Method of operating a drying and pressing apparatus for items of clothing and drying and pressing apparatus

Abstract

A drying and pressing apparatus for items of clothing has a flexible pressing dummy which can be subjected to the action, from the inside, of an air stream generated by a fan. The apparatus is equipped with an adjustable program-input device for selecting an operating program. A multiplicity of different operating programs can be set by adjustment of the program-input device. This ensures straightforward operation of the drying and pressing apparatus.

1 . A method of operating a drying and pressing apparatus for items of clothing, the drying and pressing apparatus having a flexible pressing dummy which can be subjected to action, from an inside, of an air stream generated by a fan, and having an program-input device, which comprises the step of: 
 setting a multiplicity of different operating programs by adjustment of the program-input device.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 providing the drying and pressing apparatus with a start switch for starting a preselected operating program; and    starting the preselected operating program, once selected, via actuation of the start switch.    
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , which further comprises after the preselected operating program is started, starting the fan and switching on a heating device for heating the air stream, the fan being switched on before the heating device.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 storing, for each of the operating programs, in a control device, an amount of work in dependence on parameters including at least one of a volume flow of the air stream, a temperature of the air stream and a duration of the air stream; and    reaching an end of a preselected operating program when an integral of power consumed over time corresponds to the amount of work stored for the preselected operating program.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , which further comprises: 
 predetermining the amount of work, the duration of the air stream, the temperature of the air stream, and a temperature profile of an operating program in dependence on a material of the item of clothing which is to be treated; and    taking account of the amount of work, the temperature of the air stream, the temperature profile, and the duration of the air stream in dependence on a water-absorption capability of the material of the item of clothing which is to be treated, and at least one of the amount of work, the duration of the air stream, the temperature of the air stream and the temperature profile being longer or higher in a case of material with a high level of water-absorption capability, than in a case of material with a lower level of water-absorption capability.    
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprising forming the operating programs to include a cold ventilation process with ambient air at a first temperature, a warm ventilation process with a preheated air stream at a second temperature, and a pressing process with a preheated stream at a third temperature which is higher than the second temperature at least temporarily, following a starting phase.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises forming each of the operating programs to have a multiplicity of operating sub-programs by which it is possible to preselect a duration of a set operating program.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 6 , which further comprises for the pressing process, providing a heat accumulator, which is part of a heating device, to be preheated or charged to a predetermined quantity of heat, and in that, upon preselection of the pressing process being a pressing operating program, the preheating of the heat accumulator is started and, upon actuation of a start switch, only when preheating is completed, the pressing operating program is started.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , which further comprises during the preheating and/or at an end of the preheating of the heat accumulator, using an indicating device to indicate that the heat accumulator is preheating or has been preheated.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8 , which further comprises: 
 emitting at least one of an acoustic signal and an optical signal if the heat accumulator has been preheated and is retained at the preheated level, if a predetermined duration has elapsed, or if the pressing operating program does not start.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 6 , which further comprises at an end of the warm ventilation process and/or the pressing process, performing the cold ventilation process with a predetermined duration for fixing the item of clothing.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 2 , which further comprises at an end of the preselected operating program: 
 switching off at least one of the fan and a heating device; and    emitting at least one signal selected from the group consisting of acoustic signals and optical signals.    
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , which further comprises providing a signal-setting input device for changing a characteristic of the signal including switch the signal on and off, and for an acoustic signal, a loudness can be changed.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises taking into account a change in operating program only in a next operating cycle when a new operating program is set while a current operating program is running, and the current operating program is executed to completion.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises actuating a stop switch of the apparatus for stopping an operating program at any point in time.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , which further comprises during a running of the operating program, stopping the operating program upon actuation of the stop switch and, within a predetermined duration, actuation of the start switch causes the operating program to be continued at a point at which it was stopped and, once the predetermined duration has elapsed, actuation of the start switch causes the operating program to start from a beginning.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 15 , which further comprises as a current operating program is running, stopping the current operating program upon actuation of the stop switch and if, within a predetermined duration, an other operating program other than the current operating program is set, the current operating program is broken off and, upon actuation of the start switch, the other operating program is started.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 switching on the apparatus using a main switch; and    initializing the apparatus following actuation of the main switch.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , which further comprises during initializing step, checking a function of at least one current-carrying component using respective test routines, and if a malfunction is detected, the apparatus is only partially freed for operation, if at all.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , which further comprises switching the apparatus to a state selected from the group consisting of an off state and a partially operational state if a malfunction of a component of the apparatus is detected during operation of the apparatus.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises storing a malfunction of a component of the apparatus in a defect memory for latter reading out.  
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , which further comprises upon initialization of the apparatus, interrogating the defect memory, and if a stored malfunction is detected the apparatus is only partially freed for operation, if at all.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 providing the apparatus with a top framework and a bottom framework, the pressing dummy having one section connected to the top framework and one section connected to the bottom framework, and it being possible for the top framework to be retracted into a retracted position in the bottom framework and extended out of the bottom framework into an extended position;    providing the apparatus with a locking device for locking the top framework in relation to the bottom framework in the retracted position or in the extended position; and    providing the apparatus with an unlocking input device for unlocking the locking device, and upon actuation of the unlocking input device, the locking device is unlocked and retained in the unlocked position for an unlocking duration.    
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , which further comprises during the unlocking duration, in dependence on the starting position of the top framework, moving the top framework in relation to the bottom framework either in a direction of the retracted position or in a direction of the extended position.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 24 , which further comprises once the unlocking duration has elapsed, automatically dropping the locking device back into a locked state and, when an end position, being either the retracted position or the extended position, is reached, the locking device automatically locks in the end position, and in that, when one of the end positions is reached and the unlocking duration has not yet elapsed, the locking device locks in the respective end position without waiting for the unlocking duration to elapse.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 24 , which further comprises during the unlocking duration, using an indicating device, to indicate this state.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 23 , which further comprises providing the locking device with a drive, which, for unlocking purposes, is operated over an initial breakaway duration of 0.03 to 0.5 s at a high power and over a following holding duration of 1.5 to 1.97 s at a low power, which is lower than the high power, and in that, once the unlocking duration has elapsed, the locking device is moved back into the locked position by a prestressing device.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 23 , which further comprises: 
 disposing the locking device on the bottom framework and providing the locking device with a bolt which, for locking purposes, can be brought into engagement with a top or bottom undercut provided on the top framework; and    providing a sliding rail between the top and the bottom undercuts, and the bolt slides over the sliding rail when the locking device is located in the locked position and the top framework is located in an intermediate position between the retracted position and the extended position.    
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 28 , which further comprises providing the bolt with a sliding body by way of which the bolt comes into contact with the sliding rail, and in that the sliding body has friction-reducing and impact-absorbing properties.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 27 , which further comprises providing the drive as an electric drive, and grounding the electric drive.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 23 , which further comprises sensing an extended position of the top framework via a sensor device, and the drying and pressing apparatus is ready for operation only when the extended position of the top framework is sensed.  
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises storing, for each of the operating programs in a control device, at least one of a predetermined duration, a predetermined temperature, and a temperature profile over a duration for the air stream.  
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 9 , which further comprises using an indicator lamp as the indicating device.  
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 10 , which further comprises setting the predetermined duration to be 30 minutes.  
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 8 , which further comprises switching off the apparatus such that the apparatus can only be operated again by actuation of a main switch, if the heat accumulator has been preheated and is retained at the preheated level and, if a predetermined duration has elapsed, and the pressing operating program does not start.  
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 8 , which further comprises: 
 switching the apparatus into a rest mode if the heat accumulator has been preheated and is retained at the preheated level and, if a predetermined duration has elapsed, and the pressing operating program does not start, the rest mode switches off the preheating of the heat accumulator; and    terminating the rest mode by actuation of a start switch or some other input device.    
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 17 , which further comprises setting the predetermined duration to be 30 seconds.  
   
   
       38 . The method according to  claim 26 , which further comprises setting the unlocking duration to last 2 seconds.  
   
   
       39 . The method according to  claim 26 , which further comprises using an unlocking indicator lamp as the indicating device.  
   
   
       40 . The method according to  claim 27 , which further comprises providing an electromagnetic lifting drive as the drive.  
   
   
       41 . The method according to  claim 27 , which further comprises providing a spring as the prestressing device.  
   
   
       42 . A drying and pressing apparatus for items of clothing, comprising: 
 a fan;    a top framework;    a bottom framework containing said fan, said top framework being retracted into a retracted position in said bottom framework and extended out of said bottom framework into an extended position;    a flexible pressing dummy having an inside to be subjected to action, from said inside, by an air stream generated by said fan, said flexible pressing dummy having a first section connected to said top framework and a second section connected to said bottom framework;    a locking device for locking said top framework in relation to said bottom framework in the retracted position or in the extended position; and    an input panel having an unlocking input device for unlocking said locking device, upon actuation of said unlocking input device, said locking device being unlocked for a predetermined unlocking duration.    
   
   
       43 . The device according to  claim 42 , wherein: 
 said input panel has an adjustable program-input device for selecting an operating program; and    said input panel has a start switch for starting the operating program.    
   
   
       44 . The device according to  claim 42 , further comprising a heating device having a heat accumulator for heating the air stream.  
   
   
       45 . The device according to  claim 43 , wherein said input panel has a signaling device, said signaling device emitting a signal selected from the group consisting of acoustic signals and optical signals at an end of the operating program.  
   
   
       46 . The device according to  claim 45 , wherein said input panel has a signal-setting input device for changing a characteristic of the signal generated by said signaling device, said signal-setting input device switching on and off the signal and if the signal is an acoustic signal, said signal-setting input device setting a level of loudness of the acoustic signal.  
   
   
       47 . The device according to  claim 43 , wherein said input panel has a stop button for stopping the operating program which is running at any point in time.  
   
   
       48 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said input panel has a main switch for switching the apparatus on and off.  
   
   
       49 . The device according to  claim 43 , wherein said input panel has a single button for start and stop operating functions for starting and stopping a preselected operating program.  
   
   
       50 . A control device for controlling a drying and pressing apparatus for items of clothing, the control device comprising: 
 an input panel having a program-input device programmed to set a multiplicity of different operating programs by adjustment of said program-input device.