Steam ejector and control method
By controlling the water supply to the vaporization chamber with a phased flow rate strategy, the steam jet technology addresses the inefficiency in steam generation time, ensuring rapid and reliable steam output.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024018966
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-02-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-22
AI Technical Summary
Existing steam jets for textiles require a significant waiting time before steam can be generated after startup due to inefficient water supply control, leading to inconvenience for users.
A control method that adjusts the water supply to the vaporization chamber with a first flow rate after a predetermined time post-heating, followed by a higher second flow rate once the chamber reaches a target temperature, ensuring complete vaporization and rapid steam generation.
This approach significantly reduces the time to start steam emission, enhances user convenience, and ensures a consistent supply of steam without liquid water ejection, improving overall usability.
Smart Images

Figure 2025123094000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a steam ejector and a control method thereof. [Background technology]
[0002] There are steam jets for smoothing out wrinkles in textile products such as clothing. For example, the steam jet described in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which, when the power is turned on, the heater is energized to heat the vaporization chamber, and when the pump switch is turned on during use, the electric pump is driven to send a set amount of water into the vaporization chamber and spray steam. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-137619 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] The present inventors recognized the need to further improve user convenience and came up with the technology of the present disclosure.
[0005] The present disclosure provides techniques for improving the convenience of steam jets. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] The steam jetting device according to the present disclosure includes a vaporization chamber for vaporizing water, a heater for heating the vaporization chamber, a pump for supplying water to the vaporization chamber, and a control unit for controlling the pump. The control unit 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, and 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 after the first period.
[0007] The method for controlling a steam jetter in the present disclosure includes the steps of: supplying water to the evaporation chamber at a first flow rate during a first period after a predetermined time has elapsed since a heater for heating the evaporation chamber for vaporizing water begins to heat the evaporation chamber; and supplying water to the evaporation chamber at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate during a second period after the first period.
[0008] Any combination of the above components, and conversion of the present disclosure into a method, device, system, recording medium, computer program, etc., are also valid aspects of the present disclosure. [Effects of the Invention]
[0009] According to the present disclosure, the convenience of the steam ejector can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view showing the appearance of the steam ejector of the first embodiment placed on a stand. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a user holds the steam ejector of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a jetting portion of a steam jetter according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] Schematic diagram of the vicinity of the curved portion of the heater of the jetting portion of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a steam ejector according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of time variation of the detected temperature of the temperature sensor and the amount of heat stored in the ejection part according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of pump control when using a steam jet in the prior art. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of pump control when the steam ejector of the first embodiment is used. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of pump control when the steam ejector of the first embodiment is used. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of pump control when the steam ejector of the first embodiment is used. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] (Findings that formed the basis of this disclosure) When starting up, the steam jet is controlled so that water is not supplied to the vaporization chamber of the jetting unit until the vaporization chamber is sufficiently heated by the heater so that the supplied water can be completely vaporized. This presents a problem in that users cannot start using the steam jet immediately after turning on the power.
[0012] When the inventors first came up with the idea for the present disclosure, the amount of water supplied by the pump from the water tank was constant, and it took a considerable amount of time from the start of water supply until steam could be generated. The inventors focused on this problem and came up with the subject matter of the present disclosure in order to solve this problem.
[0013] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a steam jetter that improves convenience by shortening the waiting time until steam can be jetted upon startup.
[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary detailed description may be omitted. For example, detailed description of already well-known matters or redundant description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted.
[0015] The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.
[0016] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0017] [1-1. Overall structure] Fig. 1 is a side view showing the appearance of a steam jetter 1 of embodiment 1 placed on a stand 8. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the steam jetter 1 of embodiment 1 being held by a user. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the jetting part 3 of the steam jetter 1 of embodiment 1. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the vicinity of the curved part of the heater 12 of the jetting part 3 of embodiment 1. Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the steam jetter 1 of embodiment 1.
[0018] As shown in Figure 2, a jetting unit 3 that generates and jets out steam is provided on the bottom surface of the housing 2 of the steam jetter 1. When a user gives a command to jet out steam while holding the handle 4 and pointing the jetting unit 3 towards clothing 9, the steam jetter 1 jets out steam from multiple nozzles (not shown) provided in the jetting unit 3.
[0019] A handle 4 is provided on the top of the housing 2 for the user to grip the steam jet 1 during use. On the underside of the handle 4, a gripping portion 5 on which the user places their fingers when gripping the steam jet 1, and a switch 6 which is a detection site for detecting an instruction to eject steam from the jetting portion 3, are provided side by side. Providing a non-slip surface such as a protrusion on the gripping portion 5 makes it easier for the fingers to support the moment load applied depending on the orientation of the steam jet 1 during use.
[0020] A detection unit 10 that detects contact of the switch 6 with the user's fingers is provided inside the housing 2 of the switch 6. The switch 6 is provided in a position that allows contact with fingers other than those of the user gripping the grip portion 5. Typically, when a user grips the handle 4, the user places their middle finger, ring finger, and little finger on the grip portion 5 and operates the switch 6 with their index finger. Therefore, the detection unit 10 detects contact of the switch 6 with the user's index finger.
[0021] The switch 6, which is the detection part, may be included in the detection unit 10. In other words, the detection unit 10 detects an instruction from the user to eject steam from the ejection unit 3. In other words, when the user's finger touches the switch 6, the switch 6 is turned on and an instruction to eject steam is input.
[0022] In this way, the detection unit 10 detects the contact of the index finger, which is part of the user's body, with the switch 6, allowing the user to easily spray steam. Furthermore, the switch 6 is provided in a position that can be contacted with a finger other than the finger of the user that grips the grip portion 5, allowing the user to easily start and stop the spray of steam.
[0023] The detection unit 10 including the switch 6 may be configured as a mechanical switch such as a button switch or a toggle switch.
[0024] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the jetting part 3 is formed in a generally oval shape that is elongated from front to back, with a front end 3a and a rear end 3b that are slightly rounded and pointed. An evaporation chamber 11 for evaporating liquid water to generate steam is provided in the jetting part 3, which is heated by a heater 12. The jetting part 3 is formed, for example, from aluminum die-casting, which has good thermal conductivity. The heater 12 is a sheathed heater having a curved part 12a bent into a generally U-shape and terminal parts 12b on both ends, and is embedded when the jetting part 3 is molded.
[0025] Vaporization chamber 11 is provided in the center of ejection part 3, which is elongated in the front-to-rear direction, and is disposed inside curved part 12a of heater 12 so as to be surrounded by it. Vaporization chamber 11 includes heating passage 11a provided in ejection part 3 and communicates with the ejection port. A water supply port 17 to vaporization chamber 11 is provided at the top of vaporization chamber 11 so that water is supplied to position A (the approximate position is shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 4) near the inside of curved part 12a of heater 12.
[0026] Temperature sensor 13, which is made up of a thermistor, detects the temperature of vaporization chamber 11. Temperature sensor 13 is attached, for example, in a recess formed on the outside of vaporization chamber 11. The temperature rises most rapidly near curved portion 12a of heater 12. Temperature sensor 13 is electrically insulated and fixed at position B (the approximate position is shown in the schematic diagram of Figure 4) close to the outside of curved portion 12a of heater 12.
[0027] The vaporization chamber 11 thus formed in the ejection unit 3 heats and vaporizes water to generate steam. The steam generated in the vaporization chamber 11 is ejected from the ejection port. The heater 12 heats the vaporization chamber 11. The tank 14 stores water. The pump 15 supplies the water stored in the tank 14 to the vaporization chamber 11. The control unit 16 controls the heater 12 and the pump 15.
[0028] When the power supply of the steam jetter 1 is turned on, the control unit 16 controls the heater 12 to heat the vaporization chamber 11. The control unit 16 heats the vaporization chamber 11 to a temperature at which water supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 is instantly vaporized to generate steam. When the switch 6 is turned on, i.e., when the detection unit 10 detects that the user's index finger has touched the switch 6, the control unit 16 drives the pump 15 to supply a predetermined amount of water from the tank 14 to the vaporization chamber 11. The water introduced into the vaporization chamber 11 is vaporized into steam, which is then ejected from the nozzle. When the switch 6 is turned off, i.e., when the detection unit 10 does not detect that the user's index finger has touched the switch 6, the control unit 16 stops the pump 15 to stop the supply of water from the tank 14 to the vaporization chamber 11. In this way, steam is ejected from the ejection unit 3 while the user is touching the switch 6, and steam is not ejected from the ejection unit 3 while the user is not touching the switch 6.
[0029] 6 shows an example of the change over time in the detected temperature of temperature sensor 13 disposed near vaporization chamber 11 and the amount of heat stored in ejection unit 3. When control unit 16 turns on heater 12, the temperature of vaporization chamber 11 rises and the amount of heat stored in ejection unit 3 (vaporization chamber 11) increases. Control unit 16 heats the entire ejection unit 3, centered on vaporization chamber 11, with heater 12 until a predetermined amount of heat storage Q1 is reached, that is, until the detected temperature rises to a predetermined target temperature T1. This amount of heat storage Q1 is set to be greater than the amount of heat storage Q2 required to continuously vaporize the amount of steam required for steam ejector 1 in vaporization chamber 11.
[0030] While the power supply to the steam ejector 1 is on, the control unit 16 controls the heater 12 so that the vaporization chamber 11 is maintained at approximately the target temperature T1. In the present embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the heater 12 is on / off controlled, and the temperature in the vicinity of the temperature sensor 13 is maintained within a predetermined temperature range of T2 to T3. When the heater 12 is on / off controlled, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 13 is preferably controlled to within approximately ±2° around the target temperature T1, but fluctuations of ±10° or more are permitted depending on the location on the ejection unit 3. Note that the graph curve of the heat storage amount shown in FIG. 6 is smoothed, and in reality, fluctuations occur as the heater 12 is controlled on / off.
[0031] Typically, when a user turns on the power to use the steam jet 1, the steam jet 1 is in a cool state equivalent to room temperature. Therefore, when the power is turned on and the control unit 16 turns on the heater 12, even if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 13 reaches the target temperature T1, the outer periphery of the jet 3, which is far from the heater 12, does not reach the target temperature T1 and rises later. In other words, while the heater 12 is controlled on and off at the target temperature T1, the heat storage amount Q of the jet 3 (strictly speaking, the heat storage amount of the entire steam jet 1) continues to rise over a reasonable period of time to the heat storage amount Q3 corresponding to saturation. By increasing the heat storage amount Q of the jet 3 in this way, even if the heat storage amount decreases as steam is generated in the vaporization chamber 11, it is possible to prevent it from falling below the heat storage amount Q2. Furthermore, the vaporization chamber 11, which has cooled due to the addition of water, is quickly restored to the target temperature T1.
[0032] FIG. 7 shows an example of the control of pump 15 when using a conventional steam jet 1. In the conventional steam jet 1, as shown by the solid line, at time t2, the detected temperature reaches target temperature T1 and the heat storage capacity of vaporization chamber 11 reaches Q1, which is equal to or greater than Q2. Then, in response to the user's operation of switch 6, control unit 16 enables operation of pump 15. Water is supplied from tank 14 to vaporization chamber 11, and steam is emitted. Therefore, even if switch 6 is turned on immediately after powering on steam jet 1, steam is not emitted until time t2, and it takes some time for steam emission to begin. To shorten the time until steam emission begins, as shown by the dashed line, if pump 15 is driven at time t1 to supply a normal amount of water from tank 14 to vaporization chamber 11, the detected temperature shown in FIG. 6 is T4, and only Q4, which is less than Q2, is stored in vaporization chamber 11. Therefore, a sufficient amount of steam cannot be continuously emitted, and there is a possibility that incompletely evaporated water will be emitted as liquid. Furthermore, the amount of heat stored in vaporization chamber 11 drops significantly, and it takes even more time to reach or exceed the amount of stored heat Q1.
[0033] 8 shows an example of control of pump 15 when steam jetter 1 of embodiment 1 is used. Control unit 16 controls pump 15 to supply water to vaporization chamber 11 at a first flow rate during a first period (t3 to t4) after a predetermined time (t3) has elapsed since heater 12 started heating vaporization chamber 11, and controls pump 15 to supply water to vaporization chamber 11 at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate during a second period (t4 and thereafter) after the first period. Here, the second flow rate corresponds to the above-mentioned normal predetermined flow rate, and is a flow rate at which water supplied to vaporization chamber 11 is not sprayed as a liquid during the second period when vaporization chamber 11 reaches target temperature T1 and sufficient heat is stored in vaporization chamber 11 to spray the required amount of steam from steam jetter 1. The first flow rate is a flow rate at which water sent to vaporization chamber 11 is not ejected as a liquid during a first period before vaporization chamber 11 reaches target temperature T1.
[0034] In other words, in this embodiment, if time t3 in Figure 8 is applied to time t1 shown in Figure 7 and time t4 in Figure 8 is applied to time t2 shown in Figure 7, water will be supplied to evaporation chamber 11 at the first flow rate from time t1 in Figure 7, and the supplied water can be completely vaporized and steam can be ejected even from time t1.
[0035] This allows steam jet 1 to shorten the time it takes to start jetting steam, improving user convenience. Furthermore, after vaporization chamber 11 is sufficiently heated, a sufficient amount of steam can be jetted, improving user convenience. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent excessive water from being supplied to vaporization chamber 11 relative to the amount of heat stored in vaporization chamber 11, resulting in the jetting of liquid water.
[0036] 9 shows another example of control of pump 15 when using steam jet 1 of embodiment 1. Control unit 16 may control pump 15 to supply water to vaporization chamber 11 at a flow rate between the first flow rate and the second flow rate during one or more periods (t5 to t4) between the first period (t3 to t5) and the second period (t4 and thereafter). By gradually increasing the flow rate of water supplied to vaporization chamber 11, the amount of steam emitted during the period between the first period and the second period can be increased, further improving convenience for the user.
[0037] 10 shows another example of control of pump 15 when using steam jet 1 of embodiment 1. Control unit 16 may change the flow rate of water fed to vaporization chamber 11 in a linear or curved manner during the first period (t3 to t4). By gradually increasing the flow rate of water fed to vaporization chamber 11 in a linear or curved manner, the amount of steam jetted during the first period can be increased, further improving convenience for the user.
[0038] The control unit 16 may control the pump 15 by any combination of a gradual change in the flow rate and a linear or curved change in the flow rate during the period from when the heater 12 starts heating the vaporization chamber 11 until a predetermined time has elapsed until the second period.
[0039] The time t3 from when the heater 12 is turned on until steam starts to be emitted may be shorter than the time it takes for the heat storage amount of the ejection part 3 to reach 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of Q1 or Q2. For example, the time t3 may be 20 seconds or less, 17 seconds or less, 15 seconds or less, 10 seconds or less, 9 seconds or less, 8 seconds or less, 7 seconds or less, 6 seconds or less, 5 seconds or less, 4 seconds or less, 3 seconds or less, 2 seconds or less, or 1 second or less. This shortens the time until steam is emitted, thereby improving convenience for the user.
[0040] The time t3 from when the heater 12 is turned on until steam starts to be emitted may be longer than the time it takes for the amount of heat stored in the ejection part 3 to reach 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of Q1 or Q2. For example, the time t3 may be 1 second or more, 2 seconds or more, 3 seconds or more, 4 seconds or more, 5 seconds or more, 6 seconds or more, 7 seconds or more, 8 seconds or more, 9 seconds or more, or 10 seconds or more. This ensures that the amount of steam emitted is sufficient even during the first period, thereby improving convenience for the user.
[0041] [1-2. Operation] The operation and function of the steam ejector 1 configured as above will now be described.
[0042] When the power of the steam jetter 1 is turned on, the control unit 16 controls the heater 12 to heat the vaporization chamber 11. The control unit 16 heats the vaporization chamber 11 to a temperature at which water supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 instantly vaporizes and generates steam. When a user touches the switch 6 to emit steam while holding the handle 4 and pointing the ejection unit 3 toward the clothes 9, the steam jetter 1 emits steam from the ejection unit 3. When the switch 6 is on, that is, when the detection unit 10 detects that the user's index finger has touched the switch 6, the control unit 16 drives the pump 15 to supply water from the tank 14 to the vaporization chamber 11. The water introduced into the vaporization chamber 11 vaporizes into steam, which is then ejected from the nozzle. When switch 6 is off, that is, when detection unit 10 does not detect the user's index finger touching switch 6, control unit 16 stops pump 15 to stop the supply of water from tank 14 to vaporization chamber 11. This prevents steam from being ejected from ejection unit 3 of steam jet device 1.
[0043] If switch 6 is turned on immediately after steam jet 1 is powered on, control unit 16 controls pump 15 to supply water to vaporization chamber 11 at a first flow rate during a first period after a predetermined time has elapsed since heater 12 started heating vaporization chamber 11, and controls pump 15 to supply water to vaporization chamber 11 at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate during a second period after the first period. At this time, it is desirable to set the water supply amount according to the amount of heat stored in jet unit 3. This shortens the time until steam jetting begins.
[0044] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, in this embodiment, the steam jet 1 includes the vaporization chamber 11 for vaporizing water, the heater 12 for heating the vaporization chamber 11, the pump 15 for supplying water to the vaporization chamber 11, and the control unit 16 for controlling the pump 15. The control unit 16 controls the pump 15 to supply water to the vaporization chamber 11 at a first flow rate during a first period after a predetermined time has elapsed since the heater 12 started heating the vaporization chamber 11, and controls the pump 15 to supply water to the vaporization chamber 11 at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate during a second period after the first period. This shortens the time until steam starts to be jetted, improving user convenience. Furthermore, after the vaporization chamber 11 is sufficiently heated, a sufficient amount of steam can be jetted, improving user convenience. Furthermore, this prevents excessive water from being supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 relative to the heat storage capacity of the vaporization chamber 11, resulting in the jetting of liquid water.
[0045] In this embodiment, the second flow rate is a flow rate that prevents the water fed to vaporization chamber 11 from being ejected as a liquid during the second period after vaporization chamber 11 reaches the target temperature. This prevents excessive water from being supplied to vaporization chamber 11 relative to the heat storage capacity of vaporization chamber 11, which would otherwise cause the water to be ejected as a liquid.
[0046] In this embodiment, the first flow rate is a flow rate that prevents water fed to vaporization chamber 11 from being ejected as a liquid during a first period before vaporization chamber 11 reaches the target temperature. This prevents excessive water from being supplied to vaporization chamber 11 relative to the heat storage capacity of vaporization chamber 11, which would otherwise cause the water to be ejected as a liquid.
[0047] Furthermore, in this embodiment, control unit 16 changes the flow rate of water supplied to vaporization chamber 11 in a stepwise, linear, or curved manner during the first period or one or more periods between the first and second periods. This increases the amount of steam emitted during the first period or one or more periods between the first and second periods, further improving user convenience.
[0048] In addition, in this embodiment, the control method for steam jetting device 1 includes the steps of: supplying water to vaporization chamber 11 at a first flow rate during a first period after a predetermined time has elapsed since heater 12, which heats vaporization chamber 11 to vaporize water, starts heating vaporization chamber 11; and supplying water to vaporization chamber 11 at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate during a second period after the first period. This shortens the time until steam starts to be jetted, improving user convenience. Furthermore, after vaporization chamber 11 is sufficiently heated, a sufficient amount of steam can be jetted, improving user convenience. Furthermore, this prevents excessive water from being supplied to vaporization chamber 11 relative to the heat storage capacity of vaporization chamber 11, resulting in the jetting of liquid water.
[0049] (Other embodiments) As described above, the first embodiment has been described as an example of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made. Furthermore, it is also possible to combine the components described in the first embodiment above to create new embodiments.
[0050] 8 to 10, the shorter the period from turning on heater 12 to time t3, the smaller the flow rate of water supplied in the first period. This is natural because the amount of heat stored up to time t3 is small, but since a large amount of heat is required to reach the amount of stored heat Q1, reducing the flow rate can promote heat storage by suppressing the amount of heat lost due to evaporation. In any case, by setting the flow rate to a value that allows evaporation using the amount of stored heat at time t3, the period from turning on heater 12 to time t3 can be shortened.
[0051] 8 to 10 show a stepwise change in the flow rate and a linear or curved change in the flow rate, but this is not limited to this. For example, water may be supplied intermittently to achieve a predetermined flow rate, or a temporarily large flow rate may be supplied. In short, water should be supplied at a timing that allows complete vaporization due to the heat stored in the jetting part 3. This shortens the period from when the heater 12 is turned on to time t3.
[0052] The technology of the present disclosure is also applicable to any type of steam ejector.
[0053] (Addendum) The above description of the embodiments discloses the following techniques. (Technology 1) a vaporization chamber for vaporizing water; a heater for heating the vaporization chamber; a pump that sends water to the vaporization chamber; a control unit that controls the pump; Equipped with The control unit 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, and 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 after the first period. Steam jet. This shortens the time it takes for steam to start being emitted, improving user convenience. Furthermore, after vaporization chamber 11 is sufficiently heated, a sufficient amount of steam can be emitted, improving user convenience. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent excessive water being supplied to vaporization chamber 11 relative to the amount of heat stored in vaporization chamber 11, resulting in the ejection of liquid water. (Technology 2) The second flow rate is a flow rate at which the water fed to the vaporization chamber is not ejected as a liquid during the second period after the vaporization chamber reaches a target temperature. The steam ejector according to claim 1. This makes it possible to prevent excessive water from being supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 relative to the amount of heat stored in the vaporization chamber 11, and to prevent the water from spouting out as liquid. (Technology 3) The first flow rate is a flow rate at which water delivered to the vaporization chamber is not ejected as a liquid during the first period before the vaporization chamber reaches the target temperature. The steam ejector according to Art 1 or 2. This makes it possible to prevent excessive water from being supplied to the vaporization chamber 11 relative to the amount of heat stored in the vaporization chamber 11, and to prevent the water from spouting out as liquid. (Technology 4) 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 one or more periods between the first period and the second period. The steam ejector according to any one of the first to third aspects. This allows the amount of steam emitted during the first period or during one or more periods between the first period and the second period to be increased, thereby further improving convenience for the user. (Technology 5) In the steam ejector, a step of supplying water to the vaporization chamber at a first flow rate during a first period after a predetermined time has elapsed since a heater for heating the vaporization chamber for vaporizing water has started to heat the vaporization chamber; supplying water to the vaporization chamber at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate during a second period that is later than the first period; A control method comprising: This shortens the time it takes for steam to start being emitted, improving user convenience. Furthermore, after vaporization chamber 11 is sufficiently heated, a sufficient amount of steam can be emitted, improving user convenience. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent excessive water being supplied to vaporization chamber 11 relative to the amount of heat stored in vaporization chamber 11, resulting in the ejection of liquid water. [Industrial Applicability]
[0054] The present invention can be used in a steam jetting device that jets steam to care for clothes and the like. [Explanation of symbols]
[0055] 1 steam jet 2. Case 3 Spout part 3a Front end 3b Rear end 4 Handle 5 Gripping part 6 Switch 8 Stand 9. Clothing 10. Detection unit 11 Vaporization chamber 11a Heating passage 12 Heater 12a Curved section 12b Terminal section 13 Temperature Sensor 14 Tank 15 Pump 16 Control Unit 17 Water supply outlet
Claims
1. a vaporization chamber for vaporizing water; a heater for heating the vaporization chamber; a pump that sends water to the vaporization chamber; a control unit that controls the pump; Equipped with The control unit 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, and 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 after the first period. Steam jet.
2. The second flow rate is a flow rate at which the water fed to the vaporization chamber is not ejected as a liquid during the second period after the vaporization chamber reaches a target temperature. The steam ejector according to claim 1.
3. The first flow rate is a flow rate at which water fed to the vaporization chamber is not ejected as a liquid during the first period before the vaporization chamber reaches the target temperature. The steam ejector according to claim 2.
4. 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 one or more periods between the first period and the second period. The steam ejector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
5. In the steam ejector, a step of supplying water to the vaporization chamber at a first flow rate during a first period after a predetermined time has elapsed since a heater for heating the vaporization chamber for vaporizing water has started to heat the vaporization chamber; supplying water to the vaporization chamber at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate during a second period that is later than the first period; A control method comprising:
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Steam jetting unit and steam iron
JP2020137619A