Epilation Device Motor Control for Gap-less Hair Plucking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current epilation devices operate at low circumferential speeds, resulting in reduced plucking efficiency and increased plucking pain due to gaps between clamping events, as users intuitively draw them at speeds similar to wet shavers, leading to inefficient hair removal.
Innovation Solution
An epilation device with a roll-like implement and powered motor that allows for a fast operation mode with circumferential speeds above 2.5 meters per second, controlled by a motor control system that adjusts speed based on sensor feedback to achieve gap-less hair plucking and preset efficiency, and optionally uses elastomeric materials to reduce noise and discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the epilation device operates at low circumferential speed (0.15-0.6 m/s), then the amount of epilated hairs with root is increased, but the plucking efficiency and user comfort deteriorate due to gaps between clamping events
Solution Approach 1:
The motor control enables dynamic speed adjustment of the epilation implement, allowing it to operate at different circumferential speeds (low speed for root plucking, high speed for efficiency) depending on operational requirements, rather than being fixed at a single low speed
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter (circumferential speed) from a fixed low value to a variable parameter that can be adjusted between low and high speeds, optimizing both root plucking efficiency and overall plucking efficiency through parameter variation
2Reliability
If the epilation device operates at low circumferential speed, then root plucking efficiency is improved, but the treatment time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor control implements periodic operation with alternating low-speed phases (for root plucking) and high-speed phases (for rapid coverage), creating a rhythmic pattern that balances thoroughness with speed, reducing overall treatment time while maintaining root plucking effectiveness
3Power
If the motor runs at high load, then the circumferential speed decreases, but the plucking efficiency deteriorates due to increased gaps between clamping events
Solution Approach 1:
The motor control monitors motor load and provides feedback adjustment, detecting when high load causes speed reduction and automatically compensating by adjusting operational parameters to maintain optimal plucking efficiency despite varying motor load conditions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
An epilation device (100) is proposed that has a housing (101), a roll-like epilation implement (10) mounted at the housing (101), which epilation implement (10) has clamping units (11) for successively clamping and plucking hairs, and the epilation device (100) has further a powered motor (30) operatively coupled to the epilation implement (10), and a motor control (20, 21, 22). The proposed epilation device (100) is arranged to have at least a fast operation mode in which the motor (30) is controlled by the motor control (20, 21, 22) such that the clamping units (11) move with a circumferential speed of more than 2.5 meters per second relative to the housing (101). This serves to e.g. achieve a gap-less clamping and plucking in a use direction (U) even if the epilation device (100) is drawn over the skin with a relatively high speed.