Temperature control of functional unit of molding device

Abstract

In the field of performing a styling action on an article to be styled, there is provided a styling apparatus, such as a hair curler (100), comprising a functional unit (40), a heating device configured to heat the functional unit (40), and a processor (50). After the heating device has been operated to initially heat the functional unit (40), the temperature control algorithm applied by the processor (50) comprises a feed-forward control program involving the action of operating the heating device in a percentage of the full power of the heating device, which is beneficial to improve the effectiveness of the shaping action and to improve the shaping efficiency. This contributes to preventing the temperature of the functional unit (40) from starting to drop to a level significantly below the assumed level due to the initial contact or proximity of the article to be shaped with the functional unit (40).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a styling device, comprising: a functional unit, which is configured to perform a styling action on an object to be styled during use of the styling device; and also comprising: a heating device, which is configured to heat the functional unit; and a processor, which is configured to control the operation of the styling device, wherein the processor is configured to: after the heating device has been operated to initially heat the functional unit to a temperature within an operable temperature range, apply a temperature control algorithm designed to operate the heating device to keep the temperature of the functional unit within the operable temperature range. Background Art

[0002] A practical example of a styling device is an automatic curling machine. In this regard, it is noted that WO2017 / 029382A1 discloses an automatic curling machine, including a handle, a housing, a tubular element, a heater for heating the tubular element, a hair curler component that can rotate around the tubular element, a driving device for driving the hair curler component, and a curling chamber, the curling chamber having an opening at the upper end, the opening being formed between the inner surface of the hair curler component and the outer surface of the tubular element. The upper end of the housing has a recess extending downward from the top end of the housing, and the recess is connected to the opening of the curling chamber. In addition, a hair winding portion is arranged on the hair curler component to allow hair to be wound around the tubular element when the hair curler component rotates. During operation, hair is placed in a recess provided in the housing and can enter the curling chamber from the recess, and when the hair curler component rotates, hair can be wound around the tubular element, thereby achieving automatic curling.

[0003] Typically, automatic curling irons rely on internal temperature sensors and microprocessors to control the temperature of the barrel element. However, once a lock of hair is loaded around the barrel element, the temperature of the barrel element drops significantly, and it takes some time for the internal temperature sensor to detect the temperature drop and send a signal to the microprocessor to compensate for the heat loss by energizing the heater used to heat the barrel element. During this period, the lock of hair is exposed to less heat than desired, and therefore, it takes longer to achieve the desired styling effect of the lock of hair. In actual situations, the time required for the internal temperature sensor to react to the sudden temperature drop caused by loading the hair may be greater than 7 seconds, and the time required for the heat to be transferred to the outer surface of the barrel element after the heater is energized may be greater than 3 seconds. Therefore, from the moment the lock of hair is wrapped around the barrel element and the curling cycle begins, the lock of hair will first be subjected to less and less heat, and the person using the curling iron (hereinafter referred to as "the user") needs to wait significantly longer and / or needs to increase the temperature setting to obtain the desired styling effect compared to the theoretical situation where the temperature of the barrel element is continuously at the assumed operating level. The temperature drop mentioned may be, for example, a temperature drop of up to 10°C.

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling the temperature of a barrel element, thereby preventing a situation in which the duration of a curling action must be prolonged and / or the temperature setting must be increased relative to theoretical values ​​in order to achieve the desired curling effect. More generally, one object of the present invention is to provide a method for operating a heating device of a styling device, thereby alleviating a reduction in the effectiveness of the styling action caused by initial contact or proximity of the object to be styled with the functional unit. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides a styling device, comprising: a functional unit configured to perform a styling action on an object to be styled during use of the styling device; and further comprising: a heating device configured to heat the functional unit; and a processor configured to control the operation of the styling device, wherein:

[0006] the processor is configured to, after the heating device has been operated to initially heat the functional unit to a temperature within the operable temperature range, apply a temperature control algorithm designed to operate the heating device to maintain the temperature of the functional unit within the operable temperature range,

[0007] - the temperature control algorithm includes a feed-forward control routine involving the act of operating the heating device at a percentage of its full power, and

[0008] The temperature control algorithm is configured to initiate a feed-forward control routine when the processor receives an input indicating that a styling action is to be performed.

[0009] The present invention introduces a feedforward control program to compensate for the expected heat loss of a functional unit of a styling device triggered by an input indicating that a styling action is to be performed. The processor of the styling device (which may also be a microprocessor in actual practice) is configured to use this input to start energizing the heating device at an appropriate power level. In this process, unlike what is known in the art, there is no need to wait for the temperature sensor to react to the initial temperature drop at the functional unit. Instead, the heating device automatically operates so that the temperature of the functional unit is placed at a sufficiently high level to compensate for the heat loss caused by the initial contact or proximity of the object to be styled with the functional unit, thereby maintaining the effectiveness of the styling action by achieving a more stable styling temperature, and both the duration of the styling action and the temperature of the functional unit can be maintained within acceptable limits. In the context of the present invention, the appropriate power level at which the heating device operates in the feedforward control program is a percentage of its full power, and can be a fixed percentage of its full power throughout the execution time of the feedforward control program. Advantageously, this percentage is selected with respect to a number of factors, including the expected value of the initial temperature drop, the operable temperature range, and the time that can be used to operate the heating device in this expected manner.

[0010] As previously described, a hair curler usually comprises a winding start button which is pressed by the user when the hair strand has been correctly placed in the recess on the housing and which is intended to start the curling action and remain pressed during the entire curling action. When the present invention is applied to the case of a hair curler, once the user presses the winding start button, an event is initiated in which the processor receives an input indicating that a styling action is to be performed. At this point, without waiting for an input from an internal temperature sensor, a feedforward control program is initiated, whereby the tubular element is heated by the heating device at a higher power than in the conventional case (i.e. a percentage of the full power of the heating device). As a result, the temperature of the tubular element is placed at a level where the temperature drop caused by the contact of the hair with the tubular element does not reduce the temperature to a level that significantly impedes the curling action, thereby enabling the hair strand to be curled to be exposed to heat that is more closely related to the temperature setting specified by the user. In this way, the time for which the hair strand needs to be kept in the hair curler to obtain the desired styling result is shortened compared to the conventional case, and the user does not worry about the styling result nor does he feel the need to set a higher temperature.

[0011] It is practical if the temperature control algorithm is configured to terminate the feedforward control program when an operating time period has elapsed after the start of the feedforward control program, or earlier, when the input indicating that a styling action is to be performed is removed before this time. For example, when the styling device according to the invention is a curling iron as previously suggested, the feedforward control program can be caused to terminate a few seconds (for example 6 seconds) after the start, or earlier, when the user releases the winding start button. With regard to the latter possible criterion, a delay period can be set so that the feedforward control program is terminated only if the winding start button remains released within this delay period.

[0012] It may be advantageous if the power level at which the heating device is operated is adapted to the level of the operational temperature range of the functional unit. In other words, it may be advantageous if the temperature control algorithm is configured to determine the percentage of the full power of the heating device as a function of the level of the operational temperature range of the functional unit. It is particularly preferred in this respect that the temperature control algorithm is configured to apply a relationship between the percentage of the full power of the heating device and the level of the operational temperature range of the functional unit, according to which the percentage decreases with increasing level of the operational temperature range, so that a lower percentage of the full power is selected when a higher temperature of the functional unit is required and to avoid overheating problems in all cases, and the percentage increases with decreasing level of the operational temperature range. An example of a default percentage is 80%, an example of a percentage that can be selected at a higher temperature level is 70%, and an example of a percentage that can be selected at a lower temperature level is 90%.

[0013] In the foregoing, the practical possibility of a curling iron comprising a winding start button is addressed, wherein it is indicated that the winding start button is to be kept pressed during the entire curling action. Generally, in a practical embodiment, the styling device comprises a user interface configured to enable a user to provide input to the processor, including input indicating that a styling action is to be performed, wherein the user interface can be configured to: provide input to the processor indicating that a styling action is to be performed as long as the user interacts with the user interface.

[0014] In order to ensure safety in use of the styling device according to the invention, it is proposed that the action of operating the heating means at a percentage of its full power is a conditional action, in which case it may be practical if the processor is configured to determine, for example via a suitable sensor, that although an input indicating that a styling action is to be performed is provided to the processor, there is no object to be styled, and if this is found to be the case, prevent the initiation of the action of operating the heating means at a percentage of its full power. The conditional action can also be implemented in the following way:

[0015] - the feedforward control procedure also involves the following prior actions: obtaining a value representing the actual temperature of the functional unit and determining whether the value is within or outside a safe value range, and

[0016] - The temperature control algorithm is configured to initiate an action to operate the heating device at a percentage of its full power only if this value was found to be within a safe value range during a previous action.

[0017] Therefore, it is proposed to check the actual temperature of the functional unit in order to decide whether it is safe to initiate the action of operating the heating device at a percentage of its full power. In this way, the potential risk of overheating involved in the feedforward control is eliminated. In this case, it may be practical if the styling device comprises temperature sensing means and the temperature control algorithm is configured to operate the temperature sensing means to provide a value representative of the actual temperature of the functional unit. In the case where the styling device is an automatic curling iron, the internal temperature sensor of the automatic curling iron can be used in the process of performing the safety check. In the absence of a safety check, there is a risk of overheating in particular if the user presses the winding start button when there is no hair in the housing of the automatic curling iron. With respect to the safe value range, it should be noted that this range may include higher temperatures within the operable temperature range + all lower temperatures + a limited additional range (e.g. an additional range of 5°C), which does not change the fact that the invention also covers other options.

[0018] Optionally, the temperature control algorithm includes a feedback control procedure in addition to the feedforward control procedure defined and explained above, as follows:

[0019] - the temperature control algorithm further comprises a feedback control procedure involving the following actions: monitoring a value representing the actual temperature of the functional unit, determining whether the value is within, below or above an operational value range, and operating the heating means as long as the value is found to be below the operational value range, and

[0020] The temperature control algorithm is configured to: execute the feedback control program by default, start the feedback control program when the feedforward control program is terminated, and terminate the feedback control program when the feedforward control program is started.

[0021] In this way, a conventional way of maintaining the temperature of a functional unit is achieved outside the time of executing a feedforward control procedure when a temperature control algorithm is applied, which conventional way relies on monitoring a value representing the actual temperature of the functional unit and operating the heating device as long as this value is found to be below an operational value range.

[0022] In practical cases, the styling device according to the invention comprises a unit configured to provide a warning signal to a person, wherein the processor is configured to activate the unit when the time period for which the input indicating that a styling action is to be performed exceeds a maximum value. In this way, it is avoided that the object to be styled is subjected to the styling action for a time period longer than necessary, which is particularly advantageous in cases where the nature of the styling action is such that continued execution of the styling action after the safe time period has passed will ultimately cause damage to the object to be styled. In any case, having a warning function can improve the ease of use of the styling device and contribute to the user's perception of the quality and reliability of the styling device.

[0023] The present invention covers various types of styling devices, including hair styling devices, wherein the functional unit is configured to perform a styling action on at least a portion of a person's hair. As previously suggested, in particular, the styling device according to the present invention may be an automatic hair curler, comprising a rotatable hair curler part, which is configured to engage a hair strand, wherein the functional unit comprises a cylindrical element surrounded by the hair curler part. In the case of such a hair curler, it is in fact possible to generate an input indicating that a styling action is to be performed when the hair curler part is actuated to rotate.

[0024] The above and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the following detailed description of an automatic hair curler, which includes: a barrel element around which a hair strand is to be wound; a heater for heating the barrel element; and a microprocessor programmed to control the temperature of the heater so as to anticipate the cooling effect of the hair strand to be curled in contact with the barrel element, thereby helping to maintain the temperature of the barrel element within an operable temperature range, thereby achieving an effective curling action. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar components are indicated by the same reference numerals, and in which:

[0026] Figure 1 Schematically shows a perspective view of an automatic hair curler according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 schematically shows a partial perspective view of a hair curler; and

[0028] Figure 3 A perspective view of a barrel element of a hair curler is schematically shown, with the top cover removed to facilitate viewing of the interior of the barrel element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Figure 1An automatic hair curler 100 is shown which is designed for performing a curling action on the hair and comprises the following components:

[0030] - a handle 10 for enabling the user to hold the curling iron 100 in his or her own hand;

[0031] - a housing 20 having a hair strand support surface 21 for placing the root of the hair strand and a recess 22 constituting a hair strand entrance for withdrawing the end of the hair strand into the housing 20;

[0032] - a hair curler part 30 for retracting the hair lock into the housing 20;

[0033] - a motor 31 configured to rotate the hair curler part 30 about a rotation axis R extending in the longitudinal direction;

[0034] - a tubular element 40 shaped substantially as a hollow cylinder with a circular periphery suitable for winding a lock of hair around it;

[0035] - a microprocessor 50 mounted on a circuit board mounted inside the handle 10;

[0036] a heater 60 configured to heat the tubular element 40, arranged to be controlled by the microprocessor 50, and mounted on an adapter 61 arranged to contact the inner surface of the tubular element 40, thereby achieving conductive heat transfer from the heater 60 to the tubular element 40;

[0037] a user interface 70 in the handle 10, comprising a winding start button 71, which is used by the user to send a signal to the motor 31 of the hair curler part 30 through the microprocessor 50 to start winding the hair lock into the housing 20 and around the cylindrical element 40 by rotating the hair curler part 30; and

[0038] A temperature sensor 80 is installed inside the tubular element 40 and is used to provide a temperature signal to the microprocessor 50 for feedback control of the temperature of the tubular element 40 by operating the heater 60 .

[0039] The hair curler 100 is an example of a styling device according to the present invention, in which the barrel element 40 serves as a functional unit, and the combination of the heater 60 and the adapter 61 is a practical embodiment of a heating device configured as a heating functional unit. Figure 2 A portion of the curling iron 100 is shown at the top of the handle 10, while Figure 3In FIG. 4 , the heater 60, the adapter 61 and the temperature sensor 80 located inside the cylindrical element 40 can be seen. Figure 1 In FIG. 5 , the motor 31 and the microprocessor 50 of the hair curler part 30 are represented by a dotted rectangle.

[0040] Because it is expected that when the user presses the roll-on button 71, the lock of hair is inserted into the recess 22 of the housing 20, and within a few seconds after the user performs this action, a predictable hair load will be directed to the outer surface of the barrel element 40, the amount of heat loss can be predicted. The microprocessor 50 is programmed to operate the heater 60 in the following manner: at least in the first few seconds after the action is performed, the situation in which the amount of heat loss sharply reduces the effectiveness of the curling action is avoided. In particular, the microprocessor 50 is programmed to feed-forward control the temperature of the barrel element 40 when the roll-on button 71 is initially pressed. Regarding the temperature control algorithm applied by the microprocessor 50 after the heater 60 is operated to initially heat the barrel element 40 to a temperature within the operable temperature range, in fact, the temperature control algorithm includes a feed-forward control program, which involves the action of operating the heater 60 at a certain percentage of the full power of the heater, and the feed-forward control program is activated when the user presses the roll-on button 71. The feed-forward control program is executed so that the heat loss caused by the contact of the hair with the barrel element 40 is immediately compensated. The percentage is selected relative to the predicted amount of heat loss so that the final temperature of the cartridge element 40 is well within or at least close to the operable temperature range. In this example, the user interface 70 includes a button 72 for enabling the user to select a temperature setting for the curling action, wherein it should be noted that the operable temperature range applied to the cartridge element 40 is directly related to the temperature setting.

[0041] In view of the above, the curling iron 100 is operated in the following manner. The initial position of the hair curler component 30 is such that the recess 22 is free to receive the hair strand. The user holds the handle 10 of the curling iron 100 with one hand, inserts the hair strand through the recess 22 with the other hand, and presses the winding start button 71 with the finger of the first hand to start the curling action. The hair curler component 30 will begin to rotate around the barrel element 40 for a defined number of turns, thereby forcing the length of hair to be wound around the barrel element 40. Once the winding start button 71 is pressed, a signal is sent to the microprocessor 50 to trigger the feedforward control program of the temperature control algorithm. The feedforward control program starts to check the hair load in the curling iron 100, which is practical. In the present example, this can be achieved by checking the actual temperature of the temperature sensor 80. In this case, only when the temperature is within a safe range (which may be a range including temperatures below the temperature setting and temperatures up to 5° C. above the temperature setting), the heater 60 is powered for a period of time at a percentage of its full power, such as 80% of its full power for 6 seconds, for example. The heat generated in this way is sufficient to compensate for the predicted heat losses caused by the load on the tubular element 40 due to the introduction of the lock of hair.

[0042] Information about the amount of heat loss caused after the introduction of a lock of hair into the outer surface of the barrel element 40 is determined during tests performed during the development phase of the curling iron 100, and the programming of the microprocessor 50 is designed based on the results of these tests. For example, a test barrel element similar to the actual barrel element 40 of the curling iron 100 is equipped with a plurality of thermocouples, for example three thermocouples, and a data logger is connected to the thermocouples, so that the temperature of the outer surface of the barrel element 40 can be accurately monitored, and the following sequence of steps is performed for different temperature settings:

[0043] - heating the test cylinder until a steady-state temperature according to a temperature setting is reached,

[0044] - Start the data logger to record the temperature from the thermocouple,

[0045] - winding the hair strand around the test cylindrical element,

[0046] - keeping the lock of hair on the test cartridge element for a limited period of time, such as 10 seconds,

[0047] – Remove the tress and complete the test.

[0048] In this way, it can be seen how the temperature of the outer surface of the tubular element 40 develops over time. This information is useful in determining the details of the feedforward control routine and programming the microprocessor 50 accordingly. Advantageously, the accuracy of the test results is improved by repeating each different test a number of times and averaging the values ​​obtained during the repeated tests.

[0049] The user keeps pressing the winding start button 71 during the entire curling action. The curling iron 100 is equipped with a unit configured to send a signal to the user (not shown), which is controlled by the microprocessor 50 based on a timer function. In particular, the microprocessor 50 is configured to activate the unit after a certain amount of time (e.g., 8 seconds) after the winding start button 71 is initially pressed, so that the user knows when the curling action is completed and can release the winding start button 71. The signal can be in the form of a buzzer from a built-in speaker, or in the form of vibration feedback generated by a built-in haptic motor, or in a visual form such as a flashing light. In this example, the user interface 70 includes a button 73, which is used to enable the user to select the duration of the curling action, thereby setting the moment to activate the unit. When the curling action is terminated, the user should remove the curled hair strands from the curling iron 100.

[0050] In the present example, the user interface 70 comprises, in addition to the hair curling button 71 , the temperature setting button 72 and the time setting button 73 , a button 74 by which the user can set the rotation direction of the hair curler part 30 .

[0051] The duration of the feed-forward control program can usually be shorter than the duration of the curling action. Once the feed-forward control program is completed, conventional feedback control of the temperature of the tubular element 40 is applied. This can be implemented in any appropriate manner. In the present example, this involves the microprocessor 50 using a built-in temperature sensor 80 to monitor the temperature of the tubular element 40, and controlling the power of the heater 60 to keep the temperature of the tubular element 40 near the temperature setting. This feedback control of the heater 60 can place the curling iron 100 in an idle state until the winding-on button 71 is pressed again, triggering the feed-forward control again. If the winding-on button 71 is released before the end of the entire time period of the feed-forward control program, the feed-forward control program is terminated, and the feedback control program is started at this point. Although the winding-on button 71 is pressed, a situation in which the feedback control program continues is that the safety check described previously shows that the actual temperature of the tubular element 40 is outside the safety range.

[0052] According to one complex possibility, the feedforward program is unique for each setting, wherein when a higher temperature setting is selected, the power of the heater 60 is set lower, and when a lower temperature setting is selected, the power of the heater 60 is set higher. For example, the default percentage of full power of the heater 60 is 80%, the lower percentage of full power of the heater 60 is 70%, and the upper percentage of full power of the heater 60 is 90%. The duration of the feedforward control program may be the same in all cases, wherein, as previously suggested, 6 seconds may be a practical example.

[0053] It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples discussed above, and that several modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. The present invention is intended to be understood as including all such modifications and changes as long as they fall within the scope of the claims or their equivalents. Although the present invention is illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the specification, such illustrations and descriptions are to be considered merely illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The accompanying drawings are schematic, in which details not necessary for understanding the present invention may have been omitted, and these details are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0054] In the process of practicing the disclosure claimed for protection, variations of the disclosed embodiments may be understood and implemented by those skilled in the art through study of the drawings, the specification and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other steps or elements, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0055] Unless expressly stated otherwise, elements and aspects discussed for or in connection with a particular embodiment may suitably be combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments.Thus, the fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0056] Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "include" and "comprising" used herein encompass the term "consisting of..." Therefore, the term "include" or "comprising" may mean "consisting of..." in one embodiment, but may mean "at least including / having / equipped with the defined categories and optionally one or more other categories" in another embodiment.

[0057] The salient aspects of the invention are summarized as follows. In the field of performing a styling action on an article to be styled, there is provided a styling device, such as a curling iron 100, comprising: a functional unit 40; a heating device 60, 61 configured to heat the functional unit 40; and a processor 50 configured to control the operation of the styling device. After the heating device 60, 61 has been operated to initially heat the functional unit 40 to a temperature within an operable temperature range, the temperature control algorithm applied by the processor 50 includes a feed-forward control program involving the action of operating the heating device 60, 61 at a percentage of the full power of the heating device 60, 61, which is beneficial for improving the effectiveness of the styling action because it helps prevent the temperature of the functional unit 40 from initially dropping to a level significantly below the envisioned level due to the initial contact or proximity of the article to be styled with the functional unit 40. The controller 50 only needs to trigger the feed-forward control program to receive an input indicating that a styling action is to be performed, and no input is required regarding the actual temperature of the functional unit 40 during the entire action of operating the heating device 60, 61 at a percentage of the full power of the heating device 60, 61.

Claims

1. A modeling device (100), comprising: A functional unit (40) configured to perform a shaping action on an object to be shaped during use of the shaping device (100); and further comprising: a heating device (60, 61) configured to heat the functional unit (40); and a processor (50) configured to control the operation of the shaping device (100), wherein: - the processor (50) is configured to: after the heating device (60, 61) has been operated to initially heat the functional unit (40) to a temperature within the operable temperature range, apply a temperature control algorithm designed to operate the heating device (60, 61) to maintain the temperature of the functional unit (40) within the operable temperature range, - the temperature control algorithm comprises a feed-forward control procedure involving the action of operating the heating means (60, 61) at a percentage of the full power of the heating means (60, 61), - the temperature control algorithm is configured to: initiate the feedforward control procedure when the processor (50) receives an input indicating that a styling action is to be performed, and - the temperature control algorithm is configured to terminate the feedforward control routine when an operating time period has elapsed after initiation of the feedforward control routine, or earlier, when the input indicating that a styling action is to be performed is removed before that time.

2. The shaping device (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The temperature control algorithm is configured to determine a percentage of full power of the heating device (60, 61) according to the level of the operable temperature range of the functional unit (40).

3. The shaping device (100) according to claim 2, wherein: The temperature control algorithm is configured to apply a relationship between a percentage of the full power of the heating device (60, 61) and the level of the operable temperature range of the functional unit (40), according to which the percentage decreases as the level of the operable temperature range increases and the percentage increases as the level of the operable temperature range decreases.

4. The styling device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a user interface (70) configured to enable a person using the styling device (100) to provide input to the processor (50), including the input indicating that a styling action is to be performed.

5. The shaping device (100) according to claim 4, wherein: The user interface (70) is configured to provide the processor (50) with the input indicating that a styling action is to be performed whenever a person using the styling device (100) interacts with the user interface (70).

6. The styling device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: - said action of operating said heating means (60, 61) at a percentage of the full power of said heating means (60, 61) is a conditional action, - the feedforward control procedure also involves the following previous actions: obtaining a value determined according to the presence or absence of an object to be shaped on the functional unit (40), and - the temperature control algorithm is configured to initiate the action of operating the heating means (60, 61) at a percentage of their full power only if it is found that the value obtained during the previous action indicates the presence of an object to be shaped on the functional unit (40).

7. The styling device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: - said action of operating said heating means (60, 61) at a percentage of the full power of said heating means (60, 61) is a conditional action, - the feedforward control procedure also involves the following prior actions: obtaining a value representing the actual temperature of the functional unit (40) and determining whether the value is within or outside a safe value range, and - the temperature control algorithm is configured to initiate the action of operating the heating means (60, 61) at a percentage of their full power only if the value was found to be within the safety value range during the previous action.

8. The styling device (100) according to claim 7, comprising a temperature sensing device (80), wherein: The temperature control algorithm is configured to operate the temperature sensing device (80) to provide the value representative of the actual temperature of the functional unit (40).

9. The styling device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: - the temperature control algorithm further comprises a feedback control procedure involving the following actions: monitoring a value representing the actual temperature of the functional unit (40), determining whether the value is within an operational value range, below the operational value range or above the operational value range, and operating the heating device (60, 61) as long as the value is found to be below the operational value range, and The temperature control algorithm is configured to: execute the feedback control program by default, start the feedback control program when the feedforward control program is terminated, and terminate the feedback control program when the feedforward control program is started.

10. The styling device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a unit configured to provide a warning signal to a person, wherein The processor (50) is configured to activate the unit when the time period during which the input indicating that a styling action is to be performed is received exceeds a maximum value.

11. The styling device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the styling device being a hair styling device (100), in which the functional unit (40) is configured to perform a styling action on at least a part of a person's hair.

12. The styling device (100) according to claim 11, the styling device being an automatic hair curler (100), the automatic hair curler comprising a rotatable hair curler member (30) configured to engage a hair lock, and wherein The functional unit (40) comprises a cylindrical element (40) surrounded by the hair curler part (30).

13. The shaping device (100) according to claim 12, wherein: The input indicating that a styling action is to be performed is generated when the hair curler component (30) is actuated to rotate.

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