Steam ejector and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention provides a steam ejector and a control method of the steam ejector. The steam ejector includes a vaporizing chamber, a heater, a pump, and a control unit. The heater heats the vaporizing chamber. The pump supplies water to the vaporizing chamber. The control unit controls the heater and the pump. The control unit causes the pump to supply water to the vaporization chamber at a first flow rate during a first period. The first period is a period after a predetermined time elapses from the start of heating of the vaporizing chamber by the heater. The control unit causes the pump to supply water to the vaporization chamber at the second flow rate during the second period. The second period is a period following the first period, and the second flow rate is more than the first flow rate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a steam ejector and a method for controlling the steam ejector. Background Art

[0002] A steam ejector for smoothing wrinkles in fiber products such as clothing is provided (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-137619). In conventional steam ejectors, when the power is turned on, a heater is energized to heat a vaporization chamber. While the heater is energized, a pump switch is turned on, driving an electric pump to supply a predetermined amount of water to the vaporization chamber. As the water is heated in the vaporization chamber, steam is ejected from the vaporization chamber. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The conventional steam ejector described in the above patent document starts ejecting steam after sufficient heat is accumulated in the vaporization chamber. Therefore, it takes a certain amount of time until the steam is ejected. The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a technology for improving the convenience of a steam ejector.

[0004] One embodiment of the present disclosure is a steam ejector. The steam ejector includes a vaporization chamber, a heater, a pump, and a control unit. The heater heats the vaporization chamber. The pump supplies water to the vaporization chamber. The control unit controls the heater and the pump.

[0005] The control unit controls the pump to supply water to the vaporizer at a first flow rate during a first period. The first period is a period after a predetermined time has elapsed since the heater started heating the vaporizer. The control unit controls the pump to supply water to the vaporizer at a second flow rate during a second period. The second period is a period after the first period, and the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate.

[0006] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a method for controlling a steam ejector including a vaporization chamber, a heater, and a pump.

[0007] The steam ejector control method according to this embodiment includes: causing a pump to supply water to a vaporizer at a first flow rate during a first period; and causing the pump to supply water to the vaporizer at a second flow rate during a second period. The first period is the period after a predetermined time has passed since the heater 12 began heating the vaporizer 11. The second period is the period after the first period, and the second flow rate is a flow rate greater than the first flow rate.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, the convenience of the steam ejector can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 It is a side view showing the appearance of the steam ejector according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] Figure 2This is a diagram showing a state in which a user holds the steam ejector according to the embodiment.

[0011] Figure 3 It is a perspective view of the ejection portion of the steam ejector according to the embodiment.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the vicinity of a bent portion of a heater of an ejection portion in a steam ejector according to an embodiment.

[0013] Figure 5 This is a block diagram showing the structure of the steam ejector according to the embodiment.

[0014] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing an example of temporal changes in the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the amount of heat stored in the ejection portion in the steam ejector according to the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing an example of pump control when a steam ejector according to the conventional technology is used.

[0016] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing an example of pump control when the steam ejector according to the embodiment is used.

[0017] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing another example of pump control when the steam ejector according to the embodiment is used.

[0018] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing another example of pump control when the steam ejector according to the embodiment is used. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] (Insights, etc. that form the basis of this disclosure)

[0020] Conventional steam ejectors are configured such that upon startup, a heater heats a vaporization chamber until supplied water is completely vaporized, and no water is supplied to the vaporization chamber during the heating period. Therefore, even if the steam ejector is powered on, the user cannot immediately use the steam ejector.

[0021] Conventionally, the water supply rate of the pump is constant, and it takes a considerable amount of time for steam to be generated after the start of water supply. The inventors of this application have devised the subject matter of this disclosure in order to solve this problem.

[0022] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, for example, detailed descriptions of known matters and repeated descriptions of substantially the same configurations may be omitted.

[0023] Next, use Figures 1 to 10 To illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] [1-1. Overall structure]

[0025] Figure 1 It is a side view showing the appearance of the steam ejector 1 according to the present embodiment in a state where it is placed on the stand 8 . Figure 2 This is a diagram showing a state in which a user holds the steam ejector 1 .

[0026] In the following description, above and below refer to Figure 1 As shown, the steam ejector 1 is placed on a stand 8 on a table (not shown). The rear side refers to the side of the steam ejector 1 where the power cord 30 is arranged, and the front side refers to the opposite side of the rear side.

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown, the steam ejector 1 comprises a housing 2; a spout portion 3 disposed on the bottom surface of the housing 2 for generating and ejecting steam; and a handle 4 disposed on the top of the housing 2 for a user to hold. When the user holds the handle 4 and directs the spout portion 3 toward clothing 9 to eject steam, the steam ejector 1 ejects steam from a plurality of ejection ports (not shown) disposed in the spout portion 3.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the handle 4 has a grip portion 5 and a switch 6 arranged side by side on its lower surface. The grip portion 5 is the portion of the handle 4 that the user's fingers touch when holding the steam ejector 1. The switch 6 is the portion of the handle 4 that the user can operate to input an instruction to eject steam from the ejection portion 3, i.e., the operating portion.

[0029] By providing anti-slip features such as protrusions on the grip portion 5 , the user can easily support the moment load applied to the fingers due to the orientation of the steam ejector 1 .

[0030] The steam ejector 1 includes a detector 10 disposed within the portion of the housing 2 where the switch 6 is disposed, the detector 10 detecting contact of the switch 6 by a user's finger. The switch 6 can be operated with a finger different from the finger holding the grip 5. Typically, when a user holds the grip 4, they use their middle, ring, and pinky fingers to hold the grip 5 and their index finger to operate the switch 6. Thus, the detector 10 detects contact of the switch 6 by the index finger.

[0031] That is, the detector 10 detects the user's finger touching the switch 6 as an instruction to eject steam. When the detector 10 detects the user's finger touching the switch 6, the steam ejector 1 recognizes that an instruction to eject steam has been input.

[0032] In this way, the user can cause the steam ejector 1 to eject steam. By arranging the switch 6 so as to be operable with a finger different from the finger that grips the grip 5, the user can easily operate the steam ejector 1.

[0033] The detection unit 10 including the switch 6 may be formed of a mechanical switch such as a push button switch or a toggle switch.

[0034] Figure 3 It is a perspective view of the ejection portion 3 in the steam ejector 1 . Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the vicinity of the bent portion of the heater 12 in the ejection portion 3. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the ejection portion 3 has a substantially elliptical shape that is elongated in the front-to-back direction. The ejection portion 3 includes a front end portion 3a and a rear end portion 3b that are respectively disposed at the front and rear ends of the ejection portion 3. The front end portion 3a and the rear end portion 3b have slightly rounded shapes.

[0035] The ejection portion 3 is formed of, for example, aluminum die casting having excellent thermal conductivity.

[0036] A vaporization chamber 11 is provided in the center of the ejection portion 3. A heater 12 is disposed around the vaporization chamber 11. Heater 12 is a roughly U-shaped sheath heater having a roughly U-shaped curved portion 12a and two terminal portions 12b, one at each end. Heater 12 is embedded in the ejection portion 3 during molding.

[0037] The vaporization chamber 11 includes a heating passage 11a provided in the ejection portion 3 and communicates with an ejection port (not shown) of the ejection portion 3 via the heating passage 11a. The vaporization chamber 11 is arranged near the inner side of the curved portion 12a of the heater 12 on its upper wall (see FIG. Figure 4 The vaporization chamber 11 has a water supply port 17 that connects the tank 14 described later with the vaporization chamber 11 .

[0038] The temperature sensor 13 is composed of a thermistor. The temperature sensor 13 is arranged near the vaporization chamber 11, specifically, in a recess formed outside the vaporization chamber 11. The temperature near the bent portion 12a of the heater 12 rises fastest. The temperature sensor 13 is electrically insulated and fixed near the outside of the bent portion 12a of the heater 12 (see Figure 4 Position B).

[0039] Figure 5 : is a block diagram showing the structure of the steam ejector 1 of this embodiment. Figure 5 As shown, the steam ejector 1 includes an ejection portion 3 , a switch 6 , a detection portion 10 , a vaporization chamber 11 , a heater 12 , a temperature sensor 13 , a tank 14 , a pump 15 , and a control portion 16 .

[0040] Heater 12 heats ejection unit 3 and vaporization chamber 11. Tank 14 is located above vaporization chamber 11 and stores water. Pump 15 supplies the water stored in tank 14 to vaporization chamber 11. Heat from heater 12 vaporizes the supplied water in vaporization chamber 11, generating steam. Ejection unit 3 ejects this steam.

[0041] The temperature sensor 13 detects the temperature of the vaporization chamber 11. The control unit 16 receives information from the detection unit 10 and the temperature sensor 13 to control the heater 12 and the pump 15.

[0042] When the steam ejector 1 is powered on, the controller 16 starts heating the vaporization chamber 11 with the heater 12. Based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 13, the vaporization chamber 11 heats the water supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 to a temperature at which it instantly vaporizes and generates steam. The temperature detected by the temperature sensor 13 is the temperature of the vaporization chamber 11 detected by the temperature sensor 13.

[0043] When the switch 6 is turned on, the controller 16 drives the pump 15 to supply a predetermined amount of water from the tank 14 to the vaporization chamber 11. The water supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 vaporizes and becomes steam, which is then ejected from the ejection portion 3. When the switch 6 is turned off, the controller 16 stops the pump 15, thereby stopping the supply of water from the tank 14 to the vaporization chamber 11.

[0044] When the switch 6 is on, the detector 10 detects the user's index finger touching the switch 6. When the switch 6 is off, the detector 10 does not detect the user's index finger touching the switch 6. That is, steam is ejected from the ejection portion 3 while the user is touching the switch 6, and steam is not ejected from the ejection portion 3 while the user is not touching the switch 6.

[0045] Figure 6 The following diagram schematically shows an example of how the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 13 and the amount of heat stored in the ejection portion 3 change over time. Figure 6 As shown, as the temperature of the vaporization chamber 11 rises, the amount of heat stored in the ejection portion 3 increases.

[0046] The controller 16 uses the heater 12 to heat the entire ejection portion 3, centered around the vaporization chamber 11, until the stored heat amount in the ejection portion 3 reaches a predetermined stored heat amount Q1, that is, until the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 13 rises to a predetermined target temperature T1. The stored heat amount Q1 is set to be greater than the stored heat amount Q2 required to continuously generate the required amount of steam in the vaporization chamber 11 from the steam ejector 1.

[0047] The control unit 16 controls the heater 12 to be turned on and off while the steam ejector 1 is powered on so that the vaporization chamber 11 is maintained at approximately the target temperature T1. Figure 6As shown, in this embodiment, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 13 is preferably maintained within a predetermined temperature range of T2 to T3, that is, within a range of approximately ±2°C around the target temperature T1. However, fluctuations of ±10°C or more are permitted depending on the portion of the ejection portion 3.

[0048] also, Figure 6 The smooth curve in the graph of stored heat amount shown is drawn after smoothing, and actually, subtle fluctuations occur in the graph of stored heat amount due to the on / off control of the heater 12 .

[0049] Normally, when a user turns on the power to use the steam ejector 1, the temperature of the steam ejector 1 is approximately the same as room temperature. Therefore, even if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 13 reaches the target temperature T1 when the vaporization chamber 11 is heated immediately after startup, the temperature of the outer periphery of the ejection portion 3, which is away from the heater 12, does not reach the target temperature T1 and continues to rise slowly.

[0050] That is, while the controller 16 controls the heater 12 on and off at the target temperature T1, the stored heat amount of the ejection portion 3 (strictly speaking, the stored heat amount of the steam ejector 1) continues to increase over a corresponding period of time until reaching the saturated stored heat amount Q3.

[0051] Since the heat storage of the ejection portion 3 increases in this manner, even if the heat storage of the ejection portion 3 decreases due to steam generation in the vaporization chamber 11, the heat storage of the ejection portion 3 does not fall below the heat storage Q2. The temperature of the vaporization chamber 11, which has been cooled by the water supply, also quickly returns to the target temperature T1.

[0052] Figure 7 An example of pump control when using a steam ejector according to the prior art is shown. Figure 7 As shown by the solid line, from the time t2 when the detected temperature reaches the target temperature T1 and the heat storage in the vaporization chamber reaches the heat storage Q1 (refer to Figure 6 ), the pump can be driven. Then, according to the switch operation performed by the user, water is supplied from the tank to the vaporization chamber and steam is ejected.

[0053] Therefore, according to the conventional technology, even if the switch 6 is turned on immediately after the steam ejector is powered on, steam is not ejected until time t2, and a certain amount of time is required until the steam ejection starts.

[0054] like Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , the detected temperature at time t1 is temperature T4, and the heat storage amount of the vaporization chamber 11 is heat storage amount Q4 which is less than heat storage amount Q2. Therefore, when the time until the steam starts to be ejected is shortened as shown in FIG. Figure 7As shown by the dotted line, when the pump 15 is driven at time t1 to supply a normal predetermined amount of water from the tank 14 to the vaporization chamber 11 , a sufficient amount of steam cannot be continuously ejected.

[0055] As a result, there is a possibility that water that has not been completely evaporated will be ejected directly. In addition, the heat storage amount of the vaporization chamber 11 is greatly reduced, and it takes further time to increase it again to more than the heat storage amount Q1.

[0056] Figure 8 An example of controlling the pump 15 when the steam ejector 1 is used is shown. Figure 8 As shown, the control unit 16 controls the pump 15 to supply water to the vaporization chamber 11 at a first flow rate during the first period ( t3 - t4 ).

[0057] The first period is the period after a predetermined time (t3) has passed since heater 12 started heating vaporization chamber 11, and before the temperature of vaporization chamber 11 reaches target temperature T1. The first flow rate is the flow rate at which water supplied to vaporization chamber 11 does not escape from discharge portion 3 in an unvaporized state.

[0058] During the second period (after t4), the controller 16 controls the pump 15 to supply water to the vaporizer 11 at the second flow rate. The second period is the period following the first period. The second period is sufficient for the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 13 to reach the target temperature T1, thereby accumulating the required amount of heat ejected by the steam ejector 1 in the vaporizer 11.

[0059] The second flow rate is a flow rate greater than the first flow rate and corresponds to the above-mentioned normal predetermined flow rate. The second flow rate is a flow rate at which the water supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 during the second period does not eject from the ejection portion 3 in an unvaporized state.

[0060] That is, in this embodiment, Figure 8 The time t3 shown is set to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The time t1 shown will Figure 8 The time t4 shown is set to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The time t2 shown. Figure 7 Water is supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 at the first flow rate from time t1, and the water supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 can be completely vaporized even from time t1. Time t3 is the time until the steam starts to be ejected after the heater 12 is turned on.

[0061] As a result, the steam ejector 1 can shorten the time it takes to start ejecting steam, allowing sufficient steam to be ejected after the vaporizer chamber 11 is sufficiently heated. Furthermore, by preventing an excess of water from being supplied to the vaporizer chamber 11 relative to the amount of heat stored in the vaporizer chamber 11, the ejection of unvaporized water can be suppressed. Consequently, user convenience can be improved.

[0062] Figure 9 Another example of controlling the pump 15 when using the steam ejector 1 is shown. Figure 9 As shown, the controller 16 may control the pump 15 to supply water to the vaporization chamber 11 at a third flow rate between the first flow rate and the second flow rate during a third period (t5-t4) between the first period (t3-t5) and the second period (after t4).

[0063] The amount of steam ejected during the third period can be increased by gradually increasing the amount of water supplied to the vaporization chamber 11. As a result, user convenience can be improved.

[0064] Figure 10 Another example of the control of the pump 15 when the steam ejector 1 is used is shown. Figure 10 As shown, the control unit 16 may temporally change the flow rate of water supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 during the first period (t3-t4). This can improve user convenience by increasing the amount of steam ejected during the first period.

[0065] Controller 16 may arbitrarily combine stepwise flow rate changes with linear or curvilinear flow rate changes during the first period to control pump 15. The first period is the period from the start of heating of vaporization chamber 11 by heater 12 until the second period, when a predetermined time has passed.

[0066] As described above, time t3 is the time until steam starts to be ejected after heater 12 is turned on. Time t3 may be shorter than the time required for the stored heat amount of ejection portion 3 to reach 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of the stored heat amount Q1 or Q2. For example, time t3 may be shorter than 20 seconds, 17 seconds, 15 seconds, 10 seconds, 9 seconds, 8 seconds, 7 seconds, 6 seconds, 5 seconds, 4 seconds, 3 seconds, 2 seconds, or 1 second.

[0067] This can shorten the time until steam is ejected, thereby improving user convenience.

[0068] Time t3 may be longer than the time required for the stored heat amount of the discharge portion 3 to reach 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of the stored heat amount Q1 or Q2. For example, time t3 may be longer than 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 4 seconds, 5 seconds, 6 seconds, 7 seconds, 8 seconds, 9 seconds, or 10 seconds. This ensures a sufficient steam discharge rate during the first period, improving user convenience.

[0069] [1-2. Action]

[0070] The operation and effect of the steam ejector 1 configured as described above will be described.

[0071] When the steam ejector 1 is powered on, the controller 16 starts heating the vaporization chamber 11 with the heater 12. The vaporization chamber 11 heats the water supplied thereto based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 13 to a temperature at which the water instantly vaporizes and generates steam.

[0072] When a user holds the handle 4 and directs the ejection portion 3 toward the clothes 9 and touches the switch 6 to eject steam, the steam ejector 1 ejects steam from the ejection portion 3 .

[0073] When the switch 6 is turned on, the controller 16 drives the pump 15 to supply water from the tank 14 to the vaporization chamber 11. The water supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 vaporizes and becomes steam, which is then ejected from the ejection portion 3. When the switch 6 is turned off, the controller 16 stops the pump 15 to stop the supply of water from the tank 14 to the vaporization chamber 11.

[0074] When the switch 6 is turned on, it means that the detector 10 detects the user's index finger touching the switch 6. When the switch 6 is turned off, it means that the detector 10 does not detect the user's index finger touching the switch 6.

[0075] That is, the steam ejector 1 ejects steam from the ejection portion 3 while the user is touching the switch 6 , and does not eject steam from the ejection portion 3 while the user is not touching the switch 6 .

[0076] When switch 6 is turned on immediately after steam ejector 1 is powered on, controller 16 controls pump 15 to supply water at a first flow rate to vaporizer 11 during a first period. The first period is a period after a predetermined time has passed since heater 12 started heating vaporizer 11.

[0077] During the second period, controller 16 controls pump 15 to supply water to vaporizer 11 at a second flow rate. The second period is the period following the first period, and the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate. In this case, it is desirable to set the water supply rate based on the amount of heat stored in ejection section 3. This can shorten the time until steam ejection begins.

[0078] [1-3. Effects, etc.]

[0079] As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a steam ejector 1. The steam ejector 1 according to this aspect includes a vaporization chamber 11, a heater 12, a pump 15, and a controller 16. The heater 12 heats the vaporization chamber 11. The pump 15 supplies water to the vaporization chamber 11. The controller 16 controls the heater 12 and the pump 15.

[0080] During a first period, the controller 16 controls the pump 15 to supply water at a first flow rate to the vaporization chamber 11. The first period is a period after a predetermined time has passed since the heater 12 started heating the vaporization chamber 11.

[0081] During the second period, the controller 16 controls the pump 15 to supply water at a second flow rate to the vaporization chamber 11. The second period is a period after the first period, and the second flow rate is a flow rate greater than the first flow rate.

[0082] As a result, the steam ejector 1 can shorten the time it takes to start ejecting steam, allowing sufficient steam to be ejected after the vaporizer chamber 11 is sufficiently heated. Furthermore, by preventing an excess of water from being supplied to the vaporizer chamber 11 relative to the amount of heat stored in the vaporizer chamber 11, the ejection of unvaporized water can be suppressed. Consequently, user convenience can be improved.

[0083] In this embodiment, the second flow rate is a flow rate such that the water supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 is not ejected in an unvaporized state during the second period. The second period is the period after the vaporization chamber 11 reaches the target temperature. This improves user convenience.

[0084] In this embodiment, the first flow rate is a flow rate that prevents water supplied to vaporizer 11 from being discharged in an unvaporized state during a first period before vaporizer 11 reaches the target temperature. The first period is the period before vaporizer 11 reaches the target temperature. This improves user convenience.

[0085] In this embodiment, the controller 16 changes the flow rate of water supplied to the vaporizing chamber 11 in a stepwise, linear, or curved manner during the first or third period. The third period is the period between the first and second periods. This improves user convenience.

[0086] Another aspect of the present embodiment is a method for controlling the steam ejector 1 including the vaporization chamber 11 , the heater 12 , and the pump 15 .

[0087] The control method of the steam ejector 1 according to this embodiment includes: causing the pump 15 to supply water to the vaporizer 11 at a first flow rate during a first period; and causing the pump 15 to supply water to the vaporizer 11 at a second flow rate during a second period. The first period is the period after a predetermined time has elapsed since the heater 12 began heating the vaporizer 11. The second period is the period after the first period, and the second flow rate is a flow rate greater than the first flow rate.

[0088] As a result, the steam ejector 1 can shorten the time it takes to start ejecting steam, allowing sufficient steam to be ejected after the vaporizer chamber 11 is sufficiently heated. Furthermore, by preventing an excess of water from being supplied to the vaporizer chamber 11 relative to the amount of heat stored in the vaporizer chamber 11, the ejection of unvaporized water can be suppressed. Consequently, user convenience can be improved.

[0089] (Other embodiments)

[0090] As described above, the above embodiment is described as an example of the technology involved in the present disclosure. However, the technology involved in the present disclosure is not limited thereto and can also be applied to similar embodiments in which the components of the above embodiment are changed, replaced, added, or omitted.

[0091] For example, it can also be, Figures 8 to 10 The shorter the period from heater 12 turning on to time t3, the smaller the flow rate of water supplied during the first period. This is natural, as the amount of heat stored until time t3 is small. Since a large amount of heat is required to reach stored heat Q1, reducing the flow rate can promote heat storage by minimizing the amount of heat lost through vaporization. Regardless, the period from heater 12 turning on to time t3 can be shortened by setting the flow rate to a level that allows vaporization using the stored heat at time t3.

[0092] Figures 8 to 10 The water supply shown shows a step-by-step change, a linear change, or a curved change. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, water may be supplied intermittently to achieve a predetermined flow rate, or a large flow rate may be supplied all at once. In short, it is sufficient to supply water at a time when the stored heat in the ejection portion 3 can be fully vaporized. This shortens the period from when the heater 12 is turned on to time t3.

[0093] (Note)

[0094] In this disclosure, the following technologies are disclosed through the description of the above embodiments.

[0095] (Technology (1))

[0096] The steam ejector according to technology (1) comprises:

[0097] Vaporization chamber;

[0098] a heater that heats the vaporization chamber;

[0099] a pump that supplies water to the vaporization chamber; and

[0100] A control unit controls the heater and the pump.

[0101] In the steam ejector according to technology (1),

[0102] The controller controls the pump to supply water to the vaporization chamber at a first flow rate during a first period after a predetermined time has elapsed since the heater started heating the vaporization chamber.

[0103] The control unit controls the pump to supply water to the vaporization chamber at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate during a second period following the first period.

[0104] As a result, the steam ejector 1 can shorten the time it takes to start ejecting steam, allowing sufficient steam to be ejected after the vaporizer chamber 11 is sufficiently heated. Furthermore, by preventing an excess of water from being supplied to the vaporizer chamber 11 relative to the amount of heat stored in the vaporizer chamber 11, the ejection of unvaporized water can be suppressed. Consequently, user convenience can be improved.

[0105] (Technology(2))

[0106] In the steam ejector involved in technology (2), in addition to technology (1),

[0107] The second flow rate is a flow rate at which the water supplied to the vaporization chamber is not ejected in an unvaporized state during the second period after the vaporization chamber reaches the target temperature.

[0108] This can improve user convenience.

[0109] (Technology(3))

[0110] In the steam ejector according to technique (3), in addition to technique (1) or (2),

[0111] The first flow rate is a flow rate at which the water supplied to the vaporization chamber is not ejected in an unvaporized state during the first period before the vaporization chamber reaches the target temperature.

[0112] This can improve user convenience.

[0113] (Technology (4))

[0114] In the steam ejector according to the technique (4), in addition to any one of the techniques (1) to (3),

[0115] The control unit changes the flow rate of water supplied to the vaporization chamber in a stepwise, linear, or curved manner during the first period or during a third period between the first period and the second period.

[0116] This can improve user convenience.

[0117] (Technology(5))

[0118] Technology (5) is a method for controlling a steam ejector having a vaporization chamber, a heater, and a pump.

[0119] The control methods involved in technology (5) include:

[0120] causing the pump to supply water to the vaporization chamber at a first flow rate during a first period after a predetermined time has elapsed since the heater started heating the vaporization chamber; and

[0121] The pump is controlled to supply water to the vaporization chamber at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate during a second period following the first period.

[0122] As a result, the steam ejector 1 can shorten the time it takes to start ejecting steam, allowing sufficient steam to be ejected after the vaporizer chamber 11 is sufficiently heated. Furthermore, by preventing an excess of water from being supplied to the vaporizer chamber 11 relative to the amount of heat stored in the vaporizer chamber 11, the ejection of unvaporized water can be suppressed. Consequently, user convenience can be improved.

[0123] The present disclosure can be applied to a steam ejector that ejects steam to care for clothes or the like.

Claims

1. A steam ejector comprising: Vaporization chamber; a heater that heats the vaporization chamber; a pump that supplies water to the vaporization chamber; and a control unit that controls the heater and the pump, in, The controller controls the pump to supply water to the vaporization chamber at a first flow rate during a first period after a predetermined time has elapsed since the heater started heating the vaporization chamber. The control unit controls the pump to supply water to the vaporization chamber at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate during a second period following the first period.

2. The steam ejector according to claim 1, wherein: The second flow rate is a flow rate at which the water supplied to the vaporization chamber is not ejected in an unvaporized state during the second period after the vaporization chamber reaches the target temperature.

3. The steam ejector according to claim 2, wherein: The first flow rate is a flow rate at which the water supplied to the vaporization chamber is not ejected in an unvaporized state during the first period before the vaporization chamber reaches the target temperature.

4. The steam ejector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The control unit changes the flow rate of water supplied to the vaporization chamber in a stepwise, linear, or curved manner during the first period or during a third period between the first period and the second period.

5. A method for controlling a steam ejector, the steam ejector comprising a vaporization chamber, a heater, and a pump, the method comprising: causing the pump to supply water to the vaporization chamber at a first flow rate during a first period after a predetermined time has elapsed since the heater started heating the vaporization chamber; as well as The pump is controlled to supply water to the vaporization chamber at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate during a second period following the first period.

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