Abstract: A steam iron having a soleplate and a steam generator comprises a heater circuit (40) having two parallel loops (44, 45), wherein a main soleplate heating element (41) is arranged in a first loop (44), and wherein an auxiliary soleplate heating element (42) and a steam generator heating element (43) are arranged in a second loop (45). In the second loop (45), a selector switch (46) is arranged, for either connecting the auxiliary soleplate heating element (42) or the steam generator heating element (43) to an electric power source (50). A position of the selector switch (46) is determinative of an operating condition of the heater circuit (40). In one possible operating condition, both soleplate heating elements (41, 42) are connected to the electric power source (50). In this operating condition, the soleplate is heated up fast, as all available electric power is used for heating the soleplate.

Abstract: The invention provides an ion exchange cartridge (13), in particular for a domestic appliance that comprises between a water inlet (1A) and a water outlet (2A) a weak acid ion exchanger in the H+ form (5), followed by a strong acid ion exchanger in the Na+ form (7). This cartridge may be compact because it removes hard scale forming ions only. The cartridge may further comprise a first (16) and a second probe (17) to measure hard scale causing ions by a differential measurement of the conductivity of incoming water and water that has passed one or both ion exchangers. Herewith the appliance can be switched off when the cartridge is not functioning anymore, thus forcing a user to replace the cartridge, or to regenerate the ion exchangers before hard scale blocking of the appliance.

Abstract: A steam ironing device (1) comprises a steam generator (20) for heating water to steam, a steam outlet (25) for letting out a burst of steam (27) from the steam generator (20), a device (30) for supplying water to the steam generator (20), a hose (40) connecting the water supplying device (30) to the steam generator (20), and a controller (50) which is adapted to operating the water supplying device (30) during a period of time in a situation in which there is hardly any need or no need at all of a supply of steam in an ironing process, while keeping the steam outlet (25) closed. In this way, a reserve amount of steam is generated, which is stored in an internal space (21) of the steam generator (20), and, as the occasion arises, inside at least a portion of the hose (40). When a burst of steam (27) is required, the reserve amount of steam is released through the steam outlet (25).

Abstract: A steam ironing system (2) comprises a steam iron (10) and a boiler system (25) having a boiler (30) for generating steam, wherein the steam iron (10) and the boiler (30) are connected to each other through a steam hose (35). During operation of the boiler system (25), scale is formed in the boiler (30). For the purpose of removing the scale from the boiler (30), a rinsing process is performed on the boiler system (25) at regular intervals. During the rinsing process, a rinse valve (38) connected to a water outlet (37) positioned at a bottom of the boiler (30) is opened, and water is discharged from the boiler (30) to a rinse container (55). In the process, scale particles are carried along with the flow of water. Preferably, pressure is built up inside the boiler (30) prior to opening the rinse valve (38), so that the water is forcibly ejected from the boiler (30), whereby the effectiveness of the rinsing process is enhanced.

Abstract: A steam generator (1) comprises a body (20) in which a spiral-shaped groove (30) is arranged, as well as a connection channel (32) which provides access to an end portion (33) of the spiral-shaped groove (30) from a circumferential surface (21) of the body (20). For the purpose of closing the spiral-shaped groove (30), a cover is provided, which has a hole for providing access to a central portion (31) of the spiral-shaped groove (30). During operation of the steam generator (1), water is supplied at one of the central portion (31) and the end portion (33) of the spiral-shaped groove (30). Under the influence of heat, steam is generated, which exits at another one of the central portion (31) and the end portion (33) of the spiral-shaped groove (30).

Abstract: A steam iron having a soleplate and a steam generator comprises a heater circuit (40) having two parallel loops (44, 45), wherein a main soleplate heating element (41) is arranged in a first loop (44), and wherein an auxiliary soleplate heating element (42) and a steam generator heating element (43) are arranged in a second loop (45). In the second loop (45), a selector switch (46) is arranged, for either connecting the auxiliary soleplate heating element (42) or the steam generator heating element (43) to an electric power source (50). A position of the selector switch (46) is determinative of an operating condition of the heater circuit (40). In one possible operating condition, both soleplate heating elements (41, 42) are connected to the electric power source (50). In this operating condition, the soleplate is heated up fast, as all available electric power is used for heating the soleplate.

Abstract: A garment de-wrinkling device (1) comprises an enclosure (10) for moistening garments (20). An ironing board (40) and an adjacent standby area (41), which are both permeable to steam, are arranged on top of the enclosure (10). During operation of the device (1), the ironing board (40) and a steam iron (30) are used to iron garments (20) which have first been moistened inside the enclosure (10). In the process, steam released by the iron (30) penetrates the garments (20) and enters the enclosure (10) through the ironing board (40). In this way, both the garments (20) on the ironing board (40) and those inside the enclosure (10) are treated by means of steam that is released by the iron (30), and steam is used in an efficient manner. A pressed look is obtained in that the garments (20) are subjected to a moistening process and a subsequent steam ironing process.

Abstract: A steam iron (1) comprises a steam conditioning device (30) having two vortex chambers (31, 32). Inside the vortex chambers (31, 32), directing means such as a conduit for directing a steam flow toward outlets (33) of the steam conditioning device (30) are arranged. Further, inside the vortex chambers (31, 32), vortex generating means are arranged, which are arranged along a path followed by the steam flow, and which are adapted to creating local pressure differences in the steam flow in order to obtain local vortices in the steam flow. By means of the vortices, during operation of the steam conditioning device (30), water drops which are present in the steam flow are broken down to a smaller particle size. In this way, the steam conditioning device (30) is capable of producing mist-steam or dry steam.

Abstract: An electric heating structure of a domestic appliance includes at least one first electric heating track (23) having a positive temperature coefficient and at least one additional electric heating track (27, 28). A control structure (22, 25, 29) is provided for controlling electric power supply to said first and additional heating tracks (23, 27, 28) and is sensitive to the heating of said at least one first heating track (23) for switching on said at least one additional electric heating track (27, 28) in parallel and in addition to said at least one first heating track (23) when said at least one first heating track (23) has been heated to at least a predetermined extent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steam ironing device (1) comprising a water supply device (4), a steam generator (6) for generating steam, heating means (13) for heating the steam generator, at least one atomizating device (10, 15), a valve (11) provided in a flow path (9) between the steam generator and the atomizing device, and an electric pump (5) for delivering water from said water supply device to said steam generator. To obtain wet steam at the atomizing device the ironing device comprises control means (7) for controlling the power of the heating means (13) of the steam generator, for controlling the flow rate of the pump, and for controlling the opening and closing of said valve, said valve being open if the ratio between the flow rate (g/min) of the pump and the power (W) of the heating means is in a range of 1:20 to 1:38.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric steaming device, such as a steam iron or a facial sauna, having a steam generator (5) with a heatable base (12). According to the invention, water is sprayed onto the heatable base (12) via a nozzle (10) to generate steam (22). Some of the sprayed water (23) is mixed with the steam and taken along with the steam towards the steam outlet opening (16). The advantage is a high wet steam or vapor (24) production rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric steaming device, such as a steam iron or a facial sauna, having a steam generator (5) with a heatable base (12). According to the invention, water is sprayed onto the heatable base (12) via a nozzle (10) to generate steam (22). Some of the sprayed water (23) is mixed with the steam and taken along with the steam towards the steam outlet opening (16). The advantage is a high wet steam or vapor (24) production rate.