JPH09287701A - Steam generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain the action of a discharging electrode extending to a long period of time by providing a delay means which delays the start of a discharging action of the discharging electrode from the start of the action of a steam generating means. SOLUTION: In the grip part 16 of a steam hair brush, a delay block 4 which delays the action of a high pressure generating means 30, based on the start of the turning on to a heater 2 by a switch 17, is installed. The delay block 4 detects the temperature of the heater 2, and starts the turning on to the high pressure generating means 30 when the detected temperature reaches a specified value, and when steam starts generating by the increasing of the temperature of the heater 2, a discharging is started. Or, the delay block 4 starts a time limit by the start of the turning on to the heater 2 by the turning on the switch 17, and after a specified period of time after the start of the power connection to the heater 2, the turning on to the high pressure generating means 30 is started also, and steam generated by the heater 2 is exposed to discharging.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a steam generator,
In particular, it relates to a steam generator having a discharge electrode for steam ionization.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a discharge electrode is arranged in the passage of steam discharged from a steam generating means and the discharge electrode is caused to discharge, it is possible to ionize the steam, and the steam thus ionized becomes particles. For example, when the above ion steam is applied during hair treatment, water easily penetrates into the cuticle of hair. For this reason, a hair treatment device provided with the steam generating device is provided.

[0003]

In the conventional steam generator, since the discharge electrode is repeatedly discharged by applying a high voltage to the discharge electrode at the start of the operation of the steam generating means, the discharge electrode is consumed quickly and the discharge is prevented. The situation in which it was not done would appear relatively early.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a steam generator capable of maintaining the operation of the discharge electrode for a long period of time.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, however, in a steam generator in which a discharge electrode is arranged in the passage of steam emitted from the steam generating means, discharge of the discharge electrode from the start of operation of the steam generating means. It is characterized in that a delay means for delaying the start of the operation is provided.
Since the operating time of the discharge electrode can be shortened, the life of the discharge electrode can be extended.

The delay means detects the value of the current flowing through the heating means in the steam generating means and energizes the discharge electrode in accordance with the detected current value, and starts the time delay from the start of energizing the steam generating means. A timer or the like that starts energizing the discharge electrode when the time is up can be preferably used. It is also preferable that the high-voltage generating means for generating a high voltage supplied to the discharge electrode is provided with an informing means for informing this.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 3 and 4 show a steam hairbrush for hair treatment.
A large number of steam holes 12 are provided on one surface of the brush portion 10 in which 1 is planted, and a water supply tank 13 for water for making steam is detachably attached to the tip of the brush portion 10. ing. And inside the brush unit 10,
A heater 2 as a steam generating means and a discharge electrode 3 are provided.

The heater 2 is a PTC (Positive Characteristic Thermistor)
A water-absorbing material 14 formed in a wedge shape using the above as a heat source, and in which the water in the water supply tank 13 contacts the surface of the heater 2.
When the heat is generated, the contacting water is evaporated to form steam, and the steam is discharged from the steam hole 12 to the outside. The discharge electrode 3 is installed in the steam passage extending from the heater 2 to the steam hole 12, and the steam ejected from the steam hole 12 at the time of the discharge is ion steam.

A switch 17 is provided on the grip portion 16 of the steam hairbrush, and a high voltage generator 30 for generating a high voltage applied to the discharge electrode 3 and a high voltage when the switch 17 starts energizing the heater 2. A delay block 4 for delaying the operation of the generating means 30 and the like are stored. The delay block 4 here detects the temperature of the heater 2 and starts energizing the high-voltage generating means 30 when the detected temperature reaches a predetermined value.
When the temperature of the heater 2 is low and steam is not generated at the beginning of energization, the high-voltage generating means 30 does not operate and accordingly does not discharge, but when the temperature of the heater 2 becomes high and steam starts to generate, discharge occurs. Be started. This operation is shown in FIG.

Another example is shown in FIGS. The delay block 4 here includes a current detection block 40 and a comparison circuit 41.
And a power-on block 45. The current detection block 40 includes a resistor 43 that is connected in series with the heater 2 to generate a voltage drop according to the current value flowing through the heater 2, and an envelope detection circuit 44 that converts the dropped voltage value into direct current. The comparison circuit 41 is the current detection block 40.
When the output voltage of the current detection block 40 is higher than the output voltage of the reference voltage V, the output of the comparison circuit 41 becomes H level, so the relay 46 in the power-on block 45 does not operate, Keep the relay contact 47 off. However, if the output voltage of the current detection block 40 is lower than the reference voltage V, the output of the comparison circuit 41 becomes the L level, so that the relay 46 in the power-on block 45 operates and turns on the relay contact 47. The generating means 30 is activated.

Since the heater 2 is formed of PTC as described above, when the temperature is low as shown in FIG. 7, the resistance value is low and a large amount of current flows, but when the temperature is high, the resistance value is high. Becomes higher and lowers the amount of heat generation, and the temperature becomes constant where the amount of heat (water amount) given to the heater 2 from the water supply tank 13 and the amount of heat generation of the heater 2 are balanced.

As shown in FIG. 6, even if the switch 17 is turned on to start energizing the heater 2, at this time the heater 2 is turned on.
There is a large amount of current flowing in the high-voltage generating means 30, and therefore the high-voltage generating means 30 is not energized. However, when the temperature of the heater 2 rises and steam begins to be generated, the high-voltage generating means 30 is also energized to cause discharge between the discharge electrodes 3. Be started. When steam is not generated in the initial stage of energizing the heater 2, it does not discharge,
Discharging starts when steam begins to occur.

The delay block 4 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is composed of a timer 48 and a power-on block 45 which start a time limit when the heater 2 is energized by turning on the switch 17 and time up after a predetermined time. The predetermined time here is set to the time required from the start of energization of the heater 2 to the generation of steam, for example, 1 minute. After a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of energization of the heater 2, the energization of the high-voltage generating means 30 is also started, and the steam generated by the heater 2 is exposed to discharge.

FIG. 10 shows that when the high voltage generating circuit 30 is operated by a current, the relay 50 is operated by the current to close the contact 51 of the alarm circuit 5 and operate the buzzer 52. Buzzer 52 when discharging
Will be notified. A lamp, a vibration generator, or the like may be used instead of the buzzer 52. It should be noted that such an informing means may be applied to one having any of the above-mentioned delay means.
In the figure, illustration of the delay means is omitted.

The structure of the delay block 4 is not limited to that shown here, and any structure may be used as long as the steam generating means starts operation and starts discharging when steam is generated. Good.

[0016]

As described above, in the present invention, since the delay means for delaying the start of the discharge operation of the discharge electrode from the start of the operation of the steam generating means is provided, the discharge is performed in comparison with the operating time of the steam generating means. The operation time of the electrode can be shortened, and therefore the life of the discharge electrode can be lengthened.Although the operation of the discharge electrode is delayed, the steam generation by the steam generation means There is no problem with getting ion steam because it is delayed from the start of operation.

If the high voltage generating means for generating the high voltage to be supplied to the discharge electrode is provided with a notifying means for notifying this, the user can easily confirm the discharge operation and the high voltage is generated. It is possible to easily determine an abnormality in which discharge has not been performed despite the operation of the means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram of the above.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway front view of the above.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of another example.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view of the above.

FIG. 7 is a temperature-resistance characteristic diagram of the above heater.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of another example.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view of the above.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of another example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Heater 3 Discharge electrode 4 Delay block

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A steam generator in which a discharge electrode is arranged in a passage portion of steam discharged from the steam generating means, comprising a delay means for delaying the start of discharge operation of the discharge electrode from the start of operation of the steam generator. A steam generator characterized by being present. 2. The steam generator according to claim 1, wherein the delay means detects a value of a current flowing through the heating means in the steam generating means and energizes the discharge electrode according to the detected current value. . 3. The delay means is a timer that starts a time delay from the start of energizing the steam generating means and starts energizing the discharge electrode when the time is up.
The steam generator described. 4. The steam generating device according to claim 1, further comprising an informing unit for informing when the high voltage generating unit for generating a high voltage to be supplied to the discharge electrode is in operation.