Ironing device and management method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for managing an ironing device comprising a steam iron (11), a base unit (20) and a connection pipe (12), wherein said steam iron (11) is equipped with a heating plate (14) associated with a plurality of heating means (18) and a steam chamber (15), said base unit (20) comprises a boiler (22) equipped with a plurality of heating means (21) for generating pressurized steam and a water tank (23) for containing water, said connection pipe (12) connects said iron (11) and said base unit (20).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for managing an ironing device for domestic or semi-professional use, comprising at least one iron, or similar or comparable device, provided with the selective supply of steam, and at least one water tank connected to the iron and configured to supply water and / or steam to the iron. BACKGROUND

[0002] Many types of ironing devices are known, having at least one iron provided with a handle, through which the user can use the iron, and a heating plate, usually located at the opposite end of the handle, comprising one or more outlet holes to deliver steam.

[0003] The known ironing devices comprise an iron electrically and hydraulically connected to a separate base equipped with a boiler, usually made of metal, equipped with one or more resistances able to heat the water and generate steam inside it. The pressure of these boilers is usually between 0.5 and 10 bar to facilitate the generation of steam.

[0004] This type of boiler is usually associated with one or more solenoid valves, whose function is to selectively open a hole of the boiler and allow the steam to be sent into the iron.

[0005] The solenoid valves are usually driven by suitable commands provided on the iron and selectively driven by the user.

[0006] The ironing systems are also considered to be equipped with a system to automatically load water into a suitable water tank inside the boiler. These loading systems usually consist of a pump controlled by a control unit that, based on the detection of a plurality of sensors on a determined physical quantity, decides the selective activation of the loading pump.

[0007] In general, the above ironing systems load a certain amount of water into the boiler through the pump, heat it to a predetermined pressure and / or temperature value, open the solenoid valve, deliver the steam through a connection pipe in a path inside the plate of the iron, to superheat the steam and possibly vaporize possible condensed water, and finally let the steam exit through the outlet holes of the plate.

[0008] One disadvantage of this solution is that the amount of steam generated can not be sufficient for effective ironing.

[0009] Another disadvantage is that the steam can not be sufficiently humid, thus not being able to effectively remove the creases on the fabric.

[0010] In fact, the principle of steam ironing is that the steam emitted by the iron moistens the fabric to be ironed, stretches the fibers to remove the creases therein. Subsequently, the heated base dries the residual moisture on the fabric, thus fixing the fibers.

[0011] Different types of fabric have different characteristics, in order to optimize the ironing results, reducing the effort and time of the user, it is necessary to optimize the adjustment of the amount of steam and humidity, as well as the pressure at which the steam itself appears and the temperature of the steam and the heated base.

[0012] Recently, ironing systems have been introduced which, in addition to the above-described operations, provide an additional water loading system, hydraulically connected to the water tank and which, under determined conditions, introduces a quantity of cold water into the connection pipe of the iron to the boiler, mixes it with the steam discharged by the boiler and reaches the plate of the iron.

[0013] One disadvantage of this solution is that, since water is also injected into the iron, not just steam, limescale is generated inside the iron, which affects the reliability and durability of the ironing system, thus requiring frequent descaling and cleaning operations.

[0014] In fact, it is known that cold ironing systems, by generating steam directly inside the steam chamber, present the potential problem of accumulation of limescale and / or other minerals normally dissolved in water, inside the steam chamber itself and other parts of the iron affected by the fluid passages, which over time can cause a decrease in performance, up to complete obstruction of the steam passages and stoppage of the steam ironing function.

[0015] A partial solution to this problem consists in creating a suitable compartment inside the steam chamber, able to contain the limescale formed, thus prolonging the life of the product.

[0016] However, especially considering the presence of different types of water in different markets, and the different concentrations and / or types of dissolved minerals, the formation of limescale varies greatly, sometimes causing problems of self-emission of particles or other types from the plate.

[0017] There is another disadvantage, depending on the ironing mode chosen by the user, the known ironing devices do not allow high versatility of use, nor do they allow optimization of performance efficiency and energy consumption.

[0018] In "hot" type ironing devices, since the boiler is separate from the iron and, when the switch is opened, it is necessary to wait for a certain time to use them, so that the boiler reaches the temperature and pressure conditions suitable for generating steam, they are not very practical if it is necessary to quickly iron a piece of clothing.

[0019] The document EP 1 835 067 A1 describes an ironing device having an iron with a steam chamber and a base consisting of a water tank and a steam generator. The solution proposed in this document is to directly treat the water inside the boiler or downstream of the water tank with water treatment equipment such as desalting agents, in order to prevent the accumulation of scale inside the iron. However, the solution described in EP 1 835 067 A1 does not guarantee an effective cleaning of the steam chamber, in which a certain amount of scale can still accumulate.

[0020] The documents EP 1 191 140 and EP 1 619 291 A1 describe other known types of ironing devices.

[0021] Therefore, it is necessary to perfect a method for managing an ironing device which at least overcomes the drawbacks of the current state of the art.

[0022] One of the aims of the present invention is to perfect a method for managing an ironing device which optimises the functioning of the latter.

[0023] Another aim of the present invention is to provide a method for managing an ironing device which allows effective cleaning and maintenance operations to be carried out, in order to eliminate any scale residues formed inside the iron.

[0024] Another aim of the present invention is to perfect a management method which optimises the functioning of the ironing device and maintains its efficiency, prolonging its useful life.

[0025] Another aim of the present invention is to provide an ironing device which allows maintenance and descaling operations to be carried out in a simple manner.

[0026] Another aim of the present invention is to provide an ironing device which can produce a sufficient amount of steam for each ironing requirement, with optimised temperature and pressure, thus reducing the work and time required for ironing.

[0027] Another aim is to provide an ironing device which can produce sufficient wet steam to improve the efficiency of ironing, in particular in difficult cases.

[0028] Another aim of the present invention is to provide an ironing device which also provides an economical ironing method, for example usable for short ironing processes, which allows significant energy savings and a reduction in the time for steam production.

[0029] Another aim of the present invention is to provide an ironing device which is highly versatile in use, suitable both as a "hot" type ironing device, in which the iron is directly fed with steam, and as a "cold" type ironing device, in which the iron is fed with water and the steam is generated inside the iron itself.

[0030] Applicants have designed, tested, and embodied the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of the art and to achieve these objects and others. SUMMARY

[0031] The present invention is set forth and described in the independent claims. Dependent claims describe additional features or variations of the main inventive idea.

[0032] According to the above mentioned objects, some embodiments described herein relate to a method for managing an ironing device overcoming the limits of the state of the art and eliminating the drawbacks present therein.

[0033] The ironing device comprises a steam iron provided with a soleplate associated with a plurality of heating means, and provided with a steam chamber, a base unit connected to the iron, and comprising a boiler provided with a plurality of heating means to generate steam, a water tank provided with water, a plurality of first water feeding means to feed water from the water tank to the boiler, at least one valve device arranged downstream of the boiler and selectively activatable to allow steam to be sent into the steam chamber, and a plurality of second water feeding means configured to send water from the water tank into the steam chamber.

[0034] According to the present invention, the management method provides for:

[0035] - receiving an indication of a selection of an ironing mode or a cleaning mode by a user through a user interface;

[0036] - determining the plurality of functional parameters of the ironing device as a function of the indication received and of a plurality of predefined functions;

[0037] - selectively activating one or more of the heating means associated with the iron or the boiler, or activating the first or second water feeding means or the valve device, as a function of the functional parameters determined, so as to send steam only to the steam chamber, so that the ironing device functions as an ironing device of the "hot" type only, or a mixture of water and steam, so that the ironing device functions as an "hybrid" ironing device, or only water at room temperature, so that the ironing device functions as an ironing device of the "cold" type only.

[0038] In particular, when a cleaning mode is selected, the method provides for introducing cold water from the water tank and fed by the second water feeding means, and hot water and / or steam from the boiler, into the steam chamber of the soleplate, so that the hot cycle alternates and removes possible encrustations of limescale in the steam chamber.

[0039] According to some embodiments, when a user selects a cleaning mode, the method of the present application provides a cleaning cycle of the soleplate of the iron, in which the cleaning is effected by introducing cold water from the water tank and hot water and / or steam from the boiler into the steam chamber of the iron, thereby using the alternation of the thermal cycle to remove the limescale.

[0040] Thus, advantageously, the method of the present application, in addition to using the thermal cycle of heating and cooling to create thermal shock and break the limescale crust, can also use the pressure generated by the boiler to help separate, break up and / or expel the separated particles.

[0041] In this way, the cleaning of the iron proves to be effective even in the case of water for ironing rich in calcium and / or rich in other minerals or impurities.

[0042] According to some embodiments, in the cleaning mode, the method provides for periodically activating and deactivating the plurality of second water supply devices and activating and deactivating the plurality of steam supply devices in the opposite way.

[0043] According to some embodiments, in the cleaning mode, the method provides for introducing, in a time interval of between 5 seconds and 180 seconds, an amount of room temperature water of between 20 ml and 450 ml, preferably 250 ml, and an amount of hot water and / or steam consisting of between 50 ml and 100 ml.

[0044] According to some embodiments, the method provides for cleaning the soleplate when it is cold and heating it by means of steam flowing from the boiler before introducing a large amount of cold water from the water tank into the steam chamber.

[0045] According to other embodiments, the method provides for introducing into the steam chamber hot water provided by a mixture of cold water and steam, in an amount of between 200 ml and 300 ml and at a temperature of between 70°C and 90°C.

[0046] According to these embodiments, the method provides for heating the soleplate to a temperature of between 100°C and 160°C by means of the heating means provided in the iron before introducing the hot water into the steam chamber.

[0047] In this way, in any case, the alternation of the thermal cycle is achieved before and after the water is introduced, which makes it possible to effectively remove the limescale from the steam chamber.

[0048] According to some embodiments, when a user selects a general ironing mode and requires an average temperature of the soleplate and an average steam flow, the control and command unit can activate the boiler and only activate the plurality of first water supply devices and valve devices in order to provide steam only to the steam chamber.

[0049] According to some embodiments, when the user selects a dense ironing mode requiring high steam flow, and in the case of high temperatures, the control and command unit can activate the boiler and the first and second water supply devices in order to produce sufficient wet steam to increase the ironing effect, by mixing the steam produced by the boiler with the water taken directly from the tank, which is further superheated in the steam chamber of the soleplate of the iron.

[0050] According to some embodiments, when the user selects an economic ironing mode, requiring medium-low steam flow, the control and command unit can deactivate the boiler and activate only the second water supply devices, supplying the water from the tank directly to the steam chamber and converting it into steam in the steam chamber.

[0051] Thus, the present application has the advantage of providing an energy-saving or "economic" ironing mode, in particular providing the supply of water from the tank only to the steam chamber of the iron, which is converted directly into steam in the steam chamber due to contact with the heating plate.

[0052] In this way, the consumption is reduced since the number of elements of the ironing system activated for ironing is lower.

[0053] Furthermore, another advantage is that the time for the production of steam by the ironing system is shorter since there is no need to heat the water in the boiler to obtain steam. In this way, it can also be used for short ironing times.

[0054] According to some embodiments, the method provides for the selective activation of the heating device of the boiler and / or of the heating device of the iron, in order to adjust the temperature of the steam and / or of the soleplate, in order to optimize the effectiveness of the action of the steam and to obtain the complete drying of the fabric previously moistened by the steam.

[0055] According to some embodiments, the method provides for the detection of the temperature of the soleplate by means of a sensor and provides for the functional adjustment of one or more of the following: the heating devices of the soleplate, the valve device or the second water supply devices, as a function of the detected value.

[0056] Some of the embodiments described herein also relate to an ironing device comprising a steam iron or similar or comparable device equipped with a heating plate associated with a plurality of heating devices and defining a steam chamber associated with an ironing soleplate, a base unit and a connection pipe connecting the iron to the base unit.

[0057] The base unit comprises:

[0058] - a tank for containing water; and

[0059] - a boiler equipped with a plurality of heating devices to produce pressurized steam.

[0060] The ironing device also comprises:

[0061] - a plurality of first water feeding devices configured to feed water from the water tank to the boiler;

[0062] - at least one gate valve device arranged downstream of the boiler and selectively activated to allow the feeding of steam from a first steam feeding pipe to the connection pipe and to the steam chamber;

[0063] - a plurality of second water feeding devices configured to feed water from the water tank along a second water feeding pipe to the connection pipe and to the steam chamber;

[0064] - a user interface configured to allow a user to select a plurality of desired settings and / or ironing modes;

[0065] - a control and command unit connected to the user interface and configured to regulate the functions of the ironing device according to the selections made by the user through the interface and to perform the management method according to the present application.

[0066] The control and command unit is configured to receive through the user interface an indication of the ironing mode selected by the user, possibly together with a cleaning mode, and, according to the received indication, to selectively activate or deactivate one or more heating devices associated with the boiler and / or the heating plate, the plurality of first water feeding devices, the plurality of second water feeding devices or the gate valve device, in order to regulate at least the temperature of the plate and the appropriate steam flow / quality.

[0067] Advantageously, according to the management method of the present application, the control and command unit can manage the functions of the ironing device and allow it to operate using different functional modes, as a "hot" type ironing device, which only feeds steam to the iron, as a "cold" type ironing device, which only feeds water to the iron, or as a "mixed" type ironing device, in which a mixture of water and steam is fed to the iron, thus optimizing the overall consumption of the equipment as a function of the desired temperature and steam quantity.

[0068] According to some embodiments, the ironing device comprises a three-way mixing valve having two inlets connected to the first pipe and to the second pipe, respectively, and an outlet connected to the connection pipe.

[0069] Advantageously, the use of the mixing valve allows to obtain a compact and efficient ironing system.

[0070] According to an embodiment, the ironing system comprises temperature and / or pressure sensors arranged in the boiler and in the iron, respectively, wherein the control and command unit is configured to manage the functions of the iron and / or of the boiler and of the plurality of first and / or second water feeding devices as a function of the settings selected by the user through the user interface and of the values detected by the sensors.

[0071] Advantageously, the ironing system produces a steam volume or pressure that is sufficiently effective for ironing, depending on the ironing requirements, in order to reduce the work and time required for ironing, also optimizing the energy consumption, according to the settings input by the user.

[0072] Finally, it is advantageous to have a flexible ironing device with a single ironing system that is effective for each ironing requirement. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0073] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings:

[0074] - Figure 1 is a schematic view of an ironing device according to some embodiments described herein;

[0075] - Figure 2 is a functional schematic view of an ironing device according to some embodiments described herein in maximum ironing mode, Figure 1 is a functional schematic view of an ironing device according to some embodiments described herein in general ironing mode;

[0076] - Figure 3 is a functional schematic view of an ironing device according to some embodiments described herein in economic ironing mode, Figure 1 is a functional schematic view of an ironing device according to some embodiments described herein in general ironing mode;

[0077] - Figure 4 is a functional schematic view of an ironing device according to some embodiments described herein in economic ironing mode, Figure 1 is a functional schematic view of an ironing device according to some embodiments described herein in economic ironing mode.

[0078] For the sake of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the different drawings to identify the same or like elements. It is to be understood that elements and features of one embodiment can be readily adapted to other embodiments and the application is not to be limited to the specific embodiments depicted in the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0079] We will now describe in detail possible embodiments of the application, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the application and should not be understood as limiting the application. For example, one or more features shown or described as part of one embodiment can be used with other embodiments to yield still a further embodiment. It is to be understood that the application should include all such modifications and variations as falling within the scope of the application.

[0080] Some embodiments described herein relate to an ironing device 10 for steam ironing of fabrics, comprising a steam iron 11 and a base unit 20 connected to each other by a connection pipe 12.

[0081] The connecting pipe 12 can be hydraulically and electrically connected, including a movable pipe for the delivery of water and / or steam, and one or more electric cables for the supply of electric power and / or transmission of signals.

[0082] The iron 11 comprises a heating plate 14 provided with a steam chamber 15 in which steam is introduced and / or generated, and an ironing sole plate 16 adapted to be in contact with the clothes to be ironed and provided with a plurality of outlet holes 17 to allow the delivery of steam.

[0083] The plate 14 comprises a plurality of heating means 18, for example an electric resistance, configured to heat the plate 14 and the water and / or steam contained in the steam chamber 15, possibly also including the ironing sole plate 16.

[0084] The iron 11 also comprises a command 19 to deliver steam configured for steam delivery.

[0085] The steam command 19 can be activated directly by the user or automatically as a function of the ironing mode selected by the user.

[0086] According to some embodiments, the base unit 20 comprises a tank 23 for containing water, preferably fresh water and / or water with a low level of limescale.

[0087] According to some embodiments, the base unit 20 comprises a boiler 22 having a water-tight chamber and is equipped with a plurality of heating means 21 for heating the water contained therein and generating pressurized steam.

[0088] The boiler 22 is connected to the tank 23 by means of a hydraulic pipe 26.

[0089] For example, the heating means 21 can comprise one or more electric resistances which can be selectively activated and deactivated depending on the quantity or flow rate of steam required.

[0090] According to some embodiments, the boiler 22 comprises one or more sensors 34, 35 configured to measure at least one quantity between the temperature of the heating means 21 and the pressure of the steam.

[0091] According to some embodiments, the ironing device 10 comprises a plurality of first water feeding means 24 configured to remove water from the tank 23 and send it along the hydraulic pipe 26 to the boiler 22.

[0092] The first water feeding means 24 can comprise a first pump 24a suitable for selectively introducing the water contained in the tank 23 into the boiler 22 to regulate the quantity of water inside the boiler 22 itself.

[0093] According to some embodiments, the first pump 24a has an adjustable flow rate which can be adjusted depending on the quantity and flow rate of steam required during the ironing process.

[0094] The ironing device 10 also comprises a valve device, for example an electromagnetic valve 25, located downstream of the boiler 22 along the water and / or steam path and configured to be selectively closed or opened to prevent or allow the delivery of steam from the boiler 22 to the steam chamber 15.

[0095] According to some embodiments, the boiler 22 is connected to the connection pipe 12 so as to be connected to the steam chamber 15 through a first pipe or steam supply pipe 27.

[0096] According to some embodiments, the ironing device 10 also comprises a plurality of second water supply devices 28 suitable for removing water from the water tank 23 and supplying it to the connection pipe 12 of the iron 11 and to the steam chamber 15 through a second pipe or water supply pipe 29.

[0097] According to some embodiments, the steam supply pipe 27 and the water supply pipe 29 are connected to each other and to the hydraulic pipe of the connection pipe 12.

[0098] According to some embodiments, for example with reference to the example described Figure 1 According to some embodiments, the plurality of second water supply devices 28 can comprise a second pump 28a which can be selectively driven to supply water along the water supply pipe 29. According to some embodiments, the second pump 28a has an adjustable flow rate.

[0099] According to possible variants, not shown, the plurality of second water supply devices 28 can comprise an electromagnetic valve hydraulically connected between the plurality of first water supply devices 24 and the boiler 22 along the hydraulic pipe 26, which can be selectively commanded so as to selectively divert the flow of water normally directed to the boiler 22 along the water supply pipe 29.

[0100] According to further embodiments, not shown, the plurality of second water supply devices 28 can comprise a further electromagnetic valve hydraulically connected between the water tank 23 and the connection pipe 12, for example connected to it through a mixing valve 30, and selectively activatable to allow or prevent the supply of water from the water tank 23 to the steam chamber 15.

[0101] According to some embodiments, the ironing device 10 comprises a three-way mixing valve 30 having two inlets 31, 32 connected to the steam supply pipe 27 and to the water supply pipe 29, respectively, and an outlet 33 connected to the connection pipe 12, in particular to the hydraulically connected elastic pipe.

[0102] According to some embodiments, the mixing valve 30 is used to mix the steam produced by the water-tight boiler 22 with the water at room temperature taken directly from the water tank 23 by the plurality of second water supply devices 28 and then introduced into the connection pipe 12 to the steam chamber 15.

[0103] The structure of the mixing valve 30 is optimized to regulate the mixing of water and steam, so as to generate a homogeneous fluid consisting of saturated steam and water, which, upon reaching the steam chamber 15, vaporizes in the most uniform and optimal manner possible.

[0104] According to some embodiments, the ironing device 10 comprises a user interface 36 configured to allow the user to select a desired ironing setting, for example as a function of the type of fabric to be ironed.

[0105] According to some embodiments, the ironing setting can comprise a direct selection of a determined level or parameter of the temperature of the soleplate 14 and / or of the flow / quantity of steam to be delivered, or a selection of a determined ironing mode selected from a plurality of predefined ironing modes.

[0106] According to one possible solution, the user interface 36 can be provided on the iron 11.

[0107] According to possible variants, the user interface 36 can be provided on the iron 11 and on the base unit 20. For example, some commands and / or keys can be on the iron 11 and others on the base unit 20.

[0108] According to some embodiments, the user interface 36 can comprise a steam command 19 and / or one or more keys for selecting a fabric type and / or an ironing mode, or similar commands.

[0109] According to some embodiments, the ironing device 10 comprises a control and command unit 40 connected to the user interface 36 and configured to command the functioning of the various components of the ironing device 10 as a function of the selection made by the user through the user interface 36.

[0110] In particular, according to some embodiments, the control and command unit 40 is configured to receive, through the user interface 36, an indication of the ironing mode selected by the user.

[0111] According to the indication received, it can be configured whether the ironing mode corresponds to a "cold", "hot" or "mixed" functioning of the ironing device 10.

[0112] According to some embodiments, the control and command unit 40 is thus configured to selectively activate or deactivate one or more of the plurality of heating devices 18, 21 associated with the boiler 22 and / or the soleplate 14, the plurality of first and second water feed devices 24, 28 or the electromagnetic valve 25.

[0113] According to some embodiments, the control and command unit 40 is configured to selectively drive the plurality of first water feed devices 24 or the plurality of second water feed devices 28, or both, as a function of the ironing mode, so as to deliver only steam, only water at room temperature, or a mixture of water and steam into the steam chamber 15.

[0114] The control and command unit 40 can be configured to set the functional cycles according to the settings provided by the user.

[0115] In particular, the control and command unit 40 can be configured to regulate and manage the boiler 22, to control the power used by the plurality of heating devices 21 according to the function of the values detected by the sensors 34, 35 and the settings of the user, to generate steam at a determined pressure inside the boiler 22.

[0116] The steam generated by the boiler 22 is saturated steam, whose pressure and temperature relationship is illustrated in the following table A. Furthermore, as the pressure increases, the amount of steam generated and discharged also increases in the same unit of time.

[0117] Table A

[0118] Bar T℃ 0 100.0 0.6 113.5 0.8 117.1 1.8 131.4 2.0 133.7 3.0 143.7 4.0 152.0 5.0 158.9

[0119] According to some embodiments, the control and command unit 40 can also be configured to regulate the power used by the plurality of heating devices 18 of the board 14 according to the function of the values detected by the temperature sensor 13 and the settings of the user, to regulate the temperature of the steam chamber 15 and of the ironing base 16.

[0120] Therefore, the control and command unit 40 can be configured to regulate the plurality of heating devices 21 of the boiler 22 and the plurality of heating devices 18 of the iron 11 and to manage, in a determined manner, the activation of the plurality of first and second water feed devices 24, 28 and / or of the solenoid valve 25 according to the function of the values detected by the sensors 13, 34, 35 and the settings selected by the user.

[0121] The control and command unit 40 can comprise one or more electronic panels equipped with devices capable of storing and processing data, such as microprocessors, microcontrollers, etc.

[0122] By way of example, a memory unit can be provided in which a plurality of predefined ironing modes can be stored, each associated with determined functional parameters of the ironing device 10.

[0123] Predefined tables can also be provided which associate determined values of the temperature of the board 14, of the temperature of the boiler 22, of the steam pressure / flow with functional parameters of the ironing device 10, such as the activation and deactivation cycles of the plurality of heating devices 18, 21 and / or of the plurality of first and second water feed devices 24, 28.

[0124] Some of the embodiments described herein also relate to a method for managing an ironing device 10, which provides for the production of selective steam delivery from the sole 14 of the iron 11, with different characteristics in terms of quantity, humidity, temperature and outlet pressure of the steam, according to the functions of the ironing settings selected and / or set by the user.

[0125] According to the present application, the management method provides for:

[0126] - receiving an indication of an ironing mode or a cleaning mode selected and / or set by a user through a user interface;

[0127] - executing the received and determined indication according to a plurality of predefined functions tables, function parameters of the ironing device 10;

[0128] - selectively activating or deactivating, as a function of the function determined by the function parameters, one or more of the following: the plurality of heating devices 18, 21 associated with the boiler 22 and / or the sole 14; the plurality of first or second water supply devices 24, 28; or the solenoid valve 25; so as to feed the steam chamber 15 of the iron only with cold water from the water tank 23, only with steam produced in the boiler 22 or a combination thereof, and to obtain a mixture of water and saturated steam.

[0129] In this way, if only steam is sent into the steam chamber 15, the ironing device 10 behaves as a "hot" type ironing device; if only a mixture of water and steam, the ironing device 10 behaves as a "mixed" type ironing device; if only water at room temperature, the ironing device 10 behaves as a "cold" type ironing device.

[0130] According to some embodiments, the method provides for detecting, through one or more sensors 13, 34, 35, one or more of the temperature of the sole 14, the temperature and / or the pressure of the boiler 22, and commanding at least the plurality of heating devices 18, 21 of the sole 14 and of the boiler 22 as a function of the function parameters and values detected by the sensors 13, 34, 35.

[0131] According to some embodiments, the method provides for the plurality of heating devices 21 of the boiler 22 and / or the plurality of heating devices 18 of the sole 14 to be selectively activated and in the same way as the plurality of first 24 or second water supply devices 28 or both, in order to obtain the best steam emission according to the required function.

[0132] According to some embodiments, the control and command unit 40 can activate / deactivate the plurality of heating devices 18, 21 and the plurality of first, second water supply devices 24, 28 as a function of the required function through a plurality of pulse signals or according to a predefined duty cycle.

[0133] According to some embodiments, the method can provide for increasing the temperature of the plate 14 as the amount of steam required increases, so as to dry the garments to be ironed as much as possible.

[0134] According to some embodiments, the management method can provide for a plurality of predefined functional modes, selectable by the user through the user interface 36 and automatically managed by the control and command unit 40.

[0135] For example, two or more ironing modes can be defined from which the user can choose.

[0136] For example, the following ironing modes can be defined, although their number is not fixed and can vary depending on the type of ironing device:

[0137] - "minimum": for delicate and / or light and / or slightly wrinkled garments;

[0138] - "average": for medium-wrinkled cotton and / or synthetic garments;

[0139] - "maximum": for thick cotton and / or linen garments and / or other garments difficult to iron;

[0140] - "economical": suitable for slightly wrinkled garments.

[0141] The plurality of functional modes also includes at least one mode for cleaning the ironing device 10.

[0142] If the user chooses to clean the ironing device 10, the management method provided according to the present application provides for a cleaning cycle of the plate 14 to remove the encrustation of limescale that can accumulate in the plate 14, i.e. in the steam chamber 15.

[0143] In fact, in the "economical" ironing mode, for example, the ironing device 10 behaves substantially as a cold ironing system, so that limescale deposits can occur inside the steam chamber 15.

[0144] According to some embodiments, the cleaning cycle for cleaning the plate 14 provides for the introduction of cold water and hot water and / or steam into the plate 14, in particular into the steam chamber 15 of the iron 11, alternated between the two.

[0145] According to some embodiments, the cleaning cycle can be automatic and provides for the alternation of hot cycles.

[0146] The hot cycles can be determined both by the alternation of water or steam at different temperatures and by a plurality of different temperature values between the plate and the water sent into the steam chamber.

[0147] According to some embodiments, in the cleaning mode, the method provides for periodically activating and deactivating the plurality of second water feed devices 28 in an alternating manner, and activating and deactivating the plurality of first water feed devices 24 and the solenoid valve 25.

[0148] According to some embodiments, in order to clean the plate 14, the method provides for introducing an amount of cold water, i.e. at room temperature, comprised between 20 ml and 450 ml, preferably of the order of 250 ml, and an amount of hot water and / or steam, in an alternating manner. The amount of hot water and / or steam can be less than the amount of cold water, for example comprised between 50 ml and 100 ml.

[0149] This helps to strip possible encrustations of limescale from the walls of the steam chamber 15, in particular from the areas in contact with water.

[0150] According to further embodiments, the method provides for maintaining the activation of the plurality of second water feed devices 28 for a time interval comprised between 5 seconds and 180 seconds, and maintaining the activation of the plurality of first water feed devices 24 and / or of the solenoid valve 25 for a variable duration of time interval comprised between 5 seconds and 60 seconds.

[0151] These activation intervals allow a good compromise between the amount of water at room temperature and the amount of steam that can be used, and are effective in removing limescale.

[0152] According to some embodiments, the method provides for activating the solenoid valve 25 only when the pressure inside the boiler 22 is higher than a certain threshold, so as to exploit the pressure of the steam entering the steam chamber to facilitate the detachment and separation of limescale and the expulsion of possible detached particles.

[0153] According to some embodiments, the method provides for cleaning the plate 14 while it is cold and heating the plate 14 by means of steam emitted by the boiler 22 before introducing the amount of cold water taken from the tank 23 into the steam chamber 15.

[0154] By way of example, in the cleaning mode, the method can provide for performing the following steps:

[0155] - heating the plate 14 by means of steam generated by the boiler 22, for example by introducing an amount of steam comprised between 50 ml and 100 ml for 1 minute;

[0156] - injecting cold water into the steam chamber 15 from the tank 22, for example an amount of water comprised between 100 ml and 400 ml, preferably of the order of 250 ml;

[0157] - heating the plate 14 for about 30 seconds to perform a step of drying the plate 14.

[0158] According to further embodiments, the method provides for the washing to be performed when the plate 14 has already been heated, for example at the end of the ironing operation, or heated to a predefined temperature by the heating means 18 associated therewith.

[0159] By way of example, in the washing mode, the method can provide for the following steps to be performed:

[0160] - heating the plate 14 by means of the heating means 18 to a temperature comprised between 100°C and 160°C;

[0161] - introducing hot water, obtained by mixing cold water from the tank 23 with steam from the boiler 22, into the steam chamber 15, for example in a flow comprised between 200 ml and 300 ml, preferably 250 ml;

[0162] - heating the plate 14 for about 30 seconds, to perform the step of drying the plate 14.

[0163] The temperature of the hot water can be comprised between 70°C and 90°C, for example about 80°C, or in any case lower than the temperature of the plate 14, so as to obtain a thermal cycle alternation for the removal of limescale.

[0164] When the user selects the "minimum" functional mode, a medium-low steam flow is required, for example comprised between 30 g and 70 g, and a medium-high temperature of the plate 14, for example comprised between 120°C and 150°C, the control and command unit 40 can only activate the boiler 22, the first water supply means 24 and the solenoid valve 25, in addition to the heating means 18, 21.

[0165] When the user selects the "normal" ironing mode, i.e. a medium temperature of the plate 14 and a medium steam flow, the control and command unit 40 can activate the boiler 22 and only the first water supply means 24 and the solenoid valve 25, so as to supply steam only to the steam chamber 15. By way of example, the "normal" ironing mode can provide for a temperature of the plate 14 comprised between 120°C and 160°C, and a steam flow comprised between 40 g / min and 100 g / min. Figure 3 ).

[0166] According to some embodiments, the steam chamber 15 is able to superheat the steam produced by the boiler 22, so as to vaporize the condensate possibly formed inside the connection pipe 12. This solution can be applied, for example, in the "minimum" functional mode or in the "normal" functional mode.

[0167] Therefore, in the "minimum" and "normal" ironing modes, it can not be necessary to activate the second water supply means 28, nor to regulate the amount of steam and its pressure and moisture, which can be managed only by the boiler 22.

[0168] In this case, in the "minimum" and "normal" functioning modes, the ironing device 10 can behave like a "hot" ironing device.

[0169] However, this does not exclude that, in specific conditions of use, even in the "minimum" and "normal" ironing modes, the second feed 28a can be activated to improve performance, assuming that the ironing device 10 is configured as a "hybrid" ironing device, combining the features of a "hot" system and a "cold" system.

[0170] When the user selects the "maximum" ironing mode, a higher steam flow is required, with higher temperatures, and the control and command unit 40 can activate the boiler 22 and the first 24 and second 28 feeds, in order to produce sufficient wet steam to increase the efficiency of the iron 11.

[0171] Therefore, in this functioning mode, the ironing device 10 can behave like a "hybrid" ironing device.

[0172] In this way, the wet steam obtained by mixing the steam produced in the boiler 22 with the water removed directly from the tank 23 is further superheated in the steam chamber 15 of the sole 14 of the iron 11, thanks to the plurality of heating devices 18 provided therein. By way of example, the "maximum" ironing mode can provide a temperature of the sole 14 comprised between 120°C and 190°C, and a steam flow comprised between 80 and 240 g / min. Figure 2 ).

[0173] The contribution of the second feeds 28 means that it is increasingly necessary in the "maximum" mode, since, as the temperature of the boiler 22 is higher, the steam that flows from the sole 14 of the iron 11 is less wet.

[0174] The "maximum" mode is generally intended for difficult-to-iron clothes, since these require a higher humidity, so the user must release more steam and perform more ironing to obtain good results.

[0175] The activation of the second feeds 28 allows to increase the moisture of the steam release, thus reducing the work required to fully wet the fabric.

[0176] Furthermore, in relation to the activation of the second feeds 28, the method provides to increase the temperature of the sole 14 to improve the vaporization inside the steam chamber 15 and the temperature of the ironing base 16 to improve the drying of the fabric that is more humid due to the action of the steam.

[0177] If the user selects the "economy" ironing mode, i.e. a mode that requires the use of a medium-low steam flow, the control and command unit 40 can deactivate the boiler 22 and can only activate the second water feeding devices 28 to feed water directly from the water tank 23 to the steam chamber 15, which is converted into steam that is in contact with the board 14, heated by the heating devices 21 (see for example Figure 4 ).

[0178] According to this functional mode, therefore, the ironing device 10 can work like an ironing device of the "cold" type.

[0179] By way of example, the "economy" ironing mode can provide a temperature of the board 14 comprised between about 125°C and 175°C, and a steam flow comprised between 20 and 60 g / min.

[0180] This "economy" ironing mode can significantly save energy, up to 80% compared to the "maximum" mode, and provides for the activation of only the second devices 28 to drive the water flow, for example the second pump 28a, and of only the heating devices 18 of the iron 11.

[0181] In addition, the "economy" ironing mode can have a shorter steam production time. In fact, in the "economy" mode, the steam production time can be reduced by about 60-80 seconds compared to the "hot" type in traditional ironing devices, which can last up to 120 seconds.

[0182] According to some embodiments, in the mode in which the boiler 22 is activated to produce steam, the control and command unit 40 selectively activates the first water feeding devices 24 to maintain an optimal level of water as a function of the selected flow, to maximize the ratio between the power consumed and the amount of steam provided.

[0183] According to some embodiments, the method can also provide that, as a function of the time length for which the user activates a steam command 19, the control and command unit 40 adjusts the delivery of steam, the water content of the steam and the temperature of the board 14 of the iron 11 also as a function of the temperature monitored by the sensor 13 associated with the board 14.

[0184] In this case, after a few seconds of delivery, for example with an interval comprised between 4 and 6 seconds, the percentage of water of the steam can be selectively reduced by deactivating the second water feeding devices 28 to prevent an excessive amount of water on the fabric, which, if not dried in an optimal manner, can create bad smells and / or negatively affect the ironing result.

[0185] According to some embodiments, the method also provides for the emission of steam in an intermittent and discontinuous manner after the user activates the steam command 19.

[0186] In this case, the activation of the first 24 and second feed water devices 28 can be regulated according to the amount of time of the driving steam command 19. For example, the present method can provide to generate a delivery cycle, by alternation of drier steam and higher pressure, by activation of the first feed water devices 24 and solenoid valves 25, and by deactivation of the second feed water devices 28 and wetter and lower pressure steam, by simultaneous activation of the first 24 and second feed water devices 28.

[0187] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts or steps can be made to the ironing device 10 and to the aforementioned associated method for managing the ironing device 10, without departing from the field and scope of the present application.

[0188] It is also clear that many other equivalent forms of the ironing device 10 and of the management method can be implemented by those skilled in the art, but the present application has been described with reference to some specific examples, and it has the characteristics defined previously in the claims, and all within the scope of the protection defined by the same.

Claims

1. A method for managing an ironing device (10), characterized in that: The ironing device includes a steam iron (11) equipped with a heating plate (14) associated with a plurality of heating devices, and a steam chamber (15); - A base unit (20) is connected to the steam iron (11) via a connecting pipe (12) and includes: a boiler (22) equipped with a plurality of heating devices for generating steam; a water tank (23) for holding water; and a plurality of first water supply devices (24) for supplying water from the water tank (23) to the boiler (22); At least one valve device (25), located downstream of the boiler (22) and selectively activated to allow steam to be fed into the steam chamber (15); and a plurality of second water supply devices (28) configured to supply water from the water tank (23) to the steam chamber (15), wherein the method provides: - Receive an instruction from a user to select an ironing mode or a washing mode through a user interface (36); - Based on the received instructions and multiple predefined function tables, determine multiple function parameters of the ironing device (10), and when the ironing mode is selected, determine whether the ironing mode corresponds to the "cold", "hot" or "mixed" function of the ironing device (10); - As a function determined by the plurality of functional parameters, one or more of the heating devices (18, 21) associated with the steam iron (11) or the boiler (22) are selectively activated by a control and command unit (40), or the plurality of first or second water supply devices (24, 28) or the valve device (25) are activated to send only steam to the steam chamber (15) so that the ironing device (10) functions only as a "hot" type ironing device, or a mixture of water and steam, so that the ironing device (10) functions as a "mixed" ironing device, or only water at room temperature, so that the ironing device (10) functions only as A "cold" type ironing device, thereby optimizing the overall consumption of the device as a function of the required temperature and steam volume, wherein when a cleaning mode is selected, the method provides to introduce cold water supplied from the water tank (23) and the plurality of second water supply devices (28), as well as hot water and / or steam from the boiler (22), into the steam chamber (15) of the heating plate (14) so ​​as to alternately circulate heat and remove possible scale buildup in the steam chamber (15), the method provides to periodically start and stop the plurality of second water supply devices (28), and alternately start and stop the plurality of first water supply devices (24) and the valve device (25).

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The method provides to alternately introduce a certain amount of cold water between 20 ml and 450 ml, and a certain amount of hot water and / or steam between 50 ml and 100 ml.

3. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The method provides that the plurality of second water supply devices (28) remain activated for a time interval of 5 to 180 seconds, and that the plurality of first water supply devices (24) and the valve device (25) remain activated for a time interval varying between 5 and 60 seconds.

4. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The method provides that when the heating plate (14) is cold, the cleaning mode is executed, and before the cold water is introduced from the water tank (23) to the steam chamber (15), the method provides that the heating plate (14) is heated by a steam flow from the boiler (22).

5. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The method provides to introduce hot water into the steam chamber (15), provided by a mixture of cold water and steam, comprising a certain amount between 200 ml and 300 ml, and having a temperature between 70°C and 90°C.

6. The method as described in claim 5, characterized in that: Before introducing the hot water into the steam chamber (15), the method provides to heat the heating plate (14) to a temperature between 100°C and 160°C by means of the plurality of heating devices (18) in the steam iron (11).

7. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: After introducing cold and / or hot water into the steam chamber (15), the method provides a step of activating the plurality of heating devices (18) for a predetermined time interval to perform a drying of the heating plate (14).

8. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The method provides the means by means of one or more sensors (13, 34, 35) to detect one or more temperatures of the heating plate (14) and / or the pressure of the boiler (22), and to command at least a plurality of heating devices (18, 21) of the heating plate (14) and the boiler (22) as determined plurality of functional parameters and plurality of values ​​detected by the plurality of sensors (13, 34, 35).

9. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: When the user selects a "normal" ironing mode, and the mode requires the average temperature of the heating plate (14) to be between 120°C and 160°C, and an average steam flow rate between 40 and 100 g / min, the method provides to deactivate or keep the plurality of second water supply devices (28) off, and activate the plurality of first water supply devices (24), the boiler (22), and the valve device (25) to supply steam to the steam chamber (15).

10. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: When the user selects an intensive "maximum" ironing mode, which requires a high steam flow rate greater than 100 g / min and a high temperature of the heating plate (14) between 120°C and 190°C, the method provides to start the boiler (22), the valve device (25), and the plurality of first water supply devices (24) and the plurality of second water supply devices (28) to generate wet steam obtained by mixing the steam generated by the boiler (22) and water taken directly from the water tank (23), and further superheat the wet steam in the steam chamber (15).

11. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The steam is delivered in an intermittent and discontinuous manner, resulting in multiple delivery cycles of alternating drier steam at higher pressure and wetter steam at lower pressure.

12. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that: When the user selects an economical ironing mode that requires a low to medium steam flow rate between 20 and 60 g / min, the method provides to stop the boiler (22) and the plurality of first water supply devices (24) and start only the plurality of second water supply devices (28) to supply water from the water tank (23) to the steam chamber (15) and convert the water into steam in the steam chamber (15).

13. An ironing device, comprising: - A steam iron (11), equipped with a heating plate (14) associated with a plurality of heating devices (18), and a steam chamber (15), - A base unit (20) comprising a boiler (22) equipped with a plurality of heating devices (21) for generating steam, and a water tank (23) for containing water; and - A connecting pipe (12) connects the steam iron (11) and the base unit (20); Its features are, The ironing device further includes: - Multiple first water supply devices (24) are configured to supply water from the water tank (23) to the boiler (22); - At least one valve device (25) is disposed downstream of the boiler (22) and is selectively activated to allow steam to be supplied from a first steam supply pipe (27) to the connecting pipe (12) and the steam chamber (15); - Multiple second water supply devices (28) are configured to supply water from the water tank (23) along a second water supply pipe (29) to the connecting pipe (12) and the steam chamber (15); - A user interface (36) configured to allow a user to select multiple desired settings and an ironing mode or a washing mode; A control and command unit (40) is configured to receive an instruction from the user interface (36) selected by the user in the ironing mode or the cleaning mode, and based on the received instruction and a plurality of predefined function tables, to determine the plurality of function parameters of the ironing device (10), and when the ironing mode is selected, to determine whether the ironing mode corresponds to the "cold", "hot" or "mixed" function of the ironing device (10) to selectively start or stop one or more of the following: the plurality of heating devices (18, 21) associated with the boiler (22) and / or the heating plate (14), the plurality of first water supply devices (24), the plurality of second water supply devices (28), the valve device (25) for providing the temperature of the heating plate (14), and the amount and type of steam suitable for and associated with the selected ironing mode, to perform a method for managing the ironing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The ironing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that: The ironing device also includes a three-channel mixing valve (30) having two inlets (31, 32) connected to the steam supply pipe (27) and the water supply pipe (29) respectively, and an outlet (33) connected to the connecting pipe (12), which is compatible with mixing the steam generated by the boiler (22) and the room temperature water from the water tank (23) to obtain a homogeneous fluid composed of saturated steam and water.

15. The ironing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that: The first water supply device (24) includes a first pump (24a) located between the water tank (23) and the boiler (22), wherein the pump has an adjustable flow rate and is a pulse-driven pump.

16. The ironing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that: The second water supply device (28) includes a second pump (28a) positioned along the water supply pipe (29), wherein the pump has an adjustable flow rate and is a pulse-driven pump.

17. The ironing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that: The second water supply device (28) includes a solenoid valve hydraulically connected along a hydraulic pipe (26) between the first water supply device (24) and the boiler (22). The solenoid valve can be selectively controlled to redirect the water flow, typically along the water supply pipe (29) toward the boiler (22).

18. The ironing apparatus as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that: The second water supply device (28) includes a hydraulic valve that is hydraulically connected between the water tank (23) and the mixing valve (30).

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