Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of prior International Application No. PCT/JP2013/004584 filed on Jul. 29, 2013, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2012-169459 filed on Jul. 31, 2012 and No. 2012-188307 filed on Aug. 29, 2012; the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a beauty treatment device capable of giving a skin surface a warm sense/cool sense by using a thermoelectric element such as a Peltier element. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There is conventionally known a beauty treatment device which gives a skin surface a warm sense or a cool sense so that an effect of accelerating beautification or healing can be obtained, by using a Peltier element, in which a temperature difference appears on a front surface and a rear surface. 
         [0000]    In obtaining a cool sense effect by such a beauty treatment device, there is a case where a member around a high-temperature surface of the Peltier element is heated and comes to have a high temperature and the cool sense effect of a low-temperature surface is diminished. Thus, it is necessary to actively release heat generated in the high-temperature surface.
 
A beauty treatment device having a heat releasing function on the high-temperature surface of the Peltier element as above is suggested. That beauty treatment device has a fin for heat releasing which is disposed near the high-temperature surface of the Peltier element and a blowing fan sending air to this fin. As a result that air is sent from the blowing fan toward the fin, heat generated in the high-temperature surface of the Peltier element is radiated.
 
Further, there is also suggested a warm-cool beauty equipment which is having heat storage medium to maintain a temperature of a high-temperature surface at the target temperature. The heat storage medium whose phase changes from a solid phase to a liquid phase at a target temperature, is disposed on a high-temperature surface side of a Peltier element.
 
However, in the beauty treatment device of Patent Document 1, it is difficult to have a broad contact surface between the heat release fin and the high-temperature surface of the Peltier element, and efficient release of heat in the high-temperature surface of the Peltier surface is difficult.
 
Further, in the warm-cool beauty equipment of Patent Document 2, there is a structural restriction on having a large heat capacity of the heat storage medium. Therefore, there is a problem that all the heat storage media become liquid after being used continuously for a long time and that a heat releasing characteristic is reduced.
 
     
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a warm-cool beauty treatment device  1 ;  FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  shown in  FIG. 1A  viewed from a rear side; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1 ; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a heat sink  170 ;  FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the heat sink  170  shown in  FIG. 3A  viewed from a rear side; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram of an electronic circuit substrate  190 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing an operation of the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1 ; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing transfer of heat by the heat sink  170 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Embodiments are made to cope with the above-described circumstances and its object is to provide a warm-cool beauty treatment device capable of effectively releasing or using heat of a high-temperature surface of a Peltier element. 
         [0011]    A warm-cool beauty treatment device of an embodiment of the present invention has: a casing provided with a first surface, a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, and a plurality of openings; a Peltier element of a plate shape housed in the casing; a heat sink housed in the casing and having a planar heat absorbing section in which the Peltier element is arranged in a manner that a heat releasing surface of the Peltier element abuts thereon and a heat releasing section in which a penetrating hole is formed in a direction orthogonal to a surface on which the Peltier element is arranged and which is arranged in a position corresponding to the opening of the casing; a blowing unit disposed close to the heat releasing section in the casing; a cool-side plate arranged on a heat absorbing surface side of the Peltier element in a manner to be exposed from the first surface; a warm-side plate arranged on a surface of an opposite side of the surface which abuts on the Peltier element of the heat absorbing section in a manner to be exposed from the second surface; and a power supply means supplying electric power to the Peltier element and the blowing unit. 
         [0012]    The warm-cool beauty treatment device of the embodiment of the present invention may further have: a temperature measurement means in contact with the cool-side plate or the warm-side plate and measuring a temperature of the cool-side plate or the warm-side plate; and a control section controlling supply of electric power to the Peltier element and/or the blowing unit in correspondence with the temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit. 
         [0013]    The warm-cool beauty treatment device of the embodiment of the present invention can be configured to further have a timer clocking a time, wherein the control section controls a supply time of electric power to the Peltier element and/or the blowing unit in correspondence with the clocked time of the timer. 
         [0000]    The power supply means may be a secondary battery storing electric power. The temperature measurement device may be a thermistor.
 
The warm-cool beauty treatment device of the embodiment of the present invention is desired to be configured that the cool-side plate and the warm-side plate come into usable states simultaneously by start of electric power supply from the power supply means, and that each plate is able to be in contact with a skin surface alternately without switching of a setting of the device.
 
         [0014]    According to the present invention, there can be provided a warm-cool beauty treatment device capable of effectively releasing or using heat of a high-temperature surface of a Peltier element. 
       Embodiment 
       [0015]    Hereinafter, a warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  being an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  of this embodiment, a main part is constituted with a plate-shaped Peltier element  110 , a cool plate  160   b  disposed on a heat absorbing surface  112  side of the Peltier element  110 , a warm plate  160   a  disposed on a heat-generating surface  111  side via a heat sink  170 , a blower  120 , and a casing  10  housing the above. 
         [0000]    As shown in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  has the warm plate  160   a  and the cool plate  160   b  in a front end part of the casing  10 . Further, the casing  10  has a grip section  10   d  which is gripped for manipulation.
 
In the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1 , supplying power to the Peltier element  110  brings about a state where the warm plate  160   a  and the cool plate  160   b  can be used simultaneously. Touching a skin surface of a person to receive treatment (user) with the plates, enable to stimulate the skin surface by warmness or coolness without changing a set-up of the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1 , and to instantly switch the stimulation for the warm sense or the cool sense in use.
 
         [0016]    Here, an example of “changing a set-up of the device” is “changing a direction of an electric current flowing to the Peltier element  110 ”. For example, there is sometimes suggested another beauty treatment device having a similar configuration to that of the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1 . That beauty treatment device has one plate corresponding to the warm plate  160   a  or the cool plate  160   b . In this beauty treatment device, it is configured that the one plate is in touch with one surface of another Peltier element corresponding to the Peltier element  110  the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  has. 
         [0000]    The beauty treatment device configured as above can have a switch, which is operated by a user, for switching forward and reverse of a direction of an electric current to flow to the Peltier element (in other words, switching a set-up of the device). By such a switch, one surface of one plate can be made to function as a warm plate or a cool plate. 
         [0017]    However, in the above case, since the user is required to perform actuation of switch for switching the direction of the electric current, beauty treatment cannot be done easily. Further, there is a possibility that by providing such a switch a manufacturing cost of another beauty treatment device is increased from a case of manufacturing the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  or that a yielding is deteriorated. 
         [0000]    The warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  is configured to be able to give the skin surface stimulation for the warm sense or the cool sense without “changing a set-up of the device” as above, and to be able to instantly switch (changeover) the stimulation for the warm sense or the cool sense. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling that beauty treatment is complicated. Therefore, the user can easily perform beauty treatment. Further, for a similar reason, the manufacturing cost can be made lower compared with another beauty treatment device.
 
The casing  10  is a box body having a front surface  10   a  whose planar shape is almost tear-drop shaped, a rear surface  10   b  being a rear side of the front surface  10   a , and a side surface  10   c  connecting the front surface  10   a  and the rear surface  10   b . In front end parts of tapered shapes of the front surface  10   a  and the rear surface  10   b , there are each provided a warm plate fitting hole  11   a  and a cool plate fitting hole  11   b  penetrating to the inside of the casing  10  for exposing surfaces of the warm plate  160   a  and the cool plate  160   b.  
 
         [0018]    In a neighborhood of an edge part of the warm plate fitting hole  11   a  on almost a center part side of the front surface  10   a , numerous exhaust holes  12  being a part of a ventilating window penetrating to the inside of the casing  10  are provided. Similarly, in a neighborhood of an edge part of the cool plate fitting hole  11   b  on almost a center part of the rear surface  10   b , numerous intake holes  13  being another part of the ventilating window penetrating to the inside of the casing  10  are provided. 
         [0000]    In an almost center part of the side surface  10   c , a plurality of slot-shaped exhaust holes  14  being a part of the ventilating window penetrating to the inside of the casing  10  is provided. The exhaust holes  14  are provided in predetermined two places of the side surface  10   c  in a manner to sandwich the exhaust hole  12  or the intake hole  13 .
 
On an end side of the casing  10  of the side surface  10   c , a power supply terminal exposing hole  15  is provided. A power code, which is not shown here, is inserted to the power supply terminal exposing hole  15  in a freely attachable/detachable manner.
 
In a predetermined place of the side surface  10   c , an ON/OFF switch  16  for heating the warm plate  160   a  and for cooling the cool plate  160   b  is provided in a manner to expose a part thereof.
 
         [0019]    Next, an internal structure of the casing  10  will be described by using  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the casing  10  houses the Peltier element  110 , the  120 , a power supply terminal  130 , a secondary battery  140 , a thermostat  150 , the warm plate  160   a  and the cool plate  160   b , the heat skink  170 , and an electronic circuit substrate  190 . The casing  10  sometimes houses an AC-DC converter converting an alternating current into a direct current. 
         [0000]    The Peltier element  110  is a thermoelectric element using a Peltier effect, in which heat transfer occurs as a result that an electric current flows in a joint surface of a joined metal or semiconductor different from each other. It is assumed that, in the Peltier element  110 , a temperature difference between the heat generating surface  111  and the heat absorbing surface  112  when an electric current flows is about 30 degrees. The Peltier element  110  is disposed near the cool plate fitting hole  11   b . The Peltier element  110  has the heat generating surface  111  connected to the warm plate  160   a  via the heat sink  170  and the heat absorbing surface  112  directly in contact with the cool plate  160   b.  
 
It is desirable that the Peltier element  110  is housed in the casing  10  in a manner that surroundings of the heat absorbing surface  112  in particular are enclosed by a heat insulator. Thereby, heat of the heat generating surface  111  can be prevented from going round to the heat absorbing surface  112  to cause temperature rise of the heat absorbing surface  112 .
 
         [0020]    The blower  120  is a blower having a motor  122  and a fan  123  whose rotation shaft is a shaft of this motor  122  in a housing  121 . 
         [0000]    The blower  120  is fixed to a wall surface inside the casing  10  near the intake hole  13  by a screw, an adhesive, or the like. As a result that the blower  120  is provided near the intake hole  13 , outside air to be blown to the heat sink  170  is sucked from the intake hole  13  into the inside of the casing  10  by rotation of the fan  123 .
 
The power supply terminal  130  is provided inside the power supply terminal exposing hole  15 . The power supply terminal  130  is an electric contact part for obtaining electric power to be supplied to the Peltier element  110 , the blower  120 , or the like from an outlet for home use or a personal computer.
 
The secondary battery  140  is a power supply for supplying electric power to the Peltier element  110  or the blower  120  when supply of electric power from the power supply terminal  130  is difficult. The secondary battery  140  is charged by electric power obtained from a commercial power supply. As the secondary battery  140 , a battery of a lithium ion type, a nickel hydrogen type, or the like can be adopted, for example.
 
         [0021]    The thermostat  150  is electrically connected to the electronic circuit substrate  190  and functions as a temperature measurement means. The thermostat  150  is used to measure a temperature of the warm plate  160   a . The thermostat  150  can be configured to have a thermistor, for example. It is possible to obtain information to correspond to the temperature of the warm plate  160   a  from a resistance value of the thermistor which changes in correspondence with temperature change of the warm plate  160   a.    
         [0000]    The warm plate  160   a  is a second contact plate. The cool plate  160   b  is a first contact plate. The warm plate  160   a  and the cool plate  160   b  are made of metal (for example, aluminum or copper) having a good thermal conductivity, formed into a plate shape. The warm plate  160   a  and the cool plate  160   b  are attached to the warm plate fitting hole  11   a  and the cool plate fitting hole  11   b  of the casing  10  with screws  30 , respectively, in a manner to expose surfaces to touch a skin surface of a person to receive treatment to the outside.
 
Heat of the heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110  is transferred to the warm plate  160   a  via the heat sink  170 . Consequently, the warm plate  160   a  comes to be hotter than outside air.
 
         [0022]    The temperature of the warm plate  160   a  is adjusted at a predetermined temperature as a result that heat staying in the heat sink  170  is released by driving of the blower  120  or a time of ON/OFF of driving of the Peltier element  110  is controlled. In this embodiment, when beauty treatment is applied to the person to receive treatment, the temperature of the warm plate  160   a  is adjusted in a temperature range of 38° C. to 45° C. The cool plate  160   b  is deprived of heat by the heat absorbing surface  112  of the Peltier element  110 . Consequently, the cool plate  160   b  comes to be cooler than outside air. In this embodiment, a temperature difference between the warm plate  160   a  and the cool plate  160   b  is about 25 to 30° C., and when beauty treatment is applied to the person to receive treatment, the temperature of the cool plate  160   b  is adjusted to be in a temperature range of 8° C. to 20° C. in correspondence with the temperature of the warm plate  160   a  having been adjusted. 
         [0023]    Next, the heat sink  170  will be described in detail by using  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B . 
         [0000]    The heat sink  170  is formed of metal (for example, aluminum or copper) having a good thermal conductivity. The heat sink  170  is formed to be oblong-shaped, and extends in a direction of the blower  120 , going beyond a region where the Peltier element  110  is disposed, and is disposed in the casing  10 . The heat sink  170  has a thickness sufficiently larger compared with the warm plate  160   a , the cool plate  160   b , and the Peltier element  110 , and has a larger heat capacity compared with the warm plate  160   a  or the like.
 
As shown in  FIG. 3A , the heat sink  170  has a flat surface  171  formed to be flat-shaped from a front end side (F side of  FIG. 3A ) to a center part. The heat sink  170  has a blower connection surface  173  in a rear end side (B side of  FIG. 3A ). The heat sink  170  has a plurality of heat release fins  175 .
 
         [0024]    The flat surface  171  is provided with a plurality of screw holes  172  for fixing the heat sink  170  to the casing  10 . The heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110  is in close contact with a part (see a hatched region virtually shown in  FIG. 3A ) of the flat surface  171  via a heat-conductive grease or the like. 
         [0000]    The housing  121  of the blower  120  is in contact with the blower connection surface  173 . The blower connection surface  173  is provided with a screw hole  173   a  penetrating the heat sink  170  in a thickness direction (direction of an arrow T in  FIG. 3A ) for being fixed to the casing  10 .
 
The blower connection surface  173  is provided with a plurality of slots  174  being slot-shaped holes penetrating the heat sink  170  in the thickness direction. Air sent by the blower  120  blows between the plural slots  174 .
 
         [0025]    The plural heat release fins  175  are protrusions whose cross-sections are almost trapezoidal. The plural heat release fins  175  are protrudingly provided along the thickness direction (direction of the arrow T) of the heat sink  170 . The plural heat release fins  175  are provided in a side edge part of the heat sink  170  and in a boundary part between the flat surface  171  and the blower connection surface  173 , and are provided to surround the blower connection surface  173  as a whole. The heat release fin  175  provided in the side edge part of the heat sink  170  is intervened between a side surface of the blower  120  and the exhaust hole  14  of the casing  10 . Consequently, air sent by the blower  120 , while blowing between the respective heat release fins  175  provided in the side edge part of the heat sink  170 , is discharged from the exhaust hole  14 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 3B , the heat sink  170  has a groove forming surface  181  being a surface of an opposite side of the flat surface  171 . The groove forming surface  181  is provided with a plurality of grooves  182  along a longitudinal direction (direction from the front end side F to a rear end side B) of the heat sink  170 . By the groove  182 , a surface area in contact with air of the heat sink  170  is increased, and a heat releasing performance of the heat sink  170  is improved. 
         [0000]    A warm plate contact mount  183  is formed in a center part of the groove forming surface  181 . A front end surface  183   a  of the warm plate contact mount  183  is provided to be in close contact with the warm plate  160   a  via a heat-conductive grease or the like.
 
The heat sink  170  has an exhaust surface  184  being a surface which is an opposite side of the blower contact surface  173  and which faces the exhaust hole  12 . The exhaust surface  184  is formed to be flat-shaped.
 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the electronic circuit substrate  190  has a timer  191 , a memory  192 , a Peltier element power supply  193 , a blower power supply  194 , a charge controller  195 , a switch sensor  196 , a temperature sensor  197 , and a controller  198 . An electric circuit is formed by various electronic elements such as an IC chip, a capacitor, and a coil, in the electronic circuit substrate  190 . This electric circuit functions as the timer  191 , the memory  192  . . . the controller  198 . 
         [0000]    The timer  191  is a timer which is controlled by the controller  198  to clock a time. It is possible that a plurality of the timers  191  are provided in the electronic circuit substrate as necessary to clock times at different timings respectively. The timer  191  transmits information indicating the clocked time to the controller  198 . 
         [0028]    The memory  192  can keep various tables in advance. For example, in a case where the thermistor is used for the thermostat  150 , the memory  192  sometimes holds a table in which a resistance value of the thermistor and a value indicating a temperature of the warm plate  160   a  are associated with each other. 
         [0029]    The memory  192  can holds, for example, a table in which a value indicating the temperature of the warm plate  160   a  measured by the thermostat  150  and numeric information indicating an ON/OFF time of electric power supply to the Peltier element  110 , and numeric information indicating an ON/OFF time of electric power supply to the blower  120  are associated with one another. 
         [0000]    The memory  192  can holds a voltage value of a voltage applied to the Peltier element  110  or the blower  120 . 
         [0030]    The memory  192  can hold time information indicating a usage time limit for using the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  safely in advance. 
         [0000]    The Peltier element power supply  193  is controlled by the controller  198  to carry out turning on/off of electric power supply to the Peltier element  110 . Thereby, driving of the Peltier element  110  is turned on/off.
 
The blower power supply  194  is controlled by the controller  198  to turns on/off electric power supply to the blower  120 . Thereby, driving of the blower  120  is turned on/off. The charge controller  195  is controlled by the controller  198  to turn on/off electric power supply to the secondary battery  140 . Thereby, charging of the secondary battery  140  is turned on/off.
 
         [0031]    The switch sensor  196  senses a pressing operation of the ON/OFF switch  16  by a person to perform treatment. The switch sensor  196  notifies the controller  198  of the pressing operation of the ON/OFF switch  16 . 
         [0000]    The temperature sensor  197  is electrically connected to the thermostat  150  and measures the temperature of the warm plate  160   a  in collaboration with the thermostat  150 . In a case where the thermostat  150  is the thermistor, as a result that the temperature sensor  197  reads a resistance value of the thermistor, the resistance value changing in correspondence with the temperature of the warm plate  160   a , the temperature sensor  197  can consequently detect the temperature of the warm plate  160   a . The temperature sensor  197  notifies the controller  198  of information indicating the measured temperature of the warm plate  160   a . The controller  198  controls the timer  191 , the memory  192 , the Peltier element power supply  193 , the blower power supply  194 , the charge controller  195 , the switch sensor  196 , and the temperature sensor  197 , respectively. 
         [0032]    Concrete examples of control of the controller  198  will be shown in (1) to (6) below. 
         [0000]    (1) The controller  198  constantly monitors a voltage of the secondary battery  140 . Based on this voltage, the controller  198  controls the charge controller  195  to charge the secondary battery  140 .
 
(2) The controller  198  carries out reading/writing of information from/to the memory  192 .
 
(3) The controller  198 , responding to reception of notice of a signal indicating a pressing operation of the ON/OFF switch  16  from the switch sensor  196 , controls the Peltier element power supply  193  to drive the Peltier element  110 .
 
(4) The controller  198  controls the Peltier element power supply  193  and/or the blower power supply  194  based on information indicating the temperature of the warm plate  160   a  from the temperature sensor  197 , with reference to the table held by the memory  192 , and turns on/off driving of the Peltier element  110  and/or the blower  120  for a predetermined time.
 
(5) The controller  198  instructs the timer  191  to start and to end clocking.
 
         [0033]    The controller  198  receives information of a time clocked by the timer  191 , from the timer  191 . The controller  198  can know how long (how many second, how many minutes, . . . ) the timer has clocked, from the information of the clocked time transmitted from the timer  191 . The controller  198  can instruct the timer  191  to reset the clocked time at a predetermined timing (for example, simultaneously with an instruction to the timer  191  to stop clocking). By such a “reset instruction”, the time clocked by the timer  191  returns to 0 (zero) and clocking can be started from 0 (zero) at a starting time of next clocking. 
         [0000]    (6) Other than the above, in a case where an LED or a vibrator vibrating the warm plate  160   a  and the cool plate  160   b , for example, is provided in the casing  10 , the controller  198  controls turning on/off of driving thereof. 
       (Explanation of Operation) 
       [0034]    Next, by using  FIG. 5 , an operation of the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  will be described. 
       (1) Start of Operation and Forced Termination (Steps S 101  to S 103  and Steps S 114 , S 115 ) 
       [0035]    The switch sensor  196  senses an ON operation of the ON/OFF switch  16  by a person to perform treatment (step S 101 ). On this occasion, the switch sensor  196  notifies the controller  198  that the ON operation of the ON/OFF switch  16  is sensed.
 
The controller  198 , on receiving notice of detection of the ON operation of the ON/OFF switch from the switch sensor  196 , makes the timer  191  clock a time T1 (step S 102 ).
 
         [0036]    The time T1 is a time which is compared with a usage time limit of the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  in order for safe use of the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1 . The usage time limit is twelve minutes, for example. When the time T1 clocked by the timer  191  becomes equal to or more than the usage time limit, the controller  198  forcibly shuts off electric power supply to the Peltier element  110  and the blower  120 , to terminate the operation of the entire warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  (steps S 114 , S 115 ). On this occasion, the controller  198  resets clocking of the timer  191 . When the timer  191  starts clocking of the time T1, the controller  198  controls the temperature sensor  197  to start measurement of a temperature α of the warm plate  160   a  in collaboration with the thermostat  150  (step S 103 ). 
         [0000]    (2) Driving  1  of the Peltier Element  110  and/or the Blower  120  (Steps S 104 , S 105 , Step S 114 ) 
         [0037]    The controller  198  controls turning on/off of electric power supply to the Peltier element  110  and/or the blower  120  in correspondence with the temperature α of the warm plate  160   a  notice of which is given by the temperature sensor  197 . For example, when the temperature α of the warm plate  160   a  is lower than 38° C., the controller  198  controls the Peltier element power supply  193  to supply electric power to the Peltier element  110 . 
         [0000]    On this occasion, the controller  198  does not perform supply of electric power to the blower  120  (Yes in the step S 104 , the step S 105 ). Consequently, a temperature of the heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110  rises, and simultaneously, a temperature of the heat absorbing surface  112  comes down, and corresponding thereto, the temperature of the warm plate  160   a  rises and simultaneously the temperature of the cool plate  160   b  comes down. 
         [0038]    Next, the controller  198  receives information indicating the time T1 from the timer  129 , and judges whether or not the time T1 is equal to or more than a predetermined time (step S 114 ). 
         [0000]    If the time T1 clocked by the timer  191  is equal to or more than the usage time limit, the controller  198  executes a content of the step S 115 .
 
If the time T1 clocked by the timer  191  is shorter than the usage time limit (No in the step S 114 ), the controller repeats processings after the step S 104 .
 
(3) Driving  2  of the Peltier Element  110  and/or the Blower  120  (Steps S 106 , S 107 , Step S 114 )
 
         [0039]    When the temperature α of the warm plate  160   a  notice of which is given by the temperature sensor  197  is 38° C. or more and 41° C. or less (Yes in a step S 106 ), the controller  198  controls the blower power supply  194  to drive the blower  120  (step S 107 ). By driving of the blower  120 , the temperature of the heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110 , rises more slowly than in the step S 105 . The temperature of the heat absorbing surface  112  comes down slowly. In correspondence therewith, the temperature of the warm plate  160   a  also rises more slowly than in the step S 105 , and the temperature of the cool plate  160   b  comes down slowly. 
         [0000]    (4) Driving  3  of the Peltier Element  110  and/or the Blower  120  (Steps S 108  to S 113 , Step S 114 ) 
         [0040]    When the temperature α of the warm plate  160   a  notice of which is given by the temperature sensor  197  is in a range of 41° C. or more and 42° C. or less (Yes in a step S 108 ), the controller  198  makes the timer  191  clock a time T2 or a time T3 (step S 109 ). The time T2 is a time of turning on of electric power supply to the Peltier element. The time T3 is a time of turning off of electric power supply to the Peltier element  110 . The controller  198  repeats processings of the steps S 104  to S 114  also while the timer  191  clocks the time T2 or the time T3. The controller  198  turns on or off supply of electric power to the Peltier element  110  for a time corresponding to the time T2 or the time T3 clocked by the timer  191  (step S 110 ). 
         [0041]    Concrete explanation will be done below. When the temperature α of the warm plate  160   a  notice of which is given by the temperature sensor  197  is in a range of 41° C. or more and 42° C. or less (Yes in the step S 108 ), the controller  198  makes clocking of 45 msec (millisecond) be performed as the time T2. The controller  198  turns on driving of the Peltier element  110  until the timer  191  finishes clocking of 45 msec as the time T2. When the timer  191  finishes clocking of 45 msec as the time T2, the controller  198  resets clocking of the time T2 and subsequently makes clocking of 5 msec be performed as the time T3. The controller  198  turns off driving of the Peltier element  119  until the timer  191  finishes clocking of 5 ms as the time T3. 
         [0000]    The time T2 in a case where the temperature α of the warm plate  160   a  notice of which is given by the temperature sensor  197  is in a range of 42° C. or more and 43° C. or less (Yes in a step S 111 ) is 40 msec, and the time T3 is 10 msec. The time T2 in a case where the temperature α of the warm plate  160   a  notice of which is given by the temperature sensor  197  is in a range of 43° C. or more and less than 45° C. (Yes in a step S 112 ) is 35 msec, and the time T3 is 15 msec. As described above, the controller  198  controls electric power supply to the Peltier element  110  so that an ON time of driving of the Peltier element  110  becomes shorter and, in contrast, an OFF time of driving of the Peltier element  110  becomes longer, as the temperature α of the warm plate  160   a  approaches 45° C. 
         [0042]    As a result that turning on/off of electric power supply to the Peltier element  10  is repeated every predetermined time, temperature rising of the heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110  becomes further slower. Therefore, it is possible to prevent rapid temperature rising (what is called an overshoot) of the heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110 , and in correspondence therewith, it is possible to prevent rapid rising of the temperature of the warm plate  160   a . By preventing rapid rising of the temperature of the Peltier element  110 , the Peltier element  110  can be prevented from being broken by heat. 
         [0000]    (5) Turning Off of the Peltier Element  110  and/or the Blower  120  (Step S 113 ) 
         [0043]    When the temperature α of the warm plate  160   a  notice of which is given by the temperature sensor  197  becomes 45° C. or more (No in the step S 112 ), the controller  198  controls the Peltier element power supply  193  to turn off electric power supply to the Peltier element  110 . On this occasion, since electric power supply to the blower  120  is still in an ON state, the temperature of the heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110  gradually lowers. 
         [0000]    The controller  198  repeats the above operation of (2) to (6) until the time T1 clocked by the timer  191  becomes equal to or more than the usage time limit (Yes in the step S 114 ) or the switch sensor  196  senses an OFF operation of the ON/OFF switch by the person to perform treatment. 
         [0044]    As a result that the controller  198  controls each section as described above, it becomes possible to stabilize the temperature α of the warm plate  160   a  in a range of 38 to 45° C. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the person to receive treatment from having a burn. Note that when the temperature α of the warm plate  160   a  is stabilized in the range of 38 to 45° C., a temperature of the cool plate  160   b  is stabilized in a range of 8° C. to 20° C. 
         [0000]    As a result that the person to perform treatment makes the warm plate  160   a  or the cool plate  160   b  touch a skin surface in a state describe above, skin can be cooled or heated.
 
An effect of increasing metabolism of the skin can be expected by giving such a cool sense or a warm sense to the skin surface.
 
According to the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1 , since surfaces of the warm plate  160   a  and of the cool plate  160   b  are exposed on the front surface  10   a  and the rear surface  10   b  of the casing  10 , it is possible to simultaneously realize a state where the warm sense by the warm plate  160   a  is able to be supplied to the skin surface of the person to receive treatment and a state where the cool sense by the cool plate  160   b  is able to be supplied to the skin surface of the person to receive treatment. Thereby, a user can instantly select which for the warm sense and the cool sense is to be given to the skin surface, and it becomes possible to give a skin surface a large temperature difference in a short time, so that stimulation to the skin surface can be made large in a short time.
 
         [0045]    Further, according to the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  of this example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , since a part of the flat surface  171  of the heat sink  170  is in surface contact with the heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110 , heat H 1  of the heat generating surface  111  is transferred to a warm plate contact mount  183  side and a blower connection surface  173  side of the heat sink  170  efficiently. Consequently, the heat having been transferred from the heat generating surface  111  extends over the heat sink  170  evenly (see “H 2 ” of  FIG. 6 ), and the heat H 1  can be stored in the entire heat sink  170 . Part of the heat H 1  stored in the heat sink  170  is transferred to the warm plate  160   a  via the front end surface  183   a  of the warm plate contact mount  183  (see “H 3 ” in  FIG. 6 ). Consequently, the warm plate  160   a  is heated and the heat H 3  of the warm plate  160   a  is supplied to the skin surface of the person to receive treatment (see “H 4 ” in  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0046]    Further, the other part of the heat H 1  stored in the heat sink  170  is discharged to the outside of the casing  10  efficiently by wind (see “A 1 , A 2 ” in  FIG. 6 ) blowing between the plural slots  174  and heat release fins  175  (see  FIG. 3A ) by driving of the blower  120 . Consequently, it becomes possible to release the heat of the heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110  effectively. 
         [0047]    Conventionally, in a Peltier element  110 , heat of the heat generating surface  111  sometimes goes round to the heat absorbing surface  112 , bringing about temperature rising of the heat absorbing surface  112 . According to the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  of this embodiment, as a result that the heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110  and the flat surface of the heat sink  170  are brought into surface contact with each other, the heat of the heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110  can be transferred to the heat sink  170  efficiently. Besides, by transferring this heat to the warm plate  160   a  and releasing this heat by driving of the blower  120 , the heat of the heat generating surface  111  can be prevented from going round to the heat absorbing surface  112 . Thereby, it becomes possible to make the temperature of the heat absorbing surface  112  easy to be lowered. 
         [0000]    According to the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1 , since the heat of the heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110  is used to heat the warm plate  160   a , an element such as a heater for heating the warm plate  160   a  is unnecessary. Consequently, it becomes easier to realize a lower cost in manufacturing of the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1 . Further, since the element such as a heater is not necessary, space saving and energy saving of the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  can be realized in the warm-cool beauty treatment device, and it becomes possible to miniaturize the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1 . 
         [0048]    According to the warm-cool beauty treatment device  1 , as a result that the heat sink  170  is intervened between the Peltier element  110  and the warm plate  160   a  and that a part of the heat sink  170 , going beyond the Peltier element  110 , extends in a direction of the blower  120  and is connected to the blower  120 , the entire warm-cool beauty treatment device  1  can be formed compactly. 
       Modification Example 
       [0049]    The present invention can be further modified variously. For example, an electronic circuit substrate  190  may have a variable resistor so that a voltage applied to a Peltier element  110  or a blower  120  can be varied. In this case, a temperature of a heat generating surface  111  of the Peltier element  110  can be adjusted by such alteration of the voltage. 
         [0000]    Further, in the above-described embodiment, the temperature of the warm plate  160   a  is measured by the thermostat  150 , but a temperature of a cool plate  160   b  or a Peltier element  110  may be measured.
 
Further, it is possible that a secondary battery  140  is not had and that electric power is directly obtained from an outlet for home use, for example.
 
         [0050]    While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.

Technology Category: 2