U.S. patent application number 11/722483 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-04 for steam ironing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.. Invention is credited to Tang Pong Har, Kat Tong Ho, Pieter Jeeninga, Yong Jiang, Mun Thoh Ma.
Application Number | 20100024259 11/722483 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36143490 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100024259 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jiang; Yong ; et
al. |
February 4, 2010 |
STEAM IRONING DEVICE
Abstract
A steam ironing device (10) provides an ionized steam output
using an ionizing arrangement (30). The ionization process, in
particular the high energy electric discharge used for ionization,
breaks down steam particles into finer particles. As a result, a
greater proportion of the steam particles generated can penetrate
into the fabric of the garment being ironed, to improve fabric
treatment and fabric moistening.
Inventors: |
Jiang; Yong; (Singapore,
SG) ; Har; Tang Pong; (Singapore, SG) ; Ma;
Mun Thoh; (Singapore, SG) ; Jeeninga; Pieter;
(Singapore, SG) ; Ho; Kat Tong; (Singapore,
SG) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PHILIPS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & STANDARDS
PO BOX 3001
BRIARCLIFF MANOR
NY
10510-8001
US
|
Assignee: |
KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS
N.V.
EINDHOVEN
NL
|
Family ID: |
36143490 |
Appl. No.: |
11/722483 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
December 21, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB05/54348 |
371 Date: |
June 21, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
38/77.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 75/10 20130101;
D06F 81/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
38/77.9 |
International
Class: |
D06F 75/14 20060101
D06F075/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 22, 2004 |
EP |
04106873.5 |
Claims
1. A steam ironing device comprising an iron with a sob plate, a
water reservoir and steam generating means, wherein the ironing
device further comprises means for providing an electrically
charged steam output to the article being ironed.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, provided with heating means for
heating the sole plate.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a steam chamber
having steam outlet nozzles, and wherein the means for providing an
electrically charged output comprises an electrode arrangement
within the steam chamber.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electrode
arrangement comprises at least two electrodes to which different
voltages are applied.
5. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electrode
arrangement comprises at least two electrodes to which a first
voltage is applied, and wherein the steam chamber defines a further
ground electrode.
6. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least two
electrodes extend into the nozzles.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a steam chamber
having steam outlet nozzles, and wherein the means for providing an
electrically charged output comprises an electrode arrangement
provided at the outlet of the nozzles.
8. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for providing
an ionized output provides negative ions.
9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein die means for providing
an electrically charged output comprises means for providing an
ionized air flow and for mixing the ionized air flow with
steam.
10. A device as claimed in claim 9, comprising a steam chamber
having outlet nozzles to provide the steam for mixing with the
ionized air flow.
11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water reservoir,
the steam generating means and the means for providing an
electrically charged steam output to the article being ironed are
provided in the iron.
12. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a heater arrangement
is provided for heating the sole plate, and the steam chamber is
heated by the same heater arrangement as the sole plate.
13. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water reservoir is
external to the iron.
14. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the steam generating
means is external to the iron.
15. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electric pump is
provided for controlling the flow of water from the water reservoir
to the steam generating means.
16. An ironing system comprising a device as claim 13, and an
ironing board, wherein the water reservoir is housed by the ironing
board.
17. An ironing method comprising applying electrically charged
steam to a garment during ironing, the ironing comprising applying
pressure to the garment using an iron sole plate.
18. A steam ironing system comprising: an iron with a sole plate;
an ironing board; a water reservoir and steam generating means; and
means for providing an electrically charged steam output to the
article being ironed.
19. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the means for
providing an electrically charged steam output to the article being
ironed forms part, of the board.
20. A steam ironing system comprising an iron with a sole plate for
pressing against an article to be ironed steam generating means for
providing a steam output comprising steam droplets, for application
to the article being ironed, and an ionisation arrangement for
breaking down steam droplets whereby at least 40% of the steam
droplets in the steam output have a droplet size of less than 10
microns.
21. A steam ironing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least
50% of the steam droplets in the steam output have a droplet size
of less than 10 microns.
22. A steam ironing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least
40% of the steam droplets in the steam output have a droplet size
of less than 7 microns.
23. A steam ironing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least
50% of the steam droplets in the steam output have a droplet size
of less than 7 microns.
24. A steam ironing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least
40% of the steam droplets in the steam output have a droplet size
of less than 5 microns.
25. A steam ironing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least
50% of the steam droplets in the steam output have a droplet size
of less than 5 microns.
26. A steam ironing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least
55%-65% of the steam droplets in the steam output have a droplet
size of less than 5 microns.
27. A steam ironing system as claimed in claim 20, comprising a
steam iron, and wherein the steam generating means forms part of
the iron.
28. A steam ironing system as claimed in claim 20, comprising an
iron and an ironing board, and wherein the steam generating means
forms part of the ironing board.
29. An ironing method comprising applying steam to a garment during
ironing, the steam comprising steam droplets, with at least 40% of
the steam droplets in the steam output having a droplet size of
less than 10 microns, the method making use of the steam iron
system according to claim 20.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a steam ironing device, such as a
steam iron with integrated water reservoir, a steam ironing system
with separate steam boiler or integrated steam ironing system in
which a boiler or steam generator is integrated with an ironing
board.
[0002] Steam irons are a well-known domestic appliance.
[0003] A conventional steam iron comprises a soleplate heated by an
electric heating element. The temperature of the soleplate is kept
at a desired temperature by means of a thermostat and a temperature
dial. Steam is generated by a steam generator, which comprises a
water tank, a water-dosing pump, and a steam chamber. The water
pump pumps water from the water tank to the steam chamber (as drips
rather than a large flow of water) via a hose under command of a
pump signal from an electric control device. The rate at which
water is supplied dictates the amount of steam being produced, and
the amount of steam is sufficiently low that the temperature of the
sole plate is not significantly affected.
[0004] Instead of a pumped system, water can be dosed to the steam
chamber under gravity.
[0005] The steam chamber is typically heated by the soleplate, but
an auxiliary heating element may instead be provided.
[0006] The steam from the steam chamber reaches steam vents
provided in the base of the sole plate.
[0007] The steam produced by steam irons serves to dampen the
fabric to be ironed. The application of moisture to a garment
during ironing makes the ironing process easier, and reduces the
time taken. In particular, the weakness of some fibres increases
with the water content, especially cotton, linen, viscose and wool.
The application of moisture thus conditions the fabric for
subsequent ironing. This ironing process is essentially a
relaxation process by which the fibres recover from the plastic
deformation caused by wearing of the clothing. An alternative to
the application of steam is the use of a cold-water spray or
pre-dampening of a garment before ironing.
[0008] In the usual steam ironing device the moisturizing of the
garment is not optimal under all conditions. The objective of the
invention is to improve the ease and/or the performance of steam
ironing.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a steam ironing device comprising an iron with a sole
plate for pressing against an article to be ironed, a water
reservoir and steam generating means, wherein the ironing device
further comprises means for providing an electrically charged steam
output to the article being ironed. By this measure the objective
of the invention is achieved, particularly, the penetration of
droplets into the fabric to be ironed is improved, moreover the
condensation rate is increased.
[0010] Preferably, the electric charging is achieved using an
ionization arrangement. It has been found that the ionization
process, in particular the high energy electric discharge used for
ionization, can break down steam droplets into finer droplets. As a
result, a greater proportion, than in a usual steam iron, of the
steam droplets generated can penetrate into the fabric of the
garment being ironed.
[0011] The ionization also charges the water molecules either
positively or negatively, depending on the type of ionizer
used.
[0012] The finer steam also presents an increased steam droplet
surface area, enabling a more rapid dissipation of heat. This
allows an increased level of condensation for conditioning the
fabric.
[0013] The effectiveness of the steam application is therefore
significantly improved.
[0014] The steam output also has increased visibility compared to
superheated dry steam, and this assists the operator of the
iron.
[0015] The sole plate is preferably heated.
[0016] The iron preferably comprises a steam chamber having steam
outlet nozzles, and an electrode arrangement is provided within the
steam chamber.
[0017] For example, the electrode arrangement may comprise at least
two electrodes to which different voltages are applied. These then
provide a field which induces ionization. The electrode arrangement
may instead comprise at least two electrodes to which a first
voltage is applied, and the steam chamber can defines a further
ground electrode. The water molecules in the vicinity of the
electrodes are then charged to the same polarity.
[0018] For example, substantially only negative negatively charged
water droplets may be provided in the stream output. It has been
found that fabric tends to be positively charged, and the
generation of negatively charged steam droplets takes advantage of
this by allowing electrostatic attraction of the steam droplets to
the fabric. This makes the use of the generated steam more
efficient.
[0019] The at least two electrodes can extend into the nozzles,
thereby providing ionization/charging at the steam nozzle
outlets.
[0020] An electrode arrangement may instead be provided at the
nozzles, and external of the steam chamber.
[0021] The same heater arrangement may be used for generating the
steam as for the sole plate, or else different hearing arrangements
may be used.
[0022] In another arrangement, an ionized air flow is provided and
is mixed with steam.
[0023] A venturi mixing device may be used. The steam may again be
provided by a steam chamber, heated by the sole plate heater.
[0024] In addition to an iron with all of the components integrated
into the iron casing, the invention can be applied to a steam
ironing system with separate steam boiler, or to an integrated
steam ironing system in which a boiler or steam generator is
integrated with an ironing board.
[0025] The invention also provides an ironing method comprising
applying electrically charged steam to a garment during
ironing.
[0026] The invention also provides a steam ironing system
comprising: an iron with a sole plate for pressing against an
article to be ironed; an ironing board; a water reservoir and steam
generating means; and means for providing an electrically charged
steam output to the article being ironed.
[0027] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided a steam ironing system comprising an iron with a sole
plate for pressing against an article to be ironed and steam
generating means for providing a steam output comprising steam
droplets, for application the article being ironed, wherein at
least 40% of the steam droplets in the steam output have a droplet
size of less than 10 microns.
[0028] Examples of the invention will now be described in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a first example of steam iron in accordance
with the invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 shows in more detail part of the iron with the steam
chamber of the iron of FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a second example in more detail of part of the
iron with the steam chamber of the iron in accordance with the
invention;
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a third example in more detail of part of the
iron with the steam chamber of the iron in accordance with the
invention; and
[0033] FIG. 5 shows an ironing system of the invention, in which
the steam generation is integrated into an ironing board.
[0034] FIG. 1 shows a first example of iron in accordance with the
invention.
[0035] The iron comprises a metal soleplate 12 heated by an
electric heating element 14. The temperature of the soleplate is
kept at a desired temperature by means of a thermostat and a
temperature dial 16. Steam is generated by a steam generator, which
comprises a water tank 18, a water-dosing pump 20, and a steam
chamber 22. The water pump 20 pumps water from the water tank 18 to
the steam chamber 22 via a hose under command of a pump signal from
a control processor 24.
[0036] In the example shown, the steam chamber 22 is heated by the
soleplate 12, but an auxiliary heating element may instead be
provided so that the water chamber 18 can be implemented as a
separate boiler.
[0037] The steam from the steam chamber is routed to steam vents 26
in the base of the sole plate.
[0038] The iron of the invention is conventional to the extent
described above.
[0039] In accordance with the invention, the steam iron is provided
with means for charging the steam output. In FIG. 1, this charging
means comprises ionization electrodes 30 powered by an appropriate
power source 32, and provided within the steam chamber 22. These
electrodes induce high energy electric discharge within the steam
formed in the steam chamber.
[0040] The ionization process breaks down the steam into finer
droplets. As a result, a greater proportion of the steam droplets
generated can penetrate into the fabric of the garment being
ironed. This provides improved penetration of the droplets into the
fabric and also gives an increase in condensation rate.
[0041] The ionization process charges the water molecules, and it
may also ionize the surrounding air. The resulting charged steam
resists formation of large droplets as a result of electric
repulsion, both in transit and during deposition, and the droplet
size is also more uniform.
[0042] The use of ionization has been proposed in various domestic
appliance applications, for different reasons, and the use of
ionization within a steam iron also provides corresponding
subsidiary benefits.
[0043] For example, the use of air ionization systems have been
proposed in order to provide anti-bacterial and deodorizing
properties. Negative ions in particular have been found to posses
these properties.
[0044] For a steam iron, the use of ionization can therefore also
provide deodorizing benefits both for the garment being ironed and
for the surrounding air, which is of course in the vicinity of the
user of the iron.
[0045] The charged steam flow also serves to reduce fabric static
electricity.
[0046] A further benefit is that ions resulting from the ionization
process can be electrostatically attracted to the garment. It has
been found that fabric tends to be positively charged (by a process
of giving up surface electrons). This tendency to give up surface
electrons is dependent on the dampness of the fabric, but in all
cases, the generation of negative ions takes advantage of this by
allowing electrostatic attraction of the ionized steam to the
fabric.
[0047] The ionization can be achieved in conventional manner.
Essentially, a pair of electrodes disposed closely adjacent between
a high frequency alternating field is applied will produce high
corona discharge energy. The energy of a high energy corona
discharge can reduce droplet size, and the emitters in an ac system
will emit positive and negative ions alternately. Alternatively, a
dc ionizer may be used and can emit one ion charge only.
[0048] FIGS. 2 to 4 show in more detail possible implementations of
the invention. In each case, the sole plate 12 is shown, and the
steam chamber 22 is integral with the sole plate and heated by the
sole plate heater 14. The water supply to the steam chamber is
shown schematically as 38.
[0049] In FIG. 2, the electrodes 30 of the ionizer 40 extend
through the steam chamber, with insulating inserts 42 isolating the
electrodes 30 from the sole plate metal. Each electrode 30 extends
into the nozzle opening 26, and thereby provides charging of the
steam exiting the nozzle.
[0050] In FIG. 3, the electrodes 30 are of the same polarity, and
the other electrode is defined by the sole plate itself, which is
at ground potential. Thus, one of the output terminals 44 of the
ionizer 40 is ground.
[0051] In FIG. 4, instead of the ionizer electrodes being provided
in the steam chamber, they are provided at the nozzle outputs
26.
[0052] In all examples above, the steam chamber content or output
flows past the ionizer electrodes. Instead, the steam chamber
output can be mixed with ionized air. The Venturi effect can be
used to provide passive mixing of the steam with a source of
ionized air.
[0053] In the examples above, the steam chamber is heated by the
sole plate. It is equally possible for a separately powered steam
generator to enable completely independent control of the sole
plate heating function and the steam generation function.
[0054] As mentioned above, ionization can be induced by an
alternating current field or a direct current field. A large
negative voltage applied to the electrodes can provide the
generation of negative ions, which are associated with the
deodorizing properties and reduction in particulate impurities. The
implementation of the ionizing function, in particular the required
electrode designs and voltage drive schemes, will be routine to
those skilled in the art.
[0055] There may be additional functions implemented by the
processor 24, but these additional functions are not relevant to
this invention, and for this reason, only an overview of the
operation the steam iron has been given. The invention can be
applied to all types of known steam irons, and accordingly many
different variations will be apparent to those skilled in the
art.
[0056] The detailed examples given all relate to a steam iron in
which the water reservoir and steam generation is internal to the
iron. There are other types of ironing device to which the
invention can be applied, and which are intended to be within the
scope of this application.
[0057] Steam ironing "systems" are known, in which a separate
external steam boiler is provided. This boiler can be mounted on a
stand, and steam is supplied from the boiler to the iron by a
connecting steam hose. The steam hose can also provide the electric
power lines to the iron. In this case, the ionization can be
provided in the iron itself or in the external boiler. The boiler
in the stand may have a separate water reservoir for feeding water
to the boiler as needed. Instead of an external boiler, the steam
generation may be in the iron, and only an external water reservoir
is provided in the iron stand. In this case, a pump feeds the water
from the water reservoir into the iron, and the water hose can
again provide the electric power lines to the iron.
[0058] Ironing system are also known in which the external boiler
or steam generator is integrated with an ironing board. The ironing
board may be provided with additional functions, such as heating
for the board and a fan.
[0059] FIG. 5 shows an ironing system comprising a board 50 which
is provided with the ionized steam generation system 52 and an iron
54. The steam generation system can deliver steam to the iron for
subsequent application to the article being ironed, or else the
steam generation system 52 can apply the steam directly to the
article being ironed.
[0060] The water supply to the steam chamber can be pumped or under
gravity.
[0061] In the example above, the iron sole plate is heated.
However, it is possible for the heating to be carried out
separately (including heating by means of the applied steam), and
the iron sole plate is then purely for pressing.
[0062] The examples above each use an ionization arrangement to
charge the steam output and also to provide finer steam
droplets.
[0063] A steam output with fine droplets can provide the advantages
as outlined above without needing the droplets to be charged. The
invention therefore also provides a steam ironing device in which
at least 40% of the steam droplets in the steam output provided to
the garment during ironing have a droplet size of less than 10
microns.
[0064] More preferably, at least 50% of the steam droplets have a
diameter of less than 10 microns.
[0065] In further preferred examples, at least 40% of the steam
droplets in the steam output provided to the garment during ironing
have a droplet size of less than 7 microns, and more preferably, at
least 50% of the steam droplets have a diameter of less than 7
microns.
[0066] In further preferred examples, at least 40% of the steam
droplets in the steam output provided to the garment during ironing
have a droplet size of less than 5 microns, and more preferably, at
least 50% of the steam droplets have a diameter of less than 5
microns. For example 50%-75%, or 55%-65% of the steam droplets have
a diameter of less than 5 microns.
[0067] By providing a more uniform and small size droplet spread,
the ironing performance is improved.
[0068] These droplet sizes can be achieved using the ionization
process, but other processes are possible, for example using a
mechanical arrangement or an ultrasound arrangement. The steam
nozzle designs and layout can also be optimised for a particular
desired droplet size.
[0069] Various other modifications will be apparent to those
skilled in the art.
* * * * *