself, and brought to the level of the sole for example, if it is an iron.

 It is known that the water introduced into the tank must preferably be demineralized, in order to avoid the deposition of limestone during vaporization, which can lead to the obstruction of the steam outlet openings made in the sole of the latter. this.

 To avoid this, one can use either the use of demineralized water sold commercially at a relatively high price, or resort to the use of a cartridge containing a demineralizing material constituted by particles of exchange resin ions, through which tap water is passed before introducing it into the water tank.

 I1 is also known systems by which the demineralizing cartridge is directly incorporated into the body of the iron to be located between the outlet of the water from the tank and the vaporization chamber, such a cartridge being removable and replaceable.

 It is understood that these different systems are not without consequence on the initial cost of the device or on its cost of use, by wanting to overcome the problem of scaling.

 In addition, spraying requires optimal temperature conditions to avoid heat build-up, which leads to coating the spraying surfaces with an insulating and resistant deposit in the integrated devices and in any case requires covering the exit of hot drops on the fabric. .

 In addition, the steam being obtained by boiling in a tank or against a very hot wall, the ironing additives dissolved in the water are distilled or destroyed by contact with the hot walls, which makes it necessary to provide tanks and a distribution separate for steam generation and additive removal.

 As for the aforementioned systems moistening the fabric before ironing, they must ensure a very fine water spray, hence the use of ultrasound or fairly high pressure pumps, all these elements being liable to breakdown and making the device more expensive .

 The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks and to this end relates to a textile ironing device, of the type comprising an electric heating element associated with means for moistening the textile.

 These means consist of heating means and means of propelling a flow of hot air discharged onto the textile and into which water is injected in spray form, so that the water droplets get disperse and initiate their evaporation in said flow of hot air, before reaching or directly on the textile.

 Thus, we get rid of any steam generation and / or supply circuit and, in this way, there is no longer any problem due to vaporization, nor to scale, which is evacuated as and when because of the presence of additives in the water.

 Compared to previous ironing devices in the operation of which the fabric is moistened by prior spraying with water, the invention makes it possible to overcome this too fine spraying which is a source of obstruction of the jets necessary for the 'get.

 Another advantage of the invention lies in the fact that any additives contained in the water are sprayed simultaneously and transported without damage to the fabric by the air flow, without contact with overheated walls.

 The invention applies to ironing apparatuses the heating means of which comprise a heating element associated with the humidification means which is distributed and integrated in a flat sole forming a constituent part of an iron, it also applies any other type of ironing or even ironing appliance.

 I1 can be a device whose heating element is distributed and integrated in two plates, at least one being articulated relative to the other to be able to be brought closer to it, according to a pressure intended to be exerted on the textile placed between them.

 I1 can also be a device whose heating element is distributed and integrated in one of the rollers of a set of two rollers, which can be brought closer to each other, according to a pressure intended to s 'exercise on the textile placed between them.

 It can also be a device in which the heating element is distributed and integrated in a smooth and slippery plate intended to be applied against a roller, according to a pressure exerted on the textile placed between them.

 In a preferred embodiment, the heating means comprise a heating resistance and the propulsion means comprise a ventilation assembly channeling and forcibly directing said flow towards a distribution chamber, located inside the body of the iron and opening outwards through at least one opening in the sole.

 It can also be a smoothing device which does not include means intended to exert pressure on the textile.

 The present invention also relates to the characteristics which will emerge during the description which follows and which should be considered in isolation or according to all their possible technical combinations.

This description given by way of nonlimiting example will make it easier to understand how the invention can be implemented, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
- The single figure shows, in longitudinal section, an ironing device, more particularly an iron according to an exemplary embodiment.

 According to a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, the iron 1 designated overall in the single figure consists of a soleplate 2 provided with a heating element 3 of the thin type, of an envelope body comprising a front part 4 extending by a upper part 5 and a rear part or heel 6.

 The upper part 5 in fact constitutes a handle 7, delimited by an opening 8, intended for the passage of the fingers of a user for easy handling of the iron.

 In addition to the electric heating element 3 associated with the soleplate 2, the ironing apparatus 1 also comprises means for moistening the textile associated with said heating element 3.

 According to the invention, these means are constituted by heating means and means for propelling a flow of hot air A, projected onto the textile (not shown), and into which flow is injected with water in the form sprayed B, so that the water droplets C disperse and initiate their evaporation D in said flow of hot air A, before reaching or directly on the fabric, to get rid of any circuit generation and / or steam supply.

 According to the present exemplary embodiment, the heating means comprise a heating element 3 distributed and integrated in a flat sole 2, to form an iron, acting on the textile placed on a plane, by manual pressure.

 In accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the flow of hot air A is produced from a heating resistor 9 forming part of the heating means and associated with a ventilation assembly 10 channeling and forcibly directing the flow A towards a distribution chamber 11, located inside the body of the iron 1 and opening outwards through at least one opening 12 made in the sole 2.

 More specifically, the ventilation assembly 12 is constituted by an electric motor 13, one of the ends of a rotating shaft 14 is associated with a propeller 15 capturing the ambient air and directing it, successively towards a rectifier 16, the heating resistor 9 and the distribution chamber 11.

 The heating resistor 9 is arranged on a refractory support 17 to constitute a tubular heating body 18 through which the flow of hot air A is generated, before being directed towards the distribution chamber 11.

 Preferably, the ventilation assembly 10 and the heating body 18 are in relation to each other and arranged in extension of one another inside the body of the iron 1, the ambient air being collected outside of it by means of a ventilation grille 19 formed in the heel 6 of the iron.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the water intended to be sprayed into the hot air flow A is brought into the distribution chamber 11, from a reserve of water not shown, via 'A suction pump 20 and a nozzle 21 opening into the distribution chamber 11, to ensure the spraying of water and its distribution in the hot air flow A.

 According to the present embodiment, the pump 20 is an electromagnetic pump and it is arranged inside the body of the iron 1.

 Regarding the water reserve (not shown), it is located inside the body of the iron.

 But of course, as regards the ventilation assembly constituted by the motor 13 and the propeller 15, the heating body constituted by the heating resistor 9 and its support 17, the pump 20 and the water reserve (not shown), all of these elements can very well be placed outside the ironing apparatus, so as to be adaptable to other types of apparatus, apart from the iron, all of these elements contributing to bringing a flow hot air A in a distribution chamber 11 located on the ironing apparatus and into which flows A are projected droplets C coming from the nozzle 21 opening into said chamber 11.

 In all the above-mentioned cases, the water can be pure or contain various ironing additives, such as antistatic or starch products.

 In all cases, the electromagnetic pump 20 draws water from the reservoir via a line 22 and compresses it towards the nozzle 21 of the distribution chamber 11.

 In the case where the reservoir (not shown) was disposed outside of the ironing apparatus, said reservoir would be connected to the latter by a flexible pipe 24 which follows the electrical supply cord 25 of the apparatus. These cords leave the device 1 through a protective tube 26.

 When the user plugs in his ironing device, in this case an iron, he lets it heat on its support or on the heel 6, which takes little time because the thin sole 2 is equipped with a heating element flat 3, which constitutes an assembly having a low thermal capacity. Then, grabbing the iron, the user controls the start-up of the flow of hot and humid air by pressing simultaneously on the controls 27 and 28. The control 27 starts the ventilation and the heating, while the control 28 starts the spraying by pump supply 20.

 In this way, we iron the fabric by moistening it.

 On the other hand, by ceasing pressing on the control 28, the user can speed up drying and by ceasing pressing on the controls 27 and 28, ironing is carried out dry.

 According to the embodiment which has just been described, the flow of hot and humid air is transferred to the textile through the sole 2, but one could very well imagine that this transfer takes place at the periphery of said sole. .

 Anyway and in all cases, evaporation taking place in an air flow or directly on the ironed fabric, the tartar is evacuated as and when, very small quantities are put in play, this is done without damage to the textile and the device. The implementation is very fast because it is no longer necessary to heat a vaporization chamber as according to the prior art, the heating of the air taking place almost instantaneously. The drying of the ironing textile is accelerated, which saves a considerable amount of time.

Furthermore, any additives are transported by the air flow on the fabric without being damaged.

 A final advantage consists in the fact that the invention makes it possible to significantly reduce the quantities of water used for ironing and therefore the energy necessary for its rise in temperature.

Claims (10)

 1. Apparatus for ironing a textile, of the type comprising an electric heating element (3) associated with means for moistening the textile, characterized in that these means consist of heating means and propulsion means for a flow of hot air (A) projected onto the textile and into which water is injected in spray form (B), so that the droplets (C) of water disperse and initiate their evaporation (D ) in said hot air flow (A), before reaching or directly on the fabric.  2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating means comprise a heating element (3) distributed and integrated in a flat sole (2).  3. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the heating means comprise a heating resistor (9) and that the propulsion means comprise a ventilation assembly (10) channeling and forcibly directing said flow (A) towards a distribution chamber (11), located inside the body of the iron and opening outwards through at least one opening (12) made in the soleplate (2).  4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the ventilation assembly (10) consists of an electric motor (13) one of the ends of a rotating shaft (14) is associated with a propeller (15 ) capturing the ambient air and directing it, successively to a rectifier (16), the heating resistor (9) and the distribution chamber (11).  5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the heating resistor (9) is arranged on a refractory support (17) to constitute a tubular heating body (18) through which the flow of hot air is generated (A ) before being directed to the distribution chamber.  6. Apparatus according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the ventilation assembly (10) and the heating body (18) are in relation to each other and arranged in extension one on the other inside the body of the iron (1), the ambient air being captured outside of the latter by means of an air grille (19) formed in the heel (6 ) iron.  7. Apparatus according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the water intended to be sprayed into the hot air flow (A) is brought into the distribution chamber (11), from a water reserve (not shown), via a pump (20) and a nozzle (21) opening into the distribution chamber (11), to ensure the spraying of the water and its distribution in the hot air flow (A).  8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the pump (20) is arranged inside the body of the iron (1).  9. Apparatus according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the pump (20) is an electromagnetic pump.  10. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the water reserve (not shown) is located inside the body of the iron.