JP3147657B2 - Iron - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an iron for stretching wrinkles of clothes and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, this type of iron has generally been configured as shown in FIGS. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described. As shown in the figure, the heater unit 1 heats the base unit 3 with electric power supplied from a power supply unit 2. Then, the temperature of the base unit 3 is detected by the temperature detection unit 4, and the temperature signal is output to the heater control unit 5. The heater control unit 5 determines whether the received temperature signal is higher or lower than the set temperature, controls power supply to the heater unit 1, and controls the temperature of the base unit 3 to be constant. are doing.

The state detecting section 6 detects whether or not the user is using the iron. By performing ironing, when the iron is moving, it is determined that the iron is in use, and the clothes are discarded. It is determined that it is not used while the iron is stopped or when the movement of the iron is stopped.

Next, the state detecting section 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in FIG. 8 (a), the state detecting section 6 includes a cover 7 formed of a resin, alumina and steel. The cover 8 is provided with a slope for allowing the sphere 8 to roll freely.
A hole 9 is provided in the lower part of the slope.

A photo sensor 10 is mounted directly below the hole 9. The photo sensor 10 has a configuration in which a light emitting element 11 and a light receiving element 12 are juxtaposed in the same direction as shown in FIG.
The reflected light from the sphere 8 is detected.

As shown in FIG. 8 (a), when the sphere 8 is below the slope provided on the cover 7, when the light emitting element 11 irradiates infrared rays, the infrared rays pass through the hole 9 and are reflected by the sphere 8. ,
The reflected light is received by the reflected light receiving element 12. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the sphere 8 is on the upper part of the slope, the light emitting element 1
Irradiation of infrared light by 1 causes irregular reflection only on the inside of cover 7, and almost no light is received by light receiving element 12.

When the user is ironing, the iron is moved back and forth, so that FIG.
When the state of FIG. 8B repeatedly occurs and the clothes are put on the iron, the state of FIG. 8C is continued, so that the use state of the iron can be detected based on this state.

The notification section 13 notifies the user that the temperature of the base section 3 has risen to the set temperature and the iron can be used. Normally, when the iron is placed, the base surface is perpendicular to the installation surface, and the state detection unit 6 is as shown in FIG. 8C, but the base surface is placed in a horizontal state. FIG. 8 shows the state detector 6
If it is as shown in (a), clothing etc. will be overheated .
In this state, a notification is given when a predetermined time has elapsed, and the power supply to the heater unit 1 is cut off.

[0009]

However, in such a conventional configuration, the state detecting unit 6 and the notifying unit 13
Becomes large, so that mounting difficulties occur. Also, in the state detection unit 6, when soldering each component to the printed circuit board, the flux applied to facilitate the soldering enters the inside of the cover 7. And the ball 8 does not roll freely, or the ball 8 is forgotten to be inserted when the state detecting unit 6 is assembled.

Further, in order to solve the problem that the flux is attached, it is necessary to seal the state detecting section 6 or to arrange the state detecting section 6 at a position higher than the upper surface of the printed circuit board on which the components are mounted. The structure of the part 6 is complicated, the mounting area and the mounting volume are large, and it has been difficult to incorporate it into the space in the small iron handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to improve the safety and reliability of a use state detecting unit for detecting the use state of an iron and to reduce the size of the iron.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a heater for heating a base, a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the base, and whether the iron is in use or not. the use state detection unit for detecting whether use state, and a heater control unit for controlling the energization of the heater portion by the output of the temperature detector and the use state detection unit, the power to the heater <br/> motor control unit A power supply unit for supplying, the use state detection unit detects a use state based on a change in voltage or impedance generated in the use state detection unit due to mechanical distortion generated by an ironing operation , or This is defined as a first problem solving means.

The second problem solving means is that the use state detecting section of the first problem solving means is constituted by using a piezoelectric element.

A third problem solving means is that the use state detecting section of the first or second problem solving means constitutes a notification section by applying a voltage between the electrodes of the piezoelectric element.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the iron moves forward and backward by ironing by the user, the use state detecting section is used by the mechanical distortion caused by the acceleration movement of the iron. The voltage or impedance generated in the state detector changes, and during this time it can be determined that the device is in use.

In addition, since the iron is used or not used based on a change in voltage or impedance generated by a distortion caused by the acceleration movement of the iron, the iron has no movable member and has a small size. Thus, an inexpensive use state detection unit can be formed.

Further, according to the second problem solving means, since the iron is detected by using the piezoelectric element to detect whether the iron is in use or not, there is no movable member, the size can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. This makes it possible to form a simple use state detecting section.

Further, according to the third means for solving the problem, the use state detecting section can also perform the function of the notifying section, so that there is no movable member, the shape can be made small, and an inexpensive use state detecting section can be provided. In addition to being formed, the user can be informed of information such as ironing is possible by sound.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same components as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 1, the heater control unit 5 receives an output signal of the temperature detection unit 4 and, when the temperature of the base unit 3 is lower than the set temperature, supplies the power from the power supply unit 2 to the heater unit 1. To turn it on, and if it is high, the power supply is stopped and turned off to control the temperature of the base portion 3 constant.

The use state detecting section 14 detects whether the iron is in a use state or a non-use state, and is configured as shown in FIG. The piezoelectric element 15 has a characteristic that generates a voltage when a force is applied from the outside and vibrates when a voltage is applied. Electrodes 16 and 17 made of silver or the like are attached to both ends of the piezoelectric element 15, and lead wires 18 and 19 are connected to the electrodes 16 and 17, respectively. Also,
A weight 20 is attached to the upper part of the piezoelectric element 15.

The operation will be described in the above configuration. When the user irons the iron and moves the iron back and forth or left and right, the weight 20 is attached to the upper part of the piezoelectric element 15, and the law of inertia is applied. The piezoelectric element 15 is distorted, and a voltage as shown in FIG. 3 is generated between the electrode portions 16 and 17, and it is determined that the device is in use while the voltage is generated.

When in use, the heater 1 is energized through the heater control unit 5 to control the temperature of the base 3 to a predetermined temperature. When the iron is placed on a stand or the like, no distortion is applied to the use state detection unit 14, and the voltage as shown in FIG. 3 is not generated. While this voltage is not generated, it is determined that the heater 1 is not used, and after a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) elapses, the power supply to the heater 1 via the heater control unit 5 is stopped.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the use state detecting section 14 is constituted by using the piezoelectric element 15, and the use state is detected based on a change in the voltage generated by the distortion caused by the acceleration movement of the iron. As a result, it is possible to form the in-use state detecting unit 14 which has no movable member, is small in size, and inexpensive.

In the above embodiment, the use state detecting unit 1
No. 4 detects the use state based on the change in voltage generated by the distortion caused by the acceleration movement of the iron, but detects the use state based on the change in the impedance generated by the distortion generated by the acceleration movement of the iron. You may make it detect.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. As shown in the figure, the use state detecting unit 14 can be used as a notifying unit. Electrodes 16 and 17 made of silver or the like are attached to both ends of a piezoelectric element 15, and the other end of the electrode unit 17 is attached to the other end. The metal part 21 is attached. Lead wires 18 and 19 are connected to the electrode portion 16 and the metal portion 21, respectively.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the iron is used as the use state detecting section 14, the iron moves forward and backward or left and right to apply force to the piezoelectric element 15 and the metal section 21, as in the first embodiment. Is applied, the piezoelectric element 15 is distorted, and a voltage is generated. Based on the voltage, the use state is detected.

Next, in the case of using as the notification unit, FIG.
A predetermined voltage is applied between the electrode sections 16 and 17 so as to emit sound, and a predetermined notification is made. In this case, a sine wave or the like may be applied to the voltage in addition to the rectangular wave. The generated sound can be increased by the metal portion 21 attached to the electrode portion 17 and the mechanical strength can be increased. Further, the voltage may be applied between the electrode section 16 and the metal section 21.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the use state detecting section 14 can be used as a notifying section, so that the user can be notified by sound that ironing is possible, and the movable member can be used. Therefore, it is possible to form the in-use state detecting unit 14 which is small in size and inexpensive.

[0029]

As described above, in the iron according to the present invention, the heater for heating the base, the temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the base, and whether the iron is in use or not are detected. It includes the use state detection unit, and a heater control unit for controlling the energization of the heater portion by the output of the use state detection unit and the temperature detecting section, the power unit for supplying power to the heater control unit, wherein the use state detection Department of ironing
Using condition detector due to mechanical distortion caused by cliffing operation
It is so arranged to detect a use state voltage occurs or, based on the change in impedance, in no moving member, it is possible to improve the safety and reliability, inexpensive use state shape small A detection unit can be realized.

Further, since the use state detecting section is constituted by using the piezoelectric element, it is possible to realize a small and inexpensive use state detecting section having no movable member and having a small shape.

[0031] Further, the use state detecting section is configured so that a notification section is formed by applying a voltage between the electrodes of the piezoelectric element, so that the use state detection section having a small and inexpensive shape can be used as the notification section. The structure can be further simplified and the usability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an iron according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a use state detection unit of the iron.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a voltage waveform generated between electrodes of a use state detecting unit of the iron.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a use state detection unit of an iron according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a voltage waveform diagram input when the use state detection unit of the iron is used as a notification unit.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional iron.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the iron.

8A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation state of a use state detection unit of the iron. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation state of a use state detection unit of the iron. Sectional view showing the state

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a photosensor used in a use state detection unit of the iron.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heater part 2 Power supply part 4 Temperature detection part 5 Heater control part 14 Usage state detection part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) D06F 75/26 D06F 75/08

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A heater for heating the base; a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the base; a use state detector for detecting whether the iron is in use or not; and a temperature detector. and it includes a heater control unit for the output of the use state detection unit for controlling the energization of the heater unit, a power supply unit for supplying power to the heater <br/> motor control unit, the use state detection unit, ironing An iron that detects a use state based on a change in voltage or impedance generated in the use state detection unit due to mechanical distortion caused by the operation of the iron. 2. The iron according to claim 1, wherein the use state detecting unit is configured using a piezoelectric element. 3. A use status detection unit, according to claim 1 or 2 Symbol placement of iron to constitute a notification unit by applying a voltage between the electrodes of the piezoelectric element.