Method and device for controlling an iron

Abstract

A control method of an iron and its device, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (1) keeping the output temperature of the iron a temperature T 1 suitable for ironing; (2) determining whether the iron is in a working state; if yes, step (1) is carried out; if no, step (3) is carried out; (3) determining whether the time of the iron's non-working state exceeds a predetermined time S 1; if yes, step (4) is carried out; if no, step (1) is carried out; (4), the output temperature of the iron is kept at a temperature T 2 that is lower than T 1. The invention sets a control mode of reducing electricity consumption of the iron according to users' use habit. If only the iron isn't used for a relatively long time such as 5 minutes, the output temperature of the iron will be controlled to fall from a higher constant temperature, such as 200° C., to a lower constant temperature, such as 120° C. The method of the present invention not only reduces unnecessary energy consumption, but also enables the iron to resume to its set higher temperature quickly when users want to use it again.

1 . A method for controlling an iron comprising:
 (1) keeping the output temperature of the iron at temperature T 1  suitable for ironing;   (2) determining whether the iron is in a working state or in a non-working state; if the iron is in a working state, carrying out step (1); if the iron is in a non-working state, carrying out step (3);   (3) determining whether the time of the iron's non-working state exceeds a predetermined time S 1 ; if yes, carrying out step (4); if no, carrying out step (1); and   (4) maintaining the output temperature of the iron at a predetermined temperature T 2  that is lower than T 1 .   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (5) determining whether the non-working use of the iron is changed; if the state is changed to working state, carrying out state (1); if no, carrying out step (6);   (6) determining whether the time of the iron's non-working state reaches a second predetermined time S 2  for automatic power off; if yes, carrying out step (7); if no, carrying out step (4) out; and   (7) shutting off the power automatically.   
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (8) determining whether the non-working state of the iron is changed to the working state; if yes, carrying out step (1); if no, carrying out step (7).   
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time S 1  in step (3) is about 2-8 minutes. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined temperature T 2  in step (4) is about 80-120° C. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the iron is heated with an electric heater under the control of a first thermostat for a higher temperature and second thermostat for a lower temperature, and wherein in step (4), the control of the electric heater is changed to the second thermostat from the first thermostat by controlling a switch. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the temperature T 2  is maintained by controlling a circular on-off of the switch on the electric heater. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the iron comprises a steam generator heater under the control of a first thermostat for a higher temperature and second thermostat for a lower temperature, and wherein in step (4), the control of the steam generator is changed to the second thermostat from the first thermostat by controlling a switch. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein in step (4), the lower temperature T 2  is maintained by controlling a circular on-off of the switch of the steam generator. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in step (2), whether the iron is working is determined by a movement sensing switch of the iron. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein in step (4), firstly a temperature sensor senses the temperature of a electric heating tray and transmits the temperature signal to a control circuit, then the control circuit compares the set temperature with the sensed temperature, and then controls on/off of the electric heater according to the comparison result. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein in step (4), firstly a temperature sensor senses the temperature of the steam generator and transmits the temperature signal to a control circuit, then the control circuit compares the set temperature with the sensed temperature and then controls on/off of the electric heater according to the comparison result. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-working state of the iron comprises a stationary state, or a state where a steam generator thereof is not being used for ejecting steam. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the iron is boiler iron; and the output temperature of the iron is the temperature of an electric heating tray of the iron, or the temperature of the steam generator of the iron or both of them. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the iron is of an electric heating tray type; and the output temperature of the iron is the temperature of the iron's electric heating tray, or the temperature of the iron's steam generating room, or both. 
   
   
       16 . A control device of an iron, which comprises a first determining module and a second determining module; wherein the first determining module determines whether the iron is in a working-working state, and the second determining module determines whether the iron is in a non-working state; and wherein if the iron is in a working state, an output temperature of the iron is kept at a temperature T 1  fit for working; and if the iron is in a non-working state, whether the time of the non-working state is determined and if the non-working state exceeds a predetermined time S 1 ; output temperature of the iron is kept at a temperature T 2  that is lower than T 1 , and if the non-working state does not exceed S 1 , the output temperature of the iron is kept at temperature T 1 . 
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 16 , which further comprises a third determining module and a fourth determining module; wherein the third determining module determines whether the non-working state of the iron is changed to the working state, and if yes, the output temperature of the iron is kept at the temperature T 1 ; if no, the fourth determining module determines whether the time of the iron is in a non-working state reaches a predetermined time S 2  for automatic power off, and if the time of the iron is in a non-working state reaches a predetermined time S 2 , the power is shut off automatically; if the time of the iron is in a non-working state has not reached S 2 , the output temperature of the iron is kept at temperature T 2 . 
   
   
       18 . The control device according to  claim 17 , which comprises a fifth determining module which determines whether the non-working state of the iron is changed to the working state, and if yes, the output temperature of the iron is kept at the lower temperature T 2 , if no, the power-off state is kept. 
   
   
       19 . The control device according to  claim 16 , wherein the nonuse state of the iron is a stationary state, or a state where the steam generator thereof is not used for ejecting steam.