Steamer

Abstract

To provide a steamer capable of preventing the heat from heating means and vaporization chamber from interfering with electricity storage means and other electronic components.SOLUTION: A steamer main unit 1 comprises an electromagnetic pump 24 which supplies water stored in a tank assembly 17 to a vaporization chamber 11, such that the water in the tank assembly 17 is vaporized in the vaporization chamber 11 heated by a heater 6 to be ejected as steam to the outside, and a plurality of electric double-layer capacitors 45 which supplies electric power as power source to the electromagnetic pump 24. Between the electric double-layer capacitors 45 and heater 6 and vaporization chamber 11, the tank assembly 17 and a cavity 33 communicating with the outer air lie.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a steamer equipped with a power storage means for supplying power to each part. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as an example of this type of cordless iron, Patent Document 1 discloses an iron that has a storage means in the grip that is held by hand and operated, and when the power cord is unplugged from the power source, displays the temperature of the base based on a signal from a temperature sensor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 62-142598 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technology of Patent Document 1 uses a power storage means as a power source for a display means, such as an LED, and the amount of stored power is insufficient to operate the electromagnetic pump that supplies water to the vaporization chamber to generate steam for a long period of time. Furthermore, the power storage means needs to be large, but such a large power storage means cannot be stored in the grip, which has limited cross-sectional dimensions. Furthermore, since the ambient temperature in which the power storage means and other electronic components are used is generally relatively low, it is desirable to keep these power storage means and other electronic components away from the heater and the heated base from the perspective of the maximum operating temperature. However, due to the trend toward miniaturization of steamers in recent years, the space available for arranging these components is limited, and the heat from the heater and base interferes with the power storage means and other electronic components, making it impossible to suppress the temperature rise of these components.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention has an object to provide a steamer that can prevent heat from the heating means and vaporization chamber from interfering with the power storage means and other electronic components. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The steamer of the present invention vaporizes a liquid stored in a tank in a vaporization chamber heated by a heating means and sprays steam to the outside, and comprises a liquid delivery means for supplying the liquid in the tank to the vaporization chamber, and a plurality of power storage means for supplying electricity as a power source to the liquid delivery means, and the tank and an outside air communication space through which outside air communicates are interposed between the plurality of power storage means, the heating means, and the vaporization chamber, and the plurality of power storage means are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction of the steamer, and further comprises a grip portion for holding and operating the steamer by hand, the plurality of power storage means are arranged in the grip portion, and the plurality of power storage means are The longitudinal direction of each of the storage means is aligned along the longitudinal direction of the grip portion. the substrate is mounted on the substrate in a spaced-apart relationship, the plurality of power storage means; charging / discharging means for controlling charging / discharging of the plurality of power storage means; and are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the grip portion. It is characterized by a configuration in which it is mounted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the invention of claim 1, the water and air in the tank and the outside air communicating with the outside air communication space act as a heat-blocking layer, preventing heat from the heating means and vaporization chamber from interfering with the multiple storage means, and preventing the temperature of these multiple storage means from rising. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the steamer according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the steamer. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the steamer body. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the steamer body. [Figure 5] Same as above, (A) a view from above of the steamer body with the handle cover removed, (B) a view from an angle of the steamer body with the handle cover removed. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing the electrical connection configuration of the steamer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the steamer of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] 1 to 6 show a steamer according to one embodiment of the present invention. The overall configuration of the steamer according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to these figures. Its main components are a steamer main body 1, which heats and vaporizes liquid water and sprays steam to the outside, a plug unit 2, which supplies commercial power to the steamer main body 1 from a household outlet (not shown), and a stand 3, which is used while placed on the floor S and on which the steamer main body 1 is detachably placed. The plug unit 2 is detachably attached to either the steamer main body 1 or the stand 3.

[0011] Steamer main body 1 has a recessed power receiving section 5 at the rear that receives power, and a metal base 7 at the bottom in which a heater 6 is embedded as heating means. Base 7 is configured so that a base plate 9 serving as a hanging surface member is provided on the bottom surface of base substrate 8, which is a die-cast molded product, and is tightly fixed to base substrate 8 by fastening members 10 fixed to base plate 9. A steam chamber, i.e., evaporation chamber 11, is formed inside base 7 near heater 6, and multiple steam holes 12 communicating with this evaporation chamber 11 are formed in base plate 9, which forms the underside of base 7. Base 7 also has a steam cover 13, which serves as a metal plate-like top lid, and the upper surface of evaporation chamber 11 is formed by steam cover 13 attached and fixed to base substrate 8.

[0012] Reference numeral 15 denotes a resin cover provided to cover the top and sides of base 7, and reference numeral 16 denotes a handle fixed to the top of cover 15 and formed in a roughly O-shape with its front and rear ends connected when viewed from the side. A tank assembly 17 corresponding to a tank for storing liquid is provided from the front to the rear inside the lower part of handle 16. Tank assembly 17 is composed of a tank cover 18 and a tank base 19, both of which are made of resin, and by attaching and fixing tank base 19 so as to cover the bottom opening of tank cover 18, a liquid storage space 20 is formed inside tank assembly 17.

[0013] Reference numeral 21 denotes a water inlet provided at the front of the tank assembly 17, which directly communicates with the aforementioned storage space 20. Opposite this water inlet 21 and at the front of the handle 16 is a water inlet lid 22 that allows the water inlet 21 to be opened and closed manually. By lifting the water inlet lid 22 forward to open the water inlet 21, liquid water can be added to the tank assembly 17 or unwanted water can be discarded from the tank assembly 17. Inside the steamer body 1, an upper storage space 23 separated from the storage space 20 by a standing wall 18A formed at the rear of the tank cover 18 is provided with an electromagnetic pump 24 as a liquid delivery means for supplying water stored in the storage space 20 of the tank assembly 17 to the vaporization chamber 11 heated by the heater 6. The electromagnetic pump 24 is connected to a suction pipe 25 that communicates with the storage space 20 of the tank assembly 17 and a discharge pipe 26 that communicates with the vaporization chamber 11, and the electromagnetic pump 24 and the tank assembly 17 are connected in a liquid-tight state. This prevents the water contained in the storage space 20 from entering the space inside the rear end of the handle 16 where the electromagnetic pump 24 is located, regardless of the position in which the steamer body 1 is used, and when the electromagnetic pump 24 is operating, the water sucked into the electromagnetic pump 24 through the suction pipe 25 from the storage space 20 can be sent to the vaporization chamber 11 through the discharge pipe 26.

[0014] The upper accommodation space 23 of this embodiment is provided with an upper space 23A in which the main body of the electromagnetic pump 24 is disposed, and a lower space 23B in which the intake port and discharge port of the electromagnetic pump 24, the suction pipe 25, and the discharge pipe 26 are disposed, and the upper space 23A and the lower space 23B are separated by a partition wall and a surface in which the intake port and discharge port of the electromagnetic pump 24 are disposed. Here, when the electromagnetic pump 24 is a diaphragm pump intended for water supply, the operating ambient temperature of the electromagnetic pump 24 is generally limited to 50°C. Therefore, in this embodiment, the temperature in the upper space 23A is configured to be less than 50°C, preferably less than 45°C.

[0015] The handle 16 is composed of two parts: a handle base 28 and a handle cover 29, both of which are made of resin, such as polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), or ABS resin. The handle base 28 comprises a base 28A attached to the cover 15, a forward connecting portion 28B rising in a U-shape in front of the base 28A, an extension portion 28C extending rearward from the front connecting portion 28B, and a rear connecting portion 28D rising in a U-shape behind the base 28A and connecting to the rear end of the extension portion 28C. The extension portion 28C and the rear connecting portion 28D, which form the continuation of the upper and rear portions of the handle base 28, have a generally U-shaped cross section, and a generally plate-like handle cover 29 is disposed to cover one side opening of these portions. The extension portion 28C of the handle base 28 and the handle cover 29 form a grip portion 31 that the user uses to grip the upper portion of the steamer body 1 with their hand to operate it.

[0016] The rod-shaped grip 31 has a cavity 33 between it and the body 32 of the steamer body 1, and is formed so that a hand can be inserted into this cavity 33 to grip the grip 31. In other words, the body 32 here refers to the flat central upper surface portion of the steamer body 1 facing the grip 31, excluding both side portions of the tank assembly 17, and in this embodiment, it is formed as the base 28A of the handle base 28.

[0017] The temperature limit for the grip 31, based on the "carrying handle" temperature stipulated in the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act, is 60°C for metal, ceramic, or glass handles and 75°C for handles made of other materials such as plastic when the reference ambient temperature is 20°C. Therefore, 75°C is used. On the other hand, temperatures between 44°C and 50°C are relatively low enough that prolonged contact with the same area of ​​skin can result in necrosis of the underlying muscles, potentially resulting in a "low-temperature burn." While the contact time required for a "low-temperature burn" to occur is generally considered to be 3-4 hours or more for a temperature of 44°C, 30 minutes to 1 hour for a temperature of 46°C, and 2-3 minutes for a temperature of 50°C, this time also varies depending on the physical condition of the person in contact. Therefore, the temperature of the grip 31 in this embodiment is designed to be below 50°C, preferably below 45°C, taking into account the time the grip 31 is held during use of the steamer unit 1.

[0018] Considering the practicality of being able to hold the steamer body 1 of this embodiment in one hand in a cordless state, when 50 mL or more of water is poured into the tank assembly 17 and water is contained in the storage space 20 of the tank assembly 17, the steamer body 1 is configured to be lightweight and compact, weighing 0.9 kg or less, preferably 0.8 kg or less, with a total length of 190 mm or less, preferably 180 mm or less, a width of 80 mm or less, preferably 75 mm or less, and a total height of 150 mm or less, preferably 140 mm or less. Therefore, while the size of the handle 16, i.e., the size of the grip portion 31, must fit within the above-mentioned product dimensions, the grip portion 31 must have a shape and dimensions that are easy for the user to hold in their hand. Therefore, the cross-sectional outer dimensions of the grip portion 31 are formed such that the width is, for example, 29 to 35 mm, preferably 31 to 33 mm, and the width in the thickness direction of the grip portion 31 (hereinafter referred to as the vertical width) is, for example, 22 to 28 mm, preferably 24 to 26 mm. The cross-sectional outline of grip 31 has four rounded corners to make it easy for the user to grip, and the circumference of this cross-sectional outline is configured to be, for example, 101 to 125 mm, preferably approximately 110 to 118 mm. The dimensions of the cross-sectional space inside grip 31 are calculated by subtracting the thickness of the resin forming the outer shell, for example, 2.0 to 3.0 mm, from the cross-sectional outline. For example, if grip 31 is 32 mm wide and the resin is 2.5 mm thick, the width of the internal space of grip 31 will be 32 mm - 2.5 mm - 2.5 mm, or 27 mm.

[0019] The front of the grip 31, located at the top of the steamer body 1, is provided with two manually operable controls: a temperature setting / off button 35, which serves as a first control for setting the temperature of the base 7 and for turning the power on and off; and a steam volume setting button 36, which serves as a second control for setting the flow rate of steam emitted from the steam holes 12. These operation buttons 35 and 36 are mounted on a printed circuit board 37 located inside the grip 31. In this embodiment, the board 37 is made of a glass cloth-based epoxy resin laminate. The upper limit of the operating temperature for this glass cloth-based epoxy resin laminate is 130°C, based on the upper limit of the operating temperature for "insulating materials used in electrical appliances" stipulated in the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act. As described above, if the width of the interior space of the grip 31 is 27 mm, the width W of the board 37 must be limited to less than 27 mm, preferably 26 mm or less, in order to accommodate the board 37 within the handle 16 to which the grip 31 is attached. Furthermore, when each component mounted on the substrate 37 (described later) is mounted, for example, by soldering to the copper foil that forms the circuit pattern of the substrate 37, the temperature of the soldered portion of the substrate 37 is limited to 90°C or less, taking into consideration expansion and contraction due to the influence of heat at the soldered portion of the substrate 37. The number and type of operating bodies are not limited to those in this embodiment, and operating bodies other than the push-type may also be used. Furthermore, it is not important which function is assigned to which operating body.

[0020] Electromagnetic pump 24, including the suction pipe 25 and discharge pipe described above, is incorporated into liquid passage 46 leading from tank assembly 17 to vaporizing chamber 11. Electromagnetic pump 24 supplies water from tank assembly 17 to vaporizing chamber 11, and is disposed inside the rear end of handle 16 as described above as a liquid supply unit that varies the flow rate of water supplied to vaporizing chamber 11 in accordance with the steam flow rate set by steam amount setting button 36. Note that a DC motor-driven pump may be used as electromagnetic pump 24.

[0021] In this case, the control device 40 controls the electromagnetic pump 24 so that the microcomputer 66, which will be described later, repeatedly turns on and off the electromagnetic pump 24 when the base 7 is higher than the vaporization temperature of the liquid in accordance with the temperature of the base 7 based on a detection signal from the temperature detection means 41, making it possible to send a predetermined amount of water from the tank assembly 17 to the vaporization chamber 11, and the amount of water sent from the electromagnetic pump 24, and therefore the steam flow rate from the steam hole 12, can be increased or decreased as desired by changing the timing of turning on and off the electromagnetic pump 24. On the other hand, when the base 7 is lower than the vaporization temperature of the liquid, the microcomputer 66 controls the electromagnetic pump 24 to stop driving.

[0022] Inside the steamer main body 1, a lower storage space 54 is formed between the tank base 19, which forms the bottom surface of the tank assembly 17, and the upper surface of the base 7, which is heated by the heater 6, and which accommodates the temperature detection means 41 and other components placed on the upper surface of the steam cover 13, covered by the cover 15. The upper surface of the cover 15 is interposed as a heat shield 15A in the lower storage space 54 between the tank base 19 and the base 7, and when the bottom surface of the base 7 is oriented horizontally as shown in FIG. 3, that is, when the steamer main body 1 is horizontal, the electromagnetic pump 24 and the various components mounted on the board 37, which will be described later, such as the power generator 43, are all positioned higher than the tank base 19 and the lower storage space 54.

[0023] In this embodiment, the base 7 and lower storage space 54 disposed within the cover 15 form a first space 56, and the space within the tank assembly 17 disposed within the handle 16, the upper space 23A and lower space 23B of the upper storage space 23, and the space within the grip portion 31 form a second space 57. Therefore, the tank base 19, the wall below the lower space 23B, and the power receiving portion 5 act as the outer shell of the first space 56. The base 28A, the front connecting portion 28B, the extension portion 28C, and the rear connecting portion 28D also act as the outer shell, forming a cavity 33 at the bottom of the second space 57. This cavity 33 acts as an outside-air communication space through which outside air communicates. This configuration prevents heat within the first space 56 from interfering with components within the second space 57, and also prevents heat within the second space 57 from interfering with components within the first space 56.

[0024] Specifically, the tank assembly 17 and upper storage space 23 are arranged from the front to the rear inside the handle 16, and the tank assembly 17 and upper storage space 23 completely cover the upper part of the lower storage space 54. A cavity 33 is formed above the tank assembly 17, so that air and water layers are formed in both the lower part of the first space 56 and the upper part of the second space 57. The water and air in the storage space 20 of the tank assembly 17, the air in the upper space 23A and the lower space 23B of the upper storage space 23, the outside air connected to the cavity 33, and the air in the lower storage space 54 act as heat-blocking layers, preventing heat from being generated from the base 7 in the first space 56 from interfering with the components mounted on the circuit board 37 located inside the grip portion 31 in the second space 57 and the electromagnetic pump 24 located inside the upper space 23A, and preventing these components from overheating. Therefore, as described above, by storing the electromagnetic pump 24, whose operating temperature limit is generally 50°C, in the upper space 23A, the upper operating temperature of the electromagnetic pump 24 can be guaranteed by design. Furthermore, since the heat shield 15A of the cover 15 is also disposed in the lower housing space 54, this heat shield 15A also effectively blocks heat from the base 7, further preventing temperature increases in the electromagnetic pump 24 and the components mounted on the board 37. The base 7, which includes the vaporization chamber 11 and the heater 6 as a steam generating means, is stored in the first space 56. The water sent into the vaporization chamber 11 is vaporized in the vaporization chamber 11 heated by the heater 6, so the temperature of the base 7 becomes high. Therefore, the temperature of the first space 56 becomes higher than that of the second space 57. However, this configuration minimizes the effect of the heat generated by the temperature increase in the first space 56 on the components in the second space 57, thereby suppressing the temperature increase of the components in the second space 57.

[0025] In addition to the temperature setting / off button 35 and the steam volume setting button 36, the board 37 is equipped with a temperature indicator lamp 38 as a display means consisting of an array of multiple LEDs located on the upper front side of the grip portion 31, a buzzer 42 as an alarm means, a control device 40 that controls the operation of the heater 6, which is a load on the steamer main body 1, the electromagnetic pump 24, the temperature indicator lamp 38, and the buzzer 42, a power generator 43, a power supply circuit 44, etc.

[0026] The temperature display lamp 38 displays the operating state in response to the operation of the temperature set / off button 35, such as the set temperature set by the temperature set / off button 35, or the steam volume setting button 36, or whether the temperature of the base 7 detected by the temperature detection means 41 has reached the set temperature, and corresponds to the display means for displaying the operating state of the steamer main body 1. Here, the temperature detection means 41 is attached and fixed to the base 7 inside the steamer main body 1 as a sensor unit that displays the operating state of the steamer main body 1.

[0027] The power generation device 43 has a power generation function inside the steamer main body 1, separate from the external commercial power from the plug unit 2, and is mainly composed of a power supply circuit 44 that receives external commercial power from the plug unit 2 and outputs appropriate operating power to each part of the steamer main body 1, an electric double layer capacitor 45 as a power supply storage means, a constant current circuit 62 (see FIG. 6) as a rapid charging circuit for the electric double layer capacitor 45, and diodes 63, 64 (see FIG. 6) for preventing backflow. Therefore, the power generation device 43 functions as a charging / discharging means for the electric double layer capacitor 45. There are no particular limitations on the number of boards 37 incorporated into the steamer main body 1 or which components are mounted on which boards 37.

[0028] When operating power is supplied from the power generator 43, the control device 40, which controls the power supply from the electric double layer capacitor 45 to the electromagnetic pump 24, controls and drives the temperature indicator lamp 38 based on the set temperature based on the operation signal from the temperature set / off button 35 and the temperature of the base 7 based on the detection signal from the temperature detection means 41. When operating power is supplied from the power generator 43, the control device 40 also controls and drives the buzzer 42 to notify the on / off of power supply based on the operation signal from the temperature set / off button 35, and also controls and drives the temperature indicator lamp 38 based on the set temperature based on the operation signal from the temperature set / off button 35 and the temperature of the base 7 based on the detection signal from the temperature detection means 41. When operating power is supplied from the power generator 43, the control device 40 controls the drive of the electromagnetic pump 24 so that steam at the flow rate set based on the operation signal from the steam amount setting button 36 is sprayed out of the steamer body 1 through the steam hole 12. At this time, the electromagnetic pump 24 is also supplied with operating power from the power generator 43, and is configured to operate in accordance with the set steam flow rate.

[0029] The buzzer 42 emits a sound when the steamer main body 1 is powered on or off, when the base 7 reaches or drops to the set temperature, or when the charge level of the electric double-layer capacitor 45 drops. For example, if the supply of commercial power to the steamer main body 1 is stopped, such as during a power outage or when the plug unit 2 is disconnected from the power receiving portion 5 of the steamer main body 1, the buzzer 42 emits a single beep. When the supply of commercial power to the steamer main body 1 starts, such as when the power is restored or when the plug unit 2 is inserted and mated into the power receiving portion 5 of the steamer main body 1, the buzzer 42 emits three beeps. This allows the user to easily know when the supply of commercial power to the steamer main body 1 has stopped or started. In addition, the buzzer 42 changes its alarm, for example from "beep" to "beep beep" to "beep beep beep" depending on the decrease in the amount of electricity stored in the electric double layer capacitor 45, allowing the user to more easily know that the amount of electricity stored in the electric double layer capacitor 45 is decreasing.When the steamer main body 1 is used cordlessly and each part of the steamer main body 1 is operating on power from the electric double layer capacitor 45, the user can easily know when the amount of electricity stored in the electric double layer capacitor 45 is decreasing and when commercial power needs to be supplied to the steamer main body 1.

[0030] 6 is a circuit block diagram showing the electrical connection configuration of the steamer of this embodiment. In the diagram, 61 is an alternating current (AC) power source such as a commercial power source, and AC power supplied from this AC power source 61 is applied to the heater 6 and the power supply circuit 44 of the power generator 43 via the plug unit 2 and the power receiving unit 5. The power supply circuit 44 rectifies and smooths this AC power to convert it into DC power, which is then supplied to the electromagnetic pump 24 and the control device 40.

[0031] To explain the connections of the power generator 43, a pair of input terminals of a power supply circuit 44 and a series circuit of the heater 6 and the relay circuit 68 of the control device 40 are connected in parallel to the power receiving unit 5. The anode of a diode 63 is connected to the output terminal of the power supply circuit 44, and the cathode of the diode 63 is connected to various parts of the steamer main body 1, such as the microcomputer 66 of the control device 40 and the electromagnetic pump 24. A series circuit of a constant current circuit 62 and a diode 64 is connected to another output terminal of the power supply circuit 44, and the cathodes of the diode 63 and the diode 64 are connected together. An electric double layer capacitor 45 is connected between the connection point of the output side of the constant current circuit 62 and the anode of the diode 63 and the ground line GL.

[0032] The power supply circuit 44 receives power from the AC power supply 61 via the plug unit 2 and supplies the necessary operating power to the temperature indicator lamp 38, buzzer 42, and other components of the control device 40 mounted on the circuit board 37, as well as to the electromagnetic pump 24. The power supply circuit 44 may be configured to supply power separately to each of its multiple output terminals. The constant current circuit 62 rapidly charges the electric double-layer capacitor 45 using the power supplied from the power supply circuit 44. The constant current circuit 62 includes a control unit 62A, such as a control IC, that controls the current output by the constant current circuit 62. The control unit 62A monitors the output voltage of the constant current circuit 62 and, when the output voltage exceeds a certain voltage threshold, controls the constant current circuit 62 to output a voltage at a predetermined current value. While the present embodiment employs a constant current circuit 62 with a control unit 62A, a constant voltage circuit with a control unit such as a control IC may also be used. In this case, the same effect can be achieved without being affected by the amount of charge stored in the electric double-layer capacitor 45.

[0033] The electric double-layer capacitor 45 is charged with output power from the constant current circuit 62 and supplies power to various components of the steamer body 1. When the electric double-layer capacitor 45 is mounted on the circuit board 37 and the circuit board 37 is stored within the handle 16, it is preferable that the height H of the electric double-layer capacitor 45 be as low as possible. On the other hand, when using the steamer body 1 in a cordless state, it is necessary to secure a storage capacity for powering the electromagnetic pump 24, temperature indicator lamp 38, and buzzer 42. This requires the electric double-layer capacitor 45 to be large, making it impossible to store within the handle 16, which has the above-mentioned cross-sectional dimensions of the grip 31. Therefore, in this embodiment, the electric double-layer capacitor 45 is divided into two pieces, which are arranged in series in the longitudinal direction of the handle 16, i.e., the longitudinal direction of the handle 31, resembling a bamboo stalk when viewed from above. This configuration reduces the width and height of the electric double-layer capacitor 45, allowing it to be stored within the handle 16. The number of electric double-layer capacitors 45 is not limited to two and may be three or more. Furthermore, while the ambient temperature for use of electric double-layer capacitor 45 is generally −20 to 70°C or −45 to 85°C, it is known that high temperatures of electric double-layer capacitor 45 can affect its power storage performance. Therefore, in this embodiment, the ambient temperature of electric double-layer capacitor 45 is configured to be less than 70°C, preferably less than 65°C, and the temperature of the soldered portion of board 37 where electric double-layer capacitor 45 and power generator 43 serving as a charge / discharge circuit for electric double-layer capacitor 45 are mounted is configured to be less than 90°C, preferably less than 85°C.

[0034] When commercial power is supplied to the steamer body 1 from the plug unit 2, the electric double-layer capacitor 45 supplies DC power from the power supply circuit 44 to the constant current circuit 62, and the output power of the constant current circuit 62 charges the electric double-layer capacitor 45. When the steamer body 1 is in a cordless state and commercial power is not supplied to the plug unit 2, power from the electric double-layer capacitor 45 is supplied to each component of the steamer body 1 connected to the cathode of the diode 64. In this embodiment, the steam release rate and operating time of each component of the steamer body 1 in cordless mode are configured to be 9 mL / min, preferably 12 mL / min, for 60 seconds or more, preferably 90 seconds or more, taking practicality into consideration. Furthermore, if commercial power is supplied to the steamer body 1 from the plug unit 2 when the steamer body 1 is in an off state and not in use, the power supply circuit 44 is preferably configured to automatically charge the electric double-layer capacitor 45 via the constant current circuit 62 using that commercial power.

[0035] In this embodiment, the electric double layer capacitor 45 is used as the power storage means for supplying power, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other small secondary batteries such as nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium-ion batteries, etc. In this case, the power storage means is configured to suppress temperature rise in consideration of the ambient temperature at which it is used.

[0036] The control device 40 is mainly composed of a microcomputer 66 as a control means for the steamer main body 1, a switching element 67 that drives the electromagnetic pump 24, a relay circuit 68 that turns the heater 6 on and off, a switch (SW) circuit 69 that sends operation signals from the temperature setting / off button 35 and the steam volume setting button 36 to the microcomputer 66, an LED circuit 70 that turns the temperature display lamp 38 on and off, a zero-cross circuit 71 that detects the AC voltage applied to the power receiving unit 5 and sends it to the microcomputer 66, and an alarm circuit 72 that turns the buzzer 42 on and off.

[0037] Temperature detection means 41 is connected to the input side of microcomputer 66 and detects the temperature of base 7 and transmits the detected temperature to microcomputer 66 as described above. Switching element 67 is formed, for example, by an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) and is connected between electromagnetic pump 24 and ground line GL. Microcomputer 66 is also connected to the gate of the IGBT, which serves as a control terminal. A pulse drive signal, such as a PMW (Pulse Width Modulation) control signal, is output from the output side of microcomputer 66, which switches on and off the DC power from power generator 43 to electromagnetic pump 24 in response to the switching operation of switching element 8, thereby driving electromagnetic pump 24. Therefore, microcomputer 66 and switching element 67 function as liquid supply control means for controlling the supply of water to vaporization chamber 11, which serves as steam generation means, and heater 6.

[0038] Relay circuit 68 turns heater 6 on and off in accordance with a control signal from microcomputer 66. The output side of microcomputer 66 is connected to the primary side of a relay included in relay circuit 68, and heater 6 is connected to the secondary side of this relay. Therefore, microcomputer 66 and relay circuit 68 function as heating control means for controlling heater 6, which heats vaporization chamber 11.

[0039] The switch circuit 69 is connected between the temperature set / off button 35 and the steam amount setting button 36 and the input side of the microcomputer 66, and when the temperature set / off button 35 or the steam amount setting button 36 is operated, it sends an operation signal to the microcomputer 66. The LED circuit 70 is connected between the output side of the microcomputer 66 and the temperature indicator lamp 38, and turns the temperature indicator lamp 38 on and off in accordance with a control signal from the microcomputer 66. Therefore, the temperature set / off button 35, the steam amount setting button 36, and the switch circuit 69 function as operation means for operating the microcomputer 66 and the switching element 67 as the liquid delivery control means, and the microcomputer 66 and the relay circuit 68 as the heating control means.

[0040] Zero-cross circuit 71 detects the AC voltage applied to power receiving unit 5 and transmits the detected voltage to microcomputer 66 to protect the contacts of the relay in relay circuit 68 from the high-output AC power from power receiving unit 5. Zero-cross circuit 71 is connected between the connection point of relay circuit 68 and power receiving unit 5 and the input side of microcomputer 66. Based on the detection signal from zero-cross circuit 71, microcomputer 66 sends a control signal to turn the relay in relay circuit 68 on or off when the voltage applied to the relay is 0 V. Alarm circuit 72 is connected between the output side of microcomputer 66 and buzzer 42 and turns buzzer 42 on or off in accordance with the control signal from microcomputer 66. Alarm circuit 72 may be configured to change the sound or tone of buzzer 42 in accordance with the control signal from microcomputer 66.

[0041] Next, the operation of the steamer configured as described above will be explained. The water inlet lid 22 on the steamer main body 1 is opened and closed to store a predetermined amount of water in the storage space 20 of the tank assembly 17. Next, the steamer main body 1 is placed on the main body mounting portion 69 of the stand 3, and the plug unit 2 is inserted and fitted into the power receiving portion 5 of the steamer main body 1. Commercial power supplied from a household outlet is supplied to the steamer main body 1 via the plug unit 2.

[0042] When the temperature setting / off button 35 or steam volume setting button 36 is not operated immediately after power is supplied, the power is supplied to the power supply circuit 44 of the power generator 43 via the power receiving unit 5, and DC power is sent from the output terminal of this power supply circuit 44 to each part of the steamer main body 1. In addition, the electric double layer capacitor 45 is automatically charged via the constant current circuit 62 by DC power sent from another output terminal of the power supply circuit 44.

[0043] When electric double-layer capacitor 45 is charged via constant current circuit 62, the voltage of electric double-layer capacitor 45 rises linearly up to a predetermined voltage value. When control unit 62A detects from the output voltage of constant current circuit 62 that this voltage has risen to exceed a predetermined voltage value when a predetermined amount of charge is stored in electric double-layer capacitor 45, control unit 62A controls constant current circuit 62 to supply power at a predetermined current value. This increases the voltage of electric double-layer capacitor 45 more than linearly. Even when electric charge accumulates and electric double-layer capacitor 45 reaches its full capacity, the charging speed does not slow down, and electric double-layer capacitor 45 can be charged at a constant current regardless of the amount of charge stored in electric double-layer capacitor 45. This allows electric double-layer capacitor 45 to be charged quickly even when its voltage is high, enabling it to be charged quickly even in products with short charge-discharge cycles, such as steamers and cordless irons. Furthermore, increasing the storage capacity of electric double-layer capacitor 45 can also reduce the negative effect of increased charging time.

[0044] When control unit 62A detects from the output voltage of constant current circuit 62 that the voltage of electric double layer capacitor 45 has increased to a value at which charging is complete, control unit 62A controls constant current circuit 62 to stop the supply of power from constant current circuit 62. This makes it possible to prevent overcharging of electric double layer capacitor 45, which would otherwise occur if charging continued even after charging of electric double layer capacitor 45 is complete. Therefore, constant current circuit 62 also has a function of protecting electric double layer capacitor 45 from overcharging.

[0045] When the supply of power from the constant current circuit 62 is stopped, the electric double layer capacitor 45 gradually discharges, and this discharged power is sent to each part of the steamer main body 1 via diode 64, together with power from the power supply circuit 44 via diode 63. Furthermore, when the control unit 62A detects that the voltage of the electric double layer capacitor 45 has dropped to a value at which recharging begins, the control unit 62A controls the constant current circuit 62 so that power is again supplied from the constant current circuit 62 at a predetermined current value, and the electric double layer capacitor 45 is recharged until its voltage rises to the value at which charging is completed as described above.

[0046] Here, when the user presses the temperature setting / off button 35 from the off state and sets a temperature that matches the fabric of the clothing or other object that will be steamed, or a temperature that corresponds to the amount of steam to be emitted, inside the steamer main body 1, the microcomputer 66 of the control device 40 sends a control signal to the relay circuit 89 to control the heater 6 to be turned on and off so that the temperature of the base 7 detected by the temperature detection means 41 approaches the temperature set by the temperature setting / off button 35, and heats the base 7 including the evaporation chamber 11.

[0047] When the base 7 reaches a certain temperature or higher as a result of the power being supplied to the heater 6, the microcomputer 66 sends a control signal to the LED circuit 70, causing one of the LEDs in the temperature indicator lamp 38 corresponding to the set temperature to blink. When the microcomputer 66 determines that the temperature of the base 7 detected by the temperature detection means 41 has reached the set temperature, it sends a control signal to the LED circuit 70, causing the blinking LED to switch to a lit state, and also sends a control signal to the alarm circuit 72, causing the buzzer 42 to switch on for a predetermined period of time.

[0048] In this embodiment, the steamer main body 1 is used cordlessly, and each part of the steamer main body 1, except for the heater 6 which consumes a large amount of power, is operated using the electric double layer capacitor 45 as a power source.

[0049] Specifically, when a user grasps the handle 31 and lifts the steamer body 1 forward, the plug unit 2 is disconnected from the power receiving portion 5 of the steamer body 1, and the supply of commercial power to the steamer body 1 is stopped. This stops the supply of DC power from the output terminal of the power supply circuit 44 mounted on the second circuit board 37B, and charging of the electric double-layer capacitor 45 from the constant current circuit 62 also stops. The power supply via the diode 63 also stops, causing the potential of the cathode of the diode 63 to drop. When the potential of the cathode of the diode 64, i.e., the potential of the charged electric double-layer capacitor 45, becomes higher than the potential of the cathode of the diode 63, operating power is supplied from the electric double-layer capacitor 45 via the diode 64 to the temperature indicator lamp 38, buzzer 42, control device 40, and other devices mounted on the circuit board 37. The microcomputer 66 of the control device 40, now activated by this, sends control signals to control the aforementioned LED circuit 70 and alarm circuit 72 based on the set temperature, which is based on the operation signal from the switch circuit 69 set by the temperature set / off button 35, and the temperature of the base 7, which is based on the detection signal from the temperature detection means 41. One of the LEDs in the temperature display lamp 38 lights up or flashes in accordance with the control signal using the operating power provided by the electric double-layer capacitor 45, and the buzzer 42 turns on and off in accordance with the control signal using the operating power provided by the electric double-layer capacitor 45. Therefore, even during cordless use of the steamer main unit 1, the temperature of the base 7, which indicates the operating status of the steamer main unit 1, can continue to be displayed and confirmed by the temperature display lamp 38 located on the top surface of the steamer main unit 1, using power from the electric double-layer capacitor 45, and a drop in the temperature of the base 7 can be alerted by the buzzer 42.

[0050] When the microcomputer 66 receives a detection signal from the zero-cross circuit 71 and determines that no AC voltage is being applied to the power receiving unit 5, it detects that the plug unit 2 has switched from connected to disconnected from the steamer main body 1, and sends an operation signal to the alarm circuit 72 to activate the buzzer 42, and sends an operation signal to the LED circuit 70 to change the display of the indicator lamp 38 to notify the user that the steamer main body 1 is cordless. Note that, in conjunction with this detection, the microcomputer 66 may be configured to send a pulse drive signal to the control terminal of the switching element 67 to control the drive of the electromagnetic pump 24 and switch to an operation to start spraying steam; in this case, when the power supply plug 62 is disconnected from the power receiving unit 5 of the steamer main body 1, steam is sprayed at the set flow rate without the steam button 36 being pressed.

[0051] When a user uses the steam function, while gripping handle 31, they press steam volume setting button 36 with their finger, causing switch circuit 69 to send an operation signal to microcomputer 66. Microcomputer 66 receives the operation signal from switch circuit 69 and, based on the temperature of base 7 detected by a detection signal from temperature detection means 41, sends a pulse drive signal to the control terminal of switching element 67 if base 7 is higher than the vaporization temperature of the liquid. As described above, operating power is also supplied to electromagnetic pump 24 from electric double-layer capacitor 45 via diode 64 in the cordless state, so that electromagnetic pump 24 can be operated by the pulse drive signal from microcomputer 66, and water from storage space 20 of tank assembly 17 is sent through discharge pipe 26 and liquid passage 46 to vaporization chamber 11. The water reliably reaches heated vaporization chamber 11 and is vaporized there, and steam can be ejected from the bottom of steam unit 1 through steam hole 12 at the set flow rate.

[0052] Furthermore, if the user wishes to stop the steam function, by pressing the steam amount setting button 36 once with a finger from the initial position while steam is being emitted, the switch circuit 69 sends an operation signal for the steam amount setting button 36 to the microcomputer 66, and the microcomputer 66 stops sending a pulse drive signal to the control terminal of the switching element 67. In response to this, the electromagnetic pump 24 stops its operation, and the delivery of water from the storage space 20 of the tank assembly 17 to the vaporization chamber 11 is interrupted. Note that the steamer main body 1 of this embodiment is configured so that steam is emitted when the steam amount setting button 36 is pressed once and that steam emission is stopped when the steam amount setting button 36 is pressed once again, but it may also be configured so that steam is emitted only while the steam amount setting button 36 is pressed and held down.

[0053] When the user uses the dry function, the steamer main body 1 is used without operating the steam amount setting button 36. At this time, the microcomputer 66 stops sending a pulse drive signal to the control terminal of the switching element 67, so the electromagnetic pump 24 stops operating and water is no longer sent from the storage space 20 of the tank assembly 17 to the vaporization chamber 11. Therefore, in this case, the steamer main body 1 can be used as a dry steamer in which steam does not spray from any of the steam holes 12.

[0054] Thereafter, when the temperature of the base 7 drops below a certain temperature, the microcomputer 66 controls the operation of the electromagnetic pump 24 in accordance with the temperature of the base 7 based on the detection signal from the temperature detection means 41. Furthermore, the buzzer 42 changes its buzzer notification to notify the user as the amount of charge stored in the electric double-layer capacitor 45 decreases. If the amount of charge stored in the electric double-layer capacitor 45 subsequently decreases further and the components of the steamer main body 1 no longer operate, the buzzer 42 changes its buzzer notification to notify the user that the electric double-layer capacitor 45 has run out of charge, and further, all of the temperature display lamps 38 turn off to notify the user by displaying that the electric double-layer capacitor 45 has run out of charge.

[0055] When the user places the steamer main body 1 on the stand 3, the steamer main body 1 is placed from the front to the rear of the stand 3, and when the power supply plug 62 is inserted into the power receiving unit 5, the plug unit 2 engages with the power receiving unit 5, supplying commercial power to the steamer main body 1, and DC power is supplied from the output terminal of the power supply circuit 44 mounted on the circuit board 37. When the microcomputer 66 receives a detection signal from the zero-cross circuit 71 and determines that AC voltage has been applied to the power receiving unit 5, it detects that the connection of the plug unit 2 to the steamer main body 1 has changed from not connected to connected, and sends an operation signal to the alarm circuit 72 to activate the buzzer 42, and sends an operation signal to the LED circuit 70 to change the display of the indicator lamp 38, thereby notifying the user that the steamer main body 1 is corded.

[0056] If the user places the steamer body 1 on the stand 3 without stopping the steam function, the microcomputer 66 sends a pulse drive signal to the control terminal of the switching element 67. When the microcomputer 66 receives a detection signal from the zero-cross circuit 71 and determines that AC voltage is being applied to the power receiving unit 5 without receiving an operation signal from the switch circuit 69, it detects that the connection of the plug unit 2 to the steamer body 1 has changed from disconnected to connected, and accordingly stops sending the pulse drive signal to the control terminal of the switching element 67. In response to this, the electromagnetic pump 24 stops operating, cutting off the delivery of water from the storage space 20 of the tank assembly 17 to the vaporization chamber 11 and stopping the steam from being emitted from the steamer body 1. Therefore, even if the user forgets to stop the steam from being emitted from the steamer body 1 in cordless mode, the steam from the steamer body 1 automatically stops when the steamer body 1 is placed on the stand 3, ensuring safety.

[0057] As described above, the steamer body 1 as a steamer of this embodiment is configured to vaporize water as a liquid stored in the tank assembly 17 as a tank in the vaporization chamber 11 heated by the heater 6 as a heating means, and spray steam to the outside, and is equipped with an electromagnetic pump 24 as a liquid delivery means that supplies the water in the tank assembly 17 to the vaporization chamber 11, and electric double layer capacitors 45 as a plurality of power storage means that supply electricity as a power source to the electromagnetic pump 24, and between the electric double layer capacitor 45, the heater 6 and the vaporization chamber 11 are the tank assembly 17 and a cavity 33 as an outside air communication space through which outside air communicates.

[0058] In this case, the water and air in the storage space 20 of the tank assembly 17 and the outside air communicating with the cavity 33 act as a heat insulating layer, preventing the heat from the vaporization chamber 11 heated by the heater 6, i.e., the base 7, from interfering with the electric double layer capacitors 45, and preventing the temperature of these electric double layer capacitors 45 from rising.

[0059] In addition, the electric double layer capacitors 45 of this embodiment are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction of the steamer body 1, which allows the width and height of the electric double layer capacitors 45 to be reduced and allows them to be stored within the grip portion 31 of the handle 16.

[0060] The steamer body 1 of this embodiment further includes a grip 31 for gripping and operating the steamer body 1 with the hand, and the electric double layer capacitor 45 is disposed within the grip 31. This allows the grip 31 to be spaced apart from the base 7 having the heater 6 and the vaporization chamber 11, preventing heat from the base 7 from interfering with the electric double layer capacitors 45 disposed within the grip 31 and preventing the temperature of these electric double layer capacitors 45 from rising.

[0061] In this embodiment, the electric double-layer capacitor 45 is mounted on a circuit board 37. The circuit board 37 is also configured to include a power generator 43 as a charging / discharging means for controlling the charging / discharging of the electric double-layer capacitor 45, a microcomputer 66 and a relay circuit 68 as a heating control means for controlling the heater 6, a microcomputer 66 and a switching element 67 as a liquid delivery control means for controlling the electromagnetic pump 24, a temperature setting / off button 35, a steam volume setting button 36, and a switch circuit 69 as operating means for operating the microcomputer 66, the relay circuit 68, and the switching element 67, and an LED circuit 70 and a temperature indicator lamp 38 as display means for displaying the status of the steamer main body 1. This allows power from the electric double-layer capacitor 45 to be efficiently supplied to each of these components within the circuit board 37. Furthermore, heat from the base 7 is prevented from interfering with the components mounted on the circuit board 37 located inside the grip 31, preventing these components from overheating.

[0062] The steamer body 1 of this embodiment further comprises a first space 56 for storing a base 7 having a heater 6 and an evaporation chamber 11, and a second space 57 for storing an electromagnetic pump 24 and an electric double layer capacitor 45. The upper part of the first space 56 has a cover 15 as a wall, a tank base 19, a wall below the lower part of the space 23B, and a lower storage space 54 as an air layer surrounded by the base substrate 8, and the lower part of the second space 57 has a cavity 33 and a tank assembly 17. As a result, an air layer and a water layer are formed in the lower part of the first space 56 and the upper part of the second space 57, and the water and air in the storage space 20 of the tank assembly 17, the air in the upper space 23A and lower space 23B of the upper storage space 23, the outside air communicating with the cavity 33, and the air in the lower storage space 54 act as heat-blocking layers, preventing the heat from the base 7 generated in the first space 56 from interfering with the various components mounted on the circuit board 37 located inside the grip portion 31 in the second space 57 and the electromagnetic pump 24 located inside the upper space 23A, and preventing the temperature of these components from rising.

[0063] As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The term "steamer" as used in the present invention applies to any device that sprays steam to remove wrinkles from clothing, including, for example, a steamer suitable for spraying steam onto clothing from a distance, as shown in this embodiment, as well as a steam iron suitable for spraying steam while ironing by pressing the ironing surface of the base against the clothing. Furthermore, various sensors other than the temperature detection means 41 may be used to drive and control the operation of the display unit, and the display unit is not limited to an LED, but various other display elements and indicators may be used.

[0064] The handle 16 may be a so-called open handle type in which the rear connecting portion 28D is removed and the rear portion is separated from the base 28A to create a space, or it may be a so-called stick type in which the grip portion 31 extends behind the base 28A.In this case, it is sufficient that the electromagnetic pump 24 and electric double layer capacitor 45 provided in the second space, the handle 16, are less susceptible to the effects of temperature rise in the first space 56 in which the base 7, which is equipped with the vaporization chamber 11 and heater 6 as a steam generating means, is stored, and the configuration may be such that the lower storage space 54 and the lower space 23B are interposed between the base 7 and the upper space 23A in which the electromagnetic pump 24 is arranged.

[0065] Although the steamer body 1 has been described as cordless in this embodiment, it may be configured for both corded and cordless use, in which case the plug unit 2 is configured to be detachable from the stand 3. The zero-cross circuit 71 also functions as a power outage detection means. If the supply of commercial power to the steamer body 1 is interrupted for some reason, such as if the plug unit 2 is unintentionally disconnected during use, the zero-cross circuit 71 can detect the power outage. The electric double-layer capacitor 45 then supplies power to each component of the steamer body 1, enabling the operation of the electromagnetic pump 24, temperature indicator lamp 38, and buzzer 42, allowing the steamer body 1 to continue to be used. The buzzer 42 also alerts the user at this time, allowing them to easily understand that the supply of commercial power to the steamer body 1 has been interrupted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1 Steamer body (steamer) 6 Heater (heating means) 11 Vaporization chamber 15 Cover (wall) 15A Heat shielding part (wall) 17 Tank assembly (tank) 19 Tank Base (Wall) 24 Electromagnetic pump (liquid transfer means) 33 Cavity (outside air communication space) 31 Grip 35 Temperature setting / off button (operation means) 36 Steam amount setting button (operation means) 37 PCB 38 Temperature display lamp (display means) 43 Power generation device (charging and discharging means) 45 Electric double layer capacitor (electric storage means) 56 First Space 57 Second Space 66 Microcomputer (heating control means, liquid delivery control means) 67 Switching element (liquid transfer control means) 68 Relay circuit (heating control means) 69 SW circuit (operation means) 70 LED circuit (display means)

Claims

1. A steamer that vaporizes a liquid stored in a tank in a vaporization chamber heated by a heating means and ejects steam to the outside, a liquid supplying means for supplying the liquid in the tank to the vaporization chamber; a plurality of power storage means for supplying power to the liquid delivery means; the tank and an outside air communication space through which outside air communicates are interposed between the plurality of electricity storage means, the heating means, and the vaporization chamber; The plurality of electricity storage means are arranged in series in the longitudinal direction of the steamer, Further provided is a grip portion for holding and operating the steamer by hand, The plurality of power storage means are disposed within the grip portion, the plurality of power storage means are mounted on a substrate with the longitudinal direction of each power storage means spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal direction of the grip portion, A steamer characterized in that the plurality of storage means and a charging / discharging means for controlling the charging / discharging of the plurality of storage means are mounted on the substrate in a line along the longitudinal direction of the grip portion.

2. The steamer according to claim 1, characterized in that the substrate is equipped with a heating control means for controlling the heating means, a liquid delivery control means for controlling the liquid delivery means, an operating means for operating the heating means and the liquid delivery means, and a display means for displaying the status of the steamer.

3. a first space for accommodating the heating means and the vaporization chamber, and a second space for accommodating the liquid delivery means and the plurality of electricity storage means, The steamer according to claim 1, characterized in that the first space has an air layer surrounded by a wall at the top, and the second space has an outside air communication space and the tank at the bottom.

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