JP7137991B2 - steamer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a steamer provided with notification means.

Conventionally, in this type of cordless steamer, an LED is mounted as a notification means on a detachably mounted mounting table, and a temperature signal is received from the steamer main body, and the status of the steamer main body is notified by the LED. It has been known. However, since it is necessary to transmit a signal from the steamer main body to the mounting table, the structure is complicated, and when the user is away from the steamer, the status of the steamer main body cannot be known.

On the other hand, for example, a cordless iron similar to the steamer includes an iron having a base heated by a heater, and a stand that energizes the iron when placed, and the iron has a buzzer as a notification means and Disclosed is a device that includes a display, a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the base, and first and second printed circuit boards as control means, and notifies with a buzzer when the temperature of the base drops below a predetermined temperature. . (For example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-7-148398

In the cordless iron of Patent Document 1, although the state of the iron can be known during use, it is necessary to visually confirm whether the iron is in a power supply state when the iron is placed on the mounting table. As with the cordless steamer, the user could not know the status of the iron when the user was away from the steamer. In addition, since the status of the iron is notified by a buzzer or display when the iron is in use, even if the low current consumption mode is also used, the battery installed in this iron will be large and the structure will be complicated. There is a risk that the cost will be increased and the size of the iron will be increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a steamer capable of quickly knowing whether or not power is currently being supplied to the main body of the steamer.

In view of the above circumstances, it is a second object of the present invention to provide a steamer that allows the user to know the status of the steamer main body even when the user is away from the steamer.

In view of the above circumstances, it is a third object of the present invention to provide a steamer capable of reducing costs and saving space.

The steamer of the present invention includes a steamer body that vaporizes a liquid and ejects steam, a power supply device that supplies power to the steamer body, and a notification means that notifies with a different sound depending on the state of the steamer body. a power supply detecting means for detecting the supply of electric power; and a control means for controlling the notification means, the notification means notifying with different sounds when the steamer main body is attached or detached, and the control means It is characterized in that the control is performed only from when the power supply is started to when the steamer body is detached from the power supply device .

According to the invention of claim 1, the user can quickly know whether power is currently being supplied to the main body of the steamer by sound.

According to the second aspect of the invention, even when the user is away from the steamer main body, the user can quickly know that the steamer main body is ready to eject steam.

According to the invention of claim 1 , the capacity of the storage means for supplying the driving voltage to the control means and the notification means can be minimized, so that the structure can be simplified, the cost can be reduced, and the space can be saved.

1 is a perspective view of a steamer body according to the present invention; FIG. It is a side view of a steamer main body and a mounting base same as the above. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a steamer main body same as the above. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the steamer main body;

Preferred embodiments of the steamer of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A steamer as used herein includes any product capable of blowing steam toward a textile product such as clothing.

1 to 4 show the steamer of the invention. First, the overall structure of the steamer will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the steamer main body 1 of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view of the steamer main body 1 and the mounting table 2 of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the steamer of this embodiment. is.

1 is a steamer main body, and 2 is a mounting base on which the steamer main body 1 is detachably mounted. A recessed power receiving portion 3 is provided at the rear portion of the steamer body 1. When the steamer body 1 is placed on the mounting table 2 and the power receiving portion 3 is fitted to the power feeding portion 4 of the mounting table 2, the mounting table Electric power is supplied to the steamer main body 1 from 2 via the power supply unit 4 and through the power receiving unit 3 . Although this embodiment is a cordless steamer that supplies power to the steamer main body 1 via the mounting table 2, a steamer with a power cord that supplies power directly to the steamer main body 1 without using the mounting table 2 may also be used. do not have.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a hanging surface that forms the bottom of the steamer main body 1, and 7 is a heat insulating cover made of heat-resistant plastic that is formed so as to cover the hanging surface 6. As shown in FIG. An outer cover 8 is further formed to cover the heat shielding cover 7 , and the steamer body 1 includes the hanging surface 6 , the heat shielding cover 7 and the outer cover 8 . A handle 9 is provided on the upper portion of the outer cover 8 and is formed in a substantially U shape with an open rear end when viewed from the side. A water tank 10 made of, for example, synthetic resin is provided in the outer cover 8 in front of the connecting portion 9b of the handle 9, which will be described later. The liquid to be stored is not limited to water, and may be another liquid for steam. Reference numeral 12 denotes a water inlet lid which is freely attachable to the front surface of the outer cover 8 corresponding to the front portion of the water tank 10, from which water is stored in the water tank 10 and unnecessary water in the water tank 10 is discarded. You can A window 13 is provided on the front surface of the outer cover 8 and below the water inlet cover 12. Through this window 13, the amount of water in the water tank 10 can be visually recognized.

A water inlet 15 as a liquid inlet is formed in the front surface of the water tank 10, and a water inlet cover 12 which can be attached is provided facing the water inlet 15. - 特許庁A recessed finger hook 16 is formed between the lower end of the spout lid 12 and the front surface of the outer cover 8 to facilitate removal of the spout lid 12 with a finger. Then, inserting a finger into the finger hook portion 16 and applying force to the lower end of the pouring spout 12 with the upper end of the pouring spout 12 as a fulcrum to remove the pouring spout 12, the water tank 10 is removed from the opened spout 15. Water can be appropriately injected into the interior. After that, when the water filling port cover 12 is fitted to the water filling port 15, the water filling port cover 12 closes the water filling port 15 in a tight state, thereby preventing water from leaking from the water filling port 15. It is configured to prevent

The steamer main body 1 has a base 21 made of an aluminum die-cast product fixed to the hanging surface 6 . A sheathed heater 22 serving as a heating means is bent and embedded in the substrate 21 in a substantially U shape when viewed from above. A vaporization chamber 23 for generating steam is formed near the sheathed heater 22 on the upper surface side of the substrate 21 , and a concave portion 24 is formed on the lower surface side of the substrate 21 . Therefore, when the substrate 21 is fixed to the hanging surface 6, a steam chamber 25 surrounded by the concave portion 24 and the upper surface of the hanging surface 6 is formed, and the vaporization chamber 23 and the steam chamber 25 communicate with each other through the hole 26. The steam generated in the vaporization chamber 23 flows through the holes 26 into the steam chamber 25 . Therefore, the substrate 21 having the vaporization chamber 23 and the sheathed heater 22 functions as a steam generator for vaporizing liquid water.

Water is dripped into the vaporization chamber 23 from a drip port 28 provided above the vaporization chamber 23. When the valve 29 is opened, the water in the water tank 10 is dripped into the vaporization chamber 23 through the drip port 28. . The substrate 21 has a metal plate-like vaporization chamber lid 30 attached and fixed to the substrate 21 , and the vaporization chamber lid 30 forms the upper surface of the vaporization chamber 23 .

A bottom surface 6a of the hanging surface 6 is coated with a ceramic for both decoration and running performance of the steamer body 1. - 特許庁Steam holes 6b are formed in the bottom surface 6a at substantially equal intervals. The steam hole 6b communicates with the steam chamber 25, and the steam flowing into the steam chamber 25 is jetted out through the steam hole 6b.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a grip portion as a handle, which is composed of two parts, the handle 9 and a handle cover 34 arranged on the upper part of the handle 9 . A rod-shaped grip portion 33 corresponding to a handle portion has a cavity 36 between itself and an abdomen 35 of the steamer body 1. A hand is inserted into the cavity 36 from the rear portion of the steamer body 1 to the rear portion of the grip portion 33. An opening 37 communicating with the cavity 36 is formed so that the grip 33 can be grasped by hand. In other words, the grip part 33 here has a shape in which the rear part is not connected to any part of the steamer main body 1 and the opening part 37 is formed to open. The abdomen 35 here refers to the flat central upper surface portion of the steamer body 1 facing the grip portion 33, and is formed as the base portion 9a of the handle 9 in this embodiment. In addition to this base portion 9a, the handle 9 includes a connecting portion 9b that rises in a U-shape on the front side of the base portion 9a and an extension portion 9c that extends rearward from the connecting portion 9b and forms the lower surface portion of the grip portion 33. By covering the extended portion 9c with the handle cover 26, the grip portion 33 of the steamer main body 1 is configured. Reference numeral 38 denotes a steam lever for ejecting steam from the steam hole 6b provided on the lower surface of the steamer main body 1, and is installed on the base portion 9a in the vicinity of the connecting portion 9b. By pulling up the steam lever 38, the valve 29 of the drip port 28 in the water tank 10 is opened, and water drips into the vaporization chamber 23 at a constant speed.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a power switch as an operation unit provided on the upper portion of the steamer main body 1. By operating this power switch 41, the power of the steamer main body 1 is turned on and off. Reference numeral 42 denotes a power supply lamp as a display unit, which lights or blinks when the steamer main body 1 is powered on, blinks when the temperature of the substrate 21 is low, and turns on when the temperature reaches an appropriate temperature. Inside the handle 9 is a buzzer 43 as a notification means for notifying when the steamer main body 1 is placed on the mounting table 2 or removed from the mounting table 2, and when the sheathed heater 22 rises to a predetermined temperature. By controlling the display operation of the energization lamp 42, controlling the notification operation of the buzzer 43, and receiving a signal from the temperature detection means 51 (see FIG. 4), the sheathed heater 22 is appropriately controlled to be energized and energized. A control device 45 for controlling the substrate 21 to be maintained at a predetermined temperature, and a power storage means 46 for supplying drive voltage to the control device 45, the energization lamp 42, and the buzzer 43 are provided.

Next, the control system of the control device 45 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the control device 45 controls the temperature detection signal from the temperature detection means 51 for detecting the temperature of the vaporization chamber 23, that is, the substrate 21, and the power supply detection from the power supply detection means 52 for detecting the supply of power to the power receiving unit 3. In response to a signal and a control signal from the power switch 41, it controls the sheathed heater 22 that heats the substrate 21 when energized, and also controls the operations of the energization lamp 42 and the buzzer 43 described above. In the steamer main body 1 of the present embodiment, these controls are performed when electric power is supplied, and when the steamer main body 1 is removed from the mounting table 2 and used, the buzzer 43 operates to notify that the removal has been performed. It is configured so that control by the control device 45 is not performed later.

Next, in the above configuration, the operation of the notification function, in particular, will be described. First, the water filling port lid 12 is opened, a predetermined amount of water is stored in the water tank 10, and the water filling port lid 12 is closed. Subsequently, when the steamer main body 1 is placed on the mounting table 2 , the power receiving section 3 is fitted to the power feeding section 4 of the mounting table 2 , and the power plug (not shown) of the mounting table 2 is inserted into an outlet, power is supplied from the mounting table 2 . Electric power is supplied to the steamer main body 1 through the power receiving portion 3 via the portion 4 . In this power supply state, power is also supplied to the power storage means 46, and the power storage means 46 stores the supplied power and supplies operating voltage to each part, so that the control device 45, the power supply lamp 42, and the buzzer 43 can be driven. . At this time, the control device 45 receives the energization detection signal from the energization detection means 52 and controls the buzzer 43 to sound, for example, a single "beep" to notify that the steamer main body 1 is being supplied with power. . Therefore, the user can quickly understand from the sound that the steamer main body 1 is correctly placed on the mounting table 2 and that the steamer main body 1 is being supplied with power.

When the power switch 41 is pressed here, the operation signal is received by the control device 45, and the control device 45 controls the temperature of the substrate 21 to a predetermined temperature based on the temperature detection signal from the temperature detection means 51. Then, the sheathed heater 22 is energized and controlled to heat the substrate 21 including the vaporization chamber 23 . Based on this temperature detection signal, the controller 45 controls the energization lamp 42 to blink until the temperature of the substrate 21 reaches a predetermined temperature.

After that, when the control device 45 detects that the temperature of the substrate 21 has reached a predetermined temperature by means of the temperature detection signal from the temperature detection means 51, the control device 45 controls the energization lamp 42 to light up. The buzzer 43 is controlled to sound a sound different from the one described above, for example, a long "peep" sound once. Therefore, the user can understand at a glance whether the steamer main body 1 can be used or not, and even when the user is away from the steamer main body 1, the steamer main body 1 is in a state in which steam can be ejected. You can quickly find out.

When the steamer main body 1 is separated from the mounting table 2 by gripping the grip portion 33, the power receiving portion 3 and the power feeding portion 4 are disengaged and power supply is stopped. At this time, the control device 45 receives the energization detection signal from the energization detection means 52, controls to turn off the energization lamp 42, and at the same time, the buzzer 43 sounds a different sound from the above, for example, "beep" twice. It is controlled to ring to inform that the power supply to the steamer main body 1 has been stopped. Therefore, the user can understand at a glance that the steamer main body 1 is not being supplied with power, and can quickly understand from the sound. After that, the control device 45 does not control the sheathed heater 22, the power supply lamp 42, and the buzzer 43 until the power is supplied to the steamer main body 1 again. By configuring in this way, the capacity of the storage means 46 can be minimized, and the size of the storage means 46 can be reduced, thereby reducing costs and saving space.

After the steamer main body 1 is used, when the steamer main body 1 is placed on the mounting table 2 again and the power receiving section 3 is fitted to the power feeding section 4 of the mounting table 2, electric power is received from the mounting table 2 via the power feeding section 4. It is supplied again to the steamer main body 1 through the part 3 . At this time, the control device 45 receives the energization detection signal from the energization detection means 52 and controls the buzzer 43 to sound, for example, a single "beep" to notify that the steamer main body 1 is being supplied with power. .

As described above, the steamer of this embodiment includes the steamer main body 1 that vaporizes water as a liquid and spouts out steam, and the mounting table 2 as a power supply device that supplies power to the steamer main body 1. A buzzer 43 as notification means for notifying with different sounds according to the state of the steamer main body 1, an energization detection means 52 for detecting power supply to the steamer main body 1, and a control means for controlling the buzzer 43. A control device 45 is provided, and the buzzer 43 is controlled so as to sound, for example, a single “beep” when the steamer main body 1 is placed on the placing table 2, and when the steamer main body 1 is separated from the placing table 2, , for example, it is controlled to sound "beep-beep" twice, and when the steamer main body 1 is attached or detached, it is configured to notify with different sounds respectively. Therefore, the user can quickly know whether power is currently being supplied to the steamer main body 1 by the sound.

The steamer of this embodiment further includes a substrate 21 as a steam generating device for vaporizing water, and a temperature detecting means 51 for detecting the temperature of the substrate 21. The buzzer 43 is activated when the substrate 21 reaches a predetermined temperature. When the button is pressed, for example, it is controlled to sound once with a long sound, such as "beep", and furthermore, it is configured to notify with a different sound. Therefore, even when the user is away from the steamer main body 1, the user can quickly know that the steamer main body 1 is ready to blow steam.

Further, the control device 45 of this embodiment is configured to control the buzzer 43 only from the start of power supply until the steamer main body 1 is removed from the mounting table 2. Since the capacity of the storage means 46 for supplying the drive voltage can be minimized and the size of the storage means 46 can be reduced, the structure can be simplified, the cost can be reduced, and the space can be saved.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the steamer main body 1 is provided with the energization detection means 52 , but it is configured to determine whether power is supplied to the power receiving unit 3 based on whether power is supplied to the control device 45 . good too. Also, the configuration and shape of this embodiment are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and can be changed as appropriate.

1 steamer body 2 mounting table (power feeding device)
8 base (steam generator)
35 control device (control means)
36 buzzer (notification means)
37 temperature detection means 38 energization detection means

Claims (2)

A steamer body that evaporates liquid and spouts steam,
A steamer comprising a power supply device that supplies power to the steamer main body,
notification means for notifying with different sounds according to the status of the steamer main body;
energization detection means for detecting the supply of the electric power;
and a control means for controlling the notification means,
The notification means notifies with different sounds when the steamer body is attached or detached,
The steamer, wherein the control means performs the control only from when the power supply is started to when the steamer main body is separated from the power supply device . a steam generator for vaporizing the liquid;
a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the steam generator,
2. The steamer according to claim 1, wherein said notification means is configured to notify with a different sound when said steam generator reaches a predetermined temperature.

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