Method for operating an active ironing board

Abstract

An ironing board ( 1 ) comprises a fan ( 20 ) for generating an airflow and a controlling unit ( 40 ) for controlling a mode in which the fan ( 20 ) is driven during operation of the ironing board ( 1 ). When there is a need for obtaining an airflow through an item to be ironed, the controlling unit ( 40 ) puts the fan ( 20 ) to a mode in which it is driven at a normal operating speed. However, when there is no such need, the controlling unit ( 40 ) puts the fan ( 20 ) to a mode in which it is driven at a speed which is lower than a normal operating speed. In this way, it is achieved that the fan ( 20 ) is continuously driven during operation of the ironing board ( 1 ), also in case an ironing process performed with the help of the ironing board ( 1 ) does not require an operation of the fan ( 20 ). As an advantageous result, condensation of steam inside the ironing board ( 1 ) is prevented.

1 . Method for operating an ironing board having air displacing means comprising at least one air displacing device such as a fan for generating an airflow, wherein the air displacing means are continuously kept in an activated state during the operation of the ironing board, wherein, in case there is a need for an airflow capable of acting on an item to be ironed when such item is placed on the ironing board the ironing board is put to a normal operating condition in which the air displacing means are operated for the purpose of generating an airflow at a normal flow rate, and wherein, in case there is no such need, the ironing board is put to a ventilating condition in which the air displacing means operated for the purpose of generating an airflow at a flow rate which is reduced with respect to the normal flow rate. 
   
   
       2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reduced flow rate is close to the lowest possible flow rate for effective removal of steam and/or condensed steam from the ironing boarding. 
   
   
       3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reduced flow rate is practically the lowest possible flow rate for effective removal of steam and/or condensed steam from the ironing board. 
   
   
       4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the air displacing means comprise one air displacing device, wherein, when the ironing board is put to the normal operating condition, the air displacing device is driven at a normal operating speed for the purpose of generating an airflow at the normal flow rate, and wherein, when the ironing board is put to the ventilating condition, the air displacing device is driven at a ventilating speed for the purpose of generating an airflow at the reduced flow rate, the ventilating speed being lower than the normal operating speed. 
   
   
       5 . Method according to  claim 4 , wherein the speed at which the air-displacing device is driven is controlled on the basis of at least one characteristic of a voltage supplied to the air-displacing device. 
   
   
       6 . Method according to  claim 4 , wherein the speed at which the air displacing device is driven is controlled on the basis of pulse-width modulation of a voltage supplied to the air displacing device. 
   
   
       7 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the air displacing means comprise two air displacing devices, wherein, when the ironing board is put to the normal operating condition, both air displacing devices are operated, and wherein, when the ironing board is put to the ventilating condition, only one of the air displacing devices is operated. 
   
   
       8 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein one of the air displacing devices is continuously driven at a substantially constant speed. 
   
   
       9 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the ventilating condition of the ironing boarding the air displacing device is driven in a rotational direction associated with a sucking action of the device, i.e. a rotational direction in which the air displacing device is capable of generating an airflow which is directed from a top side of the ironing board which is adapted to supporting items to be ironed, to a bottom side of the ironing board. 
   
   
       10 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ironing board is heated. 
   
   
       11 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow which is generated by the air displacing means is heated. 
   
   
       12 . Ironing board having air displacing means comprising at least one air displacing device such as a fan for generating an airflow, and a controlling unit adapted to carrying out the method according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       13 . Ironing board according to  claim 12 , comprising one air displacing device, wherein the controlling means are adapted to driving the air displacing device at a normal operating speed when there is a need for an airflow capable of acting on an item to be ironed when such item is placed on the ironing board, and to driving the air displacing device at a ventilating speed when there is no such need, the ventilating speed being lower than the normal operating speed. 
   
   
       14 . Ironing board according to  claim 13 , wherein the controlling means are adapted to controlling the speed at which the air displacing device is driven on the basis of at least one characteristic of a voltage supplied to the air displacing device during operation of the ironing board. 
   
   
       15 . Ironing board according to  claim 12 , comprising two air displacing devices, wherein the controlling means adapted to operating both air displacing devices when there is a need for an airflow capable of acting on an item to be ironed when such item is placed on the ironing board, and to operating only one of the air displacing devices when there is no such need. 
   
   
       16 . Ironing board according to  claim 15 , wherein the controlling means are adapted to continuously driving one of the air displacing devices at a substantially constant speed. 
   
   
       17 . Ironing board according to  claim 12 , wherein the air displacing device is drivable in two rotational directions. 
   
   
       18 . Ironing board according to  claim 12 , comprising at least one heating element for heating the ironing board. 
   
   
       19 . Ironing board according to  claim 12 , comprising at least one heater for heating the airflow which is generated by the air displacing means during operation of the ironing board. 
   
   
       20 . Ironing board according to  claim 12 , wherein at least a top side of the ironing board, which is adapted to supporting items to be ironed, comprises at least one element manufactured from a plastic material that is resistant to the relatively high temperatures prevailing during operation of the ironing board.