JP5286061B2 - Skin condition measurement tool - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a skin condition measurement tool used when a cosmetic salesperson counseles a customer's skin condition, or when a customer examines his / her own skin condition.

  The skin condition of a person varies widely depending on the age, environment, and care method of the person, and it is important for beauty to select cosmetics and care methods suitable for the person's skin condition. is there. Therefore, from the past, cosmetic salespersons and counselors, etc. at storefronts or visiting sales outlets of cosmetics stores measure the skin condition of customers (water content, skin temperature, sebum amount, etc.) using various measuring tools, Depending on the results, counseling about skin care methods and recommending cosmetics suitable for customers are often performed.

  As such a measuring tool, for example, an apparatus (see Patent Document 1 or the like) that combines a measuring tool that measures skin temperature, skin water content, and sebum amount with an enlarged camera that observes the skin.

Moreover, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, a disposable sebum collection tip is used for measuring the amount of sebum. Recently, the tip of the measuring tool is applied to the skin without using such a tip. Many devices have also been proposed in which the amount of sebum is directly measured by a sebum sampling plate or an optical system provided on the contact surface (see Patent Documents 2 to 4).
JP 2000-51153 A JP 2001-46344 A JP 2003-210416 A JP 2004-77332 A

  However, in the case of the type that directly measures the amount of sebum etc. at the tip of the measuring tool, if the next measurement is performed with the sebum attached to the measurement surface, the correct measurement result is obtained due to the effect of the attached sebum. There is no problem. In addition, some devices have a function to calibrate the reference point (calibration function) before the start of measurement, but the range that can be calibrated is limited, so if the level of contamination is too large, an error is displayed, Some things can no longer be operated.

  Therefore, in this type of equipment, an instrument that is instructed to “clean the measurement surface cleanly” on the operation screen of the measuring tool prior to the start of measurement has been proposed and put into practical use. Yes. According to this device, when the person who wants to measure the skin condition (cosmetics store clerk, customer, etc.) receives the above instructions, wipes the measuring surface of the measuring tool with a separately prepared cleaning cloth or the like. The degree of contamination of the surface is automatically measured, and the measurement can be started when the degree of contamination is within an allowable range. When the cleaning such as wiping is insufficient, an instruction such as “Please wipe the measurement surface cleanly” is repeated.

  However, if the person performing the wiping operation is not familiar with the handling of this device, the degree of `` cleaning '' will not be known. There is a problem that it takes time to start measurement after receiving an instruction of “re-wiping”, and it is easy to receive a sense of burden and discomfort. In addition, the measurement surface may be damaged by wiping too boldly.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can combine a measuring tool and a dedicated cleaning tool, and mechanically and reliably clean the measuring surface of the measuring tool prior to measurement. The object is to provide an excellent skin condition measurement tool.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention cleans the measuring tool configured to measure a predetermined skin characteristic at the portion by applying the measuring surface of the sensor unit to the skin, and the measuring surface of the measuring tool. A skin condition measuring tool in combination with a cleaning tool for cleaning, wherein the cleaning tool is inserted into the recess and a casing having a recess for inserting and holding a predetermined portion including the measurement surface of the measuring tool. A cleaning member disposed so that at least a part thereof abuts on the measurement surface of the measuring tool, a slide means that slides the measurement surface abutment portion of the cleaning member to provide a cleaning operation on the measurement surface, and operates on the slide means A skin condition measuring tool including an instruction means for giving an instruction is a first gist.

  In particular, the present invention is provided with a detecting means for recognizing a state in which a predetermined portion of the measuring tool is inserted into the recess of the casing, in particular, and the cleaning tool is inserted by the detecting means. When the measuring tool is recognized, an operation instruction is given from the indicating means to the sliding means, and the skin condition measuring tool in which the measuring surface of the measuring tool is automatically cleaned is a second gist. .

  Furthermore, the present invention includes, among them, a casing in which the cleaning member is arranged so as to be drawn out from the feeding portion and wound around the winding portion. The third aspect is a skin condition measurement tool in which a measurement surface of a measurement tool inserted into a recess comes into contact, and the cleaning member is disposed so as to repeatedly travel on the same route via a guide roll. A skin condition measuring tool comprising a belt-like body having an endless belt shape and in contact with a measurement surface of a measuring tool inserted into the casing recess during traveling of the belt-like body is a fourth gist.

  According to the skin condition measuring tool of the present invention, the work of cleaning the measurement surface before starting the measurement can be performed mechanically simply and reliably by simply inserting the measurement surface into a dedicated cleaning tool. It has become. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently start the skin measurement operation without the person repeatedly wiping the measurement surface while paying attention to the degree of cleaning, or wiping it too hard to damage the measurement surface.

  In the skin condition measuring tool, in particular, the cleaning tool is provided with detecting means for recognizing a state in which a predetermined portion of the measuring tool is inserted into the recess of the casing, and is inserted by the detecting means. When the measuring tool is recognized, an operation instruction is given from the indicating means to the sliding means, and the measuring surface of the measuring tool is automatically cleaned. There is no need to turn it on and off manually, which is convenient.

  Further, in the skin condition measuring tool, in particular, the cleaning member is formed of a belt-like body arranged so as to be drawn out from the feed-out portion and wound up on the take-up portion. If the measuring surface of the measuring tool inserted into is in contact with the machine, the sensor measuring surface is always used by simply replenishing the empty feeding section with a new belt. Can be cleaned efficiently.

  Further, in the above skin condition measuring tool, in particular, the cleaning member is composed of an endless belt-like band disposed so as to repeatedly travel on the same route via a guide roll. If the measuring surface of the measuring tool inserted into the recess comes into contact, the sensor measuring surface is always replaced with the machine by simply replacing the belt that has been used for a certain period of time with a new belt. Can be cleaned efficiently.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

  FIG. 1 shows a skin condition measuring tool (hereinafter simply referred to as “tool”) according to an embodiment of the present invention. This tool 10 is prepared at a store such as a cosmetics store, where a cosmetic salesperson or a specialized counselor (hereinafter simply referred to as “clerk”) measures and evaluates the amount of sebum of the customer, or the customer himself It is used when measuring the amount of sebum, and includes a rechargeable measuring instrument 11 and a charging stand 12 for charging the measuring instrument 11.

  More specifically, the measuring tool 11 is substantially rod-shaped as a whole, and one end side (the lower side in the figure) is relatively thin, and this portion is a grip portion 13. In addition, on the front face of the other end side (upper side in the figure) set relatively thick, as a screen display unit for displaying the selection menu of the measuring tool 11, the operation procedure for measurement, the measurement result, etc. A liquid crystal screen 14 is provided. A cross key 15, an enter key 16, and a “return” key 17 for operating the measuring tool 11 are provided below the liquid crystal screen 14.

  And the sensor part 18 which the outline seen from the top protrudes in the square shape is provided in the upper surface of the said measurement tool 11, and the amount of sebum is measured by applying the measurement surface 18a which is the uppermost surface to skin. It has become so. For the measurement of the amount of sebum, for example, an optical sensor that reads the amount of sebum by the intensity of reflected light from the skin surface is used.

  Further, in the vicinity of the inside of the sensor unit 18, a contamination level measuring means for measuring the contamination level of the measurement surface 18a of the sensor unit 18 is provided, and before the start of measurement, the contamination level of the measurement surface 18a is measured. It has come to be. For example, an optical sensor is used as the contamination degree measuring unit.

  In the measuring instrument 11, control means (not shown) is provided for performing operation control of the sensor unit 18 and dirt degree measuring means and display control on the liquid crystal screen 14. In addition, image data to be displayed on the liquid crystal screen 14, processing formulas for calculating each measured value, storage means for storing a permissible range of contamination degree, which will be described later, processing means for taking out and updating the data, etc. (Not shown) is provided.

  On the other hand, the charging stand 12 for charging the measuring instrument 11 is composed of a casing 12a and a base plate 12b as shown in FIG. 2 which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX ′ of FIG. Are provided with a recess 20 for charging by inserting the lower part of the measuring tool 11 and a cleaning recess 21 for cleaning the measuring surface 18a by inserting the sensor part 18 of the measuring tool 11 downward. (See FIG. 1).

  The charging recess 20 is formed by a rectangular tube-shaped guide wall 20a protruding upward from the upper surface of the charging base 12, and a measuring instrument 11 side terminal (on the measuring instrument 11) There is provided a charging terminal 22 for charging in contact with the lower part of the back side and not visible in FIG.

  Further, the cleaning recess 21 is formed by a concave stepped portion formed on the upper surface of the charging base 12, and the measurement surface 18a of the sensor unit 18 is inserted into an opening provided on the bottom surface thereof. It can be held.

  And in the inside of the said charging stand 12, the roll 32 for feeding in which the winding body 31 formed by winding the strip | belt body 30 for cleaning was attached, and the strip | belt-shaped body 30 which is drawn | run_out from the said winding body 31, and drive | works. The measuring tool 11 held in the cleaning recess 21 is moved to the belt-like body 30 traveling between the guide rolls 34 and 35 through the guide rolls 34 and 35. The surface 18a comes into contact. In addition, as the said strip | belt-shaped body 30, the various knitted fabrics and nonwoven fabrics, an elastic sheet, etc. which are conventionally used as a cleaning tape and a cleaning cloth are used. Further, the start and stop of the travel of the strip 30 is performed by giving drive control to a motor (not shown) connected to the winding roll 33. Further, in FIG. 2, illustration of the support means such as each roll 32 is omitted.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes a mini-bottle filled with a cleaning liquid (alcohol or the like) for cleanly cleaning the measurement surface 18a, and is attached in a state where its mouth is inserted into the upper surface opening of the casing 12a of the charging stand 12. An electromagnetic valve 41 is fitted to the mouth of the mini-bottle 40. The electromagnetic valve 41 is opened at the same time as the strip 30 starts running, and a small amount of cleaning liquid is dropped on the strip 30 and then closed. It has become.

  Therefore, the strip 30 travels while rubbing the measurement surface 18a in a state containing the cleaning liquid, and then travels by rubbing the measurement surface 18a with a dry portion that does not contain the cleaning liquid and wipes dirt together with the cleaning liquid. The measuring surface 18a is cleaned cleanly by this series of operations.

  If the winding body 31 attached to the feeding roll 32 is reduced by repeating the cleaning operation many times, a warning lamp (not shown) attached to the side surface of the casing 12a flashes and a new one is generated. Replacement with the wound body 31 is requested.

  Next, the function of the tool 10 will be described. After the tool 10 is inserted into the charging recess 20 of the charging base 12 and charged, a power switch (not shown) provided on the side surface is turned on to turn on the liquid crystal screen 14 as shown in FIG. A menu as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and three items 51 to 53 of “age”, “sebum”, and “result list” can be selected.

  When the “age” item 51 is selected, the screen changes to a screen for inputting the age of the customer (measured person), and the corresponding age (for example, “40's”) can be selected and input on the screen. . As described above, when the customer's age is input in advance, the reference value of the sebum amount measurement data is automatically corrected to the reference value corresponding to the age. This function is not particularly required, but it is preferable to provide this function in order to obtain more appropriate measurement data.

  When the item “Sebum” 52 is selected, the screen changes as shown in FIG. 3B, and the instruction 54 “Please wipe the sensor” and the position of the sensor unit 18 used for measuring the amount of sebum are displayed. The illustrated illustration 55 is displayed, and it can be seen that, prior to the start of measurement, it is necessary to first wipe the measurement surface 18a of the sensor unit 18 cleanly.

  Therefore, a store clerk or customer who wants to measure the amount of sebum wipes the measurement surface 18a of the sensor unit 18 in accordance with the above instruction. Wiping is performed automatically by turning the measuring tool 11 downward, inserting the sensor unit 18 into the cleaning recess 21 and turning on a cleaning switch (not shown) provided on the charging stand 12. When the switch is turned on, the belt-shaped body 30 (see FIG. 2) starts running in the charging stand 12, the electromagnetic valve 41 is opened, and an appropriate amount of cleaning liquid is dropped on the belt-shaped body 30, and the portion with the cleaning liquid attached thereto. Since the portion that follows is run while rubbing the measurement surface 18a of the measuring tool 11, the dirt is wiped off and the measurement surface 18a is cleaned cleanly. When the series of wiping operations is completed, the cleaning switch automatically returns to the off state.

  When the “Cal” button 56 at the lower right of the screen in FIG. 3B is pressed after the wiping is completed, the contamination degree measuring means built in the measuring tool 11 is activated to measure the contamination degree of the measurement surface 18a. And a comparison process is performed to determine whether or not the measured value is within a preset allowable range of the degree of contamination. In addition, the above-mentioned permissible range refers to the degree of contamination that can be adjusted when performing zero point adjustment according to the degree of contamination at the start of measurement based on the calibration processing function (calibration system) provided in the tool 10. It is a range. If the degree of contamination exceeds this range, the calibration process cannot be executed.

  If the measured value is within the allowable range, the screen changes as shown in FIG. 4A, and the instruction 57 “Put the sensor on the forehead” and the part (the forehead) to which the sensor is applied. A female face illustration 58 is displayed. Therefore, when the measurement is performed by pressing the measurement surface 18a of the sensor unit 18 against the forehead, the screen changes as shown in FIG. 5B, and the measured value of the sebum amount is displayed. . This value is stored when the “determined” button 59 is pressed, and is used for predetermined data processing.

  The above values are values calibrated by the calibration function. In addition, a reference value is set after correction based on the environmental temperature and the age of the person to be measured, and is converted into a numerical value as a deviation from the reference value.

  Also, if the measured value still exceeds the allowable range as a result of the measurement by the dirt level measuring means, the instruction “Please wipe the sensor again and press the Cal button” and the same illustration as the previous time Is displayed. However, when a person manually wipes off as in the conventional case, this display is likely to appear. However, according to the above example, the measurement surface 18a is mechanically cleaned by the cleaning strip 30. The above display is almost never repeated.

  Thus, according to this skin condition measuring tool, the mechanical surface can be easily and reliably cleaned simply by inserting the measuring surface 18a of the sensor unit 18 into the cleaning recess 21 before starting the measurement of the amount of sebum. Can be done. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently start the sebum amount measurement work without wiping the measurement surface repeatedly while observing the degree of cleaning, or wiping it too hard and damaging the measurement surface.

  In the above example, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the belt-like body 30 by the mini bottle 40 disposed downward from the upper surface of the casing 12a. However, the supply of the cleaning liquid is not limited thereto, and is separately prepared, for example. The same supply can be performed by extending the tube from the cleaning liquid supply bottle to the vicinity of the strip 30 and opening and closing the supply path by the tube with a solenoid valve. Further, a storage tank for storing the cleaning liquid may be provided in the casing 12a, and the strip 30 may be intermittently immersed in the cleaning liquid and run. Furthermore, the cleaning liquid can be partially supplied to the belt-shaped body 30 by intermittently pressing the elastic roll wetted with the cleaning liquid to the traveling belt-shaped body 30.

  However, it is not always necessary to supply the cleaning liquid to the strip 30. Depending on the degree of cleaning required for the measurement surface 18a, only the wiping with the dried strip 30 may be performed. Moreover, only the wiping with the belt-like body 30 wetted as a whole may be used.

  The travel route of the belt-like body 30 is not limited to the above example, and can be set as appropriate depending on the presence or absence of the supply means using the cleaning liquid, the arrangement thereof, positioning with the driving motor, and the like. However, it is important to be able to travel while wiping off the dirt by rubbing the measurement surface 18a of the sensor unit 18.

  Further, in the above example, the belt-shaped body 30 is run by being attached to the feeding roll 32 as the wound body 31 and fed out, but for example, as schematically shown in FIG. Alternatively, the endless belt-like belt-like body 30 may be caused to repeatedly travel so as to be in contact with the measurement surface 18a. And in this example, after wiping off the measurement surface 18a, it is passed between an elastic roll 60 containing alcohol or a detergent and a clean elastic roll 61 to remove oily dirt adhering to the strip 30, and By sequentially passing the water-wetting roll 62 and the drying roll 63 on the downstream side, the water-based soil adhering to the belt-like body 30 is removed, and moisture is further removed. According to this structure, after returning the strip | belt-shaped body 30 after wiping off to a clean state, it can prepare for the next wiping operation | movement.

  Further, in the present invention, the cleaning of the measurement surface 18a is not limited to the traveling strip 30, and any cleaning device may be used as long as it performs a wiping operation by sliding contact with the measurement surface 18a. Absent. For example, as schematically shown in FIG. 5 (b), a cleaning pad 65 is mounted on a slide base 64 which is reciprocated in the horizontal direction by a slider mechanism, a ball screw mechanism, a chain or a wire mechanism, and wiped off. The measurement surface 18a may be cleaned by reciprocating once or a plurality of times in the horizontal direction in a state where the power source is turned on. The pad 65 may be any cleaning pad as long as it has a certain thickness and elasticity. However, in this case, it is preferable to separately provide a means for cleaning the pad 65 after wiping, in order to lengthen the replacement period of the pad 65.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, a pad 65 similar to the above example is attached to one place on a horizontally arranged disc 66, and the disc 66 is rotated and measured by the pad 65. You may make it clean by rubbing the surface 18a. Also in this case, it is preferable to separately provide a means for cleaning the pad 65 after wiping, in order to lengthen the replacement period of the pad 65.

  Further, the wiping operation in cleaning the measurement surface 18a is not limited to the operation of rubbing in the horizontal direction, and may be an operation of rubbing so as to draw an arc. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, an elastic layer 68 made of a cleaning member (for example, sponge or non-woven fabric) is attached to the outer peripheral surface of a drum-shaped base 67 arranged in the vertical direction. Cleaning may be performed by rubbing the measurement surface 18a at the outer peripheral portion of the elastic layer 68 by rotating in the direction. Also in this case, it is preferable to separately provide a means for cleaning the elastic layer 68 after wiping, in order to lengthen the replacement period of the elastic layer 68.

  In the above example, when the measurement surface 18a is cleaned, the cleaning switch provided on the charging stand 12 must be turned on each time, but the cleaning recess 21 into which the sensor unit 18 of the measuring tool 11 is inserted is inserted. Detection means (a weight sensor, a photoelectric switch, or the like) for recognizing insertion of the sensor unit 18 is provided inside or in the vicinity thereof, and when the insertion of the sensor unit 18 is recognized, the cleaning operation may be automatically started. Absent.

  Further, in the rechargeable measuring instrument 11, by providing the charging terminal in the vicinity of the sensor unit 18, the charging recess 20 and the cleaning recess 21 are combined into one recess, and the measuring instrument is used for charging. You may enable it to perform cleaning operation with the state which inserted 11 in the recessed part.

  Further, in the above example, the cleaning function is incorporated in the charging stand 12, but a cleaning tool having the same configuration may be separately prepared and used in combination with the measuring tool 11. . In that case, the measuring tool 11 may not be rechargeable.

  Note that the skin condition measurement tool 10 is set so that the calibration process automatically performs the dirt level calibration process in the sebum amount measurement, but the calibration process is not performed by the calibration system. For example, the store clerk may manually adjust the measurement standard by selecting a changeover switch according to the degree of contamination at the start of measurement. In addition, the reference value of the measurement is corrected according to the environmental temperature at the time of measurement and the age of the person to be measured, but these adjustment functions are suitable for enhancing the objectivity of the measurement result. However, this is not always necessary, and in some cases, at least one of these functions may not be provided.

  Further, in the above example, the skin condition measuring tool of the present invention is a handy type, and the main body is provided with the liquid crystal screen 14, but the main body is provided with a screen display unit separately from the main body, The configuration of the main body, the sensor measurement unit, and the screen display unit are not particularly limited. Further, the number and types of measurement items for the skin condition are not limited to the above example, and are not particularly limited.

  Depending on the measurement items of the skin condition measurement tool, it may not be necessary to clean the measurement surface before starting measurement. However, unspecified customers repeatedly apply the measurement surface to the skin at the store, etc. Therefore, regardless of the content of the measurement item, it is desirable to clean the measurement surface before using it. In that case, the skin condition measurement tool to which the present invention is applied is used. Is preferred.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a skin condition measuring tool used when a cosmetic salesperson counseles a customer's skin condition or when a customer examines his / her own skin condition.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows one Example of this invention. It is typical explanatory drawing which shows the XX 'cross section of FIG. (A), (b) is explanatory drawing of the screen display in the said Example. (A), (b) is explanatory drawing of the screen display in the said Example. (A), (b) is typical explanatory drawing which shows another Example. (A), (b) is typical explanatory drawing which shows further another Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Tool 11 Measuring tool 12a Casing 18 Sensor part 18a Measurement surface 21 Cleaning recessed part

Claims (4)

  Skin condition measurement comprising a combination of a measuring tool configured to measure a predetermined skin characteristic at a portion of the sensor unit that is applied to the skin and a cleaning tool for cleaning the measuring surface of the measuring tool. The cleaning tool includes a casing having a recess for inserting and holding a predetermined portion including the measurement surface of the measurement tool, and at least a part of the measurement tool is inserted into the recess. A cleaning member disposed so as to contact, a slide unit that slides the measurement surface contact portion of the cleaning member to give a cleaning operation to the measurement surface, and an instruction unit that gives an operation instruction to the slide unit. Characteristic skin condition measurement tool.   The cleaning tool is provided with detecting means for recognizing a state in which a predetermined portion of the measuring tool is inserted into the recess of the casing, and when the measuring tool inserted by the detecting means is recognized, the indicating means 2. The skin condition measuring tool according to claim 1, wherein an operating instruction is given to the sliding means from the measuring means so that the measuring surface of the measuring tool is automatically cleaned.   The cleaning member is composed of a belt-like body arranged so as to be drawn out from the feed-out portion and taken up by the take-up portion, and the measurement surface of the measuring tool inserted into the casing recess is touched while the belt-like body is running. The skin condition measuring tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tool is in contact with the skin condition measuring tool.   The cleaning member is composed of an endless belt-like strip disposed so as to travel repeatedly on the same route via a guide roll, and the measurement surface of the measuring tool inserted into the casing recess during the travel of the strip The skin condition measuring tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the abutment comes into contact.

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