JP3133619B2 - Automatic hair washer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a business-use hair washer used in a barber shop, a beauty salon or the like. In particular, it enhances the effect of the treatment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a business-use hair washer, a hair-washing person has been put into a water tank and hot water is sprayed from a plurality of nozzles to wash the hair. Further, when performing the treatment, a mixture of a treatment liquid and warm water is sprayed to perform the treatment.

[0003]

By the way, it is said that for a more effective treatment, it is better to apply the treatment liquid to the hair and then steam it for several minutes. In fact, in the manual treatment work, the hair is first uniformly wetted, and then the treatment liquid is applied evenly to the hair. Next, the whole head is covered with a towel and covered, and steamed for 5 to 15 minutes with a steamer.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic hair washer capable of performing a more effective treatment consistently without labor.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an automatic hair washer according to the present invention is characterized in that a water tank for accommodating a head of a person to be washed and a head for the head of the person to be washed are accommodated. Close to
The face of the person to be washed is exposed, and its head is
Automatic hair washing having a hood for covering in a closed state, an injection unit disposed in the water bath, for injecting hot water toward the hair of the person to be washed, and a treatment step executing unit for mixing a treatment liquid into the injected hot water. The apparatus further comprises a steaming step executing means for maintaining the inside of the water tank in a high-temperature and high-humidity state for a predetermined time after injection of the hot water mixed with the treatment liquid by the treatment step executing means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the automatic hair washer according to the first aspect, wherein the steaming step executing means is provided so that the scalp and the hair are not directly applied to the scalp and the hair in the water tank. And hot water spraying means for spraying hot water having a higher temperature than the hot water at the time of spraying. In addition, the automatic hair washer according to claim 3 is based on claim 2.
Wherein the hot water spraying means repeats the intermittent operation for a predetermined time a predetermined number of times.

[0007]

[0008]

According to the construction of the first aspect of the present invention, first, the head of the person to be washed is sprayed with hot water by the spraying means and wetted entirely. Next, the treatment liquid is mixed into the warm water by the treatment step executing means. The warm water mixed with the treatment liquid is jetted by the jetting means, and the treatment liquid is sprayed on the head of the person to be washed. In this state, the head of the person to be washed is kept in a high-temperature and high-humidity state for a predetermined time and is steamed by the steaming step executing means. As a result, the treatment liquid sufficiently acts on the scalp and hair, and an effective treatment is performed. In addition, accommodation of the head of the person to be washed
The closed water tank is sealed. By being sealed,
Prevents air in the tank from leaking out
Temperature and humidity in the humidified water tank
More efficiently held, the head of the shampoo in this aquarium
The part can be steamed more thoroughly. Also waste of heat
Does not occur.

According to the construction of the invention according to claim 2,
The following operation is achieved in addition to the operation described in the first aspect. That is, hot water having a higher temperature than the hot water at the time of hair washing is sprayed into the water tank by the hot water spraying means. Then, the inside of the water tank is in a predetermined high temperature and high humidity state. Therefore, the head of the person to be washed contained in the water tank can be steamed, and an effective treatment can be performed.

[0010] In addition, the treatment liquid sprayed in advance works more effectively by being sprayed so as not to be directly applied to the scalp and hair of the person to be washed. Further, even when high-temperature hot water is sprayed, the hot water is not sprayed directly, but becomes a mist to lower the temperature to an appropriate temperature, and is safe for a person to be washed. According to the configuration of the third aspect of the invention, the following operation is achieved in addition to the operation of the second aspect. In other words, the hot water sprayer repeats the intermittent operation for a predetermined time a predetermined number of times, whereby the temperature and humidity in the water tank can be easily and efficiently maintained in a predetermined state. Further, no waste occurs as compared with the continuous operation. In addition, the treatment liquid sprayed beforehand works more effectively.

[0011]

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an automatic hair washer according to one embodiment of the present invention. The appearance of the automatic hair washer is formed by a cabinet 1, and an entrance 2 for inserting a head is formed at the center of the upper surface of the cabinet 1. Inside the entrance 2, a water tank 51 (not shown) for storing the head and hair is arranged.

A hood 3 is attached to the entrance 2. The hood 3 can be opened and closed between an open state in which the inlet 2 is largely opened and a closed state shown in which the inlet 2 is narrowed. The hood 3 is formed with a cutout 4 for exposing the face during use, and a face seal 5 which is elastically in contact with the face is arranged around the cutout 4. The amount by which the face seal 5 projects from the periphery of the cutout 4 is adjustable by three adjustment knobs 6.

An operation panel 7 is disposed, for example, on the right front side of the upper surface of the cabinet 1. Various operation buttons 73 and a display 72 are arranged on the operation panel 7. Further, a shampoo storage box 11 and a treatment storage box 12 are provided at the left back of the upper surface of the cabinet 1, and the shampoo liquid and / or the treatment liquid in these storage boxes 11, 12 are, as described later, Automatically mixed into warm water. Further, a hand shower 8 and knobs 9 and 1 for operating the hand shower are provided on the upper surface of the cabinet 1.
0 is provided.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of a vertical section of the automatic hair washer, illustrating the structure of the water tank 51 and the hot water jetting means. Explaining with reference to FIG.
An opening 53 is formed at the upper part of the head so that the head H of the person to be washed can be inserted in the back state when washing the hair. This water tank 5
1 has a depth such that the hair HA hanging from the head H can hang down naturally when the head H is inserted, for example, about 50 cm.

At the upper position of the water tank 51, there is provided a top nozzle link 55 in which a pipe allowing the passage of warm water is formed in a substantially semicircular shape along the head H.
The nozzle link 55 for the crown is indicated by an arrow A around the fulcrum 56.
It is swingable within one angle range. A plurality of nozzles 57 are arranged in the nozzle link 55 toward the head H direction. Then, at the time of use, the head H and the root of the hair HA can be washed with the hot water injected from the nozzle 57.

In the water tank 51, a collar link nozzle link 58 is provided rotatably within the angle range of A2.
The neck link nozzle link 58 is a pipe that allows the passage of warm water inside, and has a plurality of nozzles 59 fixed to the surface thereof.
Within the angle range, the root portion and the neck portion of the hair HA can be washed.

A plurality of nozzles 60 are arranged on the front, rear, left and right inner walls of the water tank 51 relatively below.
The nozzle 60 is a fixed type nozzle, and mainly has a long hair HA.
(Hereinafter, referred to as “long hair portion”). A plurality (for example, two) of mist nozzles 61 are arranged on the inner wall on the front surface relatively lower than the water tank 51. The mist nozzle 61 is for spraying high-temperature water in a mist state to steam the inside of the water tank 51.

The head-top nozzle link 55 and the collar link nozzle link 58 are driven by a link motor 71 (not shown) and swing within the above-mentioned angle range. The hot water sprayed from the plurality of nozzles 57 arranged on the head nozzle link 55 that swings along the head H is
Wash A. In addition, the rotating collar link nozzle link 58
The hot water sprayed from the nozzle 59 provided in the nozzle wash the neck portion that cannot be reached by the nozzle 57. Further, a plurality of nozzles 6 disposed on a wall in a lower position of the water tank 51 are provided.
The warm water sprayed from 0 cleans the long hair. With this configuration, it is possible to perform good hair washing without washing unevenness.

In FIG. 2, a hood 3 is provided above the water tank 51. The hood 3 is openable and closable about the fulcrum 13 in the direction of arrow A3. Before the start of use, the hood 3 is opened and closed, and the head H is placed in a back state with the water tank
After that, the hood 3 is closed. As described above, a face seal 5 made of a flexible elastic material is attached to the periphery of the cutout 4 of the hood 3.
When the hood 3 is closed, the face seal 5 elastically contacts the face of the person to be washed. Accordingly, the inside of the water tank 51 is in a sealed state, and accordingly, water droplets flying from the inside of the water tank 51 are prevented from splashing on the face of the person to be washed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the positions of the mist nozzles 61. FIG. FIG. 3 is a front outline view of the automatic hair washer, and FIG. 4 is a top view. The mist nozzle 61 includes a bottom surface of the water tank 51,
It is provided at a substantially central position between the head H of the person to be washed and the front side of the inner surface of the water tank 51 so as to avoid the head H and the hair HA of the person to be washed. The head H and the hair HA of the person to be washed do not overlap with the ejection range of the mist nozzle 61 as shown by the broken line.

FIG. 5 is a waterway diagram of the automatic hair washer.
Explaining with reference to FIG. 5, an external water supply pipe (not shown)
Supplied from the mixing valve 84 via a stop valve 81C, a strainer 82C and a check valve 83C.
Given to. Hot water supplied from an external hot water supply pipe (not shown) is supplied to a stop valve 81H and a strainer 82.
H and a check valve 83H to the mixing valve 84. Then, water and hot water are mixed in the mixing valve 84, and the mixed water is turned into warm water of an appropriate temperature. This hot water is
When the hot water storage valve 85 is opened, the hot water is supplied to the tank 87. The hot water of the mixing valve 84 is jetted from the hand shower 8 when the shower valve 88 is opened.

Hot water supplied from the external hot water supply pipe before being supplied to the mixing valve 84 is supplied to the branch pipe 210 by the branch pipe 210.
The mist is sprayed from the mist nozzle 61 via the mist valve 211. The tank 87 has a capacity of, for example, 4 in this embodiment.
It is a 0 liter tank. A water level sensor 89 is provided in the tank 87 so that the amount of water in the tank 87 can be detected. An overflow pipe 92 is provided at a position above the tank 87. When hot water exceeding the storage limit is supplied to the tank 87, the hot water excessively supplied by the overflow pipe 92 is drained.

A pump 94 is connected to the tank 87 via an outflow pipe 93. When the pump 94 is driven,
The hot water stored in the tank 87 is drawn into the pump 94 through the outflow pipe 93. On the output side of the pump 94, a head-side nozzle link 5 is connected via a link-on valve 951.
5. The collar link nozzle link 58 is connected via the link lowering valve 952, and the cleaning nozzle 60 is connected via the long valve 96. Further, a drain pipe 98 is connected via a drain valve 97.

Therefore, when the drain valve 97 is closed and the link-up valve 951, the link-down valve 952, and the long valve 96 are open, the hot water sucked into the pump 94 receives the link-up valve 951, A plurality of nozzles 57 are provided to the head-end nozzle link 55 and the neckline nozzle link 58 via the link lower valve 952 and the long valve 96, and are arranged in each nozzle link.
And 59 as well as from the cleaning nozzle 60. On the other hand, when the drain valve 97 is open, the hot water sucked into the pump 94 is drained through the drain pipe 98.

The above three types of nozzles 57, 59, 6
The warm water injected from 0 is received in the water tank 51,
The water is drained to a drain pipe 98 via a drain trap 99 connected below the bottom of the water tank 51. The drain trap 99
As is well known, the purpose is to prevent the generation of offensive odor in the water tank 51 and to prevent the hair dropped in the water tank 51 from flowing out to the drain pipe 98.

A branch pipe 100 is formed in the outflow pipe 93, and the shampoo storage box 1 is connected to the branch pipe 100 via a shampoo valve 101 and a shampoo pumping pump 102.
1 is connected. The outlet pipe 93 has a branch pipe 103.
The treatment storage box 12 is connected to the branch pipe 103 via a treatment valve 104 and a treatment pressure pump 105. Therefore, when the shampoo pump 102 is operated, the shampoo liquid stored in the shampoo storage box 11 is discharged from the branch pipe 1.
It is fed to 00. When the shampoo valve 101 is opened while the pump 94 is operating, the branch pipe 100 is connected to the outlet pipe 93.
The shampoo liquid is mixed into the warm water which flows into the inside and is taken out from the tank 87. Similarly, the treatment liquid stored in the treatment storage box 12 is pumped to the branch pipe 100 by the treatment pump 105. When the treatment valve 104 is opened during the operation of the pump 94, the treatment liquid stored in the treatment storage box 12 is mixed into the warm water flowing through the outflow pipe 93.

Therefore, by operating the shampoo valve 101 or the treatment valve 104 and adjusting the operation of the shampoo pumping pump 102 or the treatment pumping pump 105, the three types of nozzles 5
A desired amount of a shampoo solution or a treatment solution can be mixed into the warm water jetted from 7, 59, 60. In FIG. 5, the pump 94 is driven by an inverter 106, and the power of the pump 94 can be adjusted to a desired size by the inverter 106.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric control circuit of the automatic hair washer. The control circuit includes a microcomputer 110 as a control center. The microcomputer 110 stores a preset execution procedure and conditions in a ROM (not shown) in which programs and data tables are stored, variables used in the programs, and outputs of various sensors. A built-in RAM (not shown) for reading and reading, and a timer (not shown) for outputting a pulse signal at predetermined time intervals are built in. The microcomputer 110 measures the time set in the program by counting the output pulse signal of the timer, and determines the elapsed time.

The microcomputer 110 receives signals from various switches and sensors, and outputs control signals from the microcomputer 110 to various elements and devices based on the signals. Specifically, in response to pressing of various buttons provided on the operation panel 7, a signal is transmitted from the corresponding operation button 73 to the microcomputer 1.
Given to 10. Further, detection outputs of a water level sensor 89, a closed state detection switch 112 of the hood 3, a rotation position detection sensor 113 of the link motor 71, and the like are provided to the microcomputer 110.

In the microcomputer 110,
Based on the above-mentioned input signals and programs, the display 72 provided on the operation panel 7 and the hot water supply valve 8 shown in FIG.
5. Link upper valve 951, Link lower valve 95
2. Long valve 96, shampoo valve 101, shampoo pump 102, treatment valve 10
4. Treatment pump 105, drain valve 97
A control signal is supplied to a link motor 71 for the nozzle link and the nozzle link to control these devices.

Further, the microcomputer 110 includes:
By controlling the inverter 106, the pump 94 is driven at a predetermined power. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control contents of microcomputer 110 in this automatic hair washer. The operation of the automatic hair washer will be described with reference to FIG.

First, a hair washing step is performed. First, the pump 94 is turned on, and an initial drainage for draining water initially stored in the tank and each pipe (this water is usually cold water, unlike hot water in the tank 87) is performed. .
Next, the hair is washed. The link motor 71 is driven, and the head nozzle link 55 and the collar nozzle link 58 start swinging and rotating. Further, the link-up valve 951, the link-down valve 952, and the long valve 96 are turned on, and hot water is jetted from the nozzles 57, 59, and 60 in the water tank 51 for a predetermined time. At the same time, the shampoo valve 101 is turned on and the shampoo storage box 1
The shampoo liquid stored in 1 is mixed into warm water. Therefore, the hair is washed with warm water mixed with the shampoo solution (step S1).

Next, a rinsing step is performed. Pump 94,
The link motor 71, the link-up valve 951, the link-down valve 952, and the long valve 96 are turned on, the shampoo valve 101 is turned off, and the hot water into which the shampoo liquid is not mixed flows into the nozzles 57, 59, and 6 in the water tank 51.
It is injected for a predetermined time from 0. At this time, the hair of the person to be washed is rinsed (step S2).

Next, the pump 94, the link motor 71, the link up valve 951, the link down valve 952, and the long valve 96 are turned on, and each nozzle 5 in the water tank 51 is turned on.
Hot water is injected from 7, 59 and 60. At the same time, the treatment valve 104 is turned on, and the treatment liquid stored in the treatment storage box 12 is mixed into the warm water. Therefore, the warm water mixed with the treatment liquid is evenly applied to the hair of the person to be washed (step S).
3). Then, the treatment liquid is sprayed on the hair for a predetermined time T1 (step S4).

Next, the pump 94, the link motor 71, the link up valve 951, the link down valve 952, the long valve 96, and the treatment valve 104 are turned off, and the injection of hot water is stopped. Then, the mist valve 211 is turned on, and hot water (having a higher temperature than hot water at the time of hair washing) supplied from an external hot water supply pipe before being supplied to the mixing valve 84 is sprayed into the water tank 51 from the mist nozzle 61. (Step S5). Then, the spray from the mist nozzle 61 is performed for a predetermined time T2 (step S6).

Next, the mist valve 211 is also
4. The link motor 71, the link upper valve 951, the link lower valve 952, the long valve 96, and the treatment valve 104 are turned off. In this state, the inside of the water tank 51 is closed, and the state where the hot water is sprayed is maintained. Then, the head of the person to be washed inserted into the water tank 51 is steamed (step S7).
Then, this state is maintained for a predetermined time T3 (step S8).

Then, steps S5 to S8
A predetermined number of times (N
Times) is repeated (step S9). Thereafter, the rinsing step is performed again. The pump 94, the link motor 71, the link-up valve 951, the link-down valve 952, and the long valve 96 are turned on. At this time, the shampoo valve 101 and the treatment valve 104 are off. Therefore, the hot water is supplied to each nozzle 5 in the water tank 51.
It is injected for a predetermined time from 7, 59 and 60. Thus, the hair of the person to be washed is rinsed, and the treatment liquid attached to the head is washed away (step S10).

Then, the hair washing operation ends. According to the present embodiment, first, the head of the hair-washing person is sprayed with warm water and wetted entirely by the rinsing step of step S2. Then
In steps S3 and S4, the treatment liquid is mixed into the warm water. The hot water mixed with the treatment liquid is supplied to the nozzle 5 in the water tank 51 similarly to the rinsing step.
It is injected from 7, 59, 60, and on the head of the person to be washed,
Treatment liquid is sprayed. In this state, in steps S5 and S6, the mist nozzle 61 sprays hot water having a higher temperature than the hot water at the time of hair washing into the water tank 51, and the water tank 51 is brought into a predetermined high-temperature and high-humidity state. Then, the state is maintained by steps S7 and S8. Further, by repeating Steps S5 to S9 a predetermined number of times, the head of the person to be washed is kept in a high-temperature and high-humidity state for a predetermined time necessary for effective treatment, and is steamed. As a result, the treatment liquid sufficiently acts on the scalp and hair, and an effective treatment is performed.

In addition, since the mist nozzle 61 does not spray directly on the scalp and hair of the person to be washed, the treatment liquid sprayed in advance works more effectively. Further, even if high-temperature hot water is sprayed, the water does not directly splash on the head of the person to be washed, and the temperature of the hair is lowered to an appropriate temperature by forming a mist, which is safe for the person to be washed. Further, the spray from the mist nozzle 61 can easily and efficiently maintain the temperature and humidity in the water tank 51 in a predetermined state by repeating the intermittent operation of the predetermined time T2 and T3 a predetermined number of times N times. . Further, no waste occurs as compared with the continuous operation.

The hood 3 and the face seal 5 seal the inside of the water tank 51 containing the head of the person to be washed. By being sealed, the air in the water tank 51 does not leak to the outside, and the temperature and humidity in the water tank 51 in a predetermined high-temperature and high-humidity state are efficiently maintained by the state, The head of the person to be washed can be more thoroughly steamed. Further, no waste of heat occurs.

In summary, each of the jetting means including various devices for jetting hot water to the hair of the person to be washed and each of the means for mixing the treatment liquid into the hot water to be jetted to the hair of the person to be washed in step S3. A treatment step executing means comprising equipment; and a hot water spraying means comprising various devices for spraying hot water having a higher temperature than the hot water at the time of hair washing in a mist state so as not to splash directly on the scalp and hair in the water tank 51. It is effective to provide a steaming step executing means for maintaining the head in a high-temperature and high-humidity state for a predetermined time, a hood 3 for accommodating the head in the water tank 51 in a sealed state, and a sealing means including a face seal 5. Delicate treatment can be performed consistently and without manual intervention in an automatic hair washer.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, by injecting high-temperature hot water into the water tank in a mist state, the inside of the water tank is brought into a predetermined high-temperature and high-humidity state. Other methods are acceptable. For example, a predetermined high-temperature and high-humidity state can be achieved by separately providing a humidifying unit for humidifying the inside of the water tank and a heating unit for setting the inside of the water tank to a predetermined temperature.

In the embodiment of the present invention, in the hair washing step, preliminary washing, main washing and the like may be performed stepwise. At this time, each valve may be selectively turned on / off to perform hair washing. The rinsing step may be performed stepwise. At this time, each valve is selectively turned on / off.
It may be turned off and rinsed. In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the steaming is performed in the water tank 51 in a closed state. However, the steaming is not limited to this, and the water tank 51 may be opened.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the steamed state is
This is realized by controlling the spray time T2, the holding time T3, and the number of repetitions N set in advance, but other methods may be used. For example, control may be performed by using a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor in a water tank. In addition, various design changes can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0046]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. That is, after the head of the person to be washed is wetted, the hair is sprayed with the treatment liquid and steamed, so that an effective treatment is consistently performed manually by an automatic hair washer. Can be done without.
In addition, a predetermined high-temperature and high-humidity state can be efficiently maintained.
More thoroughly steam the head of the person to be washed in the bath
it can. Further, no waste of heat occurs.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the following effect is obtained in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention. That is, the head of the person to be washed can be steamed by spraying hot water having a higher temperature than the hot water at the time of hair washing into the water tank in a mist state. And an effective treatment can be performed by the treatment liquid sprayed beforehand. According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2, the following effect is obtained. That is, since the temperature and humidity in the water tank can be easily and efficiently maintained in a predetermined state, no waste occurs compared to the continuous operation. In addition, an effective treatment can be performed with the treatment liquid sprayed in advance.

[0048]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an automatic hair washer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of a vertical section of the automatic hair washer according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an arrangement of mist nozzles of the automatic hair washer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing an arrangement of mist nozzles of the automatic hair washer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a waterway diagram of the automatic hair washer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric control circuit of the automatic hair washer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an outline of control contents of a hair washing operation in the automatic hair washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 ... Food 5 ... Face seal 12 ... Treatment storage box 51 ... Water tank 57, 58, 60 ... Hot water nozzle 61 ... Mist nozzle 94 ... Pump 110 ... Microcomputer 104 ... Treatment valve 105 ... Treatment pressure pump 96, 951, 952 ... Hot water valve 211 mist valve 12, 104, 105 treatment step executing means 61, 211, steps S5 to S8 steaming step executing means 3, 5, sealing means 61, 211 hot water spraying means

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masaru Noro 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mitsuru Nagana 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo (56) References JP-B-63-20122 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A45D 19/06-19/14

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water tank for accommodating a head of a person to be washed, and a hair to be washed
When the head of the person is closed, the face of the person being washed
Is a hood that covers its head in an exposed state
When disposed in the water tank, an automatic shampoo machine having an injection means for injecting hot water toward the hair of the hair's a treatment process execution means for mixing the treatment liquid into the hot water to be the injection, the treatment An automatic hair washer comprising steaming step executing means for maintaining the inside of the water tank in a high-temperature and high-humidity state for a predetermined time after injection of the hot water mixed with the treatment liquid by the step executing means. 2. The automatic hair washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said steaming step executing means sprays hot water having a higher temperature than hot water at the time of hair washing into said water tank so as not to splash directly on the scalp and hair. An automatic hair washer comprising: hot water spraying means for spraying in a shape. 3. The automatic hair washer according to claim 2, wherein the hot water sprayer repeats an intermittent operation for a predetermined time a predetermined number of times.