Abstract: A garment care system includes a steam generator having a steam outlet, and a handset having a steam inlet arranged for coupling to the steam outlet, an opening for releasing steam and a steam control unit for controlling a valve for controlling the release of steam. The steam control unit includes a selector unit having at least two selection options, and a steam release switch connected to the selector unit and arranged for starting or stopping the release of steam in dependence on the selected option.

Abstract: A steam ironing device includes a steam iron, a steam generator for generating steam and supplying steam to the steam iron, and a supply device for supplying water to the steam generator. During operation of the steam ironing device, scale is formed in the steam generator, and the water in the steam generator gradually gets contaminated with ions. In order to clean the steam generator and replace the water with fresh water, the steam generator is regularly subjected to an auto-rinsing process. A moment at which this process needs to take place is a moment at which an amount of scale and/or a concentration of ions have exceeded a predetermined maximum. The amount of scale and/or the concentration of ions are indirectly monitored by keeping account of a total quantity of water that has been supplied to the steam generator since a set starting point.

Abstract: A steam generating apparatus (20) is described, comprising a boiler (24) provided with electric heating means (25) and current controlling means (33, 40; 37) for controlling the current in the heating means; the apparatus further comprising at least one temperature sensor (34) and a pressure sensor (35); the apparatus being capable of generating steam at a variable steam output rate; wherein the controlling means (33, 40; 37) are designed, at a relatively low steam output rate setting, to control the current in the heating means on the basis of a temperature measurement signal (T) from the temperature sensor (34), and wherein the controlling means (33, 40; 37) are designed, at a relatively high steam output rate setting, to control the current in the heating means on the basis of pressure.

Abstract: An ironing appliance (1) comprises an ironing device such as a steam iron and an ironing board (11) for supporting articles (2) to be ironed. In the ironing board (11), Radio Frequency Identification readers (41) are arranged, which serve for identifying the fabric type of the articles (2) to be ironed, which are provided with a tag (45) containing this information. The ironing board (11) has a heater (16) for heating the articles to be ironed, and is also adapted to supplying steam to these articles. In an ironing process of a given article, the characteristics of the supply of steam and the temperature of the heater (16) are determined on the basis of the information obtained from the tag (45) of the article by the readers (41). Due to the fact that the readers (41) are arranged in the ironing board (11), the identification process and the process of determining appropriate ironing settings take place in a fast and accurate manner.

Abstract: A steam ironing device (10) provides an ionized steam output using an ionizing arrangement (30). The ionization process, in particular the high energy electric discharge used for ionization, breaks down steam particles into finer particles. As a result, a greater proportion of the steam particles generated can penetrate into the fabric of the garment being ironed, to improve fabric treatment and fabric moistening.

Abstract: A steam generating apparatus (20) is described, comprising a boiler (24) provided with electric heating means (25) and current controlling means (33, 40; 37) for controlling the current in the heating means; the apparatus further comprising at least one temperature sensor (34) and a pressure sensor (35); the apparatus being capable of generating steam at a variable steam output rate; wherein the controlling means (33, 40; 37) are designed, at a relatively low steam output rate setting, to control the current in the heating means on the basis of a temperature measurement signal (T) from the temperature sensor (34), and wherein the controlling means (33, 40; 37) are designed, at a relatively high steam output rate setting, to control the current in the heating means on the basis of pressure.

Abstract: A steam ironing device (2) comprises a steam iron (10), a steam generator (15) for generating steam and supplying steam to the steam iron (10), and means (20) for supplying water to the steam generator (15). During operation of the device (2), scale is formed in the steam generator (15), and the water in the steam generator (15) gradually gets contaminated with ions. In order to clean the steam generator (15) and replace the water by fresh water, the steam generator (15) is regularly subjected to an auto-rinsing process. A moment at which this process needs to take place is a moment at which an amount of scale and/or a concentration of ions have exceeded a predetermined maximum. The amount of scale and/or the concentration of ions are indirectly monitored by keeping account of a total quantity of water that has been supplied to the steam generator (15) since a set starting point.

Abstract: An ironing appliance (1) comprises an ironing device such as a steam iron and an ironing board (11) for supporting articles (2) to be ironed. In the ironing board (11), Radio Frequency Identification readers (41) are arranged, which serve for identifying the fabric type of the articles (2) to be ironed, which are provided with a tag (45) containing this information. The ironing board (11) has a heater (16) for heating the articles to be ironed, and is also adapted to supplying steam to these articles. In an ironing process of a given article, the characteristics of the supply of steam and the temperature of the heater (16) are determined on the basis of the information obtained from the tag (45) of the article by the readers (41). Due to the fact that the readers (41) are arranged in the ironing board (11), the identification process and the process of determining appropriate ironing settings take place in a fast and accurate manner.

Abstract: A communication system transfers a signal over a single signal wire (SW) between a first system (S1) and a second system (S2). The first system (S1) comprises: a first controller (C1) to supply an output signal (MO) and a switch signal (MS), and to receive an adapted input signal (MIA). The output signal (MO), the switch signal (MS), the adapted input signal (MIA), and the first controller (C1) are referenced to a first ground potential (G1). A first galvanic separating unit (U 1) receives the output signal (MO), the first ground potential (G1), and a second ground potential (G2) to supply to the single signal wire (SW) an adapted output signal (MOA) referenced to the second ground potential (G2). A second galvanic separating unit (U2) receives the first ground potential (G1), the second ground potential (G2) and at an input terminal (IT) an input signal (MI) referenced to the second ground potential (G2) to supply the adapted input signal (MIA) referenced to the first ground potential (G1).

Abstract: An electric iron having a housing (1) and a soleplate (2) in which at least one outlet opening (10;15;34;45) is provided, means (8;19;28;39;43) for generating a fine liquid spray or foam or steam, and means (5) for delivering said generated fine liquid spray or foam or steam through said outlet opening. According to the invention, the iron is provided with detection means (12,14;22,23;35,36;49) for detecting the presence of a surface (7a) in the proximity of the sloplate (2) and for generating a detection signal in response to said detection, and with control means (6) for controlling the delivery of said fine liquid spray or foam or steam in response of said detection signal. For example, the detection means comprise a movable spring-loaded contact element (12) located in the soleplate (2), said element (12) activating a switch (14) for generating said signal when the soleplate is positioned against said surface (7a) and thus depresses said element (12).

Abstract: An electric steam iron includes an electrically heated soleplate (2). The soleplate (2) has at least one steam vent (20). The iron also includes a controllable steam generator (6) for supplying steam to the steam vent (20). The iron further includes a controller (16) for controlling the steam generator (6) and a temperature sensor (24) for sensing the tempature of the soleplate (2). The temperature sensor (24) supplies a temperature dependent signal to the controller (16). The controller (16) is adapted to activate the steam generator (6) in accordance with a predetermined steam pattern. The steam pattern includes at least a first phase of a first predetermined duration, in which steam is supplied a substantially constant peak steam rate, and at least a second phase, in which team is supplied at a substantially constant lower steam rate. At least the peak steam rate depends upon the temperature of the soleplate (2).

Abstract: Electric steam iron comprising an electrically heated soleplate (2), said soleplate (2) having at least one steam vent (20); a controllable steam generator (6) for supplying steam to the at least one steam vent (20), and control means (16) for controlling the steam generator (6); wherein the steam iron further comprises a temperature sensor means (24) for sensing the temperature of the soleplate (2), said temperature sensor means (24) in use supplying a temperature dependent signal to the control means (16) and the control means (16) being adapted to activate the steam generator (6) in accordance with a predetermined steam pattern comprising at least a first phase of a first predetermined duration, in which steam is supplied at a substantially constant peak steam rate, and at least a second phase, in which steam is supplied at a substantially constant lower steam rate, wherein at least said peak steam rate depends upon the temperature of the soleplate (2).