JP2009165639A - Mist generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mist generator capable of effectively raising a skin barrier function. <P>SOLUTION: A control part controls a heater so as to allow a mist generation amount to be a mist amount A, which is smaller than the stationary generation amount (a mist amount B), for a prescribed time from the start of generation of minus ions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mist generating apparatus that generates mist and negative ions and releases them toward a human body such as a face to care for the skin.

  Conventionally, mist generators have a cosmetic effect such as moisturizing the skin by releasing the mist generated by boiling the liquid with a heater or atomizing with ultrasonic waves toward the human body such as the face. It is used as a device for the purpose of skin care.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mist generating apparatus that releases negative ions simultaneously with mist and performs effective skin care.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-24897

  By the way, the skin potential difference between the stratum corneum surface constituting the skin and the tissue below the epidermis is several mV to several tens mV. However, a negative charge is given to the stratum corneum surface and the skin potential difference is several tens to several mV. It is known that the lipid component in the epidermal granule layer is released between keratinocytes and the barrier function of the skin is improved by setting it to 100 mV.

  However, in the mist generating device described above, mist is generated simultaneously with the generation of negative ions. For example, even when trying to increase the skin potential difference by releasing negative ions to the face, many mists are generated at the same time. The amount of moisture increases, and the negative charge charged on the stratum corneum enters the stratum corneum and flows into the epidermis and dermis. As a result, since the skin potential difference between the stratum corneum surface and the skin tissue below the epidermis cannot be suitably maintained, there is a problem that improvement of the skin barrier function due to negative charging to the stratum corneum is not effectively performed. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mist generator capable of effectively improving the skin barrier function.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 controls the mist generating means for generating mist and the negative ion generating means for generating negative ions by the control unit, and the generated mist and negative ions are controlled. In the mist generating apparatus that sprays on the skin and cares for the user's skin, the control unit generates the mist so that the amount of mist generated is smaller than the steady amount generated for a predetermined time from the start of negative ion generation. The gist is to control the means.

  In the present invention, the mist generating means is controlled by the control unit so that the amount of mist generated is less than the amount of steady generation for a predetermined time from the start of negative ion generation. By releasing negative ions before the amount of water in the stratum corneum increases due to mist, the skin potential difference between the stratum corneum surface and the tissues below the epidermis increases, and lipid components such as ceramide from the granule layer become corneocytes. The skin barrier function can be effectively improved.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the mist generating apparatus according to the first aspect, the negative ion generating means generates negative ions by corona discharge, and an electrode portion that performs the corona discharge has the mist generating means. The gist is that it is provided in the path through which the mist generated in (1) passes.

  In the present invention, the negative ion generating means generates negative ions by corona discharge, and an electrode portion for performing corona discharge is provided in a path through which the mist generated by the mist generating means passes. That is, by performing corona discharge in the path, the mist particles cause Rayleigh splitting and split finely. As a result, a large amount of fine mist charged with negative ions can be generated.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the mist generating apparatus according to the first aspect, the negative ion generating means generates negative ions by corona discharge, and an electrode portion that performs the corona discharge has the mist generating means. The gist is that it is provided separately from the route through which the mist generated in (1) passes.

  In the present invention, the negative ion generating means generates negative ions by corona discharge, and an electrode portion for performing corona discharge is provided separately from a path through which the mist generated by the mist generating means passes. In other words, since corona discharge is performed outside the path, it is less affected by mist compared to the case where corona discharge is performed in the path, and the humidity can be kept low. Leakage current due to mist can be suppressed between the plates (counter electrodes), and stable corona discharge can be performed. Therefore, the negative charge amount by the negative ions of the mist particles can be increased.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the mist generating apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the mist generating means generates the liquid by heating and boiling with a heating device, and the control The gist of the unit is to drive the negative ion generation means when the heating device is started.

  In this invention, the mist generating means is generated by heating and boiling the liquid with the heating device, and the negative ion generating means is driven by the control unit when the heating device is started. As a result, negative ions are generated when the heating device is started, which is when there is no or little water replenishment to the skin by mist, so that negative ions adhere before the amount of water in the stratum corneum increases, The skin potential difference between the surface and the tissue below the epidermis is increased, and lipid components such as ceramide are released between the corneocytes from the granule layer, thereby improving the skin barrier function.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is the mist generating apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein a pair of skin potential differences between the stratum corneum surface of the user's skin and the skin tissue below the epidermis are detected. The negative ion generating means is configured so that the potential difference detected by the skin potential difference sensor is within a range in which lipid components are preferably released from the granular layer. The gist of this is to control.

  In the present invention, a skin potential difference sensor comprising a pair of electrodes for detecting a skin potential difference between the stratum corneum surface of the user's skin and the skin tissue below the epidermis is detected, and is detected by the skin potential difference sensor by the control unit. The negative ion generating means is controlled in such a manner that the potential difference falls within the range in which the lipid component is suitably released from the granular layer. This makes it possible to control the amount of negative ions generated while detecting the skin potential difference. By controlling the skin potential difference in such a manner that the lipid component is suitably released from the granular layer, it is more effective. The skin barrier function can be improved.

The gist of the invention described in claim 6 is that, in the mist generator according to claim 5, a conductive water retaining portion is provided on one of the pair of electrodes.
In this invention, an electroconductive water retention part is provided in one of a pair of electrodes. In other words, by bringing the skin into contact with the electrode provided with a conductive water retention part, the amount of water in the stratum corneum of the skin increases, and the skin tissue below the stratum corneum surface and the epidermis is at the same level, The potential of the skin tissue below the epidermis can be easily measured, and the potential difference of the skin can be easily and reliably measured simply by bringing both electrodes into contact with the stratum corneum surface.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the mist generator which can improve the barrier function of skin effectively can be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a tank holder 3 is provided in the main body case 2 of the mist generating device 1. The tank holder 3 is detachably provided with a tank 4 for supplying a liquid such as water. The tank 4 is disposed such that the opening is closed by a lid portion 4a provided with a water stop pin (not shown) and the lid portion 4a is on the lower side. The tank holder 3 is provided with a projecting pin (not shown) having a shape corresponding to the water stop pin. The tank 4 is arranged in the tank holder 3 in a state where liquid is injected, so that the water-stopping pin is pushed in by the protruding pin, the watertightness is released, and the liquid in the tank 4 flows out. The holder 3 stores the liquid that has flowed out of the tank 4.

  The tank holder 3 is connected to a liquid reservoir 6 formed at a lower portion in the main body case 2 via a liquid supply path 5. The liquid reservoir 6 is supplied with the liquid in the tank holder 3 via the liquid supply path 5 and is stored up to the same water level as the tank holder 3. On the left and right side surfaces of the liquid reservoir 6 are provided mist generating means for heating and boiling the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir 6 and a heater 7 as a heating device. A mist flow path 8 as a cylindrical path extending along the vertical direction of the main body case 2 is formed in the upper part of the liquid reservoir 6. In the mist flow path 8, a corona discharge unit 10 is provided as negative ion generation means for generating negative ions. The corona discharge unit 10 includes a high-voltage power supply circuit 11, a needle-like discharge needle 12, and a semicylindrical counter plate 13 connected to the ground. The high-voltage power supply circuit 11 discharges the discharge needle 12 and the counter plate 13. By applying a high voltage between them, corona discharge is generated and negative ions are generated.

  In the upper part of the mist flow path 8, a discharge port 14 for discharging mist is disposed. When the liquid in the liquid reservoir 6 is heated and boiled by the heater 7, mist is discharged from the discharge port 14, negative ions generated by the corona discharge unit 10 are discharged, and the negative ions are mixed with the mist. As a result, the mist is negatively charged.

  The body case 2 of the mist generating apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a skin potential difference sensor 22 including a first electrode portion 20 and a second electrode portion 21 that detect a skin potential difference for skin care such as a face. Is provided.

  The 1st electrode part 20 is comprised by the electrode 20a comprised from highly conductive metal materials, such as silver and silver chloride, and is attached to skin, such as a user's face sprayed with mist. .

  The second electrode portion 21 is a water retaining material composed of an electrode 21a composed of a highly conductive metal material such as silver or silver chloride, and a polymer gel having conductivity while being provided on the outer surface of the electrode 21a. A case housing 23 formed so as to surround the second electrode portion 21 is fixed to the main body case 2. The case housing 23 includes a portion 21 b and a bypass passage 21 c that supplies water from the tank holder 3 to the water retaining portion 21 b. Has been. The bypass flow path 21c is connected to the tank holder 3 and supplies the liquid stored in the tank holder 3 to the water retention part 21b so that the water retention part 21b can be maintained wet. The second electrode portion 21 is touched by the user's finger to supply moisture to the stratum corneum of the finger so that the potential difference between the stratum corneum surface and the skin tissue below the epidermis is at the same level. As a result, the stratum corneum surface of the finger can be regarded as the skin tissue below the epidermis of the skin that performs skin care such as the face, and the skin potential difference of the skin that performs skin care can be easily detected.

  The control unit 30 to which the first electrode unit 20 and the second electrode unit 21 are connected calculates a potential difference (skin potential difference) detected by the first electrode unit 20 and the second electrode unit 21. . In addition, the control unit 30 is connected to the high voltage power supply circuit 11 of the heater 7 and the corona discharge unit 10 and controls each unit.

Next, operation | movement of the mist generator 1 mentioned above is demonstrated.
First, when a liquid such as water is injected into the tank 4 and installed in the tank holder 3, the water stop pin of the lid 4 a of the tank 4 is pushed into the inside of the tank 4 by the protruding pin provided on the tank holder 3. The water tightness of the lid 4 a is released, the liquid in the tank 4 is stored in the tank holder 3, water is passed through the liquid supply path 5, and the liquid is stored in the liquid reservoir 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, when a switch (not shown) of the mist generating device 1 is turned on, the control unit 30 starts a measurement by operating a built-in timer (not shown) (step S10).
Next, the control unit 30 activates the heater 7 (step S20) to heat the liquid in the liquid reservoir 6. At this time, the control unit 30 sets the mist amount to be discharged from the discharge port 14 as the mist amount A that is less than the steady production amount (for example, 6 cc / min) (step S30), and the heater 7 is set so as to become the mist amount A. Control. Simultaneously with the control of the heater 7, the control unit 30 applies a high voltage E between the discharge needle 12 and the counter plate 13 of the corona discharge unit 10 by the high-voltage power supply circuit 11 (step S <b> 40) to generate negative ions. And the control part 30 is skin of the skin which performs skin care with the 1st electrode part 20 with which the mist was sprayed, such as a user's face, and the 2nd electrode part 21 contacted with a user's finger | toe Measurement of the potential difference Va is started (step S50).

The control unit 30 compares the measurement time T measured by the timer with a preset set time Ta (step S60).
If the measurement time T is equal to or longer than the set time Ta (step S60: NO), the control unit 30 sets the mist amount released from the discharge port 14 as a mist amount B (for example, 6 cc / min) that is a steady production amount ( Step S100), the heater 7 is controlled so that the mist amount B is obtained.

  If the measurement time T is less than the set time Ta (step S60: YES), the control unit 30 determines the skin potential difference Va by the skin potential difference sensor 22 (the first electrode unit 20 and the second electrode unit 21) and a preset maximum potential difference. Comparison with Vmax is performed (step S70).

  If the skin potential difference Va is greater than or equal to the maximum potential difference Vmax (step S70: NO), the control unit 30 reduces the voltage E applied between the discharge needle 12 and the opposing plate 13 by a predetermined amount α (E ← E− α) is applied (step S71). Thereafter, the control unit 30 performs processing from step S60.

  On the other hand, if the skin potential difference Va is less than the maximum potential difference Vmax (step S70: YES), the control unit 30 compares the skin potential difference Va with a preset minimum potential difference Vmin (step S80). If the skin potential difference Va is equal to or less than the minimum potential difference Vmin (step S80: NO), the control unit 30 increases the voltage E applied between the discharge needle 12 and the opposing plate 13 by a predetermined amount α (E ← E + α). Then, application is performed (step S81). Thereafter, the control unit 30 performs processing from step S60. If skin potential difference Va is larger than minimum potential difference Vmin (step S80: YES), control unit 30 performs processing from step S60.

  As described above, in Steps S70 and S71 and Steps S80 and S81, the corona discharge unit 10 is controlled by the control unit 30 so that the minimum potential difference Vmin <skin potential difference Va <maximum potential difference Vmax. Lipid components such as ceramide are suitably released between the corneocytes, and the skin barrier function is further improved.

Next, characteristic actions and effects of the present embodiment will be described.
(1) The heater 7 is controlled by the control unit 30 so that the mist generation amount becomes a mist amount A that is smaller than the steady generation amount (mist amount B) for a predetermined time from the start of negative ion generation. By releasing negative ions before the amount of water in the stratum corneum increases due to mist, the skin potential difference between the stratum corneum surface and the tissues below the epidermis increases, and lipid components such as ceramide from the granule layer become corneocytes. The skin barrier function can be effectively improved.

  (2) A corona discharge unit 10 (discharge needle 12 and counter plate 13) that performs corona discharge is provided in a mist flow path 8 through which mist generated by heating and boiling of a liquid passes through a heater 7. That is, when corona discharge is performed in the mist flow path 8, the particles of the mist cause Rayleigh splitting and finely split. As a result, a large amount of fine mist charged with negative ions can be generated.

  (3) The liquid is heated and boiled by the heater 7 to generate mist, and the corona discharge unit 10 is driven by the control unit 30 when the heater 7 is started. As a result, negative ions are generated with the start of the heater 7 when there is no or little water replenishment to the skin by the mist. Therefore, the negative ions adhere before the amount of water in the stratum corneum increases. The skin potential difference between the surface of the layer and the tissue below the epidermis is increased, and lipid components such as ceramide are released between the corneocytes from the granule layer, thereby improving the skin barrier function.

  (4) Skin composed of a pair of electrodes 20a (first electrode portion 20) and electrodes 21a (second electrode portion 21) for detecting a skin potential difference between the stratum corneum surface of the user's skin and the skin tissue below the epidermis The corona discharge unit 10 is controlled so that the potential difference detected by the skin potential difference sensor 22 is within a range in which lipid components such as ceramide are suitably released from the granule layer. . This makes it possible to control the amount of negative ions generated while detecting the skin potential difference. By controlling the skin potential difference in such a manner that the lipid component is suitably released from the granular layer, it is more effective. The skin barrier function can be improved.

  (5) A conductive water retaining portion 21b is provided on the electrode 21a of the pair of electrodes 20a and 21a. That is, when the skin is brought into contact with the electrode 21a provided with the conductive water retaining portion 21b, the amount of water in the stratum corneum of the skin increases, and the potential difference between the stratum corneum surface and the skin tissue below the epidermis becomes the same level. Therefore, the potential of the skin tissue below the epidermis can be easily measured, and the potential difference of the skin can be easily and reliably measured simply by bringing both electrodes 20a and 21a into contact with the stratum corneum surface.

The embodiment of the present invention may be modified as follows.
In the above embodiment, a method of heating and boiling the liquid in the liquid reservoir 6 with the heater 7 is adopted as a means for generating mist. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The mist may be generated by a method using a venturi effect known from a principle such as spraying.

  In the above-described embodiment, corona discharge is used to generate negative ions. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and water molecules are crushed by diffusing liquid with a propeller rotated at a high speed or the like. The negative ion generation method of the formula may be adopted. In addition, a method of generating negative ions using an electron emission method or the like may be employed.

  In the above embodiment, the corona discharge part 10 (the discharge needle 12 and the counter plate 13) is provided in the mist flow path 8. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and is separate from the mist flow path 8 as shown in FIG. It may be provided. That is, since the corona discharge is performed outside the mist flow path 8, the influence of the mist is less and the humidity can be kept lower than the case where the corona discharge is performed in the mist flow path 8. Even in this case, the leakage current due to mist can be suppressed between the discharge needle 12 and the counter plate 13, and stable corona discharge can be performed. Therefore, the negative charge amount by the negative ions of the mist particles can be increased.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first electrode portion 20 and the second electrode portion 21 are configured separately. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and may be configured integrally as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the first electrode portion 20 is provided on the upper surface of the substantially square box-shaped sensing probe 41 connected to the main body case 2 via the outer tube 40, and the second electrode portion 21 is provided below the sensing probe 41. The accommodated case housing 23 is fixed. When the sensing probe 41 is gripped by the user, the user's palm and the second electrode portion 21 are in contact with each other, and the first electrode portion 20 is brought into contact with a location where mist is sprayed, such as the face, so that the skin potential difference Va. Can be detected. In the jacket tube 40, there is a bypass channel 21 c for supplying a liquid to a lead wire connecting the control unit 30 and the first and second electrode units 20, 21 and a water retaining unit 21 b of the second electrode unit 21. Contained.

  In the above embodiment, the skin potential difference sensor 22 composed of the first electrode portion 20 and the second electrode portion 21 is used, but it may not be used. For example, conditions such as a mist amount and a discharge amount (negative ion generation amount) in which lipid components such as ceramide are suitably released between the corneocytes from the granule layer are obtained by experiments in advance, and the control unit 30 under the suitable conditions. Each unit may be controlled by the above.

  In the above embodiment, the mist amount A is changed to the mist amount B at a timing preset by the control unit 30 (after a predetermined time has elapsed). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be operated by the user, for example. Such a switch may be provided in the mist generator 1, and the amount of mist may be changed at the operation timing of the switch, that is, at the timing desired by the user.

  Further, for example, the control unit 30 may control the heater 7 so that the mist amount B is set in advance, and the corona discharge unit 10 may be operated to generate negative ions when the heater 7 is started. That is, it is similar to the state where the amount of mist is naturally suppressed by using the time required for the liquid to be heated and boiled by the heater 7, and the heater 7 becomes the mist amount A by generating negative ions during that time. Thus, it is possible to improve the barrier function of the equivalent skin without the need for control.

  In the above embodiment, the voltage E is increased or decreased by the predetermined amount α according to the conditions shown in step S70 or step S80, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the minimum potential difference Vmin <skin potential difference Va <maximum potential difference Vmax is far from the condition, the increase / decrease amount may be appropriately displaced, such as increasing the increase / decrease value.

It is a schematic block diagram of the mist generator in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control method of the mist generator in the same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of the mist generator in another example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mist generator, 7 ... Heater (mist production | generation means and heating apparatus), 10 ... Corona discharge part (negative ion production | generation means), 20a, 21a ... Electrode, 21b ... Water retention part, 22 ... Skin potential difference sensor, 30 ... Control Department.

Claims (6)

In a mist generating apparatus for controlling a user's skin by controlling a mist generating means for generating mist and a negative ion generating means for generating negative ions by a control unit, and spraying the generated mist and negative ions to the skin. ,
The said control part controls the said mist production | generation means so that the production amount of mist may be smaller than a steady production amount for the predetermined time from the time of the start of negative ion production. The mist generating apparatus according to claim 1,
The negative ion generating means generates negative ions by corona discharge,
The mist generating apparatus characterized in that an electrode portion for performing the corona discharge is provided in a path through which the mist generated by the mist generating means passes. The mist generating apparatus according to claim 1,
The negative ion generating means generates negative ions by corona discharge,
The mist generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an electrode portion for performing the corona discharge is provided separately from a path through which the mist generated by the mist generating means passes. In the mist generator as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The mist generating means is generated by heating and boiling a liquid with a heating device,
The said control part drives the said negative ion production | generation means with the starting of the said heating apparatus, The mist generator characterized by the above-mentioned. In the mist generator as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
A skin potential difference sensor comprising a pair of electrodes for detecting a skin potential difference between the stratum corneum surface of the user's skin and the skin tissue below the epidermis;
The control unit controls the negative ion generating means so that the potential difference detected by the skin potential difference sensor falls within a range in which lipid components are preferably released from the epidermal granule layer. . The mist generator according to claim 5, wherein
The mist generator characterized by providing the electroconductive water retention part in one of said pair of electrodes.

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