JPH10235097A - Iron - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To regularly generate a proper quantity of steam by providing an evaporating chamber on a base to be heated by a heater, dropping the water in a tank to the evaporating chamber through a nozzle, thereby generating steam, and extending the hole diameter of the nozzle when the water in the tank is reduced. SOLUTION: In ironing with steam, the water in a tank 15 is dropped into an evaporating chamber 14 from a nozzle 16 by the pressing force of water, and steam is generated there. When rest state is detected by a state detecting means, the level in the tank 15 is detected by a level detecting means 20. When the detected level is judged low, an electric motor device 19 is driven to move an opening and closing beam 17 upward, a needle valve 18 is moved in the direction of drawing it out from the hole of the nozzle 16. Thus, the opening area of the hole of the nozzle 16 is increased to increase the dropping quantity from the nozzle 16. Namely, even when the water in the tank 15 is little, a proper quantity of steam can be stably generated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an iron for stretching wrinkles of clothes and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an iron of this type is, for example, shown in FIG.
The structure shown in FIG. 3 was generally used. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described.

[0003] As shown in the figure, a tank 3 is arranged on a base 2 having a vaporizing chamber 1, and water in the tank 3 is dropped into the vaporizing chamber 1 through a nozzle 4 to generate steam.
The opening / closing rod 5 opens and closes the hole of the nozzle 4 to switch between steam and dry.

The position of the opening / closing rod 5 with respect to the nozzle 4 is adjusted by an operation button 7, and the needle valve 6 is inserted into the hole of the nozzle to reduce the opening area of the hole, thereby reducing the amount of water dripping. At the same time, the needle valve 6 is pulled out of the hole of the nozzle to increase the opening area of the hole and increase the amount of water dripping to adjust the amount of steam.

In this method, the position of the opening / closing rod 5 is changed by the operation button 7 to change the opening area of the hole of the nozzle 4. However, even if the amount of water in the tank 3 is reduced by ejecting steam. Unless the user operates the operation button 7, the opening area of the nozzle hole is constant.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional structure, when the amount of water in the tank 3 is large, the pressing force for the head of water is sufficient, so that the water is pushed out from the nozzle 4 and the vaporization chamber is formed. The amount of water dropped into 1 is large. However, when the amount of water in the tank 3 is reduced by performing the steam ironing, there is a problem that the amount of dripping from the nozzle 4 is also reduced because the pressing force of the water is reduced.

For this reason, when the water level in the tank 3 is sufficient, the amount of steam suitable for the cloth quality is obtained. However, when the water level decreases, the amount of steam decreases and the sufficient amount of steam suitable for the cloth quality is obtained. A large amount of steam cannot be obtained.

While it is possible for the operator to operate the operation button 7 by sensing the change in the amount of steam spouting during use, the amount of dripping can be accurately adjusted according to the change in the amount of water in the tank 3. It is difficult to adjust, and there is a problem that even if the operation button 7 is operated, the drop amount can be changed only stepwise.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to jet stable steam even when the amount of water in a tank decreases.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a vaporization chamber is provided in a base heated by a heater, and water stored in a tank is dropped into the vaporization chamber through a nozzle. When the amount of water in the tank is reduced by ejecting steam, the electric device is driven to operate the opening / closing rod to increase the opening area of the nozzle hole.

Accordingly, even when the amount of water in the tank decreases during use of the iron, the opening area of the nozzle hole can be increased by operating the opening / closing rod by the electric device, and the amount of dripping from the nozzle increases. Thus, it is possible to obtain the same steam amount as when the amount of water is sufficient.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that a base heated by a heater, a vaporization chamber provided on the base, a tank for storing water supplied to the vaporization chamber, A nozzle for dropping water in the tank into the vaporization chamber, an opening / closing rod for adjusting the opening area of the hole of the nozzle, and an electric device for operating the opening / closing rod, when the amount of water in the tank decreases. The opening / closing rod is operated by driving the electric device to increase the opening area of the nozzle hole. Even when the amount of water in the tank decreases during use of the iron, the opening / closing rod is driven by the electric device. , The opening area of the nozzle hole can be increased, the amount of dripping from the nozzle increases, and the same amount of steam as when there is a sufficient amount of water can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a water level detecting means for detecting a water level in the tank and a state for detecting whether the iron is in use or at rest. Detecting means, and first timer means for measuring the duration of the state from the output of the state detecting means, operating the opening and closing rod by the output of the water level detecting means and the first timer means, The opening area of the hole is increased, and even when the water level in the tank drops while using the iron, the water level in the tank is detected and the opening / closing rod is operated by an electric device to open the nozzle hole. The opening area can be enlarged, and the opening area of the nozzle increases, so that the amount of dripping from the nozzle increases, and even when the water level decreases and the pressing force of the water decreases, the water level is sufficient. It is possible to obtain the same amount of steam in the case that.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the water level detecting means detects the water level by a resistance value between a plurality of electrodes provided in the tank. , The water level can be detected by outputting the change in the resistance between the electrodes, making it compact and
It can be cheap.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a state detecting means for detecting whether the iron is in a use state or a pause state, and such that the iron spouts steam. A steam setting section for setting, and a second timer means for measuring a steam usage time by a signal from the state detecting means and the steam setting section, and an opening / closing rod is operated by an output of the second timer means. , The opening area of the nozzle hole is increased, and the second timer means for accumulating the time when the iron is in the steam use state is provided, so that the water in the tank is determined by the diagram when the steam is used. The amount of decrease is known, and the opening / closing rod is operated by an electric device in accordance with the amount of decrease, thereby controlling the opening area of the nozzle hole to be continuously increased. Can be can be, obtain a certain stable amount of steam.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the weight detecting means for detecting the weight of the water in the tank, and the opening / closing rod is operated by the output of the weight detecting means, and the nozzle is operated. The opening area of the hole is increased, and the weight detection means for detecting the weight of the water in the tank is provided, so that the amount of remaining water in the tank can be accurately grasped, and the amount of remaining water By operating the opening / closing rod by the electric device according to the above, it is possible to control to continuously increase the opening area of the nozzle hole, and it is possible to obtain a more accurate steam amount.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a base 11 is heated by a heater 12, and forms a vaporization chamber 14 covered with a lid 13. The tank 15 is provided on the base 11.
At the bottom of 5, a nozzle 16 for dropping water in a tank 15 into a vaporization chamber 14 is provided.

The opening / closing rod 17 has a needle valve 18 at the tip thereof, and is connected to an electric device 19 for moving the opening / closing rod 17 up and down. When the open / close rod 17 is moved up and down by the electric device 19, the insertion depth of the needle valve 18 into the hole of the nozzle 16 is changed, and the amount of dripping from the nozzle 16, that is, the amount of steam is adjusted.

The water level detecting means 20 is provided with a plurality of electrodes P1, P2, and P3 having different lengths in the tank 15;
The water level is detected by measuring the resistance between the electrodes P1 and P2 or between the electrodes P1 and P3. When both electrodes are immersed in water, the resistance between the electrodes is reduced, and one or both of the electrodes is reduced. When both electrodes are not immersed in water, the resistance increases. Therefore, when the resistance between the electrodes P1 and P3 is small, the amount of water in the tank 15 is sufficient, and when the resistance between the electrodes P1 and P2 is large, it is determined that the amount of water is small.

The state detecting means 21 detects whether the iron is in use or in a resting state. As shown in FIG. 3, a reflection type photo sensor 22, a sphere 23 as a reflection object, and a It comprises a case 25 having an inclined groove 24 for guiding the ball 23 and a lid 26.

When the iron body is in a horizontal state in which ironing is performed, that is, when the iron body is in a use state, as shown in FIG. That is, the reflection type photo sensor 22
To stop at a position opposite to the reflection type photo sensor 2
The second phototransistor is turned on.

When the iron body is in a self-supporting state, that is, in a resting state, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the ball 23 rests at a position not opposed to the reflection type photo sensor 22, so that the reflection type photo sensor is used. The phototransistor 22 is turned off. State detecting means 21 having such a configuration
Accordingly, it is possible to detect a change in the posture of the iron body from the rest state to the use state and from the use state to the rest state.

The control circuit 27 is composed of a plurality of electronic components including a microcomputer,
And the output of the state detection means 21 are input,
The output of the first timer means 28 for measuring the duration of the halt state is input by the output of the state detection means 21, and after the iron is in the halt state by the state detection means 21, the duration of the state is set to the first time. When measured by the timer means 28, the electric device 19
Is driven to operate the opening / closing rod 19 to increase the opening area of the hole of the nozzle 16.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. First, when ironing is performed using steam, the water in the tank 15 is dropped into the vaporization chamber 14 through the nozzle 16 by the pressing force of the water, and the steam is jetted. However, since this dripping occurs due to the pressing force of water, if the use in steam is continued, the amount of water in the tank 15 decreases and the pressing force of water decreases, and as a result, the amount of dripping from the nozzle 16 also decreases.

Therefore, at step 40 in FIG. 4, the idle state is detected by the state detecting means 21. In the idle state, the water level in the tank 15 is detected by the water level detecting means 20, but immediately after returning from the use state to the idle state. In this case, since the water in the tank 15 fluctuates, there is a possibility that the resistance detection by the water level detecting means 20 cannot be performed accurately. For this purpose, in step 41, the duration of the inactive state is measured by the second timer means 28 from the output of the state detecting means 21, and after a certain time has elapsed, in step 42, the water level in the tank 15 is detected by the water level detecting means 20. Is detected.

If the water level detecting means 20 detects that the water level in the tank 15 is low, step 43
Then, the electric device 19 is driven to move the opening / closing rod 17 upward, and the needle valve 18 is moved in the direction of pulling out from the hole of the nozzle 16. Accordingly, in step 44, the opening area of the hole of the nozzle 16 increases, and the amount of dripping from the nozzle 16 increases. That is, even when the amount of water in the tank 15 decreases, a stable amount of steam can be obtained without reducing the amount of steam.

(Embodiment 2) As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the steam setting section 29 sets the iron so as to blow out steam. The second timer means 30 measures the steam usage time based on signals from the state detection means 21 and the steam setting unit 29. The control circuit unit 31 is configured by a plurality of electronic components including a microcomputer,
The output of the state detecting means 21 and the output of the second timer means 30 are input, and the state detecting means 21 outputs the steam when the iron is set to use and the steam setting section 29 sets the iron to emit steam. Measure usage time.

FIG. 7 shows the usage time of the steam.
As shown in FIG. 7A, the amount of water reduction in the tank 15 is estimated from the diagram at the time of using steam, the electric device 19 is driven in accordance with the amount of reduction, and the opening / closing rod 19 is operated. As shown in (), the opening area of the hole of the nozzle 16 is configured to be large. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. When ironing is performed using steam, the amount of water in the tank 15 is reduced by continuing to use steam, as in the first embodiment, and the dripping amount is smaller than when the amount of water is sufficient.

Then, in step 50 of FIG. 8, the state detecting means 21 detects that the iron is in use,
If it is determined in step 51 that the iron is set to emit steam by the steam setting unit 29, the process proceeds to step 52.
Then, the elapsed time is integrated by the second timer means 31. From the total time, the reduction amount of water in the tank 15 is obtained using a diagram of reduction in water amount when using steam as shown in FIG.

Then, the current amount of water in the tank 15 can be determined from the reduced amount of water, and the opening area of the hole of the nozzle 16 for keeping the amount of dripping constant as shown in FIG. In step 53, the electric device 19 is driven based on the correlation with the amount of water, and the opening / closing rod 17 is moved upward by the amount calculated in step 54 so that the hole of the nozzle 16 has the opening area obtained from the correlation. The nozzle 16 is moved to increase the opening area of the hole of the nozzle 16.

By continuously performing this series of controls, a constant drop amount is always obtained from when the amount of water in the tank 15 is large to when it is small. In other words, even when the amount of water in the tank 15 is reduced by continuing to use steam, the same stable steam as when the amount of water is large can be obtained.

(Embodiment 3) As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the weight detecting means 32 detects the weight of water in the tank 15, and a stainless steel plate is provided on the bottom when the iron is in the rest state. An elastic plate 33 is attached so as to bend according to the weight of water in the tank 15, and a distortion resistor 34 whose resistance value changes due to distortion is fixed to the elastic plate 33.

The control circuit section 35 is constituted by a plurality of electronic components including a microcomputer. When the water in the tank 15 decreases, the motor 19 is driven by the output of the weight detecting means 32 to operate the opening / closing rod 17. As shown in FIG. 11, the opening area of the hole of the nozzle 16 is increased. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. When ironing is performed using steam, the amount of water in the tank 15 is reduced by continuing to use steam, and the amount of dripping is smaller than when there is a sufficient amount of water, as in the first embodiment.

Therefore, in step 60 of FIG. 12, when the amount of water in the tank 15 is detected by the weight detecting means 32 while the iron is in use, and the amount of water in the tank 15 is small and the weight detected by the weight detecting means 32 becomes light, In step 61, the electric device 19 is driven. In step 62, the opening / closing rod 17 is moved upward to increase the opening area of the hole of the nozzle 16.

By performing this control continuously, an accurate amount of water in the tank 15 is always known, and as a result, a constant and stable drop amount is always obtained. That is,
Even in the case where the amount of water in the tank 15 decreases due to continuous use of steam, it is possible to accurately obtain the same stable and stable steam as in the case where the amount of water is large with a simple configuration.

[0039]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the base heated by the heater, the vaporization chamber provided in the base, and the water supplied to the vaporization chamber are stored. A tank, a nozzle for dropping water in the tank into the vaporization chamber, an opening / closing rod for adjusting an opening area of a hole of the nozzle, and an electric device for operating the opening / closing rod, the amount of water in the tank When the amount of water decreased, the electric device was driven to operate the opening / closing rod, and the opening area of the nozzle hole was increased, so that even when the amount of water in the tank was reduced while using the iron, the opening / closing rod was moved. Operated by an electric device, the opening area of the nozzle hole can be increased,
The amount of dripping from the nozzle increases, and the same amount of steam as when there is enough water can be obtained.From the start to the end of ironing, the amount of steam suitable for the cloth can be maintained, And the ironing work can be performed efficiently.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the water level detecting means for detecting the water level in the tank, the state detecting means for detecting whether the iron is in use or at rest, and this state First timer means for measuring the duration of the state from the output of the detection means, and the opening / closing rod is operated by the outputs of the water level detection means and the first timer means to increase the opening area of the nozzle hole. As a result, even when the water level in the tank drops while the iron is in use, the water level in the tank can be detected and the opening / closing rod can be operated by an electric device to increase the opening area of the nozzle hole. However, when the opening area of the nozzle becomes large, the amount of dripping from the nozzle increases, and when the water level decreases and the pressing force of the water decreases, the same steam amount as when the water level is sufficient is obtained. Rukoto can.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the water level detecting means detects the water level based on the resistance value between a plurality of electrodes provided in the tank, the change in the resistance value between the electrodes is achieved. , The water level can be detected, the configuration can be made compact, and the cost can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a state detecting means for detecting whether the iron is in a use state or a halt state, and a steam setting section for setting the iron to spout steam. A second timer means for measuring the use time of steam based on a signal from the state detecting means and a steam setting unit, and an opening / closing rod operated by an output of the second timer means to open a nozzle hole. Since the area was made large, the second timer means for integrating the time during which the iron is in the steam use state was provided, so that the amount of water reduction in the tank can be determined from the diagram when using steam, and the amount of reduction By operating the opening / closing rod by an electric device in accordance with the condition, the opening area of the nozzle hole can be controlled to be continuously increased, and a stable It is possible to obtain a beam amount.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the weight detecting means for detecting the weight of the water in the tank, and the opening / closing rod is operated by the output of the weight detecting means to reduce the opening area of the nozzle hole. Since it is made large, the weight detection means for detecting the weight of water in the tank can be provided, so that the amount of remaining water in the tank can be accurately grasped, and the open / close rod is electrically operated according to the amount of remaining water. , The opening area of the nozzle hole can be controlled to be continuously increased, and a more accurate steam amount can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of the iron.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the iron of the iron state detecting means when the iron is in use. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the iron of the iron state detecting means when the iron is at rest.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of a main part of the iron.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of an iron according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a main part block circuit diagram of the iron.

FIG. 7A is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the steam usage time of the iron and the amount of water reduction. FIG. 7B is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the tank water amount and the nozzle opening area of the iron.

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of a main part of the iron.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an essential part of an iron according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a main part of the iron.

FIG. 11 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the weight of water and the nozzle opening area of the iron.

FIG. 12 is an operation flowchart of a main part of the iron.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a conventional iron with a part cut away.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Base 12 Heater 14 Vaporization chamber 15 Tank 16 Nozzle 17 Opening / closing rod 19 Electric device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Tokuaki Akai 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A base heated by a heater, a vaporization chamber provided in the base, a tank for storing water supplied to the vaporization chamber, a nozzle for dropping water in the tank into the vaporization chamber, An opening / closing rod for adjusting the opening area of the nozzle hole, and an electric device for operating the opening / closing rod, and when the amount of water in the tank decreases, the electric device is driven to operate the opening / closing rod, An iron that increases the opening area of the nozzle hole. 2. A water level detecting means for detecting a water level in a tank, a state detecting means for detecting whether an iron is in use or a halt state, and measuring a duration of a state from an output of the state detecting means. 2. The iron according to claim 1, further comprising: a first timer means for operating the water level detecting means and an output of the first timer means to operate an opening / closing rod to increase an opening area of a nozzle hole. 3. The iron according to claim 2, wherein the water level detecting means detects the water level by a resistance value between a plurality of electrodes provided in the tank. 4. A state detecting means for detecting whether the iron is in a use state or a pause state, a steam setting section for setting the iron to spout steam, and A second timer means for measuring the use time of the steam by a signal, the opening and closing stick is operated by the output of the second timer means,
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the opening area of the nozzle hole is increased.
Iron as described. 5. An iron according to claim 1, wherein a weight detecting means for detecting the weight of water in the tank, and an opening / closing rod is operated by an output of the weight detecting means to increase an opening area of the nozzle hole. .