自动收线机构设计资料.doc

自動收線機構設計資料
(Data of cordreel)

一．收線基本原理

二．收線機構的主要方式

1. 內部幾構介紹
2. 排線方式比較
3. 鎖定及收線機構
4. 限速機構

三．UL規格電源線的自動收線機構

1. 電源線規格
2. 安規要求
3. 有關專利
4. 空間要求

四．JQA規格電源線的自動收線機構

1. 電源線規格
2. 安規要求
3. 有關專利
4. 空間要求

五．其他收線方式

一． 收線基本原理

1. 自動收線原理﹕
自動收線機構是利用平面渦旋簧的儲能﹑釋能及棘輪機構的單向鎖定進 行收放線。將電源線拉出時﹐平面渦旋簧儲能﹐停止拉出時﹐轉軸在渦旋簧作用下迴轉至被棘輪機構鎖定﹐電源線停止動作﹔收線時利用按鈕或其他方式﹐打開鎖定機構﹐使平面渦旋簧的儲能釋放﹐帶動轉軸將電源線纏繞收回。

2. 用途﹕
自動收線機構應用在熨斗和其它家電產品上的主要目的﹐是在使用完畢後﹐將電源線收納起來﹐便于存放。

3. 適用的電源線﹕
自動收線機構的電源線主要為兩線(不帶地線) 的橡膠線﹐目前有日本市場JQA規格的電源線及美國市場UL規格的電源線﹐歐洲市場TUV規格的棉紗線由于受卷線空間及表層抗摩強度的限制﹐目前尚未有自動收線的應用。

二．收線機構的主要方式

1．內部機構介紹：
下面以7301為例闡述自動收線裝置的內部機構
首先由後蓋和中介蓋板組成收線的空間及中介蓋板提供收線的旋轉軸。
在旋轉軸的前端安裝有大﹑小滑電環。此兩個滑電環的作用是將電源線與熨斗的內配線連通。
在旋轉軸上有可以旋轉的前﹑後卷線筒。在前後卷線筒之間有電源線。前後卷線筒靠三顆螺釘鎖附在一起﹐同時將電源線壓緊。電源線的兩極分別與固定在前卷線筒上的大﹑小彈片點焊在一起。大小彈片的端頭部各有兩銀觸點與其點焊在一起。大小彈片可以與前卷線筒一起圍繞著旋轉軸轉動。大小彈片通過銀觸點在大小滑電環上滑動﹐從而使電源線與熨斗的內配線導通。銀觸點起的作用是減少磨損﹐保證良好的接觸﹐防止電路導通時在大小彈片與大小滑電環之間有弧光放電﹐確保大小彈片不會與大小滑電環因少許的弧光放電就粘焊在一起。為了進一步減輕銀觸點的磨損﹐在銀觸點與大小滑電環之間涂有節點油。
在後卷線筒的候部安裝有收線的平面渦旋簧。它的一端與後卷線筒相聯﹐另一端與中介蓋板上的槽相聯。這樣當電源線向外拉出時﹐渦旋簧就會儲能。在後卷線筒上裝有壓緊板以防止渦旋簧在上預緊力時會彈出而增加不安全因素。
在前端由按鈕﹑釋放彈簧﹑鎖定片﹑前卷線筒上的棘輪組成收線的釋放機構。當按鈕按下時﹐鎖定片會釋放前卷線筒上的棘輪機構﹐使電源線收進。不按時﹐電源線停止。在按鈕﹑鎖定片下有復位彈簧。
該收線機構下面有兩個螺釘將後蓋﹑中介蓋板鎖附在一起。在中介蓋板的下部有卡勾機構﹐可以與隔基卡接。上部從後面穿過後蓋﹑中介蓋板有兩個螺釘鎖附在固定在本體上的鎖定片上。

收線長度﹕電源線外露1。85M
2．排線方式比較：
根據收線時電源線的排布方式﹐可將收線裝置分為單圈和多圈兩種﹐現將其特點比較如下表

排線方式
單圈
多圈

典型樣機

TSK-736

SANYO A-R82(W)
PANASONIC NI-45GX

排線規律

較規則

隨機排列﹐每次都不同
層次不分明﹐較不規則

摩擦阻力

只有上下圈之間的摩擦﹐
阻力小﹐拉收線時較順暢
除上下圈之間的摩擦外﹐
左右及傾斜方向會產生
擠壓和斜嵌﹐磨損嚴重﹐
拉收線時較不順暢

佔用空間
(相同電源線長度下)

徑向佔用空間大
軸向佔用空間小

軸向佔用空間大
徑向佔用空間小

*收線控制

依靠再次拉動電源線帶動棘輪轉離卡點﹐使轉軸回轉

依靠按鈕動作打開轉軸卡點
使其回轉

*限速機構

一般有

一般無

* i．收線控制機構的方式與限速機構的有無﹐是在樣機拆解的基礎上的總結﹐並非絕對。我們就曾作過在7302單圈卷線機構上加按鈕控制﹐及在7861卷線機構中取消按鈕而採用拉動電源線收線的嘗試﹐但未經量產的驗證。
* ii．收線控制機構與限速機構的方式將于下具體闡述
* iii．在多圈收線機構中未見到限速機構的一個可能原因為﹐多圈收線需要達到一定的速度﹐以克服更大的收線阻力。我們發現﹐當速度較慢時﹐線的分佈會嚴重不均勻而沿一圈迅速爬高﹐容易卡死。

3．鎖定及收線機構的方式：
I． 棘輪方式

此機構為大同公司的專利﹐目前736單圈卷線盤即為此機構。

II． 滑動軌道控制機構
滑動軌道結構圖
此機構為SAYON產品卷線盤結構

III． 按鈕控制機構
4．限速機構：

三．UL規格電源線的自動收線機構
1. 電源線規格
美國市場極性插
電壓：120V
電源線外露長度：2．44m
2. 安規要求
裸露帶電體的電氣間隙1。6MM
電源線拉出收進6000次﹐電源線的外絕緣護套不得磨破。
電源線彎曲50000次。
必須通過CUL的摔落測試。
電源線必須通過20磅(9KG) 的拉力測試。
針對以上的安規要求﹐首先我們必須保證電氣間隙
1。60MM以上。對與收拉線6000次﹐以及電源線彎曲50000次﹐在機構上主要應注意入線口的設計。入線口的上下兩側向內必須是大的圓弧過渡﹐以免尖銳的過渡會刮傷電源線﹔另外電源線入口的左右兩側在與上下便過渡處不得出現銳角或凸出在上下兩側上的銳邊。見下圖﹕

要通過CUL摔落測試及9千克力的拉力測試﹐則要注
意收線裝置與本體﹑隔基等的連接的強度及剛度﹔另外
應該注意中介蓋板上轉軸的強度。

3. 有關專利:
在7861的設計過程中，我們曾受到松下專利的困擾, 主要的專利限制有兩條:
I. 按鈕控制的收線機構
若不用按鈕控制, 則需採取大同的棘輪機構或三洋的滑動軌道機構, 但也可能牽扯到這兩家公司的專利問題．
II. 底部開口以利收線
這個限制條件對收線空間影響非常大，若要底部封口，則必須給定足夠的收線空間．
(有關松下在美國申請的專利原文, 請參照附錄一)

4. 空間要求(多圈)
三．JQA規格電源線的自動收線機構
1. 電源線規格
日本市場兩扁插
電壓：100V
電源線外露長度：1．85m
2. 安規要求
裸露帶電體的電氣間隙2。5MM
電源線以30M/MIN的速度拉出1000次﹐電源線的外絕緣護套不得磨破
線芯的斷線率不得超過30%﹔不得有其他異常情況。
針對以上的安規要求﹐首先我們必須保證電氣間隙
2。50MM以上。對與收拉線1000次﹐﹐在機構上主要應注意入線口的設計。入線口的上下兩側向內必須是大的圓弧過渡﹐以免尖銳的過渡會刮傷電源線﹔另外電源線入口的左右兩側在與上下便過渡處不得出現銳角或凸出在上下兩側上的銳邊。見下圖﹕

3. 有關專利
(缺乏資料)

4. 空間要求(多圈)

五．其他收線方式
為配合外觀上的需求﹐我們還作過一些卷線的方案﹐但由于問題較多﹐都不成功﹐在這裡略為提及：
1．橡膠套式
此種設想結構和原理十分簡單。在後蓋的前端長出一個有孔的卷線筒﹐電源線從孔中通過﹐直接與內配線相連。電源線卷在卷線筒上。線卷好後﹐將套在卷線筒後部的橡膠套翻過來護住電源線。但是經開了一個簡易模後﹐發現了許多問題而無法實施。
2．連杆轉動的手動收線形式
此種形式結構與自動收線十分相似。所不同的是它的後卷線筒後部沒有裝儲能的平面渦旋簧﹐而是從其後部長出一個軸﹐在後蓋的後面上有一個連杆﹐可以帶動整個卷線輪轉動。從而達到收線的功能。此種形式的缺點是收線要手工操作﹐而且收線力一旦取消後﹐卷緊的線會因線的回彈力而松動。
3．插頭端的自動收線機構
此種設想是將收線裝置與熨斗分離﹐而靠近電源線的插頭端﹐類似于收線裝置帶一插頭﹐而用不帶插頭的電源線連接收線裝置與熨斗﹐收線後將收線裝置掛在熨斗上。

附錄一
(美國自動卷線專利)
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United States Patent 5,371,960
Wilson , et al. December 13, 1994

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Iron including cord reel and water tank

Abstract
A garment iron including a rear face to which there is releasably attached a cord reel. The cord reel includes a catch to retain it in its position mounted on the rear face. The cord reel is hollow so as to provide a cavity which receives a beaker which may be used to deliver water to the water reservoir of the iron. During use, the cord reel and beaker are removed from the rear face so that the iron may be vertically oriented, resting on its rear face.

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Inventors: Wilson; Ian G. (Cheltenham, AU); Hoare; Richard L. (Neutal Bay, AU)
Assignee: Sunbeam Corporation Limited (Campsie, AU)
Appl. No.: 970620
Filed: November 3, 1992

U.S. Class: 38/77.3; 38/96; 219/256
Intern'l Class: D06F 075/28
Field of Search: 38/75,77.1,77.3,79,88,94 219/246,247,256,259 242/47.5,77,78.7,107.7

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References Cited [Referenced By]

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U.S. Patent Documents
2063274 Dec., 1936 Ehrlich 219/256.
3949499 Apr., 1976 Schaeffer et al. 38/77.
4347428 Aug., 1982 Conrad et al. 38/88.
4517757 May., 1985 Asada et al. 38/88.
4784616 Nov., 1988 Zimmermann 219/247.
Foreign Patent Documents
0053254 Jun., 1982 EP.
2583792 Dec., 1986 FR 219/247.
3825501 Feb., 1990 DE.
3843384 Jul., 1990 DE.
0212631 Mar., 1941 CH 38/77.
2233986 Jan., 1991 GB.

Primary Examiner: Crowder; Clifford D.
Assistant Examiner: Izaguirre; Ismael
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ladas & Parry

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Claims
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1. A garment iron comprising:

a main body having a handle and a soleplate, said body having a rear face provided with engageable means thereat,

an electric cord extending from said body for connection with an electrical power supply to electrically heat said soleplate, and

a cord reel releasably attached to said rear face of the body, said cord reel including a front flange engageable with said main body at said rear face thereof, and a resilient catch for releasably securing the cord reel to said rear face of the main body, said resilient catch comprising a lever having an end lip, said resilient catch having a rest position in which said lip engages said engageable means to secure the cord reel to said main body and a release position in which said lip is released from said engageable means and said cord reel is released from said main body.

2. The garment iron as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilient catch comprises a pivotal lever integrally moulded in said cord reel.

3. The garment iron as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cord reel includes a rear flange spaced from said front flange and forming a recess therebetween in which said cord can be wound when the cord reel is engaged with said main body, said rear flange having top and bottom troughs in which the cord is passed before being wound in said recess.

4. The garment iron as claimed in claim 3, wherein said front flange of the cord reel has a trough through which said cord can pass to one of the troughs of the rear flange of the cord reel.

5. The garment iron as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cord reel has a central chamber accessible through a rear facing opening of said cord reel, said garment iron further comprising a beaker engageable in said central chamber.

6. The garment iron as claimed in claim 5, wherein said beaker and cord reel have means for providing a snap fit for said beaker in said chamber.

7. The garment iron as claimed in claim 5, wherein said resilient catch comprises a pivotal lever integrally moulded in said cord reel, said beaker having a groove which extends between said top and bottom troughs when the beaker is engaged in said chamber for passage of the cord in said groove between said troughs.

8. The garment iron as claimed in claim 5, wherein said beaker has a water cavity therein and a filling opening.

9. In a garment iron having a main body with an electrical power cord extending from said body, the improvement comprising a combination removable cord reel and beaker including,

a reel member having a front face releasably engageable with a rear face of the main body, and a rear face spaced from said front face, said reel member having a central chamber open and accessible at said rear face of the reel member, and

a beaker removably engageable in said chamber of the reel member,

said reel member including flanges at said front and rear surfaces defining a recess therebetween in which the power cord of the main body can be wound around said chamber when the reel member is engaged with said main body.

10. The combination claimed in claim 9, wherein said rear flange of the reel member has two opposed troughs therein in which the cord is passed before being wound in said recess around said chamber.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein said front flange of the reel member has a trough through which said cord can pass to one of the troughs in the rear flange of the reel member.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein said reel member includes a releasable catch means for releasably engaging the main body.

13. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein said front flange of the reel member includes means for engaging the main body.
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Description
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TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a garment iron and more particularly to a reel to receive the electric cord of the iron.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrically operated irons are provided with an electric cord to extend to a power outlet. It has been known to provide the rear end of irons with means about which the electric cord may be wound for storage purposes. However, this previously known means of storing the electric cord has not been successful as the cord in essence is not retained in a coiled configuration. There has also been the need to reduce the overall length of the iron in order to ensure stability of the iron when it rests on its rear face so as to have the hot plate generally upwardly extending. If the rear of the iron is extended to accommodate the cord, the iron becomes less stable due to its height when in the rest position.

Steam irons are provided with a resevoir into which water is delivered, which water is transformed into steam during the ironing process. Frequently new irons are sold with a beaker which may be used to deliver water to the water inlet of the iron. These beakers are not physically associated with the iron and accordingly become lost.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a garment iron comprising:

a main body providing a handle and being equipped with a soleplate, and electrically operated means to heat the soleplate, said body having a rear face with engagable means;

an electric cord extending from said body to connect said electrically operated means to an electric supply; and

a cord reel about which said cord is wound, said reel having attachment means to releasably engage said engagable means to selectively secure said reel to said main body.

Preferably the reel is hollow so as to provide a cavity, and a beaker is shaped to be received within said cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic parts exploded perspective view of an iron incorporating a cord reel and beaker;

FIG. 2 is a schematic rear elevation of the reel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic front elevation of the reel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic top plan view of the reel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic bottom plan view of the reel of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the reel as illustrated in FIG. 5 sectioned along the line 6--6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted an iron 10. The iron 10 includes a main body 11 provided with a soleplate 12 which is electrically heated. The body 11 is also provided with a handle 13 and a rear face 14. The soleplate 12 is connected to an electric cord 15, which connects the soleplate 12 to a supply of electricity.

Adjacent to the rear face 14 is a lip or flange 16, which provides an engagable means to be operatively associated with a cord reel 17. The cord reel 17 has a forward flange 18 of "L-shaped" configuration so as to have a base 19 and a forwardly projecting lip 20. The flange 20 extends down the left and right hand sides of the reel 17 and is adapted to engage the flange 16 so that the reel 17 can be mounted adjacent to the face 14. The flange 18 is particularly configured so that the reel 17 is coupled to the flange 16 by downward movement of the reel 17 over the rear face 14.

The reel 17 has a recess 21 which forms a loop and within which the cord 15 is wound. The rear of the reel 17 is also provided with a flange 22 so that the cord 15 has its loops sandwiched between the flanges 18 and 22.

The reel 17 is of a triangular configuration with its upper apex provided with a trough 23 having a forward aperture 24 which enables the cord 15 to enter the trough 23, and a rearward aperture 25 enabling the cord to extend downwardly from the trough 23 to a lower trough 26. The cord 15 passes through the trough 26 and then is wound around the reel 17 so that the loops are contained in the recess 21.

The reel 17 Is of a hollow configuration so as to provide a central chamber 27. Locatable within the chamber 27 is a beaker 28 which is of a complementary shape to the chamber 27 and includes a recess 29 into which the trough 23 projects, and a rear recess 30 down which the cord passes to enter the trough 26. The beaker 28 may be of a "dish" configuration so as to have an open face or alternatively may be provided with a filling neck equipped with a stopper. However the preferred construction of the beaker 28 has a filling aperture 38 which inhibits storage of the beaker 28 with water in it.

Preferably the beaker 28 can "snap" fit within the chamber 27.

To secure the reel 17 in position, there is provided a catch 31. The catch 31 is formed integral with the remainder of the reel 17 and includes a lever 32 terminat