Iron Soleplate Reflector Layout for Uniform Tip Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irradiation heating devices for irons result in dis-uniform temperatures on the ironing plate, particularly at the ends and tips, leading to reduced efficiency when ironing difficult areas like collars and cuffs, and additional heating solutions are not economically justifiable.
Innovation Solution
A heating device with irradiation lamps and localized reflection means, such as mirror surfaces, that direct radiation to non-directly heated areas of the ironing plate, ensuring uniform heating across the entire surface, including the tip, by using the same lamps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If irradiation lamps are disposed inside the iron to heat the ironing plate, then heating efficiency is improved, but temperature uniformity deteriorates in zones not directly facing the lamps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflective surface positioned at an angle to redirect infrared radiation from the heating zone to the tip zone, adding a spatial dimension to heat distribution. This allows thermal energy to reach areas not in direct line-of-sight of the lamps, solving the temperature uniformity problem while maintaining heating efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective surface acts as an intermediary element that captures infrared radiation from the lamps and redirects it to the tip zone. This mediator enables indirect heating of areas that cannot be directly illuminated by the lamps, achieving uniform temperature distribution across the entire ironing plate surface
2Stability of the object's composition
If auxiliary heating devices are added to heat end parts of the plate, then temperature uniformity is improved, but device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective surface serves multiple functions: it redirects infrared radiation to the tip zone, maintains temperature uniformity, and does so without requiring additional heating elements. This single component achieves what would otherwise require multiple auxiliary heating devices, reducing system complexity and production costs while maintaining temperature uniformity
3Stability of the object's composition
If auxiliary heating devices are added to heat end parts of the plate, then temperature uniformity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective surface enables the existing infrared lamps to heat the tip zone indirectly by redirecting their own radiation. The system uses its existing energy source more efficiently by capturing and redirecting infrared radiation that would otherwise be lost, achieving uniform temperature distribution without additional energy consumption from auxiliary heating devices
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for efficient ironing of difficult zones with uniform temperature distribution, improving maneuverability and ironing results while maintaining the advantages of irradiation heating, and is economical and energy-efficient.
Implementation Method 1
Known irradiation heating devices normally comprise a plurality of infrared lamps disposed inside the iron
Implementation Method 2
the heating device comprises localized heating means of the reflection type disposed in optical communication with the irradiation lamps through a radiation window, and oriented so as to direct at least part of the radiations emitted by the lamps toward another portion of the ironing plate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
Heating device for an iron (11) provided with an ironing plate (12), comprising at least a plurality of irradiation lamps (16), which are disposed in cooperation with a first portion (12a) of the ironing plate (12), in order to irradiate a luminous radiation toward a fabric (30) in correspondence with the first portion (12a) of the ironing plate (12). The heating device comprises localized heating means (20) of the reflection type disposed in optical communication with the irradiation lamps (16) through a radiation window (19), and oriented so as to direct at least part of the radiations emitted by the irradiation lamps (16) toward a second portion (12b) of the ironing plate (12), different from the first portion (12a).