JPH038A - Dryer incorporated with moisture sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent hair from being excessively dried, and to eliminate uncomfortable feelings caused by frequent variations in the temperature of blown air, by controlling a hot air generating means in accordance with an output from a moisture determining means for determining that a moisture sensor delivers a high moisture rate which is higher than a set value, so as to set the blown air to a high temperature, and then controlling the same so as to set the blown air to a low temperature after a predetermined time elapsing from the time when no output concerning the determination of the high moisture rate is delivered. CONSTITUTION:A moisture rate in hair, which can be obtained from an electrostatic capacity or an electrical resistance, is detected by a moisture sensor provided in a hair brush 10 while the air being brushed. When it is high, air blown from a hot air generating means 103 is set to a high temperature so as to dry the hair fast. Meanwhile, if it is low, the air is controlled so as to be set to a low temperature. That is, when the moisture is high, the air is preferentially set to a high temperature. However, a low temperature air operating means 107 controls the air so as to set the temperature thereof to a low value through the intermediary of a delay means 6 if the moisture is continuously low for a predetermined time (for example, several seconds to several ten seconds) from the last time when a high humidity is detected. With this arrangement in which the blown air is set to a high temperature when the moisture of the hair is high while being set to a low temperature when the moisture is low, the hair may be dried effectively at a high temperature, and the hair may be prevented from being excessively dried since the blow air is set to a low temperature if the moisture is below a predetermined moisture rate, thereby it is possible to prevent the hair from being damaged.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention includes a moisture sensor attached to a part of a hair brush to detect the moisture content of the hair while brushing the hair.
The present invention relates to a dryer with a moisture sensor that optimally controls air temperature according to the moisture content.

[Conventional technology]

A common method for indirectly measuring the moisture content 4 of hair is to measure it using the capacitance (permittivity) or electrical resistance (dielectric loss) of the hair.

This takes advantage of the characteristics of water, which has a higher dielectric constant and lower dielectric loss than other substances.

Japanese Utility Model Application No. 63-95508 discloses a method for measuring the moisture content of hair and controlling a hair dryer using this method.

This detects the moisture content by pinching a part of the hair with a moisture sensor, and controls the dryer to stop when the hair reaches an appropriate dryness rate (11 to 13%).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, this method can only measure the moisture content of the hair in the pinched part, and since the moisture content of the measured part and other parts of the hair are different, the overall moisture content cannot be accurately determined. Also,
When measuring moisture content over a wide area, it is necessary to open and close the moisture sensor to pinch the hair each time the measurement location is changed, which is a disadvantage in that it is extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive.

The great advantage of this invention is that the moisture content of hair can be easily and quickly measured while brushing, and the air temperature can be adjusted according to the moisture content, which prevents excessive drying of the hair and prevents frequent changes in air temperature. To provide a dryer with a moisture sensor that can eliminate discomfort.

[Means to solve the problem]

As shown in FIG. 1(A), the dryer with a moisture sensor according to the invention of claim (1) includes a moisture sensor 102 provided in a part of a hair brush 101 and a hot air generating means 103. The dryer is provided with a high moisture content determining means 104 that determines that the moisture sensor 102 has detected a high moisture content that is higher than a set value.

A high air temperature operating means 105 is provided which preferentially controls the hot air generating means 103 to a high air temperature based on the high moisture content judgment output of the high moisture content judgment means 104.
A low air temperature operation means is provided for controlling the hot air generating means 107 to a low air temperature after the high moisture content determination output of 04 is lost. A delay means 106 is provided between the high moisture content determination means 104 and the low air temperature operation means 107 to delay the operation until a certain period of time has elapsed.

The invention of claim (2) provides a proportional control means 108 that controls the air temperature of the hot air generation means 103 in substantially proportion to the moisture content after the delay time of the delay means 106. A maximum moisture content input means 109 is provided for inputting the highest moisture content within a certain period of time before the elapse of the delay time to the proportional control means 108 as this moisture content.

[For production]

In the invention of claim (1), a moisture sensor provided in the hair brush 101 detects the moisture content of the hair while brushing it, based on the capacitance or electrical resistance of the hair. When the moisture content is high, the hot air generating means 103 is set to a high air temperature to dry quickly, and when the moisture content is low, the air temperature is controlled to be low. When the moisture content is high, the air temperature is preferentially set to high.
(several 10 seconds) When the moisture content continues to be low, the air temperature should be low. Here, high wind temperature and low wind temperature refer to high and low wind temperatures at the same air volume.

In the invention of claim (2), proportional control is performed to make the air temperature approximately proportional to the moisture content after the delay time has elapsed.

This moisture content is the highest moisture content within a certain period of time before the □ delay time elapses.

〔Example〕

A first embodiment of this invention will be explained based on FIGS. 2 to 6.

FIG. 2 is an overall view, in which a moisture sensor 4 is placed approximately in the center of the bristle base 3 on which the bristles 2 of the hair brush l are implanted.
is installed. This hair brush 1 is a dryer body 5
is detachably attached and can be removed by pressing the attachment/detachment button 9.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the moisture sensor 4. 7.8 is a pair of electrodes, and electrode pieces 7a and 7b of each electrode 7.8
, 8a, and sb are alternately arranged facing each other on the insulating base portion 3a of the bristle base 3. Electrode pieces 7a, 7b, 8a
, the opposing sides of the Fib serve as surfaces for measuring moisture content, and the other ends are covered with an insulator 6.

This insulator 6 facilitates the introduction of hair between the surfaces for measuring moisture content, and eliminates the influence of hair other than the hair between the surfaces for measuring moisture content. Reference numeral 10 denotes a hot air outlet, which also has the effect of removing moisture and dust between the moisture content measurement surfaces.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the hair brush 1, and shows the moisture sensor 4.
The electrodes 7 and 8 are directly connected to the connector 3 of the printed circuit board 12, so that the relative distance between the electrodes does not change, which provides stable detection accuracy and facilitates manufacturing. In addition, the heat shield 11 on the printed circuit board 12 eliminates the influence of hot air from the dryer 5, and a shielding material (not shown) is provided on the inner surface of the housing of the hair brush 1 to eliminate the influence of hands from the back side. It has become commonplace. There is a part of the detection circuit on the printed circuit board 12,
This output is detachably connected to a circuit within the dryer body 5 via a connector 14.

FIG. 5 is an electrical circuit diagram, and FIG. 6 is its timing chart. Hair capacitance has a positive correlation with moisture content.

The capacitance between the electrodes 7 and 8 of the moisture sensor 4 constitutes a part of the oscillator 15, and obtains an oscillation output with a frequency (negative correlation) according to the capacitance. This output is converted into a DC voltage via a buffer 16 by a frequency-voltage (F-V) conversion circuit 17 and an amplifier 18.

This output is sent to a comparator 19 which is a means for determining high moisture content.
It is compared with a reference voltage at , and when the detected moisture content is high, the output is low and the moisture content is displayed on ED21. Further, this output is input to the power control circuit 20. Here, the monostable multi-by-break 22, which is a delay means, detects the rising edge of the input and
sec) The OR output of the high output and the inverted output of the input is input to the transistor 23. This transistor 2
3, a current is passed through the relay coil 25a and the power display LED 24 when a high moisture content is detected and for a certain period of time after the high moisture content is last detected. 26 is a hot air generation circuit, and a commercial power source 27 is inputted to the heater 29 and motor 31 via a power switch 32. The power selector switch 33 is connected to a part of the heater 29 and a voltage dividing resistor 3o of the motor 31.
The heater power and motor rotation speed are switched in parallel.

A diode 28 and a relay contact 25b are connected in series with the heater 29.
parallel circuits are connected. Relay contact 25b is OFF
When it is F, the heater 29 has half power due to the diode 28, and when it is ON, it has full power. motor 3
The rotation speed of 1 is constant regardless of the relay contact 25b.
゜Therefore, the power changeover switch 33 allows the relay contact 25b to be turned on in both high and low output cases of the dryer 5, that is, when a high moisture content is detected and for a certain period of time after the last high moisture content was detected. will result in high wind temperatures. When the relay contact 25b is OFF, that is, after a certain period of time has elapsed since the last high moisture content was detected, the air volume remains unchanged and the electric power is halved, resulting in a low air temperature.

The timing chart in FIG. 6 shows the state when hair is dried after washing, and the operation will be explained based on this. 6(A) to 6(D) show signal waveforms at locations A to D in FIG. 5, respectively.

At the initial stage when the power is turned on, there is no hair between the moisture content measurement surfaces of the electrodes 7 and 8 of the moisture sensor 4, and the capacitance between the electrodes is small, so the oscillation frequency of the oscillator 15 becomes high. The F-V conversion circuit 17 generates a high voltage, but since it is inverted by the amplifier 18, its output becomes a low voltage as shown in FIG. 6(A).

At this time, the output of the transistor 23 becomes as shown in FIG. 6(D), and since it is OFF, the relay 25 is OFF,
The electric power of the heater 29 is small, and the temperature of the dryer main body 5 is a low air temperature. When the hair brush 1 is applied to the hair and brushed, wet hair is introduced between the moisture content measurement surfaces of the electrodes 7.8, and at that moment (at point 10) the capacitance between the electrodes increases due to the hair with a high moisture content. becomes larger, the oscillation station □ wave number of the oscillator 15 becomes lower, the transistor 23 is turned on, and the relay 25 is driven and turned on. Therefore, the air temperature of the dryer main body 5 becomes high. The next low voltage in FIG. 6(A) is because the hair blunt 1 has separated from the hair after brushing, but when the hair is introduced into the moisture sensor 4 again by the next brushing operation, the moisture content is high. It detects the rate and becomes a high voltage. However, in the power control circuit 20, the relay 25 remains ON even if the moisture content is low within a certain period of time due to the action of the monostable multi-by-break 22, so the dryer body 5 remains at a high air temperature. . This high wind temperature effectively dries the hair, and the moisture content gradually decreases. Here, the reference level a in FIG. 6(A) is set to a voltage corresponding to a moisture content suitable for switching the dryer from high air temperature to low air temperature. This moisture content is preferably about 15 to 20%, which is slightly higher than the optimum moisture content of hair. This level may vary depending on the user's preference, so it may be possible to make it variable.

As the hair gradually becomes dry and the moisture content becomes lower than the reference level a, the output of the transistor 23 becomes as shown in FIG.
As shown in D), the voltage becomes high, the relay 25 is turned off, and the air temperature becomes low.

Here, the certain period of time is several seconds to several tens of seconds, preferably about 10 seconds. This is because the hair does not hit the moisture sensor 4 during the hair brushing operation after one brushing by the hair brush 1 until the next brushing. This is to prevent the hair from being cut, and in consideration of variations in the way the hair hits the moisture sensor 4, the brushing operation time is set to be as long as several brushing operations. Further, this certain period of time is determined to be short enough to prevent damage to the hair due to overdrying due to high air temperature even if the hair is applied to the same location for a long time.

This prevents the user from feeling uncomfortable due to frequent switching between high and low air temperatures due to each time brushing or due to variations in the detection level around the reference level a. Also, choose a low air temperature that will not cause overdrying even if used for a long time. The moisture content display LED 21 lights up when a high moisture content is detected. In this embodiment, there is only one stage, but a large number can be provided to provide a multi-stage moisture content display.

Furthermore, since it is difficult for the user to see the display when the hair is in contact with the hair, a latch mechanism is provided so that the display is maintained while the latch switch is pressed, or the maximum moisture content during that period is maintained and displayed while the latch switch is pressed. You may also do so. Furthermore, a buzzer may be installed to notify when the moisture content is high, or the tone may be changed depending on the moisture content.

By doing this, the user can simply blow dry the hair while brushing it with the hair dryer attached to the hair brush 1, and the air temperature will be automatically controlled, ensuring optimal drying without overdrying. You can also see how dry your hair is.

Here, there are two stages of high wind temperature and low wind temperature, but it is also possible to add cold air to this to create three stages.

FIG. 7 is an electric circuit diagram of the second embodiment, and FIG.
) corresponds to the invention of

An output oscillated by an oscillator 15 including the moisture sensor 4 at a frequency that has a negative correlation with the capacitance between the electrodes of the moisture sensor, that is, the moisture content of the hair, is directly input to the control circuit 34 via the buffer 16. Ru.

The control circuit 34 detects the frequency of the input signal and converts it into moisture content. In addition, a zero-crossing signal is input from the zero-crossing detection circuit 35 that detects the zero-crossing point of the alternating current of the open power supply 27, and the signal is connected in series with the heater 29 via the phototriac 37 so that the heater power corresponds to the detected moisture content. The phase of the connected triac 39 is controlled. 38 is a main body circuit of the dryer main body 5. The control circuit 34 and the triac 39 constitute proportional control means.

The motor 31 rotates at a constant speed regardless of the moisture content, and the air volume is constant. Therefore, the air temperature is approximately proportional to the heater power. Here, a method for controlling the heater power, that is, the air temperature, according to the moisture content will be described. - hydratactic rate (approximately 15
When a high moisture content region (~20%) or more is detected, the maximum power is applied and is maintained for a certain period of time (several seconds to several 1O seconds). If high moisture content is not detected for a certain period of time after the last high moisture content was detected, the heater power will be proportional to the maximum moisture content (roughly proportional), and from then on, The heater power is controlled in accordance with the rate.

By doing this, the hair is effectively dried with the maximum power until the moisture content reaches a certain level, and when the moisture content reaches a certain level, the heater power is adjusted accordingly to match the degree of dryness of the hair. drying and therefore over-drying (approximately 10% or less) can be prevented. Here too, the display/notification circuit 36 provides a display or a buzzer notification to inform the user of the detected moisture content.

Here, the detection accuracy of the moisture content depends on how the hair is introduced into the moisture sensor 4, but when the moisture content is low, the hair spreads out,
The amount introduced into the moisture sensor 4 tends to decrease, and is detected lower than the actual amount. Therefore, a means for correcting the detection level to a higher value is provided in the control circuit 34. This control circuit 3
4 can be easily configured using a microcontroller.

In the first embodiment, the power control signal is insulated from the commercial power supply by a relay, and in the second embodiment, by a phototriac, the power supply for the detection circuit is insulated from the commercial power supply by a transformer, etc., and the moisture sensor 4 is connected to the user. prevents electric shock. Another method for preventing electric shock is to coat the moisture content measuring surface of the electrode 7.8 of the moisture sensor 4 with a thin insulating coating.

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment, and claims (1) and (2)
) corresponds to both inventions.

The hair brush 1 and the dryer main body 5 are separated, and the hair brush 1 has a moisture sensor 4 disposed approximately in the center on the bristle base 3 on which the brussels 2 are implanted, and a detection signal is input to the control circuit 40. be done.

The control circuit 40 displays the level on the display 41 and notifies the buzzer 42 according to the detected moisture content. Also,
The air temperature of the dryer main body 5 is controlled according to the moisture content. 43
is the power cord.

While brushing the hair with the hair brush 1, the user checks the current moisture content through the notifications on the display 41 and the buzzer 42, and then dries the hair with the dryer body 5. The user can check the current moisture content and overall dryness. Therefore, dry areas can be concentrated and dried efficiently.

In each of the above embodiments, the air temperature is controlled by keeping the air volume constant and controlling the heater power, or it may be controlled together with the air volume and the heater power.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The hair dryer with a moisture sensor of this invention has a moisture sensor installed in the hair brush, so there is no need for any operation to measure the moisture content, and the moisture content can be detected by normal brushing and setting with the hair brush. Ru. In addition, we have provided a means for determining high moisture content, so that when the moisture content is high, the air temperature is high, and when the moisture content is low, the air temperature is low. This allows for effective drying with high air temperatures and constant drying. When the main fraction is lowered, the air temperature is low, which prevents overdrying of the hair and does not damage the hair.

In addition, while hair always separates from the hair brush during brushing, priority is given to the air temperature according to the maximum moisture content within a certain period of time, and a delay means is used to maintain the air temperature for a certain period of time, so the air temperature This prevents the hair from changing, causing no discomfort to the user, and effectively drying the hair.

The dryer with a moisture sensor according to the invention of claim (2) has the effect of further preventing overdrying and improving drying efficiency, since when the water running rate is below the moisture content, the air temperature is proportionally controlled accordingly. There is.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1(A) is a functional block diagram of the structure of the invention of claim (1), Fig. 1(B) is a functional block diagram of the structure of the invention of claim (2), and Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of the structure of the invention of claim (2). A plan view of the first embodiment, FIG. 3(A) is an enlarged plan view of the moisture sensor installation part of the hair brush, FIG. 3(B) is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3(A), Figure 3 (C) is a sectional view taken along the line C-C in Figure 3 (A), Figure 4 is a cutaway side view of the dryer with a moisture sensor, Figure 5 is its electric circuit diagram, and Figure 6 is the same. FIG. 7 is a timing chart of the electric circuit, FIG. 7 is an electric circuit diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a configuration explanatory diagram of the third embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Hair brush, 2... Bristle, 4... Moisture sensor, 5...-Dryer body, 15... Oscillator,
17... Frequency-voltage conversion circuit, 19... - Comparator as high moisture content determination means, 20... Power control circuit, 22... Monostable multivibrator as delay means, 29... Heater, 31...Motor, 101...
Hair brush, 102... Moisture sensor, 103... Warm air generation means, 104... High moisture content determination means, 105.
... High wind temperature operation means, 106 ... Delay means □ means, 107
... Low air temperature operation means, 108 ... Proportional control means, 109 ... Maximum moisture content input means Funeral diagram Figure L + Figure Procedure amendment (voluntary) Patent Application No. 133815 2゜Name of the invention Dryer with moisture sensor 3゜Relationship with Hanyu

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a hair dryer equipped with a moisture sensor in which a moisture sensor is provided in a part of the hair brush and a hot air generating means is provided, high moisture content determination is performed to determine that the moisture sensor has detected a high moisture content that is higher than a set value. and high air temperature operation means for controlling the hot air generating means to a high air temperature preferentially based on the high moisture content judgment output of the high moisture content judgment means, The present invention is characterized in that a delay means is provided for delaying the determination until a certain period of time has passed after the determination output disappears, and a low air temperature operation means is provided for controlling the hot air generating means to a low air temperature after the delay time of the delay means. Dryer with moisture sensor. (2) In a hair dryer equipped with a moisture sensor in which a moisture sensor is provided in a part of the hair brush and a hot air generating means is provided, high moisture content determination is performed to determine that the moisture sensor has detected a high moisture content that is higher than a set value. and high air temperature operation means for controlling the hot air generating means to a high air temperature preferentially based on the high moisture content judgment output of the high moisture content judgment means, A delay means is provided for delaying the determination until a certain period of time has elapsed after the determination output disappears, and a proportional control means is provided for controlling the air temperature of the warm air generating means substantially in proportion to the moisture content after the delay time of the delay means. A dryer with a moisture sensor provided with a maximum moisture content input means for inputting a maximum moisture content within a certain period of time before the elapse of the delay time as the moisture content of the proportional control means.